Chapter 282 (Patreon)

Venelana Gremory POV

Things were not good.

“Let’s just Teleport away!” Rias’s Pawn blurted out as he held one of those Devil Contracts in his hand. They did come with the most basic of Teleportation Magics built in, however…..

“Oh no, why had I not thought of that?” Kokabiel said in faux concern, with a very dry look on his face. “Newborn Devil, I’ve fought in the Great War. I’ve fought against your Ancestors, and even other Gods on the battlefield. Do you really think I would overlook the most obvious method of running away?”

The Fallen Angel let out a sign, snapping his fingers, the Devil Contract in Issei’s hand burst into flames and drifted away as ash in the wind.

“And for that matter, why do you think no one else had that brilliant idea?” He shook his head before looking back at me. “So, this is the lot you’ve chosen to die with, huh Vene? It’s a far cry from the old crowd you used to run with. Though, you never stood at the front lines, I do remember seeing you carve out my kin from my formations back in the good ol’ days.”

Unfortunately, I remember him too. He led many legions of Angels and Fallen Angels throughout the Great War. He was never the strongest Angel in either faction, but no one could deny his skills as a General. He often took down foes stronger than himself with the help of his legions.

“My only regret is that you weren’t among them.” Good, keep talking. Give your maniac monologue, you always did love to do that. The longer this drags on, the more time that someone on the other side might figure out that something is wrong.

“Hoho, that’s the fire I remember.” He let out a laugh. “The Devils these days are just so disappointing.”

“What exactly is your plan? Come attack us, have my Son shove his hand so far up your rear that you’ll see your dad again?”

“My Plan?” He rubbed his chin. “Hmm, is this the part where I declare my intentions for the world, reveal my diabolical scheme? Sorry, but it’s actually really simple. I just want the war to start back up.”

“You…..you’re doing this to reignite the war?”

“Why else would I go through all this trouble, to do something so……pedantic.” He rolled his eyes staring at the ones behind me. “Do you really think I would care one iota about those kids? That they’re at all worth my effort? I don’t want a fight, I want a war. This is merely a means to an end.”

“You’re mad….even if you succeeded, you wouldn’t last a day after my Son found out.”

“Well, it would be a life well lived then~” He chuckled. “But at the very least, I would have accomplished my objective. The world is so broken, it doesn’t make sense anymore. And that fool, Azazel, just wants to make peace with everyone, it’s disgusting. He actively cohorts with you lot, tries to appease you all and gives so many concessions in the name of his peace.”

“One of the great Generals of the Grigori, throwing a tantrum because he feels irrelevant.” I scoffed at his reasoning.

“Oh please, pettiness is beneath you. Besides, you make it sound like I’m the only one involved. Do you think I forced my men to follow me? No, they do so because they share my same sentiments.”

“A bunch of mad Angels follow their equally insane leader, how surprising.”

“Haha, I do love that attitude of yours, it’ll make this so much more fun. But you’re wrong again, you think that it’s only my men as well? I’ve been making a bunch of……friends recently. You would be surprised how many like minded people there are in the world.”

That……sounded very ominous and I came to a realization. “The Wards around the School.” I breathed out in a feeling of dread. “You’re many things, but a Magician of that caliber isn’t one of them. There is no way you would have been able to pull down Ajuka’s wards without any alarms going off.”

I asked him to increase the defenses around the City after Wilhelm warned me about a potential attack. Yet…..they came down so quickly and easily. How many in the world would match Ajuka when it came to Magic?

“As I said, some like minded friends.” Kokabiel just smiled. “Speaking of, I made some other preparations! Why don’t you come on out, Freed!” He gestured as a new person walked forward.

The presence was…..not substantial. However, there was something about him that gave me pause.

It looked like a young priest, but he held something in his hand that made my hair stands on ends.

“Took awhile to steal those things from the Church, and I could only get four of them before Michael got smart.” Kokabiel chuckled. “Well, and that one the Pendragon Family had, but I’m not stupid enough to stick my hand over there right now.”

“Yer weren’t lyin, huh?” The new Priest smiled maniacally, as he wielded a Holy Sword the likes I haven’t seen in many years. “I can really test my new Excalibur against these Devil Bitches?”

