Chapter 14 – Choice

"Tch, this might leave a scar after all…"

The Fallen Angel Turel winced as he traced a burn mark on his left arm, his gaze wandering around as he observed Minano City spreading below him from the Fallen Angels' temporary base on the mountain summit. All around him, Stray Exorcists were moving around in a hurry on the wide clearing, transporting equipment inside a large crater several meters behind him as the midday sun bore down on them.

"Don't be such a crybaby, Turel." The Fallen Angel Zephon said, coming to stand at Turel's side. "If you had stayed and fought the Devils, you would have ended up a lot worse. Instead, our convincing performance allowed you to escape with only minor scratches."

"Oh, you made it convincing all right." Turel glared at his comrade. "If you had aimed a little more to the left, you'd also have an actual corpse to display to them for maximum effectiveness. I barely managed to time the teleportation magic circle with your attack."

"Still sore that the Devils got one over on you, I see." Zephon said. "That's understandable. I didn't think they'd be able to track you down either. Because of that, Plan A was a bust, we lost quite a few subordinates, and Pandora was captured. On the other hand, our observation drone gathered even more combat data for Plan B, which means the odds of its success just went up substantially."

"Something good came out of that fiasco at least." Turel said. "What concerns me is the manner the Devils managed to track us down. Have you scanned every individual and every piece of equipment for any traces of Devil magic?"

"I have done so thrice already, and the results were negative." Zephon said. "Suffice to say, there won't be a repeat performance. This time, the initiative is back on our side. Furthermore, Pandora's capture works in our favor thanks to the little 'surprise' we placed in her beforehand."

"Kokabiel-sama is truly devious." Turel grinned. "Employing the same tactic used against our enemies back in the Great War was a masterstroke. Fledgling Devils such as them will never see this coming, especially when their elders failed to do so themselves."

"I expect that the Devils will contact me soon once they've finished interrogating Pandora." Zephon said. "Too bad for them that she knows nothing of use. They will probably demand that we vacate this region since we've already been here two days and have finished our supposed investigations. I will request Pandora's return and for us to remain here for several hours at least until I can examine her and make sure they haven't done anything to her."

"During that time, we'll strike and eliminate both Peerages in one fell swoop." Turel said. "What if the Devils refuse to return her though? Or claim that she attempted to escape and kill her in order to deprive us of her unique abilities?"

"I doubt they're willing to risk creating tension with Grigori, especially when Azazel-sama is already in preliminary peace talks with their leaders for so long." Zephon said. "But even if they don't return her to us, our weapon can operate without her, no?"

"It can, but I would be more certain of our success if she acts as its core like we originally planned." Turel said. "The Spirtron Engine can operate on its own, but the energy within it is still finite. There's always a chance it could get exhausted midbattle, so I'd rather we had a steady supply of power."

"Speaking of which, there's something I've been meaning to try out." Zephon said. "Raynare!"

"I'm here, Zephon-sama."

Raynare descended from the sky, furling her wings and kneeling in front of the two Fallen Angels. Upon closer inspection, one could see that her arms were covered in bandages, several wrinkles were prominent on her face and dark circles could be seen under her eyes, while part of her hair had turned white.

"As expected, the prototype Artificial Sacred Gears we bestowed upon you and your comrades took a toll on you." Turel remarked. "Looks like it was too soon to use them when they've yet to be fine-tuned. Still, I expected you and the others to put up more of a fight against the Devils with them. I'm not sure if their victory is a testament to their strength or your incompetence."

"…My deepest apologies, Turel-sama." Raynare said, a fearful expression on her face. "It was not our intention to waste the power you've so graciously given us. I know I failed to produce results in the previous battle, but in the next one, I'll definitely—"

"The next one?" Turel scoffed at her. "Pray tell, what do you expect to accomplish in your state? Almost every one of these Devils we're facing outclasses you in combat prowess. Without the Artificial Sacred Gear and with all the damage you've incurred, you cannot contribute in a meaningful manner."

"Now, now, don't be so harsh, Turel." Zephon said, placing his hand on Turel's shoulder. "Raynare and the others did their best with what they had. We should acknowledge that. If she wishes to redeem herself, there is still one way she can serve our cause."

"Thank you so much, Zephon-sama!" Raynare smiled. "I'm willing to do whatever is necessary, and I swear I won't disappoint you this time."

"I am so glad to hear that."

Zephon also smiled, but then his expression morphed into a sneer as a light construct in the shape of a long, clawed hand formed behind his back. Before Raynare could react, her chest was pierced by the construct.

"Zephon…sama…" Raynare muttered, a shocked expression on her face as she fell on her knees. "Why…?"

"I did say that you did your best, not that your best was enough." Zephon said with a cold expression. "But don't worry. Like I said, you will still serve our cause. Just not in the way you imagined."

The clawed hand retracted itself, tearing out Raynare's heart from her chest, with the Fallen Angel falling dead on the ground. The Exorcists around stopped working for a few moments, struggling to process what had just happened. A sharp glare from Turel was enough to get them to return back to work.

"Shame that she had to die." Turel said as he formed a small light spear and threw it at Raynare's corpse, erasing it. "She was a loyal and dedicated soldier. But defective tools should be promptly discarded lest they break down when it truly matters."

"Indeed." Zephon said as he placed several magic circles on Raynare's heart, encasing it in crystal. "When processed through specialized magic, our hearts still retain the ability to store large amounts of holy power like our research indicated. If we place this in one of the battle armors, it should aid in the severe energy consumption problem plaguing them. Both operation time and attack power should be increased."

"Not a very effective solution if we have to sacrifice our comrades to make the Exorcists' battle armors somewhat useful." Turel remarked, handing the crystalized heart to one of his subordinates. "But…if we used our cloning technology by taking samples from our brethren and harvested those hearts… This could work. Of course, that also depends on the results shown by the modified armor."

"One step at a time." Zephon said as a magic circle appeared next to his ear, with him smiling. "Good news. The weapon is almost ready for deployment. Once the issue with Pandora has been dealt with, we'll be finally ready to start."

"Oh, I'm very much looking forward to this." Turel said. "The fulfilment of our purpose, and the moment when those Devils' proud and triumphant expressions turn into despaired ones as death approaches."

Both Fallen Angels smiled at each other before going to join their subordinates.

At the Occult Research Club's temporary base…

"Are there no changes whatsoever?"

"None. The Fallen Angels haven't moved from their positions except for the team sent to investigate the site of the battle."

"I see…"

Rias sighed in response to Sona's report. The two heiresses were seated on a large table inside the library, their respective Queens sitting next to them, while the rest of the Occult Research Club was sitting around them.

"We haven't got anything useful out of Pandora either." Tsubaki said. "According to her, she was a member of some sort of Titan-worshipping cult that was wiped out and she was picked up by Grigori's agents in Greece afterwards. Then, she was abducted by the rogue group led by the now-deceased Turel and was forced to use her powers in order to cause a massive natural disaster that would have consumed us alongside Minano. Fortunately, that never came to pass."

