A New Longinus is Born
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Chapter 12: A New Longinus is Born
(Que Seven Deadly Sins Ost "Sky Peace")
The situation turned far worse than they could ever imagine. Kokabiel, a fallen angel of such fame and power that he earned himself a name in the Bible, has entered the fray himself as a direct challenge. It all started at the break of dawn after Issei was being torn out by Rias for his independent actions, which he reminded the Gremory princess he was a King as well.
As for his friend Saji, he cringed at his King, Sona Sitri, laying down punishment on the Black Dragon Emperor through magical enhanced spankings. If it wasn't for the crush that Saji had for the Sitri heiress, he wouldn't have lowered himself to the shameful and painful punishment.
However, the three Kings decided to join forces seeing as how the situation was becoming worse, especially in the fact they haven't seen any of the exorcists and Ruby since the night. Fortunately, Rias' familiar spotted the trio on a dirt road with Irina badly injured.
Issei wasted no time in teleporting to the location to save his childhood friend, and found Xenovia and Ruby, with the latter supporting Irina over her shoulder. The third King relieved the angel of Irina and assessed the damage to his childhood friend. The rest of the Kings arrived at the scene and Asia wasted no time to use her Twilight Healing on the exorcist. Irina would have to be taken to Sona's home for the rest of her injuries due to Twilight Healing's incapability to heal lost stamina.
That was when Kokabiel made his appearance. A fallen angel with a set of ten wings wearing the standard Leader-class uniform with pale skin, red eyes, and pointed ears, much like an elf's. He proclaimed his intent of the destruction upon Kuoh, starting with the school. He wanted to start another Great War by using the sis-con attitudes of Lucifer and Leviathan to his advantage and relieve himself of his boredom.
That brings to the now where Isse, Rias, and Sona with their peerages joined by Ruby and Xenovia were making a defense against the Leader-class at the academy. The plan had a very low chance of survival. Issei may have the Boosted Gear, but he was only low Ultimate-class and he doubted he would stand a good chance of defeating Kokabiel. Worse yet, their overall strength was cut down in half since Sona's peerage was dedicated to erect a strong barrier to keep the damage to the academy grounds. That meant one less Heavenly Dragon on their side.
"We need you over here, dude." Issei tried to reason with his friend, Saji, as Sona's peerage was preparing the barrier.
Saji sighed sadly. "Issei, we both know that out of the two of us, you're the one who should be in the fight. I'll admit, I've been too lazy for my own good that you've already surpassed me, and you're more battle-oriented than I am. But I'm still better with magic, so I'm better used to fixing up the barrier for Sona-chan. We don't need an insane fallen angel blowing up a block or two."
Issei clenched his fist. "Dammit, Saji-san."
"It's okay, Issei-san. I have faith in you." Saji said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll just be cheering you on from the other side. And make sure you kick that Kokabiel's ass twice for me."
"You bet." Issei replied, earning a nod from the blonde before he stepped back to erect the barrier.
Issei took a moment to calm himself down and rally with the others.
Rias' peerage, his own, and Ruby and Xenovia were going over tactics. He looked to a corner where his Knights were down in spirits.
"What's wrong, Murayama-san, Katase-san?" Issei asked, concerned.
"Issei-san," Katase murmured, "do you think Kiba-kun will be here?"
Issei cringed, realizing how saddened his Knights were without the presence of Kiba here. He made a mental note to himself to punch the blonde for causing the Kendo girls to be so down in spirits, even if he didn't mean it. Kiba might not be here, but it was Issei's job as their King to raise their morale.
"Don't worry." Issei assured the Kendo girls with a graceful smile.
"I'm sure that Kiba-kun will be here."
Murayama and Katase exchanged troubled expressions but they softened as their spirits were lifted, if only a little. Suddenly, a bright light and a dreaded feeling caught the devils, angels, and one exorcist's attention to one corner of the school grounds. Xulean readied herself into a stance from the holy aura that was washing through the air with a bead of sweat going down the side of her cheek.
