Chapter 6 - The Rescue Part 2
AT THE CHURCH
Inside a secret room hidden is somewhere inside the church, lies beyond three glass cases and one person present being the amongst infront. Two cases contained the stolen ancient artifacts, the sword, and the Welsh Dragon amulet. Both were contained in their cases, except for one. A man with silver hair and red eyes laughs maniacally in his insane state. The entire room was completely soundproof. No one outside the secret room or even inside the church could hear him.
"All is according to plan. HAHAHAHAAA!" the silver haired man laughs crazily. "As soon as I get my hands on that punk that has the sacred gear of the Indigo Dragon Empress Alexandria told me, then all of my items will be purified by one exorcist...ME! FREED SELLZEN! HAHA! HAHA! HAAHAAA!
Freed continued to laugh more and more about his idea, until he realized one flaw in his plan that made him slowly stopped laughing.
"If only this process wasn't slow. UGHHHH God, this is taking FOR-FUCKING-EVER!, it's like fucking dial-up on running molasses all over again!" he acknowledged by the small white meter bar on the base of the pedestal indicating how much holy energy is in each artifacts currently. The process is at 1%
"I knew I should've gotten job taken care of by myself! But, nooooooo. I have to take care of brats called my niece and nephew, that had to screw up one mission...ONE MISSION! If it was me out there earlier, this whole grave robbing thing would've been a breeze. I curse you Azazel. On any given day you had to call me, it happens to be the day that I would've gotten all my artifacts. No matter, as long as they don't manage to screw THIS one up, all is right in the world." Freed says as he proceeds to lick the empty glass case tasting his hope of a somewhat victory.
"Uhhhh...Uncle?"
"What! What is it? Oh, it's just you Alexavier. What do you want? I'm very busy here."
"Looks like you're enjoying yourself already, I see."
"Just get to the damn point!"
"Yes, I apologize. Alexandria has the boy captured and is rendered unconscious. The phase was a success and we are ready to proceed to the next phase with the ritual, whenever you're ready, Uncle."
"Excellent. Make sure you two do a quick double check. I want everything to be perfect for this extraction ritual. Unlike what happened last time."
"I'll let Alexandria know everything you've told me. I'm sure this ritual will be a smashing success." he says closing the door behind him.
BACK INSIDE THE SANCTUARY
Alexandria was still sitting in the front row of the pews with her legs crossed waiting patiently for her brother to arrive back. The doors open from the left corridor of the church. Alexavier walks up to his sister to update her on the extraction plan.
"Okay, Uncle told me that he's ready to go with the ritual. When those doors open, we shall begin."
"Cool, so now what?"
"We have to do a quick check to make sure we don't screw this up. Alright, got our subject?" he said as both siblings looked up at an unconscious Richie.
"Check!" they said in unison.
"Is he chained up tightly?"
"Tighter than he'll ever will be. Check." Alexandria confirms.
"Did you memorize the spell?"
"You know it. Been memorizing it since I was thirteen. Check."
"Did you put up the barrier to prevent any devil or ANY demonic creatures from entering this church?"
"What barrier?"
"YOU DIDN'T PUT A-! Are you fuckin' serious?! The barrier I told you to put up after we tied him up."
"You never told me to put up a barrier."
"Come the hell on, Alexandria! Now I gotta put up the damn barrier myself! You're real lucky that Uncle Freed isn't here to witness your lazy behavior. Be right back."
"Wait, where the hell are you going?!"
"I'm going to the top of the steeple to activate the barrier YOU were suppose to set up. If Uncle shows up and I'm not here, tell him I'm making one last adjustment to our plan. Just stay here and don't touch a damn thing!" Alexavier says running in the right side of the church as he makes his way up top the steeple to set up the barrier.
"Just stay here and don't touch a damn thing." she mimics her brother with her hands. She clinches her head to her shoulder when she heard a big slam at the door by his brother until she quietly under her teeth said, "Asshole".
OUTSIDE
While trying to stay hidden and not attract any attention, four of Akeno's familiars were on top of the trees to keep a lookout for any fallen angels approaching from voiding the mission. One by one, each familiar gave a thumbs up to the other until the last one, the green one, gives Akeno the thumbs up.
"Alright, looks like the coast is clear." the thunder priestess said.
"Thanks, Akeno." said Rias as the rest of the crew walked forward just 10 feet away from the entrance of the church.
"Man, this place. Just looking at this gives me bad chills." Issei thought, giving himself flashbacks about how he once invaded the church to save Asia from Raynare. He shook his head to wipe away the bad memories in order to focus on the current matter at hand. "No, I won't let any of my bad memories get the better of me. We're stronger than before. It's no cake walk, but it's all we got to save Richie.
Asia looked in front of the church as well. She herself felt shaken, yet stood frozen on what the fallen angel's church had an affect on her when she was abducted and shortly later died. Both of her eyes were about to water, as if she was about to start crying, but she then felt a hand on her left shoulder. She turned around to see Issei being right by her side.
"Issei?" she said.
"Don't worry, Asia. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you or anyone else now that we're here." he smiled down at her until she smiled back to dry her eyes.
"Okay." Asia smiled and nodded.
All members the continued to move forward to the church. Rias and Akeno stood behind Issei and the rest of the members of team Gremory, before Akeno stopped Rias. Issei and the others were already standing on the steps as she looked up toward the steeple of the church to see a shadowy figure with its hands in the air, as if that figure was preparing some sort of an attack.
"Hang on, something's not right." said Akeno.
"Akeno, what's wrong?" Rias questions.
"I don't know why, I thought everything was clear but, now I get the feeling someone's coming."
"How so?" Rias says as Akeno points straight up at the church's steeple. They both see the individual, being Alexavier, manages to cast a spell that will block any of every demonic creature, human, or living thing to come near the church.
"Everyone! Wait!"
"Huh? What's going…" Issei wonders why Rias halted him.
Suddenly, a white flash appears on the top point of the steeple. Appearing out of nowhere at a fast speed, a white barrier immediately surrounds the church. The barrier lands smack dab between both Rias and Akeno and Issei and the rest.
"It's a barrier!" Kiba exclaimed.
"What the hell?!" Issei shouted.
Issei runs forth toward the barrier to attempt to break it by punching it, however Rias and Akeno immediately shouted toward him to not break it.
"ISSEI, DON'T!" both shouted until it was too late. Issei attempts by punching the white barrier. As a result, it ends up burning his right fist for a moment. He feels the slight burn from the barrier, almost as similar to when he was once shot in the leg by Freed. He had felt the same sensation only the pain was slightly smaller.
"It's a barrier. Made out of holy energy. They've must've known we were coming." Kiba said.
"Yeah, but somehow the rest of you were lucky to make it to the other side of the entrance alright." said Rias.
"Issei, are you okay?!" Asia told him.
"Yeah, just that my first burns like a bitch for a bit."
"Here, let me heal you for a bit!" Asia puts her hands together to try and heal Issei's hand, but Issei puts both her hands down, rejecting her twilight healing.
"No. I appreciate your help, but don't waste your energy on me. Save it for when we get inside. I'll be fine."
"So, what do we do now?" Koneko questions.
"It looks like we have no choice. You four will have to fight and rescue Richie alone while Akeno and I stand guard outside."
"But prez, we both need you for the fight!"
"Issei, don't worry. Akeno and I will be fine on our own for now. You said it yourself. You and the rest have become stronger since that fight with Riser. I know you can do this, Issei. You, Kiba, Asia, and Koneko. I have faith in all of you in this mission. Now go!" Rias expressed her belief in her peerage.
INSIDE THE SANCTUARY
"Barrier is all set up."
"Good. Now all we have to do is wait, so we can get on...with…it?" Alexandria said as both she and her brother heard a door open from the right side.