“Oh yes, you can have as much fun as you want. And Don’t worry, we have a barrier around the School, so they can’t run away~”

I’ve seen the Excalibur Fragments a few times, and this thing was significantly stronger than any of those. Did he manage to recreate the original thing to some extent?

“And this is your plan?” I stared warily towards that sword. “Somehow blame the Church by using some holy sword? Do you think that everyone’s that dumb?”

“You insult me, Lady Gremory. Do you think this is all that I did? Of course that would be an idiotic assumption to make. They would easily hand wave it. Truthfully, I was hoping the Church would be their usual incompetent selves and arm a few Exorcists with the remaining fragments of Excalibur and send them to hunt ‘us’ down, but it seems someone used their brain.” He hummed nonchalantly. “But fusing together four fragments should be enough. I just need a strong enough Holy Signature that isn’t tied to an Angel.  I’ve already put enough pieces in motion that when you all turn up dead, they have to declare war even if all the leaders don’t want it.”

Well, there goes my hope that he’s lost in his own madness. It seems he actually thought and planned this out, even if it’s a ridiculous notion.

“But lets end this stalling game you’re trying.” He smiled savagely. “And Yes, I knew you were stalling for time. But spoiler~” He raised his arm up in the air. The Dark Night suddenly lit up with a Holy Glow, hundreds of Light Spears manifested in the hands of his troops. “No ones coming.” He threw his arm down and they began raining from the sky.

It’s been so long since I’ve had to pull on this much power, having to brush up on my old techniques. Luckily, I had anticipated this and quietly gathering enough during his monologue. I held my hands out, the smallest waft of Destruction flickering between them.

A small seed that I continuously fed for the past few minutes but kept oh so contained.

I released it up towards the sky infront of us. “Star of Extinction.” And it bloomed magnificently.

It expanded abruptly, acting as a barrier between us.

The beautiful blackish energy that consumed the Holy Lights of those angels.

“Rias, Run.” I hissed under my breath, getting ready to gather enough for another attack.

“B-but, mom!?”

“Rias, listen to her!” Sona pulled on her arm. “Get out, call our siblings, lets find the edge of this barrier while your mom handles them, we’re just going to be in the way!”

“Who said you can go!?”

I turned my head in shock to see that Priest appearing behind us, holy sword in hand.

It was Sai’s Knight who moved, a large lance in hand as he deflected a slash of that ridiculous Holy Sword.

“Oh! Lets see how good you are with that big ‘lance’ of yours, you shitty devil!” He laughed as they came to blows.

“RAAAAH!” I jerked my head back to see Kiba of all people roar as he charged at the Priest. The boy is usually more reserved, but I didn’t dwell on it.

They should be able to handle him, even if he had that ridiculous sword. Especially with Sai’s knight here, that one seems to have much experience in combat.

I would have to focus on the true enemy.

At the very least……I need to get them out of here.

So…..distraction it is.

***

Rias POV

I was surprised to see Kiba let out a howl and charge towards the priest, activating his Sacred Gear – Sword Birth. His speed suddenly increased sharpy as he summoned a Sword that increased his speed, making me almost lose sight of him.

However, the Priest went even faster to the point where he disappeared from the spot he was in.

One moment he as standing still and the next, his sword was aimed between Kiba’s ribs.

“Be gone!” Sai’s knight roar, his Lance intercepting the attack and deflecting that Holy Sword.

Akeno took that moment to cast a spell, a jolt of lightning manifesting from a Magic Circle as it traveled the distance towards the Priest.

The Priest, who had been knocked back by Sai’s Knight, slid back up to his feet, holding his Sword up as it glowed bright, enough that I had to shield my eyes partially. Akeno’s Magic was snuffed out as it approached, her Magic Circle falling apart and a burning sensation covering all of us.

“How you like that you shitty Devils!? The Love of God is gonna be forced in ya whether you like it or not!” The Priest laughed slashing his sword down on Sai’s Knight. “Come here ya cock suckers, get ready for Daddy Freed’s Holy Sword! And I aint talking about the Excalibur, HAHAHA.”

Sona stepped up, A shield enveloping him but it shattered upon contact. It was enough that The Knight was able to bring his Lance up to block.

“Rias! Stop spacing out!” Sona roared, Spell Circles activating again as her Queen joined in the melee.

