Chapter 88: Beyond Redemption! The Pre-Show Ends, the True Battle Begins!

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"Alright!"

Badr took the lead, and Xenovia seamlessly withdrew, flawlessly completing the switch. 

Though it was their first time fighting side-by-side, Badr and Xenovia displayed remarkable coordination. Perhaps it was a natural understanding. One after the other, they launched their assault.

Clang!

The King Sword clashed against the fused Holy Sword, Sacred and Holy power colliding in a furious maelstrom.

Badr silently poured more demonic power into his blade, his movements blurring into lightning-fast strikes. 

Number One, fueled by Soul Combustion and the speed boost from the [Excalibur Rapidly] fragment, matched Badr's speed. The two exchanged fierce blows, their swords clashing relentlessly across the battlefield!!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A series of explosions erupted, flames born from the clash of demonic and holy energies. Badr and Number One moved with incredible speed, their afterimages lingering across the ravaged training grounds. 

Xenovia, though slightly slower, possessed excellent battle instincts. She intervened at crucial moments, supporting Badr and disrupting Number One's attacks.

Badr's demonic power surged within him as he pushed King Sword's amplification to its limits!

Boom!!

His sword cleaved downwards. Number One blocked the blow with her sword, but the sheer force of Badr's attack blasted a crater into the ground beneath her!

A momentary stalemate!

Xenovia saw her chance.

Durandal flashed with a cold light as Xenovia lunged forward, appearing before Number One in a blink!

She struck!

Badr smoothly disengaged, and Number One, unable to recover in time, could only raise her fused Holy Sword in a desperate parry against Durandal.

Crack!!

Xenovia's meticulously prepared attack shattered the fused Holy Sword, the blue-and-white aura surrounding it dissolving into fragments!

"Aagh!!"

For the first time, the girl, Number One, cried out in agony. Her long hair whipped around her as the power within her body went haywire. 

Numerous wounds erupted across her exposed body. Badr, having circled back, thrust King Sword forward, piercing the girl's heart in a single, decisive blow.

Her body went rigid.

Badr's black eyes met the girl's. He saw her gaze gradually clear, a flicker of peace passing through them.

She smiled weakly at Badr, her lips moving as if to speak, but only blood flowed out. Then, the light in her eyes faded rapidly.

Badr stood in silence, slowly withdrawing King Sword. The blade was stained with the girl's crimson blood.

The sword trembled slightly, as if in mourning.

She was an innocent girl, and King Sword was meant to be a blade that protected its people...

The King Sword and Shield, Born for protection, were now tainted with the blood of an innocent.

Badr gently laid Number One's body in the crater. With a wave of King Sword, the earth surged upwards, burying her.

He then turned his gaze towards Valper Galilei.

That bastard... was the true culprit.

His figure vanished in an instant. Badr reappeared beside Valper, staring down at the repulsive old man. He plunged King Sword through his chest, lifting him into the air.

"Do you believe in the immortality of the soul?"

He questioned coldly. This man, who toyed with human souls, was truly despicable.

Even devils like them held a certain respect for the power of souls.

"Aagh... I-I beg Y... Spare me... I was merely seeking knowledge! It was for the advancement of humanity! I created Holy Sword wielders, granting humans who couldn't control them immense power! Was that wrong?"

The excruciating pain turned Valper's face pale as he felt his life slipping away.

Unlike the insane scientist they had encountered before, Valper seemed to cherish his life much more.

Badr listened to his pleas, falling silent.

"...You're beyond redemption."

He twisted King Sword slightly, preparing to end Valper's life.

But in the next moment, he withdrew King Sword without hesitation and vanished from the spot.

Boom!!

A spear of light slammed into the ground where he had been standing. Badr was already gone, leaving only Valper to be incinerated into ash by the terrifying power.

Badr calmly looked up at Kokabiel in the air.

"You think I'd fall for the same trick twice?"

He had been caught off guard in the dimensional gap, injured by this Fallen Angel's surprise attack. This time, he had been monitoring him with a clone.

Kokabiel chuckled. "Interesting. I never expected you to reach this level. Miss Rias, you've found yourself a remarkable companion."

"Thank you for the compliment," Rias replied, her face cold.

With all distractions eliminated by Badr, everyone understood what came next. It was time to face the main antagonist, Kokabiel...

...

Kokabiel laughed as he watched Badr eliminate his collaborators.

"Fascinating, truly fascinating. As expected, battle is the most entertaining activity. But it seems you're celebrating too early. This was merely the end of the pre-show."

Kokabiel laughed heartily, finally rising from his throne in the sky. He descended slowly, his polished black shoes touching the ground.

Dressed in a black suit, he resembled a human gentleman, but his crimson eyes held a sinister glint.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, its golden light streaking towards Kokabiel.