"It looks like we don't have to wait anymore." Alexavier chuckled.
Freed made his way out of the door, walking along the the sanctuary where both the niece and nephew were present, just waiting for him to begin the standalone ritual.
"Okay. Let's get this extraction ritual on the road, here. Now then, show me pussy little boy you were telling me."
"He's right behind you sir."
The grey haired exorcist turned around the boy hanging on the green glowing cross with chains bounding against it. Freed was impressed by the Alexandria's capture. However, freed came closer to Richie to take a look around. He around, until he sensed his sacred gear from his right arm.
Freed takes a big whiff. "Ahhh, the sweet smell of a sacred gear just waiting to be extracted." He said while licking his lips across with his tongue. "I can almost taste the power from within already. The usually prefer the devil ones but this mere human will have to do. Although..this one on the other hand feels off. It's as if he's not from here."
"He told me he's from California. In the US, sir." said Alexandria
"Oooooh! An American, I see! I don't dive deep into American, but I'm sure this one will be very special. Very special indeed." He evilly grins.
BACK OUTSIDE
"Everybody ready?!" Issei shouted activating his boosted gear.
"All set!" Kiba hilted his sword. "This is odd. On a mission like this, there should be a ton of priests inside there. I don't know if my senses are weakening or what, but..I'm not picking up anything. I don't know if that should be just pure luck. Something's up"
"Let's get er' done." said Koneko with her fist clenched in front of her followed by an MMA stance.
"I'm ready, too!" Shouted Asia.
"Good luck out there you guys." Rias thought to them..
"Okay Koneko. Do it."
"With pleasure." She said busting down the door wide open with a huge kick allowing access to the inside.
As the battle is close to beginning, Rias and Akeno have no choice but to stay put around the church until they can find a way to break down the barrier.
"Now, all we need to do is figure out how to break down this barrier. The first thing we have to is…"
"I sense another one nearby."
Out of the blue, the King and Queen of the house of gremory see a young male with pointy ears and dirty blonde hair. Also supporting black trench coat with gothic style black pants. Along with a black trilby.
"WELL, WELL, WELL! Lookie what we have here folks! Two pieces of devil scum that can't keep their noses out of the fallen angel's business near the house of GOOOOOOOOD!" the being screamed as he fell off of the branch of the tree landing face first on the dirt. "OW!"
Akeno can't help but to get a tickle and a giggle out of herself seeing the fallen angel boy falling down from the top of the tree.
"For a fallen angel standing guard, you sure are a tad on the clumsy side. And might I ask, who are you?" Rias asks.
"My name is Joshua. I was sent here by Alexavier specifically, to provide them the backup for their ritual. Just in case you try to crash the party by breaking the barrier. Can't help but overhearing you trying to take it down to help your little servants. Don't bother. That thing is soundproof and too difficult to see from the outside or even the inside. It's too bad to see, hear, or even scream your four devil friends to go inside the sanctuary, knowing full well it's blatantly suicidal."
"I wouldn't underestimate that. My servants are stronger than you may think." says Rias
"Oh yeah, then are you strong enough to block THIS!" Joshua exclaimed as he attempted fire a magic sphere that shot lightning across the face of Rias until Akeno rushed in front of her. Using red magic circle to block the lighting.
"Your magic is awfully familiar Joshua. I presume that you are the brother of Mittelt, are you not?"
"Gah! How did you know I'm related to my sister. Pheh, doesn't matter anyway. I was trained with the utmost of excellence with my sister, long before you annihilated her to just a bunch feathers. I can take you two devils down in a pinch! It's like you said it yourself, Lady Gremory. Don't underestimate it." Joshua mocks. "But first, you just have to guess which one is me!"
"Huh, what's he talking about?" Akeno says when Joshua touched his nose and decided to summon 5 more copies of himself. All standing in front of the higher rank devils of Gremory with spheres ready to fire."
"Oh my, I suddenly have this weird case of deja vu." Akeno tells Rias as she preps up her next attack with lightning coming from her hands.
"You don't say. Y'know kinda think of it, this does bring me back memories. However, I wouldn't mind going for a second round!" Rias responds as she summons two magic red circles from her hands."
"BRING IT ON!" shouted Joshua and all of his clones.
INSIDE THE CHURCH
All three of the fallen angels heard a loud bang coming from the entrance of the church. Each one turned their heads around to see the rest of the four members of the Gremory peerage standing just a few yards away from their arch enemies. The devils rushed in halfway until they were at a complete halt together. They gasped witness a mid teenage boy tied up by chain on a cross exactly the one from when Asia was captured.
"What the hell?!" Freed shouted as he floated back down to join back his niece and nephew.
"Uncle, what's going on?!" Alexavier questioned.
"Well, lookie here you two. It seems someone's here to crash the party a bit early tonight. Let's see, we got a stubborn swordsman, an MMA midget, a backstabbing little witch, and this motherfucker!"
"Shut up, Freed! The game is over!" Issei shouted to him. "Now give us back, Richie!"
"Now, why would I ever do that. The family was about to have the time of our lives a moment ago til you little shits barged in. Oh, goodness I got ahead of myself that I completely forgot to introduce to you my two new apprentices." Freed said.
"Apprentices?"
"Hello, Issei. I believe we met before." Alexandria waves to him.
"Alexandria." Issei muttered. "Then, who's he?!"
"Allow me to introduce myself. Names Alexavier, her twin brother. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Now tell me this devil, how did you manage to break down that barrier?" he extended his finger.
"We didn't. Luckily for us, we were already at the front of the church just as soon as you activated it." Kiba said holding his sword.
Freed turned toward Alexavier with anger fueling in his system.
"You were suppose to set up that barrier as soon as you captured the boy!" he shouted.
"Hey! Don't yell at me! It was Alexandria's job to set it up in the first place!"
"Oh, don't you give me that lame shit. You never told me in the first place!"
"Heads up." said Koneko with great strength throws a pew from out of nowhere toward the Sellzen family until, with great speed Alexavier pulls out his light sword and slicing the pew in half.
"Did I also mention that they're both my niece and nephew? Now then kids, watch carefully as I try to annihilate the Red Dragon Emperor and his little girlfriend too." He freakishly said as his eyes widen with insanity while, grabs both his exorcist gun and his light sword.
"Don't you lay a hand on Asia! Let's go! Boosted gear!"
*BOOST!*
Asia manages to back away from Issei's fight with, standing still as she witnesses the action between him and Freed.
"I wanna get my hands on that girl who threw that pew at me." said Alexavier but was cut off by his sister.
"No! Let me fight her!" the sister shouted clashing both fists in front of her approaching Koneko more frozen in her fighting stance."Besides, this one looks interesting. She's perfect to build my fighting skills more."
"Fine. Then I'd love to spar with this devil swordsman. I can't wait to slice him up into bits like the piece of meat he...huh? Where'd he go?"
Alexavier searches all over the inside of the church to find where Kiba had hidden. Within seconds, Kiba with magnificent speed comes careening down toward him with his sword from the ceiling. Alexavier manages to block his attack with his own powerful light sword attack. With a backflip from Kiba, he was back on his feet, running toward the fallen angel. The two were clashing each other's sword back to back, until they meet face to face.
"I gotta hand it to ya devil, you're pretty quick. You fight so well. Not for long anyway." Alexavier said giving a dropkick to Kiba's chest. Kiba with grace, lands on his hand then lands straight up back to the ground before Alexavier charges once more for an attack. Luckily Kiba manages to block it as the go back to their conversation when both opponents' swords binded together.
"I should say the same to you. But, you haven't seen my serious side just yet. Allow me to demonstrate." Kiba replied as his blade turned black, emitting an aura from his sword. When both of the magic swords touched, it created a strange reaction.
