The Kokabiel Incident (I)

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After school had ended, Issei, Kiba, and Koneko all changed into priests' and nuns' outfits and gathered in the park. They were preparing to enact their plan to destroy the pieces of Excalibur that had been brought to Kuoh for Kiba's sake. 

But there was one more figure among them. 

It was a young man who seemed to be around their age, with short blond hair and gray eyes wearing the Kuoh boy's uniform. 

He was Genshirou Saji, Sona Sitri's newly recruited Pawn, and a Sacred Gear welder just like Hyoudou Issei and Yuuto Kiba. 

Saji was a possessor of one of Vitra the Prison Dragon's Sacred Gears, his was known as [Absorption Line] which granted him the ability to absorb the power of whomever it was attached to. 

BA-DUMP! 

All of a sudden, they each felt a distinct coldness infect their bodies. 

"Look!" Saji called out, pointing at a white-hair figure charging at the group with a longsword in his hands. 

A figure the members of the Gremory peerage were all too familiar with. 

"What a fun joke this is, for filthy existences like Devils to adorn garments of divinity!" 

CLANG! 

Kiba being the fastest of the bunch was the first to react, meeting Freed's blade with one of his demonic swords.

Freed's eyes darted from side to side for a bit while he clashed with Kiba, supposedly looking around for something. 

"Hey," the bishounen spoke all of a sudden. 

"What?" Kiba said in a bitter tone. 

"That monster isn't here is he?" 

It took the Knight a second to figure out whom he was referring to. 

"Are you talking about Takauji-senpai? What does he have to do with any of this?" 

"Is that his name?" Whenever he was brought up, Freed's demeanor lost all of its playfulness. Switching to one of fear and caution. "Just answer me, is he here or not?" 

"No, I'm more than capable of killing you myself." 

It was like the Stray Exorcist had heaved a sigh of sheer relief. 

"Thank God, that means I'll be able to slaughter you all without any complications. Hehehe, justice is on my side like always." 

"Freed, that's enough, there's been a change in plans." 

An aged voice appeared out of nowhere, belonging to a short bespectacled elderly man with gray hair and a short mustache. Wearing what looked to be a priest outfit. 

"Old man Valper? The fight only just began, why are you stopping me already?" 

The second the word "Valper" rang through the atmosphere, Kiba's expression immediately started to retort. Those around him understood full well what his reasoning was.

He was none other than Valper Galilei, dubbed the "Genocide Archbishop". The man responsible for the monstrosity is known as the Holy Sword Project. 

The project Kiba had been forced to be a member of as a child. 

The project that took his friends. 

The project caused endless suffering to the innocent. 

The project that made him the person he is today. 

"I've received some intel from Kokabiel, apparently something dangerous is lurking around. We need to regroup with him as soon as possible." 

"Dangerous? This is Excalibur you know?" Freed held up the sword coated in a light-blue aura. "What could possibly pose a threat to us?" 

Valper groaned. 

"He didn't tell me the details, but Kokabiel isn't one to play games, you know that. Let's get going already." 

Freed moaned as he slumped his shoulders. 

"Fiinneeee, sorry Devil-kun's but you heard what the boss said." 

The Exorcist made an attempt to walk away, but his leg was caught by a luminescent rope right as he was about to make his escape. 

At first, he wasn't startled, planning to cut the tether with his sword. 

But then he felt it. 

"What the hell!?" 

The rope has started to absorb his strength, causing him to glare at the man responsible for casting it. 

"Did you really think you could just waltz in here, and leave whenever you please? Give me a break." 

Saji smirked, using the power of [Absorption Line] to both keep Freed in place and gradually drain his strength. 

"Another Dragon-type gear? Just how many of you pests are there?" 

"What are you getting flustered for Freed?" Valper admonished. "Gather [Holy Power] into Excalibur and get us out of here already." 

"Oh, how could I forget?" He chuckled. 

The air around them started to tremble, Kiba's anger rising as he felt the Excalibur in Freed's hand grow stronger and stronger by the second. 

He had to make his move before the Stray had a chance to free himself, he would kill Freed, and then kill the blight on his very existence standing behind him. 

But he couldn't catch him. 

Not only did Freed cut [Absorption Line] with ease, but he had pulled out another Excalibur, one that somehow managed to increase his speed almost fivefold. Making him faster than even Kiba's version of [Mana Step]. 

"Don't worry Knight-kun, there are still two other pieces of Excalibur I've yet to retrieve. I saw the way you were glaring at it, you hate this sword, don't you? Heh, don't worry I'll make sure you get a chance to hate all of them before you perish." 

"He really does yap a lot doesn't he?" Yet another figure joined the field. 

It was a young woman with violet eyes and long chestnut hair fashioned into twin-tails.

"That he does, Irina." 

She seemed to be accompanied by a friend as well. A woman with blue hair and a green fringe on the right side. 

"Irina?" Issei called out to her. 

"Yo, Issei-kun." 

"Welp, while you guys have your little reunion I might as well bounce." 

All heads turned to Freed, who was holding some sort of small orb in his hand. 

FLASH! 

They all covered their eyes, a blinding light encompassing their surroundings as Freed made his escape alongside Valper. 

"What a shame, I thought if I concealed myself for long enough Kokabiel would show himself." 

They all looked up, shocked to notice that there was a figure somehow standing in the air above them. 

"Takauji-senpai…?" Kiba was the first to utter. 

"What's poppin' Knight–" His smaller eyes turned to the right before he could finish his sentence.

