A fierce, oppressive aura surged forth, stirring clouds and scorching the very air.
It was as if a dragon had awakened, roaring in wrath.
The overwhelming magic power coiled around Jeanne Alter like tongues of crimson flame, leaving the middle-aged fallen angel utterly stunned.
A human?
Impossible! How could a mere human possess such terrifying magic?!
But reality left him no time for contemplation. Instantly, the ambient mana transformed into cursed scarlet flames, and countless fiery spears shot toward him from every angle.
"Tch! No introductions at all? I hate such unreasonable opponents!"
Six pairs of ebony wings abruptly unfurled behind him, and with a powerful flap, he conjured a storm of pitch-black feathers. They collided violently with the iron spears wreathed in searing flames born of hatred.
Steam exploded upward as evaporated water churned, while shockwaves shattered the ground beneath.
In the next instant, Jeanne Alter broke through the firestorm, swinging her banner as if wielding a spear. Flames raced along its pole, briefly forming a roaring fiery dragon.
BOOM!
The banner collided heavily with the fallen angel's hastily raised arm. His expression twisted in shock as devastating force erupted outward, blasting charred earth and briefly extinguishing the surrounding wall of fire before it surged back once more.
Sent hurtling backward, he spread his wings wide to steady himself.
Rubbing his bruised arm, his face grew even grimmer.
Is this really a human's strength? She must be some dragon masquerading as a human!
"Ha! Mumbling your final words already?"
Jeanne Alter laughed madly, cloaked in blazing fury as she charged again.
Intense flames propelled her forward, the banner stabbing with brutal force.
A crimson flash led the charge; the banner's thrust descended like a flaming meteor, shattering the earth with overwhelming heat and impact. Yet, the fallen angel swiftly dodged skyward moments before the devastating strike.
His mobility, enhanced by six pairs of wings, clearly surpassed Jeanne Alter's.
"Can you only dodge?"
Jeanne Alter snarled fiercely, fiery eyes locked onto him. "Is a mighty fallen angel so cowardly against a mere human?"
"That provocation won't work on me anymore. I'm long past hot-blooded youth," he quipped, though inwardly his heart sank.
A Maou-level human... when did such a monster appear in this world? Could she be from that organization, Khaos Brigade?
He recalled his investigations into that terrifying terrorist group. Perhaps she was here to silence him—to prevent him from uncovering their secrets.
But why was he encountering Khaos Brigade here? Had Kokabiel allied with them? Were they planning something in Kuoh Town and now sought to eliminate him as interference?
Before he could think further, countless flaming spears hurtled toward him, ablaze with sinister purple fire.
Quickly summoning spears of holy light, he threw them to intercept. The projectiles clashed violently, though some flames still fell upon him, forcing him to shield himself with his wings, which struggled to shake off the lingering fire.
"This fire is strange—it won't extinguish easily and even attacks my mind and soul? What sort of flames are these?"
Glaring at the stubborn flames clinging to his wings, his expression twisted bitterly.
"…Damn it! More incoming?"
He felt the temperature spike violently, the blazing murderous intent threatening to engulf him entirely.
"Eat this!"
Roaring flames formed a massive sphere, crashing mercilessly into him. On impact, it detonated violently, painting the sky crimson and scorching the heavens themselves.
But this was merely the beginning. Recreating Vegeta's relentless barrage, Jeanne Alter fired countless flaming meteors, turning the battlefield into a fiery apocalypse.
As this terrifying onslaught continued, golden raindrops gradually fell through the crimson sky.
Yet, upon closer inspection, they were not rain—but densely packed spears of holy light.
"Interesting, matching quantity with me?"
Jeanne Alter planted her banner in the ground, cape fluttering wildly in the heat.
"You're digging your own grave."
More fireballs rapidly formed around her, shooting upward to clash with the descending light-spears.
Golden rain met blazing meteors, lighting up the sky in an explosive confrontation.
The spears pierced fireballs, only to be swallowed by endless flames. The flames consumed spears, only to be quenched by the relentless torrent of holy light.
But occasionally, both sides broke through.
A spear of light tore through Jeanne Alter's cloak, gouging the earth. A fireball slipped through the golden barrage, singeing several feathers from the fallen angel's wings and burning his flesh once more.
"Holy power, designed to combat devils, really isn't suited for fighting humans…"
Covered in scorch marks, the fallen angel now looked utterly battered.