"Issei-sama, that light." Xulean almost whimpered. "I've never felt so much holy power before. I feel like-" Xulean's words were stopped when she found her hand in Issei's tender grasp. The Rook of Issei followed up the hand up and her heart skipped a beat to the absolute warmth and comfort in her King's brown eyes.
"Don't worry, Xu-chan." Issei assured, making the Rook blush and rid the dread coursing through her. "Whatever happens, I will protect you. All of you with my life if I have to."
"… Thank you, Ise-kun." Muttered Xulean, abandoning the 'sama' suffix.
"Of course Valper would forge the six Excalibur fragments into one."
A deep voice boomed over them all.
All heads snapped above them to find Kokabiel lazying about on a floating throne. The throne itself was huge, with a pillar-like structure on the bottom. Issei barred his teeth at the cocky smirk on the fallen angel's face. Xulean tensed into a martial arts stance ready for combat, the Kendo girls readied their Sacred Treasures into their kendo stances, and Ruby surrounded herself in holy fire and lightning.
"How very interesting." Kokabiel commented, his eyes landing on Ruby. "You are quite the little angel to be able to control both holy lightning and fire. Not even Raphael was able to grasp both elements at the same time."
"Spare me your poisoned words, Kokabiel." Ruby spat.
"Is that anyway to talk to your senior?" Kokabiel snickered.
He lifted his left hand lazily in the air. Between two of his fingers, a large amount of holy power gathered till it formed a light spear of gold with purple halos larger than his own body. With a mental command, the golden light spear crashed down into the gym, instantly obliterating it. In response, Asia created a barrier to protect everyone from the shockwave and debris. However, the barrier broke at the last second and Asia was sent flying from the remaining force only to be caught in the arms of her lover, Issei.
"You okay, Asia-chan?" Asked Issei.
Asia nodded. "Thank you, Ise-kun."
"Tch, that wasn't even big enough." Kokabiel groaned in boredom.
"Tell me, Gremory princess, is Sirzerchs coming here, or is it Serafall?"
"It doesn't matter." Rias said. "We will be the ones to fight you."
"Really, as if you are of any entertainment to me?" Kokabiel mocked with laughter. "The only ones here who can properly fight me is the Red Dragon Emperor and the angel Heaven sent. The rest of you are just fodder for the slaughter. However, that doesn't mean all of you will be out of the fun."
His throne shot down a blast of magic to the ground below. On contact, a magical seal of teal green came to life before the earth opened up into a hole. An inferno of fire escaped from the pit as if in an eruption was building up. Following the flames was a bloodcurdling roar as nine heads poked out of the hole. Three massive bodies crawled out of the fire, revealing themselves to be three giant Cerberus, the very canines that guard the gates of Hell. Each head glared at the peerages of devils and the agents of the church and Heaven with raging red eyes, and molten rock dripped from their jaws like saliva.
"Is that a Cerberus?" Katase exclaimed.
"Indeed." Issei confirmed. "The very same ones that guard the gates to the Underworld. The watchdogs of Hades."
"Th-They're real!?" Whimpered Asia.
"I won't let even one get close to you." Issei shouted, summoning the armored arms of the Boosted Gear and withdrawing his gladius.
"Ah, how interesting." Kokabiel commented with a smirk. "I never seen the Boosted Gear cover both arms. How exquisite to think that this generation's Red Dragon Emperor has a subspecies.
However… if you think my pets are all I have, then you are dead wrong!"
Another roar escaped from the pit of fire, but this one was much more darker that it struck their very hearts. Unlike the roar of the Cerberus, this roar was like the howl of fire itself. Two shadows appeared in the flames, much bigger than the Cerberus and standing on two legs instead of four. What came out could only be described as nightmare incarnate.
A massive, bulky arm with thick claws for fingers anchored a sword of solid flame onto the ground to pull the creature out. Its body spoke of pure terror, and was wreathed in both shadow and flame. Its legs were short but powerful enough to lift up the giant body to stand.
