The tension was suffocating.
Dohnaseek stood before me, his black wings flared wide, his eyes narrowed in disbelief as the remnants of his light spear dissolved into nothingness.
"What… what the hell is that power?" he hissed, his voice trembling.
I didn't answer. Instead, I stepped forward, my hand still crackling with the faint glow of Hakai.
"Raynare," I said, glancing over my shoulder. "Stay back."
She hesitated, her gaze darting between me and Dohnaseek. For a moment, I thought she'd argue, but then she nodded and took a step back.
Dohnaseek sneered. "So, you're protecting her now? The traitor? Pathetic."
I smirked. "Yeah, well… I'm full of surprises."
His sneer twisted into a snarl. "You think you're a threat to me, devil? You're nothing but a pawn!"
He charged, summoning another light spear and hurling it at me with deadly precision.
I didn't move.
The spear hit the edge of my Hakai aura and vanished.
Dohnaseek froze mid-step, his eyes widening as realization set in.
"That's… impossible."
I raised my hand, a sphere of Hakai forming at my fingertips.
"You picked the wrong fight."
I flicked the sphere toward him.
It wasn't large—barely the size of a marble. But the moment it left my hand, the air around it seemed to warp, the fabric of reality itself trembling under its weight.
Dohnaseek leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The sphere struck the ground behind him—
And erased it.
Not just the dirt, but the entire area where it landed. A perfect circle of nothingness remained, as if that part of the earth had never existed.
Dohnaseek stumbled, his wings faltering as he stared at the void.
"What… what kind of power is that?!"
I didn't answer.
Because I wasn't done yet.
I moved.
In an instant, I was in front of him, my fist slamming into his gut with enough force to send him flying backward.
He crashed into a tree, coughing violently as he tried to catch his breath.
"You're out of your league," I said, walking toward him. "Give up."
Dohnaseek's eyes darted to Raynare, who was watching from a safe distance.
"Traitor!" he spat, his voice filled with venom. "You're siding with them? With this… this monster?!"
Raynare flinched, but she didn't respond.
I stepped between them, blocking his view of her.
"She made her choice," I said coldly. "And so did you."
Dohnaseek snarled, his wings spreading wide as he summoned a dozen light spears at once.
"I won't lose to a lowly devil!"
He hurled them all at once, the air around us crackling with energy as the spears closed in.
I exhaled.
And then—
I raised my hand.
Hakai flared.
A wave of violet energy erupted from my palm, consuming the light spears before they could reach me.
The energy continued forward, crashing into Dohnaseek and sending him sprawling to the ground.
He didn't get back up.
I walked over to him, my gaze cold.
"This is your last chance," I said, my voice low. "Leave. Don't come back."
Dohnaseek coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as he glared up at me.
"You think this is over?" he rasped. "You think Azazel won't come for you?"
I crouched down, meeting his gaze.
"Let him come," I said, smirking. "I'll be waiting."
Dohnaseek's eyes widened slightly, fear flickering across his face.
Then, with a groan, he pushed himself up and staggered into the air, his wings carrying him away.
I watched him go, my fists clenched.
This wasn't the last time I'd face the Fallen Angels.
But when they came back, I'd be ready.
[After the Battle – Raynare's Choice]
The clearing was silent.
Raynare stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
I turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "You alright?"
She scoffed. "Why do you care?"
I smirked. "Because you're part of my team now. And I take care of my team."
She stared at me for a long moment, her violet eyes narrowing. "You're different, you know that? Most devils would have killed him without a second thought."
I shrugged. "Maybe. But killing him wouldn't have changed anything. Letting him go sends a message."
"A message?"
I smiled. "That I'm not afraid of them. And that they should be afraid of me."
Raynare's lips twitched, but she quickly hid it.
"Whatever," she muttered. "Just don't expect me to start singing your praises."
I laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it."
[Occult Research Club – The Next Day]
The others weren't happy.
"You let him go?" Rias asked, her tone sharp.
I shrugged. "Yeah. Killing him wouldn't have done anything except piss off the Fallen Angels even more."
Kiba frowned. "And you think letting him live won't have the same effect?"
"Maybe," I admitted. "But now they know what they're dealing with. That's better than leaving them guessing."
Rias sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're reckless, Issei."
"But I get results," I said, grinning.
She gave me a long, measuring look. Then, finally, she sighed.
"Just… don't make a habit of it."
"No promises."
[Elsewhere – Fallen Angel Headquarters]
Azazel leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he read the report on Dohnaseek's encounter with me.
"Interesting," he murmured, swirling a glass of wine in his hand.
His golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Very interesting."
He turned to the shadowed figure standing behind him.
"Prepare the others," he said, his voice calm. "It's time to see what this Sekiryuutei is really made of."
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