Excalibur Reforged
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The Sins' Return Chapter 13: Excalibur Reforged
(Que Seven Deadly Sins Ost "Sky Peace")
Valper's face was etched in a look that combined both shock and horror. The lone survivor of the Holy Sword Project slowly accosted to him, his eyes as cold and piercing as the steel of the sword. They judged his soul and Valper knew he was found guilty. Then his beady eyes settled on the symbol of royalty of King Arthur's court, the right kingship, Clarent. The once holy aura that it once exuded was now brimming with red demonic power from the betrayal of Mordred when he attacked the king. They could all see it on the blade like it was sheathed in red plasma.
"That's not possible!" Valper whimpered, backing away from this…monster that wanted his blood. "How?! How could you have Clarent!? It was supposed to be locked away, somewhere where even I don't know!"
"What makes you think that this is actually the real Clarent?" Kiba said just above a whisper.
"What?" This time it was Kokabiel who spoke his piece. "What nonsense are you babbling on about?"
Ruby narrowed her eyes at this new development, her senses reaching to the Sacred Gears within Kiba. But there was one, a fusion of holy and demonic energies to create something else entirely. It was insanely powerful, and yet Ruby looked deeper. But where there was one sword that Clarent, Ruby saw ten more swords, all of them being blades of myth and legend. Then those became a hundred, a thousand. No, there was just no end to them.
So many blades, it was terrifying as it was fascinating.
Kiba held up the blade of 'Clarent'. "It may look like, feel like, and even have the same power as Clarent, but at the same time it is not.
It is simply a fake, for if my Clarent went up against the genuine article mine would simply shatter. Yet, I understand this blade, its structure, its integrity, and even its history. From when Mordred rebelled against his son, the king, for the right of throne when he was denied it. I can even trace the skill in this very blade, but never close to master it."
"How can this be possible?" Valper exclaimed. "Even if you have both Blade Blacksmith and Sword Birth with complete mastery, you shouldn't be able to make a perfect copy of such a blade!"
"That is because of the new power that the souls of my friends have given me." Kiba said. "Their souls have merged with my own, and together we have created something greater. I no longer have Sword Birth or Blade Blacksmith. As of now, I am the first wielder of the Sacred Gear, Phantasmal Incarnation. It matters not what the blade is, for there is nothing that my power can't trace. Fakes they may be, but… there is no written rule where the fake can surpass the original."
On the sidelines, Rias could not help but have her eye wide and voice quiver. "That kind of power could be a Longinus."
"Sword Birth and Blade Blacksmith into one?!" Valper exclaimed, dropping to his knees. "But that's not possible. They are Sacred Gears of two opposite alignments. In fact, how are you even alive containing both a holy and a demonic Sacred Gear at all?"
'Oh no.' Ruby thought in worry. 'If that's what happened with two opposite Sacred Gears combining into one, Valper could figure that out.'
"It doesn't matter. You won't be alive to know." Kiba muttered.
"Yeah, you go Kiba-kun." Cheered Katase.
"Show that fat priest who you really are." Murayama added.
"Go, Kiba." Cried Rias. "Fight as Knight of the clan of Gremory."
"You guys…" Kiba said, his eyes softening as he looked at his friends, his family. "Thank you."
"Freed, help me!" Valper panicked.
The insane cackles followed the appearance of Freed as he managed to escape from his fight with Xenovia. The crude sword in his hands glowed a sickly yellow. Automatically, Kiba's eyes locked onto the blade and his Sacred Gear was tracing it. What he saw made him growl in fury. Excalibur, once a majestic beauty of the world, was crying in agony. It wished to be whole again and be free from the hands of the villain that dares to do so. Kiba for a moment hated himself for wanting the destruction of such a blade when it all it wanted was to live again, not this unholy reanimation.
"Want to dance, shitty devil!?" Cackled Freed, using Excalibur Mimic to separate the tip into several tendrils.
"You talk too much." Kiba muttered as he lazily swung the fake Clarent in two arcs and the tendrils of steel shattered like glass. "My blade may be a fake, but what you hold is just a broken sword."
"No, my Excalibur-chan!" Cried Freed, blurring away using Excalibur Rapidly. "You know what, fuck you."
"The feeling is mutual." The voice of Kiba said behind Freed.
