***
"A Durandal?!"
"You were not the wielder of the Excalibur?!"
"Wrong. I was originally the wielder of Durandal. I was also chosen as the holder of the Excalibur. That's all."
The blade of Durandal in Xenovia's hand started to produce more holy-aura than the Excalibur Freed held.
With a single slash, the Excalibur shattered.
"Are you serious?! Are you really serious right now?!"
Freed started to panic and taking that opportunity, Kiba went right at him.
Checkmate!
***
"Balba Galilei. Prepare yourself."
Kiba pointed his Holy-Demonic sword.
However, Balba started laughing--
"HAHAHA...Holy-Demonic Sword...A cursed abomination. Do you want to know the reason why that is possible?"
Xenovia stepped forward as she pointed Durandal as well.
"What do you mean?"
"Fuhaha, fuahahahahahaha! It seems the truth wasn't revealed to you lower guys! Then I will now tell you. In the war between the three sides, not only the Yondai-Maou, but God also died!"
...!.....?!
Everyone became shocked beyond words.
... ...God didn't exist anymore?
Xenovia seemed like she lost all her strength as she stumbled to her knees with a panicked expression that was too unbearable to look at.
An active believer. God's servant. A person who lived by serving God as her mission. If the existence of God was rejected, and she lost the means to live, it was only natural.
"... ...God doesn't exist? God... ...is dead? Then..."
Asia started to cover her mouth with her hands as her whole body shook.
"Fuhahah..." However, before Balba could finish laughing--
DON!
The demonic power shot by Rias left nothing of Balba.
At that moment--
Something bright fell from the sky.
FLASH!
There was a white thing glowing. A white plated armor.
Everyone present was shocked except for Rias.
"Hakuryuukou. ... ...Vanishing Dragon."
???!!!
Laying stone cold on the Hakuryuukou's shoulder, was Kokabiel.
"So--"
"It was you who took down Kokabiel, Vanishing Dragon?"
However, the Hakuryuukou shook his head as he picked up the fallen Freed.
"It seems you took care of Balba and Freed. I have to thank you for that. As for Kokabiel, I only cleaned up the mess. It was mainly Uchiha Sasuke who did the job of defeating him. You should thank him instead. It seems I was quite unneeded in this mission."
"Sasuke did?" Rias had a shocked expression on her face.
"Yeah. You should thank your lucky stars that the Sekiryuutei took care of Kokabiel for you. After all, you guys don't stand a chance against him."
"The day will come when he and I battle. After all, the red and white must finally draw to a conclusion"
With that--
The Hakuryuukou turned into a streak of white light and flew up.
***
"Hmph. So that Xenovia girl became your servant? Good for you."
Sasuke was currently sitting in the living room along with Rias.
"Yeah...after she found out that God had died in the previous war, she decided to become a devil. However, her friend Irina--"
Sasuke noticed the change in Rias's expression and he roughly guessed the reason.
"She is angry at her friend for becoming a devil? I take it none of you told that Irina person God had died."
"That girl is a firm believer of God and Xenovia did not wish to break the news on her."
Rias face then started to turn red.
"Sasuke, I didn't take the chance to say it properly before but--"
"I'm really grateful for you. Thank you for stopping Kokabiel."
"I wasn't particularly going to help you guys. That fallen-angel came to fight me by his own accord."
"Yeah...but I'm still grateful."
Rias lowered her head as a small smile spread across her face.
***
Sasuke was sitting alone at the same bench by the lake.
"Is this seat taken?"
Sasuke already knew who it was without turning his head.
A man with black hair and golden bangs proceeded to sit beside him.
"You really like this spot eh." The man started with an innocent question.
"Yeah."
"It seems you were targeted recently. Been busy, haven't you?"
"Yeah, trouble keeps finding me recently." Sasuke replied without once turning his head.
"Sitting so comfortably on a bench by a lake. You are not afraid someone else will target you again?" The man's eyes started to shine.
However, Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.
"They can try if they wish to. But--"
"I won't guarantee they will come out alive."
"HAHAHAHA! You're a really honest guy, aren't you?" The man started to issue out a loud laugh as he stood up.
"Well, I have to be going. I am also very busy these few days."
The man raised his hand as he walked away.
"I'm sure we will meet again real soon. Uchiha Sasuke."
A glint flashed through Sasuke's eyes but he did not bother to watch the man's silhouette leave.
***
"And? Why did you bring me here?"
Sasuke asked a black hair girl who was currently wearing a shrine's maiden outfit.
"Sorry about inviting you over so suddenly. But, there is someone who wishes to meet with you, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke was standing at the bottom of a passage of stairs leading up towards a shrine.
"Rias is not with you?"
Akeno started to leak out her usual Ufufufu laugh.