"However, she's in the dark regarding the Fallen Angels' affiliation." Akeno said. "As expected, the so-called rogues were watching their words around her and never mentioned anything other than the tasks they required her to accomplish. The lie detection spells we employed didn't seem to be picking up anything, so I'm inclined to believe she truly knows nothing."

"So-called, you say?" Takeshi frowned. "You still believe that this attack occurred with the blessings of Grigori?"

"That's what my instincts are telling me, but that doesn't mean much." Akeno said. "I'm also concerned about the strange equipment the Fallen Angels were using."

"That troubles me too." Yuuto said. "They seemed to be more than just gimmicky weapons. Their abilities and the feeling coming from them…they almost felt like Sacred Gears."

"…That should be impossible." Koneko remarked. "Only humans or hybrids can manifest Sacred Gears. Unless these four were Fallen Angel-human hybrids."

"Could be, but considering the Grigori's technological expertise…I wouldn't be surprised if they have started delving into methods to artificially produce Sacred Gears." Sona frowned. "This is troubling. If the Fallen Angels are indeed gearing up for war, this could be a major game changer. I wonder if Azazel is plotting something after all…"

"Baseless assumptions will get us nowhere." Rias said. "We can have our leaders question Azazel about this incident once it has come to an end without any more surprises. Speaking of which, Leviathan-sama will be back the day after tomorrow around noon, right?"

"Yes." Sona said. "Once she does, I'll ask her to contact Azazel or Shemhazai at once for information. More importantly, what are we going to do with Pandora? She appears to be a victim caught up in all this, but that doesn't change the fact that her power might become a potential risk to us in the future. Should we return her to the Fallen Angels…or find a way to deal with her while she's in our custody?"

"Let's not go that far." Rias said. "Eliminating the rogues and returning one of Grigori's captured members back to them will be good bargaining chips once official peace talks begin. We can hold it over them and leverage it against potential demands. Even if Pandora turns out to be an enemy in the future, I'm confident we can deal with her."

"I'm inclined to agree, though I wouldn't underestimate a Spirit User." Sona said. "Since they're borrowing power from nature Spirits, their own energy pool isn't exhausted, meaning they can perform powerful attacks consecutively with almost no cost to themselves. My sister was quite impressed with the feats performed by Alfheim's Elves through their manipulation of Spirits."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Rias said. "For now, we should continue observing the Fallen Angels and await the scheduled contact from their side. It should come within the next hour or so."

"As for Tsubaki and I, we will return back to Kuoh and keep an eye on it alongside the rest of my Peerage." Sona said. "We can't keep troubling Kiyome-san and her tamed beasts after all. However, if the situation changes, don't hesitate to call us at once."

"You got it."

Rias nodded as Sona and Tsubaki entered a teleportation magic circle, vanishing from the library. Then, Rias turned to Takeshi.

"It's time we brought lunch to our prisoner." Rias said. "Can I trouble you with that once again, Takeshi?"

"I don't have a problem, but I wonder why it's always me." Takeshi said. "I mean, she's bound and blindfolded, right? It's not like she can charm you guys under those circumstances."

"Perhaps, but since you are the only one who's completely immune to her from the looks of it, it's better to be safe than sorry." Rias said. "We can't be certain her charm works through sight alone after all. That's the whole reason we conducted the interrogation through a communication magic circle and why we're avoiding contact with her as much as possible."

"Besides, don't tell me you aren't enjoying this?" Akeno said, a sly smile on her face. "A beauty like Pandora bound and defenseless before you, completely at the mercy of your whims. Doesn't that excite you, ufufu~?"

"I wouldn't say it does." Takeshi grinned, getting close to Akeno and whispering in her ear. "If it was you on the other hand…"

"Ara, ara, someone's getting bolder." Akeno giggled, tracing Takeshi's chest with her finger. "But if that's your desire, I wouldn't mind complying at all."

"…No indecent thoughts allowed."

Koneko said with a pout, pinching Takeshi's arm.

"OK, OK, enough kidding around." Takeshi said, rubbing his arm. "Will you help me carry the dishes, Koneko-chan?"

"…Yes."

The two of them moved to the small kitchen Rias and Akeno had set up in the back of the library, grabbing several plates filled with omurice, katsudon, tempura and yakisoba-pan. Takeshi also picked up a jug filled with water and a glass.

"…Quite the high-maintenance prisoner."

Koneko remarked upon seeing the size of the dishes, prompting Takeshi to snicker.

"No kidding." Takeshi said. "Reminds me of someone else I know. Good thing Akeno-san had no problem cooking so many portions. Not to mention, seeing her in an apron was also a feast for the eyes."

"…Does Senpai prefer stylish girls like Akeno-san?"

Koneko muttered with a dispirited expression, prompting Takeshi to grin.

"Are you implying that you can't measure up to her?" Takeshi asked. "If so, don't. You may not have the same…assets as Akeno-san, but you're beautiful in your own right, Koneko-chan. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. That cuteness of yours is a deadly weapon that could charm any man."

"…Would be nice if you were a bit more charmed too…"

Koneko said, her voice barely a whisper, but there were traces of a smile on her face and her steps were lighter. At that moment, the two Devils arrived in front of a storage shed that acted as Pandora's makeshift cell.

"…I'll be waiting outside." Koneko said, setting down the plates. "If something happens, call me and I'll rush inside at once."

"You got it."

Takeshi said, knocking at the door and addressing the girl inside.

"Pandora, it's Takeshi." He said, having forgone the use of honorifics at her request. "I've brought your lunch. May I come in?"

"Enter."

Following that curt response, Takeshi created a small magic circle and placed it on the door's handle. The door lit up for a brief moment and swung open, allowing Takeshi to step inside. Taking a look around as the door closed behind him, he noted that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The medium-sized room that contained only a bed on the side, a small table, two chairs and a toilet in the back was undisturbed, with the magic circles inscribed on the walls and floor letting out a faint glow. In the middle of the room sat Pandora, her hands bound with several magic circles and a blindfold placed around her eyes.

"There we go." Takeshi said, placing the plates and jug on the table. "So, we have a wide variety to choose from today as well. What do you want to start with?"

"The order doesn't matter."

"Fine then." Takeshi said, cutting a piece of omurice and bringing it to Pandora's mouth. "Open wide."

Pandora did as Takeshi instructed and gulped the piece down in one go. Due to the fact that her hands were bound in order to seal off her powers and prevent her from making any attempts to escape, Takeshi had taken it upon himself to feed her since she couldn't do so herself. For any other needs, it was usually Akeno who would take care of her.

This went on for several minutes. As always, the silence was quite suffocating, prompting Takeshi to try and break the ice, along with perhaps drawing out some overlooked piece of information.

"Pandora, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"You already are though?"