But he merely unfurled his black wings, unleashing a surge of Sacred power that obliterated the lightning strike.

"Don't get in my way, wielder of Barakiel's power," Kokabiel sneered.

"Don't compare me to that man!" Akeno Himejima retorted angrily.

Beside her, Badr's clone, wielding King Shield, protected her as he listened to Kokabiel's words.

Barakiel, another Cadre of the Fallen Angels, also known as [Lightning]. In terms of combat power alone, he was said to be on par with Azazel, the Governor General of the Fallen Angels!

Could Akeno be...?

Looking at Akeno Himejima beside him, Badr formed a hypothesis.

Kokabiel ignored Akeno's warning and laughed mockingly.

"Rias Gremory, your servants are quite the intriguing bunch. A Nekomata, a Holy Maiden who can heal both angels and devils, Barakiel's daughter, and a peculiar freak who can create clones."

He pointed them out one by one, his laughter growing louder.

"Truly fascinating. Just like your brother, you have a penchant for recruiting monsters!"

Rias gritted her teeth. "Insulting my brother, speaking ill of a Maou, and even insulting my servants! You deserve to die!!"

Kokabiel responded with a provocative smirk.

"Heh... then come and kill me, little sister of the Maou! Your former nemesis stands before you! Are you sure you want to miss this opportunity?"

Unable to endure any longer, Rias launched her attack. Immense demonic power condensed into a magic circle before her, unleashing a torrent of crimson flames that surged forward like a raging dragon, scorching the air.

Kokabiel grinned wickedly, summoning a blade of light into his hand. He swung it at the incoming fire dragon with a mighty slash!

Poof!

Despite being an intangible construct of flames, the dragon was cleaved in two by his Sacred light blade!

The flames dissipated into the air, leaving Kokabiel unharmed.

Badr and Xenovia charged forward almost simultaneously, flanking Kokabiel. King Sword and Durandal pulsed with menacing energy.

Clang!!

Kokabiel calmly blocked Xenovia's Durandal with his light blade. In an instant, he summoned another blade of light in his other hand, intercepting Badr's King Sword.

He effortlessly deflected their combined attack with ease!

Suddenly, a rush of wind filled the air. Koneko Toujou leaped towards Kokabiel, aiming for his now occupied hands.

But she had underestimated him, failing to consider that his ten black wings could also be used for offense!

Kokabiel's wings spread wide, the soft feathers transforming into razor-sharp blades that blurred into a flurry of afterimages!

Koneko, who had been about to seize the opportunity, was caught completely off guard.

"Aagh!!"

With a cry of pain, Koneko was sent flying, her body riddled with wounds, blood splattering everywhere.

"Koneko!"

Badr's clone, in his spectral form, flew to her rescue, catching her mid-air. The impact still sent them both hurtling back over ten meters. Seeing Koneko covered in blood, Badr quickly grasped her hand, channeling his demonic power to heal her wounds.

Asia rushed over and activated Twilight Healing to mend Koneko's injuries.

"I'm sorry..."

Koneko felt guilty for failing to contribute.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault," Badr said softly, continuing to channel his demonic power into her. Thanks to their combined efforts, Koneko's condition stabilized rapidly.

Meanwhile, his main body and Xenovia bore the brunt of Kokabiel's assault. The Fallen Angel was ridiculously powerful, even in close combat!

Thud! Thud!

Two dull impacts resonated as Badr and Xenovia were each struck by a powerful kick. They were sent flying uncontrollably!

This was the overwhelming strength of a being that surpassed even high-class devils!

Xenovia managed to twist her body mid-air, regaining her balance. However, before she could steady herself, Kokabiel appeared beside her, sending her flying with a single swing of his light blade.

Kokabiel laughed boisterously. "You followers of God and devils continue to fight even though you've lost the masters you're supposed to serve. How amusing."

His words confused everyone.

"...What do you mean?" Xenovia, visibly shaken, couldn't help but ask.

"Eh?"

Kokabiel seemed momentarily surprised before chuckling. "Oops, seems I let something slip..."

But then he tilted his head, a gleeful expression spreading across his face.

"Oh my, that's right. Since we're already at this point, there's no need for secrecy, is there? Hahahaha... I'll tell you then!"

His face was filled with mockery, as if ridiculing their ignorance. He continued in a tone that suggested he was enjoying their shock.

"During the last Great War, not only the Four Great Satans, but your God also died! Hahahahaha..."

The news struck Rias and the others like a thunderbolt. Their faces were etched with disbelief.

Only Badr remained unfazed. He held no particular reverence for Gods or Satans.

Besides... a God who could die?

Could such a being even be called a God? 

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