"Yeah, Kouh Academy will soon be the meeting place between the Three Factions. Rias is currently meeting up with Sirzechs-sama."
"Meeting place?"
Akeno turned around at Sasuke's question.
"Ara Ara. You didn't know, Sasuke-kun? I thought Rias would have told you."
"Yeah, I have been busy recently."
What Sasuke didn't mention was that he was leaving the house early and coming back late everyday because he was testing out something.
That was why he hadn't seen Rias after that talk.
"I see." Akeno nodded her head.
"The Three Factions will be having a discussion at Kuoh Academy. This will be the first time such a meeting takes place. The incident with Kokabiel was what pushed the meeting to take place."
Akeno started explaining to Sasuke as they walked up the stairs.
Just as they reached the top, a voice that was calm and tranquil issued out from above.
"He is the Red Dragon Emperor?"
A handsome-looking man with long blond hair and green eyes was floating above the shrine.
Growing from his back, were twelve wings colored in gold and the man himself was bathed in golden light.
However, Sasuke didn't sense a trace of hostility from the man.
"Nice to meet you, Uchiha Sasuke. I am Michael, Chief of the Angels."
***
"Azazel, do I have to attend tomorrow's conference as well?"
"Of course, Vali. Since you're the Hakuryuukou."
"Hey Azazel, do you think the Sekiryuutei will be there?"
"That's really like the Hakuryuukou. You just seek battle. You sure got attached to an ideal dragon. But I'm afraid this time, you will face a harsh battle against the Sekiryuutei."
"That's fine. I only wish to defeat strong guys."
"And, after defeating all the strong guys, what will you do?"
"... ...I'll die. I don't have any interest in such a boring world. Right now, I'm only looking forward to my battle with Uchiha Sasuke."
***
"I am Michael, Chief of the Angels."
"What do you want with me?" Although the guy in front of him was supposed to be a big-shot in this world, Sasuke was not in the least intimidated.
"Let's talk inside."
Saying that, Akeno, Michael and Sasuke headed towards the main shrine.
Inside the quite large main shrine, there were a number of huge pillars.
From the center, Sasuke a felt a tingling sensation on his skin.
"Uchiha Sasuke. The truth is, I thought of awarding you with this."
A sword suddenly appeared while oozing out a holy aura in the center of the shrine.
"This is a Dragon Slayer, also known as the holy sword that kills dragons, Ascalon."
Michael continued.
"Dragon slayers are a group of people who made slaying Dragons their job or the name of the weapon used for the job."
"I was actually thinking of giving you this."
"Why give it to me?"
Michael answered Sasuke's question while smiling.
"During this time's meeting, I think there's a huge opportunity to cooperate between the Three Great Powers. This is a chance to get ride of the useless battles. If small-scale battles continue like this intermittently, then the Three Great Powers will be destroyed. In past wars, there was only one time everyone joined forces--"
"It was when the Red and White disturbed the battlefield."
"Wishing that we hold hands together like that time, I am placing my hopes in you, in the Sekiryuutei, Uchiha Sasuke. I believe that you will be the one capable of facing the threats that will descend upon us in the future. This is my gift to you."
Sasuke pondered for a while.
"Thanks for the gift but I already have a sword. I don't need another one."
Akeno then says from the side.
"Sasuke-kun, you can assimilate Ascalon into your Boosted Gear for the time being. In case you need it, you can draw it out anytime when you summon the Boosted Gear."
[ Yeah, that is possible, Partner. With your strength, it should be easy. ]
Michael also nodded at Akeno's words.
Sasuke reached out for Ascalon and combined the surge of the Boosted Gear with the surge of the Holy Sword.
The holy aura flowed into the Sacred Gear.
After a red flash--a gauntlet with a blade growing out could be seen..
[That was easier than I expected.]
Sasuke started to feel the Holy Sword Aura mixing with his own.
"...It seriously combined."
Michael clapped his hands and after confirming it--
"It's time to visit the conference hall so I will be heading off first. It was nice meeting you, Sasuke-kun."
Michael's whole body was wrapped in light and after a momentary flash of light, he disappeared from the place.
***
"Here's some tea."
"Thanks."
Sasuke and Akeno were left in the shrine after Michael left and they were having tea in a room that looked like a tea ceremony room.
There was an awkward silence between them before Akeno finally broke it.
"Sasuke-kun, do you hate fallen-angels?"
Sasuke sent a fleeting glance over towards Akeno.
"I sense a power similar to Kokabiel inside you. Are you--"
Before Sasuke could complete his question, Akeno's expression had already change to a slightly cloudy one.
"...That's right. I was born between one of the leaders of the Fallen Angels, Barakiel and a human."
