(Shadow Karakura: Squad 15 Captain's Office)
"Excellent job lady Gozen. At ease." Ichigo said to a kneeling woman with long silver hair, two long black horns protruding from her forehead, and dressed in red and white samurai armor as she rose to her feet. "And we still have time before the summit, so let's focus on the important factors." The Head Captain himself was sitting at the table in the middle of the room with four emblem seals representing the Youkai factions of the North, South, East, and West, resting on a table next to a shogi board deep into a game. "Things seem to be falling into place rather nicely." He said, moving one of his pieces while the opposite side moved by spirit threads.
"Orihime stopped by earlier to pick up the glasses that squad 12 developed for the Dhampir. Said that Azazel revealed himself to Issei as one of his clients." Uryu said, still sitting at his desk and doing paperwork for both his squad and the Karakura Hospital, with three pupils in his eyes. "Sometime during Gasper's training Azazel will make his full appearance to the Gremory Peerage with a few other leading members of the Grigori attending the meeting, with Michael and the Angels some time after that." He paused as Ichigo made another move and Uryu took his silver general piece. "Checkmate in three moves."
"Since they all want peace, the next topic will be trade of various goods between the factions." The hybrid said, analyzing the layout figure out which strategy Uryu foresaw. "Anyone else we need to bring?"
"I see a somewhat happy reunion between Xenovia and someone dressed like a nun. They seem familiar, so I'd recommend her." The Quincy pulled up a sheet of paper with the names of the attendees that he learned. "From the data extracted from Kokabiel and Sellzen; we can conclude that Heaven is sending Archangels Michael and Gabriel and Exorcists Griselda Quarta and Irina Shidou. The Grigori are sending Azazel,Vali Lucifer, Baraqiel, and Shemhazi. And finally, I can recognize Ajuka and Serafall attending this meeting with Sirzechs and Grayfia." Ichigo finally made a move and Uryu manipulated the spirit threads to immediately move his next piece. "Checkmate in two."
"Quarta huh? What's the relation between her and Xenovia?" The Head Captain asked, analyzing the pieces again.
"I just know that Griselda is happy to see Xenovia." Uryu answered. "And it appears Xenovia is attending as a Soul Reaper, so she seems to figure things out or maybe gets a helping hand."
"Isn't Karin in charge of her training?"
"Yes, but Xenovia's still struggling with activating her spiritual power." Uryu paused as he kept looking ahead. "Seems like you recruit her into your squad."
"Really?" Ichigo made his next move, Uryu countered it, and Ichigo made his final move, leading his king to be trapped between the two knights and lances. "I might as well lend that helping hand then." Ichigo rose to his feet and began to leave, pausing in front of the door. "Out of curiosity, who did you pick for the knight and lance pieces?" Uryu blinked as he shut off his Almighty.
"Bambietta, Candice, Menias, and Liltotto." He responded, blinking and rubbing his head. "I figured they could use some fun. And next time, don't have me use my precognition when we play." Ichigo smiled as he walked out the door, Tomoe walking behind him.
(Underground Training Hall: Recruit Level)
On Ichigo's order, Tomoe took his haori and went to explore the city of Shadow Karakura. With that done he went to the training grounds under the Silbern fortress, where new recruits from the world of the Living trained in the styles of the spirit arts. The training area was expansive, almost mimicking the Muken prison in Soul Society so it would give each recruit space and privacy to ease in to their new powers. On top of that, each section was completely customizable with a special stone grain that the SRDI made to take any shape once supplied with Reishi to allow anything that the trainees would require. With a Pesquisa spirit sonar pulse, Ichigo found his sister Karin and her struggling student, flashing off to their location. He arrived in time to see Bawabawa spit out Xenovia in front of Karin, the former Exorcist roaring in frustration, before she was shoved back into her body and given a bento lunchbox.
"Take a break and eat up." He heard his sister say. "I've got to go see the captain." Xenovia was so angry that she wasn't really paying attention, more focused on scarfing down rice and almost choking. Karin gave her a water bottle and flashed over to Ichigo. "Almost three days and not much improvement I'm afraid."
