Chapter 2 – The Fallen and the Divine
Dohnaseek hovered in the air, his black wings spread wide as he glared down at Issei.
The fallen angel smirked. "Tch. I don't know what's going on with you, but it doesn't matter."
He spread his hand out, forming a spear of purple light in his grip. The energy crackled ominously, its edges sharp enough to slice through steel.
"This time, you stay dead."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the spear.
Issei barely had time to react. His body screamed at him to move, but before he could even register the thought, something instinctual took over.
BOOM!
The moment the light spear made contact, an explosive shockwave blasted outward, only, it wasn't from the spear hitting Issei.
Instead, a radiant golden aura flared to life around him.
The light spear disintegrated on impact.
Dohnaseek's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible! That should have"
A deep rumbling noise filled the air.
The ground cracked beneath Issei as a golden glow seeped from his skin. His breathing was heavy, his body trembling, not with pain, but with something else.
With power.
His power.
His vision flickered, flashes of memories he didn't recognize flooding his mind. A great war. Blades clashing. A voice, a brother's voice, calling his name.
"Michael..."
His mind felt like it was splitting in two. His chest burned with an unknown force.
And then.
He screamed.
The force of his voice was not human. It was not Devil.
It was holy.
A shockwave erupted from Issei, blasting outward in all directions. The nearby trees bent violently, their leaves ripped from their branches. The very air shook as if the world itself had reacted to his cry.
Dohnaseek was flung backward mid-air, barely managing to steady himself. His ears rang painfully from the sheer force of the sonic cry.
"What in the name of?!"
And then he saw them.
The wings.
Two magnificent, radiant golden wings burst forth from Issei's back, illuminating the night with divine brilliance.
Dohnaseek stared, his mind racing.
"Wings?! No… wait" His expression twisted in shock. "A newly reincarnated angel?"
Dohnaseek's surprise lasted only a second before he acted.
"I don't care who sent you. Angel or not, you die here!"
With a flap of his wings, he shot forward like a bullet, summoning two purple light spears in his hands. He twirled them expertly, then threw both at Issei in rapid succession.
But Issei did not dodge.
The spears struck him directly in the chest
And shattered.
Like glass breaking against a mountain.
Dohnaseek's eyes bulged.
Dohnaseek growled, trying to mask his fear with anger. "Tch! You're full of surprises, but let's see if you can handle this!"
He dove towards Issei, forming another spear, this time aiming directly for his heart.
As the fallen angel closed in, instinct took over once again.
Without thinking, Issei raised his hand
And a blast of pure, golden energy erupted from his palm.
BOOOOOOOM!
The beam struck Dohnaseek point-blank.
The Fallen Angel's entire body was sent flying back, crashing through a tree before slamming into the ground with a heavy thud.
Smoke and golden embers danced in the air.
Issei stood there, breathing heavily, his hand still crackling with raw power. His mind reeled.
"What… what was that?"
Dohnaseek coughed violently, his body burning with divine energy. He tried to push himself up, but his limbs shook uncontrollably.
He looked up at Issei, furious, yet unable to hide his unease.
"Tch… You are an angel," he spat. He pointed a shaking finger at Issei.
Issei didn't know how to answer.
--
The moment Issei's Eldritch Blast hit Dohnaseek, the concealment barrier the fallen angel had erected collapsed.
A wave of supernatural energy exploded outward, immediately alerting the other forces in Kuoh.
--
"This energy…" Kalawarner's face twisted in unease.
Mittelt scowled. "Dohnaseek is fighting someone strong."
Raynare remained silent, gripping the armrest of her chair. She could feel the battle raging. The presence of divine power was unmistakable.
"…We don't interfere," she finally said.
Mittelt shot her a look. "What?! You're just gonna let him"
Raynare's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "He picked a fight. If he can't finish it, then he's of no use to us."
Kalawarner gave a slow nod, though her gaze remained fixed on the distant energy surges.
Dohnaseek was on his own.
--
At the Occult Research Club
Rias Gremory and her peerage felt it instantly.
"What was that?!" Kiba exclaimed, sensing the battle's energy.
Rias narrowed her eyes. "This energy… It's divine. But there's also something else…"
Koneko, still recovering from her earlier encounter with Issei, suddenly shivered.
"...It's him," she muttered under her breath.
Akeno's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Ara~ Looks like our new recruit is full of surprises."
Rias clenched her fists. "We're going. Now."
--
At Kuoh Academy – Student Council Room
Tsubaki turned to her. "Should we intervene?"
Sona frowned. "This is different from normal Fallen Angel activity… Call the others. We move immediately."
--
Other Eyes Watching
Not far away, hidden in the shadows, a man with violet eyes observed the battle with keen interest.
Azazel, Governor General of the Fallen Angels, leaned against a tree with a smirk.
"Well, well… I came here expecting to keep an eye on Raynare's mess. But this…"
He whistled as he saw Issei's golden wings.
"…This just got a whole lot more interesting."
--
Dohnaseek's Final Stand
Dohnaseek struggled to stand, blood dripping from his mouth. His entire body was burning from Issei's divine energy.
But his pride wouldn't let him back down.
"Damn… you!"
Summoning all his remaining strength, he created the largest purple light spear he could muster.
He let out a war cry and threw it with everything he had.
Issei raised his hand.
B O O M!
A final golden blast roared from his palm, colliding with the spear, and completely erasing it.
The energy wave slammed into Dohnaseek, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll.
His body hit the pavement, unmoving.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Issei stood there, his body still glowing faintly, his breath heavy.
For the first time in his life…
He had won a fight.
Tbc