Chapter 24 – Alliance

"Ah, home sweet home…"

Takeshi said, stifling a yawn as the magic circle transported him back to his room. Following the match against the Exorcists and Yuuto going off on his own yesterday afternoon, Takeshi had once again teleported to the mountain mansion for extra training. His hopes of finding Yuuto there had been quickly dashed, since the mansion and the surrounding area were devoid of people. He assumed that Yuuto was off tracking Excalibur despite the whole bet with Xenovia being 'don't interfere with our mission if you lose', something that concerned him a lot.

"I hope he hasn't landed himself in serious trouble…"

Takeshi muttered as he put on his school uniform. While he had formulated a plan that could kill two birds with one stone, it all hinged on Rias's approval and the Exorcists' willingness to work with him. Although Leon seemed to be the leader of the trio and Rias was his girlfriend, which raised his chances of success to a degree, that didn't mean trying to persuade both parties wouldn't be an ordeal.

"One thing at a time." Takeshi said. "First is breakfast."

Once he made his way to the dining room, Takeshi was surprised at the sight of his parents sitting there with matching even expressions on their face, while a very uncomfortable-looking Pandora was sitting across them.

"Good morning, everyone." Takeshi said, taking his seat. "Is something wrong? I'm getting a strange vibe for some reason."

"You tell me, Takeshi." Shiori said with a serious expression. "Your father heard something interesting from one of his subordinates, whose son goes to Kuoh Academy. Perhaps there's something you want to share with us?"

"I think there should be." Hiroto said, crossing his arms. "Learning from a third party that your son is dating three girls at once was quite the shock to say the least."

"Oh…shit…"

Takeshi groaned. With everything going on, he had forgotten to inform his parents about the 'arrangement' he had with Koneko, Rias and Pandora. Considering how it had become the talk of the school in mere minutes, it should come as no surprise that the news had spread beyond the confines of Kuoh Academy to a degree.

"I know I've been egging you to find a girlfriend sooner rather than later, but this is a bit too much, don't you think?" Hiroto said. "I'm not sure how I feel about my son stringing along several girls. This seems like a recipe for disaster from my point of view."

"I feel the same way." Shiori said. "Have you really thought this through, Takeshi? Keeping things fair and balanced between Rias-san, Koneko-san and Pandora-san here will extremely difficult. Jealousy and favoritism are also serious problems, not to mention how tricky it's going to be to choose a single girl the more this…trial period goes on."

"Actually, I'm not a contender here…" Pandora said, raising her hand in a meek manner. "I only asked Takeshi to pretend that I'm one of his girlfriend candidates so that boys don't start swarming me…"

"Even so, Takeshi's still two-timing, which is only marginally better than three-timing." Hiroto said. "Also, I'm not sure about this whole 'pretend girlfriend' thing, Pandora-san. Throwing yourself in the middle of a volatile love triangle is bound to cause problems for you and Takeshi."

"You're right…" Pandora said with a dejected expression. "I shouldn't have done something like that. Even after everything that's happened so far, I can't let go of my selfishness…"

"There's no need to get all depressed about this, Pandora." Takeshi said. "Especially when taking your circumstances into account. About Koneko and Rias, I'm asking you to trust me here, Dad, Mom. I know it's tough, but I know what I'm doing. There's no way I'll let this end in a tragedy. I wouldn't have agreed to it otherwise."

"You are confident, but confidence alone won't get you through this." Shiori said. "I'm worried about you, Takeshi. I fear you may be downplaying this situation a bit too much. Neither your father nor I want you or the girls you're involved with to get hurt."

"That's the last thing I want as well." Takeshi said with a resolute expression. "It won't come down to that, I promise. I thought a lot about this, and I'm certain this is the best solution."

"If you say so…" Hiroto said, looking somewhat unconvinced. "It's your life, so we can only say so much. Just be very careful when handling this."

"I will." Takeshi said. "So, about breakfast…"

"It's almost ready." Shiori said. "Pandora-san, could you help me bring the dishes?"

"With pleasure."

Once the two women were in the kitchen, Shiori turned to Pandora, an inquisitive look on her face.

"So, you're still all torn between your desires, aren't you?"

"…What are you talking about, Shiori-san?"

"Come on, I'm not blind." Shiori said. "You're clearly pining for my son, and it's making you miserable. This kind of goes contrary to what I just said…but perhaps you should go for it since he's determined to date several girls until he settles on one. At least you won't have regrets that way. Pretending to be his girlfriend is only going to hurt you more down the line and gather unnecessary enmity from the girls around Takeshi."

"It's…complicated." Pandora said. "Take my word for it, you don't want someone like me be even closer to your son than I already am. This distance…is ideal for someone like me."

"Hmm, have I grown too old…?" Shiori sighed. "I don't remember relationships being so complicated back in my day. I wonder though, what would you do if he said he wanted you? If, by some chance, he asked you to join this…pseudo harem of his, I guess?"

Pandora didn't answer, a small blush appearing on her face. She then turned to the dishes and grabbed them, leaving the kitchen with hurried steps.

"That girl really reminds me of the younger me…"

Shiori said with a sigh as she took the rest of the plates and headed for the dining room. Once the Ryuugamine residence's residents finished their breakfast, Takeshi and Pandora left for school. Taking note of her distracted expression, Takeshi turned to her and spoke.

"Is everything all right?" Takeshi asked. "Did my parents give you too much grief over the whole issue with my relationships? I'm sorry you had to go through this, but notifying them about our arrangement slipped my mind. I really didn't want them to hear about this from a third party…"

"It's fine." Pandora said. "But keeping secrets from them must be tiresome, right? It would be much easier to explain everything if they knew the truth about what we are. Do you think…you will tell them some day?"

"I don't know…" Takeshi sighed. "I want to, but first, I want to get this unruly Sacred Gear of mine under control. Once I'm confident that I have secured my future as much as possible…then I'll tell them and hope for the best."

"I'm sure it'll be alright." Pandora said with a small smile. "Your parents love you. I'm sure they'll accept you no matter what."

"I hope so." Takeshi said. "But one problem at a time. Right now, Yuuto's issue takes precedence. I have…sort of a plan, but it hinges on Rias's and the Exorcists' cooperation."

"A plan, you say?" Pandora frowned. "What kind of plan?"

"I'll tell you the details later. We're almost at school."

After saying so, Takeshi entwined his hand with Pandora's. She yelped, prompting Takeshi to raise an eyebrow.

"What's wrong, princess?" Takeshi grinned. "Did I surprise you?"

"A little." Pandora said. "Shiori-san had a point back there. I shouldn't be taking advantage of your kindness. Koneko and Rias can't be too happy about this."

"I'm pretty sure I said I was alright with this, and that it's still necessary for now." Takeshi said. "If the other girls have a problem with it, we'll discuss it and see how it goes from there. Unless you're tired of me? Or have grown to dislike me?"

"That's impossible…"

Pandora said in a low tone, a small smile on her face. Once the two of them entered their classroom, Takeshi looked around for any sign of Yuuto, but as expected, his friend's seat was empty and he was nowhere to be found. He knew it was unlikely, but he couldn't help but hope Yuuto would show up in school at least.

He doesn't want to give us any chance to dissuade him, huh?

"Kiba-kun isn't here today?" Aika asked while approaching the two of them. "Shame. I wanted to invite him in person along with the two of you."

"Invite us…where exactly?"

"Oh, don't give me that suspicious look and tone, Ryuugamine." Aika said with an exasperated tone. "The Perverted Trio and I were thinking about going to karaoke next weekend, and we were wondering if you guys wanted to come as well."