Akeno started revealing her life story to Sasuke, about her mother and how her father had failed to save her. She told Sasuke how she witnessed her mother get killed in front of her eyes and ever since then, she could not forgive her father for failing to save her mother.
Sasuke continued listening to every single word without once speaking.
Akeno stood up and expanded her wings from her back. --
Different from the usual two wings of Devils, one wing was that of a Devil while the other was the black wing of a Fallen Angel.
"They're dirty wings... The wing of a Devil and the wing of a Fallen Angel, I possess both of them."
As if despising the black feather of Fallen Angels, she grabbed them with her hand.
"While hating these feathers, I met Rias and became a Devil. ...But what was born were the wings of a Fallen Angel and Devil, a mere disgusting creature who possessed both. Fufufu, this certainly suits me, who has dirtied blood flowing in her veins."
Akeno was in self-derision.
"...How do you feel after hearing that, Sasuke-kun? You hate Fallen Angels, right? They tried to kill you and Asia-chan once and tried to destroy this city. There's no way you can hold good thoughts about them."
Sasuke finally spoke.
"I am not really bothered by that fact."
Hearing Sasuke's reply, Akeno had a surprised expression.
"That's not the case. I have the blood of a Fallen Angel in me, you know? Can you forgive me? I am the worst kind of woman..."
Sasuke also stood up as he faced his back towards Akeno.
Upon seeing that, Akeno's expression started to become sad. However--
"Your past is similar to mine. But compared to it--"
Akeno stared at Sasuke's back.
"One day, when I returned home, I saw my older brother standing over the bodies of my parents. Horrified by what he had done, I tried to plead for an explanation but my brother simply replied that it was to test his own power. Before leaving, he told me to hate him, to desire revenge and to gain power from that--"
Akeno listened intently to Sasuke.
"And I did. I tried to use every means possible to become strong. I betrayed my friends, their trust, in order to seek revenge on my brother. But, after I finally killed him, I learned that the hateful brother that he seemed to be was merely a facade; in truth, what he did was to protect me. I was further driven into despair but fortunately, I had a friend who saved me from that same despair."
Sasuke then turned back towards Akeno.
"I know you blame your father for what happened. But at the very least, you still have a father."
Upon hearing Sasuke's words, Akeno started crying.
"...You said some killing words. ...After hearing that...how can I possibly not..."
As Sasuke prepared to leave, he suddenly felt a soft sensation on his back.
Akeno had clung on Sasuke's back as she cried out.
Tears started to stain Sasuke's clothes.
"I have decided. Arigato, Sasuke-kun. Really, thank you."
***
"Well then, let's get going."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Rias turned her attention to a wooden box on the floor.
"Gasper, be a good boy while we're gone."
"Yeah." A small feminine voice came out from the box.
Rias sighed.
"If anything shocks you into activating your power, there'll be trouble."
"I'll have Koneko stay with you."
Koneko nodded her head.
"Yes, President."
***
Knock, Knock.
"Excuse us."
Rias opened the door, revealing a gorgeous and pompous looking table.
Surrounding the table, were several people with strong auras.
The air was enveloped by quietness.
From the Devil side, Sirzechs and a beautiful girl looking in her late teens with black hair, tied into twin tails.
Standing behind her, were two other girls wearing spectacles.
Rias nodded her head at one of them.
"Sona."
The girl named Sona, nodded back lightly.
"Rias."
Sitting just beside Sirzechs, was Michael and Irina.
As Xenovia stepped into the room, the first thing she noticed was her friend.
"Irina..."
However, Irina turned her head to the side, ignoring Xenovia.
And lastly, was a man with black hair and golden bangs, who Sasuke had met before.
Behind him, was a young male with silver hair.
"Let me introduce you. This is my little sister and her household."
Sirzechs introduced Rias to the VIP of the factions.
Rias and her peerage also bowed.
"They were active during Kokabiel's attack a few days ago. I would like to hear the Fallen-Angels Governor-General's opinion on the report. "
"I heard the report. However, it appears that the one I have to thank is not here."
The man with golden bangs said with a brazen expression.
"What do you mean, Azazel-chan?"
The girl with twin tails looked over.
"Serafall, the one who took down Kokabiel was the Sekiryuutei. Uchiha Sasuke."
Serafall opened her eyes wide.
"EHHHHHHHHH! Really?! I heard that he was also the one who broke up the engagement between Rias-tan and Raiser Phenex. Then where is Sekiryuutei-chan? I want to see him."
Rias face started blushing and Sirzechs cleared his throat.
"Sasuke-kun is not part of Rias peerage. However, it is true that he has helped us out a lot."
Azazel started laughing.
"Sorry that Kokabiel of my side caused you trouble."
Sirzechs then gestured for Rias to sit down.
