Kali sat in the middle of the arena, hovering in the air slightly above the ground. Her eyes were closed in deep meditation.
Divine Power surged from her body, creating a potent field that was toxic to the beings who resided in this realm.
She was drowning herself in a sea of memories that had threatened to burst from its dam. Her eyes opened slightly as she recalled a memory from a long time ago.
"These are my children, Kali. Aren't they cute? Through them, even if I pass on, I'll live forever. They will be living proof that I existed and teachings and beliefs that I impart onto them will be proof that I left a mark on this world. Don't you think that's poetic?"
"Hmph, we'll see, Ellie. Whether or not these Devils have lived up to the expectations you had for them." Kali fully opened her eyes and let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in.
Rias slipped on her shoes and sighed. She ran a hand through her hair before getting up and walking out to the waiting room. The atmosphere of the waiting room resembled the air within a cell on death row prior to the execution. That was what was going to happen in a few seconds. Kali was going to execute them in this fight brutally.
"Buchou, are we going to be okay?" Issei asked.
"You'll be fine. Kali's probably just using you guys as a test because you're one of the Dragon Emperors! Dragon Emperors are super famous in history, you know~!" Mastema pointed out.
I'm about to get slaughtered by a God, Issei thought mildly.
[Look on the bright side, at least losing to Kali will be far more honorable than losing to the White Guy. A God that powerful and one of the Great Evils to boot. She would be how I wanted to die.] Ddraig said.
"How racy. Do you talk like that with Ti-"
Issei could hear Mastema's voice being muffled by Ddraig.
"We are. She's just testing us and the current generation because we were part of the force that took down Kokabiel. Not to mention we have you, Issei," Rias said.
"Buchou is right. Issei, you're the Red Dragon Emperor. There are going to be lots of Gods out there who will take interest in you. This was bound to happen sooner or later," Yuuto said, crossing his arms.
"But still, challenging us to a match," Akeno mumbled.
"Kali is said to be a Goddess who loves battle. Maybe that has something to do with it?" Mitsuki asked.
"Whatever the case may be, we cannot fold in front of her. We'll throw her everything we have. Our main goal during this spar is to protect Asia. Asia is our healer. Asia will be what keeps us afloat until she's satisfied with our performance whenever that may be," Rias said, crossing her arms.
"Is that… Is that our entire plan?" Mitsuki asked.
"I had an hour to think of this. I had zero footage to analyze and our opponent could beat my older brother blindfolded. Tell me, do you have a better plan?" Rias asked.
"Er…"
"That's what I thought. Thankfully, this isn't something big we have to go into like a tournament or something. This is just a test of our skills and abilities," Rias said.
She ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
"But still, we're representing all the Young Devil Heirs of the Underworld so we have to put on a good performance for her," she finished.
A knock on the door caught their attention.
"Come in."
The door opened and Grayfia walked into the room with her head bowed slightly and eyes half-lidded.
"Grayfia? What is it?" Rias asked.
"The match is about to begin. Are you all ready?" she asked.
Her answer came in the response of a row of apprehensive gazes.
"Um… do we really have to fight the God of Destruction?" Gasper asked.
"I'm afraid so. Lady Kali is an esteemed guest and one of the Great Evils. It would be very hard even for Sirzechs to deny her request," Grayfia said.
"Well, there goes that route," Issei said.
"I believe that you will be okay. As Lady Kali said, this is a display of power for this generation. You must prove to her that we, the descendants of one of the Great Evils, are still worthy of calling her our ancestor," Grayfia said.
"Mmm," Rias nodded in agreement.
"Then, I shall be transporting you to the Rating Game Space. I do have to warn you. Since this isn't an official Rating Game, the retirement feature will not be used," Grayfia said.
"I see…"
A red magic circle appeared underneath them.
"Good luck, Lady Rias. Lady Dantalion. Be careful. Kali is a Goddess who can defeat even the strongest of us," she warned.
The arena was different from what they expected. Issei expected some jungle or a temple of India to be their battleground, however, he was pleasantly surprised to see that their arena was Kuoh Academy. He turned around to see the Goddess of Destruction levitating in the air and silently meditating.
"Kuoh. She even gave us home field advantage," Yuuto said.
"No, she didn't. She wanted to recreate the area where we fought Kokabiel," Rias replied.
"Ahem! Can you all hear me?"
"Lady Asmodeus?"
Everyone perked up when they heard her.
"Well, well, well, this match will be between Lady Kali and Team Rias Gremory. This is a simple sparring match. It will be over when one side can no longer fight. For the Gremory Peerage, if Lady Kali says she will be unable to fight, then they win. If all members of the Gremory Peerage can no longer fight, then Lady Kali wins. Simple right? Without further ado…"
Kali opened her eyes and descended to the ground.