"That's surprising to say the least." Takeshi said. "I thought the Perverted Trio was holding a grudge against me like most of the student body."

"Eh, I think they've come to terms with it more or less." Aika said. "They're probably hoping to leech off some of that popular aura you've got going in hopes of scoring. Or maybe they think spending time with the beauties that have already gathered around you is a win on its own."

"It sounds like a good idea." Pandora said. "I've heard about karaoke, but I've never tried it. Oh, but Takeshi isn't that good at singing, right?"

"Don't worry, I'll sit on the sidelines and enjoy the show." Takeshi said. "I'd like to come, and I'm sure Koneko-chan at least is going to be game. As for Yuuto…we'll see. He wasn't feeling too well these past few days, but he'll probably be better by that time. No, I'm sure of it. So yeah, count us in, Kiryuu."

"Excellent." Aika smiled. "I'm sure we'll have a great time!"

"Of course, that's if we're still standing by then…"

Takeshi muttered under his breath as he took his seat.

Later, in the Occult Research Club…

"Let me guess, tough night?"

Takeshi remarked upon seeing the exhausted looks on Rias and Akeno's faces once he entered the clubroom alongside Pandora. Koneko was sitting on her usual spot, eating mochi. However, she was eating slower than usual, the overall gloomy atmosphere having affected her as well.

"You could say that…" Rias said, leaning back in her chair as she sighed. "We've been going over our security network numerous times, but we've yet to find a weak spot they could have used to infiltrate us."

"We've also failed to reach Yuuto-kun despite all our attempts." Akeno said with a worried look. "Communication magic circles, familiars, cellphones, nothing. He's not responding anywhere. We can only hope he's simply avoiding us, and not that something…worse has happened."

"…Student President also brought news from the Underworld a while ago." Koneko said. "Higher-ups insist we remain on standby and refused to send reinforcements here. Too afraid the presence of additional Devils might cause a diplomatic incident, they say. The Devil Kings insist otherwise, but negotiations are in a deadlock as of yet."

"Wonderful news all around." Takeshi said with evident sarcasm. "I understand you have enough in your plate as is, but we need to talk about Yuuto, President. I think there might be a way to help him that won't result in either his death or him being declared a Stray Devil."

"Oh?" Rias perked up at the sound of that. "If you have such an idea, by all means, tell me. I'm honestly at my wit's end here."

"Alright, but be warned that you'll probably not like it very much." Takeshi said. "As things stand, the only way for Yuuto to get his closure is by destroying Excalibur. Fighting the Church's Exorcists is a no-go, but what if we could work together with them and destroy the blades stolen by the Fallen Angels? There wouldn't be any issues then."

"No issues expect for the fact that the Exorcists have asked us to stay out of this affair." Rias said. "The Underworld's higher-ups were also adamant that we shouldn't offer any sort of aid to them, so I'm afraid that won't work out."

"What if that aid was unofficial though?" Takeshi said. "Moreover, what if it was in the form of a couple of servants going behind their master's back to help the Exorcists out of their own volition? That way, you're not breaking any rules."

"Let me get this straight." Rias said with a frown. "You want Yuuto and yourself to help the Exorcists destroy Excalibur seemingly without my permission? You do understand how risky this is, right? If the higher-ups find out about this arrangement, you won't get off with just a reprimand. Not to mention, you'd be putting me in a very difficult position. This sounds almost like a repeat of last time, and I'm not sure I want us to go through this again."

"Yes, but this time, I'm being upfront about it." Takeshi said. "I know it's risky, but it's the only way I can think of to help Yuuto. Plus, helping the Exorcists is beneficial to us as well. The sooner the Excaliburs are out of Kuoh, the better. I mean, even you must be leery about Kokabiel's goons coming here of all places, President. My gut tells me they've got a plan that involves us as well, so putting an end to it before it begins would be for the best."

"That's a good point, Rias." Akeno said. "It's a given that the Fallen Angels are scheming something nasty. Dealing with them as quickly as possible would be to our advantage."

"As long as I can get the Church agents to work together with us, there won't be any problems." Takeshi insisted. "It's not as if the rogues will be able to complain to the Underworld's top brass. Even if news of our involvement leaks out, we can always say that the rogues dragged us into the fight and we were simply defending ourselves."

"Maybe…" Rias said, crossing her hands with a thoughtful expression. "Even if I agree to this though, there's another issue. We know next to nothing about these Church Exorcists, so even if they cooperate with you, how can we be sure they won't backstab you? Can you say with confidence that you can trust them, Takeshi? Leon-san might have been your friend in the past, but he could have changed. He's an Inquisitor after all."

"What does his rank have to do with anything?" Takeshi asked. "To begin with, what's an Inquisitor?"

"Within the Exorcist Order, the basic ranks go as follows." Rias said. "The lowest one is Acolyte, who are basically the trainees. It's followed by Junior Exorcist, Intermediate Exorcist, which I assume is what Irina-san and Xenovia-san are, Senior Exorcist and Chief Exorcist. The Chief Exorcists, who are the oldest and most experienced warriors, form the Magisterium, which is the governing council of the entire order, and one among them is elected Grand Master, who has final say in all major decisions and can appeal to the clergy and Heaven if need be. Also, there are the non-combat agents responsible for mundane field work and reconnaissance."

"I didn't hear Inquisitor being mentioned there." Takeshi frowned. "Why?"

"I'm getting to that part." Rias said. "There are also three special classes that do not fall under the aforementioned rankings. The first one is the Templar class, comprised of warriors tasked with safeguarding important locations or acting as bodyguards for high-ranking Church officials. The second is the Executor class, whose members comprise the Church's black-ops division, tasked with handling all manners of unsavory work too severe for the common Exorcists. The third is the Inquisitor class, which is a rather special position."

"Special how?"

"Unlike the majority of Church warriors, they have the authority to order any and all personnel associated with the Church at any time, and they're answerable only to the Magisterium and the Grand Master." Rias said. "It's a unique rank given only to Exorcists with considerable skill and unwavering devotion. That's why I'm worried that Leon-san could surprise you in a bad way."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Takeshi said. "Regardless of his position, I will believe in my friend. That guy will definitely not betray us. That's why, please trust me and leave it to me, President."

"…You mean, leave it to us." Koneko said, getting up and coming to stand next to Takeshi. "I'm also worried about Yuuto-senpai. If it's for his sake, I'll help as well. Plus, I can't leave you on your own. Someone has to reign you in."

"Hey!" Takeshi said. "What do you mean reign me in? You make it sound like I get into trouble all the time."

Koneko didn't respond, merely staring at Takeshi.

"In this case, I too—"

"Not you, Pandora." Rias cut off Pandora. "Having two people on this is already pushing it. I can't have almost all my servants going off on this unsanctioned mission. We need people here to keep an eye on our base."

"That's true…" Pandora said with a dissatisfied expression. "I understand, President."

"Does this mean we have your permission?"

"Let's be honest here, even if you didn't, would that stop you, Takeshi?" Rias said with an exasperated look. "I have a feeling it wouldn't."

"You know me so well." Takeshi grinned. "It'll be fine, I promise. We'll help Yuuto settle things with his past, and everything will be back to normal before you know it."

"That would be for the best." Akeno said. "We'll try to keep Sona and the rest of the Student Council in the dark in regards to your plan, and we'll keep an eye on Kuoh for any signs of abnormalities."

"Be careful out there, you two." Rias said with a concerned expression. "If something happens to you as well, I don't know what I'll do…"

"We'll be fine, President…no, Rias." Takeshi said. "Now then, let's pay a visit to our prospective allies, and hope they're in a forthcoming mood."

