Time passed!
Heavy rain had begun to fall over the Imperial Capital.
But faint sounds could still be heard from within the palace.
"Ayato-chan, can you show me your Authority again?"
"Wow, I've never seen Master like this before. How cute!"
"If that's the case, I can do it too."
"My love, what do you think of my form before I regained my power?"
"Athena, you're so sly."
"Mmm... don't talk nonsense... this is my own power."
The entire palace was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
Because all of them had been granted the power of the Boosted Gear by Ayato.
In order to develop their own abilities as quickly as possible, each one asked Ayato their questions.
They all wanted to develop their own abilities as soon as possible.
The next day at noon!
Dining room!
Yukino looked at Utaha and Xenovia, who were staggering but radiant, and asked instinctively, "Just the two of you? Where are the others?"
Based on her experience, given the King's constitution, it shouldn't be that they hadn't appeared.
Hearing this, Utaha, patting her thigh, smiled. "I was just hungry. I'm also taking a portion back for Master."
Xenovia said disdainfully, "You sure know how to talk. Still so stubborn."
"What about it? You're only criticizing me, but you came to the dining room to eat too, didn't you?"
Utaha said defiantly.
Luckily she had run fast. Those with weaker strength had already passed out several times.
"Hmph!"
Xenovia snorted coldly, then said with lingering fear, "Thank goodness for Athena and Grayfia-nee. When will we have strength that surpasses an ordinary Satan?"
As she spoke, a look of longing appeared in her eyes.
Under normal circumstances, it would naturally be unattainable.
But now,
With the Subspecies Balance Breaker of the Boosted Gear, it wasn't impossible.
"X-Xeno... Xenovia-san..." Asia said weakly. "W-What should I do?"
"Just wait. A few more days won't matter."
Xenovia comforted the little nun.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything when the time comes. I guarantee it will be foolproof."
Asia: "..."
That sentence sounded familiar.
But it seemed like not a single attempt had succeeded.
…
Weekend!
Late afternoon!
Occult Research Club.
"President Rias, that Marquis has really arrived in this country."
"Then where is he now?"
Rias stood up from her chair and said seriously, "Is he coming here?"
"I don't know."
Akeno shook her head. "After Marquis Voban got off the plane, his whereabouts became unknown. He probably isn't using modern transportation."
"That's true. As a Campione, it's far too easy to avoid being tracked."
Rias sighed. "I hope his target really isn't Ayato."
"But just in case, have the spells to ward off ordinary people been cast?"
"President Rias, they've already covered all of Kuoh Town."
When two Campiones fought, who knew what kind of impact it would have?
So long ago, she had already prepared for the future.
Right now, Kuoh Town was already a ghost town.
But most importantly,
She didn't want anything to happen to Ayato.
After all, this oldest King was far too terrifying.
For a moment,
The club room fell silent.
Even Koneko and Akeno became somewhat worried.
Boom!
Just then, an indescribable pressure descended upon the old school building, followed by a cold voice: "My fellow kin, come out and meet me."
The voice was neither loud nor low, but it was penetrating, falling clearly into the ears of Rias and the others.
'He hadn't really come, had he?'
Rias and the others looked at each other and all went outside the old school building.
They saw an old man in a trench coat, looking like an old-world gentleman, floating in the sky.
"It really is him."
Seeing this figure, Rias's expression changed, but she said calmly, "Marquis Voban, I am Rias Gremory. This town is the territory of the Gremory Family. What exactly do you want here?"
"I naturally know this is your Devils' place."
Voban said calmly, his tone flat. "I also know you are my fellow kin's fiancée. Since I can't find him, I naturally came to find you."
Rias's eyelids twitched. She spoke, "Ayato is not here. Please, Marquis Voban, leave for now."
"What if I refuse to leave?"
"This is the territory of the Gremory Family. Do you want to start a war with us Devils?"
"Haha, do you think I'm afraid?"
Voban laughed loudly. "That fellow kin took away my prey. So today, I'll detain you and see if he still refuses to show himself."
The moment his voice fell,
Voban raised one hand, and tangible cursed power formed a giant hand, reaching for Rias and the others.
It was merely simple cursed power manipulation.
But it already felt like the sky was falling and the earth was caving in.
In the eyes of Rias and the others, it was as if the entire sky was pressing down on them.
"Just as overbearing as the rumors say."
Rias smiled helplessly and softly called out, "Ayato."
Whoosh!
A wisp of breeze drifted past,
Then, the giant hand descending from the sky froze in mid-air.
"Hmm?"
Voban raised an eyebrow slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a playful smile.
Crack!
The next moment, countless cracks appeared on the giant hand, and it finally completely exploded.
At the same time,
Ayato's figure appeared beside Rias.
When someone familiar encountered a crisis, they could summon Ayato to their side.
"My fellow kin, you've finally appeared."
Voban gazed at Ayato, who had materialized out of thin air, a burning heat in his eyes.
Ayato's eyes were cold as he slowly spoke, "You laid hands on my fiancée. How do you want to die?"
His voice was calm, yet it sent chills down one's spine.
The dragon had reverse scales. Touch them, and it would become angry.
Ayato's wings were his reverse scales.
Even if Voban hadn't caused any real harm to Rias,
It was still unacceptable.
"Ayato, it's really not that serious."
Rias hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "I wasn't hurt."
Facing the oldest King,
She didn't want Ayato to conflict with him.
Ayato patted her head and smiled. "Be good. Stay behind."
Rias wanted to say something, but finally only said, "Be careful."
Since her man had made up his mind,
As a qualified wife, she could only support him.
"Hahaha, kill me? You really have a big mouth, newly born fellow kin."
Hearing Ayato's words, Voban threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"His aura... has changed..."
Rias and the others all felt a change in Voban's demeanor.
It was as if the surrounding air had become incredibly heavy. Even moving seemed like a luxury.
"But if you can do it, feel free to try."
Voban looked down and said, "After all, what I seek is a good, thorough fight."
"If I die in battle, that's not a bad ending either."
"Another madman who finds joy in battle."
Ayato shook his head. "You're like that, and so is Doni."
"But the biggest difference between you and him is that you're looking for death yourself."
The moment his voice fell, an invisible pressure began to spread.
Rias and the others in the distance felt an incomparable horror.
"Interesting. You are different from the other fellow kin."
Voban looked deeply at Ayato, his gaze like that of a wild beast that had spotted its prey.
He could feel that Ayato's killing intent was genuine.
This was different from all the other opponents he had faced.
"Haha, but a life-or-death battle suits me just fine."
Amidst hearty laughter, tangible killing intent and aura erupted like stormy waves.
Boom!
A loud explosion sounded in the sky.
The entire city seemed to be swept by a hurricane.
The cursed power of the two sides pressed against each other, creating a spectacle like a natural disaster.
Rias and the others in the distance kept retreating, their faces filled with terror.
Incarnation: Raptor!
Ayato's eyes flickered. Without any visible action, his entire figure vanished from the spot.
"So fast..."
Voban's pupils contracted. Almost instinctively, he turned his head, and a fist was already magnifying before his eyes.