Deep within the abandoned church, smoke and dust filled the air, and chaotic energy currents raged like out-of-control beasts.
The explosion caused by the violent collision of Rias's full-power Destruction Magic Power and Raynare's hastily condensed dark energy almost completely leveled half of the corridor.
Broken walls and rubble lay everywhere, and the air was filled with a strong smell of scorching and violent energy aftershocks.
"Cough… cough cough…" Rias knelt on one knee at the corner of the corridor, far from the center of the explosion, coughing violently.
Each cough pulled at the purplish-black wound on her shoulder, bringing excruciating pain.
The backlash from forcibly casting Advanced Destruction Magic, coupled with the shock of the explosion, left her in an extremely bad state.
Her magic power was chaotic, and her breathing was shallow.
But her emerald eyes were fixed on the center of the explosion, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Kiba Yuuto, Akeno, Koneko, and the others were also thrown by the terrifying shockwave, falling to the ground in disarray.
Kiba desperately shielded Shin on his back, taking most of the impact with his own body.
This further aggravated his injuries, and blood continuously flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Akeno and Koneko tightly protected Asia, and the three rolled into a ball, fortunately not being directly caught in the core of the explosion.
"Pre… President!" Akeno struggled to get up, disregarding her own shock, and anxiously looked in Rias's direction.
"I'm fine!" Rias forced herself to stand. Her voice was hoarse but filled with undeniable resolve. "Quick! Now's your chance! Take them and go!"
Her gaze swept over the gradually dissipating smoke and dust, and her heart sank.
She could feel that deep within the smoke, the suffocating Fallen Angel pressure—though greatly weakened—had not disappeared.
Raynare… was still alive! And she was recovering rapidly.
She absolutely could not be given a chance to catch her breath.
"Go?" A hoarse, twisted laugh, filled with endless malice and madness, as if emanating from the deepest Hell, slowly sounded from the center of the smoke and dust.
The smoke gradually dispersed, revealing the scene within. Raynare's figure was still standing, but at this moment she had long lost her previous elegance and composure.
Her magnificent clothes were torn in many places, revealing charred skin and hideous wounds underneath. Her originally seductive face was covered in dust and bloodstains, and a trickle of blood slid from her temple.
Her left arm was unnaturally twisted, clearly severely injured in the violent impact just now. The dark light power surrounding her also became extremely unstable, flickering like a candle in the wind.
Rias's full-power strike, combined with the excellent timing created by Shin's Evil-Warding Talisman, had indeed severely wounded her.
However, the tenacity and terror of a Fallen Angel cadre far exceeded imagination. Even with severe injuries, the madness and killing intent burning in her purple eyes grew even more intense.
She stared fixedly at Rias, then swept her gaze over the others who were trying to evacuate with Asia and Shin. A sinister smile spread across her lips.
"Very good… You little bitch of the Gremory Family… And that damned little bug…" Her voice was like grinding sandpaper, filled with bitter hatred.
"You… have completely enraged me! I will tear you… one by one… to shreds!!!"
She abruptly raised her still-functional right hand.
Although her movements were somewhat sluggish due to her injuries, dark energy once again began to condense in her palm.
While far less refined and swift than before, it still exuded a deadly threat. She was actually going to force an attack despite her severe injuries.
"This is bad!" Kiba's face changed drastically.
He wanted to step forward and block, but staggered due to his severe injuries. Akeno hastily condensed lightning power, but found that she had little magic power left and could not quickly form an effective defense.
Koneko shielded Asia behind her, her amber eyes filled with vigilance, ready to take the blow with her body.
Just then, Shin—who had been carried on Kiba's back and was in a semi-conscious state—seemed to be stimulated by Raynare's malicious declaration and the re-condensing energy fluctuations.
He struggled to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, his spirit exhausted, and his dantian empty, but a strong, unwilling resolve supported him.
No… she absolutely couldn't attack again… the President was already severely injured… everyone… was at their limit…
His gaze involuntarily fell on Asia, who was trembling, supported by Akeno and Koneko, and on the necklace around her neck, which—though dim—still emitted an ominous light.
It was it! Everything was because of it! It was the core of Raynare's control and torment of Asia, and the evil bond connecting the two.
An extremely risky, even fantastical, idea—like a spark in desperation—suddenly burst into his mind. Destroy it! Or… interfere with it! Perhaps it could have an unexpected effect on Raynare! After all, her power and will were attached to it!
But… how to do it? He had no power left… not a single bit of power… Talisman? Used up… True Qi? Exhausted… Wait! There's still… one last thing!
Shin's pupils suddenly focused. He used his last shred of strength to painstakingly raise his trembling hand, reaching towards his chest—there, worn close to his body, was something he had kept since successfully drawing it, nurturing it day and night with his own faint True Qi, and never used: the highest-grade Talisman he could currently draw—the Golden Light Evil-Warding Talisman.
This Talisman was different from the previous consumables. It was more like a nascent Magical Artifact that required long-term nurturing, containing the purest Golden Light of Evil-Warding power he could currently imbue. It was his reserved ultimate life-saving measure.