"BEGIN!"
No one made a move. The two groups stood far apart from each other, staring the other in the eye.
Kali sighed and flipped her hair. "Are you going to attack or do I have to go over to you?" she asked, taking a step forward.
The Gremory Peerage tensed as Kali began to walk toward them.
"Tch…" Rias raised her hand. A multi-layered magic circle manifested in front of her and spun rapidly. "Then take this!"
A beam of black and red energy flew towards Kali.
The Goddess stopped walking and allowed the beam to consume her entirely.
A powerful explosion rocked the entire field, sending waves of air that nearly knocked them over.
"So strong," Xenovia said.
"Buchou's gotten stronger over the past 20 days," Issei said.
Mitsuki's eyes began to glow red. "But it's not enough. She's just standing there."
And Mitsuki was right. When the smoke cleared, Kali stood there completely unfazed by her attack. The Goddess stared at them blankly before furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Did I get it wrong?" Kali mumbled.
A blast of wind pushed them all back. A white aura began to emanate from Kali's body. As the aura grew, the ground shook violently. Fissures began to form and the space of the Rating Game began to warp dramatically.
"Are you making fun of me, Rias Gremory?" Kali said in a cold tone.
Her tone sent shivers down their spines.
"If you won't show me your best, then…"
Kali appeared behind them and glanced over her shoulder.
S- So fast! Issei thought. His instincts served him correctly. He jumped back in time to avoid being thrown away by a massive explosion that rocked the battlefield.
"Hyoudou Issei…"
Issei's eyes widened when the dust was blown away. Kali's face was mere centimeters from his own.
"You… are very interesting to me."
"Hu-"
Issei nearly passed out. The blow Kali had dealt him sent him flying across the entire arena, crashing through the entire campus and bringing down the high school building in the process. He crashed into the barrier of the rating game dimension and slid down.
"Aniki!" Mitsuki's fury bubbled. She teleported above Kali and swung her sword down.
The Goddess glanced at her and Mitsuki felt like she had struck a wall with her blade.
Her telekinetic abilities are next level! Mitsuki thought. She kicked off the barrier and lightning crackled around her body.
What? She's go-
On instinct, Mitsuki activated Telos Karma and dodged Kali's attack by a hair's breadth. She spread her wings and dove toward the ground. Beads of sweat trailed down her forehead.
"Not bad," Kali said. "I guess I missed one of you." She raised her hand and caught Durandal between her fingertips.
Xenovia gritted her teeth and pushed on the blade but to no avail.
"Durandal wielder, you're far weaker than your predecessor," Kali said. She held up her other hand and caught Yuuto's Balance Breaker Blade, Sword of the Betrayer, with her finger. "Mmm? A holy-demonic sword? I haven't seen two abilities fused together like this in a long time."
She closed her eyes and unleashed a telekinetic burst of power that sent all three of them flying away from her.
"Unfortunately, none of you are even remotely as interesting as you've been made out to be."
Kali sighed and wiped some dust off her dress.
Her feet shifted diagonally as she dodged a punch from Koneko. The force of the blow ruffled her hair and cracked the ground behind them.
Koneko rushed in delivering a volley of blows that the Goddess caught with one hand.
"Haaaaaah!" Demonic power overflowed in Koneko's fist, dyeing it a bright blue color. She let loose a mighty battle cry and threw her fist with all her might at the Goddess's unprotected torso.
A loud boom resounded through the field, sending debris and rubble everywhere. A dust cloud as big as the Old School Building towered over the field where Koneko and Kali stood.
"Even with all that… I even let you hit me," Kali said.
"!?" Koneko jumped back or tried to. Her body froze mid-jump. Kali nodded her head over to the school building and threw Koneko into the bell tower.
She raised her hand and dispersed a volley of destructive bullets and lightning. "Mmmm," Kali hummed. She began walking towards Rias and Akeno, both of which were radiating intense levels of demonic power.
"Don't let up, Akeno!" Rias yelled.
"I should say the same to… you!" Akeno raised her hands into the air before throwing them forward and firing a potent beam of electricity at her foe.
Kali stared at the massive two-story-sized blast of lightning headed in her direction.
"Baraqiel's lightning was so much more potent than this but since you're showing me more, I'll humor you," Kali said. She raised her hand and a small white sphere formed in front of her.
Akeno's massive lightning blast collided with the small sphere before being completely dispelled by a small flash of white light.
