Chapter 22
Between Light and Darkness!
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"Flaming Stars Phoenix Emperor..."
Those were the only words Ryuma uttered after recognizing the Sacred Gear the young man possessed. It turned out to be one of the twelve supreme Longinus, on par with or even surpassing the Welsh Dragon and White Dragon in power.
All three were extraordinarily powerful mystical beings. While the Welsh Dragon and White Dragon were heavenly dragons, the Flaming Stars Phoenix was an immortal firebird born from the formation of star systems, hence its name.
"You actually managed to make me break a sweat," The young man said, opening his right palm to reveal a crimson-orange flame burning within. "Not many can do that. For that, I give you my respect."
"I never expected to encounter another Longinus wielder here," Ryuma replied with a long sigh, then continued, "Especially one who wields the Phoenix, the immortal flame that dominates the stars of the universe."
"Oh, I'm flattered to hear that. But... I'm quite surprised to see a angel daring to stand against the tide." The young man slowly floated closer to Ryuma, his fiery wings burning even brighter than Ryuma's right wing, which was supposedly the wing of a angel of heaven. "But I thought angels were supposed to eradicate devils, not aid them? We share the same blood, and our goals are aligned."
The young man now stood directly before Ryuma, the armor of his Sacred Gear, Flaming Stars Phoenix, beginning to dim. The flames that had previously engulfed the armor were fading, signaling an approach rather than resistance. "Perhaps that's why we were destined to meet here. Together, we will drive the devils from this world back to the underworld, slaughtering them all and allowing humanity to live in peace and tranquility. Isn't that what heaven desires?"
"After everything you and your subordinates have done?" Ryuma asked coldly, his eyes sharpening with renewed anger.
"I did what needed to be done. Devils only bring disaster to this world. Humanity is oppressed, turning away from God. Look around you," The young man said, gesturing to the surroundings. The church, once a place of ritual, was now nothing more than scattered rubble, utterly destroyed. "They turned to worshiping devils, binding their lives to them and relying on them. I did this to bring humanity back to God's path. To God's teachings."
"By sacrificing innocent children?!" Ryuma's anger surged after hearing the young man's words, as if everything they had done before was justified simply because they were trying to fight the devil race.
"There's a price to be paid for peace. As an angel of heaven, you surely understand that better than I do," The young man said firmly, extending his right hand toward Ryuma while conjuring a spear of light in his left. "You know what's best."
Silence, Ryuma paused for a moment, as if considering the young man's words, but in truth, he had known what he had to do from the moment he arrived. Nothing could justify the sacrifice of an innocent little girl, especially when this heretical ritual was being conducted within a church. Whether the church had been abandoned or not, a sacred place should never be defiled. Those who defiled it were committing blasphemy.
"God teaches us to cherish all living beings. But if any creature defies His commands and teachings..." Ryuma slowly spread his arms, his gaze locking onto the Sacred Gear helmet of the young man, staring directly into his eyes. "Then I will show no mercy."
The moment Ryuma finished speaking, the young man suddenly hurled the spear of light he had conjured in his left hand at Ryuma, who narrowly dodged it. But the attack wasn't over yet. The young man then punched the air, his right hand erupting in crimson-orange flames—flames born from the very stars of the universe.
Ting!!
As before, Ryuma attempted to parry the blazing flames that shot toward him with incredible speed. Using the same sword, he deflected the fiery projectiles, redirecting them to scorch the forest below. Instantly, everything in the area was reduced to charred ash—trees, earth, and even the remaining ruins of buildings. The moment they touched the Flaming Stars' flames, they were utterly incinerated.
The sword Ryuma used to deflect the flames instantly melted, leaving nothing but the hilt. The flames continued to burn, engulfing everything around them and spreading relentlessly, threatening to ignite a forest fire. Witnessing such power, Ryuma heightened his vigilance. He knew he was no longer the angel he once was and resolved to make no mistakes, no matter how small.
"Come with me! I'll give you anything you desire! Let's bring peace to this world!" The young man cried out again, trying to persuade Ryuma to join him.
"I won't let you twist God's teachings and lead humanity further astray!" Ryuma retorted, his eyes fixed on the flames that were spreading rapidly, consuming the forest and leaving nothing but ash in their wake.
"If that's what you want, then I'll kill you!"