"Walked right into that one." Takeshi grinned. "No, I was just wondering about that Titan-worshipping cult you said you were a part of before it was wiped out. How did you end up there in the first place?"

"Is this some new form of interrogation?" Pandora said, a suspicious tone in her voice. "You believe you can get me to spill my secrets while I eat? That I will be more forthcoming? If so, I'm afraid you're wasting your time. I already told everything I knew about the Fallen Angels to your master."

"No, this is just my own curiosity." Takeshi said. "A girl with a handy ability like your Charm should have led an easy life."

"My abilities are far from handy." Pandora said, a hint of venom in her voice. "Everything I inherited from my ancestor was cursed. It should come as no surprise considering the first Pandora was made to spite mankind."

"I recall reading something about that." Takeshi said. "In retribution for Prometheus's theft of fire from Mount Olympus, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create the first Pandora and presented her as a gift to the Titan Epimetheus along with a jar that contained samples from all the evils in the world."

"It was a pithos to be accurate, but you are correct so far." Pandora said. "The first Pandora was endowed with all sort of gifts from the Gods, including the ability to charm others and command the Spirits present in nature. Using her powers, she brought peace and prosperity to her people. However, her inquisitive nature got the better of her. Out of curiosity, she opened the pithos and unleashed all the evils within, bringing ruin to the prosperous civilization that had flourished in the Greek lands so far. The ensuing Cataclysm as a result of the various Pantheons clashing finished the job. But that's not the end of Pandora's tale."

"Oh?"

"Outraged by the Gods' trickery and Pandora's thoughtless action, which he thought was a deliberate act of betrayal towards him, Epimetheus cursed her." Pandora said with a dark expression. "Because of that curse, all powers my predecessors and I inherited along with her soul cannot be controlled and have only brought ruin to us and those around us. My life so far has been full of misfortune because of it."

"I know a thing or two about being cursed." Takeshi showed a lopsided smile. "You know who I am, right?"

"You are the Evil Dragon User, a harbinger of calamity and destruction." Pandora let out a humorless laugh. "There are few beings in this side of the world that don't know what this title entails."

"No kidding." Takeshi said. "But now that you've said all that, I'm even more curious about your circumstances."

"The first Pandora's tale cautions against curiosity, you know?" Pandora pointed out. "There's no benefit in learning about my depressing past."

"But it might make you feel better if you open up about it." Takeshi said. "Still, if you don't want to, I can't force you."

Pandora said nothing for a couple of minutes, eating in silence. True to what he had just said, Takeshi didn't press her for answers. Her circumstances that were similar to him in some regards intrigued him, but nothing beyond that.

"…I'm not sure where my hometown was." Pandora started talking abruptly. "All I remember is that it was destroyed under unspecified circumstances when I was just five years old. The cultists that found me insisted one of the Greek Gods was responsible, that I was the target…but I wouldn't be too surprised if they were the ones behind it."

"Why do you say that?"

"These cultists wanted a weapon." Pandora said, her contempt evident in her voice. "What better way to turn me into one than by feeding me lies and directing my hatred at their enemies? They picked me up from the wreckage and raised me inside their hidden village in Mount Othrys. They probably hoped to harness the power of the Spirits in order to fight the Olympians and free their masters, the Titans."

"These were the deities that ruled the Greek lands before the Olympian Gods, right?" Takeshi asked. "But how did they plan to free them? If I remember correctly, most of the Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, the Realm of the Dead's maximum-security prison."

"Not all of them." Pandora said. "For instance, Atlas was imprisoned on top of Mount Othrys, cursed to forever bear the weight of the sky on his shoulders. Or, to be more accurate, bear the weight of a pillar of primordial divine power created when Ouranos and Gaia first mated that, should it fall, would flatten him and almost half of Greece with ease."

"Ouch." Takeshi winced. "I wouldn't want to be in his place."

"Neither did Heracles." Pandora said. "In any case, I'm not sure how they intended to use my powers to liberate the Titans. All I knew was isolation for the most part. I was only brought out to aid them when they conducted attacks on demigod camps or places sacred to the Greek Gods. The rest of the world…might as well be a dream as far as I was concerned."

"For all intents and purposes, you were a prisoner." Takeshi said. "That must have been suffocating."

"It was, but there was one bright spot." Pandora said. "The wet nurse that took care of me was a kind woman. She would bring me books about the outside world and let me watch programs from the human world through a magic circle when the guards weren't paying attention. She was also the one that taught me how to read, write, draw and paint."

"Seeing how talented you are, I'd say she did a good job."

"She did." Pandora smiled a bit, but then her expression fell once again. "As expected though, disaster struck eventually. The branch of Titan worshippers that had taken me in was attacked by a group of demigods about two years ago as retaliation for their attacks. They torched the village, killing everyone in their path, both combatants and non-combatants."

"That goes way past overkill." Takeshi frowned. "Even if they were their enemies, there was no need to slaughter everyone."

"Demigods often take after their divine parents when it comes to their destructive impulses." Pandora said. "My wet nurse and a few others tried to spirit me away, but we were separated. A couple of demigods caught up to me and captured me despite my attempts to shake them off. I spent the next year and a half as a prisoner in a demigod camp near Thebes."

"That long?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "It must have been horrible."

"It was bad, but not as bad as some other female prisoners had it if the rumors were true." Pandora said with a dark expression. "Several hunters of Artemis, pure maidens that have dedicated themselves to the Goddess, were also present. They were the ones who guarded me. I can only assume they were hoping to use me as bait to draw out the remaining Titan worshippers that had escaped."

"How did you escape?" Takeshi asked. "Did the Fallen Angels help you? Or did the Titan worshippers come for you?"

"I escaped by myself." Pandora said. "My guards relaxed around me a bit too much, and I was able to charm them into helping me. The demigods took notice of me and tried to stop me, but I unleashed the elements upon them. Unfortunately, I lost control again…turning them and their camp to ashes. I would warn you not to repeat their mistake, but you seem to be unaffected by it for some reason."

"The warning is appreciated nonetheless." Takeshi said. "So, where did you go after you escaped?"

"I wasn't about to go back to Mount Othrys." Pandora said. "On the other hand, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I sometimes wonder why I even bothered to escape in the first place. Where was I even trying to return to? Did I actually think there was a place for someone like me…?"

"Pandora?"

"…Sorry, went off on a tangent there." Pandora said. "In the end, my aimless wandering brought me to Missolonghi, an area under the direct control of the Three Factions, or more accurately, the Fallen Angels. The personnel stationed there found out about me and invited me to their organization. I accepted since I had nowhere else to go…but three months later, a group of Fallen Angels abducted me without me realizing it, placed an explosive formula around my neck to keep me in line and threatened me to help them with their plot. The rest…you already know."

"I see." Takeshi said. "You've certainly had a difficult life. Thank you for sharing all this with me…though I'm not sure why you changed your mind. You didn't seem that willing to talk at first."