"W- What?" Akeno stared at her in shock.
"Don't get distracted," Kali said, appearing in front of her.
"Take this!" Rias swiped her hand, unleashing a volley of dozens of crimson spheres at Kali.
Akeno jumped into the air, avoiding the salvo that peppered the Great Goddess.
"Gasper now!" Rias yelled.
"A- Alright!" Gasper's eyes began to change. As he was about to activate his ability, his eyes were forcefully closed.
"W- Wha…?" Rias turned back to the dust cloud that was clearing.
Kali stared at Gasper. "Hmm… while that would have had no effect on me, it would've been able to freeze my attacks in time as they are no longer part of me. I'm beginning to see why the leaders of your pantheon are praising you, Rias Gremory."
Rias clenched her jaw and chose to glare at the Goddess.
"Yes, that stare right there," Kali turned to fully face her. "That look of determination. Let it fuel you."
"You want my full extent of what I can do? Then…" The power of destruction began to coat Rias's entire body. Her eyes changed to the color red.
I can't enter the Qliphoth Mode yet but… I developed this while training with my brother and a new finisher move. The finisher move takes too much of my power while this… no time to think! Rias thought.
Her demonic power began to rise.
Kali's eyes widened microscopically.
"I'll take you on with this!" Rias said. Her hair began to flicker as the tips of it transformed into the Power of Destruction. Her aura surged forth, disintegrating the ground below her.
"I'll have to admit that I'm impressed but… how long can you hold that I wonder?" Kali said.
"Let's find out then!"
"Ugh, my head," Issei moaned.
"Ise-san!"
Issei felt a weight fall on top of him. He saw a mop of blonde hair cascading down the person's back and he smiled.
"Asia, what happened?"
"President sent me here to heal you. You took a really bad blow," Asia said.
"Kali really held back that blow." Mastema hovered above them.
You call that holding back? Issei asked.
[At least you're alive, Partner. Now, let's show that crackpot Goddess the true strength of a Dragon Emperor!] Ddraig said.
"Yeah, I got it," Issei said, standing up. "Where's Mii-chan?"
Asia got to her feet. "She should be over there with everyone else."
"I gotcha. Come on, let's go, Asia," Issei said. He picked her up in princess carry, catching her off-guard.
"I- Ise-san!?" Asia stuttered.
"Hang on," Issei said. He took off in a burst of speed towards the battle.
"Haaah!"
"I got you, Buchou!" Yuuto yelled.
He and Xenovia crisscrossed across the field in an attempt to get into Kali's blind spot.
The Goddess was preoccupied with Rias raining down an endless amount of destructive bullets in her direction.
The two circled around Kali at blinding speeds.
"Yuuto!"
"Right!"
The two darted towards the Goddess, shattering the sound barrier and reaching hypersonic speed.
Kali didn't move from her spot. She swiped her hands, deflecting Yuuto's Sword of the Betrayer and Xenovia's Durandal.
"Now!" the two yelled.
"!?" Kali bent over, dodging Yorihime. Mitsuki's body was shrouded in lightning.
Mitsuki twisted her body in midair in an attempt to cut Kali across the chest.
However, the Goddess anticipated her movement and kicked her mid-spin, sending her careening into a charging Koneko.
She caught one of Rias's Power of Destruction Bullets and threw it at Yuuto.
Xenovia appeared in front of him and the two were blasted back by the explosion.
Lightning crackled across the sky and crashed down on Kali. Or it would have had the Goddess not redirected it with her hand.
"Nothing we do is working," Rias panted.
"Code: Verdandi!"
A pillar of green light towered into the sky as Mitsuki was clad once more in her white-winged armor. She channeled demonic power into every muscle in her body. She felt them twitch and she coiled up like a spring before taking off with the force of a rocket towards Kali.
The ground beneath her was torn apart by the sheer speed of her movement.
"Oborozuki-Ryu: Mangetsu!" Mitsuki clicked the trigger on Yorihime's sheathe and launched the sword. She was a streak of lightning hellbent on cutting Heaven in half.
The streak of lightning collided with Kali with the force of a meteor. The blow shook the entire Rating Game space violently.
"!?"
Mitsuki's eyes were widened to cosmic proportions and her mouth was agape in shock.
Kali had Yorihime caught in the palm of her hand. The ground beneath her was cracked and split.
"The strength behind your blow is incredible, Half-Devil," Kali said.
"Tch!" Mitsuki tried to force the blade down into the Goddess's skin but failed miserably. As she tried to continue pushing, she sensed something flying fast in her direction.
Aniki
Mitsuki pulled her sword away and teleported out of Issei's trajectory.