"It's not like you stuck her inside of the 'Shattered Shaft'." Her brother returned, watching Xenovia finish her food and summoning a broad bodied sword that resembled a German Grosse Messer with a blue blade, gold edge, and a circular guard around the hilt. "The decrease in actual danger means an equal decrease in efficiency. Urahara did point out that the soul progresses more when in life threatening danger, so this safer method loses much of its effectiveness after the first try." He said as Xenovia began making slow and careful practice swings. "Is that sword the Durandal I've read about in her file?"
"Yeah. Seems attached to her like a Zanpakuto, but too independent to be linked to her soul." Karin answered while Ichigo hummed in thought. "What are you thinking?"
"Well... we could give it a few more days, but Uryu's precognition suggests that we don't have the time to take things easy." Ichigo released a sigh. "Time for a heavier hand. Go enjoy your break Karin." He said as he flashed away, appearing behind the former Exorcist. "That's quite the interesting sword you have there." He said, shocking Xenovia into swinging her blade at him as she turned around. She was further surprised when Ichigo caught the blade easily with one hand. "Sorry, I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that." He apologized with a smile as he let go of the sword. "Name's Ichigo, Ichigo Kurosaki. I work in the first division. And you're Xenovia Quarta, right?"
"Yes." She answered, still surprised someone could've easily stopped the Durandal with one hand, before recognizing the name Kurosaki. "Are you related to a miss Orihime?" She asked as she put the holy sword down.
"I'm her husband," he admitted, "and I'm Yuzu and Karin's older brother. I had business here so I decided to stop by and visit." Ichigo channeled a bit of his Reiryoku to his hand and summoned the holographic control panel for this area, a black and white see through screen that informed him of the settings for the space. "May I see that blade for a bit?" He asked before causing the sand to rise and form a large mesa before the two of them.
"I... suppose so." She said, curiosity growing at the Soul Reaper before her. Ichigo took hold of the hilt and felt the blade's power, wild and raging, demanding release. "Be careful, the Durandal's difficult to con-" She tried saying as Ichigo made a single swing of the sword, not even touching the mesa, and it split in two with a deep gouge appearing in the sand floor. The Exorcist was shocked while Ichigo's expression remained impassive. He returned to the panel and made ten giant spires rise up in a circle, with him going to the center. She watched in awe and envy as Ichigo basically danced with the blade, as if Durandal was intimately familiar with him to the point of leaving everything in his hands. The ten pillars were cut to size in seconds as they fell apart around him, Xenovia swearing she could feel a sense of satisfaction emanating from her holy sword.
"Well there's your problem." Ichigo said before flashing back in front of the girl. "You keep holding it back." He presented the blade back to her, letting her slowly take it into her own hands again. "You're treating it like a tool and not like a partner, demanding that it act according to your conscious command when it's already obeying your subconscious desire." Xenovia started reexamining the blade, thinking about what Ichigo had told her. "That blade has a mind of its own, primitive and running on instinct, and you're too scared to let it loose. Probably why you're also struggling with becoming a Soul Reaper." Her head shot up, eager to get any answer to reach the next stage.
"What do you mean?" She asked as he held a glowing hand in front of her face, her vision getting hazy as a result.
"The only person who can give you that answer, is within you." Ichigo said, catching Xenovia as she lost consciousness before gently placing her on her back. Next, he separated her soul from her body and severed her Soul Chain with a blade of Reishi. "Now. Don't disappoint me." He said before placing an unadorned featureless katana on her chest.
(Xenovia's Inner World)
The Exorcist gasped in shock as she found herself in a new place and completely alone. The silver gray and sandy brown of the Silbern training hall was replaced with gray steel all around her in what seemed like a canyon stretching endlessly around her. The rocks were metal, the trees were metal, everything around her was metal. She looked around, trying to get her bearings and make sense of what Ichigo did to her. In some way, the place felt stifling and rigid but she couldn't shake a sense of familiarity with it either. She was brought out of her musings by the sound of clinking metal, turning to find a western knight in ebony black plate armor, holding a black Durandal in their hand.