But activating it also required a considerable amount of True Qi guidance, and now… he had nothing! There was only one way… a forbidden technique mentioned in Daoist scriptures, yet incredibly dangerous—Burning Blood to Invoke Spirit! Using one's own essence blood as a guide, burning the origin of life, to forcibly activate the potential of a Magical Artifact. The cost was immense: at best, severe damage to Origin Qi and Foundation; at worst, instant death.
At this critical juncture, he couldn't afford to consider whether to keep his trump card or the consequences. If he didn't use it now, he might die and cease to exist. No time to hesitate!
A resolute glint flashed in Shin's eyes. He fiercely bit his tongue.
Pfft!
A mouthful of crimson essence blood, containing his life's vital essence, was spat out, precisely sprinkling onto the Golden Light Evil-Warding Talisman he kept close to his chest.
At the same time, he used his will to drive that extremely faint trace of Origin power—forcibly squeezed out by the burning essence blood—into the Talisman, letting out the hoarsest, most desperate cry of his life:
"With blood as guide, with spirit as sacrifice! Golden Light of Evil-Warding, manifest!!!"
Buzz—!!!!
In an instant, an unprecedented, dazzling pure golden light, like a miniature sun, burst forth from Shin's chest. A vast, righteous, and majestic Golden Light of Evil-Warding shot into the sky, instantly dispelling the surrounding darkness and evil aura.
The golden light did not directly shoot towards Raynare, but under Shin's will, transformed into an incredibly condensed golden arrow, seemingly composed of pure light. With a speed beyond visual perception, it accurately and fiercely shot towards the evil necklace around Asia's neck.
All of this happened in a flash. So fast that no one had time to react.
"What?!" Raynare was the first to detect the pure Evil-Warding power contained within the golden light, which made her feel aversion and fear from the depths of her soul. She wanted to stop it, but was half a beat too late due to her severe injuries and energy condensation.
Crack—!!!
An extremely crisp sound, like shattering glass. The Golden Light of Evil-Warding, imbued with Shin's burning life Origin power, hit the necklace pendant without any obstruction. The originally extremely sturdy pendant, which contained Raynare's powerful dark energy, under the impact of this pure golden light that countered all evil, cracked instantly like ice meeting a scorching sun, then exploded with a crash, turning into countless tiny, dull fragments.
"Ugh ah ah ah ah ah—!!!" Almost at the same moment the necklace shattered, Raynare let out an extremely shrill scream, as if she had suffered an unprecedented heavy blow. She staggered backward as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, spitting out a large mouthful of purplish-black blood.
That necklace was not only a tool to shackle Asia, but also an extension of her power and will, having an extremely close connection with her true self. Now, being forcibly destroyed by the supremely strong and pure Golden Light of Evil-Warding, the dark power contained within it and her spiritual connection were instantly severed and purified. The backlash this caused was far more intense and profound than physical injuries. It was like a piece of her soul being torn away.
Her aura instantly weakened to the extreme, and the dark light power around her violently fluctuated, almost dissipating. The attack she had half-condensed also disintegrated instantly. She clutched her head, letting out painful howls, clearly falling into immense pain and confusion.
On the other side, with the shattering of the necklace, the dark shackles that had been entwining and eroding Asia instantly vanished. The suffocating pain and oppression suddenly disappeared.
"Ah…" Asia let out a crying sigh of relief. Her taut body suddenly went limp. Her clear blue eyes filled with bewilderment and an incredible sense of liberation. Although still weak, the source of her torment had been completely eradicated.
"It worked!" Rias was the first to react. Despite being shocked by Shin's sudden, costly burst of power, she seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Akeno! Koneko! Take them and go! Yuuto! Cover us!"
She mustered her last bit of strength. Her hands once again condensed Destruction Magic Power—though weak, still dangerous. Pointing it at the pained and confused Raynare, she sternly said, "Raynare! Your ambition ends here!"
Although her current state prevented a fatal blow, it was enough to create a powerful deterrent and prevent pursuit.
Kiba Yuuto also endured his pain. His Holy Sword once again glowed faintly, shielding everyone. Akeno and Koneko immediately helped up the exhausted Asia and carried Shin—who had completely fainted from the blood-burning spell and whose breath was as faint as a thread—rushing with all their might towards the church exit.
"Bastard…" Raynare struggled amidst immense pain and backlash, trying to re-condense her power, but the spiritual trauma made it difficult for her to do so for a while. She could only watch helplessly as everyone quickly escaped with her 'toy' and the 'bug' who had severely wounded her, letting out a roar filled with extreme unwillingness.
"Gremory!!! And that damned brat!!! I will never let you go!!!"
Her roar echoed through the dilapidated church, filled with endless malice, but it could no longer stop the rescue team's retreat.
The members of the Occult Research Club, carrying their injured companions and the successfully rescued Asia, relying on the miraculous timing created by Shin's desperate gamble, finally rushed out of this dark prison and merged into the deep night of Kuoh Town.
The rescue operation, after the most tragic cost and the most thrilling struggle, finally achieved phased success!
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of High School DxD: The Quiet Immortal Who Guides Devils (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
✅ Part 1 Complete — 116 Chapters
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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