Their misread of Kokabiel's motives had left everyone on the back foot. Who could've guessed he was just a pure warmonger—no hidden agenda, no elaborate plot, just a brute craving chaos? Enemies like that were the hardest to predict.
Draconis and the team teleported straight to Kuoh Academy. Sona was already at work, weaving a massive barrier around the campus.
The place was deserted. Thanks to Rias's warning, Sona had ordered a full evacuation—her authority as Student Council President carried real weight.
"With this barrier, as long as things don't get too insane, the outside world won't be affected," Sona said, her peerage working alongside her. Still, worry clouded her face. "Honestly? If Kokabiel goes all out, he could wipe out the entire city. Whether our barrier holds… I can't promise."
Akeno reported in, voice tight. "I've contacted Lord Lucifer. He wants us to hold out for one hour."
Rias sighed, regret flickering across her features. She'd never wanted to call her brother for help, but this was beyond her reach.
"One hour. Got it," she said, then turned to Draconis. "Any ideas?"
Maybe she'd come to rely on his surprises, but this time, even Draconis couldn't guarantee a miracle. He kept his voice low. "Let's take it one step at a time."
"Alright. We'll get through this together." Rias stared into the heart of the academy, eyes hard with hate—probably fixed on where Kokabiel lurked. After today, Kuoh Academy would be lucky to have any walls standing.
Draconis kept his cool. "Rias, set the battlefield. I need to use Promotion."
"Done. The enemy's position is our front line—once you're there, you can tap Promotion's power." Rias issued her orders without hesitation.
Unfortunately, she couldn't let Draconis Promote just anywhere. The rules of the Evil Pieces system were strict: pawns only got to Promote after reaching the enemy's "base." It was non-negotiable.
That "base" could be any location—as long as it was the opponent's most vital ground. Right now, wherever Kokabiel was, that was it. Draconis would have to fight his way there before he could unleash his full strength.
"We're counting on you inside," Sona said gravely. She and her team had to keep the barrier up, no matter what.
Rias nodded and led the group into the academy.
They reached the blazing pillar of light. On the empty field, Draconis spotted a fat, elderly man in a stained white lab coat.
In front of him, four Holy Swords hovered at cardinal points, each surrounded by intricate magic circles. The glowing lines of all four circles fed into a single, colossal array at the center.
It looked like he was siphoning power from all four swords at once.
The old man beamed. "Almost ready, almost ready. Don't be impatient—I'll give you all a proper welcome soon."
Rias's face darkened. "Balba Galilei—the man behind the Holy Sword Project…"
Balba grinned, delighted. "Oh? You recognize me? What an honor."
"What are you planning?!" Rias demanded.
Balba's eyes sparkled. "I'm going to fuse all four Holy Swords!"
Draconis's eyes narrowed. Four Holy Swords were already a nightmare for devils—if they merged, things could get ugly fast.
From above, Kokabiel's voice cut in, impatient. "Balba, how much longer?"
They glanced up. Kokabiel lounged on a throne, silhouetted against the moon, legs crossed, looking pleased as a cat with cream.
"Five minutes, tops," Balba replied.
"Excellent. I'll leave it to you," Kokabiel said, smiling like a showman. "A little warm-up before the main event—perfect."
He looked at Rias, eyes glinting. "Will Sirzechs show? Or Serafall? Maybe both?"
Rias shot back, cold and sharp. "Who knows? Maybe you won't get away this time."
Kokabiel laughed, wild and unhinged. "Now that would be a show."
Without warning, he struck.
A colossal spear of divine light materialized overhead, brimming with destructive force, and plunged straight down.
Draconis felt the weight of Kokabiel's power pressing on his body, but he, Rias, and Akeno managed to cast a teleportation spell, pulling Koneko and Asia clear just in time.
BOOM.
The gymnasium vanished, replaced by a gaping crater. The Light Spear was embedded at its center, still glowing.
That casual attack was already more powerful than anything Rias and her high-class devil allies could muster.
Kokabiel sneered. "Pathetic. Fine—play with the pets I brought back from hell."
He lazily triggered a magic circle.
Two gigantic shapes emerged from the darkness. As they stepped into the light, everyone's face fell.
Each beast stood nearly ten meters tall, with three snarling heads, claws like butcher's knives, and fangs that gleamed in the moonlight.
"Cerberus?! Two of them?" Rias's voice shook. "He actually dragged them out of the Underworld's gates!"
Legendary hellhounds—the infamous Cerberus.
Draconis's gaze flicked to Balba, who was still working on the swords. Time was running out. They had to disrupt the fusion, and fast.
He sized up the two Cerberus, then activated Promotion without hesitation.
His rank soared to Queen.
Power flooded his veins—stronger than ever before. The chessboard's magic shimmered, and a perfect duplicate stepped out of his body.
Draconis summoned the Regalia Blade and Divine Lament Shield, turning to Rias and the others.
"I'll take one. You handle the other."
Rias squared her shoulders, fire in her eyes. "Perfect. Let's send them back to ash!"
—
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