***
"Koneko-chan?"
Koneko suddenly stood up.
"Stay there, Gya-kun."
The room to the Occult Research Club was suddenly destroyed and hooded figures entered the room.
"Humans?"
One of the hooded figures spoke.
"Yes, we're humans, but we use magic by rebuilding the structure of devil magic--"
"We're Magicians."
The figure then pointed to the wooden box.
"Hand over the half-vampire."
***
Michael spoke first.
"The two war generals, God and the Devil King, have been annihilated."
Asia started to show a depressed look while Xenovia looked over at Irina, who also carried a sullen expression.
Irina--
I suppose you were told about it too.
However, it was at that moment--
A strange sensation filled the air.
"This is--"
***
Looking around, the people in the room were divided between those that could move and those that stopped.
All the VIP were moving, including Rias, Kiba, Xenovia, Vali and Irina.
"Has time stopped?"
Vali, who was leaning against a corner on the wall, finally spoke after hearing Rias question.
"I was protected by the power of Dragon and those guys over there were protected by their holy swords."
"Would you all like to take a look outside?"
Azazel gestured at the window with his chin.
Outside, human like silhouettes had arrived in the school yard and in the air.
Looking closely, they were dressed in black robes and firing magic bullets at the school.
"Those guys are Magicians. I'd guess that they each possess the magic power of a Mid-class Devil."
"Then, what about when time seemed to stop before?"
Rias questioned Azazel.
"They probably coerced that half-vampire boy and created balance breaker conditions."
"Gasper has been made into a terrorist weapon?...Just where did they get information on my servant...? Never before have I been so insulted like this!"
Rias started to make a red aura gush out from her entire body.
"The guards are...teleportation magic?"
Michael looked out of the window as he examined the situation.
Sirzechs sighed.
"There seems to be someone connected to the Gate within this barrier. Someone must have betrayed us. However, we have to do something about Gasper-kun."
Rias placed her hand on her chest.
"Onii-sama. I'll go. Gasper is my servant. It's my responsibility to take him back."
Rias sent out a strong will in her eyes as she proposed her statement.
Azazel took out a bracelet and threw it over to Rias.
"That is a bracelet with the power to control a Sacred Gear to some degree. If you find the half-vampire, put it on him. It'll control his power."
However, an unexpected voice suddenly issued out at the same time--
"Wouldn't it be easier to just blast away the half-vampire with the terrorists?"
It was Vali.
"Think about the situation a little, Vali. We're tying to make peace here. Why don't you head outside and cause some trouble for the enemy?"
Vali started to reveal a smile at Azazel's suggestion.
"Roger. After all, my prey is finally here."
Saying that, Vali vanished.
Sirzechs turned his head and queried Azazel.
"Azazel, what are you trying to do by collecting Sacred Gears? Do you intend to kill God even though God no longer exists?"
Azazel shook his head at that question.
"It's to prepare."
"Prepare?"
"--The [Khaos Bridgade]."
"...Khaos...Brigade?"
"My Vice Governor, Shemhaza had his eye on a suspicious acting group. The organisation's leader is the powerful fiendish dragon besides the Welsh Dragon and Vanishing Dragon."
[-!]
"...I see, so that person has moved. The Uroboros Dragon Ophis...The Dragon feared by God...The one who kept reigning over with the position of the strongest since the world began."
Sirzechs wore a grim expression before he turned to Rias.
"Rias, I am leaving Gasper-kun to you."
A magic circle appeared below Rias.
"Yes, Onii-sama!"
***
As expected, I can sense many presences inside the school.
Inside one area, it seems there are several power auras.
There is a barrier surrounding the school, huh.
Sasuke was leaning on a railing outside Kuoh Academy.
It was at that moment--
He sensed something amiss.
BOOM!
An attack?
Above Sasuke, people wearing hooded robes suddenly appeared as they started creating multiple magic circles.
With a flash--
"Kya!"
One of the hooded figures was blown away and Sasuke stepped through the Magic Circle.
The next moment, Sasuke was inside the school and he dashed towards the location with the strongest auras.
However, Sasuke felt a slight sensation, as though something was trying to stop him in place.
It felt like time had stopped.
But--
As expected, it doesn't seem to be able to affect me.
Sasuke instantly sidestepped as beams of light exploded around him.
BOOM!
Craters formed around Sasuke and he looked up to find himself surrounded by multiple hooded figures.
"It seems we are in luck. The Sekiryuutei has appeared. Let's kill him."
One of them spoke.
"Get out of my way." Sasuke gave one final warning.
However, he did not take a single step.
Laughter started erupting around him.
"Do you think you can handle all of us? We have the strength of Mid-class devils and there are more than twenty of us. What can you accomplish?"