"Dammit… she's wasting absurd amounts of mana to achieve overwhelming coverage. Yet, despite sustaining this wild bombardment, her aura hasn't weakened in the slightest! Is her mana limitless? I'm nearly at my limit…"
Limitless mana—a trait reminiscent of that terrifying being he feared and hated most: the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis.
He couldn't afford to continue this stalemate; he needed an opening immediately!
Mustering all his remaining power, he formed three massive spears of pure holy light—each as dazzling as the sun itself.
Even one spear carried enough energy to obliterate Kuoh Academy and a large area around it instantly.
"Ooh~ Impressive!"
Jeanne Alter smirked, her cape billowing like an extension of the inferno around her. Above her hung the three dazzling spears, yet she showed no trace of fear.
Instead, her lips curled into an arrogant grin.
"That's more like it! You survived the ancient war and earned mention in the Bible. If you couldn't manage at least this much, how could I vent all my pent-up hatred?"
Laughing madly, she drew the ceremonial sword at her waist.
Like her saintly counterpart, Jeanne Alter's Noble Phantasm reached its full power only when the sword was drawn.
"Let this strike repay your insolence!"
"This is the howl of a soul filled with hatred!"
"[La Grondement Du Haine]!!"
In Avenger's name, she converted all resentment into searing magical flames.
Wickedness, impurity, arrogance—all would be burned down to the marrow.
The holy spears never collided with her flames.
Instead, spears of iron pierced the fallen angel's body, cursed fire burning into his soul.
His spears crashed into the earth, shredding Jeanne Alter's cloak and gauntlets.
Rising from the ruined battlefield, Jeanne Alter casually wiped blood from her forehead, eyes sharp.
"Ha! Still alive, I see."
The fallen angel, however, appeared far worse.
His body was covered in burns and unquenchable flames, multiple holes riddling his flesh. Kneeling, he barely maintained consciousness.
Slowly approaching, Jeanne Alter stood before him.
"Not bad, old man."
Jeanne Alter smiled brilliantly. "This was genuinely enjoyable. I've been so bored waiting for a worthy opponent—thank you for letting me finally stretch my limbs!"
In stark contrast, his face was deathly pale.
After a long silence, he finally spoke:
"…You're dangerous."
"Hm? Well, I'll admit that much."
"Letting a terrorist like you roam free, spreading chaos, would disrupt my peaceful research. That's something I can't allow."
His words startled Jeanne Alter.
Terrorist? Spreading chaos? Did I somehow become the villain here?
"Although it's just a flawed prototype, far inferior to the [Sacred Gears] created by God… Ahh, it hurts my pride every time I think of it. God left behind such broken 'bugs' as [Sacred Gears], shattering the balance of this world… I envy him to death!"
As Jeanne Alter listened, confused, he suddenly drew a golden short sword.
Seeing it, her eyes widened slightly.
Then he confidently shouted:
"[Balance Break]!"
Golden radiance exploded from the sword, flooding their surroundings. Yet, when it faded…
Nothing happened.
Both stood awkwardly staring at each other in total silence, even the crackling flames sounding loud in the quiet.
Jeanne Alter's expression grew increasingly strange—she'd anticipated something impressive, only to be met with embarrassing failure.
Panicking, the fallen angel spoke urgently into the jewel on the sword:
"Fafnir! What's going on? Why did the [Balance Break] fail?!"
Upon hearing the name "Fafnir," Jeanne Alter's eyes glinted with curiosity.
The gem suddenly responded hesitantly:
"…Sorry, Azazel."
In the next instant, the golden sword tore itself from Azazel's grip, flying obediently into Jeanne Alter's outstretched hand.
The scene became even more painfully awkward.
"…Why, Fafnir?"
Azazel stared in disbelief at the sword now resting obediently in Jeanne Alter's grasp. "We had a contract! I offered you so many treasures to assist my research!"
"Uhh…" The dragon inside the gem sounded utterly guilty. "Sorry, Azazel. I don't quite understand either. But…I just can't seem to oppose this woman, nor harm her. I'll return all the treasures—and even add compensation for breaking our agreement…"
Jeanne Alter's expression turned deeply complicated.
What's going on here? Did I just become an NTR protagonist?
Wait, isn't that supposed to be the illiterate saint's role? And my hair isn't even blonde, it's silver!
At that moment, a streak of dazzling silver pierced the sky, swiftly approaching like a meteor.
When Jeanne Alter turned toward the sound, she saw a figure clad entirely in silver armor, white wings blazing behind him, fist raised to strike.
The punch halted mere inches from her face, as if inertia itself had ceased.
Immediately afterward, with a burst of silver wings, the figure flashed to Azazel's side instead.