After an energetic farewell from Irina and an icy silence from Xenovia, the two envoys of the Church finally withdrew. Issei breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that sharp, metallic pressure recede from his home. Although the weapons hadn't been identified, the air still felt heavy with a sacred energy that was far too intense to be ordinary.
Just a few minutes later, a crimson magic circle glowed on the living room floor. Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima immediately appeared with alert expressions.
"Issei, are you alright?" Rias asked urgently, approaching him. "We sensed a very powerful sacred presence emanating from this place. It was a very specific... and dangerous energy frequency."
"I'm fine, Rias. It was Irina and a friend of hers from church," Issei replied, scratching the back of his neck. "They were here having tea with my mom. It was... quite surreal."
Rias squinted, analyzing the trace of energy that remained in the room.
—Irina Shidou... and the other girl. If the Church sent agents of that caliber to your own house, it means they're tracking something of utmost importance in Kuoh. It's not common for agents from headquarters to move so freely in territory controlled by demons.
"Ara, ara..." Akeno added, looking seriously toward the door. "Issei-kun, those 'guests' of yours were carrying something wrapped up that emitted an icy aura. It seemed they wanted to hide it, but for us it's impossible not to feel that sacred hostility."
Issei nodded, remembering Xenovia's rigidity.
—I proposed a formal meeting for tomorrow at the club, Rias. They say they have a matter to discuss with the local authorities, and out of respect for our relationship, I told them they should speak with you and Sona.
Rias sighed, softening her expression and placing a hand on Issei's arm in a gesture of gratitude.
"You did the right thing. As a human, you could have stayed out of it, but this affects the balance of the entire city. Tomorrow we'll hear what's troubling them so much... but I have a bad feeling about how Kiba will react when he senses that same energy."
Rias finished analyzing the situation and, after a brief silence, turned to Issei. Her gaze was no longer that of a President examining an ally, but that of a woman looking at the man she loved. She approached him and took his hands naturally.
"Issei," she said in a soft, warm voice. "After what happened today with those Church messengers, I don't want to go back to the club or my apartment. I want to be with you. Tomorrow will be a difficult day with the faction meeting, and I need to sleep next to you to regain my strength."
Issei returned her gaze with a tender smile, gently squeezing her hands.
"I want you to stay too, Rias. After what happened with Raiser, we promised we wouldn't let anything separate us, least of all a pair of holy swords lurking around the house."
Rias blushed slightly and nodded, beginning to undo the ribbon of her uniform with a confidence that only comes from knowing that your feelings are reciprocated.
"Huh?! Again?!" Asia's shout shattered the romantic moment. "Issei-san, President! I know you two love each other and have already confessed, but that doesn't give you the right to leave me out of everything!"
Asia stepped between them, making a monumental pout as her eyes filled with comical tears.
"If the President is staying overnight because she's worried, then I'm worried too! What's more, I live here and I have 'resident priority'!" the little nun exclaimed, clinging to Issei's arm. "It's not fair that they use security as an excuse to have their lovemaking time while I'm praying alone in my room!"
Rias let out a small giggle and affectionately stroked Asia's head, though without letting go of Issei's other arm.
—Asia, darling... it's part of our relationship. But if you're so worried about "safety," you can sleep on the rug next to the bed.
"On the carpet?!" Asia shouted indignantly. "That's cruel! Issei-san, say something to her! You're too kind to let your beloved Asia sleep on the floor while you two cuddle!"
Issei sighed with a smile, feeling the pull of both of them.
"Okay, okay. Let's calm down. Rias can stay, but Asia... if you promise not to wake us up at six in the morning with your tantrums, we can figure something out."
"Ara, ara!" Akeno interjected from the doorway, her eyes sparkling as she watched the scene unfold. "If 'love' is what this house is overflowing with, maybe I should confess my feelings today too, to secure a spot in that bed. Looks like the club is officially moving into Issei-kun's room."
The next day, the atmosphere in the old school building was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Not only were Rias's members of the Occult Research Club present, but Sona Sitri's Student Council was also there, occupying the opposite side of the room with impeccable formality.