"…The abandoned church." Koneko said. "That's where they said they'd be staying, right?"

"Right." Takeshi nodded. "Let's go, Koneko-chan."

"Good luck, you two."

After Akeno said so, the two of them stepped into the magic circle she conjured. One flash of light later, they found themselves in the outskirts of the church. Chills started running down their spines the moment they stepped into the courtyard, feeling as if this place was rejecting them.

"…Hallowed ground." Koneko said with a grimace. "Even though it's been unused for so long, the blessings and holy aura still linger. How annoying…"

"Yes, this is very uncomfortable." Takeshi said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Should we wait here until they notice us or head inside and ask—"

A shadow leaping from the foliage and pouncing at him cut off Takeshi's words. Moving on instinct, Takeshi summoned Cataclysm Zone and Berserk Devastator, with his gauntlet slamming against a broadsword. At the same time, Koneko leapt to the side, evading a whip-like blade aimed at her. Letting out her Nekomata traits, she enveloped herself in ki and dropped into a stance.

"Rias Gremory's servant Devils?" Xenovia, who was facing Takeshi, said with a frown. "What are you heathens doing here?"

"Hello there." Takeshi grinned at Xenovia, who was glaring at him. "Rather violent for a greeting, don't you think? Especially since we're only here to talk. That's why, could you stop trying to cut my hand off with that Excalibur of yours?"

"You came here to talk to us?" Irina said from the side, eyeing both Devils with a suspicious look while keeping Mimic at the ready. "What for?"

"Don't listen to them, Irina." Xenovia said, trying to push Takeshi back. "It's obviously some sort of scheme from their part. We should—"

"What's going on here?"

Leon's arrival cut off Xenovia, with the former having drawn Fragarach. Upon taking note of Takeshi though, he lowered his weapon, motioning at Xenovia to do the same. She complied, albeit in a reluctant manner.

"Why are you here, Takeshi?" Leon asked. "Did your master send you with a message for us or something?"

"No, and in fact, President doesn't even know we're here." Takeshi lied, apologizing to Leon in his thoughts. "We came here to talk to you about your mission to recover the Excalibur blades. For the sake of our friend, we want to offer you our assistance. Of course, we'll do this off the record since our higher-ups ordered us not to associate with you."

"Your friend…" Leon muttered. "I take it you mean the possessor of Sword Birth, the survivor of the Holy Sword Project?"

"The very same." Takeshi said. "We need your help, and I think you could use ours."

"As if." Xenovia scoffed. "We don't need help from Devils, especially when one of them is the Evil Dragon User. You probably smelled battle and couldn't keep your instincts in check, no? It's common behavior among your predecessors. You can't help but devolve into beasts thirsty for blood."

"Don't judge unless you want to be judged." Takeshi said, wincing a bit. "Isn't that part of your creed, miss Church warrior? Yet here you are, making baseless assumptions and judging me based on my predecessors' actions. For shame."

"Are you insulting me, you lowlife?" Xenovia growled. "You must really want to taste my Excalibur's bite!"

"Alright, let's all take a deep breath and calm down here." Leon said, stepping between Xenovia and Takeshi. "Warrior Xenovia, please don't be so confrontational. And you, Takeshi, please don't antagonize her as well. You're making a terrible impression even though you say you're coming in good faith."

"Very well."

"I guess you have a point…"

Both Xenovia and Takeshi relaxed following Leon's words.

"Now then, I think your proposal warrants a discussion at least." Leon said. "Since we were about to head out for a late lunch, how about you two join us? It'll be my treat."

"Is that alright, leader?" Irina asked while frowning. "I know Takeshi-kun is your childhood friend and all, but he's still a Devil. Should we really trust one of our enemies? They might be planning something nasty using him."

"Even if he's a Devil now, Takeshi's not the sort of person who would betray a friend even if he was ordered to." Leon smiled. "I know that better than anyone. That's why, I'll hear him out at least."

"Aw, thanks for the vote of confidence." Takeshi grinned. "So, about the lunch you suggested…"

"Follow me."

The five of them made their way to a family restaurant that was close to the abandoned church. After they sat down and gave their orders, Takeshi turned to Leon and spoke.

"Before we get to the main issue, I'm curious about something." Takeshi said. "When exactly did you become an Exorcist, Leon? Was it because of your mother? If I remember correctly, she was a Christian, right?"

"She was more than that." Leon said. "My mother was also an Exorcist back in the day, and a very good one at that. We came to this country because she was on a year-long sabbatical after being injured in a difficult mission. After we returned home in England, my talent was discovered and I was scouted by agents of the Orthodox Church. What about you? How did you end up in Rias Gremory's Peerage?"

"Had a near fatal encounter with a Stray Devil here." Takeshi said. "President and the others saved me, and after helping them out in dealing with the Cluster she belonged to, she invited me into her Peerage once Cataclysm Zone fully manifested itself."

"Rias Gremory must be out of her mind then." Xenovia said. "The Evil Dragon User always brings disaster to those around them. The San Francisco earthquake, the Coringa cyclone, the Yellow River flood, these are just a few examples of the Evil Dragon User's rampage that was attributed to natural phenomena. Not to mention the large number of undocumented cases that were swept under the rug due to blatant supernatural involvement. It's only a matter of time before you go the same way, especially since you've awakened two Evil Dragons."

"I know all that without you telling me." Takeshi said. "However, I've resolved myself to do what no-one else has done before; tame this Sacred Gear and change my fate."

"You talk big, but reality is merciless." Xenovia said. "It will crush you and your so-called resolve in the end."

"…Don't look down on Senpai." Koneko glared at Xenovia. "Also, don't talk ill about President in front of me."

"Ah, I remembered something." Irina said before Xenovia could respond. "It's a long shot, but do you perhaps know a guy named Hyoudou Issei? He should be in the same year as you, Takeshi-kun."

"…Hyoudou-senpai?" Koneko said with a frown. "What does an Exorcist want with that pervert?"

"Pervert?" Irina frowned, and then sighed. "I see that he hasn't changed a bit ever since we were children… Why am I not surprised?"

"You knew Hyoudou, Irina-san?"

"We were childhood friends who used to play a lot together when I lived here." Irina responded to Takeshi's question. "That's why I was wondering if he was doing alright. It seems he does…though it sounds like he hasn't overcome his perversion though."

"I'm surprised that you were willing to hang out with Hyoudou, especially if he was a lecher even as a child." Takeshi said. "Didn't it make you uncomfortable?"

"A bit, though Issei-kun not realizing I was a girl helped things." Irina said. "He's a pretty nice guy if you can look past his perverted attitude."

"Excuse me, did you just say he never realized you were a girl?" Takeshi said with an incredulous expression. "How in the nine Hells could he not see that? Did Hyoudou have problems with his eyesight when he was younger?"

[I'll say.] Orochi's voice echoed in Takeshi's head. [You'd be hard pressed to mistake that delectable treat for anything else with the 'assets' she's carrying.]

"I was a bit of a tomboy back in the day, so many kids my age mistook me for a boy." Irina smiled. "I never told Issei-kun because it was funnier that way. I was going to at some point, but my parents and I left Kuoh, so I didn't have the chance."

"Do you want to meet with him?" Takeshi suggested. "We could arrange that if you want."

"No, it's alright." Irina said with a sad smile. "We belong in different worlds now. It's better that way. Knowing that he's doing well is enough for me."

At the moment, the waiter arrived, carrying several trays of food with him. After placing them on the table, Irina took out her cross.

