"Finally, something interesting happening~." Kisuke stretched his limbs and Yoruichi did the same in her cat form.
The leaders furrowed their brows in Kisuke's actions and increased their awareness. A few seconds later, they also felt the slight fluctuations of Mana and immediately put up a barrier.
The next moment, they all felt a wave of magic passing through them, but thanks to the barrier that the leaders put up in a hurry, they were able to offset most of it.
"What's happening!?" Issei asked in surprise.
"That power just now... Time stop? If that's the case, then..." Rias muttered.
Interrupting Rias, a gigantic golden magic circle appeared in the skies of the Kuoh Academy, shocking the youngsters.
"Whoa! What now!?" Issei took a peek outside and saw robed people descending down from the magic circle.
"Terrorist," Azazel started speaking as he also took a peek outside, "In every era, whenever the powers sue for peace, you can be sure there'll be some who get in the way. In this case, they're Magicians."
"Magicians?"
"The legendary magician Merlin Ambrosius unraveled and reconstructed the system of magic used by Devils, resulting in all other magics of the world." Rias explained to Issei as she watches them attack the room they are in with magic but to no avail, "...Judging by the power they're putting out, I'd guess that each has magical abilities comparable to a Middle-Class Devil."
"They shouldn't be able to hurt us here, thanks to the barrier that Michael, Sirzechs, and I put up. And also thanks to that guy," Azazel then pointed to Kisuke, who's admiring, the sight outside, "We were able to put up the barrier early enough that you won't be affected by the time stop. But it does seem like we're stuck in here."
"Time stop... So that familiar feeling earlier is..." Issei then looked towards his newly acquired crossdressing underclassman.
Azazel nodded at him and explained, "I'm thinking that they forced 'Forbidden Balor View' into its balance breaker mode using either magic or power transferring Sacred Gear. The balance breaker form is only temporary but it would let him freeze everything in sight... I guess that little half-vampire has great potential even if he couldn't freeze us."
"So they're using Gasper against his will..." Issei clenched his fist in anger.
Rias' Demonic Magic also started flaring up, "The terrorists are in the old school building, using my precious servant as a weapon... Unforgivable... I won't let them get away with this."
"Looks like our forces stationed outside were frozen." Raising his hand up, Azazel summoned tens of spears of light and it rained down on the enemies, killing them instantly, 'We didn't bring any strong people since it'll alarm the Takamagahara... Though if we wait long enough, the ring leader would surely lose patience and show himself and once we've dealt with him, they should back off.'
Issei took a big gulp as he watches the massacre outside, "...Took them in a flash..."
However, it isn't the end as more and more Magicians are descending from the gigantic magic circle.
Azazel rubbed his chin in contemplation, "They're appearing inside the barrier. That means one of them must have made a gate connecting this territory to outside.
"If they manage to power up 'Forbidden Balor View' any more, it might even freeze on of us, who erected this barrier. Given how intensely they're concentrated here, I'd say they're ready to slaughter us all the second the barrier goes down.
"They've also dedicated a considerable force to this attack. Look--- reinforcements. As soon as one wave falls, another appears. Given the terrorist's timing and tactics, it almost like they know who's here and why. Maybe we've got a traitor in our midst?" Azazel chuckled as he ended his sentence.
'That's not a joke! That's terrifying!' Issei thought, "Can't we get away somehow?"
"As long as the barrier around the school is active, one can't leave," Sirzechs replied.
"And taking down the barrier would bring harm to the Human World which is the last thing we want." Serafall followed up.
"I say we wait for the commander to show himself. If we endure the siege, he'll probably get impatient and make a move." Azazel proposed.
Sirzechs nodded and agreed, "We leaders should bide our time until more is known, but the top priority is securing Gasper-kun from the terrorist in the old school building, which seems to be their base of operations."
Rias stepped up, "Onii-sama! Please let me do it! My servant is my responsibility! I'll get him back!"
Sirzechs nodded at her, "I thought you might say that, but the way there is crawling with Magicians. What's your plan?"
"I have unused 'Rook' piece stored in the clubroom over there..."
"I see... 'Castling'..."
'If I remembered it right, 'Castling' is a trick where the 'King' and 'Rook' switch places. I learned that from studying for the Rating Game.' Issei thought.
"Yes... You can catch the enemies off guard, but going alone is reckless," Sirzechs then looked at his maid, "Grayfia, if my magic formula is applied, can 'Castling' transfer more than one more person?"
Grayfia didn't answer immediately but she hold out both of her hands and a three-dimensional magic circle appeared between them. Analyzing the magic and the movements of the Mana in the surroundings, she answered, "Yes, it can. I can't perform complicated rituals in here, but it should be enough to transfer my lady and one additional person."
"Rias and one more. Then..." Sirzechs looked around.
Raising his hand, Issei presented himself, "Sirzechs-sama! I'm going too!"
Sirzechs looked at Issei and asked, "But can you control the Red Dragon Emperor's power?"
"W-well..." Issei could only scratch his head. He has been trying, but he can't enter the Balance Breaker as the White Dragon Emperor did.
"Hey, Red Dragon Emperor." They then heard Azazel voice from behind and saw him holding onto two armlets, "Take this with you. These armlets can suppress the Sacred Gear powers to a certain extent. The reason why you can't enter Balance Breaker is that that power is too wild for your body. One is for you and the other one is for the half-vampire.
"Keep it short, and you should be able to enter Balance Breaker mode without sacrificing any of your body. The armlet will act as a sacrifice instead."
"For real!? This little trinket can do that!?"
"But the seals in you will be broken as a side effect. Your 'Pawn' power is sealed, is it not?"
"How did you know that?" Rias furrowed her brows at his words.
Azazel ignored her and continued explaining to Issei, "So think of this as a last resort. Using your Balance Breaker eats away at stamina and magic power like crazy.
"Once you transfer, promote yourself to 'Queen' and start from there. Remember this. You're still little more than a human with a devilish tinge to him. Let that power run rampant and you're dead."
Azazel's warning reminded Issei when he tried to sacrifice himself to Ddraig to fight against Kokabiel. If successful, he could have not come out of that alive even if he was able to repel the enemy, "G-got it..."
Azazel turned around and left them, "Vali, can I have a word?"
Issei watches his back and muttered, "He really is like a teacher..."
"His levelheaded analysis and smooth adaptability irritate me, but I admit he's a great coach," Rias replied.
"Milady, please come here so that I can conduct the ritual." Grayfia grabbed Rias' attention.
"Does it have to be that complicated? And just the two of them is still risky." They then heard the manly voice of the black cat.
Everyone, including Azazel who is currently talking to Vali about something, turned around to look at her.
"Do you have a better way?" Grayfia furrowed her brows and asked her.
'Yoruichi really doesn't like this maid, huh?' Kisuke thought as he knew that even though Yoruichi is acting like she'll do something about the situation, it'll be him who will be working in the end.