Freed only had time to turn the fused Excalibur to block Clarent. He was not prepared for the power in the swing that sent Freed tumbling across the ground. Cracks appeared on the fused Excalibur from the blow while the Clarent in Kiba's hands did not even have a scratch.
The Knight of Rias Gremory summoned his magic as circuit-like markings appeared over his skin glowing a neon teal and in the next second he crossed the tens of meters between himself and Freed in a second. Freed tried to attack using Excalibur Rapidly to his advantage, but with the use of Reinforcement on his eyes Kiba saw it coming and appropriately swatted the holy sword away. Magic circuits charged on his arms as swung a light slash at Freed that when the priest blocked he was knocked to his feet and more cracks appeared on the Excalibur.
"I can't believe this shit." Freed cried. "How can a shitty devil be beating with me with a shitty fake? What the fuck!?"
"As if a blade that hates its own wielder will ever work." Kiba berated.
"You and Valper fail to acknowledge Excalibur. It is not some weapon, but the light of promised victory. The epitome of a bygone age immortalized through time."
"Why don't you just shut the fuck up!?" Freed cried, pouring all of his power into the fused Excalibur, activating the Destruction fragment as a blade of light extended from the tip. "Excalibur-chan is the greatest sword there is. It will obliterate you and that fake."
"If that destructive power could ever match the true power of Excalibur, then you are delusional." Kiba said, red demonic energy lashing off of Clarent. "I should know. This very blade has battled against it."
Kiba raised Clarent over his head. The guard opened up, releasing a jet of red energy like an inferno that reached over three stories high.
It completely overwhelmed the holy power of the fused Excalibur.
The pressure from the ray of red energy even made the likes of Kokabiel, the Balrogs, Ruby, Xenovia, and Issei to stare at it.
"Incredible…" Issei gasped.
"So this is the power of one of the swords of Camelot's armory." Ruby muttered.
"To think that failure could become powerful." Kokabiel commented as a smirk appeared on his face. "This might prove very interesting."
"DIE!" Freed exclaimed as he slammed down the Excalibur and unleashing a wave of destructive holy energy. But even against the raging storm of light, Kiba's eyes were unchanged from their steely gaze.
"Clarent," Kiba called, pouring more energy into the blade that caused lightning to lash out, "Blood Arthur."
Kiba slammed down Clarent to unleash a tsunami of demonic energy. It was the very same energy brought on by Mordred's hatred for Arthur that Kiba traced from the blade. The holy wave was instantly taken over and Freed could only cry in agony as it slammed onto him. The fused Excalibur held for a second against the tide, but it was fighting against the very wrath that sought its destruction. If it were the complete Excalibur then Clarent would have lost, but unfortunately it was missing one piece to it.
And so unholy recreation of the Sword of Promised Victory was shattered under the force of Clarent. Freed did not get the chance to scream as the demonic energy reduced him to ashes. When the dust cloud settled all that was left in front of Kiba was a scorched ground.
Freed was nowhere to be seen, and that was left was the shattered remains of the fused Excalibur.
"He did it!" Exclaimed Murayama. "Kiba-kun vaporized that crazy teme."
"Kiba-kun's our hero." Katase said.
'Hero.' Kiba thought, looking at the fake Clarent as it dissipated into magic particles. 'I remember now. That's what I wanted to be, even before I entered the church. My friends… you wanted save me so I could achieve that dream. I won't let you down.'
"I understand now." Valper cried with a crazy grin. "A fusion between holy and demonic energies is only possible if the balance has been disrupted. Which means not only did Satan die, but also-"
Valper unfortunately did not get to finish as he was impaled by a light spear from Kokabiel. He did not even give the excommunicated archbishop a glance as the man disappeared into particles from the light properties burning his flesh.
"Valper, you really were a genius." Kokabiel said. "Unfortunately, you weren't supposed to figure that part out."
"What are you trying to do here?" Rias demanded.
"Just getting rid of anything tedious." Kokabiel answered nonchalantly as he descended to the ground. "Now I've grown increasingly bored, but it wasn't really that bad. I've really hit quite the jackpot with this lot. The Red Dragon Emperor who is already low Ultimate-class, the Gremory princess who is a Super Devil just like his big brother, and now the birth of a new Longinus Sacred Gear. Ha-ha-ha, what a fun day, it's been!"
