I do not own Campione! or High School DxD. I am only writing this for fun and not for any kind of profit. If you do not like the story then I won’t keep you here. If you do like it so far, please continue to show your support.
God Slayer DxD
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 3: One Night War
Mike returned to the waking world with a groan and a throbbing pain in his chest. Grunting, he rubbed his head, trying to make the pain go away with the sleep fogging his mind. After a few moments, his memory kicked in and he realized what had caused him to be rendered out cold in the first place.
“Issei!” Mike sat up in a flash, causing a wave of vertigo to hit him. Gritting his teeth to bulldoze through it, he looked around his surroundings. He wasn’t out cold and resting in a puddle of his own blood. He was inside a room, resting on a sizable victorian couch. It took him a moment, but he realized he was back in the Occult Research Club’s clubhouse. Looking down, he saw that he was shirtless and his chest was wrapped in bandages.
“Ara, so you’ve finally woken up.”
Mike blinked and turned, seeing Akeno walking into the room with bandages and towels in her arms. She seemed as elegant as ever with a smile on her face. Mike had to admit that she was at least a pleasant sight to wake up to after the ass-kicking he received.
“Akeno-san,” Mike nodded. “I take it Rias and the others picked us up?”
“Indeed we did,” Akeno nodded, setting her bundles down before looking to Mike’s chest. “Buchou makes it a point to keep track of her new servants, especially when they’re as danger prone as Issei-kun. We found you not far away in your state, which really makes me wonder what could have done such damage to a Campione.”
“A Heretic God, that’s what,” Mike grimaced as Akeno began undoing his bandages. “The Fallen Angels have called in some heavy backup.”
Akeno lost her good natured smile in favor of frowning and nibbling at her lip as she worked, “We feared as such, although we hoped it was just a high tier Fallen that attacked you both.”
“No such luck,” Mike sighed. “Is Issei okay? Just being around that Heretic God made him look like he wanted to puke.”
“New and weak Devils generally can’t take being in the divine presence of a Heretic God,” Akeno shook her head as she finished removing the bandages, revealing dried blood and only raw pink skin of a freshly healed wound. “Ah, you’re healing very quickly. The Campione regenerative abilities aren’t exaggerated after all,” Akeno began putting the used bandages aside. “Issei-kun was pierced right through by the Fallen and his little friend was taken away. Buchou is tending to him now.”
“Then we need to talk,” Mike stood up from the couch, feeling his body lightly protest but was otherwise fine. “This isn’t the case of a bunch of punks anymore. If they summoned a Heretic God, they’re getting ready to make a big move with that nun they took.”
Akeno nodded as she likewise stood up, “Yes. It seems that way. I’ll take you to Buchou. She should be finishing up with Issei-kun in the bath by now.”
Mike nodded and Akeno led him through the club room, leading to a connected room which had more people inside. The rest of the Occult Research Club was in attendance. Koneko was at a seat, munching on some more sweets, a moderate pile of them. Kiba was leaning against a wall, appearing to be in deep and troubled thoughts. Issei was up and about, but he was still pale, like he had gotten over being sick. Rias herself was behind her desk, nibbling her thumb in obvious worry. Likewise in the room was Villetta, looking worried and calm at the same time.
When Mike and Akeno entered the room, Villetta’s calm broke as she hopped to her feet and dashed to her sworn king and hugged him, “Lord Michael!” Mike blushed, but he knew his knight had been worried and just needed to show her relief at his good health.
“I’m okay Villetta,” Mike sighed, gently rubbing her back.
After a few moments, she stepped back, fixing her hair and wiping her eyes, “Yes, yes, of course you are. Forgive my outburst.”
“That’s quite alright. It’s normal to be worried about those we care for,” Rias spoke, setting her hands down on her desk as she looked to Mike with a frown. “Issei told me about his side of the story with the nun, but I think we can safely assume that the situation has taken on a greater severity than we first assumed.”
“No kidding,” Mike nodded, he and Viletta taking seats on the chairs in front of Rias’ desk. “Obviously these Fallen Angels have something a little more planned than just kicking up trouble. If they’re bringing in Heretic Gods to fight for them then we’re looking at more than just extremists with an axe to grind.”
“Indeed,” Rias agreed before looking to Issei. “Issei, tell Lord Summers what you told me.”
Issei heaved a sigh before he looked to Mike, “Her name’s Asia Argento. She used to be considered some kind of Holy Maiden for the church. She’s got a Sacred Gear called Twilight Healing which lets her heal just about anything. Everyone called her a saint or something until she found a Devil who was hurt. She didn’t know he was a Devil and healed him, but when the church found out they excommunicated her. The Fallen scooped her up and told her to come here. They’ve got some kind of ritual planned for her. I think they want to steal her Sacred Gear so they can use it for themselves!”
Mike frowned, “Extremists is right. They’re gearing up to start conflicts all over again.” Scowling, he turned to Rias. “Rias Gremory, although this is your territory to watch over, I’m pulling rank as a King and say this group has to go down. I’ll do it myself if I have to!”
