Chapter 194

Giving off a genuine smile, she glossed over everything. However, her desire to further further her sealing proficiency was renewed. This was the first time she had been forcefully separated from Igor. She would make sure it would be the last.

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|DxD|

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A few moments prior

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Shuri was worried, immensely worried.

"Aaaa! Mama!"

Right now, the entire house was in a state of panic. Not just the house. The entire town itself. Just a few seconds ago, a surge of power unlike anything before had blighted her senses with so much force that she temporarily blacked out.

But that paled in comparison to what happened next.

BOOOOOM!

A massive boom like that of an earthquake shook the very land beneath them. Unsecured utensils fell on the floor, ceramic splattering against tile. She was in the living room with Akeno and Asia when all of this happened.

Out of protective instinct, she held both children next to her, her warmth quietly reassuring them. They huddled together on the sofa, their attention on the movie becoming nonexistent.

Su!

Suddenly, Aurelia appeared in the room. Garbed in a simple dress, her sword was right on her hip, her eyes glowing blue as she assessed their status. Once assured everything was fine, she suddenly slammed her hand on the wall.

Vwong!

Immediately, a large magic circle formed just as quickly as it disappeared. Almost instantly, the shaking throughout the house stopped as well as the overwhelming heaviness in the air.

"Shuri-sama. I shall go and see what is happening. Please take care of Akeno-sama and Asia-sama."

After receiving her nod, Aurelia immediately vanished in a flash of golden light, leaving Shuri alone with the two girls who were huddled closely to her.

"..."

Shuri wouldn't deny it. What just happened, what she just felt absolutely terrified her. That level of power…it was indescribable.

"It's going to be alright. It's going to be alright."

Just like her, Akeno and Asia were also able to sense this power. But unlike her, they didn't have the capacity to endure it. The two girls were quiet, their hands tightly clinging onto Shuri like a man hanging from a cliff.

Their eyes were tightly closed, their faces pressed into her side. For the two of them, young as they are to experience such a daunting impact was…saddening.

"It's going to be alright…"

She could only give them the silent comfort they needed. Shuri was only relieved that the initial barrier around the house dulled most of the impact while Aurelia's additional barrier significantly muffled the rest of it.

Were neither of these barriers there…

"..."

She paled at the thought.

[Just what is causing this power?]

If what she experienced was anything to measure by, then the rest of the town must have it much, much worse. Just by looking through the window, the darkness of the night had been chased away by sporadic weather phenomena. Just the constant lightning flashes and the rapid shaking of trees told her that if this kept up, a typhoon would soon bring destruction to this town.

"By the gods…"

She could only hope that this would soon stop. If whatever or whoever was responsible for this energy was malicious, then she didn't want Igor or Aurelia getting anywhere close to that thing.

[Please be okay.]

It was times like these that she lamented her strength.

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|DxD|

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Cleria was not having a good time. Not at all. She was indulging in well-deserved rest when she was suddenly awoken by a wave of power so intense that she couldn't breathe. Right there in her bed, her body instinctually froze up in fear that ran bone-deep.

There was no fight or flight response. The reaction was so deep that her body outright decided there was no fighting or running from whatever this thing was. Rather, it was easier to wait for death. Her body had almost failed her when suddenly, Azazel appeared at her side and immediately hugged her.

"I'm here, Cleria. I'm here."

"..."

She felt as if it was an illusion. Her mind didn't even process his presence until she gradually couldn't feel that horrible power level anymore.

"Wha-whaaa…?"

She looked around in panic, her brows covered in cold sweat.

"I'm here, Cleria. Nothing will happen to you."

"..."

Slowly, she regained enough conscious thought to realise who was holding her.

"Azazel!"

Like a drowning man suddenly receiving a lifebuoy, she immediately hung on to him.

"I-I'm scared, Azazel. I'm scared…"

"It's alright, Cleria. It's alright now."

Wrapped in the safety of his arms, Cleria finally allowed herself to let out the emotions she was feeling. Clutching on tightly to him, she released silent tears. Her face was frozen in shock, but the fear ran deep.

Controlling his apprehension, Azazel turned to face Shemhazai and Baraquiel who had come along with him. Immediately he gave them instructions.

"Shemhazai. Go and activate the town barrier and raise it to maximum power. I want no one teleporting in or out of Kuoh without my permission. After that, I want you to suppress any attempts at documenting news of this phenomenon until further notice. Baraquiel. I want you to find any and all spies you can and subdue or kill them at your discretion, even if they're our brethren. I want no information of today leaking out under any circumstance. I will coordinate with Cleria's peerage until further notice. I want this done now."

Giving a nod, both brothers immediately vanished, leaving both Azazel and Cleria in her room. To this moment, Cleria didn't seem to notice that Baraquiel and Shemhazai had been there. Her eyes remained tightly shut, her arms coiled tightly around his.

"..."

