Suddenly, a crimson magical circle flared into existence right in front of Issei and Freed, startling both of them. The circle's intricate patterns glowed with an ominous light, and before either could react, a white-haired girl leaped out, her expression fierce and determined. Her petite frame belied the raw power she exuded as she launched herself at Freed with deadly intent.
Freed barely managed to avoid her lightning-fast punch, throwing himself to the ground and rolling away just in time. The blow connected with the sofa he had been lounging on moments earlier, obliterating it in a shower of splinters and fabric. Freed's eyes widened in shock, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple as he realized how close he had come to being pulverized.
"That was too damn close!" Freed muttered to himself, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. His shock quickly morphed into a crazed grin as he whipped out a gun from his sleeve in one hand and a glowing lightsaber in the other. His eyes gleamed with manic excitement as he locked onto the white-haired girl, who stood poised and ready for another attack.
"Well, aren't you a feisty little devil," he sneered, pointing his gun at her. Before he could pull the trigger, another flash of light from the still-glowing magical circle caught his attention.
Kiba emerged from the circle, his expression focused and determined, his eyes locked on Freed. Without wasting a second, Kiba charged, his black sword cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. Freed's lightsaber ignited with a buzz, and he barely managed to parry Kiba's swift strike, the two weapons clashing with a burst of sparks.
"Kiba!? Koneko!?" Issei called out in disbelief, his voice a mix of surprise and relief as he recognized his fellow devils. He was still reeling from the sudden turn of events, struggling to keep up with what was happening around him.
But the chaos was far from over. Akeno, Rias, and Izashi appeared next, stepping out of the magical circle with an air of authority and power. They didn't engage Freed immediately, choosing instead to assess the situation. Rias's eyes were cold and calculating as she watched the battle unfold.
Freed, despite his bravado, was clearly feeling the pressure. With a deranged grin, he pushed Kiba back with a surge of strength, his eyes flicking over to the new arrivals. "Well, well, well… It's turning out to be a hell of a day! So many devils, so little time! Guess I'll just have to kill all of you!" he cackled, his voice laced with madness.
But before Freed could even finish his sentence, a bone-chilling voice cut through the air, dripping with menace. "Is that all?"
Freed's instincts screamed at him to move, and he leaped sideways just in time to avoid a wave of crimson energy that obliterated the space he had occupied moments before. He looked up, his crazed grin faltering as he saw Rias's outstretched hand, still glowing with the residual power of destruction.
Just as Freed was about to let out a sigh of relief, he felt a sharp, inexplicable pain course through his body. He hadn't seen any attack coming his way, yet here he was, feeling the effects of one. His eyes darted around, and then he saw it—Izashi, standing calmly with his hand outstretched, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
"How…?" Freed whispered, his voice tinged with confusion and fear. He was certain he had dodged the attack. How could he have been hit?
Izashi's voice was like ice, sending a shiver down Freed's spine. "Death by a 'shitty devil,' huh? What does that make you?"
Those words cut deeper than any blade, striking at Freed's core. His crazed bravado shattered, replaced by a growing sense of dread. For the first time, he felt something more profound than fear—he felt the presence of something far more terrifying than death itself. It was as if he was standing before the very embodiment of death, something that made his blood run cold and his heart race with primal terror.
Freed's hand shook as he tried to steady his weapon, his mind racing with panic. But before he could fully process the gravity of his situation, he sensed another presence—one that made his heart leap with hope.
A new figure appeared, her single pair of black wings unfurling as she hovered in the air, her scantily clad form practically screaming exhibitionism. It was Raynare, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the scene before her. Her gaze zeroed in on Izashi, her surprise quickly turning to recognition and something akin to respect.
"So, you're the servant of the Gremory heiress," Raynare remarked, her voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and disdain as she noticed Rias standing beside Izashi.
Izashi, however, didn't care for her assumptions. He had other priorities, and he was quick to cut to the chase. "I assume you're here to take them away?" His tone was more a statement than a question, his eyes already anticipating her next move.
Before Raynare could respond, another figure suddenly appeared in the room—a young blonde girl. She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the standoff between the devils and the Fallen Angel. Issei's eyes widened in equal shock as he recognized her.
"Asia!?" Issei exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. He hadn't expected to see her here, of all places. To him, Asia had always been a sweet, kind girl who wouldn't be involved in something as dark as this.
Asia's own shock mirrored Issei's, her eyes darting between him and the other devils. She couldn't believe Issei was here, caught up in something so dangerous.
Freed's eyes locked onto her, his previous fear momentarily forgotten as anger flared up inside him. "You bitch!" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "Why couldn't you even set up a barrier? Useless! Absolutely useless!"