Once again, the young man hurled a spear of light directly at Ryuma. But with his wings, Ryuma deflected the luminous projectile and began to fly toward the flames still raging through the forest. He hovered directly above the inferno, bracing his wings. Then, with a powerful flap and a downward thrust of his arms, he unleashed a gale-force wind, like a hurricane, effectively suppressing the raging flames. Though the fire began to subside, it was not yet completely extinguished.
"You cannot stop the will of this world. Though you are part of heaven, this world is destined to fall into my hands!" With his fiery wings, the young man shot toward Ryuma at incredible speed, his movements resembling a beam of light piercing the night.
"Follow my words, and you won't have to die here!"
Everything happened in an instant, but not fast enough to finish off Ryuma. The young man moved almost like light, thrusting his spear of light straight at Ryuma's face. Yet Ryuma blocked it with both hands, the spear's tip stopping just an inch from his face.
"Silence! I will bow to no one but God himself!" Ryuma retorted, tightening his grip on the young man's light spear. His anger surged, causing the light from his right wing to pulse faster than before.
Tass!!!
The young man's light spear shattered into fragments, startling him slightly behind his Sacred Gear helmet. His shock intensified when he felt a crushing grip around his neck, as Ryuma was now choking him with his right hand. In response, the entire Flaming Stars Phoenix armor instantly blazed with Flaming Stars flames, even burning Ryuma's right hand. Yet Ryuma remained unmoved, as if impervious to the pain.
"Every pain, suffering, and misery you inflict will ultimately return to you in the end." With these words, Ryuma flapped his wings again and soared upward, still choking the young man by the neck. High above, he suddenly folded his wings and began to plummet downward at breakneck speed until, at the last moment, he hurled the young man to the ground.
Blarrr!!!
The land trembled violently, shattering into fragments. Dust billowed, obscuring the surroundings, yet Ryuma's eyes pierced through the haze, clearly discerning what lay beyond the swirling dust.
From within the dense cloud, a crimson light blazed brightly. As the dust gradually settled, he saw the young man standing as if nothing had happened, his armor completely unscathed.
"Good enough. Not many can throw me around like a sack," The young man said, flicking his hand dismissively before pointing at Ryuma. "You're truly fascinating. To be both a angel and a fallen angel, with just a pair of wings, you're remarkably strong. It's a pity my subordinates aren't as powerful as you."
Ignoring the young man's words, Ryuma raised his right hand again, creating a sphere of darkness formed from the void. Though initially small, the sphere grew rapidly as it absorbed particles, atoms, air, light, and even the darkness of the night itself.
"Are you going to create another cosmic monster?" The young man shouted, assuming Ryuma would repeat his previous feat—manifesting a cosmic monster capable of devouring anything without limit. "Damn it! Do you want to destroy the Earth?!"
"No. I have no desire to destroy what has been created. There's only one thing I want to do," Ryuma replied with a faint smile. "And that is to punish you!"
As he spoke, the sphere of darkness expanded, revealing a spiral symbol at its center that emitted a faint, purplish glow. Suddenly, from within the core of the sphere, fragments of darkness materialized—dense, black mist that surged toward the young man with incredible speed. Not just one, but more than five of these dark fragments appeared simultaneously.
"Tcihh..."
The young man instantly moved to evade the black mist surging from all directions, his body blurring with incredible speed.
Wherever the black mist touched objects, the ground, or even the remaining rubble of the church, everything withered, decayed, and faded away. Whether it was soil, plants, or debris, all were affected, becoming brittle and slowly dissolving afterward.
"Now I understand why you have black wings as a angel..." The young man exclaimed, continuously dodging Ryuma's relentless attacks. He occasionally tried to summon Flaming Stars to retaliate, but Ryuma's relentless assault gave him no chance. "Your fall is as dark as your power!"
Ryuma's eyes narrowed sharply as he extended his left arm directly toward the young man, causing him to freeze instantly. The young man was utterly shocked, realizing his body was slowing down and no longer responding to his will.
From behind his Sacred Gear armor, the young man felt a flicker of panic, realizing this was the first time he'd ever felt truly cornered. Then, he was startled again as a vortex of darkness materialized before him, from which Ryuma emerged, his right hand aimed directly at his face.
"You don't understand the true meaning of peace. You don't want peace... But..." Ryuma's crimson eyes began to swirl, his pupils transforming into spirals. "Power and dominance."
Blast!
From his palm erupted a dense black mist, the very essence of dark power, striking the young man's Flaming Stars Phoenix helmet. The force sent him hurtling backward, vanishing into the night's shadows and the dense foliage. In its wake, the ground along his trajectory blackened, cracked, and crumbled, while vegetation withered and trees died instantly.
