In the dead of night in Kuoh Town, everything was silent, with only the cold moonlight spilling onto the empty streets, stretching the hurried figures into long, slightly messy shadows.
The fleeing group moved silently through the shadows cast by the buildings. The atmosphere was so heavy it felt palpable. The fierce battle and desperate escape had consumed a tremendous amount of energy and stamina from everyone.
The dark erosion on Rias's shoulder was like a maggot clinging to bone, continuously bringing stinging pain and coldness, making her face pale. Although her steps were steady, they were visibly unsteady.
Kiba Yuuto, carrying Shin on his back, felt the internal injuries flare up with every step. His breathing was ragged, and tiny beads of sweat constantly seeped from his forehead, but he gritted his teeth, not relaxing in the slightest.
Akeno and Koneko, supporting the unconscious Asia, were equally exhausted, yet they maintained high vigilance. Their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings for any potential disturbance.
Shin remained deeply unconscious, slumped on Kiba's back. His breathing was so faint it was barely noticeable, his face as white as paper, as if the flame of his life could be extinguished at any moment. The price of that "Burning Blood to Guide Spirits" was too severe, having nearly drained all of his life Origin and Dao Origin Qi.
Asia, meanwhile, was sleeping soundly under the continuous effect of the Purity Talisman and the Rejuvenation Talisman. Her breathing was stable, her complexion had regained a bit of color, and the remaining dark aura had been mostly purified. However, her body was still weak and required time to recover.
Finally, the familiar outline of Kuoh Academy appeared in the night. The slightly eerie silhouette of the Old School Building now seemed like the safest harbor in their eyes.
"We're here!" Akeno let out a soft sigh, her tightly wound nerves relaxing slightly.
"Be careful on the last stretch." Rias reminded them in a low voice, slightly hoarse from pain. The closer they got to their goal, the less they could afford to drop their guard.
They gathered their spirits, crossed the silent academy courtyard at top speed, and slipped into the Old School Building without a sound. They eventually arrived, safe but shaken, before the heavy Clubroom door of the Occult Research Club.
Akeno quickly stepped forward, activating the security system with a specific magic fluctuation. The Clubroom door silently slid open, and the warm light, familiar layout, and reassuring barrier aura instantly enveloped them.
The moment they stepped into the Clubroom, everyone's tightly strung nerves finally slackened, and intense fatigue and pain swept over them like a tide.
"Finally… we're back…" Kiba Yuuto let out a long breath and carefully laid Shin flat on the softest sofa in the center of the room. His arms trembled slightly from carrying the weight for so long, and he himself was barely able to stand, managing to steady himself only by leaning on a nearby chair back.
Akeno and Koneko gently settled Asia onto another sofa and covered her with a blanket.
Rias closed the door and reinforced the Clubroom's defensive barrier. Only after ensuring absolute safety did she stumble a step, leaning against the doorframe. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and the purplish-black wound on her shoulder looked increasingly jarring.
For a moment, only the heavy, suppressed sounds of their labored breathing remained in the Clubroom. The relief of surviving mixed with the brutality of the battle, creating a heavy atmosphere.
Akeno was the first to move. She quickly walked to the storage cabinet, retrieved the Club's standard Advanced healing potions and magic recovery waters, and handed them to Rias and Kiba, respectively. "President, Yuuto, drink these quickly to stabilize your injuries." She then looked at Koneko. "Koneko, you are also injured; you need to treat yourself."
Koneko nodded silently and accepted a potion. Her injuries were relatively minor, mostly concussions and abrasions.
Rias took the dark purple magic potion and drank it in one gulp. As the medicine took effect, her pale complexion improved slightly. However, the corrosive wound caused by the Fallen Angel's light power on her shoulder was not something ordinary medicine could easily cure.
She walked over to Shin, leaned down to carefully examine his condition, and frowned deeply. Shin's breathing was extremely weak, his pulse faint and powerless, and she could sense no energy fluctuations within him, as if his lamp had run out of oil. The signs of severe overdraft of life Origin alarmed Rias, despite her extensive experience.
"His condition is very bad… His life aura is extremely faint, and his Origin loss is severe." Rias's voice was filled with gravity. "We must immediately provide deep treatment and energy supplementation, or his life will be in danger!"
She immediately took out a deep green gem from her private storage space, one that radiated rich life energy and a gentle halo—the "Tear of the Life Goddess." This was an extremely rare and precious treasure capable of nourishing the life Origin and sustaining life.
She unhesitatingly placed the gem gently on Shin's chest. The gem emitted a soft green light, slowly penetrating his body, stabilizing the life flame that was about to go out.
"Akeno, contact the Family immediately. I need the highest level of life recovery potions and Origin-nourishing magic medicine, sent over as fast as possible!" Rias ordered sternly, her tone urgent.
