The battle exploded into chaos. Three fallen angels—men, wings ablaze with divine light—charged Rias and Akeno with relentless fury. Power surged around them, the air crackling with the raw force of two super-class angels leading the assault. A third, high-class, circled like a vulture, while Stephanie, sly and patient, melted into the shadows, waiting for her moment.
She played her role perfectly—forcing Rias's team to split their focus, always keeping one eye on her, always uncertain where she'd strike next. It made the men's onslaught even harder to withstand, and left Asia vulnerable to abduction.
Rias answered with fire—her magic roaring forth in a wave of crimson, a dragon's fury unleashed. Flames swept toward the fallen angels, while above, Akeno stood poised in the night sky, summoning golden thunder that rained down in sheets.
Boom—boom—boom.
Lightning and fire collided, eruptions lighting the park in blinding flashes. The three fallen angels pressed forward, light spears slicing through the storm, their bodies aglow with holy radiance.
"Angel's Feather!"
"Sacred Spear!"
"Light-Wing Assault!"
Their voices rose in unison, unleashing a torrent of divine power that battered against Rias's magic.
But Rias and Akeno didn't flinch. They met force with force, dark red magic circles blooming behind Rias, filling the air with a lattice of power. Waves of fire burst forth, colliding with the angels' attacks, while Akeno swept her arm and called down another bolt of lightning—this one striking a fallen angel dead-on, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Ara ara, so sorry! If you're still alive, how about another round?" Akeno's smile was gentle, almost teasing, as she raised both hands—lightning gathered above her in a deadly crown, then crashed down in a storm.
"Don't underestimate me!" The super-class angel roared, halos flaring behind him as he conjured a forest of sacred spears, hurling them into Akeno's thunderball.
The park shook with the violence—explosions, golden lightning, the smell of ozone and scorched earth. Rias and Akeno emerged from the chaos, battered but unbroken, holding the line.
Koneko Toujou was struggling. She couldn't fly, so she stayed close to Asia, defending her with everything she had. But two fallen angels pressed her hard, and blood stained her shoulder.
Asia, desperate and determined, kept her Sacred Gear working—Twilight Healing pulsing as she healed her friends' wounds. Her familiar, Azure Tempest, spat lightning at the attackers, but its efforts were brushed aside.
Stephanie never stopped hunting for an opening. She appeared and vanished, striking from the shadows, forcing Rias, Akeno, and Koneko to divide their attention. The cost was mounting—each of them carried fresh wounds.
"Heh… futile resistance." Stephanie's voice was cold as she materialized again, eyes gleaming. This time, she'd found it—the perfect gap.
Rias and Akeno were locked down, Koneko was driven back, and Asia stood exposed, defenseless.
Stephanie became a streak of light, arrowing straight for Asia.
"Look out!" Koneko's warning came too late. Asia's reflexes weren't fast enough, and everyone watched, helpless, as Stephanie closed the gap.
"Asia!!" Rias shouted, panic in her voice. She tried to break free, but her opponent held her back.
Stephanie reached for Asia—her hand just inches away—when, suddenly, a silver shield flashed into existence between them.
It wasn't large, just enough to cover Asia's upper body, but the instant it appeared, a force field shimmered to life.
Thud!
Stephanie slammed into the shield as if she'd hit solid steel, rebounding backwards in shock.
"What the hell is that?" One of the fallen angels fighting Koneko stared, wide-eyed, at the mysterious shield.
A split-second later, a silver streak tore through the night sky—a blade, gleaming, landing in the ground between Koneko and the angels.
And then he arrived.
Draconis burst from the high-rises, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, each bound impossibly fast. He vaulted from a tower, descending like a comet, and landed—hard—on the stone pavement.
Crack!
The ground shattered beneath his feet, stone splintering outward in a five-meter crater. The impact echoed—a classic superhero landing.
"Draconis!" Four voices called out in relief and joy.
He glanced at his friends—Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia—all a little battered, a little wild-eyed.
"Sorry I'm late," he said quietly. He reached out, and the Regalia Blade flashed into his hand; the Divine Lament Shield hovered protectively at his side.
Rias smiled, her voice soft but commanding: "You're right on time. Guard Asia—we'll handle the rest."
"Understood."
Draconis kept his posture low-key, almost casual, but his eyes scanned Koneko and spotted the blood on her shoulder.
"Koneko, fall back. Let Asia heal you. I'll take care of these three."
His tone was calm, almost gentle, but the words landed like a thunderclap.
"That's too dangerous…" Koneko protested, worry etched across her face.
Stephanie and the other fallen angels snorted, their contempt obvious.
"Bold words, kid. You think you can take on all three of us? You're just a—"
Stephanie's gaze swept Draconis, eyes dripping disdain. "A low-class devil?"
No wonder they underestimated him—his rank was nothing to brag about.
Draconis ignored them, nodding to Koneko, his expression softening. "Go get patched up. Trust me, I've got this."
Koneko hesitated, then nodded. She knew Draconis wasn't reckless—she'd seen him in action, and she trusted him.
Somewhere inside, she felt a spark of anticipation.
Draconis gripped the Regalia Blade tight, holding it level, the tip unwavering as he pointed it at the three fallen angels. Not a hint of tremor.
Then, with a calm, almost lazy flick, he angled the blade upward.
Pure challenge.
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