Kali's face morphed into one of surprise. She raised her hand and blocked the massive black sphere that threatened to plow into her with the force of a raging bull.
I knew it, she thought.
She gripped the sphere tightly before shattering it by closing her fist.
The sphere exploded into multiple black fragments that rained down across the Rating Game Space, erasing the areas where they landed.
Issei jumped back and landed next to Rias and Mitsuki.
"Sorry I was late. Asia was healing me," Issei said.
"No worries. We're just getting our asses kicked," Rias replied.
"So, I wasn't sensing it wrong. It is hers," Kali said, taking a step forward.
Issei turned to the Goddess with a confused look on his face.
"Shevirat Ha-Kelim."
"What?" Rias asked in shock.
Even Mitsuki was looking at the Goddess with a measure of disbelief on her face.
"I never thought I'd see another Devil with the Shevirat Ha-Kelim, much less one that's reincarnated," Kali said.
Shevirat Ha-Kelim? Issei asked.
[It's the power you have at your disposal and the power… that she also has.] Ddraig explained.
Mastema?
"Mhm. The Shevirat Ha-Kelim is the Divine Power of Devils. The Origin Power from which all Devils were born and where their abilities are all derived from. It was possessed by the Fallen Archangel Lucifer," Mastema said.
"The fact that you possess the ability makes your entire existence interesting," Kali said.
"Is… Is that why you challenged us to a fight?" Issei asked.
"Of course. What reason would I have to test this subpar Peerage?" Kali asked.
"Subpar?" Rias ground her teeth. "We'll show you subpar! Issei!"
"Got it! I can forgive you for punching me but when you involve other people I care about?" Issei said.
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker]
Issei was clad in crimson armor. His right gauntlet bled black and changed in appearance. Power surged forth in the form of a blood-red aura that bathed the entire area in a soft red light. Winds powerful enough to knock over garbage cans and rattle windows buffeted the local area around them.
"Even if you are a God, I won't allow you to debase them!" he yelled.
Kali looked on with some intrigue in her eyes. The winds that washed over her and ruffled her hair and the resolve she saw in his eyes. It reminded her so much of her.
"I don't care who or what you are. If you lay one finger on them, I'll fight you even if you're the Ouroboros Dragon themself."
"Hmph, then come at me, Issei Hyoudou. Show me the pride you have in them. Prove to me the depths of your resolve and that the people you stand with are worth fighting for!" Kali yelled.
She appeared in a flash in front of Issei.
However, Issei was barely able to see her this time. He caught her punch at the last minute. The force of her blow pushed him back several feet and tore up the ground beneath them.
[Boost]
Issei's power began to build as he doubled his strength repeatedly. With a determined roar, Issei pushed back against the Goddess ever so slightly. He then redirected her punch towards the ground and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to her face.
Kali's head snapped to the side and she stumbled a few feet, stunned at what had just happened.
"I'm not letting up!" Issei yelled.
The thrusters on his back activated and he rocketed forward. He would give her no room
A volley of punches that broke the sound barrier several dozen times over were lobbed at Kali's entire body.
Issei cocked his fist back and channeled demonic power into his fist.
[Dragon Shot!]
Issei punched Kali's torso. The beam pierced right through her torso, incinerating her liver and shattering her spine.
But it was only an afterimage.
Issei turned around and saw Kali standing behind him.
A small smile graced her immaculate features.
"So you can fight back."
Issei charged at her, delivering another volley of blows.
This time, Kali parried every one of his attacks before delivering a right hook to his visor. The impact of her blow shattered the right side of his helm.
Kali raised her elbow and slammed it down on top of Issei's helm, breaking the rest to pieces.
Issei fell to the ground, breaking through the roof of the school and plowing through the floors all the way to the first.
"Haaah!" A streak of lightning collided with Kali.
Mitsuki coated her entire body in violet lighting and began slashing Kali violently with Yorihime. Her swings produced cutting waves that sliced their surroundings apart.
"Emerald Divine Clock!" A gigantic emerald clock appeared underneath them. Probabilities began to warp and become miracles. But the miracles she hoped for were not the miracles she received.
Her blade connected with Kali but the Goddess's skin was too tough for her to penetrate.
Kali parried her blow before slamming her palm into Mitsuki's torso. A shockwave ripped an entire school building apart and sent Mitsuki crashing through the iron gates of the College Campus.
"Mmmm?" Kali raised her hand and froze Yuuto and Xenovia in midair.
Damnit!
Not again!
A bolt of lightning crashed down on Kali, disrupting her concentration momentarily. But the two knights only needed a moment.