"Wha-What kind of shit is this?!" Alexavier yelled in annoyance.
"My devil's blade. It's a blade of darkness that absorbs and devours on holy energy. I call it my "Holy Eraser." How bout' it?"
"Wait, you have a sacred gear too?! Don't be so modest! I'll still kick your ass one way or another, THE HARD WAY!" Alexavier screams as he quickly draws back his holy sword to switch out another weapon. In a fast motion, he pulls out his automatic holy glock and proceeds to shoot Kiba. Kiba with his quickness, dodges the bullets with every shot. Meanwhile, Koneko and Alexandria begin to duke it out with no guns nor swords.
"C'mon little girl. Show me what you got." Alexandria gestures with one finger to Koneko.
"Hmph." Koneko balls her fist a she then charges toward the fallen angel as both individuals immediately grab hold of each other's hands.
Alexandria skids backwards on her feet from the floor, showing what Koneko is actually capable as the rook with her strength. Both girls still holding on to each other until Alexandria beat's her test of strength by pushing her off with great force, tumbling across backwards for a bit. Koneko regains herself back up off the floor until Alexandria rushes in to throw a huge punch toward the face, but misses as Koneko dodges successfully by grabbing her arm she just punched the ground with, dragging her body in the air and onto the ground, leaving a gaping crack. Alexandria performs a kip up to get back up.
"I'll admit, you're pretty good. OOPPH!" Alexandria said before Koneko punched her in the gut.
Afterwards, Alexandria begins to smile as if she barely felt a thing. The fallen angel grabs Koneko by the hair from her right hand and performs a knee directly to the forehead. She then throws a series of successful punches. Five to the face back to back and one huge punch in the gut for payback. Alexandria jumps up in front of her to execute a makeshift scissors kick to the back of the neck, however Koneko immediately dodges and lands a powerful superkick to face. Alexandria was propelled by the force of that superkick all the way near the front of the church, bouncing on the ground.
"PROMOTION! ROOK!" Issei chants lunging himself towards the exorcist to punch him in the face like last time he and Freed fought before, however, Freed dodges his attack.
"Whoops, too slow!" Freed said remembering Issei's attack from their previous battle.
Issei goes for another punch to Freed, but the exorcist dodges it once more and proceeds to slash his light sword across the legs of the Red Dragon Warrior. Issei successfully jumps up in time to dodge his attack. Freed then begins to slash him across the head but, Issei saves himself by ducking, thereafter rushing forward head first, like a ram toward the exorcist's stomach until Issei goes for another blow by elbowing him in the back of the neck, down to the ground. As a result, the exorcist was down and with enough time to rush toward Richie to get him out of there.
"Finally, got him out of my way. Now, there's still the matter of saving Richie." Issei said to himself.
The Red Dragon Warrior runs toward the cross where Richie is trapped. With the fighting still going on, Issei begins to shout at Richie in order to attempt to wake him up.
"Richie, I'm here! Can you hear me!?" Issei screams. "Richie, c'mon! Wake up! It's me Issei!"
Issei tries to wake him up, this time face to face. He grabs Richie by the shoulders, thereby shaking him a little to get him back to his conscious state.
"C'mon Richie, you have to wake up. It's me Issei. I know you're still alive somewhere. You just gotta get up!"
Still nothing, until...a green glow started to light up in his right arm, upon Issei's interaction by grabbing him from the shoulder. He notices the green glow, shining up close and personal, sensing the same activity from his red dragon boosted gear..
"That must be his sacred gear. It must be trying to help me."
Richie's hearing goes from dead silence to very heavy muffled noise. He could almost hear a male voice talking to him. His eyes begins to squint a little more upon hearing the voice. Both eyelids begin to open for a bit. As a result from before, his vision was blurry, however with help from both Issei and his sacred gear, his eyesight regain at a much faster rate than on his own. Richie started to come around, seeing Issei's smiling face in front of him.
"Wha...what the...Is...Isse...Issei?" Richie begins to speak.
"Richie! Oh man, you had us worried there. I'm so glad you're alright, pal." he smiled.
"Issei, oh thank god! You're here to save me. You've gotta get me outta these chains before it's too late!"
"Don't worry, I'm already taking care of it."
He notices the chains are held together by both his feet and arms. He descends back down to break the chains.
"If I use my boosted gear to double my power, I should break these chains in a breeze. I better start from the bottom, then finish from the top. Here goes. BOOSTED GEAR!"
*BOOST*
Issei grabs the chains very tightly to get a good grip. He tries with all his might to break the chains, but no luck. He doubles his power the second time."
"AGAIN!" He shouted.
*BOOST*
Still nothing.
*BOOST*
"I know we can do this. I just need more power! ANOTHER BOOST!"
*BOOST*
Parts of the chains begin the crack from the Issei's boosted power. The entire chain link was almost about to give way.
"I...almost...got it...just need a little more…!" Issei gritted his teeth trying with the best
"Issei, behind you!" yelled Asia.
"Asia? GAH!" Issei shouted as he was pulled by the hair from Freed to prevent Richie to be free. Afterwards, Freed with great force punches Issei in the face. Clocking him right in his jaw as Issei flies a few yards away from him.
"So, you thought ol' Freed was down for the count, eh? Think again, pussy!" Freed shouted.
"You bastard! Leave him be already!" Richie cried. Freed heard the cries of an already conscious sacred gear warrior. He turns around with his red eyes widen of insanity along with a smile of instability staring right into the trapped sacred gear possessor.
"Oh, I'll leave him alone alright. Just as soon as give him the old "pop pop"." Freed freakishly said pulling out a gun from his jacket. He aimed the holy pistol with a couple rounds of light bullets at Issei without any warning, shooting Issei once in his left leg and one on his right shoulder.
*POW!* *POW!*
Both Asia and Richie's eyes widen in complete shock and awe after what they just witnessed in front. Kiba and Koneko gasped after hearing the gunshots, interrupting their fight. The blood curdling scream could be heard from both of them as well. Koneko saw Issei on the ground bleeding from head to toe, immediately after Alexandria regains herself to see Koneko wide open and distracted. Alexandria runs toward Koneko to unleash a devastating clothesline, flipping herself inside out before landing flat front on the ground.
"ISSEI!" Kiba shouted as he tries to run forth toward Issei until he is stopped by Alexavier with his neck wrapped tight around the fallen angel's arms. He also pulled out a light dagger from his pocket, immediately pointing at the neck of the devil. Kiba was still holding his sword. As soon as he was about the get ready for his next attack, Alexavier spoke.
"Drop your weapon or I will kill the boy!" Alexavier demanded with a gun pointing at Richie and a dagger at Kiba's neck. Kiba did what he was told and right away he dropped his sword.
"Hold on, Issei! I'm coming to…" Asia paused mid sentence until she was caught off guard from a gun click by Freed. His gun pointing directly at her.
"Take one more step Asia and I'll blow your fucking brains out!" Freed vulgarly exclaimed.
"Asia…" Richie whispered in a worried reaction. He saw Freed pointing the gun at Asia, about ready to shoot her across. With this, Richie attempted to break the chains himself. He tries hard and hard to budge out of the chains binding him against that cross, but no luck. He was simply too weak to release himself from the bondage.
"Please, I beg of you. Don't kill me!" Asia said with her hands up.
"Shut Up! I've had enough of this bullshit!" Freed shouted. "You devils are always in my way! But now the game's over! Just look around you Asia. Your little boyfriend is already bleeding toward his doom as we speak. That pipsqueak is out cold and your knight is being held hostage with nowhere to go...just...like...you. Like the trapped backstabbing, little rat you are!".
