My name is Kiba Yuuto, and my memories begin with the Holy Sword Project.
It was a clandestine experiment conducted by the Church, designed to artificially create wielders for holy swords, which only a select few can naturally use. That was the Holy Sword Project. The subjects were people like me—orphans with Sacred Gears related to swords.
We endured the experiments together, sang hymns together. But everyone else died. Everyone except me. The researchers deemed us "failures" unfit for holy swords and decided to dispose of us. There were others who wanted to live even more than I did, yet I alone survived.
After escaping the facility, I was found by President Rias. She gave me a Knight Piece, a name, a place to belong, and her affection. But deep in my heart, a seething hatred for the humans behind that project and for Excalibur itself churned relentlessly.
So when wielders of Excalibur appeared in this town, I thought it was fate. Alongside a Fallen Angel cadre, one of the researchers who led the project surfaced. I couldn't forgive them. To avenge my fallen comrades, I had to defeat Excalibur.
And then I learned the true nature of that research. It wasn't about creating wielders for holy swords—it was about extracting the factors that allow their use. By gathering tiny fragments of those factors and combining them into a larger whole, they aimed to make holy swords usable by anyone. In other words, we were never meant to fight for God or the Church with Excalibur.
The researcher, Valper Galilei, now deemed unnecessary, tossed me a crystal containing the factors gained from that experiment. From it, I heard their voices. Their hymns. Their wishes.
Hearing them, I reached it—Balance Breaker, the Holy Demonic Sword - Sword of Betrayer.
I faced an Excalibur fused from four blades. …Including the one taken from Irina Shidou, who came to this town, Kokabiel should have five holy swords. Yet only four were fused—perhaps that's the limit. An incomplete Excalibur gives me a chance.
No matter how versatile its abilities, an opponent who can't master them isn't a threat. Besides, Freed's movements seemed off compared to before. He's faster, but his mind can't keep up. Maybe they modified his body further in this short time.
I charge straight at Freed!
"Tch!"
Freed parries my strike, dodging with a flourish. But the awkward posture seems to have strained Excalibur. The aura of my holy-demonic sword and my attack shatter it.
Freed leaps back to gain distance. I don't pursue, instead confirming one fact: Excalibur lies in pieces.
"—Did you see that? Our power surpassed Excalibur."
I did it. I finally avenged them.
"Aw, it broke, huh? Guess a patchwork sword ain't enough. My body's 'adjustments' weren't quite settled either… Oh well, looks like the big bro I heard about didn't show up. Shame."
Valper, however, is distraught—not over Excalibur's destruction, but my holy-demonic sword.
"No way! Holy and demonic merging? Impossible! Unless… not just the Satan, but God too…"
"Fuhaha! FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Kokabiel's laughter booms as he lands, exuding overwhelming confidence and aura.
"Yet you followers of God and Devils fight so fiercely, even after losing those you serve."
His cryptic words puzzle me.
"…What do you mean?"
"Might as well tell you. Not just the four Satans—God is dead too."
—What?! Did he just say God is dead?
"Of course you didn't know. Who could admit God is dead? With the risk of leaks, only a few at the top of the three factions know. God and the Satan' deaths threw the balance of holy and demonic power into chaos. That's why strange phenomena are happening everywhere. That kid's holy-demonic sword? It's because that balance is broken."
God's absence birthed my holy-demonic sword. The irony stings. Though I rebelled, I devoted most of my life to God.
"…That's why they're forming a treaty over those pillar-shaped creatures. Someone might have noticed God's absence. The three factions haven't recovered from the last war. Another would shatter Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels alike. But I can't stand it! Joining hands with Devils and Angels? Ridiculous! Aligning with them against some unknown creatures? Are you saying proud Fallen Angels should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our sworn enemies? In the last war, we could've won if we kept fighting!"
So that's it. I thought it was odd—God's side forming a treaty with Devils and Fallen Angels. If God is gone, it makes sense.
"I'll start a war! With your heads as trophies! I'll finish what we started! I'll show Michael, Sirzechs, and those unknown monsters that we Fallen Angels are the strongest!"
