The colossal black fortress floated in the heavens, its vast walls enclosing streets and houses laid out in perfect order—yet not a single soul stirred within.
The ancient city, steeped in the weight of countless ages, hung suspended in the air like a forgotten relic of gods, and everyone below could feel its oppressive aura pressing down on their lungs.
Ryuichi could feel the turbulent power raging through his body, his form simultaneously locked in Stasis and Amplification. The King's Sword—his divine weapon—was enhancing him again, the multiplier soaring to a staggering fifteenfold.
Murderous intent flickered in his eyes. In the next instant, his body vanished without warning. He reappeared right in front of Kokabiel.
The King's Sword roared down in an arc, wrapped in overwhelming demonic energy that made even the bystanders' hearts seize in terror.
The power behind that strike had already surpassed the level of a High-Class Devil.
Rias and the others were overjoyed. None of them had expected Ryuichi's power to surge to such terrifying heights.
For the first time, Kokabiel showed true seriousness. He spread the great black wings of a Fallen Angel behind him, divine light flashing from each feather as he crossed them to block the incoming blade.
Godly power clashed with demonic might in an explosion that rocked the sky. Everyone except Ryuichi and Kokabiel was blown clear by the shockwave—Rias, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko were all hurled backward like rag dolls.
Ryuichi struck again, undeterred, unleashing a storm of attacks that rained down like a violent tempest.
Kokabiel scowled in frustration, forced to defend again and again as Ryuichi's relentless onslaught left him no room to breathe.
How could this upstart boy possibly elevate his power to such a degree?
Even stranger—Ryuichi wasn't defending himself at all! He simply charged forward, attacking without hesitation, as if he had no need for self-preservation.
What was he taking Kokabiel for—a punching bag?
Rage flared within the Fallen Angel's eyes. Snarling, he gathered every ounce of his strength. If this brat wanted recklessness, he would answer in kind. Kokabiel swung with lethal intent, the Sword of Light cleaving at Ryuichi's neck.
The blade struck home with a thunderous crack—but what happened next froze Kokabiel's mind.
The light sword struck flesh and stopped. Ryuichi's neck—his damned neck—had not been severed. Not even a drop of blood flowed. The sword had failed to pierce his skin.
What… what kind of monstrosity was this?
Kokabiel had fought countless battles, faced Angels and Devils alike, but never—not once—had he encountered an opponent whose body could shrug off his full-powered strike. A pit formed in his gut as disbelief tightened around him.
Taking advantage of Kokabiel's shock, Ryuichi's blade came down again. The King's Sword bit deep into the Fallen Angel's shoulder, nearly severing one of his arms.
The ability known as Eternal Twilight City had taken hold.
While it lasted, Ryuichi's state of Stasis kept him locked in an unchanging moment—impervious to damage, frozen in his peak form. He could not heal, but he also could not be harmed.
With no need to defend himself, Ryuichi dove headlong into pure offense. During the duration of Eternal Twilight City, he could go all out—his magic burning like a star.
He could now sustain it for fifteen full minutes.
This was it—the decisive moment.
Soaring upward, Ryuichi rushed into the sky. He and Kokabiel clashed midair, bodies trailing streaks of light as their auras tore through the night like shooting stars.
Ryuichi's assault was ferocious; Kokabiel's counterattacks achieved nothing. All he could do was block, his frustration mounting with every passing second.
"This… this is absurd! What kind of unfair ability is this?!" Kokabiel roared, spreading his hands as divine power surged outward. The storm of godly might rushed forward, swallowing Ryuichi whole.
Yet it was useless.
Ryuichi burst from the radiant maelstrom, body unscathed, his blade gleaming with killing intent.
A blinding flash—
Dark feathers scattered through the night as Kokabiel's black wings were cleaved completely off.
The Fallen Angel's scream tore through the sky. "Damn you! My wings—you cut off my wings!"
"Save your whining. You're just a crow with delusions of grandeur," Ryuichi said coldly, his sword spinning in yet another merciless arc.
Kokabiel was livid—but powerless.
At this moment, Ryuichi's power exceeded even his own. The once-arrogant cadre was being driven back, forced to defend like a rookie under relentless pressure.
Watching from below, Rias and Akeno stood frozen in shock. They had known Ryuichi would become strong when he invoked his forbidden ability—but not this strong.
This was beyond monstrous.
"Everyone, move! Disable the magic circle—now!" Rias snapped out of her daze, rallying her team. With Ryuichi holding Kokabiel at bay, this was their best chance to stop the massive spell from activating.
Meanwhile, Ryuichi felt the drain of power gnawing at him. His mana consumption was immense; even with Evolution and the King's Sword's amplification, he would burn out fast.
Could he truly defeat Kokabiel before the effect wore off?
If not… things would get ugly.
Without Eternal Twilight City, Ryuichi was merely a Mid-Class Devil—strong enough to fight on par with a High-Class one, but nowhere near Kokabiel's scale of power.
He needed to finish this. Quickly.
"Your arrogance won't last, you pest!" Kokabiel sneered viciously, his experienced eyes gleaming. "That invincible form of yours won't last forever. Let's see how long you can keep it up before you crumble!"
Ryuichi said nothing, his expression ice-cold.
"Annoying," he muttered curtly.
The King's Sword blurred into a thousand afterimages. His pure offense, boosted by the suppression of Kokabiel's magic, tore apart the Fallen Angel's defenses. Black feathers filled the air as Ryuichi shredded every last wing.
Then—bang!
Ryuichi's boot connected squarely with Kokabiel's face, sending him tumbling backward with a guttural snarl.
Humiliation burned through Kokabiel's veins. No one—ever—had made him taste defeat like this.
With an enraged roar, godly light surged from his body. His final trump card ignited between his hands.
"—Seraph's Judgment!"
Rias and the others blanched. Even if Kokabiel couldn't truly wield Seraph-level power, his Divine Art carried catastrophic might. If unleashed, it could annihilate the entire city of Kuoh.
Its destructive potential rivaled the activation of the massive magic circle itself.
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed, utterly calm.
"Losing your temper already? Don't act like I'm invisible."
He raised his sword, unleashing both blade and sealing sigil in one sweeping motion. The searing aura of the King's Sword merged with the shimmering light of his magic seal—snuffing out Kokabiel's spell before it could even take form.
Trying to cast a high-cost, easily interrupted Divine Art right in front of him—did Kokabiel really think he wouldn't take the obvious chance to break the incantation?
The half-started spell dissolved into scattered light, fading uselessly into the night wind.