Richie overheard what Freed said to Asia. His head was back down, not from unconsciousness, but from anger. As his anger grew, his sacred gear started to glow and flash at fast rate.
Freed unleashed his sword with one free hand while his gun is in the other. Asia stood still in fear knowing that one false move from herself could lead to instant death. She was completely frozen without any ideas or ways to escape from this. Kiba was struggling from Alexavier's clutches, but the more he struggled, the more he was unable to save anyone.
"Freed, you bastard! You don't have to do this! Just let her go!" Kiba demanded.
Issei was laying in a small pool of blood after taking holy bullets from two different parts of his body. The burning sensation from the shots made him immobile, downing his strength even more to make it unable to save Asia. He lied there staring of what could be the most unforgiving scene he could witness. Having one of his friends get killed by his enemy.
"Asia...I'm sorry...I made a promise...and I failed. I failed you and I let the rest of my friends down. I'm sorry Rias...for everything."
"I'm quite surprised to see YOU of all people would be the only one left standing in this fight. Funny, you didn't even have to do a damn THING!" Freed exclaimed as he slashed downwards at Asia's school uniform in half. So much so, it revealed Asia's breasts in front of both him and Alexavier. Asia immediately released out a scream. She let her hands down to cover herself up while being down on her knees.
Richie had seen the unspeakable act. The actions caused by the perverted priest made him more irate than before. His sacred gear glowed brighter, pulsating even faster until his eyes turned from his normal brown to an overlaid yet, bright cyan color. The anger from within him clouded his feelings. His teeth gritted in anger. Fangs began to form where both his canine teeth resided.
"Look at yourself! Dirty and as repulsive as you are! The humiliation! The torture! OH, WHAT FUN!" thee exorcist exclaimed. "I've taken everything that I can get my hands on. The amulet, the sword, and now...YOUR LIFE! Prepare to die!" Freed shouted raising his sword upward in a venture to aim at Asia's head, killing her execution style.
"NOOOOOO!" Asia screamed in mercy.
Finally, his right arm began to illuminate, turning it into an indigo mass gauntlet. When his arm turned, the large size of the gauntlet began to grow gold spikes on the side, breaking free of the chains. His freedom gained an even more leverage of escape. The power of the sacred gear gave him a bit more strength to shatter the chains from his feet to his other arm, before running straight forward with an intense speed towards both Freed and Asia. Kiba was in tears fearing what will happen.
"UNCLE!" the twins shouted in unison. The crazy exorcist did not hear them. Freed moved along forward with his plan. He began to slash his sword down, aiming at the bishop of Gremory's head.
Asia closed her eyes real tight in sheer terror, knowing in vain she would be killed. At least, that's what she thought...until she heard a large yet loud metal clang sound. She did not feel the light sword hit her but, in fact hear the sword hit something else. She quickly opens her eyes and gasps to reveal a boy blocking Freed's attack with a circular, luminescent, indigo shield marked with a black insignia of the welsh dragon connected by magic from the cyan jewel. That boy who saved her was Richie.
"Are you OK?" Richie tells her from behind. Asia was still shocked and amazed by how fast Richie saved her. It happened so suddenly that it made it difficult to make words come out of her mouth. "I'll take that as an emphatic, YES!" he says pushing his shield hard enough to make Freed back away from both him and Asia.
"YOU! That shield. That symbol. That power. The Indigo Shield of the Welsh Dragon was inside you the whole time?! Why didn't you two fools tell me he has the stinkin' shield?!" Freed yelled.
"Well, how the hell we were supposed to know that kid had the shield in the first place?!" Alexandria shouted back at his Uncle.
"He wouldn't have it in the first place if you two just went back there! But it's ok, now that I know you have the third missing artifact I've been searching for, I'll just kill you first for the taking. Then, I'll get the job done by killing that annoying little brat you just saved!" Freed began to raise his light sword over his head and proceeded to strike downward to kill, however, with his feat of strength by the power his sacred gear and his utmost momentum, he deflected the insane exorcist's attack by thrusting upwards to not only dodge the strike, but ridding the light sword from Freed out of his hand.
Freed stumbled to the ground as the light sword flip upwards in the air until finally landing blade first to the inside of the floor, just few inches away from his junk, almost neutering him. The shield disappears from Richie's sacred gear as he walks toward the man that tried to hurt Asia.
The exorcist stared into dismay at the cyan colored eyes of the already furious indigo dragon warrior. Freed sat still frozen, as if he seen a ghost. Richie with his gauntlet picks up Freed by the shirt, looking deep within his eyes in an infuriated fashion.
"LEAVE...HER...ALONE!" Richie roared screamed at him using whatever energy he has to throw him across the altar, crashing onto the cross where he was captured until he landed in the rubble where the cross once stood.
"Uncle!" howled Alexandria before being hit by a pew from behind. The source of the individual who the pew was Koneko. She approach to the fallen angel who was laid out on the floor next to a fallen Freed Sellzen with scratches and bruises on her face from the impact she took.
"Who...the hell are you?" Alexandria questioned.
"Name's Koneko. Suck it."
Alexavier's wrist grip loosened as soon as he saw Freed being thrown out, allowing Kiba to attack him from the back. Kiba kicked Alexavier in his balls with the back of his foot. He was soon free while Alexavier bend down in pain. The knight in quick action grabbed both the light dagger and his gun followed by a huge kick to the face. He lands his right knee on his crotch, aiming the gun to his chest with his left hand while pointing the dagger in on his neck at the same time.
"Guns aren't really my forte, but I don't mind using it on people like you. If I were you, I'd think you better scurry on over to your uncle and sister, if you still can."
"You bastard. Give me back my weapons!" Alexavier told him.
"Oh, if you want your weapons that bad…" Kiba smiled before quickly throwing both of his weapons at one of the stained glass windows behind him, landing outside from the church. "Go get them." he said releasing now an unarmed fallen angel.
"I'll kill you!" Alexavier screamed as he ran toward kiba to throw a fist punch in the face before coming face to face with his devil sword blade.
"I'd like to see you try." Kiba dared him. Alexavier scoffed off and ran to tend to his with his sister and Uncle who was unconscious from the crash.
Richie pants with heavy breaths after the throwdown he gave to Freed. It took all the energy it had left in him until his sacred gear gauntlet disappeared back into his original right arm. His sharp canine teeth had retracted back to normal. Right away, he collapsed to his knees on the floor with his hand on his forehead.
"Richie!" yelled Asia as she approached him in front. "Richie, are you OK?"
"Y'know, I should be the one asking you the same." Richie responded rubbing his forehead with his eyes still shut trying to recuperate himself. Asia smiled, quickly wrapping around his neck in front of him to give Richie a hug.
"Thank you." Asia expressed her gratitude.
"Yeah, for sure. It's no problem." He blushed and chuckled scratching his cheek with his finger. Asia released him before he started to glance at Asia's exposed breast in full view and looked away.
"Is everything OK?" She questions.
"Yeah, e-e-everything's cool, i-i-it's just that. Y-Your breast's...they're out." He stammered before taking off his jacket and eventually his solid blue shirt. He gives his shirt to Asia. "Here, take my shirt. It's the least I could do after what Freed did to you earlier. Sorry about your outfit."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be fine. Thank you." She happily said to him, taking off her ripped uniform torso and in it's place was his blue shirt. Richie turned away from Asia so that he doesn't want to come off as a pervert to her and managed to put on his black jacket. Leaving him shirtless with just his chest exposed. Richie felt a tad weak from the aftermath of his powers. He helped himself up off the ground to try to stand back on his own two feet again.
"Can you stand?" she asked.
Outstandingly, he managed to stand well on both his two feet. He can feel the strength from his legs and his body coming back to him. "Yeah, thanks". He answered, letting go of Asia until he came to instant realization. Issei was shot twice and no one is there to help him. "Issei! Oh my God! Asia, hurry we gotta help him!"