Wings of orange embers with bones of shadow unfolded to an enormous wingspan. Then, there was the face. While the body may bear a resemblance of a humanoid, the face was anything but human. It was more akin to a black skull with a pair of horns curling down towards the chin, and the mouth and eyes were host to flames burning with eternal fury. Worse yet there was another one, the only difference being with the second one that came was that it wielded two blazing axes and the monster had three horns standing proudly on top of its head.
Angel, devil, and human alike were stuck speechless at the presence of the monsters before them. Even Issei was silent with his mouth gaping. Sweat poured down his body, both from the heat the monsters produced and from the nervousness.
"I-I can't believe it…" Issei gasped. "He brought those things here."
"Wh-What the hell is that?" Murayama exclaimed.
Even Sona's peerage outside of the barrier were aghast at the creatures Kokabiel summoned. Saji especially was gritting his teeth, now extremely worried for his friend now that those thing have come into play.
"Sona, what is that?" Tsubaki asked her King in trepidation.
"I don't believe it." Muttered Sona. "They were supposed to only be in stories."
"I'm sorry to say, Sona-chan, but you couldn't be more wrong." Saji said. "They are real. They are very real, and should be locked away from this world."
"You insane bastard!" Shouted Issei. "How could you unleash those monsters on this world!?"
"Oh, so you know of them." Kokabiel mused. "They make very good pets, don't you think? Absolutely thirsty for carnage and blood. Just how I love them."
"Ise-kun, you know what those are?" Rias asked.
"Those things," Issei answered, glaring at the monsters raising their weapons and growling like the crack of fire, "are known as the Balrogs. Once a pure race much like the angels only to fall in corruption. They essentially came into being from an extinct pantheon that existed long ago, even before the Biblical factions."
"What?" Gasped Rias with wide eyes. "But that's not possible. How can something be that old?"
"And extremely dangerous." Issei continued. "They will not stop until everything they see is destroyed. They are no push-overs, even High-class beings won't be able to get a substantial win, maybe except Akeno with her holy lightning would be able to do enough damage. Everyone else has to stay back. These foes are beyond you."
Issei glanced to Ruby. "Ruby, you and I are the strongest ones here, so it's up to us to stop them."
Ruby nodded. "Right behind you, Issei-san."
"Well then, let's get started, ha-ha-ha!" Kokabiel shouted, which served as a signal for the Balrogs and the Cerberus to charge.
"Xenovia, you stay back unless you want to unseal Durandal." Ruby ordered, and Xenovia nodded as she jumped back to watch and take cover in the background.
"Everyone, leave the Balrogs to Issei and Ruby." Rias ordered the rest of the devils. "We'll send these mutts back to Hades. Asia, use your Sacred Gear and barriers to the best of your abilities."
"Yes, Buchou."
"That goes the same to you." Issei told Xulean, Murayama, and Katase. "Remember, be careful. I don't want to see any of you die."
"Right!"
The supernatural sprang into action. Rias, Akeno, Koneko,
Murayama, Katase, and Xulean charged the Cerberus with Asiafalling behind for support. Issei and Ruby released their four pairs of wings and charged the Balrogs. The vile creatures roared and raised their weapons to greet them.
(With Issei)
Issei charged to the Balrog with the sword of fire. He already had three [BOOSTS] from the Boosted Gear. So it was a shock to everyone when the Balrog clashed blades with Issei, the force in their blows canceled each other out. They were both blown back for several meters, their feet skidding against the ground.
'That thing lives up to the name of monster.' Issei thought. 'It was able to match me in that blow even after three boosts.'
"Woah!" Issei exclaimed as he jumped out of the way of a fist crashing where he once stood.
For the Balrog's size, it was unimaginably fast. Despite the distance between them, it closed instantly in a second. Issei still wasn't given the opportunity to rest as the Balrog pressed on the attack. Its fiery blade came down with even greater force than last time and Issei's only chance was to block it. His arms rattled from the blow and the ground cratered at Issei's feet. He had to stop a shiver when he saw the sickening smile on the Balrog's skull, for it will never be called a face.
[He seems to only be playing with you.] Ddraig noted.
"Then let's show him what we're made of!" Issei shouted, resisting the Balrog's strength.