“Don’t worry. I’m more than willing to help and so is my Peerage,” Rias nodded.
“Buchou?” Issei gasped, perking up.
“I originally planned to just use this to push Issei to move past his heartbreak and tap into the power of his Sacred Gear,” Rias grimaced, “But this has gone farther than any little test now that Heretic Gods are involved with the Fallen.”
“Lord Michael, were you able to discern who this Heretic God is?” asked Kiba, finally speaking up.
“Siegfried,” Mike replied. “He said his name was Siegfried.”
Villetta grimaced at the name, “So, he’s finally returned.”
“Nu-san? Do you know about this Heretic God?” asked Akeno.
“He has appeared before,” Villetta nodded. “Some time ago, Marquis Sasha Dejansthal Voban enacted a ritual to forcibly summon a Heretic God for him to fight and claim more power from. That time, Siegfried was the Heretic God that was summoned. Before Voban could combat him though, Campione Salvatori Doni happened upon the ritual site and challenged Siegfried to battle, defeating him and gaining his power instead.”
“Powers?” asked Koneko.
“His abilities stem from his legend, from the stories which are told about him like with any Heretic God,” Villetta explained.
“So then we have to research him,” Mike frowned. “But we don’t have the time to go through books looking for his name when we have to save Asia from whatever ritual the Fallen have planned for her.”
“No worries,” Villetta explained. “As a standard procedure, the European magus societies have researched extensively on Siegfried should he return to the world for a rematch against Doni or to chase a grudge against Voban. I am capable of transferring that knowledge to you should you need it.”
“Really? There’s a spell like that?” Mike blinked, but then frowned, “Wait, won’t my Campione abilities just negate it like every other mortal spell that hits me?”
Villetta grinned lightly, “Not if I do it like this.” She took Mike’s head in her hands and before he could react, drew him into a powerful kiss that quite obviously had some tongue play.
“...bastard…” Issei grumbled despite his laser-like stare at the action. “Flaunting it like that…”
Mike blinked, utterly shocked before he felt some kind of warmth which wasn’t Villetta’s tongue or her breath pass into his mouth before spreading along the rest of his body before focusing up inside of his mind. Names, facts, information suddenly shot into his mind, filling it with things he hadn’t know before. All things Siegfried was pushed into his mind, filling him with knowledge about the Heretic God who he was destined to face in the coming hours.
Ending the spell, Villetta broke the kiss and leaned back, “There. That is all of the knowledge I possess on the Heretic God Siegfried.”
“Ara ara, what a naughty way to cast a spell,” Akeno giggled. “I must try it.”
“Did it give you what you need to know?” asked Rias with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, I think so,” Mike nodded, wiping the extra saliva off his lips. “Put it to use with Heart of Wisdom and I think I just might have a shot.”
“Heart of Wisdom? What’s that do?” asked Issei.
“It allows me to tap into divine wisdom, whatever the source might be,” Mike shrugged. “The catch is, I’m only wise about stuff that I already know. I don’t gain new knowledge where I didn’t have it before and I don’t get any new insights into anything unless it’s possible to see that insight with the knowledge I already have. It’s semi-active half the time and it makes it really hard to lie to me even when I turn it off.”
“The wisdom of Solomon indeed,” Kiba smiled. “So then if there is a way to defeat Siegfried with the knowledge you gained, you will no doubt find it.”
“That’s the hope,” Mike nodded. Shaking off the warm fuzzies he felt from the kiss, he looked to the Occult Research Club, “Okay, are we ready to go kick some Fallen ass?”
“Damn right!” Issei shouted, rocketing to his feet. “I’m primed and ready to rock!”
“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Rias, getting to her feet. “Let us begin!”
(LINE BREAK)
Abandoned Church
Fortunately, Issei already knew where to go. When he first met Asia he escorted her to the only church he knew which was abandoned due to lack of practitioners. It made the perfect base for the Fallen since Angels wouldn’t be keeping an eye on it anymore and no humans would be hanging around to see things they shouldn’t.
“Shame this place got abandoned. The scenery is pretty nice,” Mike commented as he, his knight, and the ORC stood at the edge of the property just outside the gates, concealed by the night and by the cover of trees.
“We’ll have to move fast,” commented Kiba. “They’ll likely be onto us the moment we step into the building, if not on the property itself.”
“And if Siegfried is in the building, you all will no doubt feel the effects of having such divinity nearby,” Villetta added. “Gremory-dono and Himejima-san may have no or little issue, but the rest of you no doubt will have troubles.”
“Yeah…” Issei grimaced, recalling the poisonous pressure he felt from just being in the vicinity of the Heretic God.
“That’s where I come in,” Mike reassured the group. “I doubt a Heretic God will want to help Fallen Angels unless he’s one himself without some kind of payoff. So Siegfried’s only interest will be me. Once he shows up, I’m sure I can draw him away from the rest of you.”
“And then we will take care of the Fallen,” Rias nodded.
“We’ll be in your care Michael-kun,” Akeno giggled.
