Kuoh Academy – Battlefield
Grayfia completely ignored Kokabiel's insult. Her expression remained flawless, cold, and controlled, as if those words were not even worthy of reaching her attention.
The supreme maid's gaze quickly passed over the shattered structure of the barrier before returning to Kokabiel. That technique was not ordinary, and the fact that it had blocked even her perception made the situation far more serious than a simple Fallen Angel attack.
'I need to capture Kokabiel alive to discover where he obtained that barrier.'
Her eyes shifted toward Azraelion for an instant.
'As for the other Fallen Angel... there is no need.'
Grayfia showed no outward change as she reached that conclusion. To her, Azraelion was not an important source of information, merely a lesser threat that needed to be eliminated if he interfered with the evacuation.
"Sona-sama, leave with your peerage." Grayfia kept her voice firm while staring at Kokabiel. "I will handle everything here."
Sona looked at Grayfia for a moment before slowly shifting her gaze toward where Tomoe lay among the debris of the destroyed room. Pain appeared on her face, but logic overcame her desire to remain there and fight.
"Alright, Grayfia."
Azraelion spread his black wings in irritation, clearly offended by the idea of them leaving the battlefield in front of him. Holy energy began surging around his body, scattering golden sparks through the air.
"Do you really think I'll let you escape like that?"
Grayfia did not even look in his direction.
"Gasper."
The order was brief.
And sufficient.
Gasper vanished from her side in a dark blur, using his dhampir speed to cross the distance to the Student Council room in a single movement. The air ruptured behind him, and the surrounding debris trembled when his feet struck the destroyed floor.
THUUUM!
He appeared between the members of the Sitri peerage and the Fallen Angels, close enough to smell Tomoe's blood mixed with the holy energy left behind by the spear. His gaze lowered for an instant toward the dead girl's body.
'I arrived too late to save this girl.'
The realization passed quickly, but remained lodged in the back of his mind. Gasper did not truly know Tomoe, but she was one of Sona's servants, and that alone was enough to turn her death into another mistake Kokabiel would have to pay for.
Kokabiel watched the movement with genuine attention for the first time. His years of battle were enough to recognize that Gasper was not merely fast; there was control, strength, and intent behind every movement.
'Azraelion doesn't stand a chance against that boy.'
Kokabiel's smile remained on his face, but his eyes immediately returned to Grayfia.
'But now I need to focus on Sirzechs' bitch.'
Azraelion stared at Gasper in surprise for several seconds, still trying to process the speed with which he had crossed the battlefield. Irritation quickly replaced the shock, and his hand clenched tightly.
"You'll die with them."
Gasper completely ignored the threat and looked directly at Sona.
"Sona, go." His voice was calm, but left no room for argument. "Take the exorcists with you."
After their last encounter with Gasper, neither Xenovia nor Irina showed any desire to oppose him. Xenovia still gripped Excalibur tightly, but her arrogance had been cracked by the weight of Kokabiel's revelation.
'God... how can He be dead?'
Xenovia's mind tried to reject the idea, but doubt had already taken root.
'I dedicated my entire life in the Church to Him. So what am I now?'
Irina was also shaken, but her eyes still followed Xenovia, trying to find some point of stability in her. But this time, Xenovia herself seemed far too lost to serve as support.
Sona noticed their condition and understood that arguing there would be a waste of time. If they stayed for even a few more seconds, Kokabiel could use their hesitation to turn that room into a tomb.
"Yes, Gasper." Sona raised her hand as she began gathering teleportation magic. "We're all going together."
Issei immediately stepped forward, with the Boosted Gear still glowing on his arm.
"I can—"
"Issei, now is not the time." Tsubaki interrupted before he could finish, standing beside Sona while helping organize the injured members of the peerage.
"But—"
"No more." Tsubaki spoke firmly, and this time her tone allowed no further attempt at stupid heroics.
Issei clenched his teeth, but swallowed his response. Tomoe's death still burned in his mind, but even he realized that charging at Kokabiel at that moment would only be another idiotic way to die.