Issei stood beside Rias, observing the door with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the state of his companions. Kiba, seated in a shadowy corner, clenched his fists on his knees; his aura was cold and erratic, a clear sign that he already sensed the approach of that which he hated so much.
Finally, the door opened. Irina Shidou and Xenovia Quarta entered with purposeful steps, wearing dark cloaks that concealed the weapons they carried.
—We appreciate you accepting this meeting—Xenovia said in an icy voice, ignoring the hospitality of Akeno, who had just placed a tray of tea on the central table.
Sona Sitri adjusted her glasses, crossing her legs elegantly.
—Let's get to the point. Hyoudou Issei mentioned that the Church has an urgent matter that requires our "non-interference." As those in charge of Kuoh's security, we need to know what kind of threat they've brought into our territory.
Irina looked at Issei with a hint of discomfort before turning to the heiresses.
—As you know, there are sacred objects that the Church guards with its life. Recently, three extremely important fragments were stolen from headquarters by a rogue fallen angel named Kokabiel.
The name Kokabiel made even Rias tense up. A leader of the Fallen, a survivor of the Great War, was not someone who acted on a whim.
"We suspect Kokabiel is hiding in this city," Xenovia continued, her gaze fixed on Rias's group. "Our mission is to recover the shards at any cost. We don't ask for your help, only your word that you won't interfere when we begin our purge."
At that moment, Kiba slowly stood up. The sound of his chair scraping the floor was like a loud bang in the silence of the room. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the bundles wrapped around the backs of the envoys.
"Fragments?" Kiba whispered with a hatred that made Irina take a step back. "They're not mere fragments. What they're carrying... what Kokabiel stole... those are the Excaliburs, aren't they?"
Xenovia slightly opened her cloak, revealing the golden hilt of her weapon.
—That's right, demon. And if the name terrifies you, it's because your nature recognizes its end.
Issei stepped forward, placing himself between Kiba and Xenovia. His presence, imbued with the experience of a thousand battles from the future, halted the escalation of violence in its tracks.
"Enough," Issei declared with an authority that surprised the Church's envoys. "Kiba, sit down. Xenovia, if you came here to negotiate, save the threats for someone who feels intimidated by them. In this room, the only priority is preventing Kokabiel from turning this city to ashes."
The tension in the room rose sharply when Xenovia shifted her gaze from Kiba to the small nun hiding behind Issei. Her eyes held not hatred, but a cold, utter contempt; the kind of judgment only someone with blind faith could project.
"Speaking of ashes..." Xenovia said sharply. "It's truly lamentable to see a former nun, known for her healing gifts, now stooping to living among demons and fallen angels. Asia Argento, the 'Healing Witch.'"
Asia took a step back, trembling, her hands gripping Issei's jacket tightly. Xenovia's words hurt her more than any physical weapon.
"I... I just wanted to help people," Asia whispered, her voice breaking.
"Your compassion was your sin," Xenovia declared, taking a step toward her. "By healing an impure being, you betrayed God's grace. You are an existence that should not be named in the presence of the Holy Blades. The fact that you continue to breathe under the protection of a human and the Gremory is an insult to all who serve the Lord."
Rias made a move to get up, her crimson aura beginning to crackle, but Issei was faster. He positioned himself in front of Asia, completely enveloping her with his body. He didn't summon the Boosted Gear; it wasn't necessary. The sheer pressure of his soul, hardened by memories of the future, brought Xenovia to a standstill.
"That's enough, Xenovia," Issei said with a calmness that was terrifying. "You can insult demons, you can despise my way of life, but if you say one more word to Asia that might hurt her, I will consider that the Church didn't come to negotiate, but to declare war."
Xenovia gripped the hilt of her sword, surprised by the human's intensity.
—Are you defending an excommunicated woman with such vehemence? No matter how much power you have, she is still a traitor before God.
"To me, she has more heart and faith than any of you with your wrapped swords," Issei replied, holding his gaze. "God may have banished her, but I haven't. And in this city, my word carries as much weight as any Maou's."
Irina, seeing that the situation was getting out of control, quickly intervened by putting a hand on her partner's shoulder.
—Xenovia, stop it! We didn't come here to judge Asia-chan, we came here because of Kokabiel.