“Akeno and I will handle the Fallen themselves,” Rias explained. “Villetta, Issei, Kiba, and Koneko will rescue the nun. Any questions?”
“None.”
“Good,” Mike nodded, but then he stiffened as he felt a familiar sensation begin to pass over him. Around him, the Devils each showed reactions to the same sensation. Issei looked like he was about to puke while Kiba grimaced and clenched a hand over his heart. Koneko became wobbly on her feet. Akeno and Rias seemed to have the least severe reaction, paling a little.
“Go,” Mike frowned, looking to the deep woods. “Go now. He’s coming!”
“I am already here,” Siegfried’s voice rang before a fog rolled in and he appeared, sword slung over his shoulder. Mike pushed to the front of the group, ready to fight while making sure that the ORC had a chance to get to the church and deal with the Fallen.
“Guys, he’s mine,” Mike declared as he glared at Siegfried.
“So, you came to actually face your demise, wretched Campione. I should commend you for not running.”
“Well, what doesn’t kill me just makes me stronger,” smirked Mike roguishly.
“Arrogant, but then again it’s so typical of you Campione. Just because you can kill a god, you think that nothing can kill you,” Siegfried scoffed.
“Well, considering we Campione were able to beat guys like you while mortal, a bit of arrogance is allowed, don’t ya think?”
“Hmph!” Siegfried scowled. “Your Devil comrades may continue towards the church. I have no loyalty to the Fallen outside of our agreement. I do not want any distractions for our confrontation.”
“You heard the guy,” Mike gestured for his friends to continue.
“Right. Good luck,” Rias nodded as she and the others dashed for the front of the church.
“Prepare yourself, Campione.”
“The name’s Michael Summers!”
Siegfried scowled and lunged, crossing the distance between them before slashing wide at Mike. The Campione ducked low, feeling the back of his shirt get cut just from the proximity to the sword before he slapped the ground. The soil erupted with a stone pillar, crashing against Siegfried’s chest before launching him far back, knocking the wind from his lungs. The knight flipped over before landing on his feet, wiping a trail of saliva from his mouth.
“You activated your Authority before arriving,” he frowned. “Clever.”
“Yeah. now wait until you see my next trick,” Mike continued, summoning up another of his powers. “Oh yea, I beseech thy Lord for the sake of my people. I shall tell right from wrong, good from evil, and truth from lies. Let my wisdom come forth and solve all woes of my people. I shall be the one whose wisdom shall end all quarrel and strife!”
Mike’s body lit up with golden light, making his skin look like it was made of gold while his eyes had turned white. He stared down at Siegfried with a kind of pressure which he didn’t have before. He stared deep into Siegfried’s eyes before he began speaking again.
“Your name in this modern era is Siegfried, but that was not always the case,” Mike spoke, his voice powerful and sounding ancient. “You began as a legend among the Vikings in the Völsunga saga. You were the son of Hiordis who gave birth after her husband Sigmund died, foolishly challenging Odin to battle. His final wish was to pass down the shards of his broken sword to you.” Mike stepped forward, his golden aura growing as he walked. “Your stepfather sent you to be raised by the dwarf Regin who tried to tempt you into greed and violence. Finally, he convinced you to claim the treasure of Fafnir with the reforged sword of your father, Gram. You waited in a pit and stabbed Fafnir with your sword, cutting through the dragon’s hide and bathing in the blood, rendering you invulnerable and able to communicate with birds.”
“You know much of me, but it will not avail you!” Siegfried frowned, lunging for Mike once again with his sword raised.
Mike frowned as Siegfried approached and with another slash, attempted to bisect him. Mike dipped around the strikes, his shirt cut in several places as he came in close proximity to the edge of the blade. Despite the proximity to death with one strike, Mike remained as calm as ever despite the situation. He slipped under another strike before Siegfried slashed wide. Mike raised his arms and remained close enough to be struck by his arms instead of his sword. The force sent Mike skidding backwards before he crashed against a tree.
Shaking his head, Mike stood up and continued talking, “You married the shieldmaiden Brynhild. However, the court of Heimar desired the treasure of Fafnir you claimed and fed you a draught of forgetfulness to forget you married Brynhild so they could make you marry the daughter Gudrun. Brynhild was later married to Gudrun’s brother Gunnar with your help and your horse Grani. But Brynhild discovered the deception and orchestrated events to kill you before she killed your son and herself to burn in her own funeral pyre.”
Siegfried did not speak and charged at Mike once again. Siegfried swung wide, but Mike merely leaned to the side for a moment before the blade struck the tree. Unlike other materials though, the sword stuck fast in the wood of the tree rather than be cut straight through like anything else.
“What!?” Siegfried gasped.
“Gram, the sword of your father, was stuck inside the oak tree which grew in your father’s hall, only to be drawn by the worthy warrior,” Mike continued. “The weapon is capable of cutting through everything but cannot cut entirely through the sacred tree of the gods. Once the sword is placed in oak, only worthy warriors can draw it out again.”
“Do you seek to insult me?!” Siegfried frowned, pulling on his weapon and drawing it from the wood of the tree. “I am the master of this sword and no one else!”