Within that instant, their swords curved in a graceful arc through the air and sliced through the Goddess's defenses.
Kali felt some of her hair and a piece of her sleeve fall off. She frowned and turned around, dashing towards Xenovia and Yuuto.
Koneko jumped in between the two. She threw her fist forward to stall Kali, even for just a second.
Her gambit paid off when Kali paused for a split second, allowing Akeno to barrage her with bolts of lightning.
"Haaaah!" Akeno's eyes flickered to yellow for a split second and a massive golden bolt of electricity appeared above her head. She threw it down with a mighty scream onto the Goddess, causing a massive explosion that consumed the entire courtyard of the school.
"GASPER! NOW BEFORE SHE GETS OUT!"
"R- Right!" Gasper activated Forbidden Balor View and focused on Kali's silhouette.
The silhouette froze in space.
"I… I can't hold her!" Gasper yelled. Blood began to pour from his eyes. "B- Buchou! Hurry!" Gasper fell to his knees when he felt Kali beginning to break his hold.
"Dust her!" Rias yelled.
Xenovia held Durandal up and swung it, unleashing a wave of divine energy.
Yuuto fired a wave of angelic-demonic power from his Sword of the Betrayer.
Akeno created a dragon out of lightning and threw it at Kali.
Koneko channeled blue flames into her fist and fired two of them at the frozen Goddess.
An explosion shook the entire Rating Game Space as what remained of the high school campus was soon reduced to a plume of smoke and a pool of molten slag.
But still, Rias could see the silhouette of the Great Evil of Destruction.
"Time to end this!" Rias held up a small concentrated ball of destruction in her hands. She reared back and threw it with all her might.
A red and black orb of energy sped through the smoke and shattered Kali's skull. However, it was just another afterimage.
"Did we get her?" Issei asked, limping towards Rias.
Mitsuki appeared via teleportation and blood was pouring from her arm.
Rias looked up and saw the Goddess of Destruction looking down on them like they were insects. To her, they might as well be.
"I must admit that I felt that one a bit." Kali's clothes were singed and partially ruined from the fight.
Rias's eyes widened considerably when she saw a wound on her cheek.
"It would be a disservice to you as warriors if I lied," she continued. Small amounts of steam poured from the wound before it sewed itself shut.
"I'll finally take you a little bit more seriously. Let's say… 15%?" Kali held up her hands in an attempt to count, using her fingers. Of course, she was humoring them. Her violet eyes glowed faintly.
"Brace yourselves!" Rias yelled.
The group gathered together behind Rias and Akeno. Both of them erected multi-layered magical barriers around the group.
Kali closed her fist and gathered a small amount of divine power within it. She then smiled wickedly and opened her fist.
A pure burst of divine white light exploded from her body, warping the entire Rating Game Space and distorting its spatio-temporal structure.
Asmodeus crossed her arms as Ajuka and several other technician devils scrambled to contain Kali's Divine Power within the Rating Game space. Sirzechs glanced at his master then towards his sister.
"So this is the power of a Great Evil? How terrifying," Sirzechs said.
"This isn't her full power. I estimate this is around 10-15% of what Aunt Kali is actually capable of. You and Ajuka at full power are only 50% of her total strength," Asmodeus said. "But for your sister's peerage to get her to take them slightly more seriously, you should be proud of her, Sirzechs."
You might see it that way but… Sirzechs clenched his fists and focused on the match. Be safe, Rias.
The light died down and the space-time stopped straining. The weight of Kali's power had vanished as quickly as it came. The replica of Kuoh Academy had been reduced to a mess of debris and rubble. The entire space had been splintered into a white iridescent spatial void with several floating landmasses.
Issei pushed the rubble off him and shakily got to his feet.
Underneath him, Asia was curled into a ball, protecting her head.
The Balance Breaker had been broken in several places but he was thankful that Akeno and Rias's barrier held for a few seconds. If it didn't there was no doubt that they would have been forced to retire just to survive.
Kali hovered in the air above them with her hands behind her back. A divine white aura enshrouded her petite body. Despite it not raging outward as it once did, it left a heavy impression on the air around her.
"Hyoudou Issei, you impress me once more. To have survived such an attack. You have my respect," Kali said.
"Ise-chan! Are you okay?"Mastema yelled frantically. Her divine power began to flow through his veins as the wounds he sustained began to slowly fade.
I'm fine. Just peachy, he replied.
[I hate to admit this partner but this opponent is beyond us.] Ddraig said.
"I don't care. I trained, fought, and prepared so I wouldn't let the others down. There's no way I'm starting now," Issei said, giving a bloody grin. "I don't care if I'm the last one. I'll fight her until I can't."
