As there was no Issei, Xenovia became the leader of the group within the Kuoh Academy. She might be idiotic and reckless, but everyone had to admit that she had this certain charm that made people follow her, especially when they knew that she would mess up, so they felt a strange responsibility to follow her.
Nevertheless, somehow, Azazel also decided to follow them.
While it might be strange, especially when Rias wished to kill Azazel, in the eyes of others, Azazel was still a teacher who needed to be respected. Moreover, even if Azazel's position as governor was taken away, he was still a former governor and had 12 wings, which showed his qualification as a leader-like figure among everyone.
Moreover, Azazel was good at communicating, but nevertheless, when one image was already formed in another's heart, it was hard or almost impossible to erase that negative impression, especially when Riser had expressed his dislike for him.
Even if they walked together, they didn't talk to each other and even ignored Azazel.
Facing this, Azazel didn't say anything and just kept a note for the future, thinking of his revenge against them. He knew that it might be petty of him to think so, but if he wasn't petty, he wouldn't fall as a fallen angel, right?
Still, Azazel somehow missed Issei as Issei was the only one who didn't mistreat him and felt a kinship, like a family. Yet, as Issei had become Riser's enemy, Issei had died, and no one knew that the one who killed Issei was Riser. While everyone was miserable, Riser sat on the sideline, safe, unscathed, as if everything had nothing to do with him.
Yet, it was impossible to deceive him, and he knew what kind of evil being Riser was.
Still, he knew that even though he needed to be in a hurry, he also needed to be patient, or else everything would crumble.
'It's time.'
Due to the ignorance of Xenovia and her group, Azazel decided to move away while waiting for his plan to start; then, as expected, suddenly, the entire space became quiet without anyone, as if everyone was teleported away. Then, as the sound of an explosion and a fight happened, he directly spread his wings and soared in their direction.
"Are you all okay?"
Showing his concern, Azazel appeared like a hero who came when everyone was in a crisis.
"Sensei!"
Kiba was happy when he saw Azazel, who came to save them, but somehow, the girls felt that Azazel's timing was quite weird, and frankly, they didn't need help. However, they didn't say anything since, in this situation, while they might not lose in quality, they lost in terms of quantity as the Hero Faction brought their armies to take them down.
"Oh? Isn't this the governor of Grigori?"
Cao Cao also entered the act and acted as if he didn't know Azazel. He also appeared surprised and eager to fight Azazel like a martial artist who wished to prove he was the strongest.
"I am not the governor of the Grigori." Azazel narrowed his eyes and asked, "You are Cao Cao of the Hero Faction, right?"
"That's right. I am Cao Cao, the descendant of the famous Cao Cao from the Three Kingdoms."
"What is your plan? What are you doing here? Where is the leader of the Kyoto Youkai?" Azazel asked his questions continuously with a stern expression.
"Fufufu." Cao Cao chuckled. "We are a hero, so of course, our purpose is to become a hero and save everyone from a supernatural being like you. Though we might have another agenda, I will let you know if you defeat me." His choice of words was polite, yet everyone could tell how arrogant he sounded.
Nevertheless, a hero?
Were they Chuunibyou?
"Then, I will force you to talk!"
However, unlike others, who were confused and filled with tension, Azazel got serious directly.
"Down Fall Dragon Another Armor!"
Azazel didn't hesitate and used his Artificial Sacred Gear. While Riser might have destroyed this item previously, he crafted it again and made it even stronger.
"Then, I will see the true power of the governor."
By then, the two of them had fought each other. While they might not use their everything, each of their collisions caused the space to tremble, showing the intense confrontation that suited their status.
Nevertheless, it was easy to tell that no one gained the upper hand as their power was similar to each other.
Azazel might only have used artificial sacred gear, but it was made with the cooperation of Fafnir, the legendary dragon king. Moreover, he was the former governor of the Grigori and 12 Wings of Fallen Angels. With all of those combinations, it could be said that his power couldn't be underestimated.
Still, it didn't mean that Cao Cao was weak since he was the true host of the True Longinus, the strongest Longinus. Still, with such a Longinus, he was still a human, and as a human, he was weak. If there was something that he was above Azazel, it was his skill and talent in fighting since Azazel wasn't so good at fighting.
While Cao Cao and Azazel fought, the other also fought the other members of the Hero Faction. While the bounty hunter made the lives of the members of the Hero Faction even more difficult, it also gave them a chance to get stronger and attain the strongest state of the Sacred Gear, Balance Breaker. By fighting to the death, they became stronger.
Frankly, if it were others, it might be hard for them to do it, but with Cao Cao's brainwashing ability, no one feared death.
Still, even so, they weren't Xenovia's opponent, and she was also cruel. Whenever her blade moved, she would cut down a few of the members of the Hero Faction and kill them. She knew that her act wasn't good and she wouldn't have done so in the past, but when she learned about what the Hero Faction did to the world, she knew that killing them was better than letting them stay alive.
Watching how Xenovia killed the members of the Hero Faction like a bug, many of the Hero Faction's executives frowned and even felt furious. Those who were killed might be nothing but tools in their eyes, but even so, how could they allow their followers to be treated like this?!
When Cao Cao fought Azazel, his eyes questioned him, but Azazel never said anything and just let Xenovia kill the small fries.
Still, even if Azazel didn't say anything, Cao Cao knew that this was a necessary sacrifice to take down Lucifer. However, it didn't mean that he couldn't get angry, and he made his attack stronger.
Facing this attack, Azazel was a little helpless and ready to block this attack, but—
'Stop your movement and let your heart be pierced by that spear.'
'Huh?!'
Azazel felt his body move on its own as he saw the death was before him while hoping his armor would be able to block this attack, but as the strongest Longinus, the sharpness of the True Longinus was unequal, and even the armor of the Down Fall Dragon Another Armor didn't bring protection to Azazel, and his heart was pierced.
"..."
Cao Cao was also stunned as he saw the redness that gushed out from Azazel's heart.
'Keep quiet and let yourselves die.'
Meanwhile, Azazel, who wished to scream, realized that he couldn't say anything, and at the same time, he realized everything. This was a trap! When he thought that he was on the upper hand, he was the one who was still blind about everything!
'Riser! Riser! It's you, right? I know it's you!'
However, no matter how many times Azazel screamed, everything was meaningless.
'Goodbye.'
Then, suddenly, a powerful aura swept across the space like a tsunami, bringing the ominous clouds and black-red thunder like a sign of a catastrophe. By that time, many had already passed out due to this aura, but those who still could wake up knew that their end was near.
However, at the same time, Azazel, who was at his weakest, also died instantly due to the impact caused by this tsunami-like aura. Yet, before he died, he was in despair, and his only regret was that he knew that everything was over.
"Azazel!"
Riser shouted in disbelief and shocked expression, yet he smiled inwardly.
[Congratulations, you have received "Gasha Gasha no Mi (Complete Version)."]
"Don't think that you can escape today!"
Facing all the members of the Hero Faction, a rage appeared on his face as he told everyone that it was time for the bloodbath.