No sooner had they said that, all the Magicians started feeling their bodies getting pulled and attracted by an invisible force.
"What is this?! What is happening?"
Their bodies were slowly being pulled towards Sasuke and no matter how much they struggled--
"Its futile--"
"Enton : Honoikazuchi (Blaze Release : Honoikazuchi)!"
PIERCE!
PIERCE!
PIERCE!
One by one, the Magicians were stabbed through by black flames that were shaped like spikes.
"You bastard..."
One of the Magicians managed to leak out a final breath before he collapsed completely to the ground.
Sasuke continued rushing towards the place where he sensed the presence of the powerful auras; when he felt a familiar presence--
Doggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
Something--
No, someone crashed down right in front of him.
After the cloud of dust which enveloped it vanished, there was...
"It seems we meet again, Uchiha Sasuke."
A youth with silver hair was standing in front of Sasuke.
"Vali Lucifer."
Vali started laughing as he started his chant.
"--Balance Break."
[Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!!!!!!!!!!!!]
After that sound, a snow-white aura started to cover Vali.
When the light stopped, what stood in front of Sasuke now was a person, wrapped in a whole body armor that emitted a white radiance.
The Hakuryuukou pointed at Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke, I thought I told you before. That I will set the stage upon which we shall finally battle--"
Sasuke drew out his katana as the two auras that were leaked out started to vaporize the surroundings.
"Now, Uchiha Sasuke--"
"The battle between the Red and White. We shall decide who is the true Heavenly Dragon right here!"
***
Spouting an aura from the magic power jets on his back, Vali rushed towards Sasuke!
Sasuke easily avoided and dodged his tackle while he directed the tip of his sword and thrust it with the sound of cleaved wind.
Vali staggered a little from the impact before he regained his balance.
Should I use Genjutsu?
No--
I have no idea if it will work with his helmet.
And--
There is no harm in testing out his strength.
The next moment, an aerial battle occurred.
His power is the ability to divide, huh...
Well, let's test that out...
Sasuke kneaded chakra in his body.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique(Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu)!"
A huge fireball was expelled from Sasuke's mouth, taking the form of a giant orb.
Vali extended his arm.
[Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!]
Before the fireball could reach Vali, it's size was already reduced significantly.
"Strong! It took me a while just to divide that attack! You are making me more and more excited, Uchiha Sasuke!"
[Partner, that guy has another ability. He halves his opponent's power and then adds the decreased portion of power to himself. In other words, your power is taken away and turned into his own power. Stamina can't be recovered. It's only power to the end.]
Such an ability is clearly not omnipotent...
There is a weakness to everything...
[That's right. No matter how amazing the host is, he has a limit. Power that goes beyond his capacity is released from the wings of light on his back and he keeps maintaining his power limit without destroying his body.]
I see...
So he always keeps his power at it's peak without bursting and destroying himself...
"Come on, come on!"
Vali's eyes shined, "ZAP!" and he fired a beam at Sasuke.
It was not a surprise attack, he could Foresight it. Sasuke bent his body back while evading.
Vali's right arm swelled out explosively with power while swinging down at Sasuke.
Sasuke blocked the fist with his katana, without trying to go against that tremendous impact, he warded off the attack with his body handling.
By no means he opposed the pressure of the fist, Sasuke simply shifted the vector slightly.
The fist that Vali swung with all his power was warded off to the wrong direction and his body posture broke.
"This is not your true strength, is it? Don't hold back! Show me your power!" Vali spat while readjusting his stance and a kick came flying towards Sasuke.
Sasuke blocked that kick right from the front.
At the moment of the clash, he bent his upper body while taking a back step. Sasuke rotated his body vertically - like a feather dancing in the wind, he made the impact of the kick vanish like mist.
Lightning chakra overflowed Sasuke's body, powerfully accelerating him.
A red gauntlet appeared.
[Boost! Boost! Boost!]
Sasuke held up his blade against the swung down fist.
It was not parrying the attack, he opposed it right from the front!
Vast destructive power clashed and shock waves exploded.
Sword and fist clashed. Sasuke tilted his blade and parried the fist while Vali constantly let loose a barrage of full swings.
However, Vali's fist that was blocked by the blade and by approaching Sasuke closer, he felt his body constantly getting paralyzed little by little.
Sasuke, whose flesh and mind was accelerated overtook that barrage.
Like a willow swayed by the wind, he cancelled all of their momentum.
His combat strength was completely overtaking it.
"Are you matching the current me equally...without even using the Balance Breaker...no--"
"You are not even using your original strength--"
"To think my rival would be this strong...!!!"
Sasuke parried a fist that was fueled by emotions by turning around his body. Although Vali's posture was destroyed, from there, he incessantly tried to repeat his attack.
