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After coordinating the Barrier with Sona, Rias led her peerage into Kuoh Academy. With the academy now designated as the enemy's base, Issei's Pawn piece was instantly promoted to Queen.
His role in this initial stage of the Rating Game was crucial.
Wielding [Boosted Gear] and having trained extensively with Mika—his combat abilities had increased dramatically.
At his full power, he could even rival Rias!
—
They soon spotted Kokabiel, sitting on a floating chair high above the academy grounds, looking down at them with disdain.
They couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance at his arrogant display.
If not for Mika's plan, and Grayfia's presence as their hidden protector, they might have been intimidated by this Fallen Angel Cadre.
"So, you've finally arrived, Rias Gremory."
"Indeed, we have. Let the 'Holy Sword Battle' begin, Kokabiel," Rias replied, her voice echoing through the academy grounds.
Three figures materialized beside her.
"Yes, Let the game begin," Kokabiel chuckled.
As he spoke—the three Stray Exorcists charged towards them.
"Issei, Koneko, proceed as planned," Rias commanded.
"Yes, Buchou!"
During their journey to the academy, Rias had finalized their strategy: she, Akeno, and Issei would confront the three Holy Sword wielders—while Koneko protects Asia.
This wasn't simply a battle against Exorcists; they had to protect their healer.
Issei was assigned to the strongest of the three. Rias and Akeno would handle the other two.
As the two sides clashed, Rias, Akeno, and Issei quickly found themselves struggling.
The Holy Swords' power against Devils was significant; after all—they were designed to be the ultimate weapon against them.
They had to carefully evade the blades while searching for an opening to counterattack.
Furthermore—each Holy Sword possessed unique abilities. Rias faced the wielder of [Excalibur Transparency], its invisible blade making it difficult to predict his attacks.
Akeno's opponent wielded [Excalibur Nightmare]—which could create multiple illusions, confusing and disorienting her.
And Issei faced the wielder of [Excalibur Rapidly]—which enhanced the user's speed dramatically.
—
Mika, observing the battle from the shadows, couldn't help but marvel at the Holy Swords' power.
'I wonder how powerful the original, unbroken Excalibur must have been,' he thought—comparing it to Artoria's Excalibur.
Then, he smiled. 'It seems the battle is about to end.'
Although he hadn't been privy to Rias's plan, he had guessed her strategy.
"Now!" Issei shouted—dodging a blow from the wielder of [Excalibur Rapidly].
He activated another of Boosted Gear's abilities: Boost Gift.
Rias and Akeno—who had been feigning weakness, felt a surge of power coursing through them. They had been observing their opponents, learning their patterns and waiting for the right moment.
"Die!" Empowered by Issei's Boost, and having analyzed their opponents' weaknesses, they unleashed their full power, swiftly defeating the two Holy Sword wielders.
This was Rias's plan.
By eliminating the weaker two first, they could then focus their combined strength on the remaining, more powerful Exorcist.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned...
Sensing Issei sharing his power, the remaining Exorcist, instead of attacking him directly, activated Excalibur Rapidly's full power, his speed increasing exponentially.
Before Rias and Akeno could react—he snatched their fallen comrades' Holy Swords and retreated to Valper's side.
"....."
"Those fools…" Taking the four swords from the Exorcist, Valper turned to Kokabiel, hovering above them. "I'm going to merge these Holy Swords."
"How long will it take?"
"Less than five minutes."
"I see. Then entertain yourselves with my—pet." Kokabiel snapped his fingers, and a massive, three-headed dog emerged from the shadows, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
"Cerberus…" Rias murmured, recognizing the creature.
"Cerberus?" Issei asked, confused.
"Yes. It's the legendary guardian of the Underworld's gates. I didn't expect Kokabiel to bring it to the human world," Rias said grimly. "It seems he's serious about causing chaos."
"Attack!"
"Yes, Buchou!" Issei and Akeno charged towards the monstrous hound.
"Boost Gift is quite useful, Issei," Mika commented, watching from the shadows as Issei continuously empowered Rias and Akeno.
He then shifted his attention to Yuuto and Xenovia, both hidden nearby, waiting for the right moment to act.
Seeing that they, too—were lurking in the shadows, he smiled. Then, he looked up at the sky, tracing his finger along Radiant Spear. "Just you wait. Our turn is coming."
