Round Two

"Everyone… I've always wondered… Is it right for me to be the only one alive? For me, and only me, to be saved by kind-hearted people and live in peace while leaving all of you behind… I've carried that guilt for so long…"

One of the figures, a boy named Marco—he had once dreamed of becoming a soccer player—stepped forward with a gentle smile.

"We're fine now. You don't need to feel guilty anymore. So live for us, Yumi. Be happy, for all our sakes."

Another figure, a girl named Flonne, who had been older than Yumi and a leader among the girls, added with a playful laugh:

"That's right. Now that you've become a beautiful woman, you should fall in love once or twice! Promise me, Yumi"

Lucy, another girl who had been a romantic at heart and loved gossip, chimed in: "That's right. We helped you escape, so if you think like that, you'll just waste your life"

Finally, Laurent, the eldest and their steadfast leader, spoke.

"Our wish is simple. We just want you to live a life full of happiness, Yumi. That's all we ever wanted."

'Ah, ah! I can feel everyone's feelings,' their words poured into her, each one piercing the veil of guilt that had suffocated her for so long. She felt their love and their unwavering support, and it brought her to tears.

Before long the group began to sing—a hymn, the same one they had hummed together on those torturous days, enduring inhumane experiments while clinging to the fragile hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Yumi joined in, her voice trembling at first but growing stronger with each note. As they sang, the tears she had once shed in despair dried up, replaced by a smile of pure serenity.

"We were incomplete as individuals…"

"We couldn't wield the power of the holy swords alone…"

"But together, we can do it. Together, we are enough."

The figures began to dissolve into glowing orbs once more, swirling around Yumi in an intricate dance. Their voices resonated within her as their light infused her being.

"Accept the holy sword…"

"Fear is no longer necessary…"

"Even if God isn't watching…"

"Even if we are unloved by heaven…"

"We…"

"We are…"

"…One."

Everyone's souls rose to the heavens, merging into a single, radiant beam that descended back down to Yumi, enveloping her in divine light. She felt their souls intertwining with hers, becoming one with her own.

"Together… forever," she whispered, a fierce resolve igniting within her.

Rising to her feet, Yumi activated her Sacred Gear, summoning forth a sword. It was a fusion of opposites—a blade that was neither purely demonic nor wholly holy, but a perfect amalgamation of both powers. The energies of darkness and light swirled together, birthing something entirely new.

The voices of her dead friends cheered her "Let's go" on as she held the weapon aloft.

"Balance Breaker: Forbidden Sacred Demon Sword—Sword of Betrayer! Witness the power of a blade forged from both holy and demonic might!"

With a feral grin, Yumi charged at Freed, who cackled madly as he taunted her.

CLAASSHHH~~

Their swords clashed in a flurry of sparks, but it didn't take long for her to assert dominance. Her Sacred Demon Sword's raw power overwhelmed Freed's strikes.

Desperate, Freed activated Excalibur's unique abilities, resorting to underhanded tactics to try to gain the upper hand. But Yumi, her newfound strength resonating within her, evaded every attack with ease.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Xenovia stepped in, summoning a second holy sword—Durandal.

The sight of her wielding both Excalibur and Durandal left even Kokabiel stunned. Unlike Yumi, who wielded an artificial holy sword, Xenovia was a natural holy swordsman, a prodigy in her own right.

With Xenovia's support, Yumi struck the decisive blow. Her Sacred Demon Sword shattered Freed's Excalibur, the shards scattering as he fell to the ground in defeat.

Yumi Kiba had finally succeeded in destroying Excalibur.

Freed lay motionless, cut down, and Valper had no means of escape. All that remained was Kokabiel.

Kazuki turned his gaze skyward, locking eyes with the arrogant fallen angel who floated above them, a smirk still playing on his lips.

"Ready for round two, Kokabiel?" Kazuki growled, his voice laced with deadly determination.

"Hmph. Useless subordinates, unable to take down even one of you. Very well," Kokabiel sneered, snapping his fingers with a casual flick. "I'll kill you myself."

From the shadows emerged yet another Cerberus. This one dwarfed the earlier beasts, its colossal frame towering over 10 meters. Its monstrous size and aura of sheer malice hinted at its superiority—likely the parent of the smaller creatures they had fought earlier.

The massive Cerberus unleashed an enraged roar from its three heads, then lunged at Rias and the others. Its power and speed far outmatched the previous ones, and it was clear the group wouldn't last long against this behemoth.

"Yumi, Xenovia! Protect Rias and the others!" Kazuki commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Senpai?!" Yumi exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

"You're not seriously planning to face Kokabiel alone, are you?" Xenovia added her expression a mixture of shock and worry.

Kokabiel's overwhelming strength wasn't something to be underestimated; they had already tasted his power in their earlier encounter.

The idea of facing him solo seemed like madness.

"I'll be fine," Kazuki assured them, his voice steady. "Trust me—I have a plan."

Yumi hesitated, her eyes scanning his face for any hint of doubt. Finding none, she nodded.

"...Understood. Let's go, Xenovia."

"Are you insane, Yumi?!" Xenovia protested. "He's strong, but Kokabiel—"

"It's fine," Yumi interrupted, her tone calm but firm.

"Senpai still has a trump card. Just watch."

Kazuki smirked. "Exactly. It's time I show you. GUYVER—activate!"

His voice echoed across dimensions, reaching deep into the fabric of space and time. A dazzling light erupted around him, enveloping his entire body.

When the light faded, a figure emerged—a crimson demon god in bio-boosted armor.

The Guyver had taken shape around Kazuki, transforming him into a fearsome warrior of unimaginable power.

"W-what… is this?" Yumi whispered, her breath catching at the sight of him.

"Go now! Protect Rias and the others!" Kazuki barked.

"Yes, senpai!" Yumi replied, snapping out of her daze. She grabbed Xenovia's hand and began running toward the others.

Kokabiel observed the transformation with a mixture of intrigue and amusement.

"So this is your trump card… Interesting," he mused. "Very well, show me what you've got."

"Let's dance, Kokabiel!" Kazuki roared, activating the gravity controller at his waist. With a burst of energy, he launched himself into the air.

"Come!" Kokabiel snarled, summoning a sword of light to meet Kazuki's charge.

The two beings clashed midair, the sound of their weapons colliding echoing like thunder.

Kokabiel's holy blade crackled with divine energy, while Kazuki's high-frequency blades hummed with deadly precision. Sparks flew as their strikes collided, neither gaining an advantage.

"Tch!" Kazuki grunted, straining against the weight of Kokabiel's blows.

"Hmph!" Kokabiel smirked, holding his ground.

Despite Kazuki's enhanced strength—amplified by both his own magic and the Guyver armor—Kokabiel matched him blow for blow.

The fallen angel's sheer power was no joke, and the battle pushed both fighters to their limits.

At the same time, Kokabiel couldn't hide his surprise.

'What is this? This mortal is holding his own against me? Such a sensation—I haven't felt anything like this since the Great War!'

Kokabiel's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Hehe, this is interesting, really interesting!!" he chuckled, exhilarated by the challenge.

For the first time in ages, Kokabiel felt the thrill of a true battle, and it consumed him with excitement. The stage was set for an earth-shattering showdown.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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