It had been years since he felt his hands shaking the way they were at this moment.
To lock blades with a being as ancient and legendary as the Angel of Stars was something Shin would have never dreamed of doing. His mismatched eyes narrowed slightly as he faced the fallen angel before him. Next to him, out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ichika hesitating, her bravado fading ever so slightly.
"What's wrong? Where was all that bluster you had earlier when you dealt the killing blow on Freed, Red Dragon Empress?" Kokabiel's voice snapped him out of his reverie when he saw the Angel approaching.
Kokabiel had a bloodthirsty, demented smile on his face. His malice was easy to read. The man was baring his fangs in anticipation for a fight. Shin's gazed moved downward slightly, spotting two large swords made of pure light in Kokabiel's hands.
"Ichika," Shin said in a hushed tone. "This man is going to be unlike anything we've ever fought… well, almost anything. But what I need is time," he said.
"Time?" Ichika whispered.
"Ran is currently setting up the final artifact at the locations for the spell. We need to buy her time. You. Me. Irina. Sophia. Anyone," Shin said as he took a deep breath. "Rin. Sophia. You hear me?"
Irina landed next to the two. "Yeah."
"Sophia, you're going to play an important role in the setup. Remember the symbol I showed you back at the house?" Shin asked.
Sophia nodded and twirled her scythe in anticipation for the fight. Her eyes glowed intensely as she eyed Kokabiel warily.
"Hoh? More of you? I don't particularly mind. The more the merrier. I might as well enjoy myself in the process!" Kokabiel's grin widened even further, threatening to split his face in half. His wings spread widely. His grip on his swords tightened ever slightly. "Besides, it will take all of you to even stand a chance against me so it's only fair if I allow you to have reinforcements."
Shin's jaw tightened. He knew for a fact that they were way over their heads and that the spell he prepared was a gamble. However, he took a deep breath to calm himself down. Shin noticed Ichika's eyes flicking over to him from beneath the lens of her visor.
A silent understanding passed between the two.
And in that moment, the two shot forward with surprising speed.
The two circled Kokabiel before darting into what they thought was a blind spot.
However, the Fallen Angel had caught onto their strategy. He held his hands out catching Secace in one hand and Ichika's wrist in the other. A large shockwave came from their blows and shattered the ground beneath.
"Oho? How impressive," Kokabiel said.
"Shin-chan, this guy… is getting really full of himself," Ichika exerted a bit more effort as she tried to force her hand toward Kokabiel's head.
"Yeah," Shin agreed before he wrenched his hand free from Kokabiel's grip and kicked him in the face.
Kokabiel stumbled back, letting go of Ichika's wrist.
The two vanished in a streak of blue and red light.
"Fuahahaha! This is incredible! Your fighting potential! It truly is amazing, Contractor! Red Dragon Empress! I shall reciprocate your effort with my own! Let's dance until there's nothing left!" Kokabiel's laugh shook the school as he darted to meet them.
Ichika and Shin split apart just as Kokabiel's sword came down on top of them. Shin darted in, trading blows with the Fallen Angel. His two blades clashed with Kokabiel's sword of light as he tried to gain the upper hand.
Shin clenched his jaw as he created a quick platform beneath his feet and vaulted into the air, throwing Hirume at Kokabiel in the process.
Kokabiel deflected Hirume, sending it spinning through the air and landing on the ground.
"Let those who turn their backs on the blessings of the Gods be struck down by the divine arrow… Rekku Madan!" Shin chanted as several balls of concentrated energy formed around him. The orbs fired forward, peppering Kokabiel with a relentless volley of attacks.
However, the Fallen Angel shrugged them off, only growing more elated as the fight continued. He dashed toward Shin but was blindsided by Ichika, who despite the vast difference in ability, did not back down.
"Haaaah!" Ichika threw her palm forward, narrowly missing as Kokabiel dodged her attack at the last minute. Her eyes tried to track his movements as best as she could as she delivered a volley of attacks that kicked up dust and wind from the sheer force of her blows.
Kokabiel took it all in stride, deflecting and blocking her strikes. He grinned as he threw a fist toward her face at lightning speed. However, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she ducked.