"Bless our food and drink, O Lord."

Takeshi and Koneko both winced, feeling a headache due to Irina's prayer.

"Oops, sorry." Irina let out an embarrassed smile. "Force of habit."

"It's alright…"

Takeshi said as he turned his attention to the food. Although Koneko had ordered a large portion as usual, he was surprised to see that both Xenovia and Irina had ordered sizeable portions as well and were wolfing them down. In comparison, both he and Leon had ordered a moderate amount of food.

"Delicious!" Xenovia said in an enthusiastic manner while digging in. "Japanese cuisine really is delicious!"

"Yes, this is the taste of my homeland!" Irina said with tears running down her eyes. "Oh, how I've missed this! I can't get enough of it!"

"Looks like your side has big eaters too…" Takeshi whispered to Leon. "Aren't you guys supposed to be all about fasting and stuff?"

"Exorcists are exempt from that when they're on missions." Leon said. "That's why these two are taking advantage of that rule by gorging themselves ever since we arrived here. If they keep going like that though, I'm going to have to tap into the Vatican's emergency funds just to keep them fed…"

"Looks like you've got your own problems." Takeshi patted his friend's shoulder. "Fight on, Leon."

Leon said nothing, letting out an exhausted sigh. Once everyone was done with their food, Leon spoke.

"Now, let's talk." Leon said. "You said that you two are going behind your master's back in order to help your friend."

"That's right." Takeshi said. "You said that your mission was to either recover or destroy the stolen blades. That's why, I thought that we could work together, and in exchange, you allow Yuuto to destroy at least one of these swords. That way, perhaps he can finally move on."

"This proposal reeks of lies and trickery." Xenovia said with narrowed eyes. "And if there's something I hate above all else, it's being lied to. There's nothing in it for us, and we'd be disobeying our superiors' edict."

"Ah, but they said not to ask for help from the two heiresses." Takeshi said. "You're not. Instead, you're cooperating with two Devils who have split from their Peerage. Or you could look at it this way if you prefer. You're cooperating with the Evil Dragon User, and they didn't forbid that, did they?"

"That crosses into the territory of sophistry." Leon said. "I don't think anyone in the Church would buy that as an excuse."

"That's only if they find out, and there's no need for them to do so." Takeshi said. "You can omit our assistance from the reports, which technically isn't lying if you're concerned about it, Xenovia-san."

"Even so, I still fail to see the reason we need to ally ourselves with you." Xenovia said. "We can handle the Fallen Angel Gadreel and Jacob Torres on our own."

"Maybe, but how can you be so sure they're the only rogues here?" Takeshi pointed out. "If more allies of theirs have snuck into Kuoh, you guys might be overwhelmed. Don't think it's better to account for this scenario as well? I know you said you don't mind dying, but dying while accomplishing nothing? Pretty sure you don't want that. Moreover, we know this town better than you, so we can search in a more efficient manner. Irina-san might have been a resident, but several years have passed since then. You could use someone familiar with the current landscape."

The three Exorcists looked at each other, matching thoughtful looks on their faces.

"Well…he makes a good case." Irina admitted in a reluctant manner. "I have my doubts, but maybe it's worth it. Not to mention, Takeshi-kun doesn't look like a bad Devil."

"As long as you're not trying to deceive us and your identities aren't leaked to the higher-ups, maybe we can leave one sword to you guys." Xenovia said, turning to Leon. "However, that's your decision, leader. Should we work together with these Devils or not?"

"Moments like this is why I hate my job…" Leon groaned. "Alright, I'll trust in your sincerity, Takeshi. Besides, since the Church's negligence and greed is the reason Kiba Yuuto-kun was wronged, it's our duty as the Lord's agents to set things right by helping him find closure."

"However, we'll be keeping a close eye on you." Xenovia warned Takeshi. "If you Devils make any suspicious movements, I'll cut you down without hesitation. Count on it."

"I know, I know." Takeshi said. "Since our negotiations are successful, mind if I use one of your phones to call Yuuto? I would use mine, but he's been avoiding us ever since that mock battle. An unknown number should get his attention."

"Sure thing."

After receiving Leon's cellphone, Takeshi typed [Yuuto, it's Takeshi. Koneko-chan and I are together with the Excalibur wielders. Come meet us as soon as possible. It's very important.] and sent the message, followed by the address of the family restaurant they were in. After a few seconds, he received a response saying [I'm on my way]. True enough, about five minutes later, Yuuto arrived at the restaurant. After hearing the details from Takeshi and Koneko while drinking a cup of coffee, he spoke.

"…I understand the situation." Yuuto said with a sigh. "Since that's the case, I'll work together with you…though I'm a bit dissatisfied that the wielders of Excalibur are giving me permission to destroy it."

"Then perhaps you want a repeat of our last match?" Xenovia said, a glint in her eyes. "If you want to be exorcised so badly, I'll indulge you."

"Hey, hey, let's not start fighting among ourselves already." Leon said upon noticing Xenovia and Yuuto glaring at each other. "To begin with, we should confirm the terms of our cooperation. Kiba Yuuto-kun can destroy as many of the stolen Excaliburs as he wishes over the course of our battle. Should he not get the chance, we'll provide one of the stolen Excaliburs once we retrieve them for him to break. It goes without saying, but word of this cooperation shouldn't leak to either side's superiors. Is that acceptable?"

All members present nodded together.

"Won't it be a problem for you guys if the Excaliburs are destroyed though?" Takeshi asked. "I thought these were important weapons for your side."

"They are, but they can be reforged as long as the core remains intact." Irina said before turning to Yuuto. "More importantly though, must you really do this, Kiba-san? Even if you destroy the sword, it won't change anything."

"I know that." Yuuto said with evident hatred. "But it's the only path left for me. I can't avenge the deaths of my friends anymore since your people took care of those responsible, but I can at the very least surpass Excalibur, and I will."

"That incident was one of the worst cases of misconduct among us." Xenovia said. "It may have shown results and allowed us to advance our research on Holy Swords, but people were disgusted with it, and rightly so. It's a given that the Church would launch a through manhunt for those responsible."

"It was a terrible idea to put Valper Galilei in charge of it." Leon said with a grimace. "That man was obsessed with Holy Swords and would stop at nothing to unlock their secrets. Genocide Archbishop was quite the fitting moniker for that bastard. The fact that we're using the fruits of his inhumane research on some degree is repugnant. Well, it wouldn't be the first time the Church is involved in unethical projects though…"

"What matters is that he's dead now." Xenovia said. "May his wretched soul receive the appropriate punishment for his heinous crimes."

"We're getting off track." Takeshi said. "What about our enemies? Do you have any additional information on them?"

"Not much." Leon said. "The Fallen Angel Gadreel has been working under Kokabiel ever since the Great War as one of hi close confidants. Regarding his strength, I think you got a taste of it back there, Takeshi. He won't be an easy opponent."

"No kidding." Takeshi said. "I could tell he wasn't going all out. Then again, neither was I. If we cross paths again, he's dead meat for sure."

"At least you're confident." Leon grinned. "Now as for Jacob Torres, his story is a common one when it comes to Stray Exorcists. When he was only ten years old, his family and friends were massacred before his eyes by a couple of Stray Devils during an outing. He was saved by the timely arrival of several Exorcists, who had been hunting them down. He was placed in a Church-controlled orphanage and showed remarkable talent as a warrior, which led to him being scouted as an Exorcist."

"…That's where the problems started?"

