Here we go! The big fight scene. I decided after writing out the first part that I would combine episodes 5 and 6 into one chapter, since otherwise it would be too short for my liking. Things will end up similar, but get there very differently.

Enjoy.

Chapter 19: The Great War

Ben watched as the Student Council members used their magic to surround the school in a bluish barrier, hopefully capable of stopping any attacks from within getting out. Ben was glad. Now he would be able to kill Kokabiel without any of his other allies getting in. He tensed as a blue glow signalled that Tsubaki had returned from rescuing Irina.

"Is she alright?" Issei asked her, looking very worried. Luckily, she nodded.

"It was nothing life-threatening, thanks to Asia's healing." She replied as she met her teammates. Asia and Issei sighed in relief. Good. If she had died…

All the power in the world wouldn't be able to save Kokabiel and his lackeys.

"Where the hell is Xenovia?" Issei wondered, looking annoyed. "This is her fight too. She should be here with us."

"Kiba's not answering your calls still?" Saji asked from the magic platform he was on, holding the barrier up.

"No. But I have to believe he's alright."

"Same." Koneko said.

"We plan on keeping the barrier up for as long as possible." Souna explained. "But there's a possibility we won't be able to do anything about the destruction of the school. I refuse to let that happen though."

Rias nodded. "Don't worry. We let it happen."

"It might." Ben chimed in. "I'm just saying, my fights tend to end up breaking things."

"As long as at least half the school is still standing, I don't mind. Break a building with his face if you have to." Souna replied. "But Rias. Wouldn't it be wise to contact your brother?"

"This coming from the girl that didn't call in her sister?"

Souna chuckled. "My household is… complicated. But you have a good relationship with Lord Sirzechs. If you called him, he'd come in as soon as possible."

"She knows that." Akeno replied as she returned to the group. "Which is why I took the liberty of warning him."

"You did what?!" Rias shouted. "And without my permission?"

Akeno gave her a serious look. "Rias. I understand that you don't want to bother your brother and cause him trouble. But Kokabiel is a Cadre. Bri only got him because he underestimated Ascalon's power. He'll most likely be ready the next time we fight. And if Bri falls, then we'll have no one capable of beating him."

Rias glared at Akeno, before sighing in defeat. "I suppose you're right. That's why I made you my Queen after all."

"I knew you'd agree. His forces should get here in an hour."

"Hopefully just in time to clean up after us."

(**/*\**)

Rias had a good plan to help take down Kokabiel. With the exception of Bri, Issei was to use his Transfer power to increase everyone else's strength. They were going to buy him time till he boosted enough to charge them. With all of that combined, Kokabiel was history. But right now, Issei was a bit worried about Bri. Ever since she started using Ascalon, she seemed angrier than usual. Her attack back at the abandoned building nearly killed Xenovia if the church girl hadn't gotten Excalibur in place in time. He wondered if he should tell her to let it go for a bit. But they needed all the firepower they could muster to beat this guy, and Ascalon clearly managed to hurt Kokabiel.

He'll just have to keep an eye on her during the fight.

"This battle lies heavily on offence." Rias was saying. "We'll have to infiltrate the Academy, and stop the release of Kokabiel's power. This isn't going to be like when we fought against Riser. There's a very real chance we could die. But I refuse to let that happen. So, my loyal servants. Live and survive at all costs.

"Right." They all chanted.

"Promotion: Queen." Issei said, allowing his Evil Piece to empower him.

They needed everything for this.

(**/*\**)

As they reached the sport's field, they spotted the massive swirling vortex of golden light behind the school buildings. It looked like four strands of gold circling upwards into a giant summoning circle.

"What… What is that?" Asia asked quietly as she clung to Issei. No one seemed to have a clue.

"That is the four Excalibur fragments being fused together into one, all-powerful sword." Kokabiel's voice sounded above them. They all looked up to find him floating high above on a throne, looking like it had been plucked from the ground by a giant hand. His face was marred by a straight line, nearly splitting his face neatly in two. "After I… underestimated your sword, I allowed him to fulfil his dream of recreating the most powerful Holy Sword of all time. But know this. I won't make the same mistake twice." He snapped his fingers as a giant spear of light formed above him. While the other spears had looked like actual spears and pitchforks, this one looked more like a diamond that had been squeezed in the middle, with purple bands around the center. And he threw it straight at them.

"Move!" He shouted as everyone started running. Well, almost everyone. Bri just stood there; smirking as the spear came closer and closer. She swung the blade, unleashing an energy beam that neatly sliced the spear in two. The pieces faded away before they managed to hit the ground. "Whoa. That was badass."

"So, you managed to stop it." Kokabiel said calmly, though his twitching eye showed he was livid. "Well, then. Let's see how much fun you have with my pets." A green beam fired out of the bottom of his throne, creating a magic circle that became a swirling vortex of fire. Three monsters appeared inside the flames, stepping out to reveal it was a single, three-headed giant dog. Cerberus.

"You know, I kinda thought Cerberus was more a Devil pet than anything else." Bri joked as she readied to fight. As they watched, another crawled out of the pit.

"To think he could summon a Cerberus." Rias said to herself, looking on in surprise. "Bri. You take care of one of them. Akeno, Koneko. You're both with me. Issei, prepare to boost our power." Everyone nodded, as Akeno changed into a shrine priestess robe and she and Rias took flight. Bri charged at the other beast, yelling at the top of her voice. Issei summoned his Boosted Gear, and made sure to stand in front of Asia.

"Don't worry, Asia." He told her. "They'll discipline those doggies in no time." As he watched, one of the Cerberuses fired flames at Rias, while the other tried to bite Bri in half. But they both dodged and counter-attacked, hurting their foes. Koneko slammed her heel against a leg, bringing the beast down again as Akeno blasted it with lightning. While he stood there, charging his power, he saw Bri slice a whole leg of her monster before stabbing it in the left head. At this rate, he might not be needed.

He heard Asia scream, and looked back to see a third Cerberus spring at them. He grabbed Asia before dodging the monster's fiery breath, and watched as it landed close to the others. One head attacked Bri, who only survived because of her armour, while the other distracted Rias and Akeno.

"The boost multiplier resets whether I attack or defend." Issei said to himself. "In that case, I'd rather kick some ass than wait around for it to remember me." He started charging the beast, yelling like Bri had. The monster slashed at him, but he jumped over it and dodged sideways. But it was still fast enough to face him again, jumping for the kill. Well, he was going to hurt it no matter what. But he heard the sound of a sword, and one of the heads was sliced completely off. Bri saved his skin.

But no. He looked up to see Xenovia high in the air, her Excalibur red with blood. "Hey." She said to him. "Hope I'm not late with punishing the wicked."