"Who knows?" Pandora said, a self-deprecating smile on her face. "Perhaps…I wanted to leave some proof of my life, even in your memories. I'm shameless like that. Always have been."

"I'm…not sure I'm following." Takeshi said. "Why are you shameless?"

"Because if I had some shame…I would have killed myself long ago." Pandora said with a downcast expression. "So many people were hurt because of me. Not only back in Greece, but here in this country as well. How much more shameless can one be? Why should one cursed girl who's doomed to always bring disaster still live, yet so many innocents had to die?"

Takeshi remained silent, not sure how to respond there.

"Perhaps…there was some naïve hope in me that I could be saved, that I could be something more." Pandora said, her head lowered. "But that's just a pipe dream. Unlike those stories where the hero goes against the world to rescue the cursed princess, this is cold, hard reality. There's no escaping from what we are."

"I can't agree with that." Takeshi said. "I'm also supposed to become a rampaging monster that will only bring death and destruction to those around me. But I'm not about to give up just yet. If fate demands that from me…then I will fight fate and win. I'm kind of stubborn like that. Maybe you shouldn't give up on yourself either."

"I don't have that kind of resolve." Pandora shook her head. "My only wish is that I could have died back there with my hometown and my parents. That way, everyone would have been happier. Maybe I should go ahead and end it while there's still time…"

"Don't say that!" Takeshi shouted. "Death is never the answer for your troubles! If you have regrets for what you've done, you can always make amends! You dying…isn't going to solve anything!"

"You're kind." Pandora smiled. "To think you can say something like that even for someone like me… Perhaps, if we had met under different circumstances… No, there's no point in wishing for the impossible. Even if there was, I don't have the right."

"Pandora…"

"Thank you for keeping me company and listening to me." Pandora said. "Also, thank you once again for helping me with lunch. You should go now."

"I…understand…"

Takeshi said, grabbing the plates and leaving Pandora's cell. A few steps away, Koneko was waiting for him, a concerned expression on her face.

"Is everything alright, Senpai?" Koneko asked. "I could have sworn I heard someone raising his voice in there. Did something happen?"

"No, it was nothing." Takeshi said. "I talked to Pandora a bit and we had a…sort of disagreement. It's nothing important though."

"…I see." Koneko said. "We should get back to President. She says the Fallen Angels are about to contact us."

"We certainly don't want to miss that…"

Takeshi muttered as he and Koneko left the plates in the kitchen and joined the others once again. Rias nodded at them before returning her attention to the magic circle on the table before. It shone for a few seconds, and then projected the image of Zephon.

[Greetings, young Devils.] Zephon said, making a small bow. [I've had the pleasure to speak with Lady Sitri and her servants, but I haven't had the chance to introduce myself to Lady Gremory and her Peerage. I am Zephon, one of Azazel-sama's retainers and the man chosen to clean up the unfortunate mess our rogue agents have caused.]

"A pleasure." Rias said. "Sona told me you and your people have been investigating the site of our battle with the rogues. Did you find anything unusual?"

[Nothing of importance, I'm afraid.] Zephon said. [The rogues covered their tracks well. We haven't uncovered any clues that indicate they had backing from someone, so we're still in the dark.]

"What about the Fallen Angels you intercepted?" Rias asked. "You know who they were?"

[The female one was a low-ranking member, so I'm not familiar with her.] Zephon said. [The other was a Middle-class Fallen Angel named Turel as you already know. From what I've been able to find out so far, he was always a radical individual, but no-one expected he would act in such a brazen manner. For this major oversight, I apologize.]

"More importantly, since your investigation appears to be complete, there's no reason for you to stay here, right?" Akeno said, her distaste barely contained. "In that case, I suggest you take your leave and let us deal with the rest."

[That was my intention.] Zephon said. [But there is a small matter to deal with first. You have a captive that belongs to us.]

"Pandora." Rias said. "You want us to return her back to you?"

[It's only reasonable to do so.] Zephon said. [She was a member of our organization to begin with. However, I would also like to request that you give us some time to examine her in our temporary base here before we take our leave. You know, just to ensure that she hasn't been…tampered with.]

"Oh?" Rias raised an eyebrow. "You believe we've done something to her? Like place some sort of eavesdropping spell, or perhaps an explosion one? Also, how come no-one informed us about her Charm ability?"

[Forgive my weariness, but just as I'm sure you don't fully trust me, I can't exactly trust you either.] Zephon said with an apologetic expression. [I'm obligated to make sure that Pandora is of no threat to Grigori before I bring her back. About her Charm, that was an oversight from Kokabiel-sama's part. We thought that power had been suppressed, but it's evident that wasn't the case.]

"…Very well." Rias said. "One of my servants will escort Pandora to the base of the mountain tomorrow evening. I will specify the exact time later. You can pick her up from there, and you can stay for the rest of the night. Once dawn arrives, I must insist that you take your leave no matter the circumstances. Otherwise, we'll consider you hostile forces and deal with you accordingly."

[I'm grateful for your understanding.] Zephon made a small bow. [It shall be as you say. Farewell, Lady Gremory. I wish our next meeting occurs under more pleasant circumstances.]

"Likewise."

After Zephon's projection vanished, Rias turned to her servants.

"You heard him." Rias said. "Assuming they're not deceiving us, the Fallen Angels should be gone the day after tomorrow."

"Good riddance." Akeno said. "The sooner they're gone, the better. We'll be able to breathe easier once they do."

"About the person who will deliver Pandora-san to the Fallen Angels…" Yuuto said. "Will we leave this to Takeshi-kun as well?"

"Indeed." Rias said. "However, we'll be watching the exchange closely from here to make sure the Fallen Angels don't try to pull any tricks. We'll intervene in the first sign of trouble. Is that alright with you, Takeshi?"

Takeshi didn't respond, his mind seemingly occupied as he stared into the void with a trouble expression.

"Takeshi?" Rias waved her hand in front of him. "Are you with us, Takeshi?"

"…Eh?" Takeshi flinched, his attention returning to the present. "Sorry, President. I was a bit distracted… You were talking about returning Pandora to the Fallen Angels, right?"

"Yes, and I was asking you if you are up for it." Rias said. "It might be dangerous if the Fallen Angels are setting some sort of trap for us."

"On the other hand, I'm the most resilient of us all." Takeshi said. "If they try to attack me, I can hold my own until the rest of you arrive."

"That's the idea." Rias said. "Assuming all goes well, Takeshi will return back here and we'll keep observing the Fallen Angels' temporary base until dawn, which is when they should be taking their leave. Should they not…we'll coordinate with Sona and launch an attack at them to drive them away or eliminate them if necessary."

"…Is this wise?" Koneko asked. "There might be some unexpected hold-up from their side."

"That was the directive that came from the Assembly, and the Devil Kings agree with it." Rias said. "We won't be taking any chances, especially when there have already been several attacks on us. The other side should understand this as well and not seek to aggravate us under any circumstances."