He's… slower than Shishou! Ichika thought as she followed up with a fierce palm strike to the underside of his chin.
The Fallen Angel's mouth snapped shut, disorienting him momentarily as he stumbled back. Ichika took this opportunity and delivered a dual palm strike to his sternum, sending a fresh wave of pain through him and sending him back even more.
"What the—!?" Kokabiel regained his footing. "Yes! Yes just like that! Show me everything you can throw at me!" He brought his arm down to pulverize Ichika. However, a bolt of lightning slammed into his side and sent him flying into the air.
"Rin!" Ichika gasped in relief.
"No time! Let's go now!" Irina urged as she took off after Kokabiel.
Kokabiel's wings spread as he caught himself in mid-air. "Huh…?" He turned as he felt a shadow appear behind him.
Sophia's eyes flashed violet as her Burial Blade arced through the air and would have bisected him had it not been for his sword blocking it at the last minute. The two remained locked in the air, neither gaining ground.
"Your eyes! They remind me of your mother's! Did you know she was the only woman in the world to achieve two of the most impossible things?" Kokabiel said.
"You know nothing about my mother!" Sophia hissed as she pushed against Kokabiel's sword to no avail.
"Oh, but I do. You see… she sought knowledge from every person she could find and in the end, that woman fell to her one weakness. Her affection for everything she created including a defective product like you," he said.
"Do you want to know how she died? Granted, I didn't kill her myself. No, that honor went to Valper," he continued.
"I said shut up," Sophia growled.
"The Miracle Amplification. She used it to cast the Netsiv Melakh and erased an entire region of Europe from the face of the Earth! Ahahaha! All to save you and your siblings!" Kokabiel laughed.
"I said… SHUT UP!" Sophia's eyes glowed as her powers surged forward. Holy power exploded from her body, blasting Kokabiel back. She raised her hand into the air, five black halos stacked atop each other forming above her head.
That halo… is similar to… "Lucifer! Ahahaha!" Kokabiel cackled as he morphed his light sword into a hammer. He swung it, causing it to slam into Sophia's scythe.
Sophia clenched her jaw as she was thrown back. The force of Kokabiel's strike made it feel like her arms were going to break.
As she flew back, she felt someone stop her fall. She looked up and saw Shin carrying her in his arms as he landed on the ground.
"Get yourself together! Don't let him get under your skin," he said as he set her down. Shin glanced over to Kokabiel, who was currently fending off the combined attacks of Irina and Ichika. He held his hand out, reconstructing Failnacht in his free hand. The swirling mass of blue pixels formed initially into the standard pistol before elongating into a rifle.
His mismatched eyes narrowed as he took aim. His breathing paused as he steadied his arm and then…
BANG!
The hairs on Kokabiel's neck stood on end as he forced both girls back. He craned his neck back in the nick of time to avoid having his head blown off by a stray bolt of blue energy. A trickle of warm blood dripped down his cheek.
"Hahaha… I'm bleeding. Kehehehe, AHAHAHAHA!" Kokabiel wiped the blood off his cheek with a finger and licked it. "This is it! Show me everything you have—"
Sophia's boot found its home in Kokabiel's face. The Fallen Angel was thrown off his feet.
Ichika darted inward, following up with a fierce palm strike to Kokabiel's chin sending him hurtling into the air. Irina and Shin hopped over the two and delivered a combined kick of their own that sent Kokabiel slamming into the roof of the academy.
"Incredible… President, can we actually win?" Akeno whispered as she watched the battle unfolding in front of them.
Rias observed the fight calmly. "Be ready in case." She watched as the four raced, scaling the entire school in a matter of seconds. A thought flew through her mind. Shin, you better end this like you said you would…
Yuuto gripped his sword tightly, feeling wholly useless. His friend was out there fighting for her life and he was here, watching on the sidelines. "I'm going—"
"No," Rias commanded.
"What? President! I—"
"Just watch and wait for the signal. Or else you'll mess up days worth of preparation," Rias said in an uncharacteristically commanding voice.