“I…..” My breathing hitched as I looked around. I glanced at Mother who was…..facing that Kokabiel, and even looking at him made me shiver in fear. “Right…” I whispered, gathering what resolve I had. “Kiba, come back!” I yelled out, trying to grab his attention as he wasn’t acting like his usual self. He did have a…..sore sport regarding that sword, but……I saw him grit his teeth and disengage.

We trained enough to be able to handle this!

“Koneko! Smash the ground!” I yelled, gathering my Destructive Power in my hands.

Beluga intantly knew what we were doing, it was a strategy we used against him not long ago. He grabbed Sona’s Queen, yanking her back as he jumped to the side.

Koneko’s Touki roared as she leapt forward high into the air and pushed all of it into her fist, slamming it into the ground, sundering the earth and blocking everyone’s vision.

“THE HELL YOU DUMB CUNT!?” The Holy Power of the sword was no Joke. The random slashing could be seen between all the kicked up dust and even Koneko looked like she was hissing in pain as it collided with her. Thankfully, her Touki enveloped her body, pushing it back.

“Akeno!” I yelled.

“Take this, Thunder Snakes!” She yelled, as the spell manifested. Lighting-like snakes were created from a multitude of Magic Circles, crackling and jolting around every angle as they navigated the fallings Debris that Koneko kicked up.

“Rah!” The Priest screamed as they collided with him. “MOTHER FUCKER, I FOUND YOU!” He screamed, lunging at Akeno at a blinding speed.

“Don’t forget about me!” Kiba slid infront of her a new sword in hand. I only saw it once and he still hadn’t worked out the kinks. “Sword Barrage!” He activated it, and the blade itself shattered into dozens of pieces, dozens of smaller shaped swords as they all fired off towards the oncoming Priest.

Something he came up with after seeing Wilhelm.

The Priest growled, stomping on the ground, the Holy Light filling his sword as he continued to move blindingly fast, his arm blurring to deflect and destroy every one.

Unfortunately, it was still a work in progress. Kiba’s own hands started bleeding, his blades having cut them apart as they shattered.

“Issei!” I shouted out again, as I saw the boy dive forward, protecting his other Peerage member. He let out a scream that made my blood crawl. The boy who had barely been a devil, was just cut with a Holy Sword that could even bring down a Trained Devil.

“Finally, got one of ya stupid cunts!” He Priest howled in laughter.

“BASTARD!” I yelled, letting go of all the Destruction I gathered, pointing it right at the Priest.

“Oh shit!” I lost sight of him and it barely missed my Peerage, enveloping the Priest. The burst slamming into the side of a School Building as it continued on, devouring everything in its way.

I let out pants as I didn’t catch sight of him. I relief slowly working its way up in my heart.

“Rias, look out!” Sona shouted, but all I saw was a swirling of shadows next to me take shape, the same Priest, looking worse for wear, but still hole. That Sword swinging at me.

I cast my own shields, and even saw Sona’s appear around me. His sword cute through them like a knife through hot butter. I panicked, coating myself in my Power of Destruction haphazardly as it slammed into my arms.

The pain was excruciating.

It only lasting a moment before Koneko punched him away. But…..the mass that was the Priest distorted, a maniac smile appearing on his face, much too wide for a human to possess. His body shifted into a nightmarish shadowy monstrosity as it towered over us.

Sona and Akeno both unleashed a barrage of spells, Lighting and Water intertwining as they landed upon the thing.

It didn’t even react.

Even when I lofted my own Prideful Power at it, my Power of Destruction just ignored him in its entirety.

“Tis an illusion!” Sai’s Knight yelled. “Be wary, his sword possesses the powers of the fragments!”

I blinked in realization at his words.

“Ruin my fun you fucking devil cunt!” The monstrosity’s distorted voice range out as it burst, and instead, dozens of copies of the Priest appeared around us. Each one possessing a Holy Glow that made my skin burn by being close.

“Akeno, Phenex Tear on Issei!” I shouted, launching forward, my hands covered in Demonic Power as I clawed at the closest one, ignoring my hands that began to burn even through my protections.

“On it!” She nodded, running towards the boy who Kiba was still protecting and trying his best to siphon away the Holy Power, presumedly with the sword he made previously that absorbs Holy Power. IT was in no way able to stand up to the Sword in the Priest’s hands, but for this, it was probably our best bet to save Issei.

