Kokabiel Arc Chapter 38: Stray Priest

The members of Biblical Vanguard struggled relentlessly against Kokabiel's generals—the Element 4—while the 4 Salamanders fought against the captured Cerberuses. The other members of the Crimson Dragons gang battled the fallen angel soldiers scattered around town, ensuring they didn't damage the city to much or attack Kuoh Academy, which was sheltering the unconscious townspeople.

Meanwhile, the Abyss Break continued to recharge, drawing energy from the lives of the Element 4 and the power of their Holy Elements. Through many trials and errors, the majority of the team overcame and defeated three of the Element 4.

Koneko and Ravel defeated Mittelt after a rib-shattering, gravity-enhanced punch from Koneko, followed by a fiery explosive attack from Ravel. Kiba, with the help of the Holy Element he obtained from Valper and the spirits of his deceased friends from the Holy Sword Project—who merged their souls with his—awakened his Balance Breaker. With it, he created the Sword of Betrayer and swiftly decapitated Dohnaseek. Rias, Akeno, and Raynare, while initially trapped within their nightmares, escaped and recognized Kalawarner's overconfidence as a weakness. Using a well-planned strategy, they overwhelmed and obliterated her after an intense beam struggle.

Jiro, still in his true form Dragon Force, and Asia, on her Nimbus Cloud, remained on the outskirts of town, watching the battles unfold on large magic screens alongside Kokabiel—whom Jiro had to keep in check to prevent more chaos.

Now, the only member of the Element 4 left to defeat was Freed Sellzen, who was being confronted by Irina and Xenovia. In the center of town, three of the four glowing columns at the corners of the pedestal powering the Abyss Break had extinguished, signaling the deaths of the other three generals.

"I can't believe three members of the Element 4 have been eliminated! This is not how the plan was supposed to go!" Valper exclaimed in disbelief and frustration.

"Just goes to show what happens when you underestimate us, Valper Galilei," Xenovia said, pointing one of her arming swords at the archbishop.

"DAMN IT! LOOKS LIKE I'LL HAVE TO HANDLE THIS MYSELF WHEN I'M DONE HERE! BUT FOR NOW—ENOUGH TALK, MORE FIGHTING!" Freed shouted, grinning twistedly as he charged at Irina and Xenovia, his Excalibur drawn back.

"Like I said before, you will do no such thing, Freed-kun!" Irina declared, stepping in front of Xenovia and blocking his strike with her katanas, forcing them into a blade lock.

"We shall be the ones to stop you, Freed!" Xenovia added, jumping over Irina with her swords raised high, aiming for a dual overhead strike.

Freed's eyes widened as he looked up. Thinking fast, he pushed Irina back and jumped away to avoid Xenovia's attack. He spread his black wings and dashed toward them again, while the two angels spread their white wings and charged back at him side by side, resuming their fierce sword clash.

As the intense battle unfolded, the three warriors clashed with incredible speed and skill. They zipped around the town square, only appearing in split-second flashes, while the sound of clashing blades and flying sparks echoed through the air. The two angels' movements became more precise, adjusting to Freed's increased speed and strength, powered by his Excalibur Blessing.

"You still haven't told us why you went down this path! Why are you like this now? Don't you think there's a better way?!" Irina demanded mid-fight.

Freed chuckled coldly, a sneer forming on his face. "Didn't I already say it earlier? I'm a fallen angel. An angel of evil. Don't be so naïve, Irina. Evil is in my nature—ingrained in my essence. Even if I wanted to change, it's not as easy as flipping a switch. Angels of Evil were meant to embody chaos and destruction. It's who we are." He blocked a dual slash from both of them before leaping back and landing on his feet.

"Our teammate Raynare is a fallen angel just like you. She was even part of your division for a time, but she's not evil. She realized that senseless bloodshed leads to nothing," Xenovia said as they dashed at him to continue their duel.

Freed scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Ah, Raynare. The traitorous whore. Just because she found a different path doesn't mean it's the right one. We all have our roles to play—and mine is to sow chaos and destruction. It's in my nature, and I love it." He declared, absorbing more power from his Excalibur, growing faster and stronger, and began pushing them back.

Irina and Xenovia's expressions hardened at his insult toward their friend. Forced onto the defensive, they blocked and parried his relentless attacks. Xenovia suddenly pushed Irina aside with her shoulder, swung her swords upward, and broke Freed's momentum, forcing his arms upward.

Then, in one swift move, she dispelled her arming swords and Requipped her spear. She thrust it at Freed, who sidestepped just in time, his eyes wide. She spun with grace, swinging the spear at him, but Freed blocked each strike with his sword. After a series of parries, he knocked her weapon skyward and spun right, aiming for a horizontal slash.

Reacting quickly, Xenovia dispelled her spear and Requipped her claymore. She brought it down just in time to block his strike. Freed's eyes widened again in shock, and he scowled as he backed away.

"HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THAT?! WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THOSE WEAPONS?!" he yelled.