Yuuto flinched. Rias had never been this domineering in her commands before. Sure, he had heard her be stern but never this overtly forceful. He bit his cheek and observed the fight. His eyes flicked over to Asia, who had her eyes closed and her hands clasped. A clear shroud of holy aura surrounded her body as she prayed fervently underneath her breath. A halo, not unlike the one Ichika had when she used Miracles, was slowly forming above her head.
But unlike Ichika's, it was a glowing crown of thorns.
Kokabiel lay on the roof, facing the sky for a few minutes. This thrill. The thrill of combat, of killing. This was the feeling he chased for years. His heart beat a million miles per minute, flooding his body with equal amounts of adrenaline and dopamine. His pupils dilated as he slowly rose, shrugging off small pieces of rubble that fell atop his robes.
"Hahaha… I never thought that I'd live to see the day when I feel alive again. This is it. War is the way we evolve. The way we can press forward. Those Praetors. They claim to pursue War but they don't understand anything. War is not something you serve, it is a beast you have to become," he licked the blood off his lips.
"Once I finish here, I'll go after them next. And I'll show them," Kokabiel's red eyes glowed slightly he watched his four opponents land on the rooftop. "...what it truly means to be a being of War. I'll show them and their Red King…"
"Ichika, Irina, you guys need to give Sophia an opening. I'll cover you guys," Shin said as he pulled several talismans out of his pouch. His right eye glowed intensely as several rifles began to form in the air behind him.
No, this isn't enough. If I don't take this seriously and go all out, we'll all be dead, Shin thought. His left eye closed briefly as he began to concentrate spiritual energy within his body. "Zonshi… Henbai…" He made a brief hand sign. "Shuin… Eimoku…"
A flood of energy exploded from Shin's body, shrouding him in a light blue aura. He opened his left eye again and steadied himself.
"Kaigen."
The air resounded with the loud sounds of gunfire as the rifles fired on Kokabiel at the same time.
The Fallen Angel Lord created a double-ended spear and deflected the first hail of gunfire. However, the bullets seemed to pour forth endlessly. He clenched his jaw as he dashed and deflected the oncoming hail of enchanted bullets.
Shin threw the talismans in the air and made a hand sign. "Metal Sign - Amatsumara!" The talismans shined with a dim light before multiplying in the air. They all glowed with a dim silver glow before firing a hail of swords at Kokabiel.
Kokabiel's eyes widened as he danced to avoid the spiritual metal blades that rained down on the roof of the school like bullets from a passing fighter plane. His eyes flashed red as he unleashed a burst of holy energy, creating a shockwave that blasted the swords and the talismans apart.
His gaze flicked up only to notice that Shin was alone on the roof. What? Where did those brats go—!?
The rooftop floor cracked beneath him. His eyes widened as Irina flew out of it, tackling Kokabiel into the air. The Cadre looked surprised, if only briefly. He reacted quickly, ramming his fist into her stomach before throwing her into the air.
Irina spun before righting herself. She fought through the pain as she pulled a black talisman from her pocket. "Raimeigenpu - Sakuragiri!" Lightning coursed around her body as she pulled a shimmering silvery-violet katana from the talisman. Irina threw her hand forward as holy power began to surround her.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world…" The holy energy swirled into different shapes and swirled around Irina.
"Oho? You've reconciled your faith with your heritage?" Kokabiel grinned dementedly at the sight.
Irina's eyebrow twitched. She flipped Sakuraigiri into a reverse grip as she brought her other hand and made a similar hand sign to Shin. Several copies of Irina appeared in the air and began to recite the verse alongside her.
"...Against spiritual wickedness in high places that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness."
Kokabiel's eyes widened at the sheer level of holy power that the girl was drawing from the system.
"Sorry for the wait," Irina said as she thrust Sakuragiri forward. Her doubles all mimicked her, causing the swirling mass of holy matter to snake and twist in the air.
Kokabiel's grin grew even more maniacal as he created a salvo of light weapons that fired and met Irina's holy onslaught head-on. What he didn't count on was for the mass of matter to change shape to accommodate for his storm of blades.