"Yes." Leon nodded at Koneko. "The incident left him with a deep hatred for Devils and everybody associated with them. He began going after regular Devils, as well as killing people who made contracts with Devils, something which is forbidden."

"Humans tempted by Devils are lost sheep that could find their way back one day." Irina said. "We're supposed to guide them and protect them as well, not slaughter them. Not to mention, some people only call for Devils for very mundane tasks, which hardly justifies killing them."

"Because of his attitude and the large number of issues he had caused with the Devils, he was imprisoned until the higher-ups could decide how to deal with him." Leon said. "Unfortunately, he escaped before a verdict was reached, killing several warriors along the way, and vanished. A little later, we found out he had been picked up by the Fallen Angels like most Strays."

"It's strange that he's able to wield Excalibur though." Xenovia said with a frown. "He wasn't compatible with it despite his skill, and the method to produce artificial wielders was still in the final stages of development back then. I wonder…"

"That doesn't matter now." Yuuto said. "What matters is that when we find him, he's mine. This time, I'll definitely defeat him."

"I believe that's all for now." Leon said. "We should probably move separately and contact each other if we come across our quarry."

"Wait a second." Takeshi said. "Don't we need a team name first?"

"A…what now?"

"Team name." Takeshi said to the confused Xenovia. "You know, for morale purposes. We have six people here, which is almost like a typical Sentai team, so—"

"Ah, you're familiar with Sentai?" Irina interrupted Takeshi with sparkling eyes. "I'm a fan too! Oh, it's been so long since I've met someone with the same interests as mine!"

"Really?" Takeshi said. "Leon over there was into Sentai as well, though he leaned more towards Kamen Rider like me."

"Is that really true?" Irina turned to Leon. "You should mention such important information beforehand, leader."

"It never came up in our conversations." Leon said with a surprised look. "Who would have thought warrior Irina had the same interests…?"

"Hey, hey, what's your favorite Sentai team?" Irina said. "Mine is Goseiger. Protecting the planet is an Angel's duty! It fits our beliefs to a T!"

"Wherever there is life, there is a roar of justice!" Takeshi said, striking a pose. "Gaoranger for the win."

"The strongest and bravest in history!" Leon exclaimed. "For me, it's Kyoryuger. I loved these guys' enthusiasm."

"This is truly the Lord's guidance…" Irina said, her hands clasped in prayer. "I had my doubts, but now I'm convinced. Takeshi-kun is truly a Devil who fights on the side of justice!"

"No, no, don't get convinced all on your own there, Irina." Xenovia said with an exasperated expression. "What does this 'Sentai' thing have to do with anything?"

"It's very important, Xenovia." Irina said. "After all, there's no way a true Sentai fan could have malice in their heart! That's why I'm sure now we can trust Takeshi-kun at least without reserve!"

"How does that make any sense?" Xenovia said, rubbing her forehead. "Oh, Lord, please give me patience to deal with this airheaded comrade of mine…"

"Hey, I take offense to that!"

"…A situation I can't describe with words." Koneko said with a frown as Xenovia and Irina argued. "Where are all these weirdoes coming from? Is Senpai's power attracting them…?"

"Could be…"

Yuuto said next to her, chuckling in an awkward manner.

"Alright, let's focus, everyone." Leon said as he clapped his hands before writing something on a piece of paper. "These are our numbers. If something happens, call us at once."

"I'm sending you ours right…now." Takeshi said while fiddling with his cellphone. "I guess that's it then."

"We'll be taking our leave now." Leon said. "I'll send you guys some spare priest robes to use as disguises. Since they've been aiming for our agents so far, it's more likely the rogues will attack you if they think you are members of the Church."

"Good luck, Takeshi-kun!" Irina waved at him in an enthusiastic manner. "Let's talk more about Sentai later! I'm sure Deus Trinity-sama will allow this much!"

Once they sent them off, Yuuto turned to Takeshi and Koneko.

"You two…why did you do this?" Yuuto asked. "It was risky, and you're bound to get in trouble with President."

"She already knows, so it's no big deal." Takeshi said. "But even if she didn't, we would still do this. You're our friend, and we don't want you to destroy yourself or be declared a Stray. Coming to an agreement with the Church agents seemed to be the best way to handle this situation."

"…Yuuto-senpai…please, don't disappear on us." Koneko said, grabbing his sleeve with a sad expression. "Yuuto-senpai is like a brother to me…and I can't bear to lose another member of my family. That's why, I'll do my best to help you."

Yuuto said nothing at first, but then sighed as a small smile appeared on his face.

"I give up." Yuuto said. "There's no way I can talk back when Koneko-chan is appealing to me in such an earnest manner. Alright, let's work together. I can't cause any more trouble for you guys after you've done so much for me. But since we're doing this, we'll definitely destroy Excalibur!"

[Yes!]

Takeshi and Koneko replied together.

"In that case, let's start making plans." Takeshi said. "You also need more practice, Yuuto. If you go after the Stray while fighting like a berserker, you'll definitely end up losing again."

"I can't refute that…"

Yuuto said with a bitter smile. After that, the three Devils left the restaurant while discussing about their next steps.

A week later…

"Another fruitless day…"

Takeshi muttered under his breath. He, Yuuto and Koneko were roaming around town disguised as priests for the past week, but they had yet to encounter their quarry. Whether that was because they were unlucky, the rogues were biding their time for some reason, or had moved in another area, that was something Takeshi couldn't tell. Either one of these options were a cause for concern.

Glancing at his side, Takeshi took note of Yuuto's frustrated expression. While they had taken full advantage of the time dilation barrier to train further, Takeshi wasn't sure Yuuto would be able to keep his cool when facing Excalibur. The fact that he had yet to properly return to the club and apologize to Rias also added to the gloomy atmosphere. Yuuto had claimed that he was afraid Rias might dissuade him, but Takeshi suspected he was ashamed of his conduct and wasn't ready to face her yet.

"…Doesn't seem we'll make any progress today either." Koneko said. "Let's make one more round and head back."

No sooner had Koneko finished her sentence than all three of them tensed, feeling chills go down their spines from a sudden surge of killing intent. Yuuto was the first to react, conjuring a sword and rushing forward to meet the Stray Exorcist pouncing on them. The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed in the distance.

"Hm?" Jacob frowned upon taking note of his opponent's blade. "A Demonic Sword? That means…you're the young Devil I faced a while back."

"That's right!" Yuuto said, pushing Jacob back and removing his priest clothes. "Time for a rematch!"

Several Demonic Swords appeared above Jacob, raining down on him. The Exorcist stepped back with a burst of speed, with the blades burying themselves in the asphalt. Behind Yuuto, Takeshi and Koneko removed their priest disguises as well, with the former summoning Cataclysm Zone and sending a brief message to Leon from his cellphone.

"We were saving these for the Church agents alone, but since you Devils insist on getting in our way…" Jacob said as he avoided Yuuto's slashes, snapping his fingers. "Get them!"

A large number of humanoid shapes leapt out of the nearby buildings' shadows, heading for Takeshi and Koneko while snarling. Koneko leapt over them, while Takeshi conjured a defensive magic circle, with the creatures slamming on it.

"What the Hell…?"

Takeshi muttered upon taking a closer look at them. Their attackers resembled humans with a muscular build, prominent veins throughout their body and crimson skin, who had been augmented with several cybernetic parts. However, it was obvious they lacked any sort of higher cognitive functions judging from their feral behavior. At that moment, their mechanical arms lit up, with blades of light and cannons emerging from them. Takeshi spread his wings and took flight, evading the blasts and ensuing charge before coming to land next to Koneko.

