Kaito walked through the debris, searching for signs of life. Finally, he found Rias and Akeno beside the rubble, both clearly exhausted but alive. Xenovia and Irina were nearby, equally worn out but with expressions of relief as they saw Kaito approaching.
"Kaito... you made it... Is Kokabiel defeated?" Rias looked up, a mix of exhaustion and relief evident in her eyes upon seeing Kaito.
"Yes, it's over. Kokabiel won't threaten anyone anymore." Kaito nodded, his expression serious as he approached them. He looked around, seeing the state of the mansion and everyone's exhaustion. "You all fought well here. You managed to defeat Cerberus and protect the mansion."
Akeno let out a relieved sigh, the weight of the battle evident on her shoulders. "Yes, but it was a tough fight. If you hadn't returned in time, we might not have been able to protect everyone."
Xenovia was beside them, but her expression was different. There was something dark in her eyes, a mix of desolation and shock. She held her sword tightly, her gaze vacant. Irina also seemed lost, her eyes downcast, her breathing uneven. Between the two, Xenovia was clearly in worse shape.
"Kaito, if what Kokabiel said is true... then... is God dead?" Xenovia murmured, her voice trembling and weak. She looked at Kaito, desperately seeking some answer, something that could give her hope.
Kaito narrowed his eyes, perceiving the emotional state of the two exorcists. He knew how important their faith was to them and how this revelation had been devastating. "Xenovia... I don't know the truth about God. But I know that you've fought until now with determination, and that doesn't change, even if the truth is hard to accept."
"We... dedicated our lives to God. And now... what will we do?" Irina said, her eyes filled with tears, nodding slowly.
Xenovia fell to her knees, the shock overwhelming her. "If God is dead... then our purpose... everything we fought for... what does it mean?" Tears finally began to roll down her face, her voice filled with pain and despair.
Kaito approached Xenovia and Irina, observing their emotional state. He knew he needed to offer some form of hope. "Xenovia, Irina... I know this is hard, but you don't have to face this pain alone. If you want, you can join my Peerage. I offer you a new purpose, a new reason to fight."
Irina looked at Kaito's outstretched hand, then at Xenovia. She shook her head, with a sad smile. "Thank you, Kaito, but... I still need time to understand all this. I can't make that decision now." Irina stepped away a bit, trying to gather her thoughts.
Xenovia, on the other hand, looked at Kaito's hand for a long moment. Tears still streamed down her face, but there was something in her eyes that began to change. Slowly, she raised her hand and took Kaito's, her gaze meeting his. "I... need a new purpose. If it means fighting by your side, Kaito, then I accept. Please, let me join your Peerage."
Kaito nodded, helping Xenovia to her feet. "You'll be welcome, Xenovia. We'll find a new path together."
Xenovia wiped her tears, her expression still sad, but now with a spark of renewed determination. "I... will try. I'll find a new reason to fight. Even if it's hard... I won't give up."
"So, this is the end of the great Kokabiel? How pathetic." An arrogant voice echoed through the area, interrupting the moment of relief.
Everyone quickly turned towards the voice. Vali Lucifer floated above the rubble, his white wings glowing under the moonlight. His gaze was fixed on Kaito and the others, and there was an expression of irritation on his face.
"Who are you?" Kaito asked, narrowing his eyes, his stance becoming more defensive. He didn't know the man in front of him, but he could feel an intense energy emanating from him.
Vali smiled provocatively, ignoring Kaito's question. "Did you all really manage to kill Kokabiel? That's surprising... I must say I'm a bit disappointed. I expected more from a leader of the Grigori."
"Kokabiel was a threat to everyone. We did what we had to do to protect our friends and our territory." Rias stepped forward, her expression serious.
Vali slowly descended to the ground, his expression full of disdain. "I don't care about your motives, Gremory. I just wanted to know who was responsible for killing that idiot."
"I defeated him. If you're here to avenge Kokabiel, know that we won't back down." Kaito stepped forward, keeping his eyes on Vali.