Asia visibly flinched at the harsh words, her eyes filling with tears. Issei, seeing the pain in her expression, felt his blood boil. His fists clenched at his sides as he stepped forward, his voice rising in anger. "Hey! Don't talk to her like that! You're the one who's useless, not her!"
Freed turned his crazed eyes on Issei, his lip curling into a sneer. "Shut up, you shitty devil! You're lower than an insect—disgusting!"
Issei's anger simmered just beneath the surface, but he held himself back, trying to keep a level head. But it was Izashi who stepped forward, his patience finally wearing thin. His eyes blazed with fury as he addressed Freed, his voice dangerously low.
"You know," Izashi began, his tone cold and menacing, "it would've been one thing if you insulted him personally. But you've crossed a line by speaking ill of devils in general. Congratulations, you just signed your death warrant."
Izashi's expression darkened as red orbs of energy began to materialize above his hand, each one pulsating with a terrifying power of destruction. The air in the room grew thick with tension as everyone, even Rias and Akeno, took a cautious step back. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of that kind of power.
Freed, however, seemed lost in his own madness, too far gone to grasp the severity of the situation. He laughed maniacally, his eyes wild as he raised his lightsaber, defiant to the end. "Whatever you say doesn't matter! Now that the Fallen Angel-sama is here, you won't be able to kill me, you shitty devi—"
His words were abruptly cut off as one of Izashi's red orbs shot forward, smashing into his mouth with brutal force. Freed let out a muffled scream, the orb burning away his tongue in an instant. The pain was excruciating, and before Freed could even begin to process it, another orb slammed into his limbs, shattering bone and muscle alike.
Raynare watched in horror as Freed writhed in agony, his once confident demeanor reduced to nothing more than a pitiful display of suffering. The aura emanating from Izashi was overwhelming, and she knew with absolute certainty that she stood no chance against him. The gap in their abilities was far too wide.
As she glanced around the room, Raynare's eyes landed on Asia. In that moment, she made a decision. She had to take Asia and get out of there while the devils were distracted. It was the only chance she had to salvage the situation.
The members of Rias's peerage were focused on the gruesome sight before them, watching as Izashi methodically dismantled Freed's body, piece by piece. If they had been ordinary humans, they might have felt a pang of pity for the mad priest. But as devils, they knew better. Mercy was a luxury they couldn't afford to give their enemies—doing so was tantamount to inviting death upon themselves and their loved ones.
Izashi's expression remained cold and detached as he continued his assault, each strike precise and unrelenting. Freed's screams grew weaker with each passing moment, his body reduced to little more than a bloody, mangled heap. The floor beneath him was drenched in blood, the air thick with the metallic scent of it.
But despite the grim spectacle, Izashi's mind was elsewhere. He had noticed Raynare moving toward Asia, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Everything was proceeding exactly as he had anticipated. Raynare was doing precisely what he wanted her to do.
Issei's attention snapped back to reality when he realized Asia was no longer in sight. His heart skipped a beat as he frantically looked around, only to spot Raynare flying toward the church with Asia in tow. Panic surged through him, and he shouted, "What!? Asia is being taken away by the Fallen Angel!? Buchou, we have to go after her! I can't let them hurt Asia-chan!"
But Rias shook her head, her expression firm. "No, Issei. We can't follow them now. They're heading to the church, and as devils, we shouldn't step into a church. It's too dangerous."
Issei clenched his fists, frustration and worry battling within him. He understood Rias's reasoning, but the thought of Asia in the hands of those cruel Fallen Angels was unbearable. She was kind, innocent—someone who didn't deserve any of this. He couldn't stand the idea of her being hurt or worse.
But no matter how much he wanted to charge after them, Rias's words weighed heavily on him. The church was holy ground, and for devils, it was a death trap. He gritted his teeth, trying to push down his emotions, but it was clear that he wouldn't be able to simply let this go.
Inside of him, Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon, stirred, his voice rumbling in Issei's mind with a mix of curiosity and amusement. 'Hmm… The power of his desire is growing stronger. If he truly wishes to save that girl, he might just be able to tap into the true potential of the Boosted Gear.'
Issei barely registered Ddraig's words, his thoughts solely focused on Asia. He was determined to save her, no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, back in the room, Freed's screams had finally ceased. His body lay lifeless on the blood-soaked floor, dismembered and desecrated beyond recognition. Izashi let the final remnants of his destructive energy dissipate, his expression as impassive as ever. He had no sympathy for the priest—only a cold satisfaction that his plan was unfolding as intended.
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of what had just transpired settling over everyone present.
~~
A/N: I hope you all liked this long chapter.
(I want to request you guys to support me on my p.atreon and continue to read 12 advance chapters ahead over there. In the chapter of P.atreon, Izashi has fucked the Strongest Queen Grayfia. If you want to read that part, then read it there.
P.A.T.R.E.O.N link: https://bit.ly/evildragon)