"Is it pride that pushes you forward?" Kali asked, landing on a piece of elevated rubble.
Issei raised an eyebrow.
"Pride?"
Issei looked down.
"Yeah, I guess it is. Pride in myself. Pride in the others. You challenged us to a spar to gauge the depth of the current generation, right?" Issei asked.
Kali said nothing.
"I just don't want to go down so pathetically in front of the Goddess of Destruction herself," Issei said.
"Her will burns brightly within you, Red Dragon Emperor," she said, chuckling at his bravado. "All your blustering might mean something after all."
Her eyes snapped open. "So take pride in the fact that you'll face defeat at the hands of the God of Destruction."
A blast of concussive wind spiraled towards Issei, who was prepared to take it with his entire being when…
BOOOM!
Issei's eyes widened when a red barrier appeared in front of him, barely holding the attack back.
"D- Don't just stand there, idiot!" Rias said, shambling forward. Her uniform was in tatters and her modesty was one attack away from being exposed. Not that she cared.
"R- Right!"
[Boost]
Issei channeled his aura forward and reinforced the barrier.
"This won't hold!" Rias said, sliding back.
A stream of blue energy poured into the barrier and reinforced it.
"Don't count me out yet," Mitsuki said.
"I see… so this is the resolve of this generation," Kali said. Her aura surged forward and slammed into the barrier, causing it to crack.
"We won't go down," Rias said, grinning in defiance at the Goddess's words. "We are the ones who inherited the will of the Great Evil of Rebellion so we'll defy your words. For the sake of our pride and the pride of all Devils of this generation!"
"I don't really care about our generation's pride though," Mitsuki said.
"Don't ruin this for me," Rias said.
"I guess we can all agree that lying down and letting her trample over us in this match is a no?" Issei asked.
"My pride would take a blow that's for sure but I for one want to go down swinging against this God," Mitsuki replied.
The force of Kali's aura began to break the barrier down.
"Buchou, when this barrier goes down, Mii-chan and I will go fight Kali. Back us up, okay?" Issei asked.
Rias nodded.
"Ready?" Mitsuki asked.
"Yeah," Issei said.
Once the words left Issei's mouth, the barrier shattered and Kali's aura faded.
Kali took one step toward them and kicked off the ground.
Mitsuki and Issei let out a battle cry as they charged toward her.
Code Verdandi!
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker]
"Ise-chan, I'm mitigating the damages of using the Balance Breaker. After this, you'll need to refrain from using the Boosted Gear for a few days, kay?" Mastema said.
That's fine!
The two met Kali halfway, clashing with her. They began to trade blows with Kali, exchanging punches and kicks in rapid succession.
Issei and Mitsuki were fueled by pure adrenaline and desperation to hold out against the Goddess of Destruction.
Kali ducked underneath one of Mitsuki's attacks and dug her fist into Issei's solar plexus, causing him to choke.
He closed his eyes and fought through the pain, grabbing Kali's arm tightly. His action surprised the Goddess.
Mitsuki jumped up and kneed Kali in the face, sending the Goddess stumbling back.
Kali rubbed her nose and looked up to see Issei and Mitsuki jumping out of the way as a massive sphere of destruction rammed into Kali, catching her off-guard and sending her flying across the ruined field.
She flew at high speeds and slammed into one of the floating debris.
Kali looked up and saw Issei and Mitsuki in front of her, preparing to deal their blows against the Goddess.
Her eyes flashed and a volley of telekinetic bullets shattered their Balance Breakers. She kicked off from the debris and clotheslined them. She dashed past them, tanking blows from Rias's Power of Destruction.
Rias kept firing bullet after bullet.
As Kali drew near, a white blur slammed into her and knocked her off-course.
"K- Koneko!?" Rias said in shock.
"Buchou! Not no-" Koneko was thrown by a violet blur slamming into her at high speeds.
Kali turned to face Rias and raised her hand.
"Don't just stand there!" Akeno screamed.
She fired bolts of lightning at Kali, distracting the Goddess.
Rias flew into the air and let loose a salvo of destructive energy bullets.
The lightning bolts and bullets were halted in midair. Kali swiped her finger across the air in a half-circle, drawing a white line. The line shattered into dozens of floating glass shards that began firing energy beams at the two.
Akeno raised a barrier while Rias encased herself in a cocoon made from the Power of Destruction.
Suddenly, the attacks were frozen as if someone had pressed pause.
"X- Xenovia-san! Yuuto-san! Go!" Gasper yelled. His eyes were bloodshot from freezing the Goddess of Destruction and her attacks.
