Rias's Bedroom – Gremory Mansion
A silver magic circle appeared inside the room, and seconds later, Grayfia materialized before Rias and Akeno. She had arrived as quickly as possible after receiving their request.
"I came as quickly as I could, Rias-sama. What happened?"
"It was Gasper-kun." Rias answered immediately. "He asked us to contact you."
Grayfia didn't respond right away. Her eyes swept across the surroundings as she analyzed the flow of magical energy spreading throughout Kuoh.
'This concentration of magic is far beyond normal.'
The amount of energy gathered in a single location was overwhelming. This didn't seem like the work of an ordinary group of Fallen Angels.
"Stay here." Her tone became much more serious. "Do not leave the mansion under any circumstances."
Akeno noticed the change immediately.
'Grayfia-sama sensed something.'
"What happened?" Rias got out of bed. "Are Gasper-kun or Sona in danger?"
"I'm not certain yet." Grayfia opened another magic circle before her. "I'll confirm it personally."
Without waiting for another question, she disappeared from the room.
Student Council Room – Kuoh Academy
The destruction caused by the spear of light was still visible throughout the room. Part of the wall had vanished, furniture was scattered everywhere, and Tomoe's body remained buried among the debris.
Sona stared at Kokabiel through the opening in the wall.
"You'd better run." She pointed directly at the Fallen Angel. "My sister is a Maou. She'll come after you."
Issei stepped forward beside her.
"He can't run, President." The Boosted Gear glowed around his arm. "We have to finish him here."
"Be quiet, Issei."
Tsubaki interrupted immediately without taking her eyes off the enemies.
"Heh... heh heh heh..."
Kokabiel's laughter echoed across the sky above the academy.
"That's exactly why I'll kill you first, Sona Sitri." His grin widened. "Imagine how your sister will react when she learns she's lost her own little sister."
Sona clenched her teeth.
"You're insane."
"That's right." Kokabiel spread his arms as his black wings unfurled behind him. "I'm tired of this fake peace between Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils."
The magical pressure increased instantly.
The air grew heavier with every passing second.
Issei clenched his fist.
"I won't let you kill the President."
Azraelion watched the scene for a few moments before turning toward his leader.
"Master Kokabiel." A cruel smile spread across his face. "May I kill them?"
Kokabiel continued smiling.
"You may."
Azraelion's smile widened after receiving Kokabiel's permission. Light rapidly condensed around him until an enormous golden spear formed above his outstretched palm.
The holy energy illuminated part of the sky above Kuoh Academy. The power concentrated within that single weapon was enough to destroy an entire section of the building.
Without the slightest hesitation, Azraelion hurled the spear.
SHOOOOOM!
The weapon shot through the air like a golden meteor, flying straight toward the Student Council room. The pressure generated by its speed alone shattered windows and blasted debris throughout the room before the spear even reached its target.
Sona reacted immediately.
Multiple blue magic circles appeared before her as enormous amounts of water materialized from nothing. The rushing torrent spun rapidly until it formed a thick shield between the attack and the members of the Sitri peerage.
BOOOOOOM!
The spear slammed into the water barrier with tremendous force.
The holy energy began tearing through the shield layer by layer as steam filled the room. The water evaporated so quickly that part of the chamber became covered by a thick, scorching mist.
Sona gritted her teeth.
Her arm trembled as she sustained the spell.
The impact pushed her feet several inches backward, leaving deep grooves across the shattered floor.
The spear continued advancing.
The shield continued resisting.
For several long seconds, the two forces remained locked in direct collision.
Then the water finally prevailed.
CRRSHHH!
The spear shattered into dozens of glowing fragments that exploded through the air before completely disappearing.
Sona's shield collapsed immediately afterward.
The Student Council President took a deep breath as she struggled to recover. The effort had been far greater than she wanted to admit.
"You won't bring me down that easily."
Azraelion narrowed his eyes.
Frustration was plainly visible on his face.
"You're far too weak, Azraelion." Kokabiel said while looking at his subordinate with obvious contempt.
The Fallen Angel immediately lowered his head.
"My apologies, Master Kokabiel." His voice overflowed with respect. "That was my mistake. I should have put more power into that spear."
"You certainly should have."
Kokabiel narrowed his eyes, and that simple change in expression was enough to silence Azraelion.
The pressure radiating from the Fallen Angel leader was greater than any fear he felt toward the devils inside the academy.