"These things, are they machine or man!?" Takeshi shouted as he dodged a slash, sending his attacker flying with a demonic power-enveloped kick. "No, more importantly, are they alive!?"

"…Yes!" Koneko said, her straight tearing through a creature's torso. "I can sense their lifeforce! Whatever they are, they're still living creatures!"

"Perfect!"

Takeshi summoned Blight Current, shooting a globule of venom from its tip at one of his attackers. The cyborg howled in pain as its human parts started turning black before it fell on the ground dead.

"Nice!" Takeshi grinned, transforming his Sacred Gear into its eight-pronged whip form. "Now then, all of you will be eradicated without fail!"

Takeshi swung his whip, striking three cyborgs that were too slow to react and opening deep gashes on their bodies. In a few seconds, they collapsed on the ground dead. Two more attempted to flank Takeshi, but he swung his whip once again, the black lightning coming from it turning them into a charred mess once it struck them. Next to Takeshi, Koneko was shooting ki bullets at the mass of enemies, bringing them down one after another. A couple of them tried to grab her, but she smashed their heads in with Touki-enhanced punches. At the same time, Takeshi's whips came from behind her and took down several cyborgs that attempted to pounce at her.

Two of them snarled as boosters appeared on their legs, launching themselves at Takeshi. He switched his whip back to its rod form and stopped them in their tracks, giving Koneko the chance to rip them apart with her claw-like Touki constructs. Switching his Sacred Gear to whip form once again, Takeshi forced several cyborgs into a corner, with Koneko destroying them using an oversized ki bullet. The rest of the cyborgs formed light shields from their hands and surrounded the two Devils, aiming at them with their cannons. However, Takeshi swung his whip around, deflecting the bolts, while Koneko increased the amount of Touki surrounding her, with the blasts being incapable of penetrating her defenses.

"…Our turn."

Koneko said as she dug her hands in the ground, lifting a large chunk out of it and throwing it at the cyborgs, disturbing their formation. Letting large amounts of black thunder to course through Blight Current, Takeshi delivered a mighty swing, smashing several cyborgs to pieces. However, he was a second too slow to react as a flying fist came at him, hitting him in the shoulder. He barely stifled a cry of pain, feeling as if someone had struck him with a large hammer.

Stupid heightened sense of pain! Takeshi cursed in his thoughts. Better get used to this sooner rather than later!

Sending his whips digging into the ground, Takeshi had them emerge into the enemies' position, forcing them to scurry out of the way. Koneko didn't miss this chance, picking off those who had strayed too far with her ki-enveloped fists. When a cyborg approached too close, she grabbed its neck and delivered a chokeslam, slamming it on another cyborg's head. Meanwhile, Takeshi snapped his fingers at a pair of cyborgs that had approached too close for comfort, with the demonic power-enhanced sound wave cracking their armors and disorienting them. Two thrusts from Blight Current's rod form were enough to take them down before Takeshi turned his attention to the remaining opponents. Meanwhile, a few meters away, Jacob and Yuuto were still continuing their deadly exchange.

"That's a nice amount of hatred you've got there, Devil brat!" Jacob said as he parried Yuuto's blade, countering with a fast slash that forced him to step back. "Much more refined than last time! But like I said then, it can't possibly match mine!"

Jacob crossed his swords, releasing two crescent-shaped light waves. Yuuto summoned several swords to shield himself, with the waves tearing through almost all of them. He conjured Smoke Signal, letting out copious amounts of smoke that engulfed the area around the two combatants. Just as he charged at Jacob with Starlight Flash, his demonic power concentrated at the tip of the rapier, Jacob used Transparency to vanish once again, causing Yuuto to miss.

Dismissing his blade and conjuring several Aqua Currents around him, Yuuto doused the ground with water. Taking note of the splashing sound of footsteps, he conjured and shot Gravity Nail at that direction, stunning Jacob momentarily. Conjuring Magnet Pulse next, he manipulated the metal around them, grinding it into blade-like fragments and forming several whips that were aimed at Jacob. The Stray Exorcist dispersed most of them with slashes from Rapidly, but two of them went past his guard and slashed his arm and leg. However, much to Yuuto's shock, no blood came out of the wounds. Instead, sparks and some form of green fluid dripped from them for a bit.

"You…what the Hell are you?"

"The perfected form of these wretched failures over there." Jacob responded to Yuuto, gesturing at the cyborgs fighting Takeshi and Koneko. "For the sake of my revenge against you Devils, I abandoned everything; my beliefs, my comrades, and even my humanity. But in exchange, I've gained unrivaled power! With it, I'll slaughter every last one of you maggots, as well as those cowards in the Church! Now, have a taste of mine and Excalibur's true power!"

Rapidly shone as Jacob started moving even faster than before, leaving several afterimages behind. It was all Yuuto could do to defend himself from his slashes, which were shattering his blades one after another. Straining himself and his Sacred Gear to the limit, Yuuto had blades erupt from the ground and surroundings while also raining down on his position from above.

Taking advantage of a momentary lull in his opponent's moves as he dodged the blade barrage, Yuuto conjured Snake Fang and had the segmented blade wrap itself around Jacob's leg, tripping him. He slashed at him with a pair of Grudge Dents, but Jacob was faster, parrying the incoming blades and delivering a kick that sent Yuuto flying back. He charged at him, but Yuuto used Instant Swap, trading his position with one of his Blast Ogres which exploded on Jacob's face.

"Such a shame, such a shame." Jacob snorted, the explosion having left him unharmed. "It's not enough. Your anger isn't enough at all. As long as you refuse to abandon anything and everything that holds you back, you will never be my equal. You—"

Jacob's words were cut off by a raging tempest that struck his position, forcing him to dodge. At the same time, several cyborgs were sent flying, their broken remains raining down on the deserted street.

"Looks like I arrived just in time!"

Leon said, brandishing Fragarach and slashing at Jacob, who attempted to parry his attack. However, Leon deftly deflected the incoming Excaliburs and thrust his blade at Jacob, opening a cut on his left arm and forcing him to step back. Using Transparency, he turned invisible and started circling Leon, attacking from a seemingly blind spot. However, Leon caught the incoming blades on his own and performed an overhead parry before delivering a diagonal slash, opening another gash on the Stray's torso and forcing him to open the distance again.

"It's no use going invisible." Leon said. "As long as I can read your killing intent and the movement of the air currents, your position is clear to me."

"Aren't you quite the skilled young Exorcist." Jacob sneered, turning visible again. "Looks like killing you won't be as simple as I thought!"

Behind the two swordsmen, Irina and Xenovia, who had arrived shortly after Leon, dispatched the last remaining cyborgs with a few quick strokes of their Excaliburs.

"Yahoo, Takeshi-kun and the others!" Irina waved at everyone. "Sorry we're late, but those monstrosities attacked us as well. But hey, better late than never!"

"These people…how dare you play with their bodies in such a manner!?" Xenovia said, a furious expression on her face as she brandished her Excalibur. "That's unforgivable! Prepare to receive judgement in the name of our Lord, Jacob Torres!"

"My, there's no need to get all ruffled up about them." An unknown voice spoke. "They became my guinea pigs out of their own volition after all."

Everyone present turned their sights at a nearby rooftop, where an elderly man clad in priest robes was surveying the situation.

"You…it can't be!" Leon cried out upon recognizing his features. "Valper Galilei!? But you…you're supposed to be dead! The warriors sent after you confirmed your demise and retrieved the corpse!"