"Boy, you're a sight for sore eyes." He said in relief. If Xenovia was alright, then that must mean the Kiba is too. But where the hell is he? He watched as Xenovia slashed again, cleaving the monster in two. The pieces turned into fireballs, before vanishing into thin air. As he looked around, he saw that Bri was standing on top of the burning corpse of her monster, before charging at Rias' monster. She and Xenovia work in tandem, slicing the monster into tiny pieces.

"Holy sh… cow." He nearly cursed, watching them be badasses. As his gear glowed with power again, he noticed a symbol on the jewel. The Dragon face.

"There." Ddraig said to him. "That means you've charged enough to boost their power. So hurry up so that we can kill this guy."

"Right." He nodded. "Rias, Akeno. I'm ready." They nodded as they stopped watching Bri take on yet another Cerberus. They flew down closer to him, meeting him in the air. "Transfer." He shouted as he touched them, their bodies glowing green as his power boosted them. They moaned in pleasure as the power coursed through them. Meanwhile, he landed roughly back on terra firma, landing on his face as he fell.

"Oh? You can charge your allies too?" Xenovia asked as she looked at the two glowing Devils. Akeno smiled as she created a giant yellow circle, hitting a Cerberus with something that was more a lightning beam than a lightning bolt. Koneko flipped another over to allow Rias to blast him from on high with a spell strong enough to leave a small crater where it was. But the last one decided to kill a weaker target, and ran straight for Asia. And dammit, everyone was too far to reach her in time.

"Asia!" Issei and Bri yelled, watching as it pounced for her. But then it was skewered by giant swords erupting from the ground. They sighed in relief as Kiba jumped down beside Asia. Then, Rias and Akeno combined their spells to completely and utterly destroy the Cerberus.

"I'm sorry I ran off like that." Kiba apologised. "I lost control of myself, seeing Valper again like that. But now that he's here, I promise to obey the orders of my king again."

"Well, isn't this touching?" Kokabiel said sarcastically from his flying throne. "But it's completely boring. Hardly worth the effort."

"Take this, you filth." Rias shouted as she threw a bolt of destruction at him. But he merely smirked at her, and knocked it aside with one hand. The bolt crashed into the ground, obliterating the tennis court. Unbelievable. Even with the boost he managed to block it?

"Well, well. So this is what the power of the Red Dragon Emperor can do." He finally seemed interested in something. "When I take that power, and remove that sword from your corpse, I will be truly unstoppable."

Bri looked ready to shout back – whether to taunt him or threaten him – But then they heard a whistling sound as the golden circle became a pillar of light. They had been so busy fighting the Cerberuses that they completely forgot about Valper. In the centre of the pillar was a thin blade, looking like it had been made from several others. Excalibur.

"Ah, good. It's finished. The power unleashed by that sword will be more than capable of destroying this entire pathetic city."

"Wait." Issei gasped. "You mean that everyone I know will die from this thing?"

"They will see the true glory of Excalibur in their last moments." Valper giggled. "But foul Devils like you will simply return to the abyss that birthed you. But I will understand if you simply wish to run like the cowards you are. After all, the city will be completely obliterated in just 20 minutes."

"Not going to happen, monster." Bri growled as she stood ready. Kiba and Xenovia readied their swords too. "We're going to destroy you. In the name of Ascalon I hear by sentence you for your crimes. Make peace with whatever foul bastard you pray to."

"Bri?" Issei got worried. This wasn't really how Bri acted. Even when Raynare took Asia's Gear she didn't act like this. It was as if she was an avenging angel, taking it into her own hands to smite the wicked.

"Let her." Akeno said to him. "The three of them will handle Valper. We've got to stop Kokabiel before he uses his spell."

"Right." He said as Akeno took to the air. He thought their job would be easier now, but he could only watch in horror as Kokabiel caught Rias' spell of Destruction in one hand, caught Akeno's in the other, and then threw them both at Rias. Akeno flew in front of her and raised a shield, but it shattered like glass before the combined attack. They both screamed in pain as the spell started tearing them apart, before Akeno fell in exhaustion. Luckily, Issei managed to rush over in time to catch her.

"Thank you Issei." Akeno said to him. "I'm just sorry for wasting your boost like that."

"Don't worry about it." Issei replied. "You just heal up, and get back in there to beat this guy." He looked up at the Fallen Angel. "Hey, bastard. How dare you attack my friends. I'm going to kick your ass." Granted, he wasn't sure how to do that. The guy just shrugged off their empowered attacks like it was nothing, before throwing them straight back. They needed a new plan besides just charging the guy.

He hoped that Kiba and the others were having better luck.

(**/*\**)

"Time to die!" Kiba shouted as he charged for Valper. But a golden barrier surrounded him, blocking all of Kiba's strikes. Even Xenovia couldn't match up against a more complete Excalibur. But if this thing was just strong enough to destroy a city, then Ascalon was more than strong enough.

Valper moved behind the sword as Ben stabbed the shield. His blade didn't go all the way, but by pushing down on it he managed to start making a hole for him to fit in. He grinned as he imagined cutting this guy down. He deserved it after everything he's done. He kidnapped orphans for his twisted experiment, killed them for an insane plan, and here he was planning to destroy a city just to see a Holy Sword. Well, time to see whether the fat bastard could actually use it to save his miserable skin.

"Bri! Look out!" He heard Koneko shout to him. He instinctly tapped into Ascalon's power to create a shield as something big thundered into the ground. He got distracted as he looked to make sure everyone was alright. Kokabiel and all his allies will pay for all the pain they've caused. He will hunt down everyone that might've helped him, and cut them down. As he looked over his shoulder to see Kiba crawling to his knees, he suddenly felt hands grabbing his wrists.

"Hey there sexy-whore." Freed said in his ear as he started licking his face. Ben tried to pull free, but he wasn't strong enough. And Ascalon was trapped in the barrier. "You know, you're almost too pretty to kill. I might just ask Kokabiel is I can keep you as my sex slave. His leg started pressing against Ben's privates as one hand moved down to grope his breasts. Ben quickly pulled forward, before using Freed's own strength to help him slam the back of his head against his nose. As the psycho was sent reeling, Ben grabbed Ascalon and swung it at him. But Freed moved fast enough to dodge it, jumping over the energy blast that nearly hit Ben's team. Ben wiped the spit of his face before materialising the helmet. That was never going to happen again. How dare he think he could ever best him? He will enjoy hearing him scream in pain and suffering before crushing his heart in the palm of his hand.

"About time you showed up." Kokabiel said to him as Rias, and Issei grabbed Xenovia and Koneko. "Perhaps if you prove you're still with me, I can let you keep the girl as a pet."

"Sure thing boss. I was just waiting for Excalibur-chan to be all ready for me." He walked over to the sword, grabbing it and looking with lust. "Oh, the fun we'll have." God, this guy was creepy as hell. "So let me guess? I am to kill every last one of these fuckers and bring you that pretty sword?"