"I never imagined I'd be this weak and exhausted." Ryuma murmured, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He leaned heavily against a nearby pile of rubble for support, struggling to remain upright.
Ryuma's right wing throbbed, its light dimming steadily over time, while his left wing, pitch-black, shed countless dark feathers at an equal rate, a clear sign that he was expending all his current reserves. Despite this, Ryuma continued to focus on stabilizing his power, maintaining the dense black mist that surrounded him, though its intensity had thinned to a mere wisp.
He lowered his gaze, staring at his own hands still shrouded in a faint, pitch-black mist—the mutated form of his power. Though he had managed to push the young man away, he couldn't tell if he had truly defeated him or if his attack had inflicted any serious damage at all. His power had become vastly different from what it once was.
"I admit, that was truly astonishing..." As expected, the young man slowly ascended back into the sky, completely unscathed. The Sacred Gear Flaming Stars Phoenix had indeed granted him absolute protection. "Though the damage was still quite weak. It's a bit of a nuisance, as you can see."
The young man pointed at the Flaming Stars flames engulfing his body. The flames were dimmer than before, and a thick black mist, identical to the one surrounding Ryuma, was devouring them, causing them to fade. The mist seemed like a living creature consuming its prey.
"This kind of power mutation is extremely deadly and dangerous—a darkness that can devour anything, even power itself," The young man said, flicking his right hand. The Flaming Stars flames reversed direction, engulfing the pitch-black mist until nothing remained. "I'll eliminate you before you can grow any stronger."
"Then try it." Ryuma replied, his face showing no fear. Instead, his eyes sharpened.
Once again, the battle resumed between the young man and Ryuma. The young man raised both hands, creating a blinding flash of light that momentarily blinded Ryuma. Reacting instantly, Ryuma didn't remain idle. He also raised his hands toward the young man, attempting to unleash his own power. Light began to emanate from his palms, but it suddenly dimmed, leaving him wide-eyed in shock.
I can't use my light-based power source?! Ryuma thought to himself, shocked that he couldn't access his light-based power source.
Once again, Ryuma attempted to wield the angelic power of light, but the result remained the same: the radiant glow dimmed and vanished. Despite his futile efforts, the young man had managed to gather a portion of his strength. He conjured a colossal fireball, enveloped in the fallen angel's corrupted light, scorching everything beneath it. Its radiance rivaled the midday sun.
"What's wrong? Can't use your powers?" The young man asked arrogantly. "You're powerless in the face of death."
A wave of heat washed over Ryuma, but he didn't flinch. The ground began to scorch, plants and trees ignited, and then crumbled into piles of ash that scattered with the wind. Beams of light from within the sphere began to strike downward, creating deep, searing craters.
"No one can defy death..." Ryuma replied, his hands moving back toward the young man. "Except death itself."
No longer attempting to use his light-based powers, Ryuma now focused on a power he had never used or even known he possessed. Just as before, he conjured a dense sphere of black mist between his hands, then concentrated it into a single point directly in front of his palms. The gravitational field around the sphere intensified, warping space and slowing time. In that moment, reality crumbled, and he recreated the cosmic monster: a black hole.
"We'll see how your little black hole fares against the power of the Flaming Stars!" The young man shouted, slamming his hand down. Instantly, the Flaming Stars fireball shot toward Ryuma.
Whoosh!
The black hole Ryuma had created began to devour everything around it, even overwhelming him. Though far smaller than the black hole he had previously used to obliterate Dohnaseek, this one was unstable, its power waning as his own power reserves dwindled.
"Stabilize... Stabilize..." Ryuma struggled to suppress the gravitational force within the black hole. If he pushed too hard, the gravity would collapse, destroying the world.
The black hole's accretion disk continued to expand and widen, its gravitational pull intensifying to the point where it could lift trees, building debris, and even the land itself, sending everything around it into the air. Even the Flaming Stars were affected; part of their light began to be drawn into the black hole Ryuma had created, causing it to grow even larger.
"Truly monstrous power..." The young man muttered with a soft chuckle, realizing the terrifying potential of Ryuma's strength.
I can only absorb a portion of that fireball. If I tried to devour it all with this black hole, the black hole itself would transform into a monster... Ryuma thought to himself. He then thrust both hands forward, causing the black hole to begin moving toward the Flaming Stars fireball.
Swosshhh!!!
