The night froze. The air in the ruined church seemed to empty out, growing heavy and viscous. Moonlight, breaking through the gaping holes in the roof, painted bizarre patterns of light and shadow on the dusty floor, turning the old temple into a surreal arena. And on this arena, predator and prey had met. Well, or so it seemed at first glance.
Raynare. The name surfaced in my memory on its own when I saw her—the fallen angel who had sent Issei to the next world in his past, human life. The very same bitch with an angelic face and a rotten soul. Her beauty was cold, predatory, and her dark eyes brimmed with contempt for all living things. Now, surprise and poorly concealed malice were added to that contempt. She clearly hadn't expected to meet someone here capable not just of opposing her, but of radiating an aura that must have made her feathers stand on end.
Looming behind her were two other fallen—male figures, faceless extras in this drama. Their faces were tense, and the spears of light in their hands trembled, ready to launch an attack at any moment. They sensed my power, but orders were orders.
Asia Argento, pale as a sheet, was frozen behind me, clutching her nun's habit. Her eyes were wide with terror; she was barely breathing. A pathetic sight. But right now, she was under my... well, let's call it my temporary and very conditional protection.
"Oh-ho, look what we have here?" Raynare drawled, her voice dripping with venom and mockery. She was trying to regain control of the situation, to hide her own uncertainty. "The little saint and… who's this with her? A new protector? How sweet. But it won't help you. Twilight Healing will be ours!"
"You want a lot, feather-brain," I tossed out, not moving from my spot. My voice rolled evenly under the church vaults. "This Sacred Gear is out of your league. As is this girl. As am I."
"You?!" Raynare jutted her chin, her beautiful lips twisting into a vicious grimace. "You think I'm afraid of you? I saw your fight with Kalawarner! She was just a weakling! But I'm different! I'll take what's mine! Boys, take him! Don't harm the nun!"
The two fallen behind her lunged forward. One threw a spear of light, aiming for my chest; the second tried to flank me, coming from the altar side to cut off my path to Asia. Standard tactics, designed to split an opponent's focus. Stupid.
I made an imperceptible movement to the side, evading the spear's line of attack. It whistled past and embedded itself in the wall behind me, leaving a smoking mark on the old stone. Simultaneously, I turned to the one trying to flank me.
My speed was something beyond their comprehension. Before the second fallen could even react, my fist crashed into his jaw. The sound was disgusting—a crunch of bone mixed with a wet smack. The fallen's head snapped to an unnatural angle, his eyes rolling back. He collapsed to the floor like a sack of bones, not even uttering a sound. Done.
The first one, who had thrown the spear, froze, stunned by his partner's instant fall. He tried to form a new spear, but I was already on him. My strike hit him in the solar plexus. Not too hard—I didn't want to kill him outright. Just to knock the wind out of him and show him the difference in our levels.
The fallen doubled over, a choked rasp escaping his throat. Air left his lungs in a whoosh. I grabbed him by the hair, yanked him up, forcing him to look me in the eyes. Animalistic terror swam in his gaze.
"Tell your boss, Kokabiel," I hissed right in his face, "that his games in this city are over. Next time, I won't be so... merciful."
And I threw him aside like a useless rag. He hit a pillar and slid to the floor, writhing in pain and lack of air, but alive. For now.
It all happened in a fraction of a second. Raynare, standing in the doorway, hadn't even had time to intervene. She stared at her fallen subordinates, then at me. Her face was pale, her lips trembling. The arrogance had vanished, leaving only pure, unadulterated fear.
"You… you're a monster…" she whispered.
"Possibly," I agreed, walking slowly toward her. "But you brought this on yourself. You wanted Twilight Healing? You wanted to play the hunter? Fine."
I walked without hurry, giving her time to realize her predicament. She retreated, backing toward the exit, her wings twitching nervously.
"Stay back!" she shrieked, her voice cracking. She tried to form a spear of light again, but her hands were shaking so badly that the energy dissipated before it could take shape.
"Too late to be scared." I was already very close. I reached out, not touching her, but my aura pressed down on her, making her cringe. "You're the one who killed Issei, aren't you? Enjoy playing with the lives of weaklings? How do you like playing with someone several orders of magnitude stronger than you?"
I saw the panic flood her eyes. She understood there was nowhere to run. That I could do whatever I wanted to her. Crush her like a bug. And no one would come to help.
"I… I didn't want to… Kokabiel ordered…" she stammered, trying to make excuses.
"I don't give a damn about orders." My voice was ice. "You made your choice. You came here to kill and to take."
I grabbed her by the wing. The black feathers were soft to the touch, but beneath them, I felt strong bones. Raynare shrieked in pain and fear, trying to pull away.
"No! Please! Don't!"
"I must," I said, and yanked. Hard.
There was a sickening crunch. The wing twisted unnaturally, the bone snapping with a dry crack. Raynare screamed so loud it felt like the windows (if any were left) should have shattered. It was a scream of agony, terror, and complete, absolute humiliation. She collapsed to her knees, clutching the mutilated wing, her body wracked with sobs.
I looked down on her. At her tears, at the blood dripping from the broken wing onto the dusty floor. No pity, no compassion. Only a cold satisfaction that the opponent was broken. And a slight annoyance—she was weaker than I thought. I didn't even have to try hard.
"Now get out," I tossed out, turning away. "Crawl back to your Kokabiel. Maybe he'll sew you on a new wing. Or maybe he'll just throw you out, like the useless trash you are."
Raynare, sobbing, struggled to her feet. Leaning on the wall, she staggered to the exit, dragging her broken wing behind her. Her beautiful face was twisted in pain and hatred, but most of all, it held fear. She knew she had gotten off easy. That I could have done far worse.
She disappeared into the darkness of the night, leaving behind only a few black feathers on the floor and the stench of fear.
I turned around. Asia was still standing by the altar, hands pressed to her mouth. Her green eyes were huge, reflecting the moonlight and the horror of what she'd seen. She was looking at me as if I weren't a savior, but a monster who had just torn another creature apart before her very eyes.
And perhaps she was right.
I walked over to her. She flinched and recoiled.
"It's over," I said, just as evenly as before. "They're gone. For now."
"You… you…" she couldn't find the words, her voice trembling. "You broke her wing… So… cruelly…"
"She came to kill you and take your power," I reminded her. "Cruelty is the language types like her understand best. Consider it a lesson taught. Besides, isn't the mercy I showed her exactly what you people prize above all else?"
I looked her over. Fragile, terrified, but in her eyes, beyond the fear, something else flickered. Stubbornness? Or that same holy faith that wouldn't let her hate even those who had wronged her?
"What will you do now?" I asked. "Stay here and wait for Kokabiel to send someone stronger? Or will you finally follow my advice and seek protection from the demons?"
Asia was silent, staring at me with wide eyes. She was clearly in shock, unable to make a decision.
I sighed. This situation was starting to tire me out. I had dealt with the immediate threat, satisfied my curiosity. What happened next wasn't my problem.
"Fine, do what you want." I headed for the exit. "But if they catch you again, I might not be around."
I walked out of the ruined church, leaving Asia Argento alone in her sanctuary of dust and fear. The night wrapped me in its silence once more. The fight had been short, almost disappointing. But it had brought answers and new questions. Kokabiel, war, Twilight Healing…
I walked the dark streets, feeling the faint aftertaste of battle—a mix of adrenaline and cold emptiness. And somewhere deep inside, a thought stirred: "What if they come back? What if her power falls into their hands?" But I pushed the thought away. Too many "what ifs."
Let them sort it out themselves.