"You think you can best me?" Ben growled. "I have fought greater enemies than you. You will be nothing more than chaff before the wind." He wasn't sure what that was, but it sounded menacing.

"Now die!" He shouted as he rushed towards Freed.

(**/*\**)

"…I have to say, I'm actually glad to see you again." Valper said to Kiba as he got closer. "It's thanks to you and the other test subjects than I was able to fulfil this plan."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kiba gasped as he tried to stand up. He managed to dodge Kokabiel's attack at the last moment, but it was still too powerful.

"Why, your Sacred Will, of course. The Will needed to wield a Holy Sword. Alone, none of you had enough to even hope to wield such a sword as Excalibur. But then I was struck by brilliance. Perhaps if it was together, then the combined total would be enough. I had to drain every last drop, which nearly killed them all. But I succeeded." He pulled a blue crystal out of his pocket that seemed to have glowing dust inside it. Issei heard Xenovia gasp as she recognised it. "Behold, Sacred Will in a usable form. Just as fresh as the day I had it made. Mind you, this is the last one. All the others were used to give Freed the power to use Excalibur. I suppose I should be glad that your friend's sword doesn't seem to need it. As far as I can sense, it's almost a demonic sword." Wait, what? Ascalon was made with science, not magic. How could it have a demonic presence? "And to think Freed was the only one to survive the implantation. Oh well. He's certainly tough enough.

"That crystal…" Xenovia muttered. "It's the exact same one that's placed within the body when a Holy Sword wielder is ceremonially blessed. The church actually uses the Sacred Will of others?"

"Yes, just as I suspected. Those hypocrites tried to remove me as a heretic, all while still using the fruits of my research. And they're not even doing it right. Those bleeding hearts are trying to siphon it off without killing anyone. You just leave a waste of space behind. Better to just wipe out the trash and grab some new members."

"You're…You're saying we didn't have to die?" Kiba said as he tried to get up again. "You just killed us because we were no use to you anymore?" He looked even angrier than before. Issei quickly had a look around at everyone else. Rias, Akeno, Koneko and Asia looked saddened as they heard this freak talk. Kokabiel was looking from on high, smiling at their pain. And Bri was barely holding against Freed. She might have the strongest sword ever, but Freed's been trained in the art of sword-fighting. "My friends and I took hope from the idea that we were dying for a right cause. We held on to hope because of that. And you're telling me that they died for nothing more than your sick pleasure?"

"Yep." Valper said as he threw the crystal at Kiba's feet. "You can keep that one, if you want. We already have means of refining a better crystal than that. Hell, we can mass-produce it. You Devils are little more than animals to be slaughtered." Kiba stooped down to grab the crystal, tears brimming in his eyes. This had to be so painful for him. To find out that his friends died because of some sadistic shithead. Issei's hands trembled in rage. He was going to kill this bastard.

"Valper Gallei." Kiba said quietly. "You did that research for your own selfish desire. Just how many lives have you destroyed for nothing? How many have you toyed with like you were some kind of god?" Everyone looked in surprise as the air around him started glowing with lights. The blue lights of the crystal. They changed shape, until they became people. Most of them were around Kiba's age, while some were barely children. The other test subjects.

"Perhaps all the power gathered here tonight, along with Yuuto's own heart, allowed him to release all the souls in the crystal." Akeno wondered as they watched, the sound of Freed and Bri's clash fading away.

"I've… always thought about it… for the longest time. Why me? There were others with bigger dreams than me. Others that wanted to live more than I did. Why should I be the one with a peaceful life? Where's the justice in my life over theirs?" He started crying, until one of the younger girls reached out and tugged him by the sleeve. He looked around in shock, as he saw them. His old friends. People he had missed for years. Those who gave their life for him. They all smiled at him as they turned into streams of light, swirling around him. He looked at them, as though they were saying things to him. After a bit of this, Kiba started smiling as the lights fused with him, causing him to glow with a brilliant light.

"The knight has just obtained it." Issei heard Ddraig say. He looked down at his Gear in confusion. "Once you have obtained an extraordinary will, one that's at a level that forces the original owner's memories and dreams to go against the natural flow of the world, a sacred treasure will appear before them. One that is called the Balance Breaker." Kiba had stopped glowing, and now looked determined against Valper's evil.

"My friends never wanted revenge. They never did. They only wanted me to live. But in their memory I cannot let the evil before me leave. I must stop it, for the sake of others that it could hurt."

"But first… I must help my new friends."

(**/*\**)

Ben gritted his teeth as he was pushed back by Freed. This was unbelievable. He was losing. Sure his armour was barely able to protect him, and he managed to intercept most blows. But Freed was better with his sword that he was. If something didn't change soon, then he would lose. And Kokabiel would get a sword capable of killing worlds. He fell back on his ass as Freed gave an extra push.

"Looks like you won't be needing that hand as my slave." Freed yelled as he swung Excalibur. Ben lost. He couldn't believe it. He lost. And he wouldn't be fast enough to block the strike.

Excalibur went clang as a new sword blocked it. A black blade that seemed made of obsidian. Kiba smiled as he stood in the way.

"Sorry I took so long." He apologized. "I had to clear my head a bit."

Ben smiled as he got back on his feet. "Don't sweat it. This fucker's going down."

"Right." Kiba raised his blade to the sky, Holy and Devil energies spiralling round the blade. "I am the sword. Let the resolve of my friends, my comrades empower this blade. Let us strive together, for the President, for my team. Let the resolve of us all grant me the strength to win. Sword Birth!" When the glow faded, the sword was still the same size. But now one half was pure white, and red glowing runes went up the side of the blade. "Sword of the betrayer. Receive the power of both Holy and Demon!"

"What the shit?" Freed shouted in surprise.

"That's… That's impossible." Valper gasped. "Holy and Demon magic can't work together. Their very power repels each other. This is impossible!"

Xenovia was now walking alongside them. "Sorry I didn't join in earlier. I thought you could handle him with you Ascalon. Guess he's gotten stronger than I thought."

"Don't sweat it." Ben replied. "I thought the exact same thing." Xenovia smirked at him. "I'm guessing we're just going to destroy that sword rather than leave it vulnerable?"

"Indeed. While it is a Holy Sword, it has been corrupted by the men that wield it."

"In that case we'd be honoured. Right Kiba?"

"Right." He agreed. Xenovia nodded, before stabbing her blade into the ground and holding out one hand.

"Peter. Basil. Denis. And Blessed Virgin Mary. I ask all of you to be by my side." A glowing portal appeared beside her, and spat out a sword wrapped in chains. It was like Ascalon in a way. It was so powerful by people's standards that it had to be contained to be safe. Xenovia reached for the handle, still chanting. "By the imbued power of all the saints within it, I release this blade!" The chains shattered, revealing a massive blue blade sharpened to a point. It looked more like a surfboard than a weapon. "Holy Sword, Durandal!"

