Night draped the city in neon and noise. Cars streamed through the streets, headlights flickering like restless fireflies. High above, Draconis darted across rooftops, a shadow among the towers. With devil-born strength, he vaulted gaps that would terrify any human—each leap carrying him dozens of meters closer to the park at the bustling intersection.
Meanwhile, in that very park—normally alive with couples and joggers—tension crackled in the empty air. The crowd was gone, chased away by a subtle twist of reality. Now, only two groups remained, locked in a silent standoff.
On one side: Rias and her team. Four girls, backs straight, eyes fierce.
Opposite them: six fallen angels, black wings unfurled. Three men, three women, all radiating menace. The women wore little more than scraps of black fabric—provocative, almost mocking. The men's smiles were cold, eyes narrowed with intent.
Asia shrank behind her friends, fear flickering in her eyes. She'd left the church for the devil's side—thanks to Draconis's gentle encouragement—and discovered a world nothing like the one she'd been warned about. Here, she'd found kindness, friendship, a place to belong.
The church had called her a heretic, a saint whose power could heal even devils. Later, they'd coveted the Sacred Gear inside her, treating her as a prize to be claimed. Asia was innocent, but not naive—she knew who cared for her, and who wore false smiles.
After witnessing a priest murder a defenseless woman on a mission, Asia's faith had shattered. Joining Rias's household had felt like freedom. But she hadn't expected the church's hounds to chase her so relentlessly. Today, after finishing a contract job, she'd been ambushed—almost captured.
Luckily, Rias had planned for this. Asia summoned her new family with a thought, and now, the fallen angels faced a wall of determined resistance.
Akeno Himejima squeezed Asia's hand, voice soft and steady. "Don't worry. No one will hurt you."
Asia nodded, hope flickering to life. Besides Draconis, Akeno was her gentle protector—a big sister in every sense.
Rias stepped forward, one hand on her hip, the other raised. Crimson fire danced above her palm, elegant and deadly.
"Good evening," she said, voice icy. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your attack on my adorable servant?"
The lead fallen angel smiled, all teeth. "We're just here to reclaim our saint. When did the Gremory princess start stealing hearts?"
"Saint?" Rias's eyes flashed. "Asia's a devil now—my devil. Coveting my servant is asking for trouble."
A female fallen angel sneered. "You think we're afraid of you? The Gremory clan is nothing but survivors clinging to scraps."
She raised her voice, eyes blazing. "Enough talk. Kill them, take Asia back. Twilight Healing belongs to us!"
Rias's expression hardened. "You're welcome to try."
Crack!
Battle erupted. The fallen angels hurled spears of light, but before they could strike, golden lightning split the sky—bolts crashing down, shattering the incoming attacks.
"Ara ara… Looks like I'll need to get serious tonight," Akeno said, her eyes curving into mischievous crescents. Her clothes shimmered, dissolving in a flash of light—then reformed into a shrine maiden's robes.
The fallen angels recoiled, wariness flickering in their eyes. "Thunder Priestess…"
Akeno's reputation preceded her. The air pulsed with danger.
But numbers weren't on Rias's side. Six enemies—every one a high-class angel, two of them super-class. Rias and Akeno could barely hold three between them. Koneko could maybe handle two. Asia was a mascot, not a fighter.
"Stephanie, grab Asia. The rest of you, take care of the devils," the leader barked.
Stephanie shot skyward, eyes locked on Asia.
Rias's team exchanged glances—grim, determined. Where was Draconis?
Outwardly, Rias showed no sign of fear. Her presence blazed, undiminished.
"Akeno, light them up!"
"Understood, President."
Akeno soared into the night, arm raised. The sky churned—wind and cloud swirling. Lightning writhed downward, golden and wild, enveloping the fallen angels in a cage of electricity.
The enemy's faces darkened.
"Arrogant devil!"
They surged upward, power blazing, spears of light forming in their hands—ready to strike.
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