As we reel from this shocking revelation, a voice cuts through.
"Well, well, well?"
It's Freed, his voice dripping with deeper madness, a mocking grin aimed not at us but at his supposed boss, Kokabiel. Something's different about him.
"So, the shitty God is dead, huh? The 'one and only' sales pitch was a scam! Talk about impermanence—oops, that's Buddhist. My bad, ex-Christian here!"
"…Freed?"
"You're strong, sure, but your head's all mush, huh? Spouting war nonsense, so full of pride. No charisma, just a mid-tier boss at best. 'Fallen Angels are the strongest'? Pfft, you're dancing in the palm of their hands!"
"Freed! What are you saying?! Whose hands?!"
"This."
The air chills, as if foreshadowing what's coming. Cold sweat pours as I know I should stop Freed, but my body trembles, frozen.
"Manifest. Engrave this. Here stand the seventy-two Demon Gods."
As Freed chants, a blinding light erupts from him. I shield my eyes, unable to look. When the light fades, a monster stands where Freed was.
A towering, pillar-like form, without limbs or joints. Blood-red, grotesque eyeballs dot its surface. An abomination beyond description.
No mistake—this is the pillar-shaped monster that attacked the founders! It matches the reports from the Underworld, though the color differs. Same species, no doubt.
Was it disguised as Freed? Or did that chant transform it?
Kokabiel's face hardens. The treaty over these monsters drove him to this crime, so facing one must be infuriating. He conjures a massive spear of light.
"Hmph! Showing yourself before me? Taste the power of a Fallen Angel!"
"—Shatter."
An explosive surge of energy fills the air.
"What…?"
Kokabiel stands, his right shoulder and part of his abdomen obliterated.
Overwhelming. A Biblical Fallen Angel, brought to the brink of death in one blow.
"No… impossible… me…?"
"You're already useless, ancient Fallen Angel. Confirming God's absence was your only value. Your pathetic form now serves as proof of our power. Let your life testify to it."
Not even worth killing.
Kokabiel's face shows not just humiliation but terror. That single blow deliberately missed his vitals—of course he's afraid. And so are we, knowing we must face this monster next.
As we sweat under its oppressive presence, the pillar speaks calmly.
"I am Gremory. One of the seventy-two pillars of Solomon, Gremory."
…What?! Did this thing just say Gremory?
As I doubt my ears, President Rias's burning anger fills my vision. Her fierce expression and the surge of demonic power radiating from her show her fury.
"You dare impersonate Gremory before me? Fine, flesh pillar. I'll obliterate you as you wish!"
President Rias unleashes a massive wave of Power of Destruction—likely her full strength. Even a High-Class Devil or high-ranking Fallen Angel would be in trouble taking it head-on. But the pillar doesn't dodge, absorbing the blow. Even if it's stronger than Kokabiel, it shouldn't escape unscathed—
"That's my line, you counterfeit."
—Unscathed. Its voice carries no hint of pain. No sign of defense, yet unharmed. It speaks to our despairing group with cold indifference, as if President Rias's power and our hopelessness are utterly natural.
"We are the true seventy-two pillars, the primal spells serving the King of Magecraft Solomon. Know that you counterfeits don't even reach our feet."
Not a declaration, but a statement. Not conveying will, but fact. A truth too obvious, yet too alien for our common sense to accept.
"Our purpose in manifesting in the human world is twofold. First, to slaughter every Devil usurping the seventy-two pillars' names. Death to those who defile the pillars' names and the King's honor."
This monster claims to be the true seventy-two pillars.
"Second, to erase the incompetent God who allowed such depravity. But if He's already dead, so be it. If Heaven's throne is empty, we'll offer it to our King."
The word "King." A being commanding these monstrous pillars. How much stronger could it be? If those calling themselves the seventy-two pillars name it King… The Underworld might be facing an unimaginable enemy.
But first, we have to survive. Even defeating Excalibur means nothing if we die. Yet facing this thing, its sheer presence threatens to crush us.
