The windows rattled. Then someone pointed outside.
"Look!"
We all turned.
Magic circles. Dozens of them. Hundreds. Filling the sky around Kuoh Academy like a swarm of wasps.
And from each circle, figures emerged. Robed. Masked. Staffs and wands raised.
Magicians.
Countless magicians.
"The Nilrem faction," Azazel said. His voice cold.
Another barrier shattered. Then another. The protective layers were falling like dominoes.
"How many?" Serafall asked.
"Too many," I said.
Because it wasn't just the numbers. It was the coordination. Every magician was targeting a specific point in the barrier network
CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.
Three more barriers gone in quick succession.
"We need to evacuate," Michael said.
"Teleportation's blocked," Grayfia reported. Her eyes glowed as she analyzed the magic. "They've locked down the entire area."
Of course they had.
In the original timeline, the attackers also went after Gasper for his Sacred Gear. Forbidden Balor View was too valuable to ignore. But it hadn't happened yet.
Which meant they were holding. For now.
Currently, Rias was with her peerage and unlike the original story, they had no reason to be in the conference room itself.
Another variable why the attackers didn't manage to get to Gasper yet, but it's only a matter of time now.
I looked at Rossweisse.
"Rose."
She turned immediately.
"Go to Koneko and the rest. Protect them."
She hesitated. Just for a second. "But you—"
"I'll be fine. They need you more than I do."
Rose nodded. She knew better than to argue when I used that tone.
I was fully confident in her ability. The Zodiac piece had ascended her to god-class. She'd proven that against Hel.
If anyone could keep Koneko and the others safe, it was Rose. Well, I already had measures prepared for Koneko, but I couldn't say that for the rest of them.
"Go,"
She moved immediately.
Sirzechs looked at me. "Thank you."
I just nodded.
Then the door burst open.
Issei stumbled in first. Asia right behind him. Then Xenovia and Irina, both with their swords drawn.
"What's happening?" Issei asked. His eyes were wide.
He stopped. Stared at the windows. At the hundreds of magic circles outside.
"Holy shit."
"Language, Issei-san," Asia said softly. But even she looked terrified.
Xenovia's grip tightened on her sword. "This is an attack."
"Obviously," Irina said. Her usual cheerfulness was gone. "But who would dare attack a peace conference?"
"Extremists," I said. "People who don't want peace."
Azazel glanced at them. "Why aren't you with the others?"
"We were patrolling the east wing," Xenovia explained. "We saw the barriers breaking and came to report."
"Rias?" Sirzechs asked sharply.
"Safe," Irina confirmed. "
Issei looked at me. "Leon, what do we—"
And that's when a magic circle appeared in the center of the room.
"This magic?!" Sirzech exclaimed.
The circle blazed with light and through the light, a figure stepped forward.
Tall. Female. Voluptuous. Tan skin and brown hair. Purple eyes behind glasses. That ridiculous low-cut dress.
Katerea Leviathan.
Here to kill us all.
Supposedly.
She looked around the room. Her smile was cruel and contemptuous.
"Good evening," she said. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"Why are you here?!" Serafall said.
"Katerea Leviathan. Descendant of the original Leviathan." Sirzech said solemnly as he gaze at the newcomer.
Her smile turned malicious.
"I am here to bring chaos and destruction to the world"
I recognized this scene.
Shit.
My body moved before my mind caught up. I thrust my hand forward. Poured half my mana into a barrier.
Because if I remembered correctly, Katerea was currently infused with part of Ophis's power.
A half-hearted barrier wouldn't work against her attack.
The yellow sphere expanded. Then compressed. Then exploded forward.
A beam of pure destructive energy.
My barrier flared to life just as the attack hit.
BOOM.
The impact was catastrophic.
Everything outside the barrier ceased to exist.
All of it turned to ash. The conference room was gone. The entire section of the building was gone.
We stood in a bubble of protection surrounded by complete devastation.
The barrier held. Everyone behind me was safe.
But everything else? Destroyed. Erased. Reduced to nothing.
Asia gasped. "Oh my God..."
"That power..."
Katerea stood at the edge of the destruction. Completely unharmed. Her smile widened.
"Impressive…as always Mishima." She said then she laughed mockingly. "For the leader of the three factions to hide behind a human.. What a disgrace."
"Katerea. What is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning?" Katerea's voice dripped with contempt. "You dare ask me that? You, who stole the position of Leviathan that rightfully belongs to me?"
"The title of Satan isn't inherited by blood," Sirzechs said calmly. "You know this."
"Oh, I know Sirzechs Lucifer." Katerea's smile was bitter. "I know that you've been a capable ruler. Perhaps even a good one. But you are not the best Satan. Your inclination toward pacifism, your desire for peace—these are weaknesses."
"Peace is not weakness," Michael said quietly.
"It is when it betrays the legacy of those who came before!" Katerea's aura flared. "The original Satans desired world domination. They led devils to greatness. To power. And you—all of you—have reduced us to this. Making peace with angels. With fallen angels. Groveling for stability."