—
"Roar!"
"Haah!" The roars of Cerberus and the battle cries of the Devils echoed through the night as the monstrous hound was finally defeated.
However—their victory hadn't been easy.
There had been two Cerberus hounds. While Rias and the others fought the first one, the second had attempted a sneak attack on Koneko and Asia, only to be intercepted by Xenovia.
And at the crucial moment, Yuuto, using his Sword Birth—had delivered the killing blow, ending the battle.
With Yuuto and Xenovia rejoining them, Rias's forces were stronger.
—
Kokabiel remained unfazed, still lounging casually on his floating chair.
"Well, Valper, your five minutes are up. What have you accomplished?"
"I've merged the Holy Swords!" he declared, raising his hands.
A brilliant light emanated from him—spreading across the sports complex, forcing Rias and the others to shield their eyes.
Through the gaps between their fingers—they saw the four swords merging.
They had once been a single blade, separated into seven fragments, and now, four of those fragments were becoming whole once more.
As the light subsided—a single Holy Sword—radiating a blue and white aura, stood within a magic circle on the ground.
"The light from the merging Holy Swords has activated the magic circle below. In less than twenty minutes—this town will be Destroyed. The only way to stop it is to defeat Kokabiel," Valper announced.
Rias and her peerage were stunned.
"That bastard! I'll kill him!" Issei roared, enraged by the threat to his hometown.
"Hahaha!" Valper laughed, then handed the Holy Sword to the Exorcist beside him.
"You will wield Excalibur. This will be our final—entertainment. Let's see how powerful a Holy Sword forged from four fragments truly is."
"It will be my pleasure!" The Exorcist's eyes gleamed with a manic excitement as he drew the newly forged blade.
"Rias Gremory's Knight," Xenovia said, turning to Yuuto, "if our alliance still stands, then let's destroy that Holy Sword together."
"Are you sure?"
"As long as we retrieve the core fragments, the method doesn't matter," Xenovia replied with a smirk. "That sword, wielded by a Stray Exorcist—is no longer a True Holy Sword."
"A Holy Sword—like any other weapon, is defined by its wielder. In his hands, it's a tool of heresy."
"Hahaha!" Valper laughed.
"Valper Galilei, I am a survivor of the Holy Sword Project. Or rather—I was once among those who died by your hand, brought back to life only through reincarnation as a Devil," Yuuto said calmly, his eyes burning with hatred.
"Oh, one of those survivors? What a small world. To think we'd meet again in such a—remote location. It seems we're fated to cross paths," Valper chuckled.
"I love Holy Swords. I dream about them. Ever since reading the legends of Excalibur as a child, I've been captivated by them."
"So, when I learned I couldn't become a Holy Sword wielder, I was devastated." His laughter subsided as he recounted his past.
"Perhaps because I couldn't wield them, I became obsessed with finding a way to artificially create suitable wielders."
"And thanks to your—contributions, my research was a success."
"Success?! You treated us like lab rats! You killed us!" Yuuto exclaimed.
"I discovered that wielding a Holy Sword required a certain—factor. Therefore, I tested all of you for its presence. While you all possessed this factor, none of you had enough to wield Excalibur."
"So, I had an idea: what if I could—extract and concentrate that factor?"
"....."
"I see—So, that's what you implanted in those young Holy Sword wielders…" Xenovia murmured, her voice tight with anger.
"Exactly. We extracted the Holy Factor from those with the potential to wield Holy Swords, crystallized it, and—well, this is the result." He pulled out a glowing orb, radiating a Holy aura.
"With this, my research progressed significantly. However, the Church deemed my methods—unorthodox. They branded me a heretic, excommunicated me—and stole my research."
"So, there are others continuing my work. That damned Michael—he condemned me, yet he's doing the same thing."
"Though I suppose his methods are less—drastic. He didn't kill his test subjects, after all. How…civilized." He laughed.
They now understood what had happened.
"You killed my companions and stole their Holy Factor?" Yuuto's voice was filled with rage.
They had all believed in God—even as they endured Valper's experiments.
They would have willingly sacrificed themselves for the cause, for the creation of a true Holy Sword wielder.
But he had taken not only their essence but also their lives!!
"Valper, I will kill you!"
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