[BOOST]
With the addition of the fourth [BOOST], Issei had the appropriate strength to push the Balrog off. He took his chance to leap up and run his blade up the Balrog, leaving a vertical cut across its torso.
The ancient monster roared in pain and now glared rage at Issei above him.
Issei was now falling back down, aiming his gladius for the head.
Unfortunately, flames on the Balrog's left hands lengthened into a flaming whip. The Balrog cracked it up with expertise, and the whip wrapped around Issei's ankle. Instead of striking the head, Issei was forced down to the ground.
The ground cracked as Issei crashed back to Earth. He only managed to see the whip around his ankle before the Balrog pulled him up and down like a ragdoll. Much needed air was forced out of Issei's lungs on impact, and he felt his ribs rattle. The Balrog yanked on the whip again, this time roughly dragging him closer with a foot ready to stomp on him.
"ISSEI!" Cried Rias, Xulean, Asia, and Akeno.
"Oh, hell no I'm letting you squish me." Issei growled, slowing down his pull by using the jet engines to force him the opposite way.
Issei managed to hold out his right arm where a green orb was being formed. Ddraig called out another [BOOST] and Issei used the added power to amplify the attack.
"Dragon Shot." Issei punched the orb of draconic energy and it launched off like a cannonball. The Balrog was hit in the chest with the force of an artillery shell. Without both of its feet on the ground, the Balrog lost balance and dropped to the floor. Next, Issei raised his blade while channeling his magical energy to produce a dark aura around it.
"Hellblaze."
Better safe than sorry, Issei used Hellblaze to cut through the flame whip and free himself to then fly into the air. He figured that nothing except the higher echelon of flame would be able cut through fire itself. Issei sprang back on his feet, but at the same time the Balrog he was facing picked itself up. It spread its wings of burning shadow and joined Issei in the air. The Red Dragon Emeperor narrowed his eyes and twirled his gladius in a reverse grip for round two.
'Wonder how Ruby is dealing with this.' Issei thought as he then met the Balrog's charge after him and their blades yet again clashed with the sound akin to a bell toll.
(With Ruby)
Ruby did not afford to go all-out with her light constructs, not unless she revealed too much of her abilities that Heaven wanted her to stay secret. She revealed her light powers to the ORC and exorcists because they would not know, but if Kokabiel saw her light it would not be good for their morale. That didn't mean that she was totally useless. She swept her cloak back and withdrew the katanas that were at her hip, still kept in their sheath. They were very dangerous swords given to her as gifts by the Shinto Faction and Ruby did not want to unleash the power within, at least not of this moment. But even a sheathed blade was still a weapon.
The Balrog she faced roared in challenge and swung its twin axes up to clip her from the air. Ruby had to not let herself geek over the magnificent fire weapons before her, even if they were held by monsters. In response to the danger, Ruby parried the twin axes with the sheathed katanas. Despite the seemingly destructive fire weapons, they did not even make a scratch upon the sheaths of the blades. Add to the fact that Ruby pushed the axes away, making the Balrog stagger due to being unprepared to such resistance.
Not only was Ruby an expert swordswoman and a magic user of both holy lightning and fire, she had strength that made most Rooks envious. In fact, her capabilities could be described as the most overpowered Queen to devils. To prove her point, Ruby dived down to the Balrog passed its defenses and swung both of her weapons from the side like twin bats. It was almost comical how the young woman so small was able to send a monster of enormous size off its feet and flying back across the entire grounds.
Ruby didn't stop there. She put the sheathed blades back to her hip and zipped the distance between her and the Balrog and got behind it in despite the velocity she sent it off. Using holy fire on her palms as protection, Ruby gripped the heel of the monster. The Balrog had the decency to widen its flames for eyes as its velocity was suddenly lurched the opposite way and by the puny angel of all things. The heat emanating from the monster in her grip did not deter Ruby, and with a cry she heaved forwards to throw the Balrog the opposite way with even greater velocity.
Ruby did wince when she didn't take into account how much strength she actually used in throwing the Balrog. As a result, it went on for too long till it crashed into the main school building, taking down a few of the floors. She looked to the ORC that were giving her narrowed looks.
