The stage is set

Rias and Sona were sitting together with their guests. Today two exorcists arrived in Kuoh and wanted to speak with them about an important matter. As they were officially recognized as the town's governors it was exactly right to inform them if they planned to take actions in Kuoh.

At first a little drama ensured since one of the exorcists was Issei's childhood friend and she wasn't very pleased that he became a devil. Sona suggested to keep their private talk for later to which Irina grumpily agreed. Issei in the meanwhile was puzzled how his best friend during his childhood suddenly became a girl. As he thought about it, he realised that Irina was a weird name for a boy to have.

Afterwards they told them why they were sent to Kuoh.

"What you are saying, is that someone stole fragments of the original Excalibur and fled towards Japan. Said person or organization is now in Kuoh and you think they are planning something. Am I right so far?" Rias questioned.

"That is right. We wanted to let you know that we are here to retrieve them." Irina answered.

Xenovia narrowed her eyes and spoke up: "We are able to deal with it on our own, but our superiors ordered us to ask for a cooperation in that matter. Our only demand are the Excalibur fragments that we need to bring back to the Vatican."

It was obvious that she had a dislike for devils and didn't mind showing it.

"I don't mind to work together but since it is us-" Rias pointed at her and Sona, "that are in charge of Kuoh, we will decide how to proceed."

Xenovia wanted to say something but being nudged by Irina she closed her mouth. Jeanne told them to work together and to get want they want they had to give a bit. She also mentioned that the bespectacled girl had a sharp mind and might be useful in forming a strategy.

Actually, Jeanne didn't expect Xenovia to hold back and both of them to keep their comments to themselves. She already analysed these young devils and knew which buttons to push. Rias and Sona were here to prove themselves without too much of their families influence and to realise their dreams. If one shows them respect, they most likely respond reasonably. Other information Ezekiel relayed from Michael, stated that the families of Gremory and Sitri are one of the most open-minded families in the current devil-community.

Kiba who stood at the other end of the room clenched his fist the moment they began talking about holy swords. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and voiced his thoughts: "President, we can't work with them!"

"Kiba, why do you say so?" Rias asked sadly. She knew of his trauma, but she couldn't just decide irrationally when it came to dealings with other factions. Another reason was that Sona involved herself more into the management than before.

Instead of answering her, he turned to the two young exorcists: "You! You know about the holy sword project, don't you?"

Most were surprised by his intensity and at the same time puzzled what the holy sword project was.

Xenovia and Irina thought for a moment before a look of realization came over Xenovia's face: "Seeing how emotional you are, you lost somebody to the experiment? Or are you a survivor? That would explain how you are so enraged."

Kiba was incensed. Was she making fun of him? Of his friends that died that day!

"Don't misunderstand, the project was a big crime and the person responsible, Valper Galilei, was excommunicated." Xenovia explained as she saw his expression.

"Is that how much the lives of my friends are worth?! That he only got excommunicated?!" Kiba gnashed bis teeth and continued, "these swords should all just get destroyed."

Before it could escalate any further, Sona decided to step in.

"Kiba, if I may?" Sona asked and continued after he stayed silent, "You said you have to bring the fragments back to the church, right?"

"That's right." Irina said probably more cheerful than intended.

"Then how about this. When we find the thief, you let Kiba here destroy one of the swords." Sona suggested.

Xenovia thought for a bit before Xenovia answered: "That would be acceptable."

"There is another thing that bugs me. If I remember correctly, the holy sword project was to find out why certain people were able to wield holy swords and if a wielder could be artificially created. The end goal was to find someone capable of using the Excalibur swords, right?"

Seeing a few nods in return, she continued: "Since Valper Galilei, the one responsible for the project, was only excommunicated and the weapons stolen were Excalibur-swords-"

Kiba turned his head at her: "You are saying Valper Galilei is the one that stole the swords?!"

"It is just a wild guess, as good as any, but it would make sense. Considering even the possibility of it, it would be a good idea to work together and deal with it as soon as possible. And Kiba. You will get to destroy one of the swords and possibly even deal with the murderer of your friends. That should be acceptable, no?" Sona said and looked at Kiba at the end.

Kiba was obviously enraged but still calmed down a bit. Rias let his attitude slide this time because it seemed everybody felt bad for his past and Sona didn't seem dissatisfied. She was only happy that her knight might have a chance to overcome his trauma.

"Then I suggest we form teams of three to patrol the area and search for anything out of the ordinary." Sona proposed.

As no objections were voiced, the plan for the night was decided. Even Xenovia and Irina were amazed at her deductions and abilities to make decisions. If she were a human, she would be perfect.

-o-

"The exorcists arrived. It seems they forged a temporary alliance with the devils." An old, grey-haired man with a priest outfit reported.

"Then it is time. Take that lunatic with you and start the ritual at the school. If threatened to destroy the whole town, they will have no choice but to fight. I hope they will entertain me properly." The cadre-class fallen angel spoke in anticipation.

The old man left in search for his crazy guard-dog.

-o-

As the different teams of devils and the two exorcists patrolled the streets of Kuoh, suddenly a big magic circle materialized in the sky behind the school.

Everybody felt the threat, but only the ones with a connection to the supernatural world knew what it was. The devils quickly met up to make plans. It was at this point, that a figure appeared in the sky in front of them.

"The heiresses of house Gremory and Sitri. It is a pleasure to meet you." The pale figure in the sky spoke leisurely.