“Ages passed and the viking tales written in runes and totems was moved to other kinds of writing,” Mike continued, moving behind the tree as Siegfried swung again, once more getting his sword stuck in the wood, forcing him to take a moment to pull it free while Mike moved deeper into the woods where more oak trees were to be found. “You changed once again in the Þiðrekssaga, you were born and set adrift in a crystal vessel in a river until you were found and nursed by a doe. You were raised by the smith Mimir. He named you Sigurd, he named you Siegfried, two names for the same thing: Victory. When you became too strong, he asked his brother Regin, a dragon, to try and kill you. You in turn slayed the both of them.”
Siegfried frowned and followed Mike deeper into the woods. Mike was there to continue the fight by unleashing a wave of golden spears from the ground. The Heretic God scoffed and swung his weapon, cutting down several of the spears before he kept going.
“This will not save you Bastard Child!”he shouted to the golden light which shone ahead of them. “My skin renders me invulnerable from your weapons!”
Undeterred, Mike just clenched his fists and kept speaking, “But is the Germans who changed you into a knightly figure in Nibelungenlied. Naming you Sifrit, they wrote your adventure again, but this time they gave you something more. They gave you a weakness, the middle of your back in the shape of a fig leaf. Your one weakness, your one vulnerable spot.”
Siegfried’s eyes narrowed at the revelation of his weakness before he charged at Mike with his blade once again. He slashed, but because of the numerous oak trees around them, he had to keep his strikes narrow and controlled, unable to unleash his full strength. Mike was able to dodge and dip around the strikes, almost as if he could tell what kind of fighting style Siegfried used, capable of predicting his movements, and applying the knowledge he had to the fight.
“Your knowledge will not avail you when you are too weak to take advantage of it!” Siegfried snarled, rearing back for another strike. Mike tensed for another sword strike, but he flinched when it was not Gram which was swung at him, but Siegfried’s fist.
*KRACK!*
The Heretic God’s fist crashed against Mike’s jaw with enough force to send him sailing through the air. He crashed through the branches of the trees before landing in the clearing behind the church. He skidded across the grass before coming to a stop. Groaning, Mike shook his head before pulling himself up to his knees.
“You have made this...entertaining. You improved much only after our one meeting,” Siegfried acknowledged as he emerged from the woods, sword at the ready. “However, it will not avail you in this conflict.”
*KRACK-THOOM!*
Siegfried and Mike paused as a blast of raw power blasted through another portion of the woods, a dark power of crimson and black which even at their distance reeked of the miasma which Mike had come to associate with Devils. He could easily guess that it was either Rias or Akeno who had fired that shot since they were the most powerful members of the peerage.
“Hmm. It seems three of the Fallen have met their demise,” SIegfried idly commented before turning his attention back to Mike.
“Three down, one to go,” Mike grunted, standing up. Steeling himself, he stared down his opponent. His eyes flared again as his glow strengthened once more, “The mortal weakness of Siegfried, his major flaw has always been the same through the ages. Sigurd, Sifrit, Siegfried, you all share the common flaw.”
“Enough of this! I will end you Campione!” Siegfried bellowed, slashing his sword into the air in a blast of light. From the gash, a massive white horse fit for a viking warlord emerged with a loud neigh. It was adorned in a saddle which was silver and black, perfect for a knight, showing the fusion of the two ideals which Siegfried was thought of. Taking ahold of the horse, Siegfried mounted it.
Mike tilted his head, “Grani, the steed which you rode through the flames which imprisoned the Valkyrie, a horse descended from the mighty Sleipnir. He is a steed which can allow you to ride through any obstacle, offered to you by none other than Odin himself. A steed fit for a king.”
“Indeed! And this steed shall be my tool for victory!” Siegfried announced, charging at Mike with his weapon raised once more.
“Despite all these gifts and abilities you have accumulated, it does not erase your fatal flaw,” Mike took a step forward.
“I HAVE NO FLAW!” Siegfried bellowed, coming in close on his charging warhorse, swinging wide at Mike once again.
*THUNK!*
Siegfried felt his arm jerk and his momentum mixed with his sword suddenly getting stuck forced him to release his weapon’s handle. Cursing he took ahold of the reins of his steed and turned Grani around so he could return to his sword from the corpse of his opponent. When he did turn around, he froze.
Mike stood feet away from him, holding up a spindly branch of an oak tree with the blade of Gram stuck halfway through it.
“Your Fatal Flaw: Foolishness!” he announced, his golden aura shining brightly. “You charge forward, heedless of what might happen, heedless of the consequences, heedless of the pain you may cause others. Brynhildr killed you because of that foolishness! Now it will be your undoing once again!”
“YOU BASTARD! RELEASE MY SWORD!” Siegfried bellowed, snapping the reins of his steed and charging once more with the full force his divine beast was capable of unleashing.
“Glady,” Mike retorted, taking the hilt of Gram and lifting the sword up, oak branch still stuck on the blade. “But let’s deal a little bit of a test first. What happens when the unbreakable meets with the unblockable?”
