Chapter 22: [Extermination Fist of the Buddha]!

For devils with abundant Demonic power, travel was never an issue.

From the moment Rias received the boy's call, it had taken less than three minutes to gather Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou, and teleport to the boundary closest to the church's barrier.

Beneath the darkened sky, the streetlights illuminated the streets, accompanied by the wail of distant sirens.

Three high school girls appeared at an unlit crossroads. Just ahead was the area belonging to the church—territory originally under the control of the faith.

A single block away stood the towering European-style cathedral.

It was forbidden territory for them as devils, akin to a national border that could not be crossed without consequences.

But now, the situation had changed.

"The barrier… has been broken?"

Rias hesitated.

Testing the air briefly, Akeno nodded.

"It seems Fukuki did something. For now, it appears we can proceed."

As the daughter of a shrine maiden family, Akeno had some understanding of barriers, though she wasn't as specialized as Keikain Fukuki, a true descendant of an Onmyōji lineage.

Barriers worked like radars, immediately triggering alarms when intruders fitting certain criteria were detected.

Especially for someone like Rias, a pure-blooded devil from the Gremory family. Entering the church's territory without permission would instantly be perceived as a unilateral declaration of war from the underworld to heaven.

And that wasn't just talk—it would mean a second Great War.

However, since the barrier was now destroyed, it was akin to smashing the radar. This made entry feasible.

Without further hesitation, the red-haired girl gave the order.

"Akeno, Koneko, let's move out!"

"Yes!" ×2

In the next moment—

The scene shifted. Accompanied by a brilliant flash of pale lightning and a deafening crash, the church doors were violently blasted open.

As the dust cleared, the three girls stood outside the entrance, their silhouettes outlined against the shattered doorway.

Inside, Keikain Fukuki stood at the center of four Fallen Angels. Hearing the commotion behind him, he turned slightly to glance back.

"Are you okay, Fukuki?!"

Seeing him surrounded, Akeno called out in concern before Rias could say anything.

The boy, however, waved her off dismissively.

"I'm fine, I'm fine~ I thought there'd be more rats to catch, but there are only four. If I'd known, I wouldn't have troubled you to come all this way."

Rats.

A tremendous insult, yet the Fallen Angels had no choice but to endure it—for now.

After all, their plan didn't include "directly clashing with the Gremory family."

In other words, if an outright battle were an easy solution, they wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of gathering faith to draw holy power.

A fight here, while not impossible for them to win, would undoubtedly drain their strength—a cost Raynare and the others were unwilling to bear.

Fortunately, they had a simpler option.

"Daughter of the Gremory family, what is the meaning of this?!"

"Do you realize what you've done? This is holy ground belonging to the church. Breaking the barrier and stepping into this territory is tantamount to declaring war on heaven. Are you trying to start a war? If so, don't expect us Fallen Angels to sit idly by!"

His words carried accusations as heavy as a judge's gavel.

Exchanging brief glances with his companions, the older male Fallen Angel, Dohnaseek, stepped forward.

But the faint voice of the young man behind him interrupted:

"It's not 'we,' it's 'me.'"

"What? Aren't you also part of the Gremory family... Wait, you're not a devil?"

Dohnaseek was taken aback.

He had assumed that Keikain Fukuki was one of the devils under the Gremory family's banner. Only after carefully sensing his presence did he realize that wasn't the case.

This is... a human?!

"Kyoto's Keikain clan representative, Keikain Fukuki."

The young man slightly turned his face to the side, casting a sharp gaze, and spoke word by word:

"The one who broke the barrier was me. The one who called Rias and the others here was also me. So, if the Church has any objections, they can come to me...

"I'll make them understand that the most useless thing under heaven is reason."

"You...!"

Dohnaseek was stunned. He had never encountered such an arrogant human before.

This was Japan, a land deeply influenced by the ancient Tang Dynasty. Buddhism was the most widely practiced belief here, not to mention the concept of the "eight million gods." Wasn't the saying 'Raise your head three feet, and the gods are above' common knowledge among Japanese people?

"You... You've destroyed the Church's Holy Light Barrier! Aren't you afraid that God will punish you?"

"Let Him try."

Fukuki withdrew his elbow, clenched his fingers into a fist, and raised it. While no radiant spiritual energy glimmered on his body, a golden light emerged from within, gathering at the peak of his fist, radiating an unparalleled strength.

Expressionless, the boy spoke:

"They spread faith and build churches yet shield wicked heretics, allowing those who betray their beliefs to slaughter innocent civilians at will—"

"If such a thing qualifies as a god, then I shall strike down this false god!"

"If God will not save people, then I will!"

Neither with the wrathful visage of the Vajra nor the serene compassion of the Bodhisattva, the young man's voice reverberated through the entire church like a bell tolling.

The Fallen Angels, who had been pretending to negotiate just moments before, finally shed their last facade.

If bluffing won't work, then it's time for battle!

Dohnaseek and Kalawarna were the first to spread their wings and ascend into the air, gathering Holy power in their palms to form black spears of light.

At the same time, Raynare, still clutching Asia under her arm, dashed forward at full speed. Mittelt had already opened a passageway to the underground chamber for her, as per their plan.

The first two would hold off the enemy, while Raynare completed the ritual to seize Asia's sacred gear. Afterward, she would return to assist in eliminating the opponents!

"Watch out!"

"Fukuki, be careful!"

From outside the church, Rias and Akeno immediately acted. Crimson power of destruction and pale priestess lightning intertwined and surged forward.

But faster than their actions was Koneko Toujou.

The petite, white-haired girl, as agile as a feline predator, crouched low and propelled herself with her legs the moment the Fallen Angels moved. As her foot hit the ground, it created a spiderweb-like crater beneath her, launching her like a cannonball into the battlefield in an instant.

Her target? One of the two Fallen Angels about to throw their spears of light... Wait, what?

Noticing something strange, the white-haired girl's golden eyes widened slightly in surprise.

A similar reaction came from Akeno, who stood at the church entrance, surrounded by crackling lightning.

However, unlike Koneko, Akeno's eyes held a hint of nostalgia—like meeting an old acquaintance after many years apart.

Before their eyes, the boy who should have been surrounded was now above the two Fallen Angels. Faster than even Koneko, he twisted his body mid-air, his fists clenched tightly. Crimson dragon-claw-shaped markings emerged on his forehead, channeling immense power into his fists.

As a warrior, none shall stand before me.

With a punch delivered like the blazing sun at its zenith, he aimed to make heaven and earth change color and force even the gods to bow their heads in submission.

He would make them believe that the one standing before them—

was utterly invincible.

[Extermination Fist of the Buddha]!