For the first time ever, Azazel regretted linking her with the town's barrier. It was very helpful for informing her of any unverified supernatural entities entering without her permission. By making her hyper-aware of energy signatures coming in and out, she would be able to efficiently deal with stray devils, rogues, and spies.

Unfortunately, this benefit now manifested the biggest disadvantage. Because of her link to the barrier, she now bore the brunt of that massive power-level. Regretfully, he couldn't do anything to remove that link without hurting her.

The most he could do was numb it enough so that she wouldn't feel the worst of it.

BAM!

Suddenly, Lina entered the room with two more members of Cleria's peerage behind her. Similar to her female compatriots, there was a faint trace of panic on her face.

She was about to request orders when Azazel cut her off.

"Good. You're here. Lina, I want you to go inform the mayor that he should hold off on delivering a speech temporarily. As for the rest of you, try and restore as much order as you can to this town. Erase memories as well if you have to. You will receive further orders from Baraquiel. Lina. You will group up with them once you are done with your task. Now go."

Nodding immediately, Lina left with the other two in tow. None of them had any qualms in taking orders from him in the slightest. When they left, Azazel once more looked at Cleria. She seemed to be getting better, but the shock still rang through her veins.

If it wasn't for her volatile state, he would've rushed off to find whoever was responsible for releasing such a massive power level and verify their intentions.

[I can only hope they are benign.]

Even with his newfound power and all his sacred gears, he did not have confidence in besting whoever this was.

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|DxD|

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As soon as Baraquiel left Cleria's house, he bounded straight for Shuri's home. With his superior speed, he was able to arrive quickly.

Su!

"..."

There was a sense of nostalgia as he looked at the house. A part of him wanted to enter, possibly break through these barriers, but he stopped himself.

[They're safe.]

His only job was to verify their safety. Not cause a scandal. After sensing that his wife and child were indeed safe, he wasted no time and left once more, even if it hurt not being able to see them.

Despite their talk…despite her-

[Don't think about it.]

Su!

This wasn't the time nor the place. Azazel had given him a mission and he would complete it to perfection. Rushing through the forest, it didn't take him long before he was back in town once more.

Su!…Su!…Su!

Bounding across Kuoh, his pure speed made him imperceptible and inaudible to normal humans. He stopped only for the briefest moment to assess the situation. Thankfully, the forest surrounding the town had bore the brunt of the impact from the shockwave.

While the forest itself was a complete mess, the town did not suffer much infrastructural damage. Aside from a few unsecured bins being knocked over and loose branches being torn off, everything else was relatively stable.

Su!

Bounding across the town once more, Baraquiel ignored the oppressive sensation of the energy. Thankfully, the perception of normal humans was too weak to even sense the power. Most of them were confused but they remained oblivious to the real happenings.

Baraquiel didn't pay attention to them. His mission was to find any spies and rogues that would possibly use this chance to infiltrate this town.

Su!

Appearing in a residential district, everything on this side of town was relatively quiet. But his gut told him something was wrong about this area. Constant missions had given him a sixth sense, an ability to feel if something was amiss.

It was due to this sense that he had survived as long as he did.

"..."

Closing his eyes, he released a small burst of energy around him like a sonar.

Vuu!

It was instant but rudimentary. Most supernatural entities would sense that someone was looking for them. But Baraquiel didn't have the time to play careful detective. With his speed, it didn't even matter if they sensed his attempts at reconnaissance.

He waited for a response and soon after, he got one.

"!"

Opening his eyes in alert, he caught the tail of another fallen angel seemingly attacking one of the families here. Brethren or not, he would not tolerate such unsavoury actions.

Su!

Rushing forward in a burst of speed, he instantly arrived at a two-storey house. Instead of using the door, he burst through the window where he sensed the fallen angel. The man had all four of his wings out, his villainous snarl turning into alertness when a wave of energy had washed over him.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn't see nor sense Baraquiel until it was too late. With pin-point lock-on, the cadre reached out with his arm amidst the shower of glass and accurately grabbed the throat of his brethren.

Gu!

Slamming him against the wall, Baraquiel opened his eyes to get a good look at who it was.

"..."

He did not know who it was nor did he recognise his scent or energy signature from those who frequented Grigori.

[Rogue.]

It was an instant deduction he came to. Baraquiel prided himself on being able to remember a person he'd seen once for ten years without forgetting them. In the last ten years, he was sure he had never seen this particular fallen angel.

"Hmph."

Decisively and without asking any questions, he channelled lightning into the back of his neck, instantly knocking him out. Stepping back, he took in his surroundings while his kin slumped to the floor.

Turning his head, he was confronted with a man pointing a shotgun at him. Behind him was who he assumed to be his wife as well as their child. But what caught his attention was the child.

He was a simple boy with brown hair and brown eyes. Nothing special about him in the slightest. But he could distinctly feel the aura of a sacred gears on him. Yes. Plural.

[...what?]

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AN

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Is that who I think it is?