However, his fists hit through empty air.
Sasuke bent backward accurately with a paper thin difference and then he swung his blade with a transcendence balance even while still bending backwards.
Vali was shocked while his body was reeling from the impact.
However, towards Sasuke, who possessed superior perception, all blows and movement of his opponent was foresighted. All vital spots were sighted, locked on to and as long as the opponent's movement was under Sasuke's perception, they would have a difficult time landing a fatal blow on him.
Vali fired a seemingly endless number of magic bullets and Sasuke swung his katana from right to left while rotating like a spinning wheel and caressed away each bullet. With a speed that handled left and right at almost the same time, Sasuke re positioned his sword with the minimum strength.
In succession, each of the magic bullets flew to the wrong direction and stabbed into the ground where there was no one.
Tch, Vali clicked his tongue.
There were cracks appearing on his armor and he had to constantly repair it.
Vali increased his power output and his figure vanished like a heat haze.
Unerringly sensing the presence of Vali that was trying to circle around him with speed that he thought the eye couldn't follow, Sasuke turned behind. He splendidly bounced back the fist that came aiming for him from the back.
Vali, whose balance crumbled from launching an attack with all his might, was attacked by Sasuke's katana.
He was slashed right from the front and both his feet braced as he withstood the shocked impact.
Large cracks appeared on his armor.
Sasuke transferred his body weight on his right leg. Vali reacted to that and sent an orb of energy to the right.
Sasuke feinted with that and instantly jumped to the left.
Vali reacted in panic---and his body pitched forward.
Because he was manipulated by a simple feint, his posture crumbled.
Sasuke sheathed his blade and extended Ascalon from the Boosted Gear.
A beheading light flashed diagonally from a lower stance.
This is bad--
[Vali, that sword carries dragon-slaying powers. If it hits just once, you'll undeniably receive great damage.]
Vali forcefully twisted his whole body into a crescent shape.
Just by getting slightly grazed, he felt his armor being smashed apart and fresh blood flew from his mouth.
Sasuke sheathed back Ascalon and removed his katana again.
Sasuke launched a series of attacks with his blade and one attack among the super rapid thrusts that were like a blizzard, was containing a shining compressed thunder.
Vali, who rushed forward, was met by the blizzard of rapid thrusts. Those thrusts literally made him unable to open his eyes, to the degree that his perception was by countless reactions.
[UGUWAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!]
Vali received a terrific impact and he got blown away.
Vali floated into the air and opened his arms wide. His wings of light also grew huge.
[Half Dimension!]
Surrounded by a dazzling aura along with a voice from his jewel, Sasuke's surroundings started to be halved in an instant. More of the surrounding trees were compressed and halved.
Hmph--
Sasuke kept back his blade and took off. The ground he was standing on was also greatly gouged out and changed into a crater.
Sasuke stepped in before Vali sharply and his right arm disappeared in a blur.
A movement of swinging a sword could be understood after some time but compared to that, this right jab that straightforwardly and unerringly flew from a stance where the fist was already lifted and prepared was completely like a needle that came flying.
That skilled movement was impossible to foresight from the muscle' preliminary movement or the breathing.
[Boost! Boost! Boost!}
A hit to Vali's abdomen with the right fist.
"Guha!"
Vali spat out bile from his mouth.
However, Sasuke didn't stop there.
A hit to the face.
SMASH!
Vali's helmet was completely broken.
The jets on his back from which his wings of light originated were destroyed!
Sasuke vigorously kicked him high into the air and he swiftly rotated to Vali's back, releasing a consecutive kick.
"Gahah!"
Vali vomited blood from the extreme tackle and he crashed to the ground.
Right now, Sasuke could see his face clearly.
Vali wiped the blood away from his mouth and he revealed a bloody smile.
"You bastard! You didn't even use any special moves and you managed to drive me to such a corner. As expected from my rival. I clearly underestimated you."
Vali noticed the change in Sasuke's right eye.
"What is that...?"
However, no sooner had he said that--
Mangekyou Sharingan!
Instantly, sparks scattered inside Vali's head.
***
The next moment, a blade was stabbed through Vali's stomach. The feeling of the blade moving felt like an extremely slow motion. The sharp edge pressed inside the soft skin, tearing the skin nicely. From there, the blade didn't meet any resistance and pushed aside fat and muscle while roughly scraping the bone, tearing down the intestines like tofu, the blade's tip kept sinking deeper, thrusting out from his back.
Air flowed into his insides. The blade was sweeping to the side. While Vali's exhausted body fell sideways, the blade was drawing a hot line in cutting apart Vali. His stomach was bisected from the middle, then the blade flew out from his body.