Sona, who was observing everything attentively, adjusted her glasses.
—Hyoudou is right. If they want our cooperation, or at least our neutrality, they must respect the residents of Kuoh. Xenovia Quarta, please consider this a formal warning from the Student Council.
Xenovia released her sword's hilt, not out of submission, but to cross her arms over her chest, observing Issei with renewed curiosity. The pressure the brown-haired man exerted wasn't something a mere "strong person" could project; it was the presence of someone who had stared into the abyss, and the abyss had receded.
"Interesting," Xenovia said, a small, cold smile appearing on her face. "You have a powerful will for a human, Hyoudou Issei. But words are cheap in the supernatural world. If you claim your word carries as much weight as a Maou's and dare to protect an excommunicated woman from the swords of the Church, prove it."
He turned towards Rias and Sona, giving a slight bow that was more of a challenge than a sign of respect.
—Gremory and Sitri heiresses, I request permission for a practice duel in the courtyard of this academy. I wish to see with my own eyes whether this man is the hero the Underworld proclaims or merely an arrogant human who leans on the shadow of a Dragon.
Rias looked at Issei. She knew he didn't need defending, but the concern for his safety was always there. However, seeing Issei's calm and confident expression, she nodded.
"I have no problem with that," Rias replied elegantly. "As long as you accept the consequences of facing someone who defeated a Phoenix."
Sona adjusted her glasses, analyzing the variables.
—The backyard is reinforced with barriers. You can use it. But remember: it's a rehearsal, not an execution.
"Understood," Xenovia said, turning and walking toward the door. "Hyoudou Issei, I'll wait for you outside. Bring that power that 'kills immortality.' I want to see if it can even scratch the will of God."
Irina looked at Issei with a mixture of excitement and fear.
"Issei-kun, be careful! Xenovia can't control herself when she gets excited... and that sword isn't a toy!"
Issei simply cracked his neck and looked at Asia, gently patting her head to reassure her.
—Don't worry, Asia. I'm going to show her that you don't need a church to be protected.
The academy's back courtyard was enveloped in a tense silence, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind. Club members and the Student Council stood at a safe distance, forming a circle around the two combatants.
Xenovia shed her cloak in one fluid motion, revealing her form-fitting combat suit. She drew the heavy, bandaged sword, its mere presence making the air vibrate with a piercing, almost sacred pressure.
"Aren't you going to summon your armor?" Xenovia asked, raising an eyebrow at Issei standing with his hands in his pockets, completely relaxed. "Or is your arrogance stronger than your survival instinct?"
"I don't need it for this," Issei replied in a voice that exuded absolute confidence. "Start whenever you want."
Xenovia didn't hesitate. With a burst of speed that left a trail of dust, she launched herself forward. The enormous sword descended in a vertical arc capable of cleaving a building in two. However, what happened next left everyone, including the sword's wielder, in shock.
Issei didn't back down. He simply took an almost imperceptible step to the side, letting the edge pass within millimeters of his face, and with a lightning-fast movement, he struck the side of the blade with the palm of his open hand.
¡CLANG!
The metallic clang echoed throughout the courtyard. The force of the impact was so brutal that Xenovia felt her arms go numb. Her trajectory was completely deflected, forcing her to dig the tip of her sword into the ground to maintain her balance.
"Brute force against a holy sword?" Saji murmured from the edge, his eyes wide. "He deflected a blow from Excalibur with his bare hand!"
Xenovia recovered quickly, launching a horizontal thrust, but Issei moved again with astonishing economy of movement. Crouching beneath the blade, he entered Xenovia's personal space and delivered a sharp palm strike to her solar plexus. The impact wasn't intended to kill, but the sheer physical power sent the Vatican warrior flying several meters backward.
Xenovia landed on her feet, skidding across the ground, her breath ragged and her expression one of utter disbelief.
"Your body..." Xenovia gasped, looking at Issei. "I don't detect any magical energy or the Dragon's power boost... It's just your physical strength. How can a human have such muscle density and reflexes?"
"It's called training," Issei replied, straightening up and brushing some dust off his shoulder. "The Dragon's power is a tool, Xenovia, but my body decides how to use it. If you rely too much on that sword, you'll never be able to touch me."