A crash turned their attention to the left side where one of the Balrogs tumbled into the field. They could see Issei on it holding onto its shoulder and trying to stab it into through the thick hide of shadow that surrounded its neck. The Balrog was not having it as it continued to thrash around to throw Issei off. Over yonder, they watched Ruby and the other Balrog clashing in the air. Their weapons bashed against each other with such force it caused a bit of a light show.
"They look to be having fun." Kokabiel said, then he glanced to Kiba.
"You, Knight of Gremory, I want to see the power of this new Longinus Sacred Gear myself. This is your chance to defeat, or else in less than fifteen minutes this whole town will be flattened."
Kiba didn't respond with words, but the steel in his eyes was now locked onto Kokabiel. He accosted slowly towards the fallen angel that waited for him. Magic circuits reappeared on his arms and legs as he pulled on the endless archive that was his Longinus Sacred Gear. The Knight of Gremory did not want to use a blade on the level of Clarent. After all, he just at the bare requirement for Reinforcement magic and will have to invest in larger reserves in the future.
Another pair of footsteps joined Kiba at his right side. He glanced, slightly surprised to see Xenovia right beside holding Durandal. Through his experience reliving the lives of the past Sacred Gear wielders Kiba had seen and traced Durandal. Yet, his Sacred Gear automatically analyzed the holy sword in Xenovia's hands. Kiba saw yet again its history as the Peerless Blade, the symbol of bravery it paved in the hands of Roland. After reviewing Durandal's history, Kiba could not ask for a better wielder than Xenovia for it as he understood the blade's want to be with her, but it only needed her to get stronger to use its full power.
"This will be not easy, you know." Kiba said. "So you may need this."
Lightning-like magic magic sparked on Kiba's right hand, taking the shape of a sword as Kiba traced it. A peerless shine later and Xenovia almost popped her eyes out at the appearance of a second Durandal. Even more when Kiba was holding it out to her. Xenovia tentatively grasped the fake Durandal in hand, but even in the knowledge it was a fake it was hard for the exorcist to tell it and the original apart. She can tell they had near exact destructive capabilities.
"What do you think?" Kiba asked.
"I think I'm falling in love with you." Xenovia muttered, now coming to terms that she was dual-wielding two Durandals.
For just a moment, Katase and Murayama glared for murder upon Xenovia when they overheard her. That was until they remembered that polygamy was allowed. Just in case, they had to make plans for a third in the group.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Kokabiel laughed. "Indeed, Knight of Gremory, you are definitely going to be interesting."
Kiba used his Sacred Gear to summon twin daitos of a myth. One was white as snow gripped in his right hand. In his left hand was a daito as black as coal. A union of Yin and Yang of Chinese folklore these blades will always find each other. They went by the names of Bakuya and Kanshou, the married blades forged by Gan Jiang and Mo Ye.
Kiba took the first, using a burst of Reinforcement to add to his speed, and Xenovia followed closely behind with the dual Durandal.
He reappeared at Kokabiel's left swinging Byakuya with Xenovia doing the same from the other side. Despite the power and impressive speed, Kokabiel caught their blades between two fingers each.
"It's been a while since I've faced Durandal." Kokabiel commented.
"However, the previous wielder was far stronger than this."
Xenovia clicked her tongue and brought the fake Durandal to cut Kokabiel's arm that held her other blade. In response, Kokabiel summoned his wings to hold the fake Durandal back. Cracks appeared on the fake the more the fallen angel applied pressure.
"Ha, you were right, these are fakes." Kokabiel mused, before applying enough pressure to shatter the fake Durandal.
"That just lets me use them a bit more than I can with the original." Kiba retorted.
Kokabiel raised a curious eyebrow when he sensed magic being flooded into the blade he held. Magic circuits appeared on the black blade until the fake could not take it. The fallen angel was treated to a nasty surprise as Kanshou exploded in a blast of unstable magic and shrapnel. He staggered in pain, allowing Xenovia to free herself from Kokabiel's grip and disengage. Kiba however pressed on the attack.