Siegfried was overcome with rage and instead kept racing towards the Campione with the force of a wrathful god. Mike kept his cool and angled the sword to his side, the handle pointing at the ground with the blade pointing at Siegfried. Mike the grit his teeth and the ground behind him split, pushing up another stone pillar with the force of a gunshot, hitting the handle of Gram. The force launched the blade out of Mike’s hands before it was launched directly at Siegfried.
“WHA-?!” The Heretic God cried out, unable to move before his own blade crashed into his exposed chest.
*SHHHHH-KRACK!*
There was a flash of light and the sound of shearing metal before the sounds of explosions went off. Mike had to shield his eyes from the blast. When the light died down, Mike turned to see what had happened. When his eyes readjusted to the night, he couldn’t help but let out a whistle at it.
Grani was gone, dismissed from Siegfried’s side. The Heretic God himself was on his hands and knees, panting, but he was not it good shape. His clothing was in tatters, his top and armor gone, all that remained was furs which wrapped around his waist, legs, and boots. He looked more like a viking than he did a germanic knight. His torso was still bare, adorned with viking adornments, but covered in open wounds which bled freely. Around him were the shards and pieces of his sword, bloody and broken, showing they were the reason for the Heretic God’s condition.
“H-how?!” Siegfried, or rather Sigurd, the beginning of Siegfried gasped as he looked up to Mike, revealing more gashes on his face. “My skin is un-unbreakable! How were you able to rend it as such?!”
“Simple,” Mike answered. “When the unstoppable and the unmovable come into contact, neither is capable of surviving. Nature, the world, the fabric of existence just cannot allow such a paradox to exist. The gods are notorious for placing this law into existence and whenever it happens, neither survives. Zeus, when faced with the Teumessian Fox which could never be caught, fighting the hound Laelaps who never failed to catch his prey, he turned them both to stone to end that paradox. Your sword which always cuts pitted against your skin which never breaks was another such paradox which could not be allowed to exist.”
Sigurd snarled, but grasped the handle of his ruined sword which still had a fragment of the blade left, “Very well. It matters not. I will still slay you, Bastard Child of Pandora, Michael Summers. But I will remember your name to tell more stories of my struggles and glory!”
“An honor, I’m sure, but I don’t intend to die today,” Mike frowned.
“None do,” Sigurd growled before he unleashed a war cry fit for a viking hero and charged at Mike with his broken sword raised.
Mike grit his teeth and the ground around Sigurd exploded with golden spears and swords. With so many open wounds on his body, the blades had plenty of places to strike. Their aim was true, piercing Sigurd’s body, entering through the wounds and erupting from the opposite sides in sprays of blood. Sigurd stumbled, but he didn’t stop, continuing his mad charge. Mike’s scowl grew as he manifested more spears, ripping through more open wounds on the Heretic God’s body. Organs were pierced, muscles torn, and blood burst from every conceivable portion of his body.
And Sigurd still ran, tearing the spears from his body or the ground, whichever came first.
Finally Sigurd reached Mike and prepared to swing at him with his broken sword. Mike closed his eyes, sighing sadly at the sight. Sigurd’s yell reached a pinnacle before he tried to unleash the final blow in the battle.
*SHINK!*
And the final golden spear erupted from his chest from an angle which revealed it hit in the centre of his back. Sigurd finally stopped, the blow to his fatal weak spot the final strike needed to finally bring him down. His arm dropped as his body began to turn limp.
“So...I lose,” Sigurd grunted.
“Yes, but you do so with pride and dignity,” Mike replied, looking to Siegfried’s bloodied face. “Only a barrage fit to kill an army was enough to defeat you. A fitting end to a legend such as yourself.”
“Yes…” Sigurd coughed, hacking up blood as his body began to glow. “So...I become part of your story, a retelling of your glory.”
“So it seems,” Mike nodded. “But it will be a grand story, one that will stretch for decades and it will be retold for longer still. Your name will become a legend in the modern world, not just the ancient one.”
Sigurd grinned lightly, “A fine ending then. One of struggle...of battle...and the glory of victory with an honorable defeat..victory through wisdom, not power...respecting your opponent to the end,” his feet and hands vanished as his form began to dissolve, his power returning to the Domain of Immortality. “You are not like your siblings who I have met. A rabid beast and a fool…”
“No,” Mike shook his head. “I am a King.”
“Then...I look forward to seeing your rule...King of Wisdom,” Sigurd nodded before the last of his body vanished, leaving Mike alone.
Mike sighed and allowed the spears to sink back beneath the earth. Unleashing a breath, the golden aura vanished from his body, returning him to normal. He held the position for a moment before he let out a cry of pain, grabbing his head to try and massage the mother of all migraines out of his brain. Mike dropped to the ground, rolling on the dirt as his head throbbed. “OOOOOOOOOOWWWW! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! AH SHIT THAT HURTS!”
