Chapter 19: The Kokabiel Arc Begins

A few days had passed since Alex returned to Kuoh, and while things on the surface appeared calm, Alex knew better. With his memories of High School DxD fully restored, he was well aware that the peaceful days wouldn't last long. Kokabiel was coming, bringing with him chaos and a desire to reignite the Great War between angels, devils, and fallen angels.

Alex, being far more powerful than any of the players in this unfolding drama, had already decided to let things play out just as they had in the original story. It would allow his friends to grow stronger. He would intervene only when necessary, making sure that no one died or was permanently harmed.

Meeting Irina and Xenovia

In the Occult Research Club room, Rias read a message aloud to the group. It was from the Church faction, informing them that two exorcists had arrived in Kuoh to deal with a situation involving stolen Excalibur fragments.

"They're here to meet with us," Rias said, glancing at her peerage. "It seems the Church is worried about Fallen Angel involvement, and they want our cooperation."

Kiba's expression darkened as soon as the Holy Swords were mentioned. Alex could feel the tension rolling off him—Kiba's hatred for Excalibur ran deep.

"We should meet them," Rias concluded. "And find out more about what they're after."

Later that day, the Occult Research Club stood outside as two new arrivals approached. Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou, both exorcists, wore their signature Church attire and carried their Holy Swords. Irina greeted them with an upbeat smile, waving at Issei.

"Issei! It's me, Irina! You remember me, right?" she said, her voice bright and cheerful.

Issei blinked in surprise, recognizing her. "Irina? What are you doing here?"

Irina chuckled and looked to Xenovia, who remained composed and serious, eyes scanning the group. "We're here on official business. The Excalibur fragments have been stolen, and we believe the Fallen Angels are responsible. We're here to retrieve them before something disastrous happens."

Rias nodded thoughtfully, taking the information in stride. "We've also had encounters with Fallen Angels recently. If they're gathering the Excaliburs, it means something big is happening."

Alex stood in the background, quietly observing the meeting. He knew exactly what was coming: Kokabiel was behind the stolen Excalibur swords, and soon he would make his move.

Timeskip

The night had barely begun when Kokabiel made his entrance. He descended over Kuoh Academy, his massive wings blocking the moonlight as he hovered menacingly in the sky, a cruel grin plastered on his face.

"Rias Gremory!" Kokabiel's voice boomed over the school grounds. "You dare stand against me? I will burn this city to the ground and reignite the Great War!"

Rias, flanked by her peerage, stepped forward defiantly. "Kokabiel, your war is over. The peace between the factions will hold."

Kokabiel laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "Peace? You naïve little girl. There is no peace—only the illusion of it."

He raised his hand, summoning a massive spear of light, which he hurled at the group. Kiba leaped forward, his sword clashing against the spear, stopping it in its tracks. Sparks flew as Kiba forced the spear back, his anger driving him forward.

"I won't let you destroy what I care about!" Kiba shouted, his eyes blazing with fury. His past with the Holy Swords haunted him, and this was the moment he had been waiting for—to face the remnants of that darkness.

Kokabiel's eyes flickered with amusement. "Ah, a remnant of the Church's experiments. How fitting. You'll all die just like your pathetic comrades did."

The battle erupted in full force, with Rias's peerage going head-to-head against Kokabiel and his Fallen Angel forces. Akeno's lightning crackled through the air, Issei powered up with every strike, and Xenovia and Irina wielded their swords with precision, cutting down the enemies that swarmed them.

But despite their best efforts, Kokabiel barely seemed phased. His power far outmatched any of them.

.

As the fight raged on, Kokabiel suddenly withdrew, hovering high above the battlefield, looking down at the struggling devils and exorcists with disdain.

"Do you all know why I'm so confident in my victory?" Kokabiel's voice echoed across the grounds, dripping with malice.

Rias narrowed her eyes, her magic aura flaring. "What are you talking about?"

Kokabiel sneered. "It's because your God is dead!"

His words struck the group like a thunderclap. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Shock and disbelief spread across Rias's peerage, and even Xenovia and Irina froze, their expressions of horror mirroring the others.

"Wh-What?" Irina gasped, her voice trembling. "What are you talking about?!"

Xenovia's grip on her sword tightened, and her usually calm composure began to crack. "You're lying. There's no way—"

"Am I?" Kokabiel's grin widened. "Your God died in the last Great War. All this time, you've been worshipping a corpse, praying to a being that no longer exists. Why do you think the Church has been in decline? Your faith is a lie!"

Rias and her peerage stood stunned, their disbelief clear. Even Kiba, despite his hatred for the Church, looked shaken by the revelation.

"You see, with your God gone, the balance of power has been tipped. And soon, I'll tip it further by wiping out this city and starting a war that will never end!" Kokabiel raised his hand again, preparing to strike with a devastating attack.

Alex Steps In

But before Kokabiel could make his next move, Alex stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing with unearthly power. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing right in front of Kokabiel.

Kokabiel's smug expression faltered as he realized how quickly Alex had closed the distance. "W-What—?"

"You've said enough," Alex said calmly, placing a hand on Kokabiel's chest. Kokabiel's body seized up as an overwhelming pressure crashed down on him, forcing him to his knees in mid-air.

"You… Lucifer?!" Kokabiel gasped, struggling to break free from the invisible force holding him down.

Alex's gaze remained cold and unwavering. "You've toyed with them long enough. It's time for you to go."

Kokabiel's eyes widened in panic, realizing the gap between their power. "Wait! You can't—"

But before Kokabiel could finish his sentence, Alex raised his hand, summoning a swirling ball of energy. The sheer power contained within it was more than Kokabiel could comprehend.

"Goodbye," Alex said simply, and with a flick of his wrist, the energy engulfed Kokabiel, erasing him from existence in an instant.

.

.

As the dust settled, the battlefield fell silent. Kokabiel was gone, and the overwhelming threat had passed. But the damage was done—Kokabiel's revelation about God's death had left a deep scar in the hearts of everyone who heard it.

Irina fell to her knees, her face pale and tears streaming down her cheeks. "No… it can't be true…"

Xenovia stood frozen, her sword still in hand, but her entire body trembling. "If God is truly dead… then what have we been fighting for?"

Rias walked up to Alex, her expression torn between gratitude and confusion. "Alex… thank you. But… what Kokabiel said… is it true?"

Alex turned to face her, his expression softening. "Yes. God died in the Great War. But it doesn't mean anything."

Rias and the others fell silent, trying to process the weight of the truth.

For now, the battle was over, but the emotional fallout from Kokabiel's revelation would linger for a long time. Alex knew this was just the beginning—greater challenges awaited them all, and he would be there to guide and protect them, no matter what.