“I’ll find the real one.” Sona declared, throwing her magic into the air and a torrential rain fall fell upon our small area. “Look for the wet one!” She declared.

My eyes darted around, but….. “They’re all wet!” I shouted, shattering another illusion that leapt at me so haphazardly.

“Then I shall meet them head on!” Sai’s Knight roared, his Demonic Power gathered visible, and he began to split, matching each illusion one for one as they clashed within the courtyard.

“SHIT FUCK!” The Priest shouted, A lancer slicing through his arm as the other illusions shattered.

It only took the blink of an eye for Koneko and Sona’ Queen to launch back at the Priest who resorted to Stepping back with a blur, gaining his own distance. “EAT A DICK!” He howled again, slashing his sword as it carried waves of Holy Power, slicing the ground and rending the earth.

I stepped forward, seeing what Mother did not too long ago, and I gathered my Power of Destruction, condensing it to a fine point before letting it out. What did she call it again – “Star of Extinction!” I let loose, acting as a shield to take the oncoming Holy Power and consuming it.

The ‘Shield’ dispersed almost immediately after fulfilling its purpose. It was exceedingly difficult to keep up, and I didn’t know how Mom did so for so long.

We prepared to attack again, only for Sona’s Queen to turn into a blur herself, a Katana in hand as she stabbed right into the Priest’s Stomach, his blood spurting out from his mouth.

I blinked, only now noticing a line, a sort of appendage. I traced it back to its origin, and it was Sona’s newest Pawn the one who had been staying behind Sona. I knew for a fact he lacked any kind of combat experience, even less than Issei, however, I was able to put two and two together at this point.

His Sacred Gear.

Right next to him was the remains of one of those Cerberus that Mom mutilated. His Sacred Gear can siphon strength from things, and I guess it’s able to give it to others too.

Did he take the remaining strength of that monster and add it to Sona’s Queen?

Things were looking up now. I was feeling confident……and that all shattered once a bright light up in the sky caught my attention. And I was reminded that a Legion of Angels were hanging above as they all readied a multitude of attacks.

Fear returned.

***

Venelana POV

“Ara Ara, is that all? And you used to be so menacing, Kokabiel.” My Power of Destruction finally dissipated from above, showing the bleak sky again. We had traded several blows at this point, but neither of us was committing to anything.

Well, as long as he’s focusing on me.

“It actually isn’t.” He chuckled, gesturing again as they once more started raining down Holy Light.

And, as if reading my thoughts, it wasn’t reserved for me alone.

Once more, I had to gather my Power of Destruction and fill the space above not just me but the others as well.

“Mom!” Rias screamed as she looked up.

“Lady Gremory.” Sona held up her hands as she began casting her own spells. She was decently talented in Magic from what I remembered, however….

The Barriers that sprung up in the sky were shattered immediately.

She wasn’t experienced in facing Holy Light in weaving her spells.

Holy Light was our anti-thesis, it dismantled our Demonic Power quite easily if you didn’t maneuver around it.

I jerked my hand, my Power of Destruction wafted through the air, devouring the errant Spears of Lightning that seemed to be never ending.

“How boring. I’m sure if you were by yourself, a good chunk of my men would have fallen already. But instead, you’re stuck protecting those little Devils behind you.” Kokabiel took a few steps forward as I eyed his every movement. “I don’t want this night to end on such a dower note, should I help you out? Maybe…..remove your handicap, perhaps?” His wings fluttered and he disappeared from the spot he was in.

My eyes widened as I turned around, ignoring the Light Spear that tore into my shoulder from above.

I used everything I had to propel myself forward, slamming into the Angel who was behind my Daughter with his hand glowing bright.

“What…..?” Rias didn’t seem to notice until the last moment.

I grabbed the golden light he had gathered and deflected it to the side and forcing him back in one motion.

“Toot toot, look at you.” Kokabiel slid to his feet, reorienting himself after the little scuffle. “How much have you let yourself go? Have you even kept up with your skills all these years? It’s almost insulting, you should have been able to keep up better than this.”

“Why don’t you come closer and find out.” I grit out, grabbing the light spear sticking from my shoulder. With a burst of Destruction, I shattered it.

I could feel the Holy Light begin to invade my body and did the only thing I could do in this situation, I met it head on with my Destruction in miniscule amounts, slowly withering it away even as it began rampaging in the wound. At the very least, it was contained for now.

