In the underground base outside of Kuoh Town, the topless Zeno in black spandex pants was sitting with his legs crossed in the middle of the training room. An ominous black purplish aura continuously emits out from his body as it distorts the space around him. Zeno is currently cultivating his Touki in the afternoon after he finished his daily patrol around Kuoh today.
He has not seen any stray or any sign of the envoy from the church when he patrols the town today, he even takes a look at Kuoh Academy just to be sure. The two exorcist girls should be easy to spot since that dressed in very eye-catching clothes.
Zeno then opens his eyes after a while as his Touki aura disperses and the space around him returns to normal. He decided to stop cultivating and got up from the floor. He feels that his Touki is getting so robust that he can shrug off any attack from the mid-class being with no damage. If he adds the Demon Back too on top of the Touki, SS suit, and energy absorption then he doubts any high-class being can even make him feel pain. Well, he not going to tank every attack though, it is not his style.
"Here, Zavior-san."
Asia with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a sports bra under a white tank top and black track pants with running shoes offer him a bottle of water. Her gaze lingered on his torso a bit before she looked away, blushing slightly. She feels strange when she looks at Zeno's masculine form directly.
"Ah, thank you, Asia."
Zeno said as he took the bottle of water from her with an appreciative look. He uncapped the bottle and took a drink before closing the cap back again.
"How is your training going, Asia?"
He asked as he looked at her, she should be able to use Touki magic by now, he thought.
"It's going well, I'm still not as strong as others but I can already cast some simple spells without exhausting my energy quickly."
She smiled brightly, feeling a bit proud of herself. She never thought that one day she could be able to learn magic and use it, even if it not using mana like a normal mage. Zeno nodded in approval.
"That's good to hear. Keep practicing, Asia. You'll get stronger in no time."
He said encouragingly. As they talked, Zeno noticed the three maids walking inside the training room. He turned his attention towards them and saw them in training clothes just like Asia.
"Ah, they're here."
Zeno said as he handed the bottle of water to Asia. He stretched his arms and legs, smirking at the three maids.
"You guys warm up first, today I'll test your strength personally."
They look at Zeno with surprise. He had never sparred with them before. The maids exchange a look with each other and their faces become more determined. They will show him their best so they will not disappoint him.
"We will do our best, Master!"
"That right!"
Leila said as Noa and Charmie nodded in unison, they will definitely impress their master. As the three maids begin their warm-up exercises, Zeno watches them closely. He can see the determination in their eyes. It's clear that they want to prove their strength to him.
He smiled at his maid's dedication and turned to Asia that standing next to him. She looked at the maids with a thoughtful expression. She noticed that the three of them always do their very best when Zeno is involved.
"They are very motivated, Zavior-san."
Asia commented as she watched the maids go through their warm-up exercises with a serious expression, even the always upbeat Charmie. She wonders if it is okay for her to be just a healer in the group since she can also cast spells.
"Yes, they are. It's a good chance for them to tell me how strong they have become since the first time they joined."
He said with a smile, his hand pats her shoulder encouragingly. He noticed that she thinking about something and he could guess what she was thinking.
"You don't have to be a fighter like them, being a supporter is enough. But if you want to be more then I will not mind teaching you."
Asia nodded her head with a thoughtful expression, she knew that she was not as strong as the others and couldn't fight really well. She appreciated the fact that Zeno didn't mind her staying the same or wanting to be more, even offering his help.
"Thank you, Zavior-san. I'll work harder until I can fight together with everyone."
Asia said with determination, she may not be able to fight like the others right now but she will try her best to train and catch up to them someday. Zeno chuckled and nodded, looking back at the maids who were now finishing their warm-up exercises.
"Alright, girls. Let's start."
Zeno said as he approached the three maids who were ready for their spar.
The spar starts with Leila, Noa, and Charmie in that order, and the final round with the three of them together. Zeno obviously will not be going all out on them as he just dodges, blocks, and deflects their attacks. He occasionally gave them advice and corrected their bad habits while fighting.
After a while of sparring, Zeno finally told them to stop and nodded in approval.
"Not bad, you all have improved greatly."
He said with a smile, looking at the three maids who were panting from their exhaustion as they used everything they had but still couldn't hit him properly. They were disheartened and thought that Zeno might be disappointed in them but their faces lit up instantly with happiness as he praised them.
"We are delighted that you find our performance adequate, Master!"
Leila said with a happy smile as Noa and Charmie giggled to themselves. Zeno then gives each of them a kiss on their lips as a reward under the surprise gaze of Asia.
Zeno is pleased that they have grown powerful from their original pitiful level of low-class mob. Their raw power might not be on the high-class level yet but their combat ability surely made up for it.
Zeno then turned to Asia who was watching them while fidgeting with a blush on her face. She feels bashful at the sight of the sudden intimacy they display. She didn't know that they were in a romantic relationship all this time. But should there be only one man and one woman in a relationship? Asia tilted her head in doubt.
"Girls, you can rest now, I'll be teaching Asia how to fight next."
He said as he walked towards Asia. She looked at him with a strange nervousness at first but it soon changed to a determination.
"I'll do my best please take care of me!"
Zeno smiled, pleased at her motivation. He then starts teaching her a basic of hand-to-hand combat. First, the form of attacks.
"Haayah..! Hah...! Yaah...!"
He can't help but smile when she punches and kicks with an exaggerated motion. She looks both comical and cute.
"You are very cute I give you that, but let me correct your stance."
Zeno said as he gently adjusted her stance. Asia nods her head with a blush, embarrassed. She becomes even more embarrassed when she realizes that Zeno's muscular body is so close to her. Asia wonders if he will give her a kiss like the three previously if she does well. Suddenly her body tensed up and her face flushed by such a thought.
"Asia, you are too stiff. Relaxing your muscles some more..."
"Y-Yes...!"
Asia hurriedly replied with a high-pitched voice as Zeno found her sudden strange behavior amusing and continued to guide her.
÷×÷×÷
In a dimly lit room somewhere in Kuoh, Kokabiel was sitting in a throne-like chair with a glass of wine in his hand. His sinister face is smirking evilly as his blood-red eyes watch the holy swords warped in clothes on the table with sadistic joy.
"Soon, soon, the great war will finally start again."
He muttered to himself, his voice dripping with malice. He had endured this "peace" for so long, now the great war will break out again with the blood of the filthy devil girls. He will finally be able to prove that the fallen angel is the most superior race once and for all.
Everything is almost in place, only one more sword to complete his plan. He wonders who will they send to retrieve the swords. Most likely Strada or maybe one of the Seraphim. He getting excited just from thinking about it.
"Lord Kokabiel, the ritual to fuse the Excalibur swords is ready."
A short, bespectacled old man with gray hair in a priest's robe walks into the room as he reports to Kokabiel. The fallen angel Cadre turned his head slightly to the old man. A useful tool that he picked up.
"Excellent."
Kokabiel replied with a cold smile, taking another sip of his wine. The old man, Valper Galilei bowed before leaving the room. Kokabiel's eyes gleamed with excitement as he thought about what was about to happen. He had waited for far too long for this moment.
"You had grown too soft Azazel."
He sneers as he thinks that they don't need to be fearful of the angel or devil. He believed that they could still win in the end without any doubt.
"I will show them all..."
He muttered as he drank the wine before throwing the empty glass away.