"Who are you and where are we?" Xenovia asked, trying to ignore what she could feel as an intense glare. Instead of immediately answering, the knight held out the black Durandal.
"Summon it." He ordered, a voice layered with anger but with the calm focus of an experienced warrior. Knowing that the knight's patience won't last, she summoned her Durandal and prepared to fight. However, she noticed an angry red aura around the holy blade, distracting her just long enough to barely have time to block the knight as he attacked her. "Durandal's not the only one mad at you, Xenovia!" The knight growled, pushing her back with ease and making a swing that left a deep scratch in the ground as she narrowly avoided being bisected. "You've kept both of us held back, always relying on someone or something else, always following someone like a lost puppy! Well now we're both on borrowed time because of your weakness."
"What are you talking about?! Who are you!?" She demanded again, knowing the knight felt familiar but not understanding why.
"I don't really have a name right now, not that you'd be able to hear it." The knight countered as the realm began to shake. "You'd best hurry up and prove your worth. Clock's ticking." Xenovia growled and charged at the knight.
(Back at Kuoh)
"And back." Orihime said with a smile as she appeared on top of the school building, holding a black glasses case that contained their means to control Gasper's Sacred Gear. Before she left, Rias and Akeno decided that Gasper had to get used to being outside but were called away by Sirzechs who wanted to discuss Kiba's new Holy Demonic sword, so the matter was left to Issei, Asia, and Koneko. "Now, where are my darling stu-"
"WAAAHH! I hate garlic!" She heard Gasper yell, looking down to see Koneko chasing the timid vampire around with a bunch of garlic bulbs.
"They're good you. Eat them." The cat Devil said in a monotone, though it sounded like she was just having fun teasing him. Orihime looked over to find Issei and Asia doing nothing about this, as if this was completely normal. The teacher spared a moment to compare this training to the usual training that occurred in the Gotei, from the gentle nurturing to the sparing that results in grievous injuries. What separated this from all of that? This was blatant bullying since Gasper's agoraphobia meant he was already pushing it being outside.
"Terra, stop her." She ordered before flashing down. In the moment she appeared before Gasper, catching the crying Devil in a motherly embrace, a dip formed in the ground before Koneko and she fell face first into the ground. "Now, who wants to explain how this was supposed to help Gasper? Someone who's already having a hard time just being outside?" She asked after getting all three into a seiza in front of her with Gasper hiding behind a tree.
"Uh... well." Issei nervously said, feeling the angry mom aura coming from Orihime. "We'd figure that the best place to start would be a healthy body, and Koneko was getting him to run-" He was cut off with a karate chop to his forehead.
"There needs to be a carrot as well as a stick Issei." The teacher scolded. "Take into account that being outside is hard enough on Gasper and think about how you can convince him to exercise with you. Running with him or offering to take him clothes shopping if he gets a good running time." Hearing the 'clothes shopping' got Gasper to pop his head out. "Now, Koneko. Anything to say about that blatant bullying?"
"I didn't mean to hurt him. I was just playing." She said, trying to apply as much charm as as could. The result was still a chop to the face.
"I've help raised my own and the children of my sister-wives. Your cuteness is ineffective, don't bully Gasper." Orihime scolded with Koneko nursing her forehead with tears in her eyes. "And Asia." The bishop jumped while looking at Orihime with fear and whimpering. "You should've stepped in to stop that sooner. Be a better sister figure and take action. You should be more sympathetic to him." The teacher said before turning to Gasper and gesturing him to come, causing Asia to sigh with relief... before still getting hit.
"Wow. Kurosaki Sensei can be merciless." They heard Saji say as he walked in. "I just wanted to come by and see what was going on when I heard that Gremory was allowed to release her bishop."