With a growl, I forced out my Demonic Energy, forming a large circle beneath us.

I directed it upwards, forming my own Demonic Spears in a taunt as they sailed to the sky and with a small distraction, I gathered my Destruction at the tip of two fingers and thrust it at that priest that wielded that damn holy sword.

Fast, but just as deadly, even if it was a small amount.

I only heard him scream before I turned back towards Kokabiel, barely having enough time to envelop my arm in the same destructive energies as I raised it up to block an attack he swung down.

His Holy Light fighting against my Destruction as both powers cascaded off in all directions.

“Annoying.” Kokabiel sneered, flicking his free hand to the side, dispersing another burst that came from somewhere else. My Daughter having gathered her own and threw it at the Fallen Angel. “Stupid human, couldn’t even handle a bunch of kids with one of Father’s creations.” He grunted as I glanced to the side to see Sai’s knight running the Priest through. A few of Rias’s peerage didn’t look too good, but they were still alive. “Oh well, I just needed him present, being alive or not is irrelevant. The backups I have just aren’t as good and we already messed with the Church Records specifically for him.”

Behind me, several Magic Circles formed, Sona’s Water Magic coming into effect as a massive Serpent made of the magical Liquid formed and descended upon the Angel as well.

“Adorable.” Kokabiel laughed as dozens of Light Spears rained down from the sky again, impaling the Watery Serpent and dispersing the Magics that held it together.

I swiped my hand at the Fallen Angel while his eyes were off me, he jumped back with a laugh. “Close~” A small wound only appeared on his chest and closed within moments.

I felt blood swelling up in my throat before pushing it back down. “Playing with your food isn’t like you, Kokabiel.” I breathed out, pushing the sweaty hair out of my eyes.

“Hmm, you seem to be under a misconception.” He tapped a spear of light against his shoulder. “For some reason you seem to think you’rethe one that’s stalling.” He tilt his head up and I just now noticed a man standing on a nearby roof. “You done?” He asked.

The man looked……like another Priest. An older, if round, man. Except, he had an exceedingly dangerous aura to him. “Just finished, you can wrap up whenever you want.”

“Oh wonderful.” Kokabiel chuckled again. “And why are you wearing that appearance? Did you run around as that priest I killed?”

The Priestjust shrugged. “I found it amusing, so yes.”

“Fair enough.” Kokabiel turned back to me. “Now, where were we….oh yes.” He snapped his fingers and the sky once more filled with light.

My Eyes widened as the amount of power raining down was much more intense than before. I was about to gather my Power of Destruction once more, but I looked down, blood began flowing from my mouth and there was a Light spear in my stomach, with Kokabiel’s hands empty.

“You really lost your edge. I’ve kept training, always making sure I was ready while you sat on your laurels and played housewife.” Kokabiel’s voice a cold indifference. “If it’s any consolation, they’ll be joining you shortly.”

“MOM!” I think I heard Rias scream but my head was very dizzy and It was hard to focus.

Hearing it, I grit my teeth and stood up, gathering what power I had left and tossed it up into the sky, hoping It was enough so they wouldn’t die and maybe buy a few more moments. The Majority of the bombardment was consumed, but several still made it through.

The Holy Power erupted into explosions upon hitting the ground, causing the corrosive power and expand outwards. I grabbed Rias into my arms, turning my back and covering her.

I felt my body burn at the touch as a particularly large burst erupted right behind me.

It hurt.

My back felt like it was burning even with my Demonic Power coating me in an attempt to ward off the Holy Power.

“Pathetic. So, this is the last moments of one of my old foes? I do hope this kicks you devils into actually being threats again.” I looked up to see his hand shaping his Holy Light into the farm of a small sword. “Or not, killing Devils has always been enjoyable.”

I gathered my Power of Destruction, molding it into a wall once more.

“A last pitiable stand.” He sword cut through it easily enough, but I clutched my hand. It distorted, the wall reformed and the Destruction jerked and pierced towards the Fallen Angel. He hissed as it barely managed to tear away a few strands of flesh before his own Holy Power shined off his body, dispersing it quite easily. “That’s more like it.” He smiled brightly.

I saw Rias barely breathing, not faring well at all. I couldn’t even stand up properly, my head was jerking back and forth and my vision was blurry.