Everybody turned their eyes at the newcomer, and they were shocked. Even Issei knew that the number of wings was an indicator of the strength of a fallen angel. He already had problems dealing with one that had only one pair. Now there was an enemy, that seemed far stronger and far more confident.

Rias and Sona narrowed their eyes, before Rias spoke up: "Who are you and what do you want?"

"Me?" he smirked. "I am Kokabiel, a cadre of the fallen angels. I will give you one hour before this-" he pointed at the magic circle in the sky, "will explode and eradicate every living being in a few kilometres."

Looks of horror appeared on everyone's faces.

"The countdown starts now." Kokabiel said before leaving in a magic circle.

The devils got to work. The peerage of Sona Sitri was responsible to make a barrier around the school grounds to keep the town safe from harm while Team Gremory was to fight the threat head on. Rias' peerage had the stronger fighters after all. The two exorcists naturally tagged along. At this point it was clear where the stolen swords would be.

Sona was sure they were outclassed now and directly contacted her sister. Akeno knowing the stubbornness of her master contacted Rias' brother as well. They had to delay them for a while before help would arrive.

-o-

Azazel stood next to a silver-haired, young man as they watched the proceedings.

"I want you to act when they can't hold on anymore. Bring me Kokabiel and the other two. We can't have Kokabiel fall into their hands and the other two might still have their uses.

The silver-haired young man didn't say anything, but Azazel knew he could rely on him.

-o-

Abelia was sitting on a large building eating some snacks. If push came to shove, she would help, but otherwise she would watch the show. If possible, she would like to avoid being scolded by her mother.

-o-

"It is time." Ezekiel said, sporting a light grin. He could finally enjoy himself and search for strong people. Though his family seemed to worry unnecessarily, he knew they only wanted him to be careful and not to risk too much before he could even reach a speck of his true potential.

"Yes, Zeke! What should I do?" Jeanne followed behind and asked.

"I want you to keep the others safe. I will deal with the rest." Ezekiel answered without looking back.

Jeanne pouted slightly. She wouldn't tell anyone, but she liked fights nearly as much. But she understood Ezekiel. He only had their own people to spar with and he was on few missions because of his identity. Compared to him, Jeanne would often go on missions with Dulio or other Exorcists.

-o-

They were in a pinch. When they first arrived, an old guy fused three fragments of the original Excalibur and created a far stronger sword. Kokabiel summoned multiple Cerberus from the Underworld.

Rias and Akeno "battled" Kokabiel with occasional boosts from Issei. Their attacks were powerful, but nowhere near the level to threaten Kokabiel. The fallen had a lot experience under his belt and the young devils' techniques were unrefined.

Koneko and Xenovia were fighting against the Cerberus and barely managed to hold on.

Kiba and Irina fought the crazed lunatic, Freed Sellzen.

The one who was finally revealed as Valper Galilei hid behind Freed and blabbered non-stop to taunt Kiba and flaunt his knowledge of holy swords, which only further enraged Kiba. He told him the truth of the holy sword project and that his friends were of no use anymore. After extracting their holy energy and fusing them into a crystal he murdered them with poisonous gas.

As Kiba was reaching his boiling point, Galilei threw him a small crystal, containing part of his former friends. What happened next was something that nobody expected. Kiba reached his balance breaker and fused holy and demonic elements in one sword.

Due to his smarts, Galilei was able to recognize the significance of his balance breaker and what secret lay behind it.

"The fusion of holy and demonic energies! The that means that during the war God-" Galilei was cut short as Kokabiel killed him mercilessly.

"Your reputation as a smart man was truly not misplaced. But I have no further use of you." Kokabiel stated.

A few of the smarter individuals were already close to guess what Galilei was about to say.

"God is-?" Rias was about to say something but Kokabiel suddenly laughed.

"Yes, God died in the last war in his fight against the original four Satans!" Kokabiel exclaimed.

Everybody was shocked. How couldn't they? The cornerstone of their religion was no longer alive? The most affected were Irina and Xenovia. They broke down in tears and fell onto their knees.

"No! How could this be?!" Irina shouted, while Xenovia seemed to have lost something dear to her.

Freed just laughed in his crazed manner and the Cerberus halted at Kokabiel's command.

"All of the factions had heavy losses during the war. Why should your side be an exception? The heaven isn't in any better condition the other two factions." Kokabiel laughed with his eyes focused on the two exorcists.

He prepared another attack to deal with all of them. Rias and Akeno paled slightly. They attacked him constantly and he wasn't fazed in the slightest. That was the current gap between them! If they made it out alive, they were sure to train and become stronger.

Kokabiel summoned a massive light spear, making every light attack they saw before look like a joke. Just as most of them were falling into despair, a calm voice reverberated through the air.

"Heaven is in no better condition than your Grigori? Then let me show you heavens might." Ezekiel said amusedly.

Everybody was shocked to see Ezekiel and Jeanne here. Weren't they their upperclassmen/classmates? They didn't think they had a connection to the supernatural world.

Xenovia and Irina regained a bit light in their eyes after seeing Jeanne's unsurprised and confident look after Ezekiel's words.

Ezekiel gripped to the side into seemingly nothing and pulled. Slowly he revealed a simple looking longsword that glowed slightly. But nobody dared to underestimate the weapon as all their senses screamed danger.

"You! Who are you?" Kokabiel screamed, feeling uncomfortable for some reason.

"Who I am?" Ezekiel quietly asked while walking towards Kokabiel. His aura started to rise slightly before reaching higher and higher levels, seemingly breaking free from its life-long shackles.

"I am.."