"For someone like me, faking my death was a simple matter, young man." Valper said, eyeing Leon's blade. "Fragarach, eh? It's not Excalibur, but if it's chosen you, that means you're a natural Holy Sword wielder unlike the girls behind you. Such good fortune, to be blessed by Heaven with this talent."

"Valper Galilei…" Yuuto said through gritted teeth, glaring at the man. "To think that a monster like you is still alive while my comrades perished…! I will correct that mistake! Disappear from this world!"

Several swords appeared around Yuuto, who launched them at Valper. However, the older man smirked as the blades passed through him, with his form flickering for a bit.

"A hologram created through a magic circle…" Leon grimaced. "As if a coward like you would actually show up in person here."

"I prefer the term cautious." Valper said, glancing at the pile of cyborg corpses scattered around the area. "Hm, looks like they were a failure after all. Not only were they unable to adapt to the Light Containers, the degradation of their minds due to excessive modifications and cybernetic enhancements was greater than anticipated. Perhaps a powerful will is also needed to withstand the process…? In any case, the current situation is unfavorable. Retreat, Jacob. The preparations for the main event are almost ready."

"At last." Jacob grinned, turning to his opponents. "Enjoy what little time you have left, alliance of Church and Devils! Next time we meet, I'm sending you all straight to oblivion!"

Jacob stabbed both Excaliburs on the ground, releasing a bright flash of light. By the time everyone recovered, both the Stray Exorcist and Valper's projection had vanished.

"They slipped away again." Takeshi clicked his tongue in irritation. "And what's this about a main event? I've got a bad feeling about this…"

"The architect of our misery still lives…!" Yuuto muttered with evident hatred, punching the nearby wall. "Wait a little longer, everyone. I swear I'll send him straight to Hell!"

"You may get your chance sooner than you think, Kiba Yuuto-kun." Leon said while standing next to the spot Valper's hologram had appeared, a magic circle in his hand. "That guy was looking down on us a bit too much. I've pinpointed the origin of his transmission. How about we pay these rogues a visit?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Takeshi grinned as Leon jumped off the roof and landed next to him. "Spoiling the bad guys' plans is always so much fun, you know?"

"Yes!" Irina said. "These heretics won't know what hit them!"

"Then what are we standing here for?" Xenovia said. "Let's go. We need to pass judgement on these sinners."

Everyone nodded as they started running, following after Leon. After a few minutes, they arrived at a dilapidated mansion close to the town's limits. The eerie silence and overwhelming aura exuding from this building had everyone on edge as they approached the mansion with cautious steps.

[I can sense someone very strong here.] Grendel chuckled. [Looks like this will be yet another fun outing!]

[You said it.] Nidhogg said. [Our previous hosts were one thing, but you seem to draw powerful opponents to you in a much greater rate compared to them, whelp. It almost makes me tolerate this miserable existence.]

Great. Takeshi groaned in his thoughts. If you guys are all giddy, there's bound to be serious trouble coming our way.

[Ah, don't lose heart, partner.] Orochi said. [I'm sure someone like you will pull through like always. Plus, this is a great opportunity to show more of your good side to these two girls! Moments of crisis like these are the best to curry favor with the opposite gender!]

Not helping, Orochi.

"We passed through this area when making our rounds a couple of days ago, yet we didn't pick up anything." Leon said, his eyes glued to the mansion. "Did something change…or do they not feel the need to hide anymore?"

"Either way, standing around like this isn't accomplishing anything." Yuuto said, conjuring a new sword. "Before they have the chance to get away, we—"

Yuuto's words were cut off as a large light spear descended from the sky, aiming at them. The group barely had time to dodge as the light spear struck the ground, causing an explosion and opening a large crater.

"Quite the nimble rats, aren't you? I was hoping to get at least get a couple of you with this."

The one who had spoken was the Fallen Angel Kokabiel, floating above the group with his ten black wings spread to their full width. The pressure he was exuding made everyone sweat bullets and feel as if a knife was being pressed near their throats.

"Kokabiel…" Leon said. "How are you here!? Our forces should be pursuing you right about now!"

Instead of answering, Kokabiel grinned before vanishing, appearing in front of Xenovia. Before she could react, he grabbed Excalibur Destruction's blade and kicked her in the stomach, sending her tumbling to the ground as she struggled to breathe.

"Xenovia!" Irina shouted as she rushed to her side. "Are you alright!?"

"Been…better…"

"One more blade for our side." Kokabiel said, conjuring a magic circle and tossing the Excalibur inside. "Next is you!"

Kokabiel formed two light swords in his hands, aiming for Irina. However, Leon and Takeshi jumped in front of him, the latter having equipped Berserk Devastator. His light blades clashed against his opponents' sword and gauntlet, generating a large shockwave.

"Looks like the Evil Dragons' feeling was right on the money!" Takeshi shouted as he and the others jumped back. "Balance Break!"

[Atrocity Rise! Crime Force Awakening!]

An explosive flaming aura enveloped Takeshi's body, with Savage Predator Incarnation's armor wrapping itself around his body. Seeing this, Kokabiel smirked, forming a large number of light daggers around him and launching them at the group. Leon brought forth the Shield of Evalach, conjuring a large defensive magic circle that barely withstood the bombardment. At the same time, Takeshi sent waves of fire and ice at Kokabiel, who deflected them using his wings.

"You guys get out of here!" Leon shouted at Koneko, Yuuto and Irina. "Grab warrior Xenovia and run! We'll hold him off while you call for help!"

"You think I'll let you escape!?" Kokabiel laughed. "Cassiopeia!"

Five large orbs appeared above the group, with thick energy lines connecting them to form a large W. Kokabiel gestured with his hand, sending the construct flying at the group. However—

[Boost!]

Following that announcement, the defensive magic circle's glow intensified, withstanding Kokabiel's attack much to his surprise. Everybody's eyes focused on Leon, and more specifically, in his left hand, where a red gauntlet with a green gem on it had manifested itself beneath his shield.

"That gauntlet…" Kokabiel narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me, you are…!"

"The higher-ups said not to use this if possible, especially in front of Devils, but the situation leaves me with little choice." Leon said with a bitter smile. "It's your turn, Ddraig!"

[At last. I was itching for some action here.]

A gruff voice came from the gauntlet. The next moment, a storm of red aura surrounded Leon's body, causing everyone to wince, as he shouted.

"Balance Break!"

[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]

Following that announcement, a red-colored full body armor with a dragon motif enveloped Leon's body. Green gems could be seen attached to the chest, hand, shoulder, elbow and knee area of the armor, letting out a faint glow. A large amount of aura erupted from it, causing almost everyone present to tremble.

"…Boosted Gear." Koneko said, her eyes opened wide. "Takeshi-senpai's friend…is the Red Dragon Emperor?"

"That's the first time I'm hearing this!" Irina cried out in shock. "You've really been holding out on us, leader!"

[Ddraig!] Grendel howled in outrage, his fury paralyzing Takeshi's body. [This is where you've been hiding, you piece of shit!? Long time no see! I've been looking forward for a chance to pulverize you after our last match! This time, you won't escape from me! Victory will be mine!]

[Grendel, eh…?] Ddraig sighed, an annoyed tone in his voice. [I was hoping I'd never have to see your ugly face again, you crazy Evil Dragon. I see you haven't mellowed down one bit despite being imprisoned for so long.]

[Do you take me for a weakling like you!?] Grendel bellowed. [My soul that craves for battle will not be so easily subdued! Now I will—]

"Shut the Hell up, Grendel!" Takeshi yelled, asserting control once again. "I don't give a damn about your grudge or whatever! We're kind of in the middle of a crisis right now, so put a sock in it!"