I shakily took out a Phenex Tear from the storage I was given. I attempted to give it to Rias, only for the glass to shatter in my hand.

“Really?” Kokabiel sounded incredulous. “Not even for yourself, but your daughter? You do realize she’s going to die if you can’t stop me, right? Not that you will, I just think the logic is ridiculous. I guess it’s slightly admirable too. I can admit that you Devils care about your own, even if you did steal that kind of Love from Father back when Lucifer fell. As a final acknowledgement, I’ll kill you first so you don’t have to see her die.”

I held the remains of the flask as the shards of glass dug into my hands.

I couldn’t feel it even more as blood dripped down my fingers. I rubbed what little of the Tear was left on Rias’s exposed skin. I felt something warm flowing down my cheeks as I continued and didn’t see her opening her eyes.

I scrambled to see if I had any more Phenex Tears and Realized I didn’t keep any more of those inside the Bracelet I was given.

A feeling of despair finally overcame me.

Several thoughts flashed through my mind. My Son, my Former Husband, and even Wilhelm. I wouldn’t see them again, and I couldn’t even apologize.

I looked down at my bracelet, at the little Jewel that shimmered ever so slightly.

……Would it even work?

I didn’t think it would since even Teleportation was cut off and everything else. I don’t think Kokabiel would let anything in or out and that strange person with him seemed even stronger.

It was hopeless form the start…..

Maybe…. I Atleast wanted to feel a smidgen of hope before I closed my eyes one last time, and I could barely even move my body anymore. I only had it in me for a suicidal attack against Kokabiel, and even that would be laughable in my current state.

The moment he runs me through, I would use everything I had and turn him to dust even if I had to burn through my own soul.

I reached for it, how easy it was to crush between two fingers. The little glitter of light disappearing.

I couldn’t even find the energy to sigh upon seeing no reaction, as I expected from the start.

And so, my heavy eyelids began to close, and I waited for the piercing pain.

The seconds dragged on, and I felt something strange behind me. The pain never came, but instead, something warm enveloped me, and I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.

I groggily opened my eyes.

A cascade of colors erupted not far infront of me. The sound of steel meeting something hard, my eyes barely able to focus on anything.

I could only just make out the faint outline of Light Spears shattering in the sky, colliding with what appeared to be Swords and a familiar Red Hair that made my heart flutter.

***

Wilhelm POV

I stepped out of a portal upon a battlefield.

I was relaxing at home with my girls after working on that Obelisk Project for several days.

That was, until I got pinged by Venelana’s emergency jewel. I had no actual name for it at this time.

It hit me so suddenly that I scrambled to trace back its location, the coordinates were distorted in an intense way. Much worse than the thing the Fae did to the point where even I had some manner of trouble pushing through it.

I didn’t have the correct words for what I saw.

There was no expectance in me to appear at my old school, or what was left of it.

But I didn’t dwell on that, even with my girls joining me through. I felt my heart drop at what I saw, and my hands even shook as I took her in my arms. My Healing spells coming out instinctually, enveloping her as my arms wrapped around her tight.

My Venelana was barely breathing, and there was blood soaking through her white dress in so many places. She was kneeling, protectively, over her Daughter. The girl with the same red hair as me who also looked to be in bad shape.

There was a slight bit of color that returned to her face as I continued my healing. “It’s going to be okay, I’m here now.” I whispered to my Grandmother as she swayed back and forth in my grasp.

I didn’t need to look back to know that my other girls were taking care of anyone else. I saw many others that I recognized, but my attention was solely on Venelana right now.

Scáthach, Artoria, Jinn, and Raikou all followed me through as they were with me at home. Yasaka, not able to accompany and leave Kyoto right now for obvious reasons.

A quick glance showed me that they were administering Health Potions, and Artoria’s hands glowing with the light of Avalon as she helped others to their feet.

Once I found that Venelana’s breathing finally evened out, and her daughter following suit, I looked up at the source of her state.

“You….” I hissed upon seeing him. “Kokabiel.” The name was seethed with a fury in me that was hard to describe.

“A misscalculation, I thought you wouldn’t appear.” He didn’t even react to me sudden entrance. Instead, he turned to someone else that was…..lowering their own presence. A man in priest garb, that was clearly not normal, but they contained themselves quite thoroughly. “I thought you said he wouldn’t be able to get through?”