He jumped to gain distance before tracing a replacement for Kanshou. He overloaded the blades with magic before throwing Bakuya. Kiba understood the natural attraction within the blades, so when he threw Kanshou it went at greater velocity. Kokabiel dodged out of the way of the explosive blades, knowing what they could do to him with the cuts on his face. However, the blast from the blades created a cloud of dust that hid away Kiba's next move. Kiba went forward with the quick plan in his hand and traced three pairs of Kanshou and Bakuya. Each one was thrown simultaneously and instead of crashing to the ground the blades orbited around Kokabiel. He traced fourth pair into his hands, and the orbiting fakes closed in on the fallen angel. At the last second, Kokabiel noticed the spinning steel of death and reacted accordingly by surrounding himself in his wings. The pairs of Kanshou and Bakuya failed to sink through the wings and were soon shattered by them.
"Neat trick." Kokabiel sneered.
However, he found Kiba right in front with Kanshou and Bakuya at his side ready to cut him in half. Smirking, Kokabiel caught the blades between his fingers.
"Is that all?" Kokabiel said.
"Not even close!" Kiba exclaimed.
He made a third trace this time with his mouth. A steel sword of northern make came to life, its hilt held within Kiba's mouth. It was the blade of an ancient chieftain during the peak of the Ancient Roman Empire. This chief led a charge to Hadrian's Wall with this very blade. Grudge was its name in the common language and had felled a hundred warriors in the chief's berserk state. Which made it perfect for wielding from his mouth as he skillfully tilted his head sharply to cut Kokabiel's cheek, missing his eye by centimeters. As Kokabiel was too busy holding his face in pain, Kiba jumped back to gain distance.
"Well done, you've actually cut me." Kokabiel 'congratulated'. "Here's your reward."
Kokabiel created a pair of golden light swords that he unleashed in an X-shaped wave of power. Kiba searched through his Sacred Gear to find some sort of blade to counter the arc of light, but unfortunately he would not have enough time. Xenovia chose to get in between and hold the blast at bay with Durandal. Despite the power of Kokabiel, it did nothing to scratch the Peerless Blade and with a cry of effort the exorcist split it apart.
Over on one end of the battle, Issei was on the ground battling his Balrog blade with blade. The Balrog's left shoulder was useless as Issei had managed to cut through the dark hide deep enough to cut the joint itself. Issei had already gone through his seventh [BOOST], making it easy for the Red Dragon Emperor to parry its enormous blade of fire. Once it was staggered, Issei leaped towards its chest with his gladius poised to stab it.
[TRANSFER.]
Ddraig's power from the [BOOSTS] transferred to the blade in midjump. The steel glowed a bright green as Issei stabbed the blade into the Balrog's sternum. Hide and bone could not stop the power of a dragon, and the gladius pierced rightfully true to the heart. The Balrog gave one last cry of defiance and pain before the burning flames around snuffed out. A black, broken husk instead fell to the ground with a crash, smote of any unholy power and life within it.
"Tough son of a bitch." Issei muttered.
The Balrog that Ruby was facing roared in rage at the fall of its comrade in battle. Its eyes burned with unholy flame that burned a dark crimson like blood towards the angel, who did not falter in her fight. In fact, Ruby was counting on the Balrog's wrath, and prepared holy flames on her hands.
The remaining Balrog threw both axes at the Ultimate-class angel, red chains trailing behind from the handles. Ruby did not just avoid them, but when the axes passed she gripped on the crimson chains of fire. The Balrog attempted to pull back, but its eyes of fire widened that Ruby was far superior in raw strength. She gave a roar of effort as Ruby forcefully pulled on the chains and the Balrog was yanked into the air.
Ruby let go of the chains and dived down straight to the Balrog like a bullet with her hands outstretched. One impact, there was a great bang and the Balrog was sent crashing back to Earth. It tried to get its bearings but found something on its neck. There holding the Balrog down was Ruby surrounded in holy fire with her arms locked around the monster. She gave a cry before there was a sickening crack, indicating Ruby broke its neck. Like before, the fires of the Balrog were snuffed out and only left a husk.
"Why do I continue to fight with a loser that doesn't even know their master is dead?" Kokabiel said to Xenovia, who was on one knee.
"What do you mean?" Xenovia said, struggling to stand. "By what master are you referring to?"
Kokabiel could only cackle. "I guess there's no point in hiding it."
"Don't do it, Kokabiel!" Shouted Ruby, charging down Kokabiel with her dual sheathed blades. "You cannot tell them that. It is forbidden!"
