Kokabiel radiated malice—his hatred directed toward devils, the Church, and Azazel, the coward obsessed with his [Sacred Gear] experiments who constantly refused to wage war.
Just a single glance from him was enough to freeze Kiba Yuuto completely in place, the icy chill of dread penetrating his bones.
The sweat on the hand gripping his Holy-Demonic Sword grew slippery. He had never trembled this badly before.
So this is the overwhelming presence of a Fallen Angel recorded since ancient times in the Bible…
He couldn't get closer. Even a single step further would mean instant death.
The gap in power was simply that vast.
"Your servants really are intriguing, Rias Gremory!"
Kokabiel's mocking gaze swept casually over everyone present. He saw victory already assured, so he leisurely took his time to taunt them.
"The Red Dragon Emperor, a survivor from the Holy Sword Project who achieved [Balance Breaker], and Baraqiel's daughter? It seems your taste for strange creatures is no less eccentric than your brother's!"
"Don't lump me together with him!"
As if a nerve had been cruelly stabbed, Himejima Akeno suddenly exploded with fury. Lightning crackled violently as she fired bolts at Kokabiel, yet he merely flapped his wings once, effortlessly scattering them all.
"Hahaha! To think you'd become a devil! I'd love to see the look on Baraqiel's face when he learns this!"
"I have nothing to do with that man!"
Akeno's breathing turned erratic, her emotions spiraling wildly out of control.
"And I won't tolerate you insulting my brother—our Maou—or my servants! Such insolence deserves death!"
Hearing Rias shout angrily, Kokabiel sneered contemptuously and continued provoking her.
"If it were your brother standing here, perhaps I'd feel a bit more excited. But you're still too weak—both you and this pathetic Red Dragon. Right now, none of you can spark even a bit of interest from me."
The next instant, Kokabiel formed an enormous spear of light in his hand. Even without being thrown, its intense holy power made Rias, Koneko, and the others shudder in discomfort.
"I've grown bored wasting time with you all. Let me send you off to the afterlife now. It's a shame you won't get to witness the war about to begin!"
As Kokabiel leisurely boasted, two figures charged at him from opposite directions like a gust of wind: Yuuto holding the Holy-Demonic Sword, and Xenovia wielding the Holy Sword [Durandal].
Facing the twin attacks, Kokabiel wore a contemptuous smile, not even sparing them a glance. With just a flick of his wrist, an invisible force blasted both warriors away at a speed far greater than their charge.
"Hmph! A simultaneous attack with a Holy Sword and a Holy-Demonic Sword. Interesting—but still meaningless. No matter how powerful the weapon, its effectiveness depends on its wielder. Little girl, you're far inferior compared to [Durandal's] previous owner!"
Asia hid behind everyone else, anxiously gazing toward the place where Yuuto and Xenovia had landed.
"Kiba-san…Xenovia-san…"
Even though Xenovia had earlier called Asia a "witch," Asia still worried for her safety. It was precisely this kindness of hers that gave Jeanne Alter frequent headaches. Jeanne Alter had even reprimanded her, telling her to be more selfish, that it'd make her life easier. But Asia insisted on stubbornly maintaining her kindness, always apologizing but never changing.
"Don't move forward any further, Asia."
Koneko stepped protectively in front of Asia.
"But, Koneko-chan…Yuuto-san and Xenovia-san need healing!"
"It's already too late. Kokabiel's attack is about to land. You need to leave immediately, Asia!"
Once Kokabiel's massive spear of light fell, the entire Kuoh Academy would be obliterated instantly. Even Yuuto and Xenovia, at full health, wouldn't survive that blast. At this point, healing them or not no longer mattered.
"Wh-why…?"
Asia's pupils contracted in fear, looking anxiously at the others. Rias's destructive magic and Akeno's lightning kept hammering Kokabiel, while Issei charged forward again, his fists clenched.
Koneko stayed near Asia because, aside from Asia herself as their healer, Koneko was now the weakest combatant. Even Issei, a newly minted devil, had grown stronger thanks to his constant exposure to Jeanne Alter's draconic aura.
Kiba's strength had surged with his [Balance Breaker] awakening, leaving Koneko behind. She now stood as the weakest among them.