The Priest looked at me with sparkling eyes. “He shouldn’t have been able to. I look forward to understanding how he did it. But regardless, we made our own preparations, did we not?”

“Unlucky, I suppose, but you’re right.” Kokabiel turned his gaze up towards the sky. “Open the Dragon Gate.” he declared.

It’s not that I didn’t notice the legion of Fallen Angels in the sky, but they weren’t not a priority at all right now.

They moved in a practiced ease, and I felt the fluctuation of Magical Energy, an extreme amount.

Not all of them moved to this strange formation that created a Magic Circle. Some of them gathered Holy Power and launched attacks.

My Swords all flung out, colliding with the oncoming barrage, shattering the dozens of Light Spears before they could bombard the ground while we were healing these Devils.

Whatever was coming out, I couldn’t bare to let Venelana leave my grasp right now to stop it.

[That’s’…….not possible.] Ddraig said within my mind. [That thing should have died a long time ago.]

The strange Magic Circle, what Kokabiel called a ‘Dragon Gate’. Something burst through almost immediately, as if anticipating this scenario.

A massive black body.

Inky black scales, two sets of wings, and razor sharp teeth and claws.

I recognized it, because it was the same form that Ddraig took not too long ago.

It slammed onto what remained of a nearby school building, its snake-like body hissing and dripping with.

“Is this the mortal who made a mockery of me?” The Dragon spoke in that venomous voice as its equally venomous saliva dripped onto the stone, dissolving anything it touched.

“As per our agreement, that’s him.” Kokabiel nodded, looking rather casual.

Níðhöggr.

Apparently, the real one.

Did he anticipate me then, is that what this was about?

The Dragon, let out a roar that shook the surroundings as its wings flapped, kicking up mini tornados at the movements. It shot out at me, faster than anything that size had any right to be, its massive maw opened and ready to devour me and the woman I was holding.

I didn’t blinked, nor react in the slightest. Venelana, seemed to have been coming to, I felt her jerk slightly in my arms, but I squeezed her reassuringly, because three more blurs shot out at it from behind me.

The Dragon let out a confused roar as a Red light collided with its side, piercing its scales. Followed by a burst of Purple Lighting that slammed onto it from above. And Lastly, a Golden Light that slashed at its underbelly, sending the beast tumbling to the ground and sliding into a building to the side.

Lastly, a large Magic Circle appeared in the sky above where the Dragon Landed.

Hundred upon Hundreds of Magical Staffs and other Magical Foci appeared as they all gathered an obscene amount of Magical Energy and released a torrent of spells that blinded everyone present.

I kissed Venelana on the forehead, taking out my Staff of Magus, and slamming it into the ground next to me. I used it to facilitate a continued cast of healing around the area as I climbed to my feet, finally letting her out of my arms.

For the first time since arriving, Kokabiel seemed to be startled.

“You seem to misunderstand where you stand.” I growled, even glancing at that priest who looked just as surprised as kokabiel.

A roar erupted, the building that the Dragon had collided with and subsequently been buried under, exploded outward. The Dragon, not looking any worse for wear minus some small wounds, shot up into the sky.

“Did you think such a mighty beast would be so easily defeated?” The Priest regained that calm demeanor he had before. “Níðhöggr fought against Gods, Mortal.” He stated with a mocking tone.

I slowly turned my head to him, our eyes meeting. Reaching within my Ring, I took out another staff, pointing it to the sky.

“Bex Zii Zoor Frul Lo.” It wasn’t met with the same energy as the last time, but the words, they carried an accompanied Rage both from within and without. Ddraig was in my soul, he could feel my anger and it was intertwined with his own declaration “Disgyniad yr Ymerawdwr.”

Another Black Dragon appeared, staring opposite the first.

“Ddraig, handle that worm.” I stated, turning back towards Kokabiel. “I don’t care about the others – “ Directing my words to my Girls behind me. They had been quiet, as if sensing my current turbulent emotions. “But the Angel is mine.”

***

So, originally, I was going to post this around like 2500 words yesterday as work approached. Only a few things were left when I had to leave, but it was pretty much done. Maybe It was a good idea that I held off, because it's sitting at over 6000 words now :D. Added some more things to flush out the whole encounter and decided to not end it where I originally would.