Time around the Flaming Stars fireball slowed, reality warped, and the black hole's accretion disk began to siphon light from the fireball. The more energy it absorbed, the larger the black hole grew, causing the Flaming Stars fireball to shrink. Ryuma strained to control the black hole's gravity until, with a final surge of effort, he clasped his hands together, collapsing the black hole's gravitational field. The black hole contracted rapidly before exploding in mid-air.
Blarrr!!!!
Trees were uprooted and sent flying through the air like grass being tossed by a child. Earth erupted skyward, and the shockwave shattered everything in its path. The young man was stunned by the destructive power of Ryuma's black hole, forcing him to retreat to avoid the devastating shockwave. Ryuma, meanwhile, knelt on the ground, conjuring a protective dome of the same black mist he had used to create the cosmic monster.
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Meanwhile, elsewhere, Rias and her family were discussing their contract earnings. Everyone was gathered together—Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, Issei, and Asia—in a single room.
"Excellent work, everyone. Koneko, you secured a particularly good contract." Rias said with a gentle smile, looking at her Rook.
"Thank you, Club President." Koneko replied tersely, her face as expressionless as ever.
Turning from Koneko, Rias smiled at Kiba, one of her peerages and her sole Knight. "Kiba, you secured two contracts at once. Excellent work. Keep it up."
"Thank you, Club President. I'll always do my best." Kiba replied with a smile, nodding slightly.
"Asia... I'm impressed with your performance. You managed to secure a contract in your very first week as part of my family." Rias's gaze softened as she looked at Asia, one of the newest members of her household. Asia served as her Bishop, responsible for providing support to Rias and the rest.
"Thank you, Club President... I'll work even harder from now on." Asia replied with a gentle, innocent smile, bowing deeply to Rias in a gesture of respect and gratitude for everything Rias had done for her.
"Fufufu... Isn't this wonderful, Club President? Everyone's performing so well." Akeno said softly as she approached Rias with a tray holding a cup of tea she had prepared with heartfelt care.
"Of course. My peerages must perform well. Without exception..." Rias said, her voice now serious as she accepted a cup of tea Akeno had prepared for her. Her gaze, however, remained fixed on Issei, who had been nervously scratching his head, looking awkward and out of place.
"Yaaah... I'll work my hardest, Club President! Trust me!" Issei shouted, raising both hands with a fervent glint in his eyes. "I'll become strong for you and create my own harem!"
Rias could only sigh deeply after hearing Issei's answer, while Akeno chuckled softly, pressing her right hand to her cheek. Kiba and Asia smiled faintly, while Koneko remained expressionless, not uttering a single word. Suddenly, hurried knocks came from the door, causing Rias to raise an eyebrow slightly.
"Please let them in, Akeno." Rias said, her gaze fixed on Akeno with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"As you wish, Club President." Akeno replied without hesitation. She approached the door and opened it, revealing several of Sona's peerages, their faces etched with worry, fear, and panic.
"What happened?" Akeno asked, her voice filled with shock, especially after noticing the severe injuries some of them had sustained.
"I apologize for the intrusion, but we desperately need your help," Tsubaki said, supporting Momo's unconscious body. Momo had lost consciousness due to her injuries. "Rias-sama, please assist us."
Everyone was shocked to see Momo and Reya's severe injuries, blood still flowing from their wounds. Issei was equally stunned to find Saji unconscious, his body covered in bruises, even his face. Rias immediately rose from her seat and swiftly approached Tsubaki, examining Momo's wounds with concern, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Asia... I want you to heal their wounds." Rias commanded firmly, her voice betraying a clear undercurrent of worry.
"Yes, Club President!" Asia replied promptly, immediately approaching Momo, who had already been laid down on the red sofa.
Asia knelt beside Momo's unconscious body and activated her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, to begin the healing process. A faint green light emanated from her palms, gradually closing Momo's wounds as if they had never existed. The effectiveness of Twilight Healing was truly remarkable. Witnessing it firsthand made Tsubaki sigh in relief, knowing that Momo and Reya were in the hands of someone who could truly help them.
"What exactly happened? Where's Sona?" Rias, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, pressed Tsubaki for answers about what had befallen them.
"We fought against Exorcists and Fallen Angels inside an abandoned church in the middle of the forest," Tsubaki replied to Rias's question, her eyes narrowing as she briefly glanced at the unconscious Saji. "Saji was captured by a group of Fallen Angels who intended to steal the Sacred Gear's power within him for their own purposes. I don't know how they found out about it."
