The massive sword, glowing with a dark violet light, came crashing down with unstoppable force. The Hellhound fought back desperately, pouring all its demonic power into defending itself.
But no matter how fiercely it resisted, that sword of violet-black energy refused to halt its descent.
Already ravaged from its clash with Ryuichi, the beast's battered body could no longer withstand such overwhelming power.
The giant sword cleaved into the monstrous creature; inky black blood burst forth only to vaporize instantly under the blade's heat. A shockwave of pure force exploded across the battlefield.
The unleashed energy tore through the ground, shattering the stone path and carving out a trench five meters wide and a hundred meters long.
When the glare finally faded, the onlookers could see it— the Hellhound's massive body split cleanly in two before collapsing with a thunderous crash.
On Rias's side, excitement flickered across everyone's faces. The level of power Ryuichi unleashed was already comparable to that of a High‑Class Devil.
"Let's keep pushing! Finish it off!"
Hellhounds had incredible regenerative abilities. Since Rias and her team lacked a single decisive attack like Ryuichi's, they had no choice but to wear it down through relentless strikes.
Just then, a new voice rang out.
"I'll lend a hand!"
A bright figure flashed into view, sword in hand, moving with agile precision.
It was Xenovia, the Holy Sword wielder.
Her weapon was none other than the Holy Sword of Destruction. In a single gleaming motion, she appeared beside the massive Beast of Hell and severed one of its heads with a clean strike.
"Excellent!"
Rias's eyes lit up. The seven Holy Swords, forged from shards of the legendary King's Sword, possessed immense power against Devils. Xenovia's sudden attack had dealt a critical blow, bringing the fierce Hellhound to the brink of death.
As the girls pressed their offensive, about to slay the creature completely, Ryuichi felt a sudden chill run through his body. From the far end of the battlefield, a beam of light erupted, radiating a suffocatingly powerful aura.
He spun around, eyes widening.
Four Holy Swords were dissolving into light. At the center of a vast magic circle, a new sword—magnificent and radiant—was slowly taking shape.
"It's complete!!"
Valper's ecstatic voice echoed.
"Oh, splendid," Kokabiel murmured with an indulgent smile, reclining on his throne in midair, watching the scene below like a man admiring a stage play.
To him, those struggling beneath were nothing but clowns—fragile little lives he could crush whenever he pleased.
Down on the ground, that sanctified radiance grew, expanding outward. The fusion of the four Holy Swords had completed.
When the dazzling light subsided, a beautiful sword, wreathed in blue‑white flames, floated serenely in the air.
"The King's Swords are one at last," Valper announced, voice brimming with manic pride. "The completed ritual has already begun. In less than twenty minutes, this city will be annihilated by the spell. If you wish to stop it… you'll have to defeat Kokabiel himself."
The group, having just finished slaying the Hellhound, turned pale in horror.
"How could anyone… be this insane!?"
Rias's voice trembled with fury. Kokabiel truly lived up to his reputation as a war maniac; to destroy an entire city so casually—such an act would ignite a worldwide catastrophe. Even the Maou themselves would not be able to intervene in time.
"Heh… if you want to stop me, then come, and let's have ourselves a war."
Kokabiel laughed freely, spreading his black wings as divine darkness shimmered around him.
"Stop this madness!"
Rias unleashed a torrent of magic fire, blasting upward toward his throne, her crimson aura lighting up the sky.
Kokabiel only lifted one hand, almost lazily.
A single pulse of divine power shattered her flames instantly, dispersing them like candlelight before a storm.
"Such a dull attack. Don't spoil my mood while I'm enjoying the show."
He waved his hand lightly, sending another surge of energy ripping toward Rias.
"Akeno!"
"On it!"
Together, Rias and Akeno barely managed to block the devastating blast, sparks scattering between their colliding powers.
"Pathetic," Kokabiel sighed in mock boredom. "Very well—I'll play along for a while."
Even sitting casually upon his throne, the immense pressure he exuded made Rias's team strain merely to stand their ground.
Meanwhile, Valper clapped his hands together, smiling gleefully.
"How about giving the new Holy Sword a test run?"
At his words, a dimensional gate rippled open beside him. A young girl stepped out—long black hair, an expression as lifeless as a doll's.
"Allow me to introduce my masterpiece," Valper said proudly. "A perfected Holy Sword wielder, created through extensive research and sacrifice."
Ryuichi narrowed his eyes. Memories flashed—of the experimental facility he had destroyed not long ago, and the numbered test subjects imprisoned within.
This girl… another product of that same cruel system.
"So the lab I found before really was yours," Ryuichi muttered, his voice low and cold. "You were breeding these 'subjects' all along…"
Valper chuckled. "Well, wielding a Holy Sword requires certain genetic factors. I simply extracted them from compatible humans and crystallized them. Efficient, isn't it? And the result—my ultimate Adapted Wielder! Beautiful, isn't she?"
The mad scientist's pride made Ryuichi's skin crawl. The so‑called Holy Sword Project was infamous even among Devils and Fallen Angels—pure butchery disguised as experimentation.
Time was running out. Less than twenty minutes remained before the city would be obliterated.
Ryuichi drew in a deep breath. He couldn't let that happen. Too many people he cared about lived here.
He gripped the King's Sword tightly. Before facing Kokabiel, he'd have to deal with her—this "Number One." Otherwise, breaking through the magical barrier would be impossible.
Valper gave his order with sickening cheer.
"Number One, take the new sword. Kill them all."
The girl obeyed mechanically, picking up the glowing weapon.
A whisper of air—and she vanished.
Her target: Ryuichi.
Ryuichi swung his own sword to meet her strike. Number One's speed was inhuman, almost untraceable.
That was the power of the Holy Sword of Swift Lightning—granting terrifying speed to its wielder.
Fortunately, Ryuichi had the Knight's Piece within him, boosting his agility to its limit. He managed to block her attack—but in the next instant, her sword twisted and reshaped itself into a long whip, snapping toward him like a serpent.
The Holy Sword of Mimicry—its ability to transform!
Just as he suspected.
The new, fused Holy Sword… possessed all the powers of the four that had come before it.
And the battle had only just begun.