Sona expanded the magic circle beneath the group's feet. Blue energy began surrounding the members of the Sitri peerage, Xenovia, and Irina, but constructing the teleportation required several seconds because of the number of people and the unstable condition of the area.
Azraelion noticed the circle forming and immediately raised his hand.
"I said she isn't leaving this place."
An intense yellow light appeared above his palm, condensing divine power into another spear. Unlike the previous one, this energy was denser, more concentrated, and the sacred heat began distorting the air around the weapon.
Gasper felt the divine energy pressing against his skin before the spear was even complete. The memory of his burned hands in the shopping district surfaced immediately, but this time he was not distracted, injured, or trying to protect Rias from behind.
'This time I won't be caught off guard.'
The shadow beneath his feet spread across the destroyed floor like spilled black ink. Instead of advancing toward Azraelion, Gasper moved the darkness around Sona and the group, forming a living layer between the teleportation circle and the incoming attack.
Azraelion hurled the spear with all his strength.
SHOOOOOOM!
The weapon tore through the air in a straight line, leaving a golden trail through the destroyed room. The holy power ripped pieces from the ceiling and ignited fragments of wood before reaching the shadowy protection raised by Gasper.
CRAAASH!
The spear struck the shadows and exploded into light.
The holy energy began burning through the darkness, opening golden cracks across the defense while Gasper felt the pressure trying to force its way through the barrier. His arm trembled slightly, but his expression remained cold.
Azraelion smiled when he saw the light advancing.
But the smile died when the shadow held.
Gasper clenched his hand, and the darkness closed around the spear like jaws.
CRRSHHH!
The divine weapon was crushed before it could reach the teleportation circle.
Fragments of light exploded through the air and disappeared into golden sparks. The scent of burned holy energy spread throughout the room, but Sona's group remained unharmed behind him.
Sona completed the magic circle at the same moment.
"Gasper."
She said nothing else, but her gaze carried gratitude and frustration at the same time.
He merely nodded.
"Go."
The teleportation activated.
SHUUUN!
Blue light enveloped Sona, Tsubaki, Issei, Xenovia, Irina, and the remaining members of the Sitri peerage. Within seconds, they all disappeared from the destroyed room, leaving only Gasper standing before Azraelion.
Azraelion stared at the empty space where Sona had been before turning his eyes back toward Gasper. The irritation on his face had already transformed into open hatred.
"You dared to interfere."
Gasper stepped forward as the shadows slowly withdrew around his feet.
"Yes."
The simple response made Azraelion even more furious.
On the other side of the battlefield, Kokabiel's smile widened as he stared at Grayfia. Sona's evacuation had succeeded, but that did not appear to bother him as much as it should have.
"So the game truly begins now."
Grayfia kept her eyes fixed on him, refusing to react to the provocation.
"You will answer for that barrier, Kokabiel."
The demonic power around her increased once more, and the ground of Kuoh Academy began cracking under the pressure. Kokabiel spread his black wings with delight, finally facing an opponent worthy of his attention.
Among the ruins of the Student Council room, Gasper kept his gaze fixed on Azraelion.
'That divine power is very effective against me... more than I'd like to admit.'
Azraelion stared at Gasper with contempt, keeping the spear firmly pointed at him.
"You should have fled with the other devil." His voice was cold and filled with arrogance. "Now you'll pay for interfering."
Gasper remained motionless for several seconds before answering. No emotion appeared on his face, as if he were merely analyzing an opponent he already understood completely.
"Your attack is good." Demonic energy began circulating through his body while small shadows spread across the floor. "It works very well against devils."
Gasper's black wings slowly spread behind his back. The wind created by the movement scattered dust and small fragments of concrete through the surroundings as his demonic energy gradually increased.
Without making any sudden movement, he allowed his feet to leave the ground. His body rose steadily until he reached the same height as Azraelion, standing face-to-face with the Fallen Angel in the sky above Kuoh Academy.
Gasper's crimson eyes remained fixed on his opponent.
"But your defense..." A small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as the shadows began slowly circling his body. "Is pathetic."
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