The two, alongside Kiba, immediately ran as fast as they could toward the red dragon emperor. When they arrived they were pleased to see Koneko was beside him the whole time. They were even more pleased and full of relief that Issei was breathing on his own, but could not speak or wake up due to the blood loss. Asia took a good look on Issei's condition. Whether he was OK from the bullets he had to endure.
"Asia, are you gonna use your healing powers to help him? Like you did before with me?"
"Yeah. Thank goodness there doesn't seem to be anything life threatening from his wounds. It'll be awhile before he regains consciousness. Just give me a sec to fix him up." she told him hovering his hands to activate her twilight healing first over Issei's shoulder.
"Whew, that's a relief to hear." Richie said with reassurance. While Asia was busy taking care of Issei, Richie took a little bit of time to think about how he released his sacred gear. He looked at his right arm to start fathoming on how it happened.
"So tell us, how'd you do it?" Koneko said getting Richie's attention.
"Huh, did what?"
"The way you saved Asia with that power of yours. Your quick reaction to block Freed's attack was incredible. Really, how did you do it?" Kiba happily questions putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Actually, I don't know. I guess when that guy started saying a bunch of crazy shit about Asia, I somehow got so angry that my emotions got the better of me and *boom* that's how it all happened." Richie answered to him when he thought about what Aeris said before being sent to this world.
"The Indigo Sacred Gear. With it, you can utilize this tool against your enemies on your behalf. When the time comes, unleash your sacred gear at your best potential."
"I guess time really did came. But, it's still gotta mean something." He thought to himself when he heard moaning. The moaning came from Issei who was beginning to wake up after being shot.
"Look, he's coming around." Kiba said.
"Issei...Issei, can you hear me?" Asia asked.
Issei opens his eyes to see from left to right his friends sitting beside him to comfort him.
"Woah, what happened? Koneko, Asia, Kiba...Richie? Richie!" Issei's eyes widen. "You're OK, but how did you manage to break free? AAGHHH!" He winced in pain from his leg wound.
"Hold on, Issei. I'm not through treating you yet. Let me finish on your leg." she told him.
"Thanks, Asia. Uhhhh...Asia. I'm sorry, I couldn't save you back there. Please, can you ever forgive me."
"It's OK Issei. Don't beat yourself so down over it. After all, Richie saved me."
"He did? Wait. Hold on, I'm so confused. If he saved you, then how did he escape back there?"
"He used his sacred gear. I saw it all happen. Issei. His speed to save Asia from Freed was like that and that shield. It was nothing I've ever seen before." Kiba interjected. "One moment he was captured, the next thing you know, he ran in front of Asia to block Freed's attack."
"Woah, kick ass! So, what's his sacred gear like anyway?"
"Well, it's pretty much a big shield. Once it came out, its power was very immense, for a short while anyway." Richie told him.
"Can I see it?" Issei asked.
"I don't know about that. As soon as the shield disappeared, a big indigo colored thing on my right arm was gone. Soon after, I felt so weak. I don't even know if I can unlock do it again."
When Richie finished what he had to say, Asia was done with Issei repairing the damage by Freed and his leg.
"There. All done. You can stand up now, Issei." She told him.
Both wounds had been subsided. There were no other signs of marks or scars being left behind on his skin. The healing process was a success with his wounds sealed up. Issei finally stood up from the floor and so did the rest of the group. The red dragon emperor jogged in place, along with rotating his arm to make sure he was 100% A-OK.
"Thanks so much Asia. That twilight healing of yours really does the trick." Issei praised her.
With Richie escaping from the clutches of the fallen angels and Issei back on his feet, things were looking up for the Gremory group. They're mission seemed to be well accomplished, that is until the peerage heard a loud groaning noise. The groaning they heard came from Freed from beyond the alter. His niece and nephew managed to get him back up on his feet from the rubble, when his body made a big impact on the cross from Richie's throw. The devil's and the lone human stayed on their guard, ready to see what would hit them next.
"URGGGH! RGGGHAAA! Don't think you've won yet! I'm still not done with you!" Freed exclaimed pointing at Richie. "I still have one more move up my sleeve. Children, I have no choice, but to bring in plan B."
"Wait, plan B? What plan B!? Alexandria wondered.
Are you sure about this Uncle." Alexavier questioned him.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing. I'm not gonna waste any of my time with this crap. Just...do as I say and get the cases."
"But…"
"NOW!"
"Alright, yes sir!" surprised Alexavier from his yell. Immediately he ran over the left side of the church to walk inside the door. Upon entering, he sees one long briefcase and a black jewelry box from beside the door.
"What the hell's going on this time?" Issei spoke up.
"I don't know. What ever they got it could be dangerous. They can pull something at any given moment. I suggest staying on your guard, guys. Who knows what will happen next?" Kiba responded back.
"You know what, I gotta hand it to ya. For a kid that was once weakling little bug like yourself, I like the way you fight. That strength, you speed. It pleases me." Freed tells Richie with his red pupils widen.
"Where are you getting at?! Tell me right now!" Richie exclaims back to him.
"Oooooh, rushing so much are we eh? Alright, since you put it that way. I'm might as well just go on and spit it already. Richie, I want you to join us."
All members of the Gremory peerage gasped in a sudden surprise. The words that blabbed out of Freed's mouth left them flabbergasted. The fallen angels are their mortal enemies, but having Richie joining the opposing side would not make the slightest sense to them or to him.
"What! Why? Why the hell would you think that I would ever side with you after what you've done to me?!" Richie angrily questions.
He notices Alexandria coming back from the room with two cases in her hand. She hands the long briefcase to Alexavier while still holding the small black jewelry box.
"I think these might rethink your answer." Freed says with an evil grin.
Just at the moment Freed finished his sentence, he snapped his fingers on command. Both his niece and nephew simultaneously opened both cases. The long case in the hand's of Alexavier contained a shiny, double edged sword. The sword has indigo guard at the bottom. The sword was surrounded by red velvet from inside the case. Lastly to the right, Alexandria opens the small black box. Inside the small box revealed a stone necklace. The necklace was an amulet with a dark emerald embezzled in the center. Inscriptions were detailed in the outer rim of the artifact. Both items glistened from inside their cases. Richie was in full awestruck when he notices the two treasure's sitting right in front before his very own eyes.
"What are those things?" Asia asks.
"Yeah, Richie. What's going on?" Issei jumps in also.
"Aeris' treasures." Richie mentioned staring blankly at the artifacts. "That's her sword and the most powerful item, the Welsh Dragon Amulet."
"The what? Did he just say Welsh Dragon?" Issei thought to himself.
"So you see my dear Richie, these lovely treasures will be absolutely yours under one term. You decide to join us side by side. Now, don't you dare lie to me that this isn't what you're looking for. After that huge rush of power that you showed off to me earlier, c'mon, don't you want more. You know your body craves it." Freed added.
"Don't listen to him Richie! Joining him won't solve anything!" Issei bellowed.
"Please! Listen to Issei! You don't have to do this!" Asia roared.
"You two stay out of this! This is only between me and him!" Freed bellowed.
"Richie, listen to us! We're the good guys here. We tried saving your life after what they almost did to you, remember!?" Kiba shouted.
"Good guys!? GOOD GUYS!?" Freed shouts followed by a hysterically psychotic laugh. "That's really funny! How can you call yourselves the good guys, when in actuality you're all just a bunch of pathetic, piece of shit, DEVILS! Yeah, that's right! I said it! Your so called "friends" that saved your weak ass in the first place are actually devils.
Richie's pupils widen into oblivion that the thought occurred to them his friends he's known since coming to this world are actually real life devils. He instantly turned around facing the people that saved him earlier to wonder what's going on.