"Hello Saji. This is Gasper." Orihime introduced, with Gasper giving a shy wave.
"Woah! Another cute blonde girl!" Saji exclaimed, excited for more eye candy.
"Cute yeah, but that's a boy." Issei informed him, causing the other pawn to drop to his knees in despair.
"Ignoring them." The teacher calmly said as she pulled out the glasses case. "Here Gasper, put these on." The young Dhampir gingerly took the case and opened it, finding a pair of simple unadorned glasses, black being the only color on the thin frame with rounded square lenses. "The Gotei's R&D designed these lenses specifically for you. To contain your Sacred Gear."
"What? How's that supposed to work, teach?" Issei asked, not understanding how glasses could stop a Sacred Gear.
"Simple." Orihime said, shifting into teacher mode. "The data I sent back to Soul Society led our researchers to find that Gasper's eyes emitted a light upon activating the Sacred Gear. This unique light ray is what freezes what it hits, a type of 'Chrono-Stasis' as they called it. To counter that, the lens are designed like a prism to refract that particular light back onto Gasper but in a severely weakened state." Gasper put on the glasses, finding they fit perfectly snug. "Wanna test them?" He timidly nodded. "Okay, go change into a swimsuit." She said with a smile before pointing to the other four Devils. "You guys, go get water balloons." Issei and Saji saluted.
"Yes ma'am!" They proclaimed before running off, Asia following after them. Koneko disappeared, popping up from behind Gasper.
"Roar." She said, in a loud monotone, scaring the timid Devil.
"AHHH!" Gasper screeched, his eyes flashing and his scream ending suddenly before resuming milliseconds later.
"The glasses work sensei." Koneko reported.
"Good to know." Orihime returned.
"E-everything went dark. For an instant, it was just dark." Gasper whimpered. "I-is that what it's like?"
"Forbidden Balor View is a dangerous Sacred Gear if you can't control it. Soul Society's R&D is impressive." They turned to find Azazel, walking up to them. Immediately Orihime stood in front of her students. "Calm down miss, I'm not looking for a fight. Just wanted to check out some Sacred Gears." The Fallen Angel said, raising his hands up in surrender. "There's no need for you to pull a repeat performance of what you did to Kokabiel. So can you get these three off my back? They've been following me since I got on the school grounds." The spirits of Tsubaki, Shun'o, and Ayame appeared hovering behind him. There was a pause before Orihime decided.
"Tsubaki, come." The black clad spirit broke into six and flew to Orihime. "The other two will keep you contained if you move in a manner I disapprove of. Don't forget Azazel, your faction was the one that caused the most trouble here."
"I admit that. So let me offer an olive branch." He said as Issei and the others returned, surprising them with his presence but got ready to fight. Issei with his red gauntlet and Saji with a black chameleon like thing on his wrist. "That kid has the Absorption Line, have him attach it to the vampire to drain off some of Balor View's power. Should make it easier to practice."
"My Sacred Gear could do that?" Saji asked, making Azazel groan in disappointment.
"This generation. So out of touch with their Sacred Gears. Absorption Line is a fragment of the Dragon King Vritra, who was known as the Prison Dragon. Being able to drain powers was one of his abilities. You could even attach a line to someone else so that the power would flow into them. Train it and you could create multiple lines." Saji looked down to his wrist mounted Sacred Gear with newfound interest. "Course the fastest way to train your vampire would be to suck Issei's blood."
"Oh, that reminds me." Orihime said in a tone that completely killed the tense atmosphere. "Saji, I still have some cookies I made to celebrate Gasper leaving his room. Take them and share with the Sitri peerage."
"Yes sensei!" Saji said excitedly. "Awesome! Her cookies rock!"
"Come on sensei! I'll eat the extras! Please!" Issei and Koneko begged their teacher.
"Nope. The Sitri peerage should have them as well." She said with finality, Azazel sweatdropping at the sight.