"I have a suggestion to make regarding the exchange." Yuuto raised his hand. "Instead of Takeshi-kun going at it alone, I should tail them from a distance and observe things. If they try anything, I can rush to Takeshi-kun's aid and we can hold them off together until the rest of you arrive."

"That's not really necessary, Yuuto." Takeshi said. "I can take care of this on my own, and we shouldn't leave our base understaffed. What if the Fallen Angels decide to attack here while I'm handing Pandora over to them?"

"It'll hardly be understaffed with President, Akeno-san and Koneko-chan here." Yuuto countered. "Not to mention, Student President and the others will rush here if needed. It's better if I support you on the field."

"I agree with Yuuto." Rias said. "It's possible that you might be overwhelmed if you're on your own, so I'd feel better knowing that he was covering you."

"Very well." Takeshi said. "What time should the exchange take place? I was thinking around eight would be good. There shouldn't be that many people outside at that time, so if a battle does break out, we can keep potential human casualties to the bare minimum."

"That's a good idea." Rias nodded. "If there's nothing else, we should start preparing for tonight's Devils' Job. However, I won't be participating this time since I will keep observing the Fallen Angels, as well as our prospective clients to make sure there are no surprises there like last time. That means I'll have to overwork you all a bit tonight. Sorry, everyone."

"That's alright, President." Akeno said. "We can handle a little more work just fine."

"And taking a few extra rewards for ourselves is never a bad thing." Takeshi grinned. "But will you be alright on your own, President?"

"With our familiars scouting the surroundings and our embedded surveillance spells, I can locate any suspicious movements from a mile away." Rias said. "Pandora has also not made any attempts to escape and her bindings seem to hold, so there's no issue on that front as well."

"In that case, we should decide who should cover which area." Takeshi said. "Regarding the requests coming from the east part of town, I suggest that Akeno-san and I—"

The rest of the afternoon passed by without issues as the Gremory Peerage discussed their next steps.

The following evening…

"Are you alright, Pandora? Feeling cold? It is a bit chilly out here."

"I'm fine."

Pandora responded thus to Takeshi's question. The two youths were currently standing at the base of the mountain outside Minano City next to the winding road that led to its top. It was almost the appointed time for the Devils to hand Pandora over to the Grigori agents. Takeshi had removed Pandora's blindfold, but the girl's arms were still bound.

"Alright." Takeshi said, conjuring a small communication magic circle next to his ear. "How's it hanging, Yuuto? Noticed anything abnormal?"

[All's good so far.] Yuuto said. [No sign of trouble or anything suspicious. I'll call you if the situation changes.]

"Roger that."

Takeshi said, dismissing the communication magic circle and conjuring a new one, pulling a coat out of it and draping it over Pandora's shoulders.

"I told you I was fine." Pandora glared at him. "Are you hard of hearing?"

"On the contrary." Takeshi said. "But apart from my excellent hearing, I also have excellent eyesight. I'd have to be blind to not notice your shivering. There's no need to act so reserved, Pandora."

"Your kindness is wasted on me…"

Pandora said, her gaze turned at the mountain's top.

"I don't think so." Takeshi said, following her gaze. "Worried about what's coming next?"

"No." Pandora said. "I have no expectations to begin with. My time with Grigori will probably be more of the same. I will be used as a tool like my predecessors, and then discarded once they realize I'm more trouble than I'm worth. My only hope is that this bleakness called life will end soon."

"Pandora…" Takeshi bit his lips, a frustrated expression on her face. "What if…you didn't have to go back to Grigori?"

"Eh?"

"You could always defect." Takeshi said in a hurried tone. "If you say you don't wish to be a member anymore, I'm certain President would take you in no questions asked. The Fallen Angels might raise a fuss, but I doubt they could do much if you became a member of President's Peerage. You just have to say the word."

"I…" Pandora seemed uncertain for a moment, but then shook her head. "No, no, I can't cause any more trouble for you than I already have. You're a good person, and so are the other members of your group judging from my few interactions with them. You don't deserve to be involved with someone like me."

"We won't—"

"Ah, I see you're right on time. Excellent."

Takeshi's words were interrupted by the arrival of Zephon, who was flanked by four Exorcists with wary expressions on their faces. In response, Takeshi materialized Cataclysm Zone under his clothes, ready for a potential fight. Upon seeing Pandora, Zephon smiled.

"Welcome back, my dear." Zephon said. "I'm sure you've gone through a very harrowing experience, but it's all in the past now. Rest assured that you're in good hands now."

For some reason, Takeshi found that hard to believe. On the other hand, he didn't exactly have the most positive experiences with Fallen Angels so far.

"The current Evil Dragon User, I presume?" Zephon asked, turning to Takeshi. "Meeting you in person is a surreal experience to say the least. One wouldn't imagine you were carrying such a devastating Sacred Gear when looking at you."

Takeshi narrowed his eyes, feeling that Zephon's comment was concealing an underlying insult. However, he wasn't about to blow his top from such a cheap provocation.

"As they say, appearances can be deceiving."

"Right." Zephon said. "I am sure Azazel-sama will regret not being here once he hears of this encounter. He is very enthusiastic when it comes to Sacred Gears, and a unique one such as yours would have him salivating. He never had the chance to observe an Evil Dragon User closely before they went on a rampage. But I digress. Now, if you would be so kind as to release Pandora's binds. She's not going to do anything to you, are you, my dear?"

"No."

Pandora said. Although a bit reluctant, Takeshi snapped his fingers, with the bindings around the girl's hands vanishing. She let out a relieved sigh, rubbing her sore wrists, before taking off the coat and giving it back to Takeshi.

"Thank you." Pandora said. "For everything. I hope…that unlike me, you will triumph against your fate. Farewell."

Pandora joined Zephon's group, with the four Exorcists escorting her into a transportation magic circle. Takeshi felt the urge to go after her and grab her, but stopped himself before doing that. The Fallen Angel looking at him would probably not take kindly to that. With one last sad smile, Pandora vanished as the light of teleportation engulfed her, leaving Takeshi alone with Zephon.

"With that, our business is concluded." Zephon said, spreading his four wings. "Tell your master that we will be out of this area by dawn as promised."

Zephon took flight after that and headed towards the mountain's top, leaving Takeshi standing alone. He flinched as he felt some sort of killing intent being directed towards him, but it was gone the next moment, leaving him wondering if he had imagined it.

[Takeshi-kun, is everything alright?] Yuuto said. [Why are you spacing out there?]

"…It's nothing." Takeshi said. "More importantly, did you notice anything out of the ordinary back there? Perhaps something suspicious?"

[As far as I could tell, no.] Yuuto said. [Of course, I can't see through all the surveillance-warding spells placed around the mountain, so I might have missed something. Still, it doesn't look like these Grigori agents are hostile.]

"Shame…" Takeshi muttered. "Are you heading back?"

[Yes.] Yuuto said. [Our familiars will keep observing the perimeter of the mountain, and if the Fallen Angels attempt to approach Minano, our own surveillance spells will notify us. However, we're still in for a sleepless and unproductive night.]