"Sacred Gear?" Rias's eyes widened slightly at Tsubaki's explanation, realizing that not only Issei possessed a Sacred Gear, but Saji did as well. "Sona never mentioned this to me before..."
"I'm sure President had her own reasons for doing that, Rias-sama," Tsubaki said, slowly bowing her head in gratitude to Rias for her help. "Thank you for saving Momo and Reya."
"Of course. I'm glad I could help." Rias replied with a gentle smile, turning her gaze to Asia, who was still working diligently to heal Reya's wounds.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently, shaking the ORC building so hard that objects fell from their shelves. Everyone, including Rias, was startled, not just by the tremor itself but by the mystery of what was causing it. Following the violent shaking, an incredibly powerful gust of wind swept through, tearing leaves and branches from trees and rattling the windows.
"Whoa...! Whoa...! What's happening?!" Issei exclaimed in panic, his body swaying as he struggled to maintain his balance.
"Akeno...!"
Akeno hurried to the window, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open as she gazed at a sight she had never witnessed before. The night sky was now ablaze with vibrant, multicolored lights, resembling the Aurora Borealis. Yet this was impossible—auroras only occur near the poles. This... was different.
Rias approached from behind, and like Akeno, she was stunned into silence by the spectacle.
"Aurora...?" Tsubaki slowly approached, her eyes wide with disbelief at what she was seeing.
"This can't be..." Akeno murmured, her gaze fixed on the beautiful yet mysterious spectacle.
"Whoa... It's so beautiful!" Issei exclaimed in awe, his eyes sparkling as he beheld a sight he had never witnessed before. "I'm so grateful I got to see this."
"I'm afraid you shouldn't feel grateful, Issei-san." Kiba approached Issei from behind, his expression starkly different—filled with caution. "The aurora wouldn't appear in a place like this. This isn't a natural phenomenon."
"What do you mean, Kiba?" Issei asked, his confusion evident.
"There's a greater reason behind this that we don't know. It could be..." Kiba paused, his eyes sharpening as he tracked the beautiful, multicolored lights dancing across the sky. "A great danger."
"Rias!"
Everyone's attention immediately shifted when they heard someone calling Rias's name. When Rias turned, she saw Sona cradling a small child in her arms. The child was in the same condition as Reya, Momo, and Saji—unconscious with a gaping wound on her right shoulder. Sona's face was etched with worry and panic, a stark contrast to her usual cold and expressionless demeanor.
"Sona?! What happened? Who's this little girl?" Rias asked, hurrying over, her voice filled with concern for her dear friend's well-being.
"I'll explain later. We need to save this child first." Sona replied, gently laying the girl she was carrying onto a red sofa beside Momo.
"Asia... I'm sorry, but you need to heal this little girl too." Although Rias could see that Asia was already exhausted from healing three people at once, she reluctantly ordered her to heal the still-unidentified little girl.
"Yes, Club President..." Without arguing, Asia stood up and knelt beside the little girl's body, resuming her Twilight Healing on the wounds.
Boost!
Issei's Sacred Gear, Boosted Gear, emitted a bright, greenish light. Seeing Asia's exhaustion, he tried to help her by transferring some of its power into her body.
"Asia... Take this power." Issei said, pressing his left arm against her shoulder and transferring a portion of his strength.
While Asia continued her efforts to save the little girl, Rias, still deeply curious about what had happened to Sona and her peerages, tried to question Sona directly. She knew this was no trivial matter or mere coincidence. She was well aware of Sona's immense strength and skill in wielding her powers, as well as the formidable power of her family. Whatever had transpired, she needed to know.
"Sona, what happened?" Rias asked again, her voice now more of a command than a question, demanding an explanation.
"Rias..." Sona's eyes sharpened behind her glasses, but her voice remained filled with concern. "My peerages and I fought a hybrid between a Fallen Angel and a Devil."
Upon hearing this, Akeno's eyes widened, as if she were the most shocked of everyone by Sona's revelation. Rias, equally stunned, had never imagined there could be another hybrid, at least not in Kuoh Town. The fact that Sona and her peerages had fought against it and ended up like this meant the hybrid was no weakling easily eradicated.
"He was strong... I even unleashed my Leviathan form against him, but he deflected it with ease..." Sona continued, her gaze shifting to her peerages for a moment. "If Ryuma hadn't arrived when he did, I might have lost."
