Ryuichi's timing was perfect. The instant he unleashed the Anti-Magic Field, the remaining Fallen Angels were trapped — captured alive before they could even react.
Bound under the seals of the Magic Suppression Sigils, they wouldn't be causing trouble anytime soon.
Rias dispelled her magic, her crimson hair flowing as she walked forward with Akeno beside her.
"Excellent timing, Ryuichi," she said with a satisfied smile. "You handled that beautifully."
Her voice carried quiet praise. His intervention had snuffed out the Fallen Angels' suicidal resolve, giving her a precious opportunity — the chance to interrogate them while they were still breathing.
"Well now, good morning, my beautiful Fallen Angel ladies," Rias greeted softly, her tone polite yet cuttingly elegant.
Even as she smiled, her poise radiated the kind of authority that made others shrink back. To the defeated Fallen Angels, that noble air of hers felt unbearably condescending.
"Hmph. What's there to be proud of?" one of them spat, glaring up at her.
Though beaten, the Fallen still carried defiance in their eyes.
Of course, they didn't realize — this was Rias's normal aura. That cold, untouchable grace was exactly why she was known as the "Crimson Princess" of Kuoh Academy — the dream girl of every male student who laid eyes on her.
"Heh. I've no need to feel proud," Rias replied smoothly. "Defeating a few weaklings like you is hardly an achievement."
With that, she stepped closer. Her heels clicked lightly against the floor as she stopped in front of the battered women lying at her feet, looking down with calm, queenly eyes.
"Now then," she said, voice soft but sharp, "why don't you tell me your plan?"
The Fallen Angels exchanged glances — then one of them burst out laughing.
"Interrogate us? Don't make me laugh, you damned Devil! Do you really think you'll walk out of this place alive? Lord Kokabiel will slaughter every last one of you! Ha… ha—"
Her laughter cut off in a wet, choking sound.
A flash of steel. A blade pierced through her mouth, slicing cleanly from one cheek to the other. The sword twisted — and with a sickening crunch, her tongue and teeth scattered across the ground, blood splattering like rain.
Ryuichi stood over her, King's Sword in hand, one boot pressing down on her head as he stared at her calmly.
"You seem to have trouble speaking politely," he said flatly.
His voice was quiet, but his gaze was cold enough to make the air itself feel heavier.
That calm, merciless precision — that unflinching brutality — silenced the rest of the Fallen in an instant. Their defiance wavered, fear creeping in.
Rias's smile deepened slightly, her eyes glinting. She clearly appreciated Ryuichi's… protective instinct.
Akeno, on the other hand, sighed with feigned disappointment. "Oh my, what a shame~ I was hoping to have some fun with her myself."
Her tone was teasing, but her eyes gleamed with that familiar sadistic spark.
Ryuichi gave her a sidelong glance. "There are still four left."
"Heehee~ How considerate of you, Ryuichi," Akeno said sweetly, her lips curving into a playful smile.
Whether it was truly "considerate" to leave her four victims was another matter entirely.
Rias shot her a look. "Akeno. Don't toy with my Ryuichi."
"My, my~ all right, all right," Akeno giggled, waving her hand innocently.
Ryuichi sighed, then turned to Rias. "If they won't talk, we'll find the answer ourselves. No point staying here longer than necessary."
Rias nodded. "Two minutes," she said simply — directed at Akeno.
"Yes, President," Akeno replied cheerfully.
She licked her lips lightly, her eyes turning toward the terrified Fallen Angels. The gentle curve of her smile made their blood run cold.
"W–what are you going to do?" one of them stammered, trembling.
Akeno tilted her head, her voice soft and melodic. "Oh, don't be scared. We have a whole two minutes to enjoy each other's company…"
Golden lightning sparked at her fingertips.
Moments later, the air was filled with screams.
The sound of agony echoed off the stone walls, sharp and high at first, then fading into weak, broken sobs.
Ryuichi wrapped an arm around Asia's shoulders, pulling her close. "Don't look," he murmured, letting her hide her face against his chest. For someone as gentle as her, there was no reason to witness that kind of scene.
When Akeno finally returned, her expression was as serene as ever, though faint smears of blood still streaked the skin of her long, pale legs.
She looked completely unbothered. "They were quite stubborn," she said with a smile. "In the end, they only revealed that the core of this space is located in some kind of laboratory."
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed. "A laboratory, huh… sounds like a trap."
"Most likely," Akeno agreed. "I'd bet they're waiting for us to walk right into it."
"Even so," Rias said calmly, her crimson hair catching the light as she turned toward the corridor, "we're going. Let's see what kind of gift they've prepared for us."
The group moved out, advancing deeper into the dimensional space. With the Fallen Angels dealt with, resistance had all but vanished — the path ahead was eerily clear.
Before long, they reached the core of the space: a large experimental facility.
The structure gleamed with cold metal and sterile light — modern, clinical, and out of place in this supernatural realm. It looked like the Fallen Angels had literally transplanted a human laboratory into the pocket dimension.
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings. The building's frame was lined with tall metallic pillars etched with holy inscriptions, forming a barrier of divine power around the entire structure.
"A prison…" he murmured. "No — a cage."
The main entrance loomed ahead, sealed tight. Ryuichi and Koneko took point, leading the group forward.
As they approached, the doors slid open automatically with a soft hiss, responding to their presence.
They stepped inside.
"W–what is this…?"
Asia gasped, covering her mouth.
The lobby was lined with enormous glass tanks filled with green liquid, dozens upon dozens of them stretching into the distance. Within each one floated a human body — men and women alike — suspended motionless, bubbles rising slowly around them. There must have been a hundred at least.
"Human experimentation?" Ryuichi muttered, frowning.
He could still sense faint traces of life from each of them, but something about that energy was wrong — hollow, distorted. These weren't living humans anymore. Their bodies remained, but their souls were gone.
"How dare they…" Rias's voice was low, trembling with anger. "They've stripped these people of their souls."
"Where are the researchers?" she asked sharply.
"Probably fled already," Ryuichi said, his tone cold. "These test subjects must've outlived their usefulness."
"Cowardly Fallen Angels," Rias growled.
Then — crack.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned toward it. One of the tanks had splintered, cracks spreading rapidly before the glass burst apart entirely.
A woman fell out of the fluid, coughing violently as she collapsed onto the floor. But her coughs soon turned into deep, guttural growls. Her body convulsed, twisting in pain.
Then the transformation began.
Her skin blistered and rotted, flesh bubbling as her form swelled grotesquely. Within seconds, the woman's humanity vanished — replaced by something monstrous and deformed.
The stench of decay filled the air.
Rias's eyes hardened. "Get ready."
Ryuichi drew his blade, the faint violet glow of demonic energy reflecting off the green liquid still dripping from the monster's claws.
Whatever kind of experiment this was — it was far from over.
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