All the red eyeballs on the pillar's body fix on President Rias, stunned.
"You, counterfeit, die here. I'll kill your father and brother too. Every counterfeit will die. My brethren's counterfeits as well. The seventy-two pillars of Solomon need only us."
As it declares this, its eyes shift to me, Koneko-chan, Akeno-san, and Issei-kun.
"Flee, pitiful children. Our purpose targets only the abominations defiling the human world. I have no desire to kill victims of the incompetent God and our counterfeits, like you. If you wish, I'll remove the disease within you. —Live again as humans."
"H-Humans?"
"Indeed. We've perfected the method to extract the foreign objects you call 'Evil Pieces.' We can make you human again. Live anew. Your life as Devils must have been unbearable suffering."
The "disease" it mentions is the Evil Pieces? I've never heard of a way to turn reincarnated Devils back into humans. It sounds impossible. Yet, its words feel true.
"No more suffering. It's long overdue, but we'll save you."
There's compassion, care—a saintly love so at odds with its horrific form. Its call to "live again as humans" feels almost natural to accept.
"Don't mess with us!"
Issei-kun's roar snaps me out of my wavering heart.
"You're the real Gremory? President Rias's a fake? Don't talk nonsense! President Rias is President Rias! Rias Gremory-sama! A disgusting monster like you has no right to call her a fake! I'm glad I became a Devil. Don't call me unhappy!"
That's right. What was I thinking? President Rias saved me. Without her, I wouldn't have defeated Excalibur. It wasn't this pillar that saved me—it was Rias Gremory. We—
"I've seen President Rias's bare breasts and even touched them! My next goal is to suck them! Until that day, I'll fight as President Rias's lowly Devil servant!"
Issei-kun, that's not what we're talking about. Give me back my heartfelt resolve.
"I see. I can't empathize with your opinion, but I understand it. Your words must be quintessentially human. Your master's breasts—huh?"
Did that grotesque pillar just let out a comically dumbfounded sound?
"Is that enough for you?"
"Huh? Enough what?"
"We considered some might reject our offer. A girl who lives only for a moment might refuse eternal life. We accounted for those who'd embrace life as Devils. But… isn't there more?"
Its question carries a hint of panic. Why does this terrifying monster suddenly seem so human?
"No faith to devote yourself to? No passion to light a nation? No desire worth risking your life? No resolve to prove your pride? No belief to chase ideals? No loyalty to offer eternity? No defiance to challenge God? No hope to survive today? Don't you have any of that?"
Issei-kun clenches his fist at the monster's questions.
"What are you blabbing about?!"
I thought even Issei-kun would give a serious answer after that. I was naive.
"If there was a god of breasts, I'd pray to it despite the headaches! I'm passionate about breasts! My desire for them is unmatched! Loving breasts is Hyoudou Issei's reason for being! I'd do anything to suck them! I swear absolute loyalty to President Rias, the owner of magnificent breasts! I'll defeat God himself to grope those breasts! —Because breasts are amazing! Especially President Rias's, the best in the world! Just being pampered by her makes becoming a Devil worth it! Plus, I'll become a High-Class Devil, gather beautiful women as my peerages, and build a harem! Go back to being human? Mind your own business! I wouldn't be popular as a human anyway! There's no way I'll forgive you for messing with my harem plans!"
He's trying to sound cool, but that's not it, Issei-kun.
"I'll defeat you for my breast-filled life!"
"I see…"
Issei-kun, I hate to interrupt your momentum, but please notice. The monster you and I thought was just that—a monster—is visibly troubled! No, not just troubled—bewildered? Lamenting might be more accurate.
"Are our wishes worth less than lust? Was our endeavor… correct…?"
With that, the monster falls silent. Issei-kun looks puzzled, but everyone else nods as if it's obvious.
We know nothing about this monster. But one thing is clear to me—and probably everyone but Issei-kun.
This monster is standing there, silent, with an incredibly ambiguous expression—!!
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL