cloud of War

The wind howled over the training ground. The air felt heavier—charged, like the sky itself was holding its breath.

Rias Gremory stood at the front of the group, her peerage flanking her. Sona and her group were to the right, their gazes sharp and focused. Behind them stood Riser Phoenix and Ravel. Diodora and his sister were also looking ahead with serious expressions.

No one spoke. No one dared to.

Rias's crimson eyes scanned the empty sky, her heart thudding. She couldn't explain the dread clawing at her chest, but it was real—overwhelmingly so.

Around them, hundreds of Fallen Angel corpses lay motionless. Despite being low and mid-class, they could have caused serious injuries if not for Itachi's training.

Then, it happened.

A rift tore open in the sky.

A deep, echoing crack split the silence like a death knell. Light spilled forth from the crack. From the void emerged dozens of black-winged figures—Fallen Angels—armed and grinning like hyenas before a hunt. After the light died down—

And at the center of it all… he appeared.

Kokabiel.

Seated on a floating throne of black obsidian, he hovered high above the battlefield, arms crossed, his dark wings spread wide behind him like a curtain of night.

His eyes glowed crimson, pulsing with twisted amusement.

"So these are the noble High-Class Devils?" Kokabiel's voice thundered across the courtyard, laced with mockery and malice. "Even after knowing there would be another attack from the Fallen Angels, you did not inform your brothers and sisters. Truly, the Underworld has fallen—even in terms of having intelligent Devils."

Riser's jaw clenched. "Tch. The way he looks down on us…"

Ravel placed a calming hand on her brother's arm, but her own expression was tight. She could feel it too—the difference. This wasn't just posturing. Kokabiel meant war.

Beside Rias, Akeno's body trembled slightly. Not from fear—but anticipation. Because of her past, she wanted to kill as many Fallen as possible, despite Kokabiel's presence, which was suffocating.

"Rias… he's truly trying to ignite a war," she whispered.

"I know," Rias replied, her voice low but steady.

Sona adjusted her glasses, her eyes never leaving the throne in the sky. "We all know that. He's already prepared for battle. He didn't come to negotiate. We have to assume this is a full-scale attack on devil's."

"So many Fallen Angels..." Tsubaki murmured, stepping protectively in front of Sona. "They outnumber us."

Gasper, trembling behind Kiba, let out a whimper. "I-I don't think I can... He's too scary..."

"Gasper." Rias turned, her voice gentle but firm. "You don't have to fight—but we need you to be ready. We need your power."

The boy gulped, nodding weakly.

Meanwhile, Kiba clenched his sword. "He has that sword. I have to destroy it," Kiba said, to which everyone looked at Kokabiel again—and there it was. The strongest holy sword: Excalibur. Their faces darkened. They never thought that this sword would appear again.

Akeno took a step forward, lightning crackling at her fingertips. "we will be the one who will break it again." Akeno said to kiba to which he nodded with a smile.

Kokabiel stood from his throne, his wings stretching as if shaking off years of stillness. His army of Fallen moved in unison, spreading out in the air like vultures ready to swoop.

"Come then. Show me what Lucifer's sister amounts to!" he said, locking eyes with Rias.