Vali raised an eyebrow, a cold smile appearing on his face. "Avenge Kokabiel?" He let out a short, derisive laugh. "You're mistaken. I'm not here to avenge anyone. In fact, I couldn't care less about that idiot. I just need his body."
Vali approached Kokabiel's corpse, looking at it for a moment before bending down and lifting it effortlessly. "I'm taking this with me. I have some uses for it." He looked back at Kaito, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "You have potential, Kaito. Maybe one day we can fight for real."
Kaito kept his serious expression, watching Vali's every move. "If you want a fight, I'll be ready. But don't think you can just show up and threaten us."
Vali shrugged, lightly flapping his wings as he prepared to leave. "Calm down, it's not a challenge... at least not today." He cast one last look at the group. "I hope you're ready when that day comes."
Vali then took off, carrying Kokabiel's body with him, disappearing into the night without saying anything else.
Irina took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "I'm going back to the Vatican. I have a report to make." She looked at Xenovia, her expression full of concern. "Are you really staying, Xenovia?"
"Yes, Irina. I need a new purpose, and I believe I can find it here. I'll fight alongside Kaito and find a new reason to continue." Xenovia nodded, with renewed determination in her eyes.
Irina hesitated for a moment, but then smiled, though sadly. "I understand. Take care, Xenovia. And you too, Kaito." She turned and began walking toward the exit, casting one last look at her friend before disappearing among the rubble.
"That's it, Rias. I'll leave you." Kaito looked around. "You have a lot to fix in your mansion."
Rias nodded, a tired smile on her face. "Yes, you're right. We have a lot of work to do. Thank you for everything, Kaito."
Kaito gave a nod before turning to Xenovia. "Come on, Xenovia. We have a long way ahead of us."
Xenovia nodded, following Kaito as they both walked away from the battlefield, leaving Rias and Akeno to deal with the damage and prepare for the next challenge that might come.
....
Kaito's Room
"Well, Xenovia, I'm going to start the reincarnation ritual and turn you into a Devil." Kaito looked at Xenovia, who was sitting in the center of the room, waiting with a determined expression.
Xenovia took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready, Kaito. I'll accept this new path and fight by your side."
Kaito took one of the Evil Pieces, a Knight Piece. He approached Xenovia, holding the glowing piece in his hand. "This piece represents your new life, Xenovia. I'll place it on your chest. From now on, you'll be my Knight."
Kaito touched the piece to Xenovia's chest, and a magic circle appeared around them, glowing intensely as the reincarnation ritual began. The magical energy enveloped Xenovia, and she closed her eyes, feeling the transformation occurring within her.
The glow of the magic circle increased, and the Knight Piece merged into Xenovia's body, disappearing into her chest. The energy around them began to dissipate, and the magic circle slowly vanished.
Kaito watched as Xenovia opened her eyes, now shining with a new energy. "You are now my Knight, Xenovia. Welcome to my Peerage."
Xenovia stood up, feeling the demonic power flowing through her body. She looked at Kaito and smiled, a confident and determined smile. "Thank you, Kaito. I'll honor this new power and fight by your side with everything I have."
Kaito nodded, satisfied. "Now, why don't you go downstairs and talk to Thalia and Kuroka? They're in the living room. I'm sure they'll enjoy getting to know you better."
Xenovia nodded again, a bit curious about the other people in Kaito's group. "Okay, Kaito. I'll go meet your companions." She turned and began to walk towards the door, while Kaito watched with a slight smile.
"They'll like you, Xenovia. Thalia and Kuroka are good allies. Don't worry, you're in good hands here." Kaito said, watching Xenovia leave the room towards the living room.
Kaito sighed as the door closed. He found himself thinking about his parents and Asia, remembering the moments of peace and tranquility he spent with them. He felt a tightness in his chest as he realized how much he missed seeing them.
"I guess it's time to visit them," Kaito murmured to himself. He needed to see his parents and Asia, to make sure they were okay and enjoy a moment of rest after the entire battle. Without wasting any more time, Kaito left the room, ready to visit those who were most precious to him.