A blue and red streak of light shot past Gasper and swarmed the Goddess, peppering her with relentless blows.
"Haaah!" Kiba swung the Sword of the Betrayer at Kali's neck.
His slash went through as he flew past her. The sound of shattering metal caught his attention when he saw the tip of his blade break to pieces.
Kali looked over her shoulder with an apathetic expression on her face.
A minute change in the air around her caused her animal brain to react and she moved her head slightly to avoid Durandal's all-cutting swing.
She raised her finger and stopped the next swing from ever coming closer to her, stopping Xenovia's blow by mere millimeters.
"Take this!" Rias created a massive sphere of chaotic energy above her head. "Haaah!" She threw it at Kali.
Akeno placed held up her middle and index finger. Power welled up inside her. She created and threw a massive ball of lightning at the Goddess.
The two spheres merged together and became an all-consuming orb of destruction.
Kali held up her other hand and caught the sphere. She gripped it tightly before crushing it completely.
She threw Xenovia at an oncoming Yuuto, swatting them both away and sending them crashing into Gasper.
Her feet shifted as she turned in her spot to evade a sneak attack from Mitsuki's Yorihime.
The silver flash of the blade and the crackling light of her lightning filled Kali's vision as Mitsuki began to relentlessly slash her with the blade.
On Kali's left side, Issei began throwing punch after punch at her.
From the other's perspective, Kali was appearing in multiple spots at once only to have her other selves disappear as Issei and Mitsuki's blows perfectly synchronized to take them out one by one.
"Izayoizuki!"
"Dragon Shot!"
A wave of lightning and a beam of red energy punched through Kali's chest, vaporizing her insides. However, it was just an afterimage.
An unseen force threw them both away.
Issei and Mitsuki crashed into rubble. The two got up, stepping forward shakily. As if it were practiced, the two took off at the same time, seeing that the battle was still raging on before them.
Flashes of red light followed by yellow were silenced by a flash of white that took away half of the floating island they were on.
"ANIKI!" Mitsuki said.
"What?" Issei turned to face her.
"THROW ME AT HER!" she yelled.
Issei's eyes widened but he had no time to question it.
"I got it! Come on!" Issei cupped his hands together like a volleyball player about to perform a bump pass.
Mitsuki flipped in midair, landing one foot on Issei's hands before he threw her using his Queen-Enhanced strength.
As Mitsuki flew towards the God, she had one thought in mind.
I just need one moment! One instant! Pour everything into a single attack! Touki! Demonic Power! Squeeze out all of it!
Her red eyes began to bleed from the strain of using Precision as she focused the demonic power into her eyes.
Her body was bathed in violet light. Her touki poured out of her cells and encased her body in violet light before demonic power mixed into it, encasing her in a shroud of demonic lightning. Every cell, every organ, all her muscles, and tissues, she would squeeze and drain every last drop of power for this one attack.
"Oborozuki-Ryu: Mangetsu!"
What happened next could only be seen by a few. To the untrained eye, Mitsuki vanished from her spot but to those that could see her, she became the embodiment of lightning.
Her speed surpassed reason. A streak of lightning from beginning to end was formed in an instant and slammed into Kali, sending the Goddess across the island.
Kali's surprised face was all she needed to see. The goddess's heel was digging into the dirt below, tearing the ground up below them.
Her blade was pushing slightly into her hand, drawing the crimson blood that none of them had been able to fully spill.
"Impressive! Very impressive! It would seem that I was…" Kali gripped the sword tightly and reversed their positions. "Wrong about you!"
Mitsuki felt the hard surface slam into her as she was dragged violently across the ground.
"Mitsuki!"
Issei charged forward.
MASTEMA! DDRAIG!
"I'll give you every last bit of power your body can handle!"Mastema said.
[Good luck, Partner!] Ddraig said.
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker: Overdrive]
Kali turned her head at the last moment, feeling Issei's energy rapidly approaching her. A red missile slammed into her with the force of a meteorite, forcing her to release Mitsuki.
"Mii-chan! Now!" Issei said, pushing against Kali.
"Haaah!" Mitsuki shot past Kali. A wound formed on her cheek, sending the Goddess's blood spraying across the field.
Kali kicked Issei away and touched her cheek.
"Y- You!?" Kali turned to face Mitsuki, who had her sword back in its sheath.
The girl's demonic power and touki were still overcharging her body. Blood poured from her mouth as she pushed for more. She closed her eyes.
"Aniki!"
"Let's…"
"Finish this!"
"Haaah! Liminal Spiral!" Issei yelled. He held up his right hand and created a swirling orb of black energy.
