Beneath the night sky, the city still pulsed with life.
Cars streamed through glittering streets, neon lights painting the skyline in vibrant color.
And far above those streets—on the rooftops where only the wind could reach—Ryuichi sprinted.
He moved like a shadow given wings, vaulting effortlessly from building to building.
With the body of a Devil, leaping dozens of meters at once was nothing.
His crimson eyes fixed on a single direction—the crossroads at the heart of the city.
That was where the battle awaited.
At the Crossroads
At that very moment, inside the park near the bustling intersection—
a place that would normally be filled with couples and late-night joggers—
not a single soul remained.
Instead, two opposing groups stood in the moonlit clearing.
On one side stood Rias Gremory and her team.
On the other, six figures cloaked in darkness—Fallen Angels—each with a pair of black wings unfurled.
Three men. Three women.
Against them stood only four Devils.
The air crackled with tension, their killing intent so thick it warped the silence itself.
The reason no bystanders remained was simple—Rias's magic had altered human perception, forcing ordinary people away from the battlefield.
"Asia-chan, we finally found you," one of the male Fallen Angels said with a gentle smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"To think you would abandon the Church and throw in with Devils… That really breaks our hearts."
"Truly, after everything we did for you," added another—
a woman with an indecent laugh and an even more indecent outfit.
If you could even call it an outfit.
Thin strips of black cloth clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination.
Actually, all three of the female Fallen Angels were dressed like that—
as if their goal was to make every man in the vicinity commit a sin just by looking.
By comparison, Rias and her team were practically dressed for Sunday service.
Like the Stray Devils they often fought, these Fallen Angels had long since abandoned any trace of holiness.
Their hearts were drowned in lust and desire—
creatures of pleasure rather than faith.
Asia trembled at the sight of them.
After Ryuichi had persuaded her to join Rias's peerage, she'd discovered that Devils weren't the monsters she'd been taught to fear.
Here, she'd found warmth. Friendship. A place she could belong.
Back in the Church, they'd called her a heretic—
a "Saint" who could heal even Devils was too strange, too dangerous.
Some had even tried to steal the Sacred Gear sleeping within her.
Asia was kind, yes—but not stupid.
She could tell who cared for her sincerely and who was using her.
And when she'd witnessed a priest kill an innocent woman during a "mission,"
any faith she still had in the Church had shattered completely.
That's why she'd accepted Rias's hand so easily.
But even after leaving, the Church—and these Fallen Angels—refused to let her go.
Earlier tonight, as she was returning from completing a small contract, they'd found her.
She'd barely escaped, calling for help through her summoning circle.
Thankfully, Ryuichi had warned Rias that such an ambush might come.
Because of his foresight, Rias and her team had arrived in time to save her.
Seeing Asia's fear, Akeno Himejima gently took her hand.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "No one will hurt you while we're here."
Her voice carried a soothing warmth, and Asia nodded, regaining some courage.
"Y-Yes!" she replied, clutching Akeno's hand tighter.
Of all the members of the Occult Research Club, Akeno was the one—besides Ryuichi—who treated Asia most kindly.
Rias, meanwhile, stepped forward, her crimson hair swaying like firelight.
Her eyes narrowed as she faced the Fallen Angels.
"Well, well… Good evening to you, Fallen Angels," she said coolly, one hand on her hip.
"You came all this way just to attack my cute servant. Care to explain what business you have with Asia?"
A soft whoosh accompanied her words—
crimson flames bloomed in her raised palm, licking the air with regal fury.
Elegant, yet deadly.
"Heh. We merely wish to reclaim our Saint," one of the male Fallen Angels replied with a mocking grin.
"When did the princess of the Gremory family start stealing other people's property?"
"'Saint,' you say?" Rias's smile turned sharp.
"Asia is a Devil now—my servant. You dare covet what's mine?"
"Covet?" sneered another woman. "Don't flatter yourself.
We're not afraid of your precious Gremory name. You're just a family of fading nobles."
She turned and shouted to her comrades, voice dripping with venom.
"Enough talk! Kill them all and take the girl! The Smile of the Virgin must not fall into anyone else's hands!"
Rias's expression hardened.
"Then by all means—try."
The Battle Begins
Crack!
A storm of holy light spears rained down from the Fallen Angels—
but before they could land, golden lightning tore through the sky, shattering them midair.
"My, my…" Akeno's voice purred. "It looks like I'll have to be a bit serious tonight."
Her gentle smile remained, but her eyes gleamed with electricity.
Light flared around her, and in an instant, her clothes shifted—
the familiar miko outfit of the "Priestess of Thunder."
The Fallen Angels stiffened.
"The Priestess of Thunder…" one of them muttered, eyes narrowing.
Fear flickered in their gaze.
Even so, they still had the numbers advantage—six against four.