Frustration and shame churned bitterly in Koneko's heart. She bit her lip until it bled, using the pain to keep her fear from overwhelming her.
She desperately wanted to join the fight, to protect Rias and her friends—but that would mean unleashing the power she feared most.
The moment the thought entered her mind, a deeper terror even greater than Kokabiel consumed her.
No…I can't…not that power…
She was trembling uncontrollably, sinking deeper into a whirlpool of darkness.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Koneko felt a sharp jab of pain, akin to the static shock one felt from touching metal in winter.
She recognized this feeling…Asia was praying beside her again.
Turning around, Koneko indeed saw Asia, hands clasped tightly, eyes shut in fervent prayer.
"Oh Lord, please watch over us, grant us your blessings, and deliver us from harm…"
Praying to God at a time like this? What good will that do? Why won't you just run away?
Koneko frowned in disapproval…still, thanks to Asia's prayers distracting her, she had momentarily escaped the grip of fear.
But then, in the next moment, Asia uttered words that shocked Koneko completely, leaving her wide-eyed.
"Jeanne-san…please, save Koneko-chan, save Rias-san…save everyone…"
"Hmph! To think the current wielder of the Red Dragon is such a pathetic weakling! This is laughable!"
Issei was thrown back once more, splattering blood as his body embedded deep into the ground.
Rias and Akeno remained largely unharmed because Issei had been the one repeatedly taking hits. He kept standing up again and again, battered but determined, his spirit indomitable.
Yet Kokabiel had grown tired of toying with them.
"This strike will signal the beginning of war! Hahaha!"
His enormous spear of light began descending, prepared to erase Kuoh Academy and ignite a new war across the world—unless something unforeseen occurred…
BOOM—!
The heavens suddenly seemed to tear apart, the murky yellow clouds igniting as scorching winds erupted.
A torrent of flames surged down from the torn sky like a tangible creature, crashing toward the earth.
"ROAR—!"
A dragon-shaped flame descended with a deafening roar, blasting superheated air for hundreds of meters and shattering every window around.
"She's here she's here she's here—!"
Issei sprang from the crater excitedly. Despite being drenched in blood, his energy and morale surged to new heights.
Seeing Issei's excitement, Rias, Yuuto, and Koneko instantly relaxed, sighing with relief. Only Xenovia remained tense, still utterly confused.
Kokabiel, on the other hand, experienced something entirely different.
A chill of primal terror instantly enveloped him, as if a terrible predator had set its eyes upon him. His arm, poised to throw the spear, froze involuntarily.
"What…?!"
Kokabiel frantically hurled the spear upward at the roaring fire-dragon descending above. It collided and vanished instantly in the flames.
"ROARRR—!"
The flames slammed Kokabiel down, devouring him. Everyone nearby instinctively crouched, shielding themselves from the explosive heatwave. Only Issei, foolishly remaining standing, was immediately blown away.
"AAAAAHHHH—!"
As Issei's screams approached, Koneko instinctively threw a punch, knocking him past their heads.
After several seconds, the flames faded, revealing Kokabiel charred and broken beneath Jeanne Alter's boot. Her ceremonial sword pinned him firmly into the molten ground.
"So, this time I didn't get the wrong person, right?"
Jeanne Alter tilted her head mockingly, looking down at Kokabiel disdainfully. "You're Coca-Cola, Kakashi, or whatever it was? Doesn't matter. You have the Holy Swords, right?"
"You…who…are you…?"
Despite his grievous injuries, Kokabiel still clung to life.
Jeanne Alter frowned in displeasure, twisting her sword deeper into him, eliciting screams.
"Using a question to answer mine? That's rude. Are the swords with you or not?"
Before Kokabiel could answer, Rias and the others approached, greeting Jeanne Alter happily—except Xenovia, who froze upon hearing her name.
Kokabiel, too, paused in shock.
"Jeanne…the Saint Jeanne d'Arc? Impossible…she—"
"She died screaming, burned as a witch. Her tombstone was nothing but ashes," Jeanne Alter said with twisted amusement. "And this flame is my hatred toward the God who abandoned her."
Kokabiel laughed hysterically. "Revenge against God? How amusing—God is already dead!"
Shock filled everyone except Jeanne Alter, who merely replied coldly:
"Oh? So what?"