"…Ok. What exactly is Durandal?" Ben had to ask. He'd never really heard of it before. Hell, he didn't even know what legend it was part of.

"It is a Holy Sword said to be able to kill anything of this world."

"That's impossible!" Valper said again. "My research shows that no one is capable of wielding Durandal. Even Freed couldn't use it."

"I am not like your monster, or Irina. I am one of the few that was naturally born to wield it."

"You were born to… You're the true Holy Sword Wielder?"

"Indeed. Many have died trying to use this. Even I have not got perfect control over this. In fact, I have to hide it in an alternate dimension to stop it from destroying the world. But I am more than capable of destroying you with it."

"What a load of bullshit." Freed replied, launching Excalibur Mimic at her. Xenovia instantly batted away the sword, before it turned back as a giant claw. She spun Durandal around, slicing through the blade like it was nothing. "The Hell? There's no way you should've been able to shatter an Excalibur blade."

"You fight with a fragment of a weapon." She replied as she jumped at him. "So no matter how strong they are, they will never be a match for the might of Durandal!" But Freed used another power to move away in a flash. But then there were flashes of light all around them. Kiba was easily keeping up with him now. They stopped moving so fast just when they got near Ben, probably planning on taking Ascalon. Well, this time will be different. Ben yelled as he swung the sword at Freed, who blocked it with Excalibur. However, this allowed Kiba to strike from the other side, further down. The resulting force shattered the blade in two, leaving only a broken hilt.

"Is this for real?" Freed asked no one as he got back to his feet. "I got beaten by some shitty devil and his sluts?" He stopped speaking as Xenovia hit him with the flat of her blade, knocking him out with ease. That left only Valper.

"Time to suffer for your crimes." Ben said angrily, before charging with a shout. He could hear the slime ball try to plead with him, but he wasn't listening. He heard only the voice in his head, the voice of justice.

Kill him. Make him suffer. You wield Ascalon and the Omnitrix. You are the only one that can truly met out justice.

He deserved it. He deserved it. He deserved it.

But before he could act out justice, a glowing spear stabbed Valper through.

"Well, that started getting boring." Kokabiel said as the corpse faded away. "I honestly hoped that they could've at least gotten that sword from you. But it appears that I'll have to do it myself."

"You clearly underestimate me." Ben growled. "I may have had trouble with your pet monster, but now it's just you."

"Indeed. And you cannot touch me up here. You are, after all, merely human."

"Well if I can't get to you, then I'll just have to bring you down to me." He spun Ascalon in a tight circle, creating a tunnel of wind. Kokabiel tried to escape, but the wind had him trapped. Ben threw the tunnel to the ground, slamming him twice before releasing him.

"Now then. Have at thee!"

(**/*\**)

"Issei." Rias said to him. "I need the biggest boost you can give me. We have to stop Kokabiel before he destroys the school."

"You think he'll just let us power up?" Issei asked her in surprise.

Rias smirked at him. "I think that the Cadre's underestimated Bri and Ascalon. If he knew that it was used to kill a dark god-like monster, then he'd realise how outclassed he is." She then looked solemn. "But he's fought sword-wielders before, and Bri's not skilled enough. If we strike him with all our power, then we can stop him together."

Issei smiled as he took her hand. "Right." His gear glowed as he boosted his energy. But it wasn't enough. He had to wait longer. As he boosted more and more, they watched Bri fight Kokabiel. And from the way it was going, Issei wondered if they were actually needed. She was mopping the floor with this creep. Sure, her strikes didn't hit anywhere near him. But the energy released with every attack slammed into the Fallen Angel. He took to the skies again, his mocking smirk looking less proud now.

"Impressive." Kokabiel said. "You're really putting up a fight. But it just makes killing you all the more sweeter. I will rip you in half and take that blade of yours."

"You will never beat me. That is not some belief, or hope or ill-made assumption. That is the logical truth, just like the fact that the world obeys me." She unleashed another tornado, but Kokabiel was ready for it. Instead of trying to hold his ground and weather it, he instead took off and led it in a merry chase. Issei couldn't believe just how long the tornado had become. But eventually, it reached its limit and faded away. Kokabiel turned to face Bri again, but she just raised her sword and waved it down. Instantly, Kokabiel fell as if his wings were cut, slamming into the ground hard enough to make a sizable crater. As Kokabiel struggled to get up, he watched as Bri jumped high above, pointing her blade down at him. Right now, she looked a lot like Xenovia when she used her Excalibur Destruction. Kokabiel managed to struggle free of whatever he was trapped in, just in time to avoid getting skewered. The ground beneath them fractured into a massive crater, big enough to fit the clubhouse in. As Kokabiel pulled himself out of a pile of rubble, he wasn't smirking anymore. He was snarling at Bri.

"Hey, partner." Ddraig said to him. "While you've been busy watching Bri at work, our boost has gotten ready." He looked down at his Gear to see the dragon symbol on the gem. But did they still need it?

Apparently, as chains of light exploded out of the air and wrapped around Bri. They moved absolutely everywhere, holding her in place and trying to rip Ascalon from her hands. The chains around the blade splintered, but the rest stayed strong. Before anyone else could react, Kokabiel created a giant spear of light. If he hit Bri with that, it was all over.

"Prez!" He shouted at her, gripping her hand tightly. He felt the boosted energy leave him, as Rias started glowing brighter than ever. The wind started blowing as red lightning arced around her. Whoa. He didn't know he could've done that. Rias fired a massive bolt of destruction magic at the spear, shattering most of it with ease. But a bit was still left, and slammed into Bri's head. The helmet shattered under the blow, but from the way she was still trying to pull free it hadn't hurt her too badly.

"You will never hurt my peerage." Rias said icily to the Fallen Angel. "You will never hurt this town and its people. You will become nothing more than a mockery. Now, die!" She fired off two bolts, each turning into a serpentine shape as they flew. But Kokabiel grabbed the two snakes and crushed them, his hands smoking slightly from the power. And then she threw another. And another. And another again. She kept this up, keeping Kokabiel busy while Koneko, Xenovia, Kiba and Issei all ran to help free Bri from her chains. Kiba and Xenovia shattered chains easily, but more sprung up to envelop Bri. Koneko was pulling at them and snapping them, but it took her longer and made Bri gag as chains pulled on her throat. Issei couldn't even do that anymore.

"Issei." Bri gasped, waving Ascalon around. "I hereby grant you permission to use Ascalon, to free me from this cage, and return it to my hand when I am able to move again." The sword left her hand, and floated over to him. Issei looked at it warily. He could see that Bri was still changing. She had threatened to kill Valper earlier, and had started shouting how she was right and strong. If Bri, who was expecting those changes, didn't realise they were happening, then how would he fare?