And aside from Rias and Akeno, only Koneko Toujou could fight effectively.
Asia was a healer, not a fighter.
"Stephanie," one of the Fallen Angels barked. "You grab Asia. The rest of us will keep them busy!"
Each of the six radiated immense power—at least High-class Fallen Angels, two of them even at Ultimate-class strength.
They'd come prepared for opponents like Rias's peerage.
Stephanie nodded and took to the sky, blending into the night.
Her presence flickered in and out like a hunting hawk waiting to strike.
Rias frowned. Their situation wasn't good.
Even if she and Akeno could hold three each, that would leave Asia unguarded.
Where was Ryuichi…?
"Stay focused!" Rias snapped, forcing herself calm.
"Akeno—bring them down!"
"As you wish, President," Akeno replied, smiling sweetly.
She rose into the air, lightning swirling around her.
Crack—BOOM!
Golden thunderbolts cascaded from the clouds, devouring the sky and striking the Fallen Angels.
"Arrogant fool!" one shouted, forming a glowing spear of light.
They surged upward, wings flaring, meeting her storm with their own divine power.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Flames and lightning clashed in a symphony of destruction.
The park trembled beneath the shockwaves.
Rias's crimson magic circles spun into existence behind her, flooding the air with infernal heat.
Akeno's lightning spears fell like divine punishment.
And yet the Fallen Angels endured, driving forward through the storm.
Meanwhile, Koneko Toujou struggled on the ground below.
Unable to fly, she could only guard Asia's flank against two airborne opponents.
Even for her, it was too much.
Blood streaked her shoulder, though she didn't falter.
Asia's healing light shimmered around her, mending what wounds she could.
Beside them, Asia's familiar—a small thunder dragon named Seiryu—let out a fierce "Kyiii!" and spat bolts of blue lightning upward.
The Fallen Angels ignored it completely.
Rias, Akeno, and Koneko all had to watch out for Stephanie, who kept vanishing and reappearing for sneak attacks.
Their focus split, their defense weakened.
One mistake—and Asia would be taken.
"Heh… Useless resistance," Stephanie sneered, eyes glinting in the dark.
And then she saw it—an opening.
Rias and Akeno were both engaged, their powers locked.
Koneko, forced back by twin light spears, stumbled a step away from Asia.
Perfect.
Stephanie's lips curled. "Got you."
She blurred into a streak of black light, diving straight for Asia.
"Watch out!" Koneko shouted.
Asia gasped, frozen like a rabbit caught in headlights.
Rias turned, panic flashing in her eyes.
"Asia!!"
She tried to rush forward—but her opponent pinned her down.
In the blink of an eye, Stephanie's hand reached out to grab the terrified girl—
—and hit something.
THUD!
A flash of silver erupted before Asia, forming a small shining shield that hadn't been there a moment before.
The Fallen Angel slammed into it headfirst—
and was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the ground with a shocked scream.
"What the—!?"
The other two Fallen Angels stared wide-eyed at the floating silver shield.
And then—
SHING!
A silver blur streaked through the sky, landing between Koneko and the enemies with a burst of light.
Moments later, a figure leapt from the rooftops above—
moving with the speed of a bullet, landing like thunder.
CRACK!
The pavement shattered beneath his boots, spiderweb cracks spreading in every direction.
Dust and sparks rose in the air.
"Ryuichi!!"
Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Asia cried out together, their voices filled with relief.
Ryuichi looked around—his friends were battered, scorched, but standing.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Sorry I'm late," he said quietly.
He raised his hand, and the Sword of Kings shot back into his grasp in a flash of light.
The Divine Cry Shield hovered protectively at his side.
Rias exhaled and smiled softly.
"You're not too late. Guard Asia—we'll handle these pests."
"Got it."
Ryuichi's tone was calm, almost casual.
He glanced at Koneko—and noticed the blood on her shoulder.
"Koneko, fall back. Let Asia heal you. I'll handle these three."
The quiet confidence in his voice made everyone freeze.
"Ryuichi, that's too dangerous!" Koneko protested.
The Fallen Angels laughed.
"Hah! You? Take on three of us alone?" Stephanie sneered, wiping blood from her lip.
"A mere Low-class Devil?"
Their contempt was palpable.
Ryuichi didn't answer.
He simply nodded to Koneko, his eyes softening.
"It's okay. Trust me."
After a moment, Koneko hesitated—then stepped back.
She'd known Ryuichi long enough to realize—he never acted without reason.
And for some reason… her heart raced with anticipation.
Ryuichi tightened his grip on the Sword of Kings.
He leveled the blade at the three Fallen Angels, its edge steady as a heartbeat.
Then, with the faintest smile—he tilted the tip upward.
A gesture that said it all.
Come.
A silent challenge.