Seeing the three Fallen Angels seize the advantage while Ryuya signaled for everyone to attack at full strength made Rias and Akeno tense up instantly.
Asia was being held hostage.
If they attacked without restraint, Asia would almost certainly be hurt—Fallen Angels wouldn't hesitate to use her as a shield.
But Ryuya wasn't someone who acted recklessly.
He would never ignore Asia's safety.
Rias and Akeno exchanged a brief look—then silently began gathering magic.
Silver light flashed across the sky.
The silver-white seal fluttered back like a tiny winged creature and landed in Ryuya's palm.
The anti-magic field remained spread over the Fallen Angels, making their expressions worsen.
"Boy, order your familiar to stop the anti-magic field.
Otherwise, I'll kill this woman right here."
Fallen Angel pressed a Light Spear horizontally against Asia's chest.
The blade-like tip sliced through her clothes, revealing a patch of pale skin.
A thin line of blood soaked through the fabric.
"Hurry up! You know I'm not joking!"
He snarled. Under the anti-magic field, he knew the three of them stood no chance against Rias's group.
The hostage was his only leverage.
Ryuya wanted to wait for an opening and use his familiar to kill them—but the anti-magic field had a time limit, and Aegiron had just exhausted itself sealing three female Fallen Angels.
With its current power, the Sealing Mark couldn't maintain the anti-magic domain long enough for them to finish the battle.
And now that they'd seen its full power, the Fallen Angels were definitely alert—it wouldn't land as easily again.
So, Ryuya recalled the seal.
The Sword of Kings lowered.
Then he calmly stepped forward two paces.
"I'll take her place as a hostage.
Release Asia."
"Stop!"
The Fallen Angels barked nervously, not allowing him to get closer.
But Ryuya spoke as though everything was under his control:
"Isn't this better? Compared to Asia, I'm far more valuable.
I consumed two Knight pieces and eight Pawn pieces to revive."
Even though they suspected a trick, the Fallen Angels still froze for a moment when they heard that.
"Impossible! Do you think we're children? Everyone knows a devil can only assume one piece type!"
Ryuya smiled calmly.
"Yet I did use two types.
In terms of value, I'm far more important than Asia.
Capturing me benefits you more."
He stepped forward again—two more steps.
And now he was within attack range.
Suddenly, the three Fallen Angels struck without warning!
"Idiot! Who cares if you're valuable or not—since you walked into our hands, we'll just take your life!"
They never intended to trade hostages.
Ryuya walking in himself?
Perfect.
They'd kill him first and deal with the others afterward.
But Ryuya attacked with equal ferocity!
Everything he'd said before—
All of it was nonsense to distract them.
The goal was simply to get closer.
And the "self-exposed secret" trick worked perfectly.
While the Fallen Angels were shaken by the revelation of his dual-piece status—
Ryuya had already stepped into striking distance.
Ryuya swung his sword and launched himself into a leaping strike.
Blazing sword-light erupted, sweeping downward in a massive arc—
directly covering all five people, including Asia!
Rias and Akeno struck at the same moment.
Magic exploded like a tidal wave, fierce enough that it seemed they intended to obliterate not only the three Fallen Angels, but Freed and Asia as well.
"What—?!"
Freed felt a shiver of pure terror.
He sensed death rushing toward him.
Asia was still in his grasp!
Were they really attacking without caring about the girl's life!?
In an instant, the hostage turned into a liability.
Even the three Fallen Angels panicked at the sight of Rias and Akeno unleashing their full strength.
This isn't right!!
But they had no choice—
They immediately fell into defensive stances.
Survive first—think later!
What shocked them even more was—
Ryuya, in mid-air, closed the distance in a single leap.
Just as their minds were still reeling, Ryuya descended right in front of Freed, the Sword of Kings raised high, an overwhelming intent to cleave the priest in half—
They couldn't understand why this kid was so damn fearless!
Didn't he realize he had also entered Rias and Akeno's blast radius?
This was reality—there was no such thing as "friendly fire disabled"!
"Damn you!!"
Freed roared, pulling out the hilt of his blade. From it, a beam of holy light extended—a lightsaber—colliding with Ryuya's descending strike.
And in the next instant—
Ryuya's Sword of Kings was knocked aside with ease.
Freed blinked.
Ryuya's attack had been… feather-light?
Then he saw Ryuya twist his wrist—
the Seal Mark appearing in his palm.
"...Huh?" Freed's eyes widened.
"Aegiron!"
Ryuya hurled the seal forward with full force.
Aegiron no longer had enough power to lock down three Fallen Angels—
But sealing a lone rogue priest at point-blank range?
No problem at all.
SMACK!!
The solid seal slammed straight into Freed's face, no flair, just raw force—
his jaw skewed sideways from the impact!
Before he could even register the pain, Ryuya's fist smashed into the joints of Freed's arm.
The agony made him loosen his grip on instinct.
The next moment—
Asia was snatched free into Ryuya's arms.
Rias and Akeno's full-power attacks arrived right on cue, and even Koneko joined in—lifting a park boulder and hurling it at the three Fallen Angels.
Ryuya instantly raised the Shield of Kings, covering both himself and Asia.
BOOOOOM!!!
Heaven's thunder and hellfire swallowed the Fallen Angels—and Ryuya and Asia along with them.
Ryuya and Asia felt their whole bodies burning.
Even under the shield's protection, they were moments from being melted by the two girls' magic.
They really hadn't held back at all.
But they had to do it.
If Rias and Akeno didn't unleash everything, the Fallen Angels wouldn't defend with everything either—and they would never have allowed Ryuya to snatch Asia right in front of them.
In their minds, they never even considered the possibility that Ryuya would charge straight into the blast zone.
But reality?
Ryuya did exactly that—
and reclaimed Asia by brute force.
"Ryuya!!"
Under the shield, Asia burst into tears.
She could see blood dripping endlessly from Ryuya's mouth.
----
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