"Oborozuki-Ryu…." Mitsuki's eyes snapped open. "MANGETSU!"
The two shot forward towards the Goddess, intent on finishing this match with one attack.
"So… you weren't wrong after all. I've seen enough," Kali said. "Mahapralaya - Infinity."
A flash of eradicating white light was released from Kali's body. Issei and Mitsuki's attacks were nullified and the force of the blast sent them flying away.
"ISSEI!" Rias yelled.
Issei flew across the air. "I won't…" Pinpricks of darkness began to cloud his vision.
"You've done well, Sekiryuutei. I've seen enough." Kali's voice entered his ears. But before he could respond, the darkness overtook him and he passed out. Before he completely did, he felt someone catch him.
Kali held the unconscious boy in her arms and looked at his face for a few seconds. She flew over to Rias and the others, who were tense as she approached.
"Here." Kali handed Issei over to Rias, who almost stumbled forward as she tried not to drop Issei.
Rias gently lowered Issei to the ground and beckoned for Asia to come over.
"A- Aniki!" Mitsuki pushed past them and saw her unconscious brother on the ground.
"You've proven yourself, Rias Gremory. You and your peerage. Take pride in that fact. This match is over," Kali said.
Rias nodded, not even caring that she lost. She looked down at her beloved pawn and smiled. "Good work, my Ise…" She planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
"You're leaving already?" a voice asked.
Kali stopped in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder.
A woman with blonde hair and red eyes was leaning against the hallway of the entrance. She wore a black dress and a dark red cloak. She had a small obsidian crown on her head. Her red eyes held a knowing twinkle within them. And this woman's power was immense. It rivaled her own power.
"I've gotten what I came for. Besides, what are you doing here, Ereshkigal?" Kali asked.
"Heh? I can't say hi to an old friend? Are you too important for me now, O' Great Evil of Destruction?" Ereshkigal asked, walking towards Kali.
"Ugh, what do you want, O' Great Evil of Serenity?" Kali asked.
"I came to check on you. My schedule freed up for this specific time slot. How are they? The new generation?" Ereshkigal asked, glancing towards the closed doors of the banquet halls.
A small smile graced Kali's normally stoic features.
"Oh? You smiled. What happened in there?" The Mesopotamian Goddess of the Underworld asked.
"Her legacy is in that building," Kali said.
"Legacy? You mean these new Devils?" Ereshkigal asked.
"No, someone with her will and power."
Ereshkigal raised an eyebrow at her statement before nodding. "Interesting. So who is it?"
Kali said nothing and just walked away.
"Kali? Kali! Who is it?" Ereshkigal asked, running after her friend.
To Anon-kun: Yes, they were referring to Sirzechs and Ajuka. And I'm pretty sure that everyone knows how powerful Sirzechs and Ajuka are. Azazel knows for sure. Sirzechs and Ajuka's powers aren't a federal secret you know. I'm also 100% sure that Ddraig can gauge the full depth of their powers.
To Megar007: Let's find out shall we?
To Jlio Jaeger: Possibly. I'm considering them for a future arc but not for this arc. Cain is a character I'm seriously considering for this story. Avan is a maybe. However, Cain is almost certainly going to be added. All I need to do is work out the kinks with Cain. However, whether or not this is the same Cain, that'll be left up for revelation in the future.
To TyrantLordKillidia: Well, Asia was around. She just didn't have any lines because she wasn't relevant to the chapter.
And we've ended the chapter with a brief introduction of another one of the Great Evils. I hoped you guys liked the fight. I tried to emulate the same air of the fight from the original versions without copying and pasting the fight. Kali testing the new generation of Devils through a fight is a Kali thing to do. She's not a diplomat like her friends. She's a warrior. To her, fighting is a language that she can use to gauge the other person. Also, that fight was brutally one-sided so anyone complaining, please remember that Kali is super strong.
Oh for anyone reading, Kali's Domain is called Mahapralaya. If you want to know what I decided to call it in Japanese, it's Kōmetsu no Sakai or literally "Boundary of Annihilation". Fitting right? For a Goddess of Destruction to have a Domain that literally has Annihilation or a Domain that literally means "Great Dissolution".
And let's go back to the Great Evils Chart!
1. Lucifer - Rebellion
2. Kali - Destruction
3. ?
4. Ereshkigal - Serenity
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
Well, remember to review and I'll answer your questions in the next chapter! Also remember to follow the story if you want to get updates. Or not.
Remember to read Worthless Exorcist, Cat Got Your Tongue, Darklight, and DxD: Alternate.