The group stopped before the old church. The air was still, and the sound of the wind was muffled by the cracked walls of the building ahead.
Kalawarner stood among the broken columns, the shadow of her open wings cutting through the dim light. Her gaze swept over the group until it stopped on Rias's crimson hair.
"Gremory…"
The name came out as a whisper, heavy with memory and fear. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. Her body trembled, but the light in her eyes showed no hint of surrender.
"You shouldn't have come here."
Rias stepped forward, her red aura softly vibrating. Behind her, Akeno watched in silence, while Koneko and Kiba stayed alert. Gasper stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the fallen angel.
'Courage before death… how admirable.'
The thought came cold, almost respectful. Gasper tilted his head slightly, the moonlight tracing the edge of his crimson eyes.
Kalawarner raised her sword, its blade glowing with blue energy. "Leave now, or you'll regret it."
Gasper's smile was faint, almost imperceptible. "Rias-senpai, why don't you leave her to Saji and come with me inside? That way I can show you my power… on a real enemy."
Silence lingered for a moment. Saji looked at him in surprise, unsure if it was an invitation or a challenge. Rias kept her eyes on Gasper, thoughts racing quickly.
'He wants to act alone… but maybe it's time to see just how far this power everyone fears can go.'
Akeno pouted slightly, tilting her head. "Oh, so you're leaving me out, Gasper-kun?" Her tone was teasing, but her eyes glimmered with curiosity.
Kalawarner growled, irritated. "Are you ignoring me?!"
Her sword vibrated, its glow intensifying. The air crackled like sparks.
Rias smiled faintly, still looking at Gasper. "All right, Gasper. This could be good for Saji… and I also want to see your power against a real foe."
She turned to the side. "Akeno, handle everything out here."
Akeno's smile returned, more restrained this time. "Understood, President."
Saji took his stance, body tense. Kalawarner pointed her sword at him, her gaze determined despite the fear trembling beneath her skin.
"One more step, and no one gets past here!"
Her voice rang firm, though the tone betrayed uncertainty. The blue glow along her blade quivered slightly with tension.
Before she could finish, a faint sound cut through the air.
Zuuuum.
Gasper vanished from sight. The gust that followed his movement stirred Rias's cape, and when Kalawarner blinked, he was gone.
A heartbeat later, her body shuddered. Her eyes darted wildly, trying to track what she couldn't see.
"What… the—?"
The answer came as a subtle swirl of air. Gasper appeared behind Rias, one arm around her waist before the redhead even realized.
Rias gasped, her body stiffening for an instant. The touch was brief but undeniably strong.
"Let's go."
Fwoooosh.
The world warped. Kalawarner's vision twisted—within the blink of an eye, both of them vanished before the church doors.
The fallen angel stepped back, her heart pounding. "What was that…?!"
Saji stared in shock, eyes wide. "He… he disappeared!"
Akeno chuckled softly, her expression serene. "That was just a glimpse. I hope you can survive long enough to see the rest."
Kalawarner clenched her teeth, raising her sword again. "Don't underestimate—"
Clack.
The church door closed behind Rias and Gasper.
Inside, the air was colder. Rias straightened her uniform, breathing deeply to steady herself from the sudden movement.
"You could've warned me."
Gasper released her waist, his expression unreadable. "If I had, it wouldn't have been as fast."
She stared at him for a moment, still regaining her composure. "Your speed… it's not normal, even for a Devil."
He looked away, walking ahead. "That's why you wanted to see."
The sound of wings echoed above them. Two presences materialized ahead, black wings spread wide.
Mittelt hovered with a lazy smile, her eyes glinting with disdain. "Well, look at that… night-time tourists. You must've taken a wrong turn."
Dohnaseek landed beside her, a spear of light in his hands. "Doesn't matter who they are. They invaded our territory."
Mittelt let out a short laugh.
'Idiots. This is Gremory territory, and they don't even know it.'
Gasper lifted his chin slightly, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.
Rias crossed her arms. "End this quickly, Gasper."
Mittelt spread her wings instinctively. "Oh, how arrogant! You just got here and already giving orders?"
Dohnaseek laughed mockingly. "That one's her pet? Doesn't look dangerous at all."
Gasper's gaze locked onto him. His pupils contracted, and a dark shimmer rippled through the air.
Fwoooosh.
The sound was heavy, muffled. Black fire bloomed around Gasper's body—dense, alive, spreading like solid smoke. It didn't burn with light, but with its absence. The darkness itself seemed to breathe.
Rias stepped back. The heat wasn't like normal fire—it was suffocating, dense, as though the air itself burned in silence.
Mittelt faltered. "W-what is that?"
The floor warped, the shadows trembling beneath Gasper's feet. The flames slithered across the ground, slow and predatory.
"You shouldn't have fallen from the sky."
His voice came low, cutting.
Dohnaseek hurled his light spear; the glowing weapon streaked straight toward him.
Fwoooosh.
The spear disintegrated before touching him, swallowed by the dark flames. The divine light shattered into useless sparks.
Mittelt's eyes went wide. "Impossible!"
"Not for me."
The flames surged. Dohnaseek screamed, spreading his wings, but the fire engulfed him before he could move. The sacred light died instantly.
The sound that followed was dull, muted, as if the air had been ripped away.
Ssshhh.
His body melted into gray particles, dissolving into the air.
Mittelt backed away, her face twisted in pure fear. "Stay away from me!"
Gasper raised his hand. The flames obeyed like a living creature, swirling into a spiral before lunging toward her.
"Please, no! I—"
Her words vanished as the fire reached her. The scream faded into an echo, then into nothing.
Rias stood still, watching. The dark reflection of the flames danced in her eyes.
Gasper slowly lowered his hand. The fire receded, folding into his palm before vanishing as if it had never been.
Silence stretched. Rias drew a deep breath, her lips parted slightly, unable to hide her astonishment.
"That was… incredible."
Her gaze fixed on him, filled with both admiration and awe. "The Twilight Flame… power like that could defeat anyone."
Gasper looked away, a faint hint of shyness in his voice. "I'm still learning to control it. But… thank you, Rias-senpai."
She smiled softly. "You did more than I expected."
As they walked toward the exit, Rias's thoughts lingered on her own realization. 'With that power, he could face Riser. Maybe even defeat him.'
Outside, the air felt heavier. The group waited for them. A fallen angel lay motionless on the ground, her body lifeless. Kiba wiped his sword clean, his face calm.
Saji, on the other hand, looked uneasy, scratching the back of his neck and avoiding the president's gaze.
"President… I'm sorry. I failed. Kiba had to help me."
Rias approached, her tone gentle. "It's all right, Saji. You did what you could. Go get some rest."
He looked up, surprised, a small smile breaking through. "Really? Thanks, President!"
Akeno chuckled softly. "See? She doesn't always bite."
Koneko crossed her arms. "But maybe she should."
Saji let out a dramatic sigh, drawing another faint smile from Rias.
She glanced around, ensuring everyone was safe. "Let's go. We're done here."
Rias lifted her hand, her sigil glowing red in the air.
Fwoooosh.
Crimson light enveloped them, bending the space around their bodies. In an instant, they vanished from the front of the old church—leaving behind only the echo of the wind and the faint scent of ashes.
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