"It's an ability taught to us by Jiro-kun! It's called Requip Magic!" Irina shouted, flying up beside him. She crossed her arms and Requipped four kunai between the fingers of her left hand and five shuriken in her right. She flung her arms outward and launched them at Freed.

He quickly swung his sword and deflected all the projectiles. Irina, seizing the opening, Requipped one of her Jian, flew into the air, and aimed a powerful overhead slash at Freed. He blocked it, and she dropped to her feet as they locked blades again, glaring into each other's eyes.

"And didn't we already say it? You weren't always like this! You were once human! Why have you changed so much—for the worse?!" Irina yelled as she broke the lock and backed away.

"Tch, this shit again?! Like I said—less talk, more fighting!" Freed shouted, drawing his sword back and dashing toward them.

Irina landed beside Xenovia, standing on her left. They pulled their swords back—Irina to her right, Xenovia to her left. As Freed approached, they thrust forward in unison, blocking his horizontal slash and locking him in place once again.

"But what led you down this path in the first place?! Going from good to evil isn't just flipping a switch either! Surely you're not so petty or foolish as to throw away everything you had just to surpass us! What happened that night—when Irina and I were on a mission—and you killed those people who summoned a devil?!" Xenovia demanded, struggling to hold the blade lock.

As Freed pushed back, Xenovia's words pierced him, making him falter for a moment. Her question struck a nerve. His grip on the Excalibur's hilt tightened, and his expression darkened as old memories resurfaced.

"You want to know what led me here?! Fine! I'll tell you if you want it so bad!" Freed growled, his voice laced with bitterness. He finally pushed them away, resuming their clash as he began to recount the past that twisted him into what he had become.

Mini Flashback – 5 Years Earlier

During Irina, Xenovia, and Freed's training at the church, Irina and Xenovia excelled in their progression. Irina, at age 13, being a half-human, half-angel due to her mother being an angel and her father being a human, demonstrated skill in Holy Light Magic—capable of creating weapons made of light and firing light beams. Xenovia, at age 12, not only proved herself a prodigy in swordsmanship but was also discovered to be a natural-born Holy Sword wielder, though it would still take time to determine if she could wield Excalibur fragments.

Freed, at age 18, however, unlike his training partners, showed no special traits. While strong in his own right, he was about equal to a high-level priest while Irina and Xenovia were already beyond that level.

The higher-ups in the church and even in Heaven fawned over Irina and Xenovia due to their unique qualities, and Freed felt he was constantly being overshadowed by the two girls—much to his irritation. He began training rigorously and constantly went out on solo missions in order to keep up with them and prove he wasn't inferior, sometimes not returning for days.

After one solo mission, he finally returned to the church after 3 days, where he was met by Irina and Xenovia, who were resting after just coming back from a mission of their own together. When they saw him, they rushed over.

"Freed-kun! You're finally back! We were starting to worry about you!" the young Irina exclaimed with a bright smile.

"Indeed. I take it your mission was successful? Did you slay the devils causing chaos?" the young Xenovia asked, walking up behind Irina with a small smile of her own.

Freed looked down at them with a deadpan expression for a few seconds.

"Don't worry about it," he said simply in a low tone as he walked past them. The girls' heads followed him, both taken aback by his cold response.

"Huh? Freed-kun? What's wrong? Are you mad at us about something?" Irina asked, growing slightly concerned.

"Like I said—don't worry about it," Freed replied, coldly, continuing to walk.

"Hm? But of course we're going to worry. We're your frie—"

Before Xenovia could finish her sentence, Freed left the room and closed the door behind him.

They stared at the door he went through, shocked and slightly hurt by his demeanor. They had already noticed he was becoming awfully distant toward them, and this interaction only deepened that feeling.

A few seconds later, Touji, Griselda, and the head priest approached them.

"Don't worry. I don't think he's mad at you two. I think he's just tired and wants to rest," Sister Griselda said, patting their shoulders. She had watched the interaction and tried to reassure them.

"Yeah, he was gone for a 3 days after all. Let's just give him some space, girls," Touji added with a gentle smile, the head priest nodding in agreement.

"Freed…" Irina and Xenovia muttered under their breath.

"Anyway, you two seem to have rested enough. I believe it's time to begin today's training," the head priest said as Touji and Griselda nodded and began leading them toward the training room.

The three adults glanced back at the door Freed had just exited through, their eyes narrowing. They could sense a change inside him and were starting to notice his increasingly unhinged behavior.

Freed walked down a hallway in silence until he reached a back exit of the church. He stepped outside, walked several feet away from the building, and stopped. Removing his coat and shirt, he revealed a heavily bandaged torso. He stared into the distance as the voices of the higher-ups echoed in his mind.

"Those girls may be young, but they're the pride of our church!" one of the Popes had once said to a colleague in excitement.

"Indeed! They've even begun gaining the attention of Lady Gabriel and Lord Michael! They will lead the next generation and greatly strengthen the church," the other Pope replied.