"We're trying to end centuries of meaningless bloodshed," Serafall said.
"Meaningless?" Katerea laughed. "The Great War had meaning. Purpose. And now you seek to throw it all away. To make friends with our enemies. To pretend the deaths of our ancestors meant nothing."
"I am here to tear down this rotting system you've built. And when you're all dead, I will rebuild this world in the image the original Satans intended."
"Oh dear." Azazel said carefreely. "And here I thought we got caught up in a devil coup d'état."
"But it sounds like you want to take over the world." Michael continued.
"Yes, Michael." Katerea replied. "A world where God's and the Satans' deaths aren't glossed over. We will take this rotting world and rebuild and reform it ourselves."
I lowered my hand. The barrier dissipated completely now.
Half my mana gone. Worth it.
Azazel started laughing. Not a polite chuckle. A full, genuine laugh.
"'Rotting'? 'Reform'? 'Rebuild the world'?" He shook his head. "How clichéd can you get?"
Katerea's smile faltered.
"Every two-bit extremist says the exact same thing," Azazel continued. His tone was light. Mocking. "You know what's funny about people who say that?"
He grinned.
"They always die first."
That struck a nerve.
"Are you mocking me?"
Katerea's aura flared. Her face twisted with rage.
"How dare you—"
"Let me handle this," Azazel said. He looked at Sirzechs, Michael, then me. "Okay? You three can sit this one out."
Sirzechs frowned. "Azazel—"
"I've got this." Azazel's casual demeanor was still there, but his eyes were more sharp and focused. "Besides, she's already pissed off. Might as well make it personal."
Michael looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Azazel stepped forward. His wings spread wide. "I haven't had a good fight in…"
He stopped and looked at me for a while before stepping forward again.
I watched him move. Confident and unbothered. Typical Azazel. In the original timeline, Azazel won this fight, well not after sacrificing his hand.
Katerea glared at Azazel. "You'll regret those words, fallen one."
"Probably not." Azazel shrugged. "But feel free to try."
His aura erupted. Golden light surrounded him. Twelve jet-black wings spread from his back.
The Governor General of the Fallen Angels at full power.
Katerea's eyes blazed with light.
"Probably not." Azazel shrugged. "But feel free to try."
His aura erupted. Golden light surrounded him. Twelve jet-black wings spread from his back.
The Governor General of the Fallen Angels at full power.
Katerea didn't wait. She moved.
Fast.
A blur across the destroyed floor. Her staff swung down. Green energy trailing behind it.
Azazel dodged. His wings carried him sideways. The staff hit empty air.
The ground exploded anyway. A crater formed where he'd been standing.
Katerea spun. Her staff became a blur. Three strikes. Four. Five.
Each one missing by inches as Azazel weaved between them.
She snarled. Jumped back. Raised both hands.
Multiple magic circles formed around her. Dozens of them. All glowing green.
The circles fired. Beams of destructive energy converged on Azazel's position.
He moved. Faster. Weaving between the attacks.
One beam grazed his wing. He grimaced but kept moving.
His hand thrust forward. A spear of light formed. Holy lightning.
He hurled it.
Katerea raised her staff. The spear hit her barrier. Exploded.
The barrier cracked but held.
Azazel didn't stop. More spears formed. A dozen of them floating around him.
He released them all at once.
The barrage hammered Katerea's position. Explosion after explosion. The ground shattered. Debris flew.
The barrier broke.
Katerea dove. One spear grazed her shoulder. Blood splattered.
Her wound closed immediately. Healed by Ophis's power.
She raised her hand. A massive magic circle formed above her.
Green energy gathered. Condensed.
A pillar of destructive energy erupted downward. Massive. All-consuming.
Azazel shot upward. His wings flared. He barely cleared the attack.
The ground where he'd been standing was gone. Just a smoking crater.
Katerea didn't give him time. She launched herself upward. Her staff glowing.
They clashed in midair.
Staff against light spear. The impact created a shockwave.
Azazel pushed her back. Spun. His wing swept toward her face.
She blocked with her arm. Green energy absorbed the blow.
They separated. Both hovering.
Interesting.
Watching them fight, I realized that Azazel was stronger than the last time we fought.
Well when I'd thoroughly thrashed him.
Azazel had come a long way. Our fight must have lit a fire under him. Made him realize he needed to get stronger.
Pride was a powerful motivator.
Katerea smiled. "Is this all the great Azazel can manage?"
Azazel smiled. "You're right. Why don't we start getting serious now."
Then he pulled a weapon on his suit.
It was a lance-like golden dagger with a purple jewel embedded on its end.
"That's–"
"Something better than war–my hobby." Azazel cut her off.
"This is the Downfall Dragon Spear," he continued. "An artificial sacred gear I developed."
Then he raised the dagger above his head.
"Balance Break!"
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