"As much as I hate it, President has a point there." Takeshi said. "Yesterday was fine, but it's better if we stay on guard today. You go ahead, Yuuto. I'm feeling somewhat restless, so I'll roam the city for a bit before coming back. If anything happens, call me at once."

[Same for you.] Yuuto said. [See you later, Takeshi-kun.]

Once the communication magic circle was gone, Takeshi started walking towards a random location. He had no set destination, only a desire to somehow get rid of this suffocating feeling inside him. He couldn't help but feel he had failed Pandora. His nagging suspicion that these Grigori operatives couldn't be trusted, as well as the fleeting killing intent he had sensed, didn't help things either.

An unsightly person like me doesn't get to complain about their lot.

All that I knew was isolation for the most part. The rest of the world might as well be a dream as far as I was concerned.

Did I actually think there was a place for someone like me?

Why should one cursed girl who's doomed to always bring disaster still live, yet so many innocents had to die?

Perhaps…there was some naïve hope in me that I could be saved, that I could be something more. But that's just a pipe dream. But that's just a pipe dream. Unlike those stories where the hero goes against the world to rescue the cursed princess, this is cold, hard reality. There's no escaping from what we are.

My only hope is that this bleakness called life will end soon.

Pandora's words kept swirling around his mind, making him angrier and angrier for some reason. He wasn't sure why though. Was it her resigned attitude? His inability to do anything for her even though their backgrounds were somewhat similar? The unfairness of the world towards people like him and her?

"I don't know…"

Takeshi scowled, unfurling his wings and taking off once he arrived at a deserted area. After a short flight, he landed on top of one of Minano's tallest buildings, turning his gaze towards the mountain in the distance. Conjuring a magic circle, he took out Pandora's painting from it and stared at it as if looking for answers. None were forthcoming though.

"What should I do…?" Takeshi said through gritted teeth. "I…I just can't let it end like this."

[Such pointless deliberation.] Nidhogg said. [Why are you overthinking this, whelp? If there's a fight you wish to pick, then fight. It's as simple as that.]

[Yes, just let loose and have fun!] Grendel said while laughing. [Immerse yourself in your pain and the thrill of the fight! There's no better high than that!]

"The world is a little more complicated when you're not a psychotic monster out for blood." Takeshi shot back. "I'm not about to cause an incident just because you guys want to get a kick out of beating the Grigori agents."

[You say that, yet you don't seem willing to abandon that girl.] Nidhogg snorted. [You humans and your ridiculous sentimentality. She's similar to you, so you wish to save her as an act of defiance towards…who exactly? Or maybe you're just lusting after her? Perhaps you want to play hero again? Well, no matter. It's not as if I dislike those lofty sentiments. Such an attitude is a great source of amusement for all of us in here.]

[Enough prattling!] Grendel bellowed. [I can feel your festering anger, the rage directed at your impotence and at the Fallen Angels. There's no need to hold back, whelp. If you desire that girl, then go claim her and take down anyone who stands in your way. That's how us Evil Dragons do things!]

[Yes, the time for hesitation is over.] Nidhogg laughed. [You're only making excuses at this point. I can see you've already made up your mind consequences be damned. Now is the time for battle!]

"You know something is a bad idea when your resident Evil Dragons encourage you to do it…" Takeshi sighed as he clenched his fist. "But…I cannot let go. I can't let Pandora be used and suffer more than she already has…"

Turning his gaze to the sky, Takeshi let out a bitter smile.

"…I'm sorry, President." Takeshi muttered. "It looks like my selfishness will be causing trouble for you and the others after all. But I'll do my best to take the fall for this alone."

[That's more like it!] Grendel said. [I can't wait! There's bound to be at least one or two strong guys in there for me to trample upon!]

"Not so fast, pea-brain Dragon." Takeshi said. "No way in Hell I'm using your Sacred Gear when it forces me to go berserk if I get too excitable or angry. Nidhogg, if I'm in Balance Breaker, can Grendel still influence me?"

[Don't respond, Nidhogg!]

[You're not the boss of me, Grendel, and I'm not about to waste this chance.] Nidhogg said. [Yes, if you use Dead Shore Advent, Grendel won't have enough power to push me away.]

[Are you sure you want to do this, whelp?] Grendel said. [You are well aware of the demerit, no?]

"I am." Takeshi said. "But in this case, I'm damned either way, aren't I?"

[Yes, you are.] Grendel said. [Tch, it's like this then? Fine, I get it. If you use my Sacred Gear, I'll rampage, but I'll only target the Fallen Angels and leave your new girlfriend and your pitiful friends alone. Sounds good to you, whelp? If so, let me out and let's enjoy ourselves!]

[Don't listen to him.] Nidhogg said. [You know you can't trust him. Also, my Balance Breaker offers way more power and versatility compared to Grendel's Sacred Gear. Let's fight together as 'buddies'!]

[Offer your body to me!]

[Let me feast on your life!]

[ [Now, choose your Hell!] ]

"Such enticing options." Takeshi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he summoned Cataclysm Zone. "If I have to choose, I'm going with this!"

Mayhem Striker materialized in Takeshi's right hand.

"Balance Break!"

[Malice Rise! Abyss Rage Awakening!]

The ash-colored armor wrapped itself around Takeshi's body, with him spreading his four wings and taking flight. He groaned inwardly about the fact that another outfit had been damaged, something that could have been avoided if he had just taken his clothes off.

[Excellent choice, whelp.] Nidhogg chuckled. [We're having a banquet tonight in every sense!]

[…How annoying.] Grendel grumbled. [Have it your way then. But I'll remember this the next time you call upon me.]

[You won't have to if I drain his life completely.]

"I can hear you both, you know." Takeshi said, observing the city below him and doing his best to locate his comrades' familiars in order to escape their line of sight. "Also, why so excited about consuming my life, Nidhogg? The faster I die, the less fun you'll get to have."

[I would be having more fun if you had given in to your base instincts and went on a rampage.] Nidhogg said. [Instead, I'm chained to your will, forced to give you power. Excuse me if I'm not very happy about being even further imprisoned than I already am.]

"Well, excuse me for wanting to live as long as I can, instead of being at the mercy of your power and being put down like a mad dog in the end." Takeshi said. "If you guys were a bit more cooperative and not so hellbent on making my life a mess, perhaps we could come to an understanding."

[Ha!] Grendel scoffed at Takeshi's words. [Do you think we're like that shitstain Ddraig or that prissy Albion, the Dragon Emperors who roll over for any weakling that comes their way!? We're not submitting to anyone, least of all those beneath us! That's our pride as Evil Dragons!]

"In that case, not giving up and going my way is my pride as Ryuugamine Takeshi." Takeshi declared. "Now, where's an opening…? There!"