"Wait...?! Ryuma?" Rias asked, her eyes widening in surprise once more.
"Yes. Ryuma," Sona replied, nodding slightly. She reiterated that if Ryuma hadn't arrived at that moment, she couldn't imagine what would have happened to her and her family.
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Returned to where Ryuma was kneeling on the altar where Saji and the little girl had previously been imprisoned. His crimson eyes had dimmed, and his right eye had reverted to its normal black color. Slowly, he tilted his head upward, gazing at the multicolored lights that adorned the dark night sky. They appeared breathtakingly beautiful, though the reason for their appearance was far from beautiful.
He had successfully absorbed most of the Flaming Stars' fireball's power with the black hole he created and detonated it. The absorbed light was refracted by the intense heat of the collapsing black hole's core, destabilizing the magnetic field and creating the Northern Lights. As a result, Ryuma could no longer use his powers. His body felt utterly drained, and he was unable to stand for the time being.
From afar, his eyes caught a moving beam of light approaching. The crimson-orange glow told Ryuma exactly who it was—someone he never expected to see again.
Swooosh!
"You're trying to destroy this world?!" The young man roared, his voice filled with fury, yet tinged with awe. He recognized Ryuma's power as a priceless asset he desperately wanted to possess.
The flames of Flaming Stars burned through the young man's Sacred Gear armor. He raised his right hand again, conjuring a spear of light, but this time the spear was also enveloped in the fiery aura of Flaming Stars. Ryuma knew the young man would attack again, so he slowly tried to rise, though he staggered. His strength was completely exhausted; he didn't know if he could even retaliate if the young man attacked.
"Stop!"
The young man flinched at the voice and slowly turned his head to the side, seeing a white-haired young man approaching with blue energy wings on his back. The white-haired young man had a handsome face, his expression arrogant, but it matched the immense power surging within him.
"Vali? Why are you here? Don't interfere!" The young man threatened, pointing his spear of light at Vali.
"They ordered you to return. This is an order." Vali replied coldly, his sharp eyes fixed on the young man.
"Wait a moment..."
Though seething with anger, the young man didn't argue. Instead, he glared at Ryuma once more, drawing his spear of light and aiming it at him. He intended to end Ryuma here and now, eliminating a potential threat that might haunt him in the future.
Swosssh...
Faced with death, Ryuma showed no fear whatsoever. He struggled to gather his strength, managing to create only a thin, pitch-black mist around his body. He refused to fall without a fight.
"Hurry up. This is an order." Vali repeated his words, his tone now laced with threat and command.
"Damn it...! I'll deal with you later, Vali!" The young man cursed, hurling his spear of light directly at Vali. The spear split the air, scorching it as it flew.
"Divide!"
Vali's energy wings instantly emitted an blindingly bright light. Just before the spear of light could pierce his face, it vanished as if swallowed by the earth. Though the Flaming Stars were flames representing the fundamental elements of the universe, Vali possessed immense power that rivaled even the Flaming Stars Phoenix. This power stemmed from his Sacred Gear, Divine Dividing.
Without a word, the young man instantly shot into the sky, the light from his Flaming Stars wings flickering like stars before vanishing completely. Leaving Vali behind, he stared at Ryuma for a long moment, his gaze sharp yet hinting at something more. After a prolonged stare, he too soared into the sky with incredible speed, disappearing among the glittering stars.
Tess! Tess!
It was no longer black feathers or golden light falling from Ryuma's wings, but blood. Fresh, golden blood flowed from both wings, dripping steadily onto the ground. Ryuma winced slightly in pain as he touched his wings, his hands now stained. Carefully, he closed his wings slightly, pressing them together to stem the bleeding.
"I'm not the same as I used to be, am I?" Ryuma muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Crash!
The altar Ryuma stood on shattered into pieces as he stomped his foot down hard. Dust billowed up, obscuring the surroundings for a moment. When the dust settled, he saw a flight of stairs leading downward. Carefully descending the steps, he glanced around cautiously, ensuring nothing untoward would happen.
"This..."
Ryuma's eyes widened as he found himself in a room brimming with mysteries. The dimly lit chamber featured crosses hanging on the walls and ancient tomes abandoned on a crumbling table. The sole source of illumination came from an ancient candle standing upright on the table, its golden flame casting a faint, flickering light.
"Heavenly fire..." Ryuma murmured inwardly as he approached the candle, his gaze fixed on the flame.