"That woman is something else." He said before walking away. After things calmed down they altered the training with Azazel's advice and progress was made in Gasper's control, though he was still a long ways off from mastering it as evidenced by how soaked he got from all of the water balloons. When Rias arrived to help take over, Orihime gave Saji the cookies for the Sitri peerage and went on her way. Later that night she would receive the text that all of the surveillance bacteria in the Devils was completely clear.
"Mission accomplished." She said with a smile, putting down her phone. "Now... I wonder who will be joining me here in Kuoh?"
(Silbern Training Hall: Days later)
"I'd appreciate it if you were there with us Rukia." Ichigo said into his phone with his wife and leader of the 13th division, Rukia Kurosaki nee Kuchiki, on the other end. Behind him was Xenovia's two bodies, her Soul Chain almost fully eaten away on her soul body. "Outside of our faction, the representatives of the Peace Summit have all gathered in Kuoh, Orihime confirmed that Michael of the Angels met with the Red Dragon just yesterday. Michael and Sirzechs called to inform me that the summit happens tonight. Having you there might help make sure everyone behaves."
"Not exactly what I was hoping to hear for our date Ichigo." Rukia responded over the phone.
"I know it's a shitty date night but you read the captains' report." Ichigo returned, ignoring the building Reiatsu behind him. "Things are gonna get hectic again but this time it'll drag in all the other factions against a terrorist organization, so I can't prioritize family time. Much to my chagrin."
"Can't you just get the Soul King to tell us who to eliminate and do that?" She asked.
"If only it was that simple, but that's not how he works." The Reiatsu mixed with murderous intent now. "Okay. After the Summit, we're taking Hisana to that new amusement park Kukaku set up in West Rukon 23. I heard they got stuffed Chappy rabbits made with top quality Dragon materials."
"...You think I'm that easy?" Ichigo could feel her will breaking.
"Yes. Especially after you got that bunny girl outfit and insisted on that role play."
"Fine. I'll be there, but I'll be expecting a nice, thick, carrot after we leave." She said in a sultry tone.
"Thank you my snow bunny." He said, hanging up and seemingly unaware of the Durandal about to cleave his head in two. At least that's what Xenovia was intending, but the very instant her blade touched a single hair on Ichigo's head he had caught the blade and threw her away. She tumbled once but got back to her feet, revealing her figure clad in white robes wielding the holy sword and lacking a Soul Chain. "Took you long enough, and that Reiatsu isn't bad for a beginner. Congrats on taking your first step as a proper Shinigami." Xenovia kept panting, stabbing Durandal into the ground and leaning against it. "Get cleaned up and ready to go. I'm bringing you with me to the Peace Summit in Kuoh." He said before turning away, allowing Xenovia to see and recognize his Captain's Haori and division. As he walked, Ichigo looked to his hand, long healed from the deep cut Durandal left. 'When was the last time felt the need to make me stronger?' He asked, feeling the sphere in his body thrummed with power as it made his body adapt. "Probably won't be the last time it'll happen this year either." He groaned, looking to gather the rest of his entourage for the Summit.
(Kuoh: The Peace Summit)
Issei took stock of the assembling powers as the Gremory Peerage, sans Gasper who was staying back in the old school building due to being too nervous to attend, made their way to the meeting room. A magic barrier was formed around the school building, made and powered by three leaders of the Biblical factions, and outside of that barrier was a battalion mixed of Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels. The atmosphere was thick with a suffocating tension, reminding him that though this was a Peace Summit it wouldn't take much to spark a new conflict. The reached the door as Rias opened the way.
"Pardon us." She said as they walked in and saw some familiar faces sitting around a circular table with Orihime and Grayfia serving everyone tea and coffee. Sirzechs, Serafall, Sona, the Sitri queen Tsubaki Shinra, a girl with long black hair and heterochromic eyes behind her glasses, and another Satan he heard was Ajuka Beelzebub, a handsome man with slicked back green hair and a mysterious aura. They were on the left side as the Gremory peerage sat along the walls.