Kokabiel scoffed as he blasted Ruby away with a light spear that sent her crashing into the academy building. "I will do whatever I feel like doing. And no one can tell me otherwise, especially an angel who has kept such a dark secret from the humans."
"What?" Xenovia exclaimed. "What secret could the angels themselves keep from us believers of God?"
"That's just the thing." Kokabiel cackled. "For you see, at the end of the Great War, not only did Satan and the four devil kings die but also my dear, old, fool of a father, the Biblical God Yahweh as well."
And just like that, whatever fight that any of the ORC held was completely gone. Xenovia and Asia especially broke down mentally, their knees buckling as they fell. Kiba was also hit hard as his fake mythical weapons dissipated into magic particles. It was due to his past in the church and to know that not only were his prayers unheard of because of a madman but also because the object of his prayers was already dead struck him in the heart.
Murayama and Katase dropped their Sacred Treasures to the ground in shock of this news. They weren't exactly Christian themselves, but to know that some seemingly omnipotent being that had the faith of billions of people was dead anyway. It just didn't seem to compute in their heads. As for the devils, they may have been natural enemies to Yahweh, but it still affected nonetheless as those like Rias and Akeno were feeling weak at the knees from the shock.
"No." Xenovia denied, glaring daggers at the smirking Kokabiel. "No, you're lying."
Kokabiel only laughed. "The only liars are your precious angels. They've keeping this secret so they can keep the religion alive, thus their hold on you humans. Honestly, I would've done the same to keep my subordinates in check. All factions leaders kept this secret all so you could still fear a dead god."
"Lies…" Xenovia murmured, her eyes wide. "They're all lies."
"But our prayers." Asia whimpered. "Where have our prayers been going then?"
"That would be Michael actually." Kokabiel said. "He's been holding his own in Heaven to receive the prayers to our dead god, but of course not everyone's prayers were answered. You, the excommunicated holy maiden, for example. You prayed for blessings to others and then guidance when you were cast out. But guess what? They were heard, but Michael just thought that you were too unimportant to receive your answers. Ha-ha-ha-ha."
Asia's eyes spilled tears of sorrow as she fell to the ground, sobbing.
The more Asia cried, the more Kokabiel's grin stretched across his face as he took pleasure in the young angel's sadness. He then began to laugh maniacally. It was so hilarious how a few words were enough to completely shatter the morale of his foes.
But not all of them were broken from the truth. Only one still stood strong, besides Ruby in the rubble of the academy building. Issei Hyoudou knew the truth of Yahweh's demise at the end of the Great War. He was told the truth by Meliodas himself, a telling of a tale that weighed heavily on Meliodas' heart. After all, he was there at that very battle where Satan, the four devil kings, and Yahweh were fighting each other. That was that same day that Meliodas and Zeldris take that opportunity when their father was wounded by the Biblical God to kill him and split his power into the Ten Commandments so he may never be revived.
He was shaking, but not from shock. It was with pure rage. In response to his emotions, a crimson aura surrounded Issei, the jet engines on his shoulders roared with flame, and the green gems were a blinding greem. The upsurge of draconic power snapped the shock out of most of the ORC to Issei who looked he was about to explode with energy.
"How dare you!" Growled Issei, his eyes turning into green slits.
"HOW DARE YOU MAKE MY ASIA CRY!"
The strength of his roar was enough to crater the earth at his feet and red tendrils of energy broke the ground around him. The aura itself took the visage of an enraged dragon with great red wings spread out.
"Welsh Balance Breaker: Scale Centurion."
In a flash of red light, Issei reappeared now taller covered head-totoe in mech-like armor. Rias' eyes bulged and Kokabiel's eyes bulged at the appearance of the mighty Balance Breaker of the Boosted Gear, the Scale Mail. Or at least a much different version of it. Instead of the bulky thick scales that were a trademark to the Scale Mail, Issei's Balance Breaker was much more slimmed down around the shoulders and thighs. The gauntlets of the Scale Mail look much sleeker with a golden fang at the front instead of the back at the elbow. The armor on his legs looked to be studded than plated, allowing for greater mobility for the legs. The torso was much more defined and had etched in abs and pectorals with the gem much smaller than the Scale Mail as it rest on his sternum. Instead of the two golden horns near the mouthpiece, two framed the top of his face facing the back while a frill-like crest of crimson covered with golden spines. The shoulders and helmet took a more Roman design as the shoulders were smaller but frilled with spikes. A red, metal-like tail swung behind Issei with a barbed end. Out of his back were the usual reptilian wings of a typical dragon but just below them were two thrusters for rocket-powered flight.
