Upon hearing the signal, both duellers immediately sprung into action without sparing a second of thought.
Xenovia launched herself up to the air with a powerful kick which left a giant dent on the floor, taking this duel completely seriously.
Meanwhile Kiba stared at Xenovia with an unreadable expression before suddenly blades shot up from the ground, surrounding himself with a hundred different blades. He pulled a red blazing greatsword within his reach and crossed it over his head, taking the vertical jumping slash from Xenovia however it was proven to be a foolish move as his blade shattered on impact, leaving him shocked but fast enough to lean to his right and pulled another sword from the ground.
Xenovia grinned as she landed and swiftly delivered another strike which shattered the blade in his grip.
"For someone who claimed to see revenge on the Excalibur Fragments, you surely are ignorant of its ability." She scoffed at Kiba before she said. "Let me enlighten you ignorant Devil. Excalibur Destruction's ability is as its name states, it amplifies the destructive force of my attack to shatter everything and anything in my path. Especially those with demonic nature. Like this."
Xenovia lifts the blade high before smashing it down on the arena which shatters it and creates a deep crater which turns all the blades into fragments of steel laying on the crater.
"So, if this is the extent of your ability. Then there is no reason to continue this pointless duel as I will end it in an instant, Devil of Gremory." Xenovia declared at Kiba, telling him to show his most powerful attack or else she will end everything in an instant.
Kiba however could only stare at his own hands in disbelief. Strongest attack? This is already his best and to see all his efforts all these years has amounted to nothing before the Excalibur Destruction. Kiba couldn't believe himself.
If only I train harder. If only I did better. That is what played in his mind after seeing the outcome of the duel. To be defeated utterly without any chance to even resist.
Then what is the use of his training? What is the use of this useless Sacred Gear? He can't even provide a proper fight to his opponent. Much less his revenge.
"Well, this is rather disappointing." A voice echoed through the coliseum which caught the attention of everyone.
Kiba grips his fist until it turns white and bleeds from his nails digging into his flesh.
"What do you know! What would you know?" Kiba snarled out of anger in disregard for the fact Ray could easily kill him if he felt offended.
"Me? I know everything. Your history, your identity, your thoughts and basically everything if I wanted to." Ray shrugged on his throne.
"Do you want to know why you were defeated that easily? It's simple really if you use your brain. Holy power suppresses Demonic power. Just by making the Exorcist your opponent, you are already fighting an unfavorable battle. Not to mention your opponent wields the Excalibur Destruction." Ray explained with a little disdain in his tone when mentioning the Excalibur Destruction which made Xenovia frown a little.
"To put it simply. Blame yourself for being a Devil as you never had the chance of winning to begin with." Ray said and his words are like blades gouging his heart. "If you weren't a Devil, you might have a slightly better chance of winning but Excalibur Destruction is simply a bad matchup for you who have great speed but frail endurance."
Rias, who heard what Ray said, was offended because the way he worded it was as if he was blaming Kiba's defeat on him being a Devil. But she can't refute the truth either.
Xenovia however, were grinning and gloating over Kiba. "That is right, it is your fault for abandoning the grace of the lord and falling for the temptation of the Devils, you heretic. It is natural that I will win." She said proudly.
"Heh, so what? I would rather be a Devil than clinging to the hypocritical faith taught by the Church. God? Where was he when he was being captured and abducted to be the Church's guinea pig? Where was he when we were tortured day and night by the people from the Church? Where was he when we were being rounded up and disposed of because they deemed us as useless and a failed experiment? Where? Where? Where!"
Consumed by his memories, his face become twisted by rage as hundreds upon thousands of blades erupted from the ground, threatening to impale Xenovia but she quickly retreated in a panic.
Meanwhile Ray was laughing amusedly. "Good, good. The more intense your emotions are, the more your Sacred Gear will respond to it." He stared at the arena as the second round started. "Now, this is proper entertainment. His previous state is pathetic. But now that the odds are equal. I wonder who will win. Hmn?"
Rias was worried as she looked at the duel progressing. Even if Ray purposely manipulated Kiba to his current enraged state, since his intense emotions help him tapping more into his Sacred Gear which is difficult to achieve without sufficient stimulation or a real battle. Regardless of the outcome of the battle, Kiba will end up growing stronger from this experience.
But as Ray said, the odds are now equal as Kiba's Sacred Gear, Sword Birth is now stronger than ever. Enough to level the playing field against the Excalibur Destruction. The disadvantages of their power still exist. The Holy power will suppress the Demonic power and keep Kiba on a disadvantage.
Kiba advances like a raging beast, snarling and roaring at Xenovia with stronger blades that will not shatter on the first hit against Excalibur Destruction like earlier. He could land another or two more hits before it broke, good enough for him to pressure Xenovia until she was pushed back to a corner as blades sprouting from the ground limit her movements.
But Xenovia is still calm and collected.
"Just because your blades are a little strong. It wouldn't change the fact that the power granted by my faith to the Lord is the bane of you Demonic beings." She made a wide sweeping slash which destroyed the blades cornering her and clashed head on with Kiba before she dug her boots into his gut, kicking him up into the air and landed a few meters away.
Kiba wasted no time, using the speed boost from the Knight Piece to rush back to Xenovia like a rabid beast, throwing everything he had at her until he was utterly exhausted and couldn't create another blade.
Rias with Sona sighed in relief that Kiba isn't mortally wounded and simply passed out from exhaustion. The rest of their peerage present also share the same thoughts.
When the duel ended, the coliseum also vanished and everyone returned to the clubroom.
Xenovia wraps up the Excalibur Destruction and puts on her robe before she looks at Rias and Sona.
"Our business here is concluded. I hope you Devils will not hinder our task." She said before putting on her cloak and left.
The other cloaked Exorcist stared at Issei for a moment before she quickly followed behind Xenovia.
As for Issei, he was busy rushing over Kiba with Rias and the rest of her peerage to check up on Kiba who thankfully only passed out from exhaustion.
As for Ray, he already vanished with his entourage from the moment the coliseum vanished.
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