[Don't you dare get in my way or give me orders, whelp!] Grendel shouted. [You will not spoil this for me!]

"Watch me!"

Takeshi shouted as he spread his armor's wings, heading straight for Kokabiel. The Fallen Angel was momentarily surprised, but formed a light barrier, blocking Takeshi's high kick.

"I was hoping to see the Evil Dragon User fight the Red Dragon Emperor, but this is good in its own way!" Kokabiel said, pushing Takeshi back and forming several light bullets, pelting Takeshi with them. "A united front between sworn enemies is amusing to say the least! Let's see how long you two can entertain me!"

"This is your chance." Leon said to the others, brandishing his blade. "Get out of here and warn the others. I don't know how long we can keep occupied. Go!"

[Boost! Boost! Boost!]

A large amount of wind surrounded Leon as he shot forward, missing Kokabiel by mere centimeters and destroying the mansion behind him. Having lost his balance, Kokabiel showed an opening that Takeshi took advantage of, burying his fist in his abdomen and sending him flying. Just as he steadied himself, Kokabiel flew back, evading a large wind blade aimed at him. At the same time, Takeshi shot a barrage of icicles at Kokabiel, which the Fallen Angel parried with his wings.

Seeing that Kokabiel was occupied, Yuuto and Koneko nodded at each other. The latter grabbed the wincing Xenovia and the two of them started running, with Irina right behind them.

"Let's take it up a notch now that the nuisances are gone!" Kokabiel said. "Sagittarius!"

Several star-shaped light constructs appeared around Kokabiel, shooting out streams of light beams at Leon and Takeshi. Both of them were forced to dodge, with the beam barrage preventing them from getting closer to the Cadre. Enveloping Fragarach in wind, Leon glanced at Takeshi, who nodded as he crossed his arms, shooting out a wave of fire. Leon's wind mixed with it, resulting in a massive conflagration that engulfed Kokabiel. The Fallen Angel snorted in derision, rearranging his star constructs to form a barrier that shielded him from the attack.

However, the two youths weren't done yet as an enormous ice glacier came at Kokabiel from his left side, piercing his barrier and destroying some of his constructs. At the same, Leon pounced at Kokabiel from above, his sword raised overhead.

[Boost! Boost! Boo—]

The announcement was interrupted as a beam from a star construct high above struck the back of Leon's armor, causing the aura that was gathering around him to disperse. Briefly stunned, he barely had time to bring his sword and shield up, blocking Kokabiel's light swords. Takeshi made a beeline for the two's position, but several light blasts struck his armor, throwing him off-course.

"Boosted Gear might be formidable, but it has several glaring weaknesses, boy!" Kokabiel said as he engaged in a furious swordfight with Leon. "If you're attacked in the middle of boosting, the stored power disperses, no!?"

Leon didn't answer, opting to parry the Fallen Angel's blades with his shield and shoot several wind bullets from Fragarach's tip. Kokabiel evaded them before forming numerous light bullets around him and shooting them at Leon in return, who frowned under his helmet.

[Boost! Boost! Transfer!]

The Shield of Evalach glowed as Leon transferred power to it, increasing the strength of its barrier once again. The light bullets pelting it were unable to penetrate the large magic circle, dispersing harmlessly. At the same time, Takeshi gathered flames in his fingers, shooting out several flaming threads that tore through Kokabiel's constructs. Two of them came at him from the side, but his frost breath turned them into lumps of ice that were shattered by his kicks. Both youths then charged at Kokabiel, but he enveloped his wings in light and used them to slash at the two, forcing them to step back. Just as he was about to continue attacking with an oversized light spear, a jet-black arrow came flying at him, forcing him to stop and grab it, crushing it in his grip.

"Right on time…"

Takeshi smiled as he looked to the side. Assembled there were the rest of Rias's Peerage along with Sona's Peerage and Irina, ready for a fight. However, Kokabiel grinned upon seeing them. Taking note of that, Rias narrowed her eyes as she stepped forward, addressing him.

"Fallen Angel Kokabiel." Rias said. "I don't know why you are here and what your intent is, but I would advise you and your group to surrender. Otherwise, we won't hesitate to use lethal force against you."

"Such unfounded confidence." Kokabiel said. "While I would love to fight you here and break that foolish pride of yours, I have a much more fitting stage in mind. Let's settle this at the school that serves as your base, Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri! My subordinates and I will be waiting for you there! And to make sure you won't try to run…"

Kokabiel snapped his fingers. At that moment, a massive semi-transparent dome enveloped the entirety of Kuoh Town, trapping it within its confines.

"What's this?" Sona said. "What did you do, Kokabiel!?"

"Like I said, I'm stopping you from running away." Kokabiel said. "After all, taking your lives is necessary in order to start the Second Great War. But by all means, feel free to call for help if you so wish. Maybe your siblings will get here in time to watch the life bleed out of you. But I wouldn't take my time if I were you. Otherwise, you'll be destroyed along with this town before you have a chance to do anything!"

Kokabiel laughed as he formed a teleportation magic circle beneath him, vanishing in a flash of light. Seeing that the danger had passed for now, both Leon and Takeshi dismissed their Balance Breakers, with the latter wincing as he felt his back and left leg aching. Wasting no time, he summoned Mayhem Striker, which started working on his injuries. While he loathed having his lifespan trimmed down, he couldn't afford to not be at one hundred percent now.

"It appears Kokabiel has thrown down the gauntlet at us." Sona said, turning to her servants. "Saji, Nimura, head back to Kuoh Academy at once, but do not enter the premises. Just scout from afar."

[Yes!]

"Hanakai, Kusaka, you two inspect the barrier surrounding this town." Sona continued as Genshirou and Ruruko spread their wings and flew towards Kuoh Academy. "We need to ensure there are no nasty surprises in it."

[Right!]

Momo and Reya nodded as they stepped into a teleportation magic circle, vanishing in a flash of light.

"Akeno, contact my brother's office." Rias said. "As much as I hate to admit it…taking on Kokabiel and his entourage with just the members here is too dangerous. We need all the help we can get."

"At once, President."

Meanwhile, Takeshi was lying on the ground, with Koneko channeling ki at him and Leon to restore their stamina as much as possible.

"So, you are a Longinus possessor." Takeshi said to Leon. "And not just any Longinus, but the renowned Boosted Gear. I guess the Church officials wanted to keep this a secret?"

"They did, which was why my identity was confidential." Leon said. "It's also why they claimed the Red Dragon Emperor belonged to the Catholic branch although I belong to the Eastern Orthodox branch. But I couldn't hold back against a Cadre, or else he might have killed us both there."

"No kidding…" Takeshi sighed. "He's completely different from that Gadreel bastard, and he wasn't exactly easy to deal with either. Even so, we won't let him do as he pleases in our town."

Takeshi clenched his fist with a determined expression as he turned his gaze towards Kuoh Academy, where their enemy was waiting for them.

This concludes Chapter 24. First, in response to your questions.

—To Ryukipendragon: No, Leon doesn't have feelings for either girl, since this was the first time he partnered together with them for a mission. His love interest is another OC character that will appear a little later. As for Ddraig's Balance Breaker, it's the same as it was in canon.

Much like in canon, Takeshi and Koneko approached the Exorcists and formed a united front with them against Kokabiel's agents. Unlike canon, Saji wasn't part of this team-up, but he will have a slightly bigger role in the coming battle in exchange. Leon revealed himself as the Red Dragon Emperor here, as most of you predicted, when he and Takeshi briefly confronted Kokabiel.

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

See you all next time!