Vali was watching all that while his body was declining down to the side. A beat after that, bright red blood and split intestines flowed out from the wound--
He couldn't keep calm. Vali writhed around from pain that seemed like burning his stomach from the inside. It didn't cause instant death, yet precisely because of that, the shocking image of his own pink colored intestines was burned clearly into his mind.
Vali writhed around for about five minutes from that pain, until before long, his consciousness was clouded from his declining blood pressure and he died from shock.
***
The next moment, the crown of Vali's head was split into two by a sword. He felt as if the whole world was smashed up from the terrific impact of his skull being struck really hard. His skull was splendidly broken open, making the outline of his head distorted like a rubber ball.
The sword pressed through his flabby head vertically...through...His consciousness lapsed into pieces. It was because his nerve network was destroyed earlier than the death coming for him. He understood that. Actually, he also saw his own brain splattered all over outside.
The blade pressed through the bridge of his nose and tore his neck too, finally it stopped around his chest and Vali collapsed from his knee, his limbs that were unconsciously twitching sloppily scratched off his own blood and brain matter while he fell down.
Feces spilled out endlessly from his lower body and both his legs tensed tightly like a bow.
But Vali still lived.
[Death] was repeated many times over. Vali was continuously repeating [death] as if he was being toyed with by raging waves in the middle of a storm.
Vali was having a bird-eye view of the thing called death. He was deliberately made to take a straight look at hidden things like blood, internal organs and brain.
Usually, someone had surely once or twice imagined how graphic of what existed under their skin. If humans didn't forget that, they wouldn't be able to retain their sanity to spend their ordinary days.
Someday, he would die and rot - the inescapable dreadful demise that was impossible to escape for any kind of living thing, death!
Vali was made to affirm that moment where every meaning came to an end! Forcefully!
He was made to personally experience every form of death. Vali trembled violently from terror. The destruction of [his familiar self]. The decay of blood and internal organs, and then eternal unfeeling, unthinking...
(This fight, is over.)
He was dragged back to reality.
***
Sasuke watched as Vali struggled to stand up.
"...Interesting. Truly interesting. What you just showed me...I am grateful. It shows me that I have no choice but to use this--"
Vali's eyes still carried a trace of determination.
"I shall show you the true power of the Hakuryuukou."
Sasuke could not help but think inwardly.
His will is stronger than I expected--
"Albion, it is time to show my rival the Hakuryuukou's [Juggernaut Drive]."
[Vali, are you sure?]
"It'll all work out, Albion. --[I, who is about to awaken,--]"
[Am the White Dragon Emperor who will take the law down to the darkness--]
Sasuke noticed the change.
Seems like he still has something hidden...
I thought he would give up...
Instead, it seems to boost his will to fight.
Sasuke sighed.
Fine then, I shall also get a little serious.
***
--[I, who is about to awaken,--]
[Am the White Dragon Emperor who will take the law down to the darkness--]
However, just as Sasuke prepared to use the Mangekyou again--.
With the moon floating within the night sky in the background, a single silhouette swooped down and swiftly came into the space between Sasuke and Vali.
It was a man wearing armor that would be worn by a military commander of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
"Vali, I've come for you."
It was a young man with a refreshing-looking face and he spoke to Vali cheerfully.
"Bikou. What have you come for?"
"Isn't that cruel? I made a long journey all the way to this island country because my partner is in a pinch, you know? We're joining together to fight the northern country Gods and you were supposed to flee and return right away if the mission failed, right? It seems you lost badly against the Sekiryuutei. Cattleya also failed to assassinate any of the Three Faction leaders. In that case, your role is also over. Come back with me."
"...I see, so it's already time."
***
"Sasuke-kun!"
A bunch of voices could be heard calling Sasuke's name and a familiar man swooped down beside him.
It was the man who Sasuke had met a couple of times before.
"The descendant of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Bikou."
"Kakaka! Nice to meet you, Governor-dono and the Sekiryuutei." Bikou replied with a cackle.
Vali looked over at the new figure.
"Azazel, huh? It seems you defeated Cattleya at the cost of an arm. Well, she was no match for you in the first place."
Azazel sighed.
"Vali, I am still a little shocked that you joined a terrorist organisation."
"I got the offer while I was en-route returning Kokabiel to headquarters. Sorry, Azazel. This side seems to be more interesting."
Azazel glanced over at Sasuke before he focused his attention back on Vali.
"The descendant of the previous generation's Maou Lucifer who died, the Hakuryuukou. It seems you had a hard battle against the Sekiryuutei."
The girls who had finally arrived at the scene, were shocked upon hearing the name 'Lucifer'.
"No way... That can't be..."
Rias, who was standing beside Sasuke, also wore an astonished expression on her face.
Vali stared at Sasuke with a fierce determination.
