The fallen angels had the upper hand, and Draconis Yi's call for an all-out attack left Rias and her team on edge.
Asia was a hostage. If they went all in, she'd be caught in the crossfire—the fallen angels wouldn't spare her for a second.
But Draconis wasn't the reckless type. He'd never gamble with Asia's life.
Rias and Akeno traded a glance, silent understanding passing between them as they gathered their magic.
Above, silver light flashed. The Sigil of Suppression zipped back, flapping its tiny wings before landing in Draconis's palm. The magic-sealing field pressed in, souring the fallen angels' expressions.
"Kid, tell your Familiar to drop the magic-sealing field," Gunard growled, leveling his Light Spear at Asia's chest. The weapon tore her shirt, exposing pale skin—a thin line of blood welled up, staining the fabric.
"Now! You know I'm not bluffing!"
Gunard's voice was low, deadly serious. With the field active, he knew their side was outmatched; Asia was their only leverage.
Draconis wanted nothing more than to use the Familiar and end this, but the magic-sealing field had its limits. The Sigil had just spent its strength sealing three fallen angels; there wasn't enough power left for another round.
And now, the enemy was wise to the Sigil's tricks—no way they'd fall for it again.
So Draconis withdrew the Sigil, letting the Regalia Blade droop.
He stepped forward, voice calm and measured. "I'll be your hostage. Just let Asia go."
"Stop right there!" The fallen angels tensed, refusing to let Draconis approach.
He shrugged, unfazed. "What's the problem? I'm worth a lot more than Asia. I'm the guy who used two Knight pieces and eight Pawns at once."
Suspicion flashed in their eyes, but the claim still threw them off.
"Impossible! You think we're idiots? Everyone knows an Evil Piece can only hold one rank at a time!"
Draconis smiled, unbothered. "But I did. Makes me a bigger prize than Asia. Take me, and you've got something special."
He took two more steps, closing the gap.
Now they were all within striking distance.
Suddenly, the fallen angels lunged.
"Idiot! Doesn't matter how important you are. You walked right into our trap—so we'll just kill you!"
They'd never meant to trade hostages. Draconis had delivered himself, and they were happy to take his life.
But Draconis moved just as fast.
All that talk was a smokescreen—he'd been waiting for a chance to close in.
Revealing his secret had worked; while they were distracted, he'd slipped into attack range.
With a burst of speed, Draconis leapt, sword raised for a crashing overhead strike.
Sword light exploded, engulfing all five—fallen angels, Freed, and even Asia.
Rias and Akeno unleashed their magic at the same moment.
Power surged, a tidal wave of destruction aimed to wipe out the fallen angels, Freed, and—if they weren't careful—Asia.
"What?!" Freed's face twisted with panic—he felt death closing in.
They don't care about the hostage? Asia was supposed to be their shield!
Suddenly, she was a liability.
Rias and Akeno didn't hold back. Even the fallen angels' faces went pale.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
They scrambled to defend, desperate to survive.
But Draconis had already closed the distance, his jump bringing him face-to-face with Freed, Regalia Blade poised to cleave the priest in two.
No one understood why he was so reckless.
He'd thrown himself into Rias and Akeno's blast radius—real life didn't have "friendly fire immunity."
"Damn it!" Freed shouted, whipping out a bladeless hilt. A blade of light snapped out, meeting Draconis's attack.
But the next instant, Freed easily deflected the Regalia Blade—Draconis's strike was feather-light.
Before Freed could process it, Draconis's wrist flicked, and the Sigil of Suppression appeared in his palm.
"…Huh?" Freed blinked, bewildered.
"Seal!" Draconis shouted, hurling the Sigil straight at him.
The Sigil didn't have enough juice left for multiple targets, but one stray priest at point-blank range? No problem.
Smack!
The hard seal hit Freed square in the face, sending his mouth askew.
Draconis followed with a lightning-fast punch to Freed's wrist. Pain shot through the priest, forcing him to loosen his grip. In an instant, Draconis snatched Asia away.
Rias and Akeno's full-force attacks landed right on schedule. Koneko joined in, hurling a park boulder at the fallen angels.
Draconis threw up the Divine Lament Shield, wrapping himself and Asia in a protective bubble.
Boom!
Thunder and fire swallowed the battlefield—fallen angels, Freed, Draconis, Asia, everyone.
Draconis and Asia felt the heat sear their skin. Even with the shield, Rias and Akeno's magic nearly melted them.
They hadn't held back—not for a second.
But that was the only way.
If Rias and Akeno had pulled their punches, the fallen angels wouldn't have gone all in on defense. They'd never have let Draconis snatch Asia right under their noses.
No one expected Draconis to risk everything—to charge in, take the hit, and rescue Asia.
But that's exactly what he did.
"Draconis!"
Under the shield, Asia burst into tears. She could see him coughing blood, lips stained red.
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