Bri's been holding onto Ascalon for days now. Part of him argued. She's probably had it whispering to her that whole time. I'm only using it for a second. And with that, he reached out and grabbed the blade. It instantly felt lighter than air, like he could lift a mountain while holding it. He could feel the power deep within, capable of boiling all the seas and sundering the land. Of turning ice to lava and the sky into fire. To alter the very laws of physics themselves, to bend them to his will. He could even tell they could tap into impossibilities with the same ease he'd turn a doorknob.

And he could feel something darker, hidden away inside it.

"I sense it too, partner." Ddraig said to him. "This power is overwhelming. Even a powerful dragon like myself could never comprehend this power. No wonder she's going mad with it. But I can keep it at bay long enough for you to free her. But before we do, I have to ask you something important."

"Can't this wait?" He nearly shouted. He didn't know how much longer Rias could keep Kokabiel distracted for.

"Bri asked you to stop her if she ever started losing herself. And as you've noticed, she's losing control."

"Your point?"

"If we give her back Ascalon, then how do we stop her afterwards?"

Part of Issei didn't want to admit it, but Ddraig had a very good point. None of them outside of Bri were making a dent in this guy. He even shrugged off Rias' boosted attacks like they were nothing. If they couldn't stop this creep, then how could they stop Bri? But most of his decided they wouldn't need to. "I'll convince her." He said unconvincingly. As he readied the blade to destroy the chains, he heard Rias cry out. Despite every instinct telling him to free Bri, he stopped at faced the Prez.

She was lying on the ground, not a mark on her – except for when Kokabiel attacked before – but looking completely exhausted. Kokabiel glared down at her, now looking as if he had been cheated.

"Pah. To think a weak king like yourself is related to Sirzechs. I guess the Gremory Family isn't as strong as they appear. Now, time to suffer for your weakness." He raised his hand, as if to summon his spear.

"No!" Akeno shouted, firing a stream of lightning at the Cadre. Kokabiel quickly stopped casting, and wrapped himself in his wings. The lightning thundered against it harmlessly, but it stopped him from hurting Rias.

"You, with Baraqiel's energy. You dare attempt to strike me? You're pathetic, just like him."

"Don't… you… dare… lump me… with him!" Akeno grunted, the lightning growing bigger and bigger. Issei thought something like that should've cooked him like a chicken, but Kokabiel just laughed at her. But Issei was confused. Another name he didn't know?

"And Baraqiel is…?" He asked everyone.

"One of the Fallen Angel leaders." Xenovia replied. "Also known as the Flash, he's said to be the master of lightning." They watched as Akeno ran out of power, he finger barely sparking anymore. Kokabiel just laughed.

"Always running out at the worst possible time, just like your old man. Baraqiel would be ashamed if he saw his daughter, now a sinful Devil." Everyone gasped at that. Akeno was the child of a Fallen Angel? Issei couldn't believe it. "And you, Church Girl." He continued, looking at Xenovia. "I'm surprised you can keep fighting after losing your lord."

"What do you mean 'losing your lord'? What do you know of the Almighty God in Heaven?" Xenovia nearly spat fire she was so enraged.

Kokabiel merely laughed at her. "Well, everyone knows that the last Overlords of Hell died during the Great War. But what very little people know is that they weren't the only casualties. God, your 'precious Lord', the King of Heaven, the so-called 'Greatest Being of All', died as well!" Xenovia and Asia rocked back as though Kokabiel actually slapped them. "After the war, the Overlords and most of the highborn Nobles were lost. The armies of the Angels and Fallen Angels were nearly wiped out. The Angels are so scarce that they never show up outside of their precious domain anymore. Each faction suffered so much damage that they've all been forced to turn to humans just to survive as species. The leaders of each side kept the information secret because they needed the stupid God-fearing humans." Xenovia fell to her knees in despair. "And after all those leaders died, they all had the gall to call off the War. As if it's all pointless. I can't stand it." Now he looked angry again. "I was supposed to lower my fist after raising it for a fight? I was to give up, so that the pathetic may continue living? We would've won if we had kept at it. And Azazel had the audacity to declare that there will never be a second War. Well fuck that. I will have war, one way or another."

Asia trembled as she got to her feet. "But… But what about… what about His blessings? If what you say is true, then who has been granting all the blessings?"

"Michael's doing a fine job then." Kokabiel smirked. "He's been taking care of the Angels and humans in God's stead. You know, I'd almost think he arrange matters to allow him to take over." Asia swayed, before Koneko caught her. She was almost fainting from shock.

"But enough chit-chat. Time for one of you to die." He gave them all a creepy smile as a spear formed in his hands. "So who shall it be? The mediocre King, who dishonours her family? Or the Fallen Angel that's abandoned her kind? Or perhaps…" He turned to Bri. "The pathetic Human that's out of her weight class?" They watched as he threw his spear straight for her. And Rias wasn't strong enough to stop it this time.

Issei moved as fast as he could, but Koneko was faster. She grabbed the spear by the shaft, her hands burning from the touch, and redirected it. But as she was busy with this, Kokabiel used their distraction to throw another spear. Issei moved to intercept it, but he quickly realised that Bri wasn't the target.

Kiba vomited blood as the spear pinned him to the ground.

"KIBA!" Rias screamed as she saw him bleeding out. Xenovia stumbled to her feet and shattered the spear, but it was too little, too late. There was just a hole in his chest. Asia and Koneko ran over to heal him, but Issei couldn't see how it would help. Surely he'd bleed to death before he healed over. As he heard Kokabiel laughing overhead, he longed to strike him down with Ascalon. He held the strongest weapon ever. Why shouldn't he use it to stop that bastard?

Because you know nothing about it. A part of him said. You just know what Bri told you. And she said it had already destroyed a planet from misuse. If anyone could use it properly, it was her.

"Ascalon." Issei chanted. "I command you. Grant me the power to shatter the chains holding Bri in place!" The edge of the blade glowed with fiery white light, feeling cool to the touch. Issei gave it a swing, and the flames billowed out and snapped at the golden chains. They were shattered with ease, the flames moving faster and more numerous than the chains could spread. Within seconds, Bri was standing free and looking murderous. Ascalon wriggled free of Issei's grip and flew to fit into Bri's outstretched hand.