Amazing, a combination of Shinto Onmyoudou with our Miracles, Kokabiel thought excitedly. "Ahahaha! Delightful! You've been trained well, girl!"
The clash of powers continued, Irina was being pushed back. But she knew that even in her wildest delusions, she could never overpower Kokabiel in a contest of strength.
She just needed to be a distraction.
Ichika shot past her, diving into the holy mass. She twisted her body, avoiding Kokabiel's projectiles while darting between the large masses of holy power created by Irina's Miracle. She broke through, arm cocked back and hand flattened into a knife.
"You think I didn't see that coming!" Kokabiel quickly created a chain out of light and threw it forward, wrapping it around Ichika. Having restrained the Red Dragon Empress, Kokabiel shot forward, creating a jagged sword of light.
As he approached, he never noticed Shin eyeing him intently. It's been a while since I used this but… I can't keep holding back. It's all or nothing! His left eye glowed with an eerie red light as a familiar, yet abhorrent sense of divine energy coursed through his body. A symbol formed around his pupil taking the form of a
"You're using it?"
That voice. He tried his best to shut her out of their shared link.
His left eye flashed as he shifted space around Ichika and Kokabiel. In an instant, the two swapped places.
Kokabiel's mouth opened slightly as he found himself wrapped in his own chains. The dizzying sense of the forced instant teleportation made his head spin briefly. However, it was long enough for Ichika to capitalize upon the moment.
She landed on the ground before jumping back into the air. "Haaah!" She slammed her palm into the small of Kokabiel's back, throwing him further into the air. Using the masses of holy power created by Irina, Ichika propelled herself further into the air until she shot past the momentarily stunned Kokabiel and drove her fist into the side of his head.
"GUHK!" he plummeted toward the school roof.
"ASIA! NOW!" Ichika yelled.
Back over to where Rias and the others were, Asia's eyes snapped open. Golden chains erupted from the ground around the school and wrapped around Kokabiel like snakes, binding him in the air.
"Sophia!" Shin called out.
Sophia rushed past Shin, spreading her wings and running along the chains. She flew into the air before spinning downward. Black flames and mist coated the Burial Blade as it arced through the air. With a series of slashes, Sophia inflicted several shallow wounds on Kokabiel's flesh.
She landed on the ground. "Now Shin—"
"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA! This is all you could manage? All that effort for mere papercuts?" Kokabiel's laughter interrupted them. He strained against Asia's chains before shattering them completely with a surge of holy energy. "A true attack is filled with malice, girl!"
Golden flames surged forth from Kokabiel's hand, forming into a small sun. He threw the orb with a skill and speed greater than a pitcher. The orb hurtled toward Sophia at breakneck speeds.
However, before it could make contact, Shin activated the Tehom once more and swapped places with Sophia. His right eye glowed as he created a black cross-shaped shield and slammed it into the ground before him.
The rooftop erupted with golden light as flames and heat exploded, towering into the sky. Irina, Ichika, and Sophia were all forced back by the sheer heat of the flames, forced to watch helplessly as Shin was thrown from the roof. His arms and body were littered with several first and second-degree burns. The black cross-shaped shield survived but bore several scorch marks as it faded with the breaking of Shin's concentration. Not even the Stigmata of Yaldabaoth could grant him full protection from Kokabiel's strength.
"SHIN!" Ichika rushed toward him but Kokabiel spotted her coming from a mile away.
He swiped his hand, causing several spikes of light to erupt from the rooftop, causing a part of it to crumble. Ichika jumped back, narrowly avoiding getting skewered by the spikes. She glared at Kokabiel through her helm's visor.
"I'd worry more about yourself than I would that boy." Kokabiel turned to face the remaining three. His ten wings spread, casting a deathly shadow across the ruined rooftop. He held his hands out, forming a sword in one and a hammer in the other.
Ichika's jaw tensed as she prepared herself for Kokabiel's oncoming onslaught.
"Ow… fuck that hurt," Shin slowly sat up, rubbing his forehead. A trickle of blood flowed down the side of his head. There were bruises already starting to form on his body as he slowly got to his feet. His mismatched eyes caught a glimpse of the ongoing fight above.