Needless to say, the Heart of Wisdom exacted a price for its use, namely pain in the form of the mind readjusting to regular mortal thought patterns after being used on a divine level for an extended period of time. The longer that particular Authority was in use, the worse the pain got when it was eventually shut down.
“Mama Pandora, why do you do this?” Mike groaned into the dirt, holding his head.
“EXPLOSION!” a voice inside the church bellowed, heralded by shining green light.
“OW! OKAY, THAT ISN’T FUNNY!” Mike cried, his head throbbing with the shout and shining light.
“NO! YOU CAN’T! I HAVE THE SUPREME POWER!”
“THIS ONE’S FOR ASIA!”
Mike winced again when he heard the sound of someone getting hit, likely by something strong, before a female scream echoed through the air followed by the sounds of a window breaking at the front of the church. Mike knew the fight was likely over and forced himself up to his feet so he could see what had happened.
Stumbling to the front of the church, he saw a Fallen Angel, the one who had come for Asia before, splayed out on the ground, out cold. From what bit of her face he could see, her cheek was swelling up at a ridiculous rate, like something had hit her and hard. The front window of the church was broken, now sporting a huge hole. From the glass surrounding the Fallen, something had hit her so hard it sent her sailing out the front window. The amount of raw muscle strength needed to do that was nothing to sneeze at.
“Whew,” Mike winced, almost feeling sympathetic. “That had to hurt.”
“Indeed it did,” Rias’ voice piped up, getting Mike to turn to see the redhead Devil and her Queen approaching from another portion of the woods. “Are you well, Michael?”
“Feels like my head’s going to explode but I’m okay,” Mike nodded, massaging his temple. “Siegfried’s taken care of. He’s back in the Domain of Immortality in any case. How’d you fare?”
“Well, we took care of those naughty Fallen while Issei-kun and the others went inside to get the nun,” Akeno reported before placing a hand on her cheek with a smile. “I do believe they succeeded.”
“No kidding,” Mike chuckled, looking to the unconscious Fallen. “So what do we do with her?”
“Bring her inside the church,” Rias requested. “We have one last thing to do before calling it a night.”
Mike and Akeno each took an arm on the Fallen Angel Raynare before dragging her to the church. Rias led the way, opening the doors for the pair before they entered the building proper. Inside was a destroyed church with several pews crushed and all of the religious statues destroyed.
The remainder of their group were also in attendance. Koneko stood at attention, but her blouse was ripped slightly, showing her cotton yellow bra. Viletta was nearby, as immaculate as ever in her office outfit and not looking the least bit like she had been fighting off the forces of the Fallen. Kiba was supporting Issei who looked the worst out of the lot. The brown-haired boy had bleeding holes in his legs and he looked pretty scuffed up. His Sacred Gear on the other hand had somehow transformed. Instead of a knuckle duster, it now looked like a red metal gauntlet with a dragon motif and the emerald embedded in the back of his hand.
“Your work Issei?” Mike asked, gesturing to the Fallen he and Akeno were dragging along.
“Yeah, me and my Sacred Gear,” Issei grinned weakly, lifting his covered arm up.
“Nice work,” Mike nodded. It seemed that despite being a perv, Issei had guts and determination where and when it counted. A scourge on women, but a good friend when the chips were down. “So, were we in time?”
Issei’s grin fell and he looked over his shoulder to an intact pew. Mike’s gaze followed and he saw the little nun in a torn nightshirt with her hands placed on her chest with her eyes closed. Her chest wasn’t moving to show she was breathing either.
“Shit,” Mike hissed. He and Akeno dropped Raynare, perhaps a little harder than was necessary.
“Wake her up,” Rias ordered her Queen. Akeno did so, conjuring a ball of water which she dropped onto Raynare’s head, causing the Fallen to gasp and push herself up to look around. Her eyes landed on Rias and she paled.
“Ah, I see you recognize me,” Rias smirked. “Just to be formal, my name is Rias Gremory, heiress to the House of Gremory, one of the 72 Pillars of the Underworld.”
“Oh crap,” Raynare gulped. Steeling herself, she tried to play tough, “You don’t know the can of worms you’re opening! When my comrades and the Heretic God we summoned return-!”
“You mean, these comrades?” Rias asked, producing three black feathers. Raynare’s eyes widened when she saw them, feeling the energy of her comrades coming from them. “We met in the woods. They were quite rude to me.”
“And don’t count on Siegfried bursting in on his horse,” Mike spoke up, stepping up beside Rias where Raynare could see him. “He’s back in the Domain of Immortality where he belongs. I’ve even got a nice new Authority to show for it.”
Raynare choked on her own spit, “But...You...do you even know what you’re risking by doing all this?!”
“Well, normally if a bunch of Fallen are merely living in my territory I’d leave them alone, but you just couldn’t seem to stop harassing my Issei-kun,” Rias answered simply. “And then summoning a Heretic God just to attack Lord Summers who entered an alliance with me? Well, I couldn’t just turn a blind eye to that.” Rias glanced over to Issei, “But I had to wonder why you considered Issei so important. Now I can see it.”
“What?” Raynare frowned.