Ruby scratched the back of her head and laughed nervously. "Sorry."
The roar of the Balrog brought her back to the battle at hand. This time, Ruby chose to go at long range gathering her magic. Holy lightning sparked off her body and holy fire brimmed off the feathers of her eight silver wings. Ruby flapped her wings, sending her higher into the air and right above the Balrog. She held her left arm forward with her right hand gripping the left's wrist, aimed at the Balrog.
"Heaven's Inferno."
Lightning took the lead with holy fire swirling around it. The bolt crashed down without mercy upon the Balrog, making it roar in agony as the holy elements struck at its very being. The holy fire made the Balrog its fuel, surrounding it in a ball of the rage of Heaven. The seconds ticked by and the roars of the Balrog quieted down. Ruby narrowed her eyes at the development. As Lord Mael always said that one should never let their guard down in battle.
Her caution was proven true. Out of the holy inferno was one of the axes of the Balrog used as a thrown projectile connected by chain links of solid flame. Ruby swiftly moved out of the way, but the chains lurched back to make the axe reverse its course. In alarm at the maneuver, Ruby canceled the hold on her spell to dodge out of the way. That unfortunately freed the Balrog from the holy inferno, and Ruby watched with slight trepidation as it expertly caught the thrown axe into its left hand.
'This thing is stronger and smarter than it looks.' Ruby thought. 'I hope everyone else is okay.'
(With Akeno, Rias, Murayama, Xulean, Katase, Koneko, and Asia)
The battle of the devils and one angel against the three Cerberus was more or less maintained. Rias and Akeno took on their own Cerberus as they were High-class, leaving the heavy hitters Xulean and Koneko to deal with the last one. Katase and Murayama provided hit-and-run tactics using their greater speed thanks to their Mutated Knight pieces while also protecting Asia who provided barriers wherever the reach of her magic provided.
Koneko brought down an axe kick upon the left head of the Cerberus, forcefully shutting its jaw shut with a crunch. She flipped back when the middle head tried to bite, causing that very same head to accidentally bite into the left head's neck. Flowing in the flip, Koneko grabbed onto the fur and kicked both of her feet into the Cerberus head. Her strength combined with the motion held enough force to push it into the side of the academy building.
Xulean followed with a war cry, jumping straight towards the Cerberus' chest. Her arms moved in a complete blur, but the others could see the craters her punches were making into the creature's very flesh. It was proof to Xulean's strength as a Mutated Rook that far exceeded Koneko's as the Cerberus' body was forced up into the air and they could see the force of her punches going out into air circles behind it. For a finish, Xulean cocked back both fists, one by the side of her head and the other near her waist, and sprang them forward.
"Double Bone."
A tremendous amount of strength was put into the dual-punch and the sound of crunched bones echoed across the entire battlefield.
The Cerberus was launched high into the air, even over the school building itself. Koneko and Murayama then ran at Xulean with a plan in mind.
"Xulean, throw me up there." Koneko said.
"Me too, I have a special present for that mutt." Murayama said, her sword glowing blue with lightning.
Xulean smirked at her fellow devils as Murayama and Koneko held out a hand each. The Rook of Issei latched onto them, and with a twirl threw up Koneko followed next by Murayama. Faster than Cerberus could reach its peak before gravity took over, Koneko and Murayama were soon over the Cerberus. Koneko cocked back her fists and use the strength of her Rook to rocket down when she thrusted her fists forth. The Cerberus heads made a whimper when Koneko crashed down on its spine. Murayama was next holding her sword ready to stab into the creature's back. As she fell, lightning surged into the blade till electricity crackled wildly off the steel that was now a ray of blue. The blade sunk deeply into the flesh of the Cerberus all the way to the spine. The gathered lightning in the blade discharged into the Cerberus, effectively cooking its insides.