Locating a blind spot where the group's familiars didn't seem to be observing for now, Takeshi shot forward and landed near the base of the mountain. Drawing upon his demonic power, he wrapped it around his armor and focused his imagination. The effect was instantaneous as he blended into his surroundings by camouflaging himself.

This won't trick their alarm spells, but it should give me a brief element of surprise. Takeshi thought. Now then, where are the nearest guards? I need to take as many of them down as possible before I head for the top.

From their brief exchange, Takeshi was confident he could take down the Fallen Angel Zephon, who he assumed was the strongest member of their group. That would become substantially more difficult though if he had to face a large number of his men alongside him. Plus, eliminating all potential witnesses could aid in covering this incident up.

"If push comes to shove, I'll claim I went on a rampage and have President declare me a Stray Devil." Takeshi let out a humorless laugh as he said so. "So much for trying to live a long life…"

He was snapped out of his thoughts upon noticing a group of people rushing towards him. Jumping on a tree branch above him, he lowered his aura as much as possible, waiting for his opponents. Six Exorcists clad in battle armors arrived a few seconds later, their expressions anxious as they looked around in a frantic manner.

"Where are they!?" One of them asked. "The reaction came from this place!"

"Oi, are we sure it's an enemy attack?" Another said. "Could be just a false alarm."

"With those filthy Devils on our doorstep?" A third one said. "Unlikely. Keep searching! They've got to—!"

Before he could complete his sentence, the Exorcist was split in half by Mayhem Striker, his blood spraying his comrades. Before anyone could react, Takeshi landed behind them, an ash blade erupting from his hand and piercing through an Exorcist's throat, killing him instantly. Summoning his axe back to his hand, he beheaded two others with a single strike.

"It's the Evil Dragon User!" One of the remaining Exorcists cried out. "Fall back! We have to—"

An ash spear pierced through his chest before he could say anything else. Takeshi rushed towards the last one, grabbing his head and channeling his miasma. The Exorcist let out a muffled scream and struggled for a bit, but he ceased moving once the miasma permeated his body, turning him into a rotting corpse in a manner of seconds.

"Six down, who knows how many more to go." Takeshi said, tossing aside the corpse. "Guess I'd better pick up the pace."

Takeshi said as he rushed through the forest, his figure barely visible in the darkness as he headed towards the mountaintop. Each time he chanced upon a Stray Exorcist, he would cut them down with his axe, kick them away or shred them to pieces with his ashes.

[Ah, how exciting!] Nidhogg commented as Takeshi's miasma-clad kick sent another Exorcist flying. [You can do it when you're feeling motivated, whelp!]

[I should be out there, damn it!] Grendel cursed while Takeshi was busy piercing through another Exorcist with three ash claws that had grown from his hand. [Watching is one thing, but the sensation of flesh being pulverized is on a whole different level!]

"Would you rotten lizards…shut up for a bit!?" Takeshi said as his ash tornado blew three Exorcists away, while his axe brought down a fourth. "I'm trying to focus here!"

[My apologies.] Nidhogg said. [Carry on with the slaughter.]

[Yes, make them bleed real good!] Grendel said. [I love the smell of blood in the night!]

Takeshi groaned in exasperation as he tilted his head to the right, dodging a light blast from an Exorcist behind him. Takeshi's tail wrapped around his rifle in response, shattering it with a good squeeze. Eight spider leg ash constructs grew from Takeshi's back, piercing through the Exorcist's body in several places and killing him almost instantly.

"Almost there." Takeshi said, turning his gaze to the mountaintop, which wasn't very far from his current position. "I should—"

Takeshi spread his wings and took flight all of a sudden, evading several light beams that mowed down the nearby trees and destroyed part of the road behind him along with the stone wall next to it, causing a mini rockslide.

"How annoyingly agile as always! Just sit still and be vaporized like a good boy! Oops, sorry~. Guess rotten Devils like you can't be good boys!"

"You have got to be kidding me…"

After landing, Takeshi glared at the familiar attacker, who was hovering a few meters away from him. Clad in a mechanical armor with six glowing wing-shaped panels attached to its back, the Stray Exorcist Freed let out a demented laugh before speaking.

"A lovely reunion under the moonlight! I thought I wouldn't get the chance to kill you, but lady luck's smiling on me! Must be because I've been such a good boy all year long~!"

"Freed…" Takeshi grimaced. "Why are you here? Weren't you part of Turel's rogue group?"

"Rogue…?" Freed muttered before bursting out laughing. "Oh man, this is hilarious! You've got no idea what's going on here, do you? You shitty Devils have been played alright! Played like a fiddle! But you don't have to worry about that because you'll soon be dead! Oh, boys!"

About nine Exorcists burst out of the forest, their weapons aimed at Takeshi.

"Normally, I'd want to try this nifty armor powered by Fallen Angel-sama's heart on my own." Freed grinned as he pulled out two oversized pistols. "However, hunting an Evil Dragon User is a pleasure like no other. That's why, hope you don't mind I brought some friends to share in the fun!"

"You should have brought more." Takeshi smirked under his helmet. "Now, all of you will be eradicated without fail!"

"Cocky little shit, aren't you?" Freed sneered. "Not for long though! Let's turn him into a grease spot on the ground, everyone!"

Following Freed's order, the Exorcists unleashed their payload on Takeshi. Light beams, missiles, energy whips, rapid-fire bullets, all sorts of weapons bombarded Takeshi's position. The massive explosion that ensued raised a large cloud of smoke that obscured the young Devil from the Exorcists' sights.

"…Is it over?" One of them asked with evident hesitation. "Did we get him?"

"Not sure." Another said. "The readings are—"

Before he could finish his sentence, an oversized ash claw shot out of the smoke and grabbed him, raising him high and smashing him on the ground. The ashes seeped through the gaps in the dazed Exorcist's armor and shredded his body, killing him instantly.

"Promotion, Knight!"

Following these words, a blur emerged from the smoke, tearing two Exorcists apart before they could react. The remaining six took flight, coming to hover next to Freed.

"What are you idiots gawking at!?" Freed yelled. "Fire at that shitty Devil!"

Another barrage of light beams ensued, with Takeshi zipping past them with ease thanks to his heightened speed. Channeling demonic power and miasma into his ash, he swung it, releasing a crescent-shaped wave that bisected one of the Exorcists. Spreading his wings next, he took flight, aiming for the remaining opponents. They scattered and shot out light whips, which wrapped themselves around Takeshi's limbs, but had little effect as the holy power couldn't penetrate the armor. He smirked at that.

They never learn.

Grabbing the lines, Takeshi pulled them as he accelerated. Most of the Exorcists were smart enough to release the lines, but two weren't fast enough to react. Takeshi swung them around for a bit before smashing them on the ground. Surrounding his legs with miasma, he stomped on each of them, finishing them off.

"I'm not Akeno-san, but I can do this much…"

Takeshi muttered as he pointed his axe at the remaining Exorcists, channeling his demonic power through it. Several thunderbolts were shot from it, forcing the Exorcists to dodge for dear life. Freed formed a defensive magic circle from his armor's forearm, blocking the blasts.