“That Sacred Gear you dismissed as a Twice Critical is anything but,” Rias grinned, turning back to Raynare. “That Sacred Gear is none other than the fabled Boosted Gear. The power of the Red Dragon Emperor and one of the thirteen Longinus-Class Sacred Gears said to be capable of overcoming God.”
“Woah, it’s that strong?” Issei blinked, lifting his gauntleted arm up.
“What?!” Raynare cried. “A Sacred Gear like that in the hands of a childish pervert?!”
“It seems you’re the last one to know,” Mike shrugged, folding his hands into his pockets. “I felt it when I first saw the thing. Heck, Siegfried even saw it and vowed to kill the dragon so he could add it’s power to his own. We even said as much in front of you and you still didn’t believe it.”
“Yes, the ability to double his strength every ten seconds,” Rias nodded proudly over her new Pawn. “The only downside is that it takes some time to really get going. Fortunately, with you playing around with Issei-kun it had plenty of time to get into gear.”
Raynare grimaced, getting up to her knees. Looking to the group, she tried to think of something to get out of her current predicament. When her eyes landed on Issei, her wings flapped in a tornado of black feathers before she emerged without them, dressed in proper clothes and looking like a teenager instead of the woman she was before.
“Issei! Please help me! Don’t let them hurt me!” she cried out innocently for Issei, holding her arms out like she was begging him to pull her away from danger. “Please Issei! I love you! Please save me!”
The other members of the Peerage tensed, waiting to see what Issei’s reaction would be. The teen grimaced, looking like his heart was breaking all over again at Raynare’s pleading. After a moment, Issei sighed, “I can’t even have good memories now. Buchou...just end it.”
Rias nodded, summoning up a sphere of red and black energy, causing Raynare to pale. Rias’ face was stern as she gazed at the beaten Fallen, “Stop breaking my precious servant’s heart!”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Rias unleashed the blast, striking Raynare hard with it. It wasn’t an explosion or something as showy as that, but everything the blast hit just seemed to stop existing. Raynare’s body vanished in the haze of the blast. When it died out, all that remained were floating black feathers.
“Goodbye...Yuuma…” Issei sighed, dropping his head.
In the gloom of the church, a sparkling green orb appeared in the wake of Raynare’s death. Rias stepped forward and retrieved it, revealing it to be a pair of silver rings which were adorned with a leaf-like decoration. When they landed in her hands, Rias gently gazed at Issei, “Let’s return these, shall we?”
“Yeah…”
Rias brought the rings and gave them to Issei as the group moved back to Asia’s body. The perverted boy showed a remarkable amount of class as he slipped the rings onto her fingers before letting them rest on her chest again.
“I’m sorry Asia…” Issei wept, letting the tears fall from his cheeks. “I tried so hard...brought so much help to save you...and I still couldn’t do it!”
“Issei,” Mike sighed. He wasn’t too sure what to say, but what could one say to someone who was hurting like Issei was? “Issei, you managed to keep the Fallen from desecrating her and you returned something precious which was taken. In that sense, you saved what made her pure and unique.”
“Yeah...but...but…” Issei sniffed. “There was so much...she wanted to try, wanted to see in the world. I...I promised we’d go see it. I’d show her everything. She just...she just wanted a friend!”
“Well, I suppose there is one thing we can do,” Rias stepped forward. Reaching into her pocket, she produced what at first glance seemed like a red chess piece, a bishop to be precise. “Do you know what this is, Issei?”
“A...Bishop?” asked Issei, blinking at the item.
“Yes, one of my Evil Pieces to be precise,” Rias explained. She nodded to Kiba who gently picked up Asia before placing her body on the ground. “Bishops are the pieces which are support units to the rest of the Peerage. It would be a good spot for her healing abilities.” She stepped up to Asia’s body and placed the Evil Piece on her chest, causing a magic circle to appear underneath the nun.
“Ah, the Devil Reincarnation Ritual,” Villetta nodded, eyeing the circle with scholastic intrigue. “Not many humans have seen it happen before. This is a rare opportunity.”
“You mean...you can bring Asia back?!” Issei gasped.
“I usually don’t try to bring back the dead, but in this case I will make an exception,” Rias continued as she stepped up to the circle to begin the process. “I, Rias Gremory, hereby decree that Asia Argento shall have her soul returned to walk the earth once more as a Devil in servitude to me!”
The Evil Piece began to shine before it sank into Asia’s body, spreading a red glow over her form as the magic circle began to shine even brighter than before.
“Rejoice in your new life as my Bishop!”
Asia’s body flashed and the magic circle died down, leaving her as peaceful as she had been a moment ago. Issei and Mike waited with baited breath to see if ritual worked, hoping the innocent nn would have her chance at a new life. After a moment, Asia trembled and mumbled as if she was waking up from a deep sleep. Sitting up, she blinked in confusion as she looked around, spotting Issei, “Uh...Issei-san? What…?”
“Asia!” Issei cried, lunging for Asia and hugging her tightly.
“Ah! Issei-san?!” Asia gasped, blushing slightly.