"Is that Ise-kun's Balance Breaker?" Akeno gasped.
"Stronge." Koneko commented.
"Ise-kun is about to get serious." Xulean said.
"I didn't know the pervert could get angry." Murayama said as she slightly shivered from the power Issei was releasing. Katase simply could not say a single word.
"Ha-ha-ha, so you finally reveal yourself, Red Dragon Emperor." Kokabiel cackled, a golden aura surrounding him that somehow matched Issei's. "C'mon, this is what I live for!"
"Asia-chan." Issei said as he held Asia's crying form.
"Issei…" Whimpered Asia, tears still streaming down her face.
"I made a promise to you." Issei said. "I promised that I was going to show you the world and give the happiness that you deserve. If God won't answer your prayers, then leave them to me to answer them."
At Issei's declaration, Asia's eyes shot wide with awe. "Issei."
"And so what if God is dead?" Joined the voice of Ruby. Issei and Asia looked behind them to the approaching form of Ruby who just got out of the rubble.
"God may be dead, but his legacy still lives strongly through us all." Ruby proclaimed, a powerful edge in her voice. "His death was not one in vain, but a sacrifice to us. Not just humans, but also angels, fallen angels, and even devils. At the core of his being, he was compassionate and forgiving all to the end. God would not want us mourning his passing, but to live up to what he left behind. The ideals of cooperation, peace, and enlightenment that God entrusted us with."
Ruby unveiled her eight silver angel wings, but they started to glow even brighter and pure white light leaked off Ruby's body and eyes.
"God loved us all and wanted us to live on instead. Because he saw a greatness within the human race that exceeded his own. And I will see where that takes you all."
Kokabiel narrowed his eyes at Ruby. "Just who are you?"
"Guess there's no use hiding it." Ruby muttered as she held her hand out.
Her hand surged with holy power till it formed a pure white sword of light. None of the others thought of it as significant, but that changed when they saw the reaction it got from Kokabiel. His expression turned from shock to fury as his eyes glared at the white sword.
"How!?" Growled Kokabiel. "How do you have that light?! That should not be possible! Who the fuck are you!?"
"Ddraig, do you know what's going on?" Issei asked the Welsh Dragon.
[That light.] Ddraig answered with a slight edge to his voice.
[Angels and fallen angels have their own unique light, such as purple for Raynare and green for your mate. However, white should not be possible for any kind of angel to possess. There is one being that has ever wielded the white light. I knew there was something different about this Ruby when I saw her light blade.]
"What do you mean?" Issei exclaimed.
[I know that light well because I was on the other side of it once.] Ddraig answered. [The only being to wield it is the same one that sealed me in here. The white light is the power of the Biblical God himself!]
"WHAT!?" Was the all around reaction when they heard Ddraig.
"Ruby-san… has God's light." Asia muttered.
"That is correct." Ruby confirmed. "I alone am able to use the system perfectly, however short I can use it. I don't know why, but Yahweh's power chose me and it flows through my very veins. I am God's legacy, the Heiress of Heaven. And when I take up the throne, I will seek for a world of cooperation and peace, not one of blood and war that has plagued human history for all these eons."
Despite the shock from this revelation, Kokabiel managed to compose himself. "You know, I can see it actually. You and God share the same pathetic sympathy for the weak."
"Yet her words are no less true." The new voice turned heads towards the sky. A multiple magic circles layered on top of each other spun around at rapid speeds in midair till they dimmed down to reveal the form of Raynare. She was still wearing the one-piece top and black boots under the purple robe. She had a new addition of steel shin guards covering her thighs, and the white diamond on her top was replaced with a scarred lion, the mark of the Sin of Pride. At her hip were two western-style swords resting in their scabbards both emitting a holy aura, with the one on her left being more powerful. From her back was an array of eight coal black wings.
"Raynare." Kokabiel sneered. "Fancy you to join us."
"Hello, bastard." Raynare quipped.
"How did you get through the barrier?" Rias wondered.