Cerberus crashed back to the ground dead with its body used as a cushion for Koneko and Murayama. However, their victory was shortlived by a shrill screech. Murayama, Xulean, and Koneko widened their eyes at the sight of Asia trapped by one of the Cerberus that had escaped from Rias' attacks. She was only alive by the shield Issei gave her that was holding back the heads from clamping down on her body but it wouldn't last long. Fortunately, a blur passed by all three heads and the next second numerous cuts released blood. The three pairs of red eyes screamed murder to the left on their attackerthat was Katase.
"Come and get some, you bad mutt." Exclaimed Katase, her sword brimming red via its magical activation.
Cerberus howled before going after Katase, who was fully prepared to sacrifice herself for Asia's sake. When it pounced, the body never left the ground as numerous demonic swords grew out of the ground and impaled it. Murayama and Katase instantly realized the power used for that and whipped their heads around until finally they found a familiar head of blonde hair. Their hearts jumped for joy for their prince had finally come to the fight, Kiba Yuuto.
"Sorry I took so long." Kiba said. "Looks like a real hot mess."
The final Cerberus was at the mercy of Akeno, who was having fun with her new 'toy' as a blush was evident on her face. But even she knew that enough was enough, especially in the middle of a battle.
Her six raven-like wings spread out as a yellow magic circle appeared above her head.
"Holy Cry."
A massive bolt of holy lightning struck down upon the last Cerberus.
It was only alive for four seconds before it went limp on the ground.
That only left the two Balrogs that Ruby and Issei were still busy with, the latter which was staying at long range using Herritt. But the troubles were just growing.
"Finally, it is complete!" Announced the voice of Valper.
"No, it can't be." Kiba gasped with wide eyes as a pillar of immeasurable holy light pierced the very sky.
"Yes, it is done!" Cried Valper in joy as a new blade combined with six of the Excalibur fragments levitated to the ground.
"I feel like something cold is going through my insides." Murayama muttered.
"So much holy power, and that comes from only six of the seven fragments." Xulean gasped.
"Ah, yes." Spoke Kokabiel, drawing the attention of the ORC. "With the massive power of the combination of the six holy swords, I can use it to level this entire town sooner than I expected."
Rias gritted her teeth. "What's your game here?"
"The game?" Kokabiel laughed. "Yes, the game here is that I have tethered a magic seal to myself that has a time limit. When that time runs out, you can say bye-bye to your precious town and all of its inhabitants. I actually had it timed for an hour so either Sirzerchs or Serafall could make a last minute entrance, but with the power of the holy swords that has been reduced to twenty minutes, and the only way to stop it is to kill me."
"YOU BASTARD!" Roared Rias, summoning a huge amount of demonic power before unleashing it in a crimson wave.
Yet, Kokabiel only smiled as the wave of destruction raged towards him. He held out his left palm and there was a struggle as the wave of destruction crashed against him. It happened only for a few seconds before Kokabiel nonchalantly threw it to the ground, resulting in a massive pit. While the ORC stood shock stiff, Kokabiel examined his hand that had a few burn marks on it that were quickly healing.
"Impressive." Kokabiel complimented, rising from his throne as it dissipated. "That power you displayed just now was far more than High-class would ever do. As expected by the newest Super Devil. I might enjoy this more than I thought. So get you and your little devils ready, Rias Gremory!"
"Oh, I'm ready!" Rias cried, her body bursting with the Power of Destruction. "Let's go, Akeno."
"Always." Replied Akeno.
Both High-class devil and fallen angel flew together to face Kokabiel.
Rias summoned a ball of PoD and launched it towards Kokabiel, who simply swerved out of the way. However, the sphere of PoD detonated right beside his face. The Super Devil didn't give up, sending more spheres that turned in an orbiting formation aroundwhere Kokabiel was before slamming her hands together, thus making the spheres crash upon the fallen angel at once. Akeno was next, launching eight light orbs around Kokabiel to form a cubical formation. Holy lightning tethered the orbs together, and Akeno finished with a snap of her fingers that sent down a bolt that caused an explosion of holy lightning. A dust cloud was the only thing the that could be seen in the aftermath of Rias and Akeno's teamwork.
Unfortunately, the dust was quickly swept away by Kokabiel, who was mostly unharmed, give or take a few bruises.