Xenovia had lunged at him, swinging [Excalibur-Destruction] towards his head without hesitation. Almost as if it was done on instinct. 

"Good grief." 

The blue-haired woman's eyes bulged out of their sockets, watching in sheer horror as the Mage caught the Holy Sword with his bare hands with some sort of dark substance wrapping around the blade. 

"Listen, I know my appearance was a little sudden so I'll allow it this time, but there won't be a second time. Got it?" 

He gently pushed the edge of the blade away with his fingers, causing Xenovia to stumble backward a little. 

["Bullying children, how manly of you."] 

How was that bullying? I let her off, didn't I? 

["Idiot, look at her face. You terrified the poor kid, Azazel would never do such a thing."] 

Takauji turned towards the Exorcist, noticing that she had been left utterly speechless. 

["Apologize!"] 

Do I really have to? 

["Apologize or I'm canceling the contract, and I'm going to tell Azazel it was your fault."] 

Tch. 

"Uh, sorry about that, didn't mean to scare you there." 

He softened his posture, speaking to her as if he was consoling a child. 

["Recall your Mana already! Otherwise, the other Holy Sword user next to her is going to lose her marbles as well."] 

The Mage did as the overly protective Dragon King asked, recalling his Mana entirely as those around him seemed to regain the ability to breathe again. 

["Good, now be a nice Demon King and give her one of your snacks from that little pocket thing you have."] 

Eh? Those are limited editions though! They're not going to sell them for another three months! 

["Don't make me repeat myself."] 

Takauji pouted as he used [Vacio], pulling out two of the pricey cream buns he had bought and handed one to both Irina and Xenovia. 

"Uhm, thank you?" Irina said with lacking confidence. Not sure what to make of the situation in the slightest. 

"You're welcome…" 

The Demon King sniffled a little, cursing the fact that his temporary partner had to be such a goody two shoes. 

["I can still hear you."] 

Good. 

"I've been meaning to ask Takauji-senpai, but what the hell happened to you?" Issei was the first to speak up. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I'm talking about all this." He waved his hand around his face. 

"Oh you mean my peerless handsomeness? You can thank my mom for that." 

"You know that's not what I'm talking about…" 

Takauji exhaled. 

"It's a long story, and we don't have time for long stories right now. What we, or more accurately what I need to be doing is sending you kids home." 

["Mhm. You better."] 

Everyone turned bleary-eyed. 

"Home? But we need–" 

"To go home. End of discussion, unless any of you happened to achieve [Balance Breaker]," he glanced at Kiba, Issei, and Saji. "Or suddenly become the next Vasco Strada, it's time to pack your things and leave." He turned to Xenovia and Irina. 

"I can't do that, Takauji-senpai," Kiba spoke up, causing him to receive a bone-chilling glare from the Mage. 

"Excuse me?" 

"I have to destroy those swords myself, because–" 

"I know why you feel like you have to destroy those swords," the Knight flinched. "But as you are you don't have the power to do so, nor attempt to without getting killed. You heard those two boneheads, Kokabiel's going to be here." 

"I know that. But isn't it arrogant of you to send us back, and fight him by yourself? That's what you're planning to do isn't it?" 

An eerie chuckle left Takauji's mouth. 

Now is it alright? 

["Fine, but don't go overboard."] 

Whatever you say, Mom. 

Darkness unlike any other started to pour out of his body, freezing everyone around him in place just from the pressure alone. 

It was like the world had turned gray like his very spirit itself was pushing them onto the ground. 

"The Genocide Grandpa said it himself, something dangerous is lurking around here." 

Kokabiel had become aware of Azazel's presence in Kuoh, leading him to believe that the Governor was going to take some kind of measure to deal with his betrayal. 

However, what form that measure came in was unknown to him. 

"You have grown strong. I watched your progress with my own eyes during your match with Riser Phenex. But the current situation is of a different caliber," Takauji paused. "Actually, if you do want to help there is one thing you could do." 

"And what would that be?" Kiba asked. 

"You could try achieving [Balance Breaker] before nightfall if you want. That's probably when Kokabiel will make his presence known." 

The suggestion sounded like an outrageous joke to them. 

"Then again, I suppose I'm not exactly in a position to stop you. You are Rias Gremory's responsibility after all, not mine." 

["If anything happens to those kids, I'll break out of this gear myself and bite your head off."] 

Sheesh, what's got you so protective of them? But relax, I'll stuff them all into [Vacio] if I really have to. 

["I'm serious. Azazel will be pissed as well."] 

Because they have Sacred Gears right? I know that, just cool your jets already.

"If you really feel like ignoring my warning and involving yourself in this battle, then you may do that. But if that ends up in your deaths, and the grieving of your King then don't pin it on me. Understood?" 

All four of his eyes locked onto the Knight, demanding a concrete response. 

"Understood." 

The Mage's smaller eyelids closed, a content smile plastered on his face. 

"Great, then I'll see you when I see you." 

He vanished in the blink of an eye, his presence completely untraceable by any of the group. 

"Yuuto-san, just who was that exactly?" Irina asked the Knight. 

"That was Ashikaga Takauji, or at least I think it's him. He's Rias Gremory's contracted Magician." 

"Magician? But Magicians are humans aren't they?" 

"Yeah…" 

Whatever Takauji had become. It was not human. 

He wasn't a Devil either, nor a Fallen Angel. 

In Kiba's eyes, he was just a mass of overwhelming power. One with no title or history to its name. 

"That's what I thought as well…" 

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10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14

Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

Word Count: 2083