Irina stared at the scene, her mouth agape. She had known Issei since they were children, but this level of physical mastery defied all logic.
Xenovia, gritting her teeth in frustration at being physically outmatched by a human, decided she could no longer hold back. With a swift movement, she ripped off the bandages covering her weapon, revealing the menacing golden gleam of Excalibur Destruction. The air grew heavy, thick with a thirst for holy blood that made the demons present take a step back.
"The game is over, Hyoudou Issei!" Xenovia shouted, launching herself into a final attack and concentrating all her power into a downward slash that promised to pulverize the very ground.
Issei didn't even flinch at the pressure of the holy sword. His soul, tempered in the battles of the future, anticipated her movement before she could execute it. Instead of dodging, he took a firm step forward, entering Xenovia's attack range before the sword reached its maximum momentum. With surgical precision, he caught the warrior's wrist with his right hand, while with his left he delivered a sharp, upward strike to the base of the hilt.
The impact was so precise and powerful that Xenovia's fingers splayed out in a pure nervous reflex. Excalibur Destruction flew through the air, spinning on its axis until it plunged deep into the ground several meters away.
Xenovia froze, her arm still outstretched, her gaze fixed on her empty hand. Issei didn't stop there; taking advantage of his position, he placed two fingers against the blue-haired woman's throat, symbolizing a fatal blow that never came.
"It's over," Issei declared in a calm voice that echoed throughout the courtyard. "You've lost your weapon and your position. On a real battlefield, you'd be dead before your sword even touched the ground."
The silence that followed was absolute. Sona, Rias, and even Irina herself stared at the scene in disbelief. Issei had disarmed an Excalibur wielder without even summoning an ounce of Ddraig's power.
"I... I've lost," Xenovia murmured, lowering her head. The arrogance she'd carried from the Vatican had vanished before the overwhelming reality of Issei's strength. "Your mastery far surpasses what the reports indicated."
Issei removed his fingers from his neck and took a few steps back, regaining his relaxed posture.
"I wasn't fighting to humiliate you, Xenovia. I was fighting so you'd understand that if we want to stop Kokabiel, they can't come at us with that superior attitude. We need warriors, not judges."
Rias walked toward Issei with a smile of undeniable pride, while Irina hurried to retrieve her companion's sword. The duel was over, and with it, the balance of respect in Kuoh City had been forever altered.
The silence that followed Issei's victory was broken by a sharp sound: the crunch of gravel under violently moving boots. Kiba Yuuto, who had remained in the shadows of the courtyard, walked to the center of the field, his gaze fixed on the Excalibur Destruction that still vibrated, embedded in the ground.
His face did not reflect satisfaction at his friend's victory; it was contorted with a visceral hatred that seemed to burn his skin.
"That glow..." Kiba muttered, his voice sounding like metal scraping on stone. "That damned glow is the last thing my comrades saw before they died."
Without warning, Kiba summoned one of his demonic swords and, with a scream heavy with years of pent-up pain, slashed furiously at the disarmed Excalibur. The clash of energies ignited a spark of dark, holy light that made Irina and Xenovia recoil, alarmed by the bloodlust emanating from Rias's Knight.
"Kiba, stop it!" Rias shouted, trying to intervene, but the pressure of her knight's aura was so unstable that even she hesitated for a second.
Kiba struck the sacred sword once, twice, three times, leaving marks on the ground but failing to destroy the divine fragment. His eyes were bloodshot; he was no longer the elegant knight of Kuoh Academy, but a specter of vengeance.
"You can't be here! You shouldn't exist!" Kiba roared, before collapsing onto one knee, breathing heavily.
Issei took a step towards him, extending a hand.
—Kiba, listen to me... don't let hatred consume you now. I need you whole for what's coming.
Kiba looked up at Issei, but there was no trace of camaraderie in his eyes, only a deep emptiness.
—I'm sorry, Issei-kun... but I can't share the same air as those things.
In the blink of an eye, Kiba stood up and, before anyone could stop him, vanished in a burst of speed, leaving behind only a trail of dark energy and the Excalibur stuck in his hand as a reminder of his trauma.