"I will kill you, monster." She growled, before firing beams of light from Ascalon. Kokabiel tried to dodge, but he stopped as though someone had hit pause on him. The beams blasted through his wings like paper, dropping him to the ground in a scream of agony. As he got back up, a distant part of Issei noticed that his long robe was gone, revealing he wore a suit underneath. Bri rushed in, Kokabiel barely blocking her strikes with swords made of light. His blades just kept shattering under her onslaught. He jumped clear, and created the biggest spear Issei had ever seen. It was bigger than the school. And he threw it too fast for Bri to destroy it. They all watched as it smashed against the blade, pushing her further and further back. But instead of breaking Ascalon, the spear shattered against it. Even Kokabiel looked on in shock. And as he stood there, Bri ran out of the smoke. He created more, smaller spears to attack her desperately with, but she batted them aside with contemptuous ease. Finally, she rushed ahead at near-blinding speed, slicing his legs off at the knee. As he lay there panting in agony, Bri stood overhead with Ascalon raised.

"Justice will be done." She said softly, the point of Ascalon pointing at Kokabiel's heart. Issei grew cold as he realised he let her keep pushing herself, using the sword too often. And now she was losing herself.

"Bri! Wait!" Everyone looked on in surprise as he rushed to her. "Don't kill him."

"You would spare him?" Bri asked in anger, her eyes nearly glowing. "He is a monster. He would gladly kill us all for his war, for his pride. Kiba is dying because of him!"

"He's not. Look." He pointed to Kiba, who was even now struggling to his feet. "We're all still alive. He can be judged by someone else, like Sirzechs, or that Azazel guy. Or even Michael."

"You would let them be his judge? Pathetic." It was like a slap to his face. "None of them dared to come here to stop him themselves. They all cowered in their domains while we bled for them. And I fought tooth and nail to bring him low. Only I have the power to judge him for his crimes."

"Bri, will you look at yourself? You're standing over him like an executioner. No one should be judge, jury and executioner. This isn't you. You don't want to kill anyone. You ran off from Raynare because you didn't want to see us kill her. You know she deserved it, but you still would've had her arrested. That is who you are. Not this crazy Knight-Templar shit."

Bri glared at him with cold, dead eyes. "I was like that. But then I saw how the villains I saved and left for the weak justice system merely sent them to cells. I watched as they broke free and hurt more people. Even Vilgax, the most feared being in my Galaxy, would've merely been locked away for life rather than executed. Clearly, a change is needed. Bri 10 is no more. Now I am King Tennyson, Executer of the Dammed."

So this was it. Bri was gone. He had to stop her. For her sake. This was not what she wanted. He charged straight for her, ready to knock some sense into her. But she swung Ascalon, and he had to duck to avoid getting sliced in half.

"You would dare to stand against me? Very well then. All that are not with me, are against me." She readied her blade, glaring at them with rage-filled eyes. This was not the girl he first met and became close friends with. This was a force of vengeance, clothed in a female form.

So it was all of them, who couldn't even defeat a Cadre, versus Bri Tennyson, the greatest heroine they ever knew and armed with the most powerful weapon ever made, in this dimension or any other.

Issei trembled at the thought.

(**/*\**)

Xenovia rushed her faster than thought, but evidently Ascalon gave Bri Future-Sight or something. She got Ascalon in the way with a casual wave, the two swords pushing against each other in an attempt to feast on their masters. Then Ascalon glowed with light, and Xenovia was flung into the far building with grooves cut into the ground. But she got back up and raced at Bri again, with Kiba following close behind. Once again, Bri blocked Durandal with ease, before blocking Kiba with her gauntleted arm. That let Koneko drop down from above, aiming for her head. But Bri's armour somehow sprouted multiple wings of light, looking almost like tentacles, blowing them all away and nearly slicing through Koneko. Asia ran over to her fallen form and started healing, but Issei was still worried. This new Bri was more than willing to test the sword's limits. If they don't stop her soon, she may destroy the world.

It was all down to him.

"Surrender and take your Divine Punishment with grace." Bri said calmly. "It will make things so much easier for all of us."

"Never." Rias replied, firing a bolt of Destruction. But it barely managed to scuff Bri's armour. Then she teleported right behind Rias and snapped her arm with one hand. As Rias screamed, Akeno used the wind to blow Bri away. But Bri's wings allowed her to fly to safety, when Kiba surround her with swords. But Bri swung Ascalon in a circle, slicing through them like confetti. As the fragments fell, Kiba rushed her with three swords, only to watch as they clanged off her armour. Then the wings grabbed him, burning him with light. This was impossible. She couldn't be stopped. She was a living force of nature. But they had to try. And so Issei concentrated on his memories of everyone. Of Kiba, who was burning as he spoke. Of Koneko, who was badly wounded and could even die. Of Asia, who was crying as her friends were forced to fight each other. And of Rias, who was nearly fainting from exhaustion and injuries. This last memory caused him to start burning with righteous fury. He knew that Bri wasn't herself. He knew she was being controlled by the power of the sword. He knew that if she could stop herself, she would.

But that didn't mean he was going to go easy on her.

Everyone looked on in surprise as his Gear blazed with light, green summoning circles pulsing into the sky. He could feel all his fury being turned into energy to fight with. His Gear grew massive golden spikes all over, glowing with suppressed power. Bri snorted at him, before firing a blast from Ascalon. But Issei managed to deflect it and keep charging her. Bri barely dodged in time to cause the punch to hit her shoulder. It sent her flying, before crashing down to the ground in a heap. He could do this. They could beat her. Xenovia rushed her with speed, while Akeno flew on high. Bri was distracted by Akeno's lightning, so that Xenovia could throw Excalibur Destruction at her. But Bri merely grabbed the blade with her wings, and crushed it in her grip. Then, she fired all of the lightning back at Akeno and Xenovia, leaving them smoking heaps on the ground. Asia ran over to help, while Bri face Issei and Rias.

"You two don't really think you can win, do you? We all know that I am the strongest member of the group. We all know I could run rings around the lot of you, even when I merely had the Omnitrix. But now I have the means to obtain godhood. I hold the key to ascension in my hands. All will obey me, or burn in my new world." Something was even more different. Now there was a deeper echo to her voice, like something else speaking through her. Ascalon? "Now, take your deaths with dignity."

They all looked up as the barrier around them shattered into a million pieces. The wind blowing around was formidable. Issei had to hold Rias steady, but Bri somehow weathered it like a mountain. They looked at the center of the sky, where the barrier had broken, to see a bright blue light. It vanished to reveal a white Dragon-man with large wings of light and glowing jewels on his knees and chest. Issei could feel himself tremble, though he couldn't tell if it was from fear or anger.

"I don't know who you are, and frankly I don't care." The stranger said. "All I care about is that you're not going to shut up unless I kick your ass."

Bri smirked at him. "From the look of your armour, I would guess that you're the 'White Dragon'. While it certainly sounds pretentious, it just means you're a slightly stronger speck compared to me. Now, suffer for your crimes!" Bri swung Ascalon high overhead, but the dragon had vanished into thin air. Bri yelled as she felt two wings getting ripped off, swinging blindly at him. He tried to pull away but Bri moved faster than the eye could blink and knocked him to the ground. He somehow managed to get back to the air, looking none the worse for the wear. "You bastard! You dare defy the will of Diagon? I will crush you like the bug you are!" Ascalon started glowing so brightly that Issei was nearly blinded. But he could see the dragon raise a hand at Bri.