The side closest to the windows had Michael, Irina Shidou who waved at him with an apologetic expression, and two others. One was a gorgeous and busty angel with long curly blonde hair and white robes, that Rias gave his hand a hard pinch for staring at, and another woman in her 20s or 30s that was dressed like a nun that seemed to be impatiently waiting for someone.
The final occupied side had Azazel, Vali, and two more men, one of whom Akeno was glaring daggers at. The one she was trying to kill with her eyes had a gruff face, black hair and beard, and was really muscular, and Issei couldn't shake the feeling that he and Akeno shared some similarity given her heritage as a descendant of a Fallen Angel. The other had silver hair and looked the youngest of the Fallen. As the group sat down, Issei jumped out of his seat as the space in front of the door ripped open into a black void with nine figures coming out.
"Apologies for the late arrival." Ichigo said as he came out first, followed by Uryu, Rukia, Xenovia wearing a Shinigami outfit but was the white and red of the Academy uniform and carrying some briefcases, Tomoe, Bambietta, Candice, Meninas McAllon, a giant of a woman with curly pink hair, and Liltotto Lamperd, a girl as small as Koneko with short blonde hair and licking a lollipop. An odd combination of feudal samurai and modern military. The odd appearance distracted Issei just long enough before he started ogling Candice's skimpy outfit, but before Rias could punish her pawn again, his head flicked back with him grasping his forehead in pain. "There were some last minute things we needed to take care of."
"Hey Orihime!" Candice said with a smile. "Been a while hasn't it?"
"Sisters!" The spirit user said, rushing over to her family and hugging her sister-wives before pulling Ichigo in for a deep kiss. "I missed this." She whispered as he hugged her back.
"As do I." He said with a sad smile, missing the days when they could just lounge about and play with the kids. "Too bad Uryu didn't see us getting any time off soon." They released each other as Uryu ordered the Sternritter women to secure the building. Xenovia was staring at the nun in shock, helpless as she was pulled into a tight embrace.
"I'm so happy to see you're well Xenovia." She said with a smile as she held the Shinigami in training, a hug Xenovia was hesitant to return at first but smiled as she did.
"It's good to see you again as well Griselda." She finally said. Everyone was brought out of their thoughts as they heard the curtains move shut with a bright green light around the parts that moved.
"Now, let's get a move on with this meeting shall we?" Ichigo asked as his group took a seat at the open section of the table. "Presiding over this meeting as the neutral overseer, Head Captain of the 16 Court Guard Squads of Soul Society Ichigo Kurosaki. Representing the Living World unit of the Gotei, Squad 15 Captain, Uryu Ishida." The Quincy nodded. "Representing the Soul Society, Squad 13 Captain, Rukia Kurosaki." The petite Shinigami nodded. "And representing the Youkai factions of Japan, Tomoe Goezen." The oni samurai nodded. Ichigo then looked over to Sirzechs, who nodded in understanding.
"Representing the Devils, Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan, and Ajuka Beelzebub." The Satan said, introducing his group as Serafall waved while Ajuka nodded. Next was Michael.
"Representing the Angels, Michael and Gabriel." The lady Angel smiled and waved. "And representing the Church, Griselda Quarta." The nun waved.
"Representing the Grigori; Azazel, Baraqiel, and Shemhazi." Azazel lazily introduced as the big guy nodded and smaller one waved.
"Now, the point of this meeting is to end your long lasting stale mate and establish a time of co-existence between the three factions after the failed attempt of the Fallen Angel Kokabiel to restart the war. Is that agreed?" Ichigo asked, getting nods and affirmations. "I'm now opening this to any questions before we proceed, you will ask to be recognized beforehand or there will be consequences. Now, who wants to go first?" Sirzechs raised his hand. "Go ahead."
"Thank you." He said to Ichigo before standing. "As the Head Captain said, this whole summit is in response to Kokabiel's attempt to restart the war. What have you to say about that matter Azazel?"
