A golden light began to emanate from Ares' body, shining intensely, while Kaito and Thalia watched closely. The enveloping aura, which seemed to pulse with divine power, slowly started floating toward Kaito.
"This light… what is this?" Thalia asked, stepping back a little, her eyes fixed on the phenomenon unfolding.
Kaito, sensing the strange energy approaching him, tried to move to the side, attempting to dodge it.
"No! I don't know what this is, but I don't want to be involved!"
However, no matter how fast he moved, the golden light followed him, enveloping him completely before he could escape. The piercing glow struck him with force, as if it were being absorbed into his body.
An intense light surrounded him, making Kaito feel an explosion of energy within him, something far beyond his own demonic magic.
"Aah... what's happening?" Kaito murmured, feeling the powerful energy circulating through his entire body.
The light was Ares' divinity, transferring to Kaito, as if the god of war's power was seeking a new bearer.
Thalia watched with concern, but she knew there was nothing she could do at that moment.
"Kaito, are you okay? What was that?" Thalia asked anxiously, approaching Kaito.
"I… I'm fine," Kaito replied, still gasping for air, feeling the weight of the new energy in his body. "It seems like I received something… divine. We'll figure out what this divinity is that I now carry later."
Kaito took a deep breath, regaining his composure. He knew it wasn't the time to explore this further. They needed to leave that place.
"Let's get out of here," Kaito said, raising his hand and concentrating his magic. "We've done what we had to do."
A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, glowing softly. The light enveloped both Kaito and Thalia, as Kaito's magic activated. In an instant, they disappeared from the coliseum and materialized in Kuoh.
....
As soon as they vanished, Hephaestus emerged from the shadows, observing the now-empty battlefield. The coliseum still stood, remnants of the battle could be felt in the air.
"Those two are reckless and foolish," Hephaestus muttered, a look of irritation on his face. "They left without erasing their magical signatures."
With a quick gesture, Hephaestus raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Immediately, the coliseum began to tremble lightly.
CRACK… CRACK...
The walls of the coliseum began to disintegrate into golden particles, floating in the air like magical dust. The entire scene created by Ares dissolved, revealing the Empire State Building around Hephaestus once again. The building returned to normal, with no trace of the epic battle that had taken place there.
"Now, the magical signatures," Hephaestus said, moving his hand again. With a second snap, he erased any trace of Kaito and Thalia's presence from the location.
"Done. No traces, no evidence."
With one last look of disdain toward the spot, Hephaestus disappeared, leaving the Empire State in complete silence, as if nothing had ever happened.
....
Inside the house, Kaito and Thalia materialized, the soft light of the magic circle slowly fading.
"Here we are," Kaito said casually, looking around the house. "Welcome to my home, Thalia."
Thalia looked around, observing every detail with curiosity. The house was modern but still preserved the essence of Japanese culture, with light wooden floors, sliding doors, and a cozy atmosphere.
"It's... different," Thalia commented, crossing her arms as she slowly walked through the living room. "Definitely more organized than my place."
Kaito smiled, walking to the kitchen, which was integrated into the living room. "I think you'll like it. Everything here is simpler but functional. And... no shoes inside the house, of course."
Thalia glanced down at her feet, realizing she was still wearing her shoes. Quickly, she removed them and left them by the door. "That's going to be a hard habit to pick up," she said with a smile.
"You'll get used to it," Kaito replied, moving toward the sliding door that led to the hallway. "Let me show you the rest of the house."
While Kaito showed the rooms, the scene shifted to the student council room at Kuoh Academy.
...
Rias sat at the head of the table, with Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno positioned around. Across from them were Shidou Irina and Xenovia Quarta, two exorcists who brought with them disturbing news.
"So, what do you want from us?" Rias asked, breaking the silence that hung in the air. Her voice was firm but maintained courtesy, despite the tension growing with each passing moment.
Irina, with a friendly smile, was the first to speak. "We've come here at the Church's request. We need help recovering something that was recently stolen."
Rias raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Stolen?"
At the mention of "Excalibur," Kiba clenched his fists tightly, his gaze burning with rage. The mere mention of the sacred swords filled him with fury.
"What are those swords doing in my territory?" Rias asked, her expression becoming more serious.
Xenovia crossed her arms, her posture arrogant.
"The order is that Devils should not get involved in this matter. The Church and the Fallen Angels already have their own methods for dealing with the theft."
The atmosphere grew even more tense. Xenovia's arrogance irritated Rias, and the idea that the Devils would simply be ignored in the situation deeply bothered her.
Rias took a deep breath, controlling her irritation.
"We're talking about Kuoh, which is my territory. If something of large scale happens here, it affects everyone. There's no way I can ignore this."
Xenovia cast a cold look at Rias.
"The Church's higher-ups believe the Devils might ally with the Fallen Angels for their own interests. The theft of the Excaliburs would benefit you."
Kiba, who had been quiet until then, could no longer contain himself. His hatred for the Excaliburs was palpable, and the fact that exorcists were there only increased his fury.
"Kiba," Rias said in a firm tone, sensing the growing animosity in her Knight. "Control yourself."
Kiba took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but he still glared at Irina and Xenovia with sharp eyes. He could never forget what the Excaliburs represented to him and the suffering they had caused.
....
"Make yourself at home, Thalia. I'm going to visit some friends," Kaito said, already heading for the door with a slight smile on his face. He knew Thalia needed a moment to relax and get familiar with the new environment.
"Are you sure you don't need help?" Thalia asked, still analyzing her surroundings. She seemed a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being alone.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Kaito replied, putting on his shoes. "Take the time to rest. When I return, we'll talk more about what to do next."
Thalia sighed and shook her head with a light smile. "Alright, I'll try to get used to your organized world."
Kaito chuckled softly, opening the door. "It won't be that hard, I'm sure."
With a final wave, he stepped out, leaving Thalia alone in the house, watching him leave.
As he walked through the streets of Kuoh towards the school, his thoughts wandered, reflecting on the power he had acquired after killing Ares.
'This energy... the power of a god,' Kaito thought, feeling the flow of Ares' divinity still pulsing within his body. It was a strange sensation, blending with his demonic magic and the ethereal power of his fairy form. 'This will be useful against the other gods that come my way.'
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the new power. He still wasn't sure how to fully use it, but he knew that, with time, control would come. 'If Ares fell, the others can fall too. I just need to master this.'
The soft sound of his footsteps echoed on the sidewalk as he continued walking. Kaito looked up, observing the calm streets of Kuoh around him. It was good to be back in Japan after so long away. There was a sense of nostalgia in the air, as if every corner and building brought back memories of a past life.
SWOOSH!
The wind blew softly, rustling the trees around as Kaito got lost in his thoughts. He knew that, despite the calmness of Kuoh, the world around him was changing rapidly. The gods were on the move, and the approaching war would require all the power he could gather.
'This power... is just the beginning,' he reflected, a determined smile forming on his lips. 'I'll use it to destroy anyone who stands in my way.'
As he approached the school, Kaito noticed how everything seemed both different and familiar at the same time. There was a touch of nostalgia in the air, reminding him of his life in Japan before becoming involved in supernatural battles.
'Even after everything, Japan still feels the same. But I... I've changed,' Kaito thought, looking at the school building in the distance.
He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air of Kuoh, and continued his walk, determined to learn more about the power he now carried and to use it against the enemies that were coming.
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