Meanwhile, Xenovia continued staring at Kokabiel without looking away. Her grip tightened around Excalibur as her anger steadily increased.
"Irina." The swordswoman stepped forward. "The Fallen Angel who stole the Holy Swords is standing right in front of us."
Irina immediately nodded.
"Yes. We will carry out God's will."
Kokabiel heard those words and burst into laughter.
"God?" His laughter echoed throughout Kuoh Academy's courtyard. "You truly know nothing."
That cruel smile returned to his face.
"God and Lucifer both died during the Great War."
Xenovia froze.
"That's a lie."
Irina immediately shook her head.
"God cannot die."
Issei's heart skipped a beat.
'God is dead...? Asia never told me anything like that.'
Kokabiel spread his arms as though thoroughly enjoying their reactions.
"Believe whatever you like. The truth remains the same."
The revelation struck the group like a boulder. Even Sona remained silent for several moments as she stared at the Fallen Angel.
Outside the Barrier – Kuoh Academy
A silver magic circle appeared near the academy wall.
SHUUUN.
Grayfia materialized beside Gasper as she observed the enormous barrier surrounding the entire academy.
"Grayfia."
Gasper slowly exhaled when he saw her arrive.
"Finally. I can't get through this."
Grayfia walked several steps forward and gently placed a hand against the invisible barrier. The energy immediately responded, sending ripples of light spreading from the point of contact.
"I see."
Her expression grew more serious.
"Sona-sama is most likely on the other side?"
"That's the most likely scenario." Gasper kept his eyes fixed on the academy. "Every one of my bats that tried to enter disappeared."
Grayfia studied the magical structure for several long moments. The more she examined it, the stranger the barrier became.
She didn't recognize its magical signature.
She didn't recognize its construction.
Nor could she clearly sense what was happening inside it.
'I've never seen a barrier like this.'
For the first time, genuine concern appeared in the Gremory family's head maid's eyes.
'I can't sense anything coming from within.'
Gasper noticed the change in her expression.
"Something wrong, Grayfia?"
Grayfia never took her eyes off the barrier.
"Your priority will be Sona-sama." Her voice remained calm but firm. "The moment I break this barrier, I want you to get her out of there immediately."
Gasper remained silent for several seconds.
'I guess it's really that serious.'
"Yes, Grayfia."
The Gremory family's supreme maid slowly raised one hand. An overwhelming amount of demonic power gathered around her fist, compressing the surrounding air until small distortions began appearing in space itself.
Gasper watched the energy continue to build.
'She's never used this much magic during our training.'
The pressure increased with every passing second. The ground beneath Grayfia's feet slowly began to crack as her demonic power condensed into a single point.
Then she moved.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Her punch struck the barrier with her full strength.
The shockwave swept across the entire area as the invisible surface shook violently. Cracks spread throughout the magical structure like fractures racing across an enormous pane of glass.
CRRRRACK!
The fissures continued spreading in every direction.
At that exact same moment, inside Kuoh Academy, Kokabiel interrupted his amusement and turned his gaze toward the sky above the battlefield.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"It seems we have company." He watched the cracks racing across the barrier while his six black wings shifted behind him. "And judging by that power... someone far more entertaining than you."
Sona immediately followed his gaze.
'Rias... Gasper...'
But as the pressure continued rising, she realized that overwhelming power belonged to neither of them.
'No...'
Her eyes widened slightly.
'Grayfia.'
The entire barrier reached its limit.
CRAAAAASH!
The magical structure shattered like an enormous mirror struck by a hammer. Countless fragments of energy scattered across the sky before fading away completely, revealing the battlefield from every direction at once.
There was no longer any separation.
The two sides could finally see one another.
Sona, Tsubaki, Issei, Xenovia, and Irina stood on one side.
Kokabiel and Azraelion remained floating above them.
And on the opposite side stood Grayfia and Gasper.
Kokabiel's eyes immediately locked onto the Gremory maid.
His smile widened.
"Just as I thought."
All six pairs of black wings spread completely behind him.
"So Sirzechs' bitch has finally arrived."
Grayfia's demonic pressure immediately answered the provocation. The air itself grew heavy as she stared at Kokabiel without showing the slightest emotion.
Behind her, Gasper finally spotted Sona among the members of the Sitri peerage.
At least she was still alive.
But as his eyes fell upon Tomoe's body lying among the shattered remains of the destroyed room, it became painfully clear that they had arrived too late to save everyone.
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