Rather than be perverted as one might expect him to be, Issei was just warmly hugging Asia, glad to see her alive and healthy again, “Asia...let’s go home.”
The blonde nun blinked, but began smiling at the warmth and welcoming in Issei’s voice. Blushing slightly, she returned his emotional hug with one of her own, “Yes.”
“Well, all’s well that ends well,” Mike grinned at the scene. “Still, I’ve got a date with a bottle of Tylenol back home. I think we all need some rest after a night like tonight.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Rias nodded. She bowed slightly to Mike, “Thank you for your assistance tonight Lord Summers. It was most appreciated.”
“Ah, forget about it. What are friends for?” Mike laughed. “Besides, fighting Heretic Gods is part of my job description anyway.”
“Let us depart then,” Villetta spoke up, replacing her glasses on her face. “Although there were privacy spells set up, I don’t want to be here longer than necessary in case that disgusting exorcist or any of his friends who managed to escape are coming back for round two.”
“Oh my, if they do I’d be happy to show them the error of their ways,” Akeno offered with a smile, but Mike couldn’t help but feel a cloud of malice surrounding the Queen of Rias’ Peerage when she said that.
“I feel like we’ve stepped into the presence of a true demon,” Mike flinched.
“Oh, don’t worry. That’s just Akeno being Akeno,” Kiba tried to reassure him, but he failed miserably.
(LINE BREAK)
Occult Research Clubroom
Another day dawned and progressed, once more bringing the members of the Occult Research Club together. Mike, although not a member, was no exception as he approached the old school building. His body ached a little from the blows he took from Siegfried and how he pushed his body during the fight, but his head wasn’t in pain anymore and that was the important part.
Reaching the clubroom, Mike opened the door, “Hey guys, feel like letting me hang out?”
“You’re always welcome Lord Summers,” Rias welcomed, standing at her desk with Issei and Asia in the room. Mike was quick to notice that Asia was dressed in a Kuoh Academy uniform of her own.
“Hey Asia,” Mike greeted to the former nun. “How are you feeling?”
Asia flushed, her cheeks red but she conjured up the willpower to respond, “Um...I’m doing well Your Majesty. Thank you for asking. Oh!” she turned and bowed deeply to Mike, incidentally flashing her panties to Issei who was behind her, making the pervert grin. “I want to humbly thank you from the bottom of my heart for your role in rescuing me! I don’t know how, but I’ll repay the favor you’ve done me somehow!”
“Maa, maa,” Mike chuckled, using the Japanese way of speech. “You don’t have to worry about that Asia-chan. If you really want to repay me though, just make sure you make a lot of friends and explore everything about the world you wanted to know about. You’ve got a new family who will watch your back so don’t let this chance slip by.”
Asia stood straight and beamed, “Of course! I’ll do as you ask!”
Mike grinned again, but then stopped when he felt an ominous sensation akin to killing intent stabbing at him. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Issei with the Boosted Gear clenched glaring at him, “You’d better not plan on having Asia in your harem!”
“Issei, we talked about this! I’m not building a harem!” Mike sighed.
“That’s not what your uber-hot secretary said!” Issei snapped back, pointing at Mike accusingly.
“Hey, Villetta can say it as much as she likes but I’m not gonna build a harem!”
“Then you’re a traitor to mankind! The penalty is death!”
“Hey, who’s the Supreme King? Just try and bring it perv!”
“Oh, it’s on now bastard!”
Issei lunged at Mike and the two began to grapple, trying to bring one another down in a show of force. Mike had the advantage at first, but then Issei Boosted and it became a closer match. Asia watched the tussle, fearing her first friend was going to anger one of the Supreme Kings while Rias just giggled at the antics of her Pawn and her ally.
“Ara ara,” Akeno smiled as she pushed a trolley into the room, topped with a splendid strawberry cake welcoming Asia into their club. Behind her were Koneko and Kiba, both of them blinking at the small brawl between Campione and Devil. “Are Issei and Lord Summers performing a floor show?”
“It seems that way,” Rias giggled daintily. “Shall we pass out the cake while they play? It’s time for Asia’s welcoming party after all.”
“Of course. Welcome to the club Asia!”
“Happy to be here,” Asia beamed.
Meanwhile Issei and Mike continued to brawl while everyone received slices of the cake.
To Be Continued …
Campione Report: Michael Summers’ New Authority
The King’s Steed: By the trial of the river Busiltjörn, show me the one worthy to be my steed. Show me the one sired by Sleipnir, the steed who shall above else be worthy of being the mount of a king!
This Authority allows the user to summon the legendary Grani, the horse whom was a part of Siegfried’s legend. Grani, as a Divine Beast in himself being part of Siegfried’s power, is many times stronger, faster, and more enduring than any other horse on earth could dream of being. More than that, since Grani is a descendant of Odin’s war horse Sleipnir, Grani is able to traverse long journeys in a fraction of the time and so long as he is running, there is nothing which can stop him. Every obstacle which would normally stop a regular horse will simply move aside or somehow be removed for Grani.
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