"DIVIDE!" His Gear shouted, pulsing with light. The light from Ascalon faded to a more manageable level, allowing them to see again. Bri looked shocked at that.

"My name is Albion." The dragon-man said. "And you have just witnessed one of the abilities of my Sacred Gear, Divine Dividing. Every 10 seconds, it halves the powers of anyone I touch, and add them to my own." Great. Now there were two people that could destroy the world. "You'd best get on with stopping me. Pretty soon you won't have anything left in the tank."

"You think your little trick can stop me? Ascalon is the greatest weapon ever created! It taps into the very power of the cosmos! It can destroy worlds with the same ease you and I wipe out insects! Even if we fought for years you will never be able to stop me!" Her wings grew in size, slashing for Albion. As he dodged, she fired off more and more energy beams. Just like she said, they didn't seem any smaller or weaker than before. But after a number of these swings, Bri suddenly grabbed her side as if it pained her. The injuries. Bri wasn't still healed. And if she pushed herself too far chasing after Kiba, Irina and Xenovia, then she might've nearly killed herself during this fight.

"It seems you're not really thinking of the battle." Albion said as he appeared by her side. Bri swung Ascalon again, but this time it didn't even hit him. She sank to her knees as she gasped for breath. "And you seem to have pushed yourself too far. You are no god. You're just a weak, scared little girl, Diagon. Now, fall." Albion appeared before her, and punched her through her armour. Bri trembled, and then fell to her side. Issei, Rias, and Asia rushed to her side. The circle from before, agitated by all the power flying around, finally faded away.

"I'll need to take this pest back home." Albion said as he grabbed Kokabiel. "Along with that Stray Exorcist too. And if that sword really is as powerful as she said, then we'll need to study that too."

"Forget it, White Dragon." Ddraig said out loud. Everyone looked as Issei's Sacred Gear in shock. "That sword is far too powerful for anyone. If this girl hadn't already been injured, then you would've lost the fight."

Albion looked directly at Issei. "And why should I trust you, Red Dragon?" He said in a much deeper voice. This must be the spirit of the Gear. "For all I know you want this blade for yourself."

"I don't. It's not from this realm. You know what our Ascalon looks like. We don't even have the slightest idea what it can really do. Hell, I've peered into it and I don't know." Albion hesitated, before touching Ascalon. As he did so, the armour around Bri faded away, and they could see her injuries. They were… severe. There were more bruises and burns everywhere, and she had cuts all over her body. He was just glad that Asia was here to heal her. Finally, after long seconds, Albion let go of the blade.

"Incredible." He whispered. "I've never seen such power. This is of no magic I've ever heard of before. Even the gods would tremble before this weapon." He stood up, grabbing hold of his captives. "Keep it, Red. And make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." And with that, he vanished in a blaze of blue light.

"Amazing." Rias said. Issei didn't care. If this guy was his rival, then he needed to get stronger.

And if Bri didn't make it, then he would give his life to make that guy pay.

"Rias." Sona said as she got closer, looking at all the destruction from their battle. "I never expected to see the English Dragon here."

"Me neither. We were lucky. Without him, we would've lost."

"So you couldn't beat Kokabiel? Even with that sword?"

"The sword was the problem. Bri stopped him easily enough, but she had gone mad with the power. She decided that she alone could judge everyone." Rias looked down at Bri in sadness. "It took Albion to stop her."

"I just hope she can forgive us."

(**/*\**)

The ground felt so soft. Ben thought as he rose from a fevered dream. The world just kept spinning and spinning. Faint, half-memories came back to him. He tried to reach deeper, to remember where he was, and what happened. But he reached too far. He felt as though he was drowning. And then his stomach heaved. He tried to puke, but there was nothing. Nothing but his throat burning like a fire. He craved a drink. He would do anything for a drink. Please, someone get him a drink!

"It's ok." He heard someone say as a hand lifted his head and the cool taste of water quenched his throat. "Just drink up. You need your rest." Why did it sound so familiar? He tried to reach again, to remember. The last thing he had been doing was fighting the Highbreed… no. The last thing was… it was… a smoothie. He was having a smoothie with Gwen and Kevin. But then what happened? And why did his chest feel so heavy?

He heard a glass clatter on wood, before he felt a damp cloth being placed on his head and another wiping at his mouth. It moved slowly and gently down his throat, where it then met the weird weights on his chest. They jiggled strangely, but also felt nice. Then it all came back to him. He had been pulled into another dimension, and was stuck as a girl. That voice belonged to Issei, his new best friend. They had been fighting a Fallen Angel, Kokabiel, when he… when he…

He groaned as he started sitting up. That had been a bad idea. His stomach kept bouncing around, trying to eject things that weren't there. He could feel Issei's hands on his back, holding him up as his body ran its course. After what felt like hours of this, He helped Ben drink the rest of the water. Ben blearily opened his eyes to find himself back in his room, covered with enough bandages to give a mummy jealousy. He was in his nightwear, his breasts still bouncing as his body trembled. He looked at Issei to see him worried.

"Issei" Ben whispered, his throat still sore. "Wha…What happened? We… we were… fighting Koka…Kokabiel, and then things got blurry after… after…" He gasped as he remembered. "Kiba!" He had been stabbed with a spear of light. He was a Devil, they were toxic to him. "Is he… is he…?" Ben started coughing as he tried to take a breath. Issei gave him another glass of water.

"Kiba's alright." Issei said to him gently. "Asia healed him in time. But you don't remember anything afterwards?"

"No. I-I don't. Unless… King something?" He looked at Issei in worry. "What happened?"

Issei sighed. "You stopped Kokabiel like he was nothing. Hell, you nearly tore him apart. But you lost control?"

"Lost control?" His heart stopped as he realised what that meant. He let Ascalon's power go to his head. He became someone else. Someone that wasn't him. As if a crack in a dam falling apart, everything came back to him. How he called himself 'King Tennyson'. And he attacked his friends. Oh God, he attacked his friends. It was only because of that white dragon that he was stopped. He just sat there, crying, as he realised what he had done.

"It's ok." Issei said warmly. "The others are fine. They're all waiting to make sure you were feeling better. We forgive you." He looked worried as Ben kept crying. He pulled him into a hug, letting him cry on his shoulder. "I know you're scared. I was scared. You could've killed us all. But you didn't. You're you again."

"But what if I'm not? What if I have to use Ascalon again? What if I become that again?" Issei grabbed him gently by the chin and looked in his eyes.