Kokabiel smirked at Akeno. "Most impressive. If Baraquiel was here, he would be most certainly proud of his daughter. And to think I thought you fell further and became a devil."
"I may be a fallen angel." Akeno said. "But I'm nothing like the scum you are nor could you ever compare to my father."
"Then shall we continue." Kokabiel said.
Back on the ground, Freed had made his appearance and was harassing the rest of the devils with the fused Excalibur. Valper watched the insane priest with an amused smirk, proof of the archbishop's own insanity.
"Ha-ha-ha, how do you like my new Excalibur-chan?" Laughed Freed, swinging the holy sword in a blur.
Kiba had been blinded in his rage, and it costed him almost getting obliterated by the destructive power of the fused Excalibur. The only ones who stood a chance at not being hit were Murayama and Katase with the speed of their Mutated Knight pieces but even they wouldn't be able to survive for long. But help was on the way.
"… and the blessed Virgin Mary, I ask you to please hear my prayers." Xenovia concluded a chant as he held her right arm out.
A portal opened at Xenovia's right side and out protruded a sword unlike any other. Its hilt was ebony black and with a golden guard and pommel that had a white gem. The blade itself was beautiful, having an edge that would never be stained and shall always shine.
"In the name of this blade, I hereby set you free." Xenovia called out, gripping the hilt. "DURANDAL!"
At the call of the chains that held the legendary blade snapped.
Durandal, the Peerless Blade, was the holy sword favored by Roland and then later given to King Charlemagne of the Frankish Empire.
The blade itself served to be a symbol of Roland's bravery that persisted through the ages. And now that very symbol of bravery rested in another worthy wielder.
"What!?" Valper exclaimed. "You have Durandal, the sword to cut everything in this world!? Impossible! My research never went into how to use it!"
"You're wrong." Xenovia said. "Unlike Irina, I am a natural holy sword user. But still, this kiddo doesn't always listen to me. But for that treacherous blade, it will be enough."
With speed to equal Freed, Xenovia charged the mad priest and slammed the legendary blade against it incomplete cousin. The power struggle was obvious as Durandal easily batted the incomplete Excalibur away with the addition of a few noticeable cracks.
"I'll take care of this creep." Xenovia told Katase and Murayama.
"You go help Kiba."
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Snarled Freed. "Fine, I'll deal with you, bitch."
Meanwhile, Kiba struggled to get up as Valper approached him. The Holy Sword Project survivor glared at the man that ruined his life and killed his friends. And yet that same bastard still had that smirk on his face.
"I heard there was a survivor of the Holy Sword Project." Valper said.
"I really must thank you and the others. You taught me what I needed to know to complete the project. You see, I needed a special gene that allows people to wield holy swords. I figures the only way to get it was to rip out of you brats."
"What?!" Kiba snarled. "You - You bastard! You used us! We were told that we were doing was in the name of God. We bore everything because of that faith and yet you threw us away like trash."
"Kiba-kun…" Whimpered Katase, tears streaming down her eyes.
"Why… that fucker…" Snarled Murayama.
"Of course I did!" Laughed Valper insanely. "After I was excommunicated, Michael used my research anyway, and of course he never took the time to kill them. Angels are always so soft."
Valper reached into his robes and pulled out a small blue crystal.
"This is the last of holy genes crystallized from those brats of yours.
You can have it as we can mass produce high-quality crystals anyway."
Valper carelessly threw down the crystal at Kiba's feet, who sank to his knees. He picked up the holy crystal with all the care of the world.
This… this was the last of his friends, and the last thing Kiba will ever remember them by. The survivor couldn't take it as tears spilled down his cheeks, causing Murayama, Katase, and others such as Asia to cry.
"Why…" Kiba sobbed. "What leads you… to kill so many… just for your damn greed?!"
Kiba held the crystal close to his chest and that's when nothing short of a miracle happened. Around him, blue specks of light condensed till they condensed into transparent figures of multiple people. When Kiba opened his eyes, it was to see the spirits of the very friends he thought he would never see again. One little girl gave him a warm smile before they all swarmed around him.