"As the handout I gave stated, 'Kokabiel was acting independently of both my orders and the Grigori as a whole'." The Fallen Angel said. "I sent the White Dragon Emperor to deal with him, only for the Soul Society to have already had the situation handled." Azazel turned to Ichigo. "I heard that Kokabiel went to the 'True Hell'?"
"As in the original primordial abyss of chaos and monsters. I've confirmed it myself." The Head Captain answered. "Anything further questions that need to be answered?" Michael raised his hand. "The Angels are recognized."
"Thank you Commander Kurosaki." The head of the Angels replied before turning to Azazel again. "Between the three of us, the Fallen Angels were the most active party. Do you swear that your actions have nothing to do with war?"
"I've already said Kokabiel was acting independently." Azazel said, sounding annoyed at repeating himself. "Besides, war doesn't interest me. None of us would really survive."
"Then w-" Sirzechs started before looking Ichigo for permission, getting it in the form of a nod. "Then why have you been gathering Sacred Gears all this time?" That pause surprised the Gremory Peerage, looking at the Shinigami with greater scrutiny. "All this time we thought you were gathering power, but you never acted."
"Research purposes," the Governor General answered, "and that's it. I'll happily share the results and findings of that research with you. I'm good with the way the world is and even told my people to stay out of your factions' businesses. Honestly, out of everyone here, I feel like I'm the least trusted one." Everyone in the room admitted to that, even Shemhazi said Azazel was to blame for that. "Sheesh, I figured at least one person would have my back. Then let's make peace already."
"Any further questions or statements?" Ichigo asked, Michael standing in response. "Go ahead."
"It's important to finally end this deadlock." The Angel said, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "If it continues like this, humans aligned with us and our three factions would only suffer. The deaths of the original Lucifer and our God only brought us to a stalemate, and we can't dwell on what we have lost forever. It is the mission of the Angels to-"
"God's not really lost actually." Ichigo suddenly said, taking a sip of tea while all three factions looked to him in shock, disbelief, and in the Angels case, hope. "I acknowledge I'm breaking my own rule by interrupting, but listening to you can be so dreary Michael. Anyway, the thing about godly souls vs mortal souls is that gods tend to be linked to immortal 'concepts' back when the world was still in a constant state of chaos and stagnation. So while your God may have physically died Michael, their soul still remains, waiting to be reborn with all the same power but blank of previous memories. Kind of like that Western show 'Avatar', but without the ghosts of past lives." Everyone felt their strengths leave them in the shock, though Vali seemed to bear a vicious grin. "But, I wonder if this new God would also prefer peace between you three instead of continued bloodshed?"
(Omake)
Meanwhile
"And there, last one in place." Candice said as she applied a round device on the outside wall of the school building closest to the old school, a dim flash of light washing over the building as it was subtly switched with an identical one located in the Shadow Side of Kuoh. The current building was completely empty as the Peace Summit was being held in a separate dimension. "Ya know? We could prevent this whole thing if we just captured that kid first."
"Nah. You heard the boss." Liltotto said, standing atop the roof with all of the additional guards of the other three factions in full view. "Let the enemy reveal themselves, better everyone comes together sooner than later because of it, we're not responsible for babysitting any of the Devils, and don't reveal we have precognition." She recited, giving a cliff notes version of their briefing.
"Besides. It's been too long since we got to cut loose!" Bambietta said with a vicious grin on her face, standing on a Reishi platform above everything. "Every attack since that attempted kitty genocide has been too boring to really be called a fight."
"But didn't Uryu say that the majority of the enemy aren't much of a threat?" Meninas asked, standing in front of the school building. "Can we really call it 'cutting loose' when only that white armored figure is a threat?"
"Let's just be happy with what we get." Candice said, seeing a bunch of robed figures making their way to the school building. "Playtime's coming." Her bored expression switching to an excited one. A magical glyph appeared above the school soon afterward and the Quincy Cross medallions on their chests glowed as everything around them was frozen in time.
"Alright girls," Bambietta said as she drew her sword, "let's go!"