A flash of yellow light, followed by an explosion of red and black illuminated the sky underneath the barrier.
"But the mark is on him. All I need to do is—"
"Hey! Hey, you! Can you hear me!?"
Shin blinked and looked around. "Was that a—?"
"I know you heard me! Pick me up! Pick me up right now so we can end this stupid fight!"
A throbbing pain overtook his right eye as blue energy crackled around it. His Stigmata of Reconstruction became even more prominent, the circular cross spinning slowly. "That thing again from when I fought Freed. It's…"
Before he could finish his train of thought, Ichika and the others were thrown to the ground around him, all sporting a variety of injuries.
"What a shame. I expected more from you all after that initial push. Did all the fire in your bellies go out already?"
He turned to see Kokabiel hovering over them. The bloodlust in his eyes was still present, yet there was another emotion swimming around those red pools. Disappointment. Pure and utter contempt and disappointment.
Shin clenched his fists before forming his weapons once more.
"More holy swords," Kokabiel scoffed. "Do you really think that would help your situation in any way?"
Ichika struggled to her feet. Her armor was cracked and bore several scorch marks. "You must really love the sound of your voice." She looked up at Kokabiel. Her helm was cracked open, revealing her silvery left eye. "To disrespect the Red Dragon Empress and her entourage. That is the gravest offense. With the Dragon's power, I'll clip your wings, Crow."
"Oho? So it looks like you do have some fire left in your belly, Dragon," Kokabiel mused as he looked down at them. "But… if bravado is all you have, then let me show you just how foolish you're being at this very moment."
Kokabiel opened the palm of his hand. The smell of ozone filled the air as flames and light crackled above the palm of his hand, forming into a small star with several spheres orbiting around it.
"That's… Kokabiel's personal Miracle. His Power of God. Sefer Ha Mazarrot," Sophia said as she pulled herself up using her scythe.
"A fitting power for the Angel of Stars, wouldn't you agree?" Kokabiel said as the sphere expanded rapidly to the size of a car tire. "I'll allow you this one honor for giving me a good prelude for the war to come. An instant death at the hands of my Power."
"Any time now! If that thing hits, we're all done for!"
Shin's right eye glowed with a soft blue light as he heard those words again.
"Guys, did you hear that?" Shin asked.
"Hear what?" Ichika glanced at him.
"There's someone here. Someone's—"
"Are you stupid!? Do I have to do everything myself!?"
"O' Mother in the beyond. I thank you for providing me with such an amazing appetizer to wet my lips before the real battle begins," Kokabiel said in a mocking prayer. He raised his arm over his head, causing the stellar sphere to rapidly pulse and radiate an intense amount of heat. The small lights orbiting it began to rapidly fly out and form into gargantuan masses of holy power.
"I promise that I will savor the battle that awaits me after this," Kokabiel said as the bloodthirst in his gaze grew more intense.
He threw his hand forward, causing the miniature star to rocket toward them, followed by a trail of holy power.
Shin's eyes widened as he found himself rooted to the spot. Time slowed down as the ball of impending doom rapidly approached. Was… this the end? No, this was not it. This was not the end. He looked around for anything. Anything that could help. Secace seemed so useless now. And Tehom? Perfect Cube? The curse he had worked so hard to set up? How can he possibly fire it off now with that thing hurtling toward them?
His eyes fell on the Fused Excalibur lying on the ground. The blue light in his right eye glowed with a renewed intensity. Without even thinking, he grabbed the blade and in an instant, his Stigmata linked with something within the blade.
A prickling sensation similar to his Sponsors crept its way into the back of his mind. And in that brief moment, Shin began to understand why Vivi was so adamant on him retrieving the fragments. Why she called the blade her bunrei.
"About time!"
The Fused Excalibur began to transform again in his hand. Its form solidified, forming a blue and gold blade with three serrated edges as it got closer to the crossguard. The golden handle shimmered as a faint blue light emanated from the small insignia that was similar in appearance to Shin's Stigmata, and glowed faintly.