"It's okay…"
"Let's all gather together…"
"Take us in… it's time…"
"You don't have to be scared, even if there is no God."
"Our hearts will forever be one."
Kiba could look at the spirits of his friends with tear-filled eyes, yet he heard their words. And so he pressed the crystal closer to his chest, to his heart and it sunk in. To the spectators, they saw Kiba suddenly lift his head up as a blue glow surrounded him. But his mind was a different story.
He saw through the eyes of his friends, felt their feelings, their hopes, and their dreams. He saw them through one after another as each soul of his friends shared their memories and dreams with Kiba, but they all led to one focal point. They all wanted Kiba to live.
In response to his emotions, another power awoke within Kiba. At his left side, demonic swords of his Sacred Gear, Sword Birth, grew from the ground., but at his right side blades of shining white sprouted from the ground. It was the awakening of his second Sacred Gear, Blade Blacksmith, but that was far from the end.
Issei paused in his fight with the Balrog when he felt an upsurge of both demonic and holy energies in the same place. "Wh-What is that? Could that be - Kiba's Balance Breaker?"
[No, partner.] Ddraig said. [This… is something much more.]
Much to the astonishment of everyone, including Kokabiel and strangely enough the Balrogs, the demonic and holy swords swirled around Kiba in a twister of steel till they all gathered at one point.
Above Kiba was floating an orb swirling with both black and white energies, which then shot into Kiba's body.
Kiba's vision of his friends' lives did not end there. Now he was seeing, living, the lives of every previous wielder of either Sword Birth or Blade Blacksmith. He was living every second of their lives, but it was not hell for him. Rather, they served as a glimpse for Kiba, or to be more precise the swords they saw. Each and every previous wielder lived through history and at some point had seen a blade of legend. When Kiba's eyes lay on every every sword they saw, be they demonic, holy, or something else, somehow he fully understood the blades. Their power, steel, structure, integrity, and history. He saw it all and remembered everything about them.
That entire experience lasted only a second on the outside world, but when it ended Kiba was a new person. New power, both holy and demonic mixed together into something else, rolled off of him. He no longer had Sword Birth or Blade Blacksmith, but something else resided in him entirely. A new Sacred Gear more powerful than the two combined as holy and demonic energies worked together. He pulled on that power, causing a certain red tattooing consisting of wings and a two-prong claw in the center to appear on the back of his palms that was the new Sacred Gear's manifestation. Magic sparked like electricity in his hands, waiting for his command. His mind gave it form and it rushed through his body like fire to his hands and the magic condensed.
"Trace-"
The sparking magic took the definite shape of a sword, but it would be no ordinary one based on the pressure of the magic Kiba was producing.
"-On."
All eyes widened at the creation that formed in his hands. Shock reverberated through the ORC, Ruby, and even Kokabiel of the sword that lay in Kiba's hands. They tried to deny it, yet the blade gave off the exact presence.
Gripped in his hands was the blade more brilliant than silver, a symbol of kingship for the right of succession. A treasured sword that amplifies the king's royal aura. Yet, destiny deemed it to be the Sword of Rebellion that acted against the crown of Camelot. Clarent, the sword of the traitorous knight Mordred.
So yeah, I essentially turned Kiba into Shirou. The point of all that pretty mess is that Blade Blacksmith and Sword Birth combined into one and created a new Longinus Sacred Gear.
And as you guess, this new Sacred Gear not only has the properties of both Sacred Gears but also can make 'fake' copies of any weapon Kiba sees. Just like Shirou, and his Balance Breaker of course will be called Unlimited Blade Works.
However, I do need a name for just the Sacred Gear itself because I have nothing.
As for Durandal, I decided to change the canon blade into the Durandal from the Fate series. Mostly because I just did not like the look of Durandal from DxD because that is a humongous sword, and Fate Durandal is just better. That will be the same for other holy and demonic swords in the DxD series as well as the appearance of other legendary blades as well.
So after reading all of this, I hoped you liked it. If not, just please don't set me on fire :( I did say this was a multi-crossover.
Up next is Chapter 13.
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