There was no mistake—it was a flame intimately familiar to him. A sacred fire destined to burn eternally, an immortal flame that could only be extinguished if its purity were defiled. This was the fire of heaven. The question now was, why was it here? Yet, amidst the ancient tomes, the weathered crucifix, and the crumbling table on the verge of collapse, Ryuma knew that the heavenly fire had been burning in this room for ages.
Ryuma carefully held the candle, causing the heavenly flame to dim slightly and flicker in his grasp. He scanned his surroundings, finding nothing but darkness. Yet his gaze remained fixed on two crosses, each mounted differently. The cross on the left was inverted, while the one on the right stood upright. As he approached them, he noticed something peculiar: between the crosses, strange patterns lay hidden beneath a layer of dust.
"What's this...?"
Swoosh!
Driven by curiosity, Ryuma blew away the thick layer of dust covering the mysterious patterns, slowly revealing the secrets hidden beneath. It turned out to be a mural. But the images and content of the mural shocked him to his core. His eyes widened, and before he knew it, tears were streaming down his cheeks.
The mural depicted an angel with twelve golden wings spread wide, its face radiant, clad in golden armor, and wielding a luminous golden sword in its right hand. The angel was shown drawing its sword downward, directly toward the humans reaching for it.
Their hands were outstretched, their faces filled with hope, showing no fear of the drawn blade. Instead, they smiled, some even laughing.
The angel was depicted with its left hand raised toward the heavens, its radiant face bowed as if gazing down at the humans reaching out to it. At first glance, it seemed as though the angel was harming the humans, yet they showed no fear or panic.
Instead, they smiled broadly, laughed, and some even wept with emotion. Beneath the mural, a faded inscription was barely legible, but to Ryuma, the words were crystal clear and deeply meaningful. For the language was his own.
"Ryuma...!"
Ryuma's emotions and feelings were instantly shattered by the sound of someone approaching, a voice that sounded remarkably familiar. He quickly wiped away his tears, trying to appear composed despite his racing heart, as he braced himself to confront a memory he could never forget. From the darkness emerged several figures, each radiating a demonic aura. It was Rias and her entire family, accompanied by Sona and Tsubaki.
"I'm warning you again, so that something like this never happens again." Ryuma said, his voice now cold and calculating.
"I'm sorry for doubting you, Ryuma. I want to ask you something." Rias slowly approached him, her hand moving to touch his cheek, but she stopped. "I know you're a fallen angel, an angel of heaven. But... if you're a fallen angel, why are you protecting devils instead of hunting them? Why are you protecting us?"
For a moment, Ryuma remained silent, his gaze lowered. But finally, he spoke. "Because I'm different from them. I know what's really happening. I understand the catastrophe they're trying to create. Even though I'm an Angel and you're all Devils, I will still defend the peace of this world. No matter what it takes."
"Oh, Ryuma..." Rias's eyes widened as she listened to Ryuma's declaration. Despite their adversarial relation, he had chosen to uphold the world's peace, even if it meant going against the tide.
"I apologize for my presumptuousness, Miss Gremory... I shouldn't have been so forward. I should have shown you more respect." Ryuma said, bowing deeply toward Rias, revealing his wings, which were barely visible in the dimly lit room.
"You don't need to call me that. Just Rias is fine." Rias gently cupped Ryuma's right cheek, her touch incredibly soft and full of care. "I'm so, so grateful to you. You didn't just save my family, but also Sona and her family too."
"Ryuma-kun..." Sona began, bowing deeply in profound gratitude, followed by Tsubaki. "I am truly, deeply grateful to you. I owe you a great debt."
"We will never forget your kindness, Ryuma-san." Tsubaki added with unwavering sincerity and determination.
"I'm glad I could help you. May the world's peace always be preserved." Ryuma slowly approached Sona and Tsubaki, his gaze... more than just gentle...? "I'm relieved you're both safe."
"I... Uhhh...?" Sona, receiving Ryuma's tender gaze, blushed deeply and quickly lowered her eyes.
"I... Thank you. I'm grateful to you." Like Sona, Tsubaki's face flushed crimson, but she didn't lower her gaze to hide the blush that adorned her beautiful features. Instead, she merely turned her head slightly to the side.
"Hmph..." Unlike Sona and Tsubaki, Rias puffed out her cheeks, her red lips pursed into a pout as she crossed her arms over her ample chest.
"Fufufu... Is our Club President jealous?" Akeno, observing Rias's reaction, chuckled softly, sensing an opportunity to tease her.