"And what about that young man who trains with them? He must be achieving great things as well, right?" one of the sisters asked.

"You mean Freed? Well, that kid is a skilled swordsman and exorcist, I suppose," a Pope said, scratching his chin.

"Well... he's... Let's face it—compared to those girls, can he even measure up even if he's older than them?" the other Pope added, closing his eyes.

Freed, having overheard the conversation from around a corner, scowled as he came out of the memory, gritting his teeth.

"Those two… Like hell I'm gonna live in their shadow forever. I'll prove I'm better—no matter what!" he declared, pulling out a wooden sword and beginning to beat on a tree as part of his training.

Later that night, Irina and Xenovia were called out on a last-minute mission. Freed, still training, eventually collapsed from exhaustion. He lay on the ground for several minutes as his stamina slowly returned. Sitting up, he suddenly sensed a demonic presence just outside town. His curiosity piqued, he put his shirt and coat back on and followed the energy.

He left town and soon found himself in front of an old, run-down shack surrounded by trees he'd never seen before. He went Inside and saw a staircase that led downward. Descending into the darkness, Freed discovered a large underground chamber, inside it, a group of people in black robes surrounding a glowing purple magic circle. On the far wall, the words "All Hail Lord Zeref" were written in blood. Freed immediately recognized it as some sort of secret cult.

Remaining hidden, he watched. As expected, the cultists began chanting, and the circle glowed and from it, a monstrous demon emerged—its immense power sending a shiver down the spines of everyone in the church, including Touji, Sister Griselda, the head priest, and even a certain Archangel who was approaching and strangely felt some recognition in it.

"Yes! With you, we'll be able to eradicate that church and conquer this territory!" one of the cultists declared.

Freed's expression turned grim. He jumped from hiding, shooting the creature with his holy gun. The demon roared in pain from the holy power in the bullets. The cultists turned around in shock, but Freed leapt into the air, rained down more bullets, pulled out an artificial sword, and with a swift dive, decapitated the creature. Its body fell and dissipated into black smoke.

The cultists glared at him and prepared their black magic. Freed gripped his light sword tightly.

"You summon a creature like that... plan to attack the church... and kill your fellow man?! You humans... make me sick," he growled before charging in. In a swift and brutal assault, he slaughtered every single one of them, blood splattering everywhere.

Later, covered in blood and exhaustion, Freed returned to the church. This time, he was met not by Irina or Xenovia, but by Sister Griselda, Touji, the head priest, and other church workers.

"Freed, what happened?! Why are you covered in blood?! What was that demonic presence?! And why did we sense so many lives disappear?!" Touji asked sharply.

Knowing there was no way to lie, Freed explained everything—his discovery of the cult, the demon, and the massacre. After several minutes he finished as the church staff looked at him in shock and horror.

"Freed… What have you done…?" Griselda murmured.

"What I should've done. They deserved what came to them. If I had let them live, they'd have caused more chaos," Freed said coldly.

"You realize what you've done is the most sinful act there is, don't you?! You had no right to take their lives—even as an exorcist!" the head priest snapped.

"Oh yeah?! And what makes you think you're in a position to decide that?!" Freed barked back.

"Because they followed their teachings thoroughly and steeled themselves in them," said a male voice from above.

Everyone turned their gaze upward to see a golden magic circle open, from which descended an Archangel.

"LORD MICHAEL?!" they all exclaimed.

"I was on my way here when I sensed the demonic presence… but I didn't expect one of our own to have killed the cultists." Michael explained in a low tone.

Freed clicked his tongue as he scowled.

"Freed. As he said, what you've done is the gravest sin for an exorcist. The code of the church and heaven is clear—we never kill humans, regardless of their—"

"SCREW YOUR CODE!" Freed yelled, cutting Michael off.

"I DID WHAT I HAD TO! I BET IF IT WAS IRINA OR XENOVIA WHO DID WHAT I DID, YOU'D PRAISE THEM! BUT ME?! OF COURSE YOU CONDEMN ME—BECAUSE I'M JUST AN UNSPECIAL, DISPOSABLE EXORCIST!"

Touji, Sister Griselda, and the head priest stepped forward.

"What are you saying, Freed? You're not—" Griselda started but he cut her off.

"YOU SHUT UP! YOU THREE ARE THE ONES I CAN'T STAND THE MOST!" Freed roared, drawing his light sword and charging at them.

Before he could land a blow, Michael raised a hand and an invisible force slammed Freed back, knocking him to the floor.

"Don't do this, Freed. There's no need to resort to violence," Michael said.

"You humans… you angels… I can't stand you vile creatures. You're no different from those damn devils…" Freed muttered as he shakily stood back up.

"…Freed. I hate to say this, but your actions can't be overlooked. I'm sorry… but I have no choice but to expel you from the church." Michael said in a low tone.

Everyone stood in stunned silence. Freed, however, only chuckled darkly.