"A teleportation circle with a space-bending formula." Raynare answered with a smirk that would make her mother proud. "It really is elementary."
"Come to die with the rabble?" Kokabiel said.
"If I was to die by your hand, it would only be in dreams, not reality." Raynare spoke down the fallen angel. "I've come here for a different reason."
Raynare withdrew the sword at her left hip, revealing it the blade to be only three inches wide with a golden diamond pattern. Xenovia's eyes widened at the sight of the sword that Raynare now held vertically in front of her for all to see.
"That sword." Gasped Xenovia. "That has to be the last Excalibur fragment. Excalibur Ruler."
"So you have a new little tooth picker." Kokabiel mused, not afraid of the fragment. "What are you going to do, stab me through the heart?"
"Well, that is that plan." Raynare said. "But she needs to be complete."
Raynare held a palm to the blade a highly complex purple magic circle came to life upon it. Everyone could feel the rise of magical power permeating through the air and on the ground. Three more magic circles appeared at Raynare's feet, a central white one that looked like a clock ticking backwards orbited by two purple magic circles of the same complex design. Two last ones in gold appeared at the tip of Excalibur Ruler and at the pommel as well.
"True Restore."
(Cue FitnessGlo "Time Bomb")
A soft golden holy energy caught the corner of the ORC's eyes and they turned to scorch grounds that used to have Freed there. Their eyes watched with fascination as specks of gold lifted from the ground, revealing them to be shards of the fused Excalibur. The glow intensified till the steel was no longer visible before they zipped through the air like golden comets. Excalibur Ruler was no longer visible as it looked no more than a ray of light.
The lights of the fused Excalibur gathered into the blade in Raynare's grip, with each one intensifying the holy energy in the air.
After one last piece arrived, Raynare resheathed the glowing blade into the scabbard. No one expected for the sky to be split in two from the sheer amount of holy energy that was suddenly released. It made the light show from earlier when the fused Excalibur was made into a nightlight. Golden light encompassed the entire academy as though a new sun had been born.
The seconds passed by and the light soon died down. In the air, they saw Raynare with her eyes closed with a few beads of sweat on her face, and in her hands was a hilt and guard of a new sword secured in the scabbard. And its name…
"The gathering breath of the star. The shining torrent of life." Raynare announced, snapping her eyes open that were burning like the sun. "Come forward, EXCALIBUR."
Words could not describe the feeling that reverberated through everyone as Raynare withdrew the blade from the scabbard in one swift motion. Yet, the whole world went still as it came to a realization that one of the world's wonders was restored. The finest of gold came off the blade before it dissipated so all eyes can fully see the true beauty that was held in Raynare's hands that not even her black wings could mar.
Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory. The most famed and majestic blade that symbolizes the crown and King Arthur himself. To which it can be called the physical actualization of the king's ideals and the symbol of his heroism. It is the crown's most trusted blade, even to Caliburn. And unlike most blades, it was not forged by the hands of man, but by the powers of the divine. The guard and flat pommel were made of the purest of gold gilded in blue with a sapphire hilt. There is no equal to the blade made by the Biblical God, and only Gram could ever be its equal.
That very sword of the eternal legend was now in the hands of an angel of both pure and fallen origins. The blade has seen into her heart, judged her sin, and has made her worthy to hold it. And now that very blade was held against a shock stiff Kokabiel, who looked like he was trying to catch flies into his mouth.
Turned out better than I expected. I only have one more day till I have to move to my dorm room, and on the 26th I won't be able to work on this as much as I want to. Excalibur has been reforged, yet victory is not close. It is now up to Issei, Raynare, Ruby, and Vali to stop this threat on peace.
The thing with Ruby is that she is basically two characters in one. She is Ruby Rose of course, but also in a way the Supreme Goddess from the Seven Deadly Sins.
Some of you have been wondering about pairings. Here are some complete ones.
Issei X Asia X Xulean X Akeno X Rias X Ingvild X Yang X Rossweisse X Irina.
Saji X Sona.
Kiba X Murayama X Katase X Xenovia.
Meliodas X Serafall.
Vali X Ruby X Raynare X Blake X FemRinmaru X Albedo X Kuroka.
Kuruma X Yasaka.
Up next is Chapter 14: Falling Towards the Sky.
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