"Yes, President!" Akeno immediately walked to the Communication Magic Array and began contacting the Gremory Family.
Kiba Yuuto looked at the unconscious Shin, his eyes filled with gratitude and guilt. "This time… if Shin hadn't intervened several times at critical moments, we probably would have…"
He recalled the precise Spirit Detection Technique guidance in the church, the life-saving Earth Flow Wall, the Evil-Warding Talisman that interfered with Raynare, and finally, the desperate golden light that destroyed the necklace and saved Asia… every intervention was extremely risky, yet all played a decisive role.
Koneko also silently walked to the sofa, looking at Shin's pale face. She uncharacteristically reached out and lightly touched his cold hand with her fingertip. A faint, almost imperceptible trace of worry flashed in her amber eyes.
Rias's gaze lingered on Shin for a long time. Emotions surged in her emerald eyes, finally turning into a long sigh filled with complex feelings.
"That's right…" Her voice was low and solemn, breaking the silence of the Clubroom. "This time, we managed to successfully rescue Asia and ensure the survival of all members… Shin deserves the greatest credit."
Her gaze swept over every Peerage Member present, her tone incredibly serious. "From the initial divination warning, which pointed us in the direction of investigation; to the Spirit Detection Technique during the infiltration, which helped us avoid all traps and hidden sentries; and then the Earth Flow Wall defense and Evil-Warding Talisman interference during the battle; finally… he even destroyed the core that imprisoned Asia at an unimaginable cost, and used talismans to purify and treat her…"
Rias paused. Every scene was clear in her mind, causing her heart to surge. "His power system is completely different from ours. It seemed weak, yet it demonstrated irreplaceable value in support, reconnaissance, defense, and even crucial decision-making. Without him, we would not only have been unable to find and rescue Asia so smoothly, but we might also have suffered heavy losses in Raynare's ambush, or even… been completely wiped out."
She walked over to Shin, looking at the young man whose breathing seemed slightly steadier under the effect of the precious gem. Her voice was filled with unprecedented praise and affirmation. "He perfectly fulfilled the duties of an 'Advisor,' and even far exceeded my expectations. In his own way, he became the most crucial link in this operation. The Occult Research Club is fortunate to have such an Advisor."
This extremely high praise, coming from Rias Gremory, carried immense weight.
Kiba, Akeno, and Koneko all nodded deeply, their eyes filled with agreement. Shin had completely earned their respect and recognition through his actions and sacrifice.
"When he wakes up," Rias continued, her tone firm, "the Gremory Family will certainly give him a thank-you gift and compensation commensurate with his achievements. Now, we must do everything in our power to heal him."
Her gaze fell on Shin again, containing not only appreciation but also a deep worry and determination. Shin's mysterious power system and the decisiveness and methods he repeatedly displayed, far exceeding his apparent strength, also intensified her curiosity and desire to investigate. But right now, none of that mattered. The important thing was keeping him alive.
Soon, Akeno finished the communication. "President, the Family has received the message. The potions will be delivered via the Teleportation Array as quickly as possible."
"Excellent." Rias nodded, then looked at Asia sleeping peacefully on the other sofa. "Asia's condition is temporarily stable, but the corrosion of dark power and the overuse of her Divine Artifact have severely damaged her body and spirit. She needs rest and professional conditioning."
She rubbed her still-stinging shoulder. "My shoulder wound also needs time to expel the residual Fallen Angel light power. Yuuto, Koneko, your injuries need attention too. Although we succeeded in this operation, we paid a heavy price."
Silence fell over the Clubroom again. Everyone quietly treated their injuries, restored their stamina, and waited for the Family's support. Their eyes occasionally turned toward the two figures—one unconscious and one asleep—on the sofas: an Otherworld Daoist Practitioner who burned himself to save others, and a pure maiden rescued from a dark cage.
Their fates were tightly bound by this thrilling rescue, and they had thoroughly integrated into the collective of the Occult Research Club.
Outside the window, the deepest darkness before dawn was slowly receding, and a faint glimmer appeared on the horizon. The long night was about to pass, but the scars and shock left behind would require time to heal and digest.
As for the Occult Research Club, the arrival of an invaluable Eastern Consultant and a new member with precious healing power is bound to bring a new, unknown trajectory to the fate of this Club, and even the entire Kuoh Town.
Rias gazed at the faint light, a thoughtful gleam flickering in her emerald eyes. Raynare's severe defeat was by no means the end, and the Fallen Angels' conspiracy would not stop here. But after this battle, her team, thanks to the addition of this Eastern Consultant, seemed to possess more… possibilities for dealing with future storms.
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of High School DxD: The Quiet Immortal Who Guides Devils (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
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✅ Part 1 Complete — 116 Chapters
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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