"Heh. Saw that coming. Of course you're gonna expel me. You have no use for a mediocre exorcist. You can always get another one." he said as he turned to leave.

"Anyway, later. When you see Irina and Xenovia, tell them I said: go to hell."

They watched in silence as he walked out of the church—his final words cutting deeply, especially to Michael, Sister Griselda, Touji, and the head priest, all wondering how they would explain this to Irina and Xenovia.

Soon he later joined the fallen angels and was placed in Kokabiel's division eventually gaining the title of of Stray Priest.

Flashback End

Freed finished his story in the midst of sword combat with Irina and Xenovia. He blocked a simultaneous strike from them, and they backed away, taking defensive stances, ready for whenever the other would strike. Freed looked at them with a scowling expression.

"Are you happy now? Griselda, Touji, the head priest, Michael—it was their betrayal and deceit. Humans, angels, all the same. They're weak, pathetic creatures driven by selfishness and lies. Humans... the very thought of them makes me sick. They smile to your face, pretending to be your friend or care about you, while secretly mocking you behind your back or tossing you aside when they don't need you anymore. And angels? They're no better. They claim to be righteous and pure, yet they're blinded by their own self-righteousness. They preach about love and harmony, but they're the first to pass judgment. It was their deceit and hypocrisy that pushed me down this path," Freed said, his voice dripping with venomous bitterness.

"Freed-kun... did that really happen to you? And do you really think that way?" Irina asked, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yes, it did! And yes, I do! And I've had enough of it!" Freed snapped, gritting his teeth.

"That may or may not be the case, but don't you see? You're doing the same thing you accuse them of. You're casting judgment based on your view alone," Irina replied, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"I'm casting judgment? Ha! Sorry, but no. What I'm doing is exterminating what I can't stand looking at—the human and angels scum that exist." Freed chuckled darkly.

Xenovia's eyes softened as she recalled the moment when she tried to kill Asia, driven by her own personal and selfish sense of righteousness, before Jiro stopped her.

"So you say, Freed... but there's something I've learned from spending time with the members of our team," she said in a low tone.

"Oh? And what's that? How to be soft and weak?" Freed sneered.

"No... It's how to accept people. Can't you see? Humans, angels, fallen angels, devils—we're all just people. Some are good and some are bad in every group. You've just been unlucky, meeting the worst of them. But that doesn't mean they all deserve to suffer. You just haven't found the good ones yet—those who might truly care about you... like we have," Xenovia said, pointing her claymore at Freed, her tone firm but gentle. Irina looked at her with a small smile, remembering when she first arrived in Japan.

As Xenovia's words echoed through the air, carrying a mix of conviction and compassion, Freed's bitterness wavered for a moment. His gaze softened slightly, though he tried to maintain his cold demeanor.

"Your idealism is admirable but naïve. I've seen the true nature of humans and angels. The good you speak of is rare. I refuse to be deceived again. And I've heard enough! It's time to continue!" Freed roared as he charged again, Excalibur at the ready.

Irina and Xenovia Requipped more of their weapons—Irina summoned her second Jian, and Xenovia summoned her two Viking swords. They charged in turn and met Freed in a powerful collision, their blades held vertically against his horizontal guard. The three angels spread their wings and soared into the air, clashing above the town square in a fierce two-on-one battle. Irina and Xenovia moved in perfect sync, fending off Freed, trying to gain the upper hand. Despite their dual-wielding style, Freed kept pace, giving them no openings.

'Damn it! I suppose our years of sparring together let him grow accustomed to fighting both of us at once,' Xenovia thought.

Their speed increased. Metal clanked, and sparks flew as they darted around the airspace.

"You think we haven't met the worst this world had to offer?! Those people took my mother—and Jiro-kun's parents—from us! But we didn't let that twist our hearts and turn us to darkness! We didn't harm innocents who had nothing to do with it! Because that's not what they would've wanted! We reunited, made new friends, and built a new family in our team! Why can't you do the same?!" Irina shouted as she blocked Freed's strikes, while Xenovia attempted a follow-up—only for Freed to block again.

Freed heard Irina's words, a flicker of surprise crossing his expression. Her resilience, despite her pain, stirred something inside him—though it also irritated him.

"Tch! You speak of friends, family, and bonds. It's easy for you to believe in sincerity. But trust? Trust is a luxury that gets shattered over and over. I won't be fooled again," he snarled, backing away mid-air.

"You say that, yet you're aligned and swore loyalty to Kokabiel and the fallen angels. You've placed your trust in them, haven't you? So much for not trusting anyone anymore," Xenovia challenged as they flew after him.

"Don't twist my words, Xenovia! The fallen angels are different. We don't seek trust or camaraderie like you weak angels and humans. We unite out of necessity—through shared darkness. Don't compare that to your pitiful sentiments! Kokabiel and the others gave me an opportunity to do as I like and I took it!" Freed barked, blocking their attacks again.

"Who said all bonds must be the same? You've forged yours with the fallen angels, haven't you?" Irina said, clashing blades with him once more.

Freed's frustration boiled over. He pushed them back, raised his Excalibur Blessing high, and let its power surge. A rainbow-like aura engulfed him as he dashed forward with immense speed.

He rose above them and swung at Irina with an overhead strike, who barely managed to block. The force shattered her Jian's and launched her back down to the ground, where she landed on her back with a loud thud. Xenovia, eyes wide, rushed toward him and slashed at him upward, diagonally with her right Viking sword—only for Freed to dodge, then follow up with another overhead strike. Xenovia looked up at him in shock at his agility and seeing his attack, raised her own swords block. She raised her swords, but the force sent her crashing down as well, landing with another loud thud.

Irina and Xenovia stood up shakily and raised their swords as Freed floated down and landed a few feet in front of them. Freed then dashed toward them again at immense speed. He flew circles around them and through a flurry of sword strikes at both of them, all of which they're barley able to block as the spun around. They tried to block all of strikes, however they were quickly becoming overwhelmed and gained several grazes and slashes on the arms, legs, and backs. After several seconds of being on the defense Xenovia attempted to go on the offense.

After Freed grazed her right arm again, she swung that same arm upward diagonally, forcing him to block as he swung his sword in turn and stop his high-speed flight. Once her blade met his, it broke—much to her shock. She tried to swing her other sword in her left hand at him, but before her attack could connect he outward swung his sword first and knocked it out her hand. Freed then followed up by left hand punching her in the face, creating thud sound from the impact, and sending her skidding several feet across the ground before coming to a stop and clutching her red, bruised right cheek as she coughed up some blood.

Irina's eyes widened in shock, before she grit her teeth. She dashed toward him and swung both her swords at him—but before she could make her mark, he suddenly disappeared. Her head darted back and forth as she looked for him until he suddenly appeared behind her. She spun around and swung her left sword at him, however he swung his sword in turn and broke her sword upon contact, much to her shock. He then followed up by right kicking her in the chin, making her fly upward while dropping the broken sword in her left hand and clutching her chin as a drop of blood dropped down the corner of her mouth.

Freed flew up after her and suddenly appeared above her. She swung her sword in her right hand at him—only for him to swing his sword and break hers on contact while also grazing her right cheek. Freed then followed up again and delivered a strong left hook to her stomach, making her cough up blood, and fall back down to the ground again with another loud thud as she clutched her stomach.

The two angels lay on the ground, groaning. Their broken weapons dispersed as Freed hovered above.

"How do you like that? Forgot this puppy boosts my strength, speed, and agility? Looks like you 'holy prodigies' can't keep up anymore." he said, grinning manically as they shakily sat back up.

"F-Freed-kun..." Irina muttered, then asked, "You said all beings are selfish and deceitful, right? That they pretend to care while mocking you, right? Tell us; did we ever come off that way? Back when it was just the three of us training together?"

Freed's grin faded. He looked at her, caught off guard.

"Still preaching, huh?! You two were no better than the rest! Always patronizing, always showing me up! Pretending to care, but really looking down on me—just like everyone at that damned church!" he growled.

His words stung both of them. Xenovia gritted her teeth as she spoke.

"Is that what you think?! You think we were looking down on you?! You were the first person I ever became close to—besides Sister Griselda! You were like an older brother to me! Do you honestly believe I'd ever look down on you, even if I became stronger than you?!" she growled back in irritation and hurt, although her eye glistened with a hint of vulnerability.

"Every mission we finished, every compliment and kind word we gave to you was genuine—you think it was all fake?! Every time you came back injured, when you started pushing us away, we were truly beside ourselves with worry! And after our mission that night—when we were told that you were excommunicated, we were beyond heart broken! We thought we'd never see you again! Do you know why?! BECAUSE YOU WERE OUR FRIEND!" Irina shouted. Both she and Xenovia stood up, shouting their last statement together.

Freed's irritation and expression wavered slightly and slowly softens at their words, his inner conflict growing more profound as they express their true feelings. After a moment of silence, his eyes hardens again and he clenches his fists and snaps back.

"That word again, huh?! 'Friend?!' As I said before that word means nothing to me anymore! You can't understand the pain, the betrayal, the inferiority I've endured! Your attempt to connect with me is futile! Love and acceptance are lies—I won't be seduced by your false hope! Give it up! Your words are hollow!" he snapped, his voice filled with frustration and defensiveness..

Irina and Xenovia stood side by side, hair falling over their eyes.

"…So you say... It would seem they are to you… Then you leave us no choice," Xenovia said quietly, as her left hand and Irina's right began to glow.

"We will have to defeat you by taking your life… stop the Abyss Break… and free your tortured soul," they declared in unison, Requipping Ascalon and Excalibur Destruction.

Then suddenly as they grip sword handles, their wings began to twitch and eventually began to glow—changing from white to a radiant shinning gold—not to different from Gabriel's.

Freed and Valper's eyes widened in shock as they saw their swords and change of their wings. He's seen Irina's sword in books and heard stroies about and researched Xenovia's sword while they and the other fallen angels were looking for their Excalibur fragments but couldn't locate it..

"W-What the hell?! Your wings…? Irina, is that Ascalon?! The legendary dragon-slaying sword?! And Xenovia—Excalibur Destruction?! You had those the whole time?! How the hell did you get your hands on those?! And what the hell happened to you're wings?!" Freed shouted.

"To think two almost-low-ranking angels wield such power… and their power levels just skyrocketed..." Valper muttered as his scouter sparked and overloaded.

"This was given to me after ten years of growth. Entrusted to me by the Church and Sister Griselda—not only our trainer—but also our foster mother," Xenovia declared.

"And this was a gift from Jiro-kun—my first friend and first love. He entrusted it to me because he loves, trusts, and believes in me and wants to see me grow stronger with each passing moment," Irina added.

"As for our wings—they attained this golden color while we were training to fight against you all. Mine turned gold sparring with Raynare one evening," Xenovia explained.

"And mine changed soon after while sparring with Xenovia-chan and Kiba-kun. It happens when our Holy Swords pour divine power into us—drawn by the goodness in us and the love we have. And who do we love? Each other. Our friends. Our team. Can't you see? Our swords and golden wings represent the bonds we hold dear. Bonds you've seemingly shunned. But we'll use them to defeat you here," Irina declared as they took fighting stances.

Their swords flared—Ascalon igniting in flames, Excalibur Destruction glowing blue. Their Golden auras burst from them, causing Valper's scouter to go haywire and explode—falling off his face from the sheer power.

Freed grit his teeth at their explanations. His expression darkens, and a cold look passes over his face.

"You think waving those swords around makes you my saviors? That you can 'free' me? You're just as naïve and self-righteous as the rest of those human and angel bastards! My soul is lost in darkness! There's no saving it!" he growled in a low and irritated tone as he gripped his Excalibur's handle making it glow again and flares his rainbow-like aura, ready to continue.

"We shall see," Irina and Xenovia said in unison as their golden auras blazed.

Freed clicked his tongue and turned to Valper. "Hey, gramps! How much longer until Abyss Break is ready?!"

"15 minutes," Valper replied, regaining his composure.

Irina and Xenovia's eyes widened in panic at how little time they had left. Freed grinned, aura flaring once more.

"So 15 minutes of slaughter before the war starts? Heh. Just my luck!" he shouted as he dashed toward them, blade drawn.

They ready themselves, and Xenovia dashes toward him in turn. During her charge, Xenovia's sword glows a bright blue, confusing him. They meet and strike blades diagonally, locking in a blade clash that creates a shockwave, blasting wind in all directions and kicking up dust in the town center. Much to Freed's shock, despite his strength being enhanced by his Excalibur Blessing—and having overpowered both her and Irina just moments ago—Xenovia now seems to be on equal footing with him as they struggle against each other.

Then the blade of Irina's sword suddenly bursts into larger flames and with blinding speed, she charges Freed and slashes. Freed's eyes widen in shock and fear and forcefully pushes Xenovia back while barely managing to block Irina's strike as she zips past him. However, she still grazes him, slicing the sleeve of his coat and leaving a burn on the skin of his left forearm.

Freed winces, glancing down at the burn. The wound sizzles as he spreads his wings and jumps back a few paces to collect himself.

"Just so you know, this isn't ordinary pyrokinesis. These are Dragon Flames—the hottest and most powerful form of fire magic in the world. And just like your Excalibur—and similar to Jiro-kun's Boosted Gear—this sword, Ascalon, isn't just capable of piercing and slashing a dragon's scales. It also steadily grants its wielder the speed and strength to match that of a dragon," Irina explained, pointing Ascalon at him.

"Indeed. And my Excalibur Destruction not only enhances my strength—it can unleash immense bursts of holy power, capable of creating craters. Those combined with the gold wings we now posses, we both are in a new league," Xenovia added, mirroring Irina's stance.

Freed's expression darkened at their explanation.

"So you mean to tell me you two were fighting with those puny weapons and holding back this whole time?! Still looking down on me, huh? Your sacred swords are giving you a boost, but don't get cocky. I'm not going down without a fight." He growled and took a fighting stance.

Irina and Xenovia's brows furrowed at the accusation but remained focused.

"Then, let's see how long you last!" they yelled in unison, spreading their golden wings and charging toward him. Freed did the same, and the three clashed once again.

Their swords collided, sending sparks flying. They zipped around the town center, nearly invisible, only flashing into view for split seconds. With each collision of their blades creating a small shockwave that tore up the pavement in their dance of swordsmanship. Irina and Xenovia moved side by side, perfectly synchronized, now matching Freed's enhanced strength and speed—given to him by his Excalibur—much to his growing frustration.