"Issei...Asia….is it true? Is what he saying about you all, really true? The rest of you are...devils?" He gulped.
Each member of the gremory family turned heads at each other to know whether they should come out and tell the truth or fib to cover it up. They all nodded at each other to confirm whether he should know. So they did.
"Yes. It's true, Richie." Issei said with dissatisfaction. His head was down as the rest of them including Issei, spread out their devil wings individually to show the truth.
Richie was shocked to see Issei, Asia, and the rest of their friends with the same style pair of devil wings they've grew out of their backs. This was a clear given indication that they are in fact devils.
"I...this can't be happening. I don't even know...what to think...right now. That you of all people." Richie said with his mouth covered.
"I know it's a shame to see the truth revealed right in front of your eyes isn't it? It's such a bummer that it had to be like this." Freed said. Upon immediate response, his head was down looking at the floor. However, Issei came closer to him to talk to him.
"Look Richie, I know the truth is hard. Yeah, I may be a devil, but that still doesn't change who I am now."
"A pervert." Koneko interjected.
"Besides that! Just look at Asia, she may be a devil like us, but she's still the kindest person that you, plus all of us here have known and she still is. Don't listen to what that assclown Freed says, even if he has something you don't. We may be devils, but if saving you from their torture doesn't make us the good guys, then I don't know what is."
Richie heard everything Issei told him word for word. His lifted his head up to give himself a big sigh and smiled. He smiled at all of the devils he sees right in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Issei. I have to do what's right. For myself and Aeris." Richie tells him as he turns around to walk towards the fallen angels.
"What's he doing?" Asia asked.
"He's crossing sides with Freed! " Issei answered.
"Richie, no please! Listen to us. It's not worth it!" Kiba shouted.
Richie approached the altar at his own pace walked towards Freed and the twins. He took a good look at observing both the sword and the amulet. Both the shimmer and shine of both artifacts caught his attention. It would be the first time he has ever personally gotten close to them. He immediately looks toward Freed face to face with stern grin on his face.
"So, do we have a deal?" Freed extends his left hand.
"Then I suppose….Yeah, we've got a deal." Richie confirms.
"Brilliant! Now if you just shake my hand...UUGGMPPFFF!" He says before being kicked in the balls by the indigo dragon warrior. Freed held onto his testicles for deal life before coming down to his knees in combination of rolling his eyes backwards from the excruciating pain.
"Uncle!" the twins shouted in unison.
Issei was immediately surprised and yet amazingly both happy and relieved that Richie refused to side with Freed. Richie stood back in caution after the immediate kick to the exorcist's nuts.
"Did you actually think that I was gonna join you!? I don't think so! After the hell you put me through, you can take that shit and shove it. I'd rather side with the devils than to trust you! You know, my mother always told me when I was little, to never trust a devil." He said turning towards Issei and co. with a stern anger look. "But she never said anything about trusting a devil who tries to save someone from torment." he smiling at them. When he showed his emotions toward Issei and the others they also smiled back.
"I'm letting you know right now, when I find out where you hid that sword and my empress' amulet, I will find you and your plan will backfire! That is a definite promise! Oh, by the way, those so called "treasures" you tried to bribe me with, are just heavy metal fakes. But I'll give you credit for the presentation. Class act." He says his last words to freed before turning around to walk towards the devils.
"Utter fool. If I can't have you, then I'll make sure no one on this damned planet can!" Freed mummered in his teeth. "SO, ROT IN HELL YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
As he turned before walking off, Freed reaches into his coat pocket with his right hand. With it he grabs his gun with one holy bullet left in the chamber. He pulls out his gun and without caution or thought, pulling the trigger. The bullet rocketed out of the barrel, traveling across toward the back, hitting his jacket, through his chest cavity. Sadly, the bullet aimed was a direct hit at his right major carotid artery. All present in the church heard the gun go off. The devils stood frozen with a backlog of emotions dropping down on impact, like a cartoon anvil. The level of horror they watched was unbearable. Richie could feel the bullet traveling out his chest followed by the devastating amount of pain. Blood immediately spewed out of his chest. He winced as he holds his hand on his chest wound to stop the bleeding before collapsing flat on his front.
"No." Issei gasped.
"Oh, god no." Asia whispered covering her mouth at the horror.
"Holy shit!" the twins said astonishingly in unison.
"That's right! What your silly little mission all came down to was nothing but a cruel, sweet, DEATH!" Freed said with insanity.
"Richie!" Asia and Issei screamed, dashing toward him. The other's followed both to urgently aid the wounded indigo warrior. "Hang in there, Richie. I've got you." she whimpered.
"A-A-A-si-a. Is-sei. Richie struggling to speak in pain.
"Don't speak, understand? Don't make yourself worse, OK? I'll try to use my twilight healing on you!" Asia said unto him cupping her hands above the gunshot wound to activate her sacred gear.
"No. No. No. No. Dammit Richie, I refuse to let you die! C'mon you can still fight this, now don't you dare give up on me! Do you hear me?!" Issei encouraged him.
Her twilight healing emitted a green glow from her rings. She concentrated hard on fixing up Richie's wound. About a minute or two, no matter how long she focused, the bleeding kept going at a profusive rate. Blood began to spurt, which startled Asia having her to pause her twilight healing for a short bit.
"I don't understand." Issei fretted. "Your twilight healing should've easily cured him by now. So, why is he still bleeding then?!" He started to tear.
"Simple!" Freed screamed in the distance. "I used a specially made holy bullet I created. It's only one prototype but it's stored with the finest amount of pure holy energy inside. With the amount of energy at it's powerful max, not even weak devil like yourselves can save him. As soon as that bullet hits any part of his major blood stream, it's a critical hit. In short, I pretty much accelerated his death as we speak." He evilly grins with his tongue sticking out.
"You bastard! I'll never forgive you for what you did!" Issei yelled with a great deal of anger as tears flowed down on his face.
"I-I-Issei." Richie stammered in attempt to hold Issei's left hand hand with his right. Soon after, Issei grabs his right with his left followed by placing his right over both hands.
"Richie! I'm so sorry. If I would've saved you sooner, none of this would've happened." He sobbed.
"D-Don't be. This is my fault anyway. I got careless of myself get into so much danger. I failed myself, I failed my quest, but most of all I failed Aries. But you know what, I actually succeeded something in this world for once."
"What is it?"
"I found you. You are the possessor of the Red Dragon Emperor. All this time her big brother was hiding right under my nose. Here inside a church of all places." He quietly said shedding his tears from both his eyes. "If only I had more time. If only there was a way for me to...wish this all away, like magic. I just wish there was a way to reverse all this. Even if you are a devil, you were fun guy to hang around with."
"Don't talk like that." Issei whimpered and sniffled wiping his tears. "You are my number one priority! From the moment we became friends, I knew there was a connection between us and our sacred gears. I can show so many things in this world. Like our school, you'll see what it's like compared to yours back home. I'll even let you meet my friends Motohama and Matsuda. Sure, they can be weird at times but, they're still cool friends and you three will get along so fine. Most of all, you'll have a chance to know my greatest friends. Kiba, Koneko, Akeno, and even our class president Rias. I'm sure she'd be stoked to know about your power.
"M-Me too. And Asia."
"Huh?"
"I don't know how much longer your twilight healing can last. I just want you to know that out of all the times I spent here in this world...you were first person I've ever met." He said softly having his left hand rest on top hers.
"I was?" she reacted while blushing.
"Yeah. For a devil, you sure were a gentle girl to be around. Although for a short time, it was fun to talk and listen to you. I'm truly blessed to have a friend like you and Issei. I'm sure enough I won't ever forget that day. I'm so thankful that I've met you guys." he said as his voice was getting softer and quieter further in his sentences. He was taking smaller breaths due to the substantial blood loss. His life was about to fade.