"You won't Bri. You'll never be like that again. Because I promise you, we'll get so strong you won't ever need it again." Ben smiled as he saw how confident Issei was. He didn't let the fact that they weren't able to beat Kokabiel get him down. He lived in his own reality. One where nice guys kicked around gods, and girls threw themselves at the heroes. They were interrupted by an old, deep, and very familiar cough.

"If you're done with all the flirting, I need to get to work." Azmuth said as he glared up at them. Issei and Ben looked at him in pure shock before Ben threw Issei away and covered himself with the bedsheet.

"Azmuth!" He yelled as he blushed bright red. "How long have you been there?"

"Too long. I've got better things to do that see Human courtship rituals in action. Now you." He pointed at Issei. "Shoo. I do not need distractions. And tell that woman downstairs that I am not a rat." Issei looked at Ben, before shrugging his shoulders and leaving. Azmuth hopped up onto the bed and crawled over to his left hand, glaring at the Omnitrix and the veins around it. "Well, no wonder it malfunctioned. This is the crudest work I've ever seen. It's like someone decided they wanted certain results without following how to get there. I mean, look. They've completely messed up the Bioelectric Transponder." He sighed as he got closer. "Now, lie down Tennyson. This might hurt."

He was right. It hurt like hell.

(**/*\**)

Issei winced as he heard Bri scream. His mom looked up at the ceiling and grumbled. He had just finished explaining that Bri was from another dimension, and Azmuth gave her powers. He deliberately left out that she was a he. Ben didn't want that floating around. He excused himself and headed for the living room, where the rest of the club was waiting.

Along with one new guest.

Xenovia looked so weird in an Academy uniform and without her giant blades. After finding out that God was dead, she realised she would be branded a heretic, and joined Rias' peerage instead. Irina had gone back to the Church, ignorant of the truth. She couldn't bring herself to break her little world.

"So?" Rias asked. "Is she ok?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, that was a pretty big thing for her." Issei answered truthfully. "From what she said, she expected something like that. But I don't think she expected to try and kill her friends just because they disagree with her. Right now, I just hope Azmuth can get the Omnitrix working again so we don't have to use Ascalon."

"So what you say is true?" Xenovia asked. "Bri really is from another Earth? One populated by aliens?" They all nodded. "And her Sacred Gear, isn't actually a Sacred Gear? It's just highly advanced alien technology?" They all winced as Bri's voice became higher. But this didn't seem like a scream of pain. It was more like that of pleasure. "And Bri's really a guy?"

"Yep. We were surprised too when we found out. She's been in this business for 6 years now, and is known throughout her entire galaxy. Makes us seem pretty small-time, doesn't it?"

"And there a god-like aliens there." Xenovia said almost to herself. They could tell what she was thinking. "If God was killed, then perhaps he was merely a powerful being instead of the Great Creator. That was what shook my belief the most. And Bri, in a way, confirms it." They could hear her moaning now. "I was such a fool, blinded by dogma." She stood up and faced Asia. "I beg you to forgive me for my heinous words. I was wrong to think the way I did. If it pleases you, then you can hit me as hard as you want." Asia stood up too, but instead of punching her, she made Xenovia stand up straight.

"It's alright." She said happily. "I'm fine with being a Devil. Thanks to it, I've met all new friends. I've met people that care deeply for me. When I first got here, I was so scared and alone under the Fallen Angels. But then I met Issei and Bri, and they made me feel welcome. That was why I became a Devil. Not to spite the Church or anything. But so I could be with my friends all the time. I'm happier here than I've ever been at the Church."

Xenovia looked surprised before smiling warmly. "In that case, could you do something for me?" Asia looked surprised. "Could you show me around the school sometime?"

Asia smiled. "I'd be honoured."

This moment was slightly ruined as Bri yelled loudly again.

(**/*\**)

Ben panted as he strained against the bed, sweat running off his body like mad. This was pure agony. It was hell. He wished it would be over already.

"Ah heh." Azmuth laughed weakly. "Oops. Sorry Tennyson."

"Sorry?" Ben growled. "You forced my body to relive every ache and pain again, then you cause me to have an orgasm, and all you can say is sorry?" He sighed as his body started healing. This will make things so much easier.

"That's why I don't hook this thing directly into your body like that. It's all too easy to flip the wrong switch and cause you… problems. Now for the last time, take thing easy for a few days. I don't want to hear you busted it again. In fact, I'm staying close by until I'm certain it's in proper working order." Ben groaned. Great. Now he's got a nosy inventor bugging him. If the messages were any clue, he's going to show up at all the wrong times.

"Now then, explain how exactly you hurt yourself so badly."

(**/*\**)

"Dammit! Not again!" Issei yelled as his video game character lost again. This was the fifth game in a row, and he's lost everytime. His client, he could understand. This was his game after all. But Bri's been kicking his butt at every turn. He swore they were teaming up against him.

"Yeah, I've been doing a lot of practise on this." His client replied. "it's been a while since we've met."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Issei apologised. "I've been really busy lately."

"So you said. I take it this is the girl that got injured by that crazy man?"

"That's me." Bri replied as she ate an apple. She seemed better ever since Azmuth showed up to help. Hell, she looked like a person instead of a walking corpse. "Guy was so upset he couldn't get a girlfriend or a fight that he decided to take it out on us. By the way, where'd you get all this stuff?" 'This stuff' referred to all the games and consoles the client had. It's been this way ever since Issei took the guy to an arcade. "I've been collecting Sumo Slammers for yonks and I don't have as much stuff."

"What can I say? Once I start collecting stuff I can't stop. People often tell me I get way too excited about collecting everything in a set."

"Sounds like some guy I met." Bri groaned as Issei finally took a win. He kinda wished this was a strip game. But then again, he'd be in nothing but boxers at this rate.

"Well, ready for another game, Demon Boy and Demon Girl? Or would you rather have me call you Welsh Dragon and King Tennyson?" Bri and Issei looked at him in shock. How did he know about those names? The only way was if he was at the battle that night, or he had someone to…

"I'm Azazel, by the way." The client said as several large, black wings unfurled from his robe. "The big boss of the Fallen Angels."

"Nice to meet you two."

Well, well. Looks like the gang finally meet Azazel. Is he upset that they managed to beat a Fallen Angel? Will he fight our daring heroes? Will Issei try to charm another girl? (If you're a fan of Highschool DxD you already know the answer to these questions)

We show that Ascalon is certainly very powerful, while still allowing Albion to show off and have Ben go a bit nuts. I figured that as powerful as Ascalon is, it might be able to replicate other powers and create more than just armour. Once again, I hope I don't hit anyone with the Worf Effect.

The next couple of chapters are going to be a bit less high-staked. No need to save the world again just yet. Laughs and hijinks for everyone.

See you next time.