After several seconds of intense combat, the three briefly separated to catch their breath.

"You two sure as hell are persistent, I'll give you that," Freed said, panting. "But your skills still pale compared to mine. Powerful swords or not, I won't lose to you."

"The Abyss Break will finish recharging in 5 minutes. I suggest you hurry and end this before others arrive, Freed!" Valper called from afar, standing near the pedestal.

Irina and Xenovia's eyes widened in panic. Freed's demeanor shifted as he began taking the fight more seriously. The flames on Ascalon flared, growing in size, and Irina launched forward.

"DRAGON SLAYER… RADIANT SLASH!"

Irina yelled as she collided with Freed, the force of their clash sending him skidding backward before they took to the sky, clashing mid-air. Ascalon burned brighter, and Irina's strength and speed steadily began to surpass Freed's, enhance more and faster than Freed's Excalibur. Irina began to gain the upper hand and push him back while he gritted his teeth and redoubles his efforts, trying to increase his speed strength, trying to overpower her with raw ferocity, but Irina pressed her advantage.

She spun around and struck. He blocked, but was forced back by the the force of the impact. Irina surged forward again, nearly catching him off guard, and unleashed a flurry of flaming slashes while Freed backs away, struggling to defend, each hit pushing him back. The searing heat of the blade's flames added to his discomfort. He starts to become overwhelmed and receives several grazes on his arms and legs which burned excruciatingly, but he remains composed and focused.

"These Dragon Flames… are no joke," he muttered. "Color me surprised. But don't think a few burns will stop me. I've endured worse."

"Don't pretend those burns aren't agonizing. It's not just the fire—it's also the holy power in Ascalon. Fallen angels are vulnerable to holy swords, just like devils," Irina retorted, landing one last solid blow that pushed him back again.

Freed couldn't deny the truth. The pain was excruciating, but he masked it behind grit.

"Tch! Holy swords might sting, but don't mistake me for a simple devil, Irina. I've faced holy power before—it hasn't killed me yet. My pain tolerance is beyond anything you imagine." he retorted as he flew towards Irina, ready to continue.

"Why don't we test that?" Xenovia said, flying up between them, stopping above Freed slightly. Her sword glowed blue as she raised it overhead. Freed's eyes widened, and he raised his blade horizontally to block.

"HEAVEN'S JUDGMENT OF DESTRUCTION!"

Xenovia yelled as she brought her sword down, slamming into Freed's with such force that he was rocketed to the ground, crashing hard and creating a crater. Valper looked on in disbelief—Freed was being overwhelmed despite having the upper hand just minutes ago. Dazed but defiant, Freed staggered to his feet, scowling. As he looked up, he saw Xenovia diving toward him again, sword ready. His eyes widened as he barely jumped back in time just in time for Xenovia to nearly miss him and strike the ground. Her strike deepened the crater he'd just crawled out of.

He landed and flared his rainbow-like aura again, drawing on his Excalibur Blessing to further enhance his power. Xenovia leapt from the crater and charged him. Their swords met in another powerful diagonal clash, the impact generating a massive shockwave that shook the ground and blew dust away. They leapt around the town square, slower now, but with greater force. Mini shockwaves erupted with each strike, tearing up parts of the ground under them and cracking the windows of buildings surrounding them.

Eventually, they locked blades again, another wave of force nearly pushing them apart.

"I didn't think you could do this with Excalibur Destruction, Xenovia. I've never seen such strength and holy power in one blade. Guess I underestimated you," Freed said, straining against her.

"I dare say you have. Now let's try this..." Xenovia replied, pushing Freed back and tightening her grip on her swords handle. Her blue glow of her sword shone brighter as she then drew it back to her right and started spinning on the spot, summoning a twisting gust of wind, catching Freed off guard.

"HOLY MAIDEN'S… DESTRUCTIVE WHIRLWIND!"

She yelled as she hurled herself at Freed at immense speed in a spinning leap, the gust trailing her. Freed had no time to dodge and was forced to block. However, once Xenovia was in range, she swung her sword upwards, knocking his arms upward, breaking his guard, as the blast of wind—generated from her earlier spinning—struck him, blowing him into the air slightly. A mini tornado engulfed him, forcing him to shield his face, but the wind pinned his arms up. Even Valper nearly lost his footing, clutching the pedestal to keep himself down, while Xenovia remained completely unaffected.

As the wind died down, Freed looked down at Xenovia and gritted his teeth.

"NOW, IRINA!" she shouted.

Freed glanced up just in time to see Irina dive toward him, her blade engulfed in red flame. He had no time to block, dodge, or counter.

"DRAGON SLAYER… DIVEBOMB CLAW SLASH!"

Irina roared as she began rapidly somersaulting in mid-air, appearing as a flaming red and gold comet. Once she was in range, she blew past Freed and in the process, carved deep, burning gashes across his chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms before landing on the ground on her feet in a lunge position, her sword held low in both hands, still engulfed in fire.