"Stop it, Akeno...!" A crimson blush instantly flushed Rias's beautiful face as Akeno teased her in front of all her family, only making her feelings even more obvious.
"Ara... Ara... It seems Sona-kaicho and Tsubaki-san are one step ahead of us." Licking her lips sensually, Akeno slowly approached Ryuma, then suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.
"A-Akeno...?!" Rias's eyes widened, her gaze twitching as she watched Akeno shamelessly embrace Ryuma, pressing her body against his.
"Akeno-san?!" Ryuma was equally stunned, his eyes widening with a faint blush spreading across his cheeks.
"Damn it...! Ryuma... You may have saved me, but I won't let you take Akeno-san and Buchou away from me!" Issei shouted, tears streaming comically from his eyes as he lamented his miserable fate.
"Ara... Ara... Look at this, Buchou..." As if enjoying the moment, Akeno pressed her body even closer, her massive breasts crushing Ryuma's left hand.
"Akeno, stop it!" Rias shouted, her aura of destruction leaking out. Her eyes sharpened, but her cheeks flushed crimson and she pouted.
"Alright, Club President... You don't need to be so angry." Realizing she had gone too far, Akeno reluctantly released Ryuma from her embrace and stepped back. Yet, she still sensually licked her fingers, an erotic sight that immediately caused Issei to have a nosebleed.
"Whoa!" Issei shouted excitedly, instantly falling backward as blood gushed from both nostrils.
"The Club President is really angry, huh?" Kiba could only smile awkwardly, watching Rias—always so dominant, cold, and elegant—completely transform because of Akeno.
"Mhm," Koneko murmured beside him, nodding slightly in agreement with Kiba's words.
"Issei-san! Let me heal you!" Asia, her face etched with worry, rushed to Issei, who lay sprawled on the floor. Blood still trickled from his nostrils, yet a lecherous grin stretched across his face.
"Mhmmm..." Sona had remained silent until now, but like Rias, she pursed her lips, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, as if equally annoyed by Akeno's actions.
Meanwhile, Tsubaki could only let out a long sigh, saying nothing. She struggled to keep her frustration from overwhelming her, but the flush on her cheeks and the way she gripped her skirt tightly spoke volumes about her feelings.
"You won't do that again." Rias glared at Akeno, her voice dripping with menace, but Akeno knew she was hiding her true feelings.
"Fufufu... First come, first served." Akeno tried to approach Ryuma again, but her steps faltered as a crimson beam of light flashed past her face.
Blarrr!!!
The crimson beam instantly shook the room, shattering the walls and blasting a sizable hole through them. Akeno, witnessing the destruction, chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on Rias, who was now visibly furious and exasperated with her. In that moment, Akeno knew she had to stop.
"Very well... We'll play fair, won't we, Club President?" Akeno said, her voice still sensual as she retreated, keeping her distance and gazing at Ryuma.
"Then my business here is concluded. Miss Gremory, Miss Sitri, please remember this incident so it won't be repeated in the future." Ryuma said with a long sigh, his face turning serious again as he warned Rias and Sona to remain vigilant.
"I understand, Ryuma." Rias replied, nodding slightly as her destructive power gradually dissipated.
"Thank you, Ryuma-kun. I'll repay your kindness with myself." Sona said, giving a small nod. For a moment, she gazed at Ryuma with an unreadable expression, a blush still coloring her cheeks.
"Ara...? With President Sitri herself?" Akeno teased Sona again, instantly making her realize what she'd said. Sona's face flushed crimson, like a ripe tomato.
"No! That's not what I meant! I meant I'll repay your kindness myself!" Her face burning red, Sona shook her head like an embarrassed little girl.
"Alright... I guess..."
For the first time, Ryuma witnessed the warmth and camaraderie of the devil race. He hoped the world could remain like this forever, where all three races could coexist peacefully, without conflict. Slowly turning, he began to walk away, declining Rias' offer to escort him. Leaving Rias to grapple with unfamiliar emotions in her heart. Slowly, she turned to gaze at a mysterious mural behind her.
Sona slowly approached, deeply intrigued by murals and history. The mural before her was unlike anything she had ever seen. Neither she nor Rias could decipher its meaning. An angel of heaven brandished its sword against humanity, who, instead of cowering in fear, appeared joyful, moved, and blissful as they reached out to it. They were unaware, for now, that this mural depicted a fragment of the past of someone who had always been close to both of them.
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