"Uchiha Sasuke. This battle is your win. I clearly underestimated your prowess. You were certainly holding back during that fight. But--"
Bikou spun around a cane that had appeared in his hand and pierced it into the ground.
Instantly, a black darkness spread over the ground and enveloped both Vali and Bikou, making them completely sink into it.
"The next time we meet, it will be even more intense. Uchiha Sasuke, I will fight you with all my strength in our next battle. And I expect you to do the same--"
Stopping mid-sentence just there, the Hakuryuukou vanished into the darkness along with Bikou.
Azazel faced Sasuke.
"You are not going to chase after them?'
Sasuke shook his head.
"They are not worth my time--"
***
The armies of the three big powers had come in and carried away the corpses of the dead Magicians.
"So you were safe. Thank goodness. -- Azazel, what happened to that arm?"
Sirzechs gestured his hand at Asia and she responded by applying her recovery Sacred Gear on the opening of the wound. Pale green light healed the wound but the lost arm wasn't fixed.
"I was caught by Cattleya and nearly self-destructed along with her. I had no choice but to cut it off."
"I also...caused trouble with Vali."
"...So he betrayed you."
"From the start, he was a guy that pursued only power. --However, it's my responsibility that I didn't stop it from happening. Thankfully, the Sekiryuutei was there to stop him."
Sirzechs widened his eyes slightly.
"Sasuke-kun? I see, so he was the one who stopped the Hakuryuukou--"
Sirzechs looked around at a group of people before he questioned Rias.
"Rias, where is Sasuke-kun?"
Rias turned around and stared away into a distance far off.
"He said there was nothing more for him to do here so he left. It seems there was something he needed to do--"
Her tone carried a trace of loneliness.
***
Heaven's representative Head Angel Michael, Governor Azazel of the Fallen Angel central organisation Grigori, the Underworld's representative Maou Sirzechs Lucfier, with these representatives of the Three Great Powers, a peace treaty was signed.
Thereafter, disputes between the Three Great Powers were prohibited in the framework of cooperation.
***
"And so, from today on, I'll be the adviser of this Occult Research Club. Please call me Azazel-sensei. Or Governor is fine too."
Wearing a worn out suit, Azazel was in the club room of the Occult Research Club.
"...Why are you here?"
Touching her forehead with her hand, Rias was in a perplexed state.
"Hah! I was requested to take this position by Sirzechs."
"Wait, what about that arm? Didn't you lose one of them?"
Rias pointed at Azazel's arm.
"Ah, this. It's a genuine artificial arm that I produced while researching Sacred Gears. It's an all-purpose arm that can be loaded with light power-style laser beams and tiny missiles."
Bashu!
Azazel's hand flew out.
"The conditions for me staying at this school is that I make the immature Sacred Gears possessed by the Devils of the Gremory family grow. The Sekiryuutei is not a devil but he is already plenty strong enough so there is nothing I can teach him. You guys have also heard about it, but there is a weird organization called the Khaos Brigade. I know that Vali has his own team. We're temporarily calling it the [Hakuryuukou Team.] Several people are gathering around the ones who've been identified at present, including--"
Azazel looked over at Koneko.
"The S-Class stray Devil, Kuroka."
Koneko's face instantly changed as she clutched both her fists.
Azazel continued.
"Well, Vali and the others are probably not going to attack anytime soon. But--"
"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I will make sure to train you guys real good."
Kuoh Academy Senior High School, Occult Research Club--
Advising Teacher: Azazel(Fallen Angel Governor)
President: Rias Gremory (King)
Vice President: Himejima Akeno (Queen)
Club members:
Toujou Koneko ( Rook)
Kiba Yuuto (Knight)
Xenovia (Knight)
Asia Argento (Bishop)
Gasper Vladi (Bishop)
***
"--And that is the report from Michael-dono, Odin-sama."
"Those youngsters have sprung back up. It's a bold thing pretending to be God, that damn Michael."
"It was unexpected that the God recorded in the Holy Bible has died."
"Hmph! That youngster Michael, that fake Lucifer and that naughty kid Azazel, it's a play gathering of little brats."
"Then, shall we teach them what we, the Asgard, the true Gods, are like?"
"Freyr, I won't be able to respond to a war engulfing the world after so long with my old body. However, what I'm interested in particularly is--"
"The Sekiryuutei and the Hakuryuukou."
"The parting gift left behind by God--"
"The Longinus."
***
Sasuke was now alone in a park late at night and in the grim darkness, a peculiar sight stood out.
A dark oval shape spiral started distorting through the atmosphere.
However--
The portal soon disappeared and Sasuke received a slight feedback in his left eye.
I see...
It seems the Rinnegan power is slowly coming back.
Sasuke looked up into the never ending darkness of the sky.
***
Very soon...