Freed coughed up blood, smoke escaping his mouth. His eyes went white as flames erupted from his wounds, then died out. He dropped his sword and and fell back to the ground, landing on his back.

The battle was over.

Irina stood back up strait and turns around, letting the flames on Ascalon fade. Xenovia lowered Excalibur Destruction, both girls exhaling slowly as the golden glow of their wings faded, returning them to their white color. Valper watched, gobsmacked at seeing that Freed was defeated, in stunned silence.

"Grgh… Damn it… You really did a number on me, Irina… But screw that… I won't… give up…" Freed coughed, trying to stand, but his body failed him.

"You won't be getting back up, Freed-kun. I can feel your life force fading," Irina said as they slowly approached.

Freed collapsed again, beaten and broken, his strength all but spent. He gasped for breath, feeling his lifeforce slipping away, struggling to stay conscious.

"You're right… I won't be getting up again… I've lost… I can feel it… slipping away. Damn it… Even after everything, I still couldn't beat either of you… Guess they were all right… I really am inferior," he whispered, tears threatening to spill.

Irina and Xenovia looked down at him, eyes misting at his vulnerable state. He lay there, looking up at the two girls with a mixture of pain, defeat, and a hint of acceptance on his face. There is no fight left in him now, his body too injured and weary to continue.

"Before you pass on, answer us this: do you still believe forging bonds with others is a weakness?" Xenovia asked quietly.

Freed looked into her eyes, seeing genuine concern.

"I… I used to think that. That bonds only led to pain and disappointment… after I left the church… I saw too much loss…" he murmured.

"And yet you were defeated not because we were stronger—but because we trusted each other, coordinated with each other, and used the powerful blades and strength given to us by the ones we love to strike you down because of the bond we share with them," Irina replied.

Freed's gaze shifted to her, realization dawning. The truth in her words becomes clear as he thinks back on their teamwork and her finishing move. He remembers the words of bonds they mentioned and the genuine care and love that was behind the strike that defeated him.

"Y-you're right… I was defeated because of the bonds you two share... I was blind to that… All this time... because of my own insecurities and inferiority complex... I thought love was weakness. But now I finally realize... it's a strength." he said, voice heavy with guilt and acceptance.

"Yes. It's one of the world's greatest strengths," Xenovia said, as they knelt and gently placed their hands on his head.

"I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through… and that you couldn't find that kind of bond until now. But rest assured—neither of us will ever forget the bond we had with you from the moment we met and time trained together," Irina said with a trembling smile.

"That's correct. And as I said earlier... you were like an older brother to me… my first friend. I'll never forget you. And now… may your pained and tortured soul finally be free," Xenovia added through tears.

Freed sobbed, their words healing something deep inside. The gentle touch of their hands on his head, and a warm sensation washes over him while blood pours from his wounds.

"Your words… your touch… They ease the pain. I've lived in solitude for so long… But now, in this moment with you two... after so long apart from you... I realize the cost of rejecting love and connection... I'm sorry... for everything... All the things I said... the way I acted... and for trying to harm you..." he replied as he sobbed.

"Yes, we're glad you finally realized that… And of course we forgive you... now, may you rest in peace," Irina whispered, wiping her eyes as she also sobbed.

Freed nodded slowly, a small smile forming. The weight of his past misgivings slowly lifts, replaced by a feeling of peace and release.

"Thank you... Irina... Xenovia... If there is a next life... I hope it's filled with the love I missed in this one. If I'm given that privilege. Tell Sister Griselda, Father Touji, the Head Priest... I'm sorry. Irina... live happily with that childhood friend of yours you would never stop talking about... Xenovia... keep being the greatest knight of the church there is. I'm glad that you two were… my only two friends… Again... Thank you…"

His eyes closed. His smile lingered as his body went still.

Freed's body began to glow purple, dissolving into particles. Irina and Xenovia remained kneeling, tears streaming down their cheeks as they watched his essence float into the sky, while they remember the first times they met and befriended Freed as children.

'H-hi, my name is Irina Shidou. It's nice to meet you.' Irina said as she waved.

'My name is Freed Sellzen. Nice to meet you too, Irina.' he said while reaching out his hand for her to shake, which she accepted.

'Hey c'mon. Quit being all gloom and doom. Let's be friends, Xenovia.' Freed said as he walked behind Xenovia.

'Hmph. Friends you say? Fine, if it would make you happy.' she replied as she looked over her shoulder.

They came out of their thoughts and looked at each other. They slowly stood up, wiping their eyes, placed their weapons into their pocket dimensions. They then walked up to each other, and hugged tightly.

To Be Continued

Koneko Toujou: Birthday; November 23, Age 15

Fighting Type: Strength Type, Technique Sub-Type

Magic: Satan Gravity

Likes: Her friends, Ravel, Sweets, Milk, Fighting, Training, Battle manga

Dislikes: Perverts, Spicy things, Thing that annoy her, Her sister