"No Richie no, you can't go! There's so much I wanna know from you! Asia, you have to keep going!"
"I'm trying as hard as I can, Issei, but his condition just keeps getting worse by the minute. I don't know how long I can keep going on a critical injury like this." She said before she succumbed to exhaustion by her extensive use of twilight healing.
Asia almost began to cry. Trying to hold back on her harder she used her twilight healing, the more focused she was on preventing him to die. Unfortunately, the bleeding from his chest still persisted. His blood was continued to pour out until there was nothing left.
"Issei...one more thing before I go. Take good care of Aeris. I'm sure she would love have her big brother beside her at last."
"No, don't say that! I'm not gonna lose you! Richie! Richie?" He sniffled.
"Thank you...goodbye Issei." Richie said his final words before succumbing to the fatal gunshot wound. He took one last breath on his own before his body gave way. Issei felt his arm being limp and lifeless. Richie was confirmed dead. Issei released his right arm from both his hands. The entire church was in complete silence, before Issei broke down bawling in tears.
"COME BAAAAAAAACK!" he bellowed in sadness. His tears cascaded down like a waterfall. His emotion of sadness overshadowed his feelings. Issei was not the only one with dire sorrow. Asia began to sob beside Richie's perished side. Kiba and Koneko also shed a tear of desolation. She did everything a human being could ever do. Thanks to Freed's cold blooded kill, the damage was too severe. Richie's young life and promise he wanted to fulfill for the Indigo Dragon Empress was cut short abruptly. Issei turned his head, facing the man that killed him in a callous act. His eyes began to turn green combined with his mixed emotions of fury, anger, and rage.
"YOU!" Issei pointed to Freed.
*BOOST*
"You killed him."
*BOOST*
YOU KILLED HIM!" he continued to boost his gear.
*BOOST*
He continued to boost however, there was something remotely different about him that changed with every boost. His voice was deeper yet more demonic. His boosted gear was bigger with more scales and bigger spikes jutting from its sides. The jewel glowing from within started to pulsate. More noticeably, left side of his face was red with dragon scales. One fang also began to protrude out of his left canine teeth. The angrier he'd became, the more he would transform into a half human, half demonic dragon creature. Eventually, he could not take it anymore.
"YAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!" He screamed very loud with his head high as if he was evolving into a new form no one has even seen. Asia, Koneko and Kiba seen his transformation with total amazement.
"What is that?!" Kiba asked.
"Issei?" Asia mummered.
*NEW BOOSTED ABILITY! FRENZY MODE ACTIVATED!*
Issei stared directly back towards both Freed and his niece and nephew. With intense speed, he ran up towards the family with his fist balled up. His anger and draconic rage was taking control half of his body. The moment he leaped from the floor, he sees his targets. He shoots down like ballistic missile toward them. However, the moment he could attack, all three managed to move out of the way to the right side of the church. The impact was so forceful that it left a small crater where the family was once stood.
"What do we do!? He's extremely pissed now!" Alexavier exclaimed.
"We get the hell out of here. That's what." Freed answered.
"And leave both the amulet and the sword behind! After all the work we've done?!" Alexandria shouted.
"Do as I say, dammit!"
"Yes, sir!" they said in unison. The twins obeyed their uncle's command to each pull out one flashbang ball from their pocket. Issei spotted the three yet again. He stared down at the three like prey. He runs forth for another attack. In the nick of time, the two slammed the balls down on the ground. The blinding light from the impact of the flashgangs was powerful enough for Issei and the rest to make it difficult to see where they would be going next. The light made Issei fly backwards until landing on his back. When the blinding light soon dissipated, they were gone.
"WHERE DID THEY GO!?" growled Issei. "C'MON FREED! SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD! I'LL TEAR EVERYTHING APART IN THIS DAMN CHURCH!"
Issei could not get over the fact, his friend that he knew had the same connection to his sacred gear. This frenzy mode ability he newly acquired kept taking control. He could not figure out a way to stop it, so his body kept venting out all this rage. He was so furious that he ended up smashing statues, vases, pews, anything he might see worth perishable with his boosted gear gauntlet.
Asia was still in complete sorrow over the course of what had happened. She tried her best at saving Richie, but the damage was too much and seeing her first friend in a distraught, violent, outrage made her completely distressed. From the corner of her eye, she spotted something red. She noticed a red glow coming from Richie's jacket. Inside his jacket pocket, was the flyer he had received when he first arrived into the new world. The flyer began to glisten inside, erupting itself out from his jacket. The red glowing flyer began to travel upwards, then towards behind a distraught Issei before forming itself into a summoning circle.
"Issei, you have to calm down!" Kiba cried.
Kiba didn't want to fight against Issei or use his sword to use force, until he'd seen something radiantly familiar from behind him.
"A magic circle?" He said to himself.
"CALM DOWN? CALM DOWN?! HOW CAN I CALM DOWN KNOWING THAT MY FRIEND IS GONE!" Issei growled slamming his hand onto a pew with incredible strength, breaking it in half. "I LOST SOMEONE THAT WAS A PART OF ME! NOW, HE'S GONE AND NEVER COMING BACK! IF ONLY I KNEW SOONER! IF ONLY I TOLD HIM ABOUT ALEXANDRIA! IF ONLY I… HUH?" He later gasped.
Suddenly, Issei felt something behind his body touching him. Two arms were wrapped around his bottom torso. He could feel the skin from the individual that embraced him. The scent was wonderfully recognizable. He turned around to see a girl with long fiery red hair. He immediately know who that girl was.
"R-Rias?" Issei said.
"Shh-shh-shhhh. It's OK, Issei. I'm here. I'm right here." Rias spoke softly urging him settle down with a gentle embrace. Issei felt his master's hug. Soon after, his skin on his left face began to go subside back to its original skin. His boosted gear began to downgrade back to its normal self and then disappearing to his arm, before collapsing on both his knees. He brought himself back to normal without the need of Rias' magic, before shedding a river of tears from the emotions swirling around in his mind.
"I'm sorry, prez. I'm so sorry." Issei cried.
"Hush now. It's all over now, Issei."
"Rias!" shouted the rest of the three.
"Fancy meeting you four here." she happily says.
"Rias. W-Where'd you come from? Where's Akeno?" Kiba began to inquire.
"Back at the forest. Let's just say that she's cleaning up trouble."
Outside of the church, Akeno was sweeping up loose fallen angel feathers from the ground with her broom, while wearing her priestess uniform. Her and Rias' match with Joshua was exhilarating to them, but his shadow clone attack was outmatched by the powers of the duo. After their match, the two managed to figure out how to disable the holy barrier/
"Aww, it's such a shame that he go on a loss like this." Akeno said. "Leaving such huge mess behind that I have to clean up. Clumsy ones, always get the lower head. Aw well, you can't win em' all, can ya?"
Back inside, Issei and the others are still puzzled about how Rias managed to get inside the church.
"Summoned?" Issei added wiping his tears. "But how? We didn't call for you or did any weird magic either."
"No, but I think I know someone else who did." She says as she casually walked down towards Richie's dead body. "Oh, you poor thing." She said feeling his cheek until she sensed something from his right arm. She picked up his cold hands to notice that his sacred gear was still inside him. "So, Issei was telling truth after all." She looks around him to find the source of where Richie had summoned her. Inside his jacket pocket, she discovered a familiar leaflet with the seal of Gremory.
"Um, Rias. What are you doing?" Asia asked.
"You'll see, Asia. Issei, do you know what this is?" She shows him a piece of paper with the seal.