"Finally! Now… where was I…? Oh, right, that thing."
Shin's eyes widened as a flash of blue light temporarily blinded everyone present. When Shin regained his vision, he gasped as he saw a girl a year younger than he was with upper-back-length white hair and golden eyes. She wore a flowing black dress that had a golden stigmata in the shape of the Excalibur etched onto the front of her dress.
"I'll save you this once. Just know…" the girl glanced over her shoulder and smirked. "I chose you because you were the only person around."
She raised her hand and the reformed Incomplete Excalibur formed in her hand. A surge of pure blue flames erupted from its blade. "Misfortune. Despair… I'll blow it all away!" The girl swung the blade, unleashing a wave of blue divine energy that sliced through Kokabiel's Star.
Kokabiel's eyes widened as he ducked out of the way. The wave of energy slammed into Sona's barrier straining against it before shattering it entirely. Kuoh's night sky was illuminated in an intense blue light as the blue flame-like divine energy filled the sky.
"W-What…?" Kokabiel gawked.
The girl smirked before her body began to flicker. She clicked her tongue and turned to Shin. "It looks like my body can't handle being in this form for too long. I did use a lot of energy just now. Don't waste this chance. If you die, she'll break me again so live… for my sake at least."
"You're…"
"That's right," the girl said. "But that name is too long. Just call me…"
Her golden eyes lit up before her body faded away completely and returned back to its original sword form.
"Ex…"
Shin reached down and picked the Sacred Sword off the ground. He tightened his grip around the handle of Excalibur.
"What the hell…? Haha, the sword. It chose you?" Kokabiel said in slight disbelief. However, that disbelief was short-lived. His grin returned in full force as his body shook in anticipation of facing Excalibur in combat. "What… a turn of events!" He laughed as he formed a sword made of flaming light. "Today is full of surprises!"
"And you'll get one more," Shin said as he stepped forward.
"Huh?" Kokabiel focused his gaze on him.
"Those paper cuts Sophia gave you. They were just step one. And now we go to step two. All we needed was to land those cuts on you. Now that everything is in place, we can let the real battle begin," Shin said.
"Ran, is everything ready?" Shin asked.
"It's all set, Master. All you need to do is activate the spell and begin the Cycling."
"Real battle? What are you prattling on about boy?" the Fallen Angel asked.
"I have to say though… Excalibur turned out to be a nice bonus for this fight," Shin said. As soon as he said those words, the blade rattled in his hand. His mismatched eyes gleamed slightly as he made a single-hand sign.
"I abhor the Heavens. With this curse, I drag you all to the Earth with mortal chains and shackle you accursed Divines. The Yaoyorozu-no-Kami. I curse you all. Deploy…," Shin chanted. A black aura exploded from his body, seeping into the ground.
"Murder of the Gods."
Around Kuoh, the Earthenware Pots began to glow. The five swords embedded into the spaces between them began to rattle. Ran watched from her spot in the north as towers of dark light shot into the sky.
"Mmm?" Ran looked down at her hand. "It's sucking the land dry…" She looked around to see plants rapidly withering as the initial portion of the curse took effect.
Kokabiel raised an eyebrow before he felt a throb reverberate through his entire body. His hand slowly flew to his chest as the shallow cuts Sophia inflicted began to glow.
"Oh…!? Ohhh.. Ahahaha! AHAHAHAHA!" Kokabiel threw his head back in laughter as a black aura exploded from the cuts, shrouding him in the dark aura that began to envelop all of Kuoh. The flow of spiritual power became warped as the Curse became transfixed onto a single target. The skin on his fingertips began to peel as the draining of the land reversed and his own holy power began to rapidly wane.
"Ahahaahahahah! Very interesting! This is very interesting indeed! It's quite a feat to be able to curse me, boy!" Kokabiel cackled. "Very well, boy! I accept your handicap. Since you've been so fun, I'll finally return the favor and fight you as one of the Cadre of the Grigori!"
Shin stiffened as he re-summoned Hirume's Talisman to his other hand.
