Magic Testing

Reaching an open field, Kisuke first asked Akeno to test her magic.

Standing in front of everyone, Akeno aimed her palm forwards and circulated her Magic Power. As she did so, she noticed something different but couldn't tell what it was. When she attempted to examine this more she suddenly heard Kisuke from behind, "Don't think about it for now. Just cast your magic."

'So this has something to do with the important thing he's about to tell us?' Akeno thought as she cast her lighting.

Akeno only intended to cast her most basic lightning magic, those that are made from her Demonic Power. However, the moment her lightning manifested, black lightning also came with it and hit the boulder in the distance, destroying it more than she intended to, "...What?" asked Akeno to herself.

"Please carry on," said Kisuke from behind her.

Akeno wanted to ask a few things but held it in and just nodded at him. She tested the same magic a few more times and the black lightning didn't disappear, increasing the destructive power of her magic.

Irina was also shocked at this scene and was confused as to what was happening. She then recalled that Kisuke also asked her not to use her magic and became tempted to use it. However, before she could do so, she got a stern warning from Kisuke, "Don't do it. We're doing these tests to see if there's anything wrong or inherently dangerous with your current magic. It'll be your turn soon, so please wait for it."

"...So even I got that strangeness in my magic? You really have a lot of explaining to do," replied Irina.

"I know your concerns. But worry not, I'll be giving you an option to return to normal," added Kisuke before returning his focus to Akeno.

Seeing that it was a consistent thing, Akeno then tried using her Holy Powers. Before she could use her Holy Lightning, she first had to take out her wings. Feeling the familiar feeling on her back manifesting, she pointed her palm forward again. However, before she could cast her magic, Irina shouted, "Akeno!?"

Wondering what it was, Akeno turned her head to the back and saw one of her Fallen Angel wings angled unusually higher. After fully inspecting what's on her back, she too was taken aback, "What!? Three pairs!?"

"I'll also explain that later. Please continue your test," urged Akeno.

"...Fine." Akeno sighed and faced her front again and tested her Holy Lightning. Similar to the first one, it was accompanied by black lightning and the destructive power had increased at least two-fold.

As before, Akeno tested it a few more times until a blast of magic hit her from behind, "...!? Wha!? Guh!!!"

Akeno flew uncontrollably in the air until she landed on a cushion of magic. Dumbfounded, she looked back at the source of the attack and saw Kisuke pointing his palm towards her.

"Kisuke!? What are you doing!?" Irina ran towards Akeno to check her injuries.

Ignoring his childhood friend, Kisuke asked Akeno, "How are you feeling?"

Akeno immediately figured that Kisuke attacked her with something in mind and reorganized her thoughts as she stood up with Irina's assistance, "I knew for sure that an attack of that caliber would at least make some cuts on my back... But I can't feel anything."

Irina looked at her back and only saw her uniform destroyed but her wings are fine, except for some red rashes on the surface of her skin, "Just some red rashes from the blunt force."

Akeno shook her head, "No... That may look like blunt magic, but that attack just now is full of tiny razors. It wasn't intended to push an opponent, but create lacerations."

Irina was confused but before she could ask further questions to Akeno, Kisuke called out to her, "It's your turn, Irina."

"Are you going to attack me too?" she asked.

"Yeah. You can defend yourself if you want," answered Kisuke.

As Irina prepared herself, Akeno approached Kisuke, "Couldn't you have warned me about that?"

While taking out a potion, Kisuke apologized, "Ah, I'm sorry about that. If I told you beforehand, you have unconsciously defended yourself."

"Yet you warned Irina about it..." Akeno pouted a bit and received the potion before asking, "What's this?"

"Medicine. Please drink it."

Akeno looked at the red concoction for a few seconds before emptying it. A few seconds later, Akeno immediately felt the relief and the rashes disappeared from her back, "Thanks." Akeno returned the bottle to Kisuke.

"I needed to know your raw physical defense and after what I've done, it should be similar to Irina. Now that it was done, I needed to see the improvements in your magical defense. Though I apologize for the rough treatment... and you're welcome."

"...What you've done, I see..."

The two of them then silently watched Irina test out her magic. Similar to Akeno's, Irina's light and holy magic were accompanied by a black aura, but instead of black lightning, Irina's offensive magic has black outlines around it. And as they expected, the destructive power of the magic increased.

Figuring out that it's enough, Kisuke gathered his magic and Irina immediately felt it. Receiving Kisuke attack magic with her magic barrier, Irina easily blocked it. However, what's intriguing is that her barrier is surrounded by red aura which she didn't intend to add at all.

Seeing this, Akeno also tried putting up a barrier and the same with Irina, it's surrounded by red aura.

"The black took care of the offense while the red settled on defense... Seems about right." muttered Kisuke.

The girls made their barriers disappear and Akeno asked, "Are you going to explain what's going on now?"

"Yeah... Please explain it to us. And I just noticed it now, my mark as Michael-sama's 'Ace' disappeared, but why am I still an Angel?" Although nothing changed in Irina's appearance, including the number of her wings which is still only a pair, the insignia on her right hand that symbolizes that she's an 'Ace' is gone.

"Let's go back first so we can sit down." Kisuke turned towards their lodging and the silently munching Ophis hurriedly followed.

The girls looked at each other with suspicion painted on their faces before following Kisuke quietly.

Once they all sat down, Kisuke started, "First of all, let me tell you that there's a way to return you to normal."

Akeno and Irina felt relief. Although they don't understand what's going on, the fact that they could return to normal gave them some peace of mind.

"Next is, allow me to tell you and explain everything first. I'll answer your related questions once I'm done."

Akeno and Irina nodded.

"Well then... This is what happened," Kisuke then told them how he came across them in the Dimensional Gap with Ophis and Great Red and how their bodies were already beyond saving due to Samael's poison and they were able to stay alive thanks to Ophis' assistance and Great Red's help.

After that, Kisuke went into detail on how Great Red lent his flesh and Ophis lent her power for the reconstruction of their bodies and how he preserved their Devil and Angel aspects without the assistance of the Evil Piece and Brave Saint Card. They were sleeping for so long only because Kisuke was making necessary adjustments for their souls to adapt to their bodies.

"S-so our bodies were made through homunculus technology?" asked Akeno with an incredulous face.

"Yes. But as I have told you before, there's a way to return to normal. I just have to create another set of bodies without those modifications I added."

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Editors:

28th00: Well, Phis-chama was munching along the whole time! I imagine the speed-waddle-munch I've seen kids do while trying to multitask is what she was doing when running after Mr. Hat. Ophis = Offensive and Great Red = Defensive, makes sense I guess. At least his solution to problems isn't "Hit it till it works." Wonder what Samael's power will manifest as? It was a soul poison, so, soul defense/offense?