"Hey yeah. Isn't that one of those leaflets we used to deliver for contracts?"
"Exactly. He kept it to himself all this time along."
"So what you're saying is, Richie was the one that summoned you here? Kiba asked.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Summoning me wasn't the only thing he did. If I'm correct, he also made a wish."
"A wish? Hold on…" Issei gasped.
[Flashback]
"If only I had more time. If only there was a way for me to...wish this all away, like magic. I just wish there was a way to reverse all this." Richie spoke softly
[End Flashback]
"I get it now. Richie must've summoned Rias, so he can fulfill his wish to not die. Just like me when I got killed."
"Issei, can you come here please?" she requested.
"Uhh, yeah sure." He responded walking towards his master in front of Richie's body. Issei still couldn't bear to look at the damage Freed had done to him. He almost shed a tear from his eye but held it back. "What's up?" he spoke.
"I want to apologize about earlier. I should've given you the benefit of the doubt the instant you told me about it."
"No don't. Neither of us would knew the outcome of what would happen. It's just a shame that he had to go like this. I should be the one to apologize. I let you down and now look, Richie's dead. I think it would be fair for me take whatever punishment you give me."
"Well, you haven't let me down just yet."
"What? I don't understand. What you said earlier..."
"I know what I said, but that was different. This time your friend made a wish that he doesn't want to die. And that's exactly what I plan to fulfill. Do you recognize what I hold in my hand, Issei?" She responds pulling a white small object out of her pocket. She held a white chess piece resembling a horse head.
"Yeah, it's just a normal old chess piece? Wait! That's a...a...you're gonna..." he says
"Actually to be more specific, it's a evil knight piece." Akeno says appearing from her teleportation circle.
"Akeno." Issei responded by her sudden appearance.
"So, you're saying that…" Asia spoke.
"You're gonna resurrect him back to life!? That's great!" Issei finished for her.
"Rias. I'm sure enough that making him the newest knight is an excellent choice." Kiba says placing his shoulder on Rias.
"Really? How so Kiba?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but being a knight means that a devil's speed and mobility can increase significantly. Having the utmost capability of performing high-speed maneuvers, right."
"You're correct."
"Well, personally I think Richie fits well as a knight. President, the kid has great speed within him. He managed to break himself out Freed's grasp to save Asia. If it wasn't for Richie's ability and his shield, she wouldn't be with us now."
"Is this true, Asia?"
Asia responded to Rias' question with a simple yes nod. "Yes, he saved my life. And I don't know where I would be right now if Freed had attacked. Having him with us, I truly believe, would make a big difference for all of us." she smiled.
"Then it's settled. I think it's time to grant his wish. Having him as our second knight would make an excellent addition. We could use another guy on our side." Rias happily added.
Rias placed the chess piece on top of his chest where his heart was located. With the use of her magic, she positioned a magic circle under his body. Both actions were needed her to perform her incantation. She spread her arms out apart, to say the following chant...
"In the name of Rias Gremory, I call upon to thee, Richie Louisè! To return thy soul from the shadows of darkness to this Earth once more! To become my new servant! As your new master, I hereby grant you new life! Arise and rejoice as my defender and as knight!"
The knight piece began to sank down inside Richie's body, followed by the magic red circle illuminating around him to complete the process. His right hand where his sacred gear was detected began to glow a very bright green for a few seconds upon the reaction of the incantation, until the light and the circle disappeared at the same time. The bullet wound that was present from his chest was no more. Thanks to Rias' magic, the wound soon healed itself up. Everyone was hoping in vain he would come back to life. Twitching, eyes opening, body movements, any dead giveaway from his body would be a clear indication that the chant worked. Unfortunately, his body was still not moving.
"What's wrong? Shouldn't he be up by now?" Issei questioned Rias.
"What's going on?" Rias thought. "I don't get. It should've brought him back right about now. What's causing the sudden delay? Is his sacred gear rejecting it? No, it accepted it but how come he's not awakened yet?" Rias runs closer to Richie's body to examine the problem. She feels his face and neck. To her extent, his body still felt cold.
"No wonder." She spoke. "But I have to be the one to fix it. Akeno!"
"Yes, ma'am?" she happily responded.
"Take everyone and make the jump back to the club room, now! There's something I have to do." She told her picking up Richie's body in a bridal carry.
"Why? What's going on?" Issei wondered on why Rias would simply make a request for Akeno like that. He was worried about Richie about what had happened during the process. He was gasped to see Rias summoning her own teleportation circle. "Wait! Stop, Prez, let me come with you! There has to be something I can do to help!"
"Rias, let me come too! I'm sure my power could be of good use for you!" Asia shouted.
"Thank you both, but this is just something that I have to do all on my own." she replied as her teleportation circle began to sparkle from the bottom up. A given indication that she's ready to make the jump. Meanwhile, Akeno summoned her own teleportation circle from underneath the group's feet. Koneko without any thinking picked up Issei with her strength, preventing him from coming towards Rias. "It's OK. I'll be fine. And Richie will too. I'll see you later." she last said before disappearing with the Indigo Dragon Warrior in her hands. Shortly after, Akeno and the others managed to teleport themselves out of the church.
"Rias, please save him. I know you can." Issei thought with confidence.
While all of the devils of Gremory were gone from the church, outside just a few yards away, Freed and the rest of his family were fuming. Alexavier was stomping furiously onto the ground like a mad gorilla having a tantrum. Being pissed that his deal fell short.
"This is bullshit! God-fucking-dammit! We were so close! This is all your fault, Alexandria!" He pointed furiously at her.
"Me!? What did I do?"
"You forgot to enable the barrier like I told you to and you should've done our job faster. If it wasn't for all of that our plan would've excelled accordingly?"
"Oh, so it's my fault then? Who did you think was the one the pulled the trigger and left both artifacts behind?! Not to mention, killing him. Thereby, abandoning the shield." Alexandria shouted at him before Freed grabbed her shirt staring him in the face with a enraged emotion.
"Listen to me you ignorant, little shit!" Freed gritted. "Don't you ever cross me like that again! You were suppose to follow fucking orders like you were supposed to! Understand!?"
Alexandria began to sigh before responding. "Yes, uncle. Please forgive my repugnant behavior." Freed released her shirt to face away from the two for a bit to focus on the next plan of action. Alexandria asked him another question. "But what about the sword and the amulet?"
"You this sword?" he responded opening his right side of his jacket showing the sword. "And this amulet?" He reached behind his shirt showing he was wearing the amulet the whole time."
"So this whole time, you've kept the real things with you?" Alexandria questioned his uncle.
"Exactly. But it doesn't matter now. Both are still in its purification process. Slow as dirt, perhaps, but it's only a matter of time before our plan is succeeded. Now that I've terminated that ignorant little pest, we can move on!"
"But uncle, what about the shield?"
"Forget the shield! Let him keep it in his own doom. It's the sword and amulet that have the most amount of power. With both in hands, we are steps closer from flourishing into another great war and soon get revenge on those Gremory motherfuckers! And I'll kill anyone those who dare try to stand in my way."
WOW! That is one of the longest chapters I've ever wrote for any sort of fan fiction, EVER! I could've if I wanted to, split it into two parts, but I decided to make it into just one big continuation. Thanks so much for reading this. It honestly took longer to write than I thought. I had a bunch of notes compiled together to get the chapter better situated since last year. The 7th chapter will probably be uploaded sometime near the next few months or so. You may notice that Koneko is the one talking less in this fic. Well, she wasn't that much talkative in the first season, but in the future she'll have more voice in her character. College is approaching and that's my first priority over fan fiction, however if ideas begin to pop up in my head, I assure you notes will be taken. I'll probably upload a bio of his character sooner or later. In the meantime, thanks for reading and stay tuned for chapter 7!