"I shall use all my might to return the favor. You have shown me your trump card so I shall show you mine!" Kokabiel said as his ten wings spread widely. An explosion of holy aura enshrouded Kokabiel. The stars in the sky seemed to glow brighter as if in response to the command of the Angel of Stars.
"Shin, how long before the curse fully drains him?" Ichika asked as she eyed her childhood friend out of the corner of her eye.
Shin threw the Black Talisman in front of him and summoned Hirume to his left hand. He brandished both Excalibur and Hirume in a flurry of black and blue energy. "15 minutes. 15 minutes before the curse dampens and drains his power to a level where all of us working together can bring him down. Anything after that is bonus time."
"Then, let me take the lead," Sophia said. She cracked her neck and twirled her Burial Blade. "I got some shit to settle with him."
"Don't leave me out of this," Irina said as she sheathed Sakuragiri and lowered her stance.
"Rias, we'll take the lead," Shin said.
Rias nodded from behind them.
Ichika grinned as she slammed her fists together before dropping into her new stance. She eyed Kokabiel intensely as the light emitted by the cocoon of his holy aura grew brighter. "Alright, team! The Fallen Star of Heaven seeks to purge our existence from the records of Akasha! Let's put an end to his dark tyranny!
"Commence the final phase of Operation Daybreak!"
Murder of the Gods
An ancient curse created long ago by Ouka Furude to spite Kyoto and the Gods it followed.
It is a curse of mortal resentment that drags the Kami down from the Heavens and renders them mortal.
Or so the tale goes. Yet, it seems to have a secondary function that has yet to be cast.
Housekeeping
RoyalRain20xx: Yeah, I had to keep Ichika teetering in the border of absolutely losing it and keeping her in somewhat relative control. Of course, I'm not going to have her rampage right now. It's too early for that. I was planning to do that later in place of the Juggernaut Drive rampage anyhow. But yeah, right now, she's not really feeling the mental burden of killing someone, even if that someone was as depraved and irredeemable as Freed. Kind of hypocritical that he called her a monster considering what he's done. Also, regarding the Holy Element thing, in canon, I believe that it was only certain humans with a sufficient amount of Holy Element could wield Holy Swords, which is why the Holy Sword Project was a thing where they harvested the minute amounts of it from humans to create the Holy Attribute Crystal to make artificial holy sword wielders.
Alright! Now we get to the near tail-end of this arc. Let's go over a few things!
Excalibur: Yes. Vivi said it before that Excalibur is conscious. A bunrei. It is a sword with a living soul... well, she. Ahaha. But yes, the concept of Excalibur being alive in a fanfiction isn't exactly new? But this version of her is based on Elemental Waffles from Seirei Gensouki and Spirit weapons from that one Manhwa, Player. Her appearance is based around Libur, if any of you had even read player. Also, yes she is somewhat of a brat but she is in a form where she's incomplete so her mental state and powers have regressed. Furthermore, linking up with Shin's Stigmata has... well, I'll let her explain later when they have more room to tallk. We will see more Stigmata Weapons like her.
Murder of the Gods: This lovely curse is based on the one used by Yayoi Hozuki from Dark Gathering. It is, essentially, almost a 1:1 replica of it with Shin using artifacts instead of Ghosts.
Tehom: I know we've seen Yaldabaoth use it to basically rip space apart with her sword and do Judgement Cuts like they're just casual farts people let out. No, Shin is not on the same level as his master. His "nerfed" version of it, depending on how nerfed you think it is, just lets him shift and manipulate spaces. Think of it as something similar to Sasuke's Amenotejikara from Naruto or Monspeet's Trick Star from Seven Deadly Sins. Or any other teleportation ability. But yeah, that's the ability Shin will be mostly seen using. He won't be able to use the durability bypassing or the spatial slicing from Yaldabaoth for a bit since... well, he can't access the full level of the authority as a human. He will be able to evolve to do other things later but right now, it will be like a muscle he hasn't used in a long time.
Anyway, that's basically what I want to cover. We got the main group altogether again. It's the same main group from Azure by the way! Except... Issei is a girl this time. So, drop a review. I'll see you all in the next chapter.