Evading Freed's retaliatory light beam barrage by sliding on an ash cloud, Takeshi channeled demonic power on his wings next and beat them. The ensuing air blast sent the Exorcists above him spiraling out of control briefly, giving him a good opening. Gathering miasma at his fingertips, Takeshi shot several bullets of condensed miasma at the nearest Exorcists, piercing through their bodies and sending them crashing on the ground.

"You accursed monster!"

The remaining Exorcist apart from Freed cursed as he turned around to retreat. However, Takeshi was faster, appearing in front of him. He opened his mouth wide and howled, with the ensuing sound wave cracking the Exorcist's armor as he screamed in agony, bleeding from various orifices. Takeshi silenced him by decapitating him with Mayhem Striker. Before he could collect himself, he swiftly flew to the side, evading the charging Freed, who was holding a light broadsword.

"Useless morons!" Freed cursed. "Can't do anything right! It's just as they say! If you want to kill someone right, you kill them yourself! I'll cut off your head and mount it over my fireplace!"

"Give it your best shot, mad priest!" Takeshi made a come-on gesture. "However, know that my head has a strict no-detachment policy!"

The panels on Freed's armor shone once again, with several light beams shooting out of them. Takeshi formed a large ash shield in front of him, with the beams dispersing upon striking it. With a slight gesture, the ash shield morphed into a giant saw that aimed at Freed. The Exorcist flew above it, shooting several rounds from his gun, which Takeshi intercepted with half a dozen fireballs.

Changing tactics, Takeshi used his superior speed to bring the battle into close-quarters combat. Freed brought up his broadsword to defend against Takeshi's axe, pushing him back a bit. Before Takeshi could charge again, the glowing core on Freed's chest shone, shooting out a thick beam that grazed Takeshi right abdomen. The ensuing light rounds from Freed's gun bounced off a defensive magic circle that Takeshi formed.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Freed cackled as he kept shooting at Takeshi. "This is the best! The thrill of the hunt! The expression of you shitty Devils turning to despair! Your cries as I cut you apart! I can't get enough of it!"

"As if I'm not dealing with enough insanity in my life…" Takeshi grumbled as he deflected the beam blasts with his axe. "At least I can silence you!"

Takeshi threw his axe at Freed, with the Stray Exorcist dodging it with ease. However, Takeshi pulled the ash line he had attached to it, changing its trajectory mid-flight. Freed wasn't fast enough to react, with the axe tearing through all wing panels on his right side. With a burst of speed, Takeshi surged forward, tearing through the rest of the panels with his miasma-enveloped arm and damaging the thrusters. Because of that, Freed was forced into a messy crash landing that left him battered and bruised all over.

"Damn you!" Freed cursed as several compartments of his armor opened, shooting out a volley of missiles. "I've had it with you! Why won't you just die already!?"

Evading the missiles and weaving thorough the ensuing explosions and shots, Takeshi pressed the sides of his buckle twice.

[Charge! Malice Overflow!]

Large quantities of miasma and demonic power gathered around Takeshi's right arm as he swatted aside Freed's attacks.

"Abyss Impact!"

Dashing in front of the Exorcist, Takeshi shouted as he delivered a flurry of jabs from multiple angles so fast that his arm seemed to disappear. Freed crossed his hands, conjuring a large magic circle to shield himself. However, it was all for naught as Takeshi's relentless strikes tore through the magic circle. Freed's body was bombarded by a barrage of punches that heavily damaged his armor. With one last blow, the screaming Freed was sent flying backwards, tearing through several trees and crashing on the remains on a stone wall.

"Victory was never an option for you." Takeshi pointed at Freed as the Exorcist slid to the ground while groaning. "Finisher move, second variation, complete. Looks like I managed to hold back just enough so I don't kill him. Also, note to self; make Cataclysm Zone announce the finishers as well. Got to keep it real after all."

Takeshi made his way to the injured Freed, who was trying to crawl away. Grabbing his head and ignoring his muffled curses, he lifted him up and forced him to look at him.

"Alright, crazy priest, talk." Takeshi asked, several ash tendrils forming around him and suspending Freed above him. "What the Hell are you people planning here? Are all of you rogues, or is this an official mission from Grigori? What about Pandora? Where does she factor in all this? Answer me quickly, and I might spare your miserable life."

Instead of answering, Freed spat at Takeshi.

"Bite me…shitty Devil…"

Freed glared at Takeshi with a hateful expression. The young Devil sighed as he wiped the mix of blood and saliva from his helmet.

"As you wish."

A large Dragon head made out of ashes materialized next to Takeshi, opening its maw wide and chomping down Freed's head before he could react. It then spat it out, with it rolling down the ground.

"Not very classy for someone's dying words, but I guess that's fitting for scum like you." Takeshi glanced at Freed's head once before trying to form a communication magic circle. "Damn it… I can't connect to the others, and teleportation isn't working either. Figures. In that case…"

Takeshi spread his wings and flew up. However, he almost immediately slammed on a barrier that seemed to be surrounding the upper area of the mountain, which included his position.

"OK, I'm sure that wasn't there before…" Takeshi frowned. "Should I try and break it…or head towards the mountaintop? Decisions, decisions… Nidhogg, how much time I've got left in Balance Breaker?"

[About fifteen minutes or so, so I suggest that whatever you do, do it fast.]

[Head for the top!] Grendel said. [That's where the main dish is, no? It would be rude not to show up when they've prepared such a bountiful banquet for us!]

Takeshi clicked his tongue in irritation. While trying to break the barrier made more sense, he wasn't sure how long that would take or how much energy that would require. If he wasted too much time, he would be forced out of Balance Breaker, and it was possible the Fallen Angels would also initiate their plan in the meantime, whatever it was.

"There should only be a few Exorcists and that Zephon fellow left." Takeshi reasoned. "I should be able to take them down, save Pandora and stop whatever they're planning. To the mountaintop it is then."

[Good choice!]

[The festival is far from over!]

Ignoring the Evil Dragons' excited words, Takeshi camouflaged himself once again as he headed towards the mountaintop.

This concludes Chapter 14. First, in response to your questions.

—To Rai of bladeegde: Yes, there will probably be a clash between Takeshi's Kamen Rider persona and Satan Red since I intend to include Volume 8's side story here.

Several developments in this chapter. The Fallen Angels are proceeding with their second plan, Pandora's backstory was revealed, and Takeshi is mounting a one-man rescue attempt on his own due to feeling sympathy for Pandora as a fellow victim of issues beyond their control. I should mention here that his decision is partly due to his slight hero complex, and partly because of his tendency to rely on himself alone as I hope I've demonstrated in previous chapters. Now, as to whether things will work out for him and Pandora, that's something that will be shown in the next chapter, which will conclude this arc.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, favorite and follow, but most of all, enjoy!

See you all next time!