Chapter 56: Wings of Betrayal

The tension in the air thickened like a thunderstorm ready to break.

The roof above trembled—then shattered completely as a barrage of glowing light spears rained down.

"Move!" someone shouted.

But before anyone had to, Malrik was already there.

He raised a single hand, and a ripple of space cracked open around him. With a pulse of his gravity magic, a shimmering dome flared to life, absorbing the rain of holy projectiles with ease.

The spears struck and dissolved one by one, the air hissing with each impact—but none of them reached their targets.

Rias and her Peerage stood ready, but paused, watching the dust settle.

Malrik didn't even flinch.

"Still so flashy," he muttered under his breath.

From the broken ceiling, black feathers drifted lazily downward like burnt snow.

Then they descended.

Raynare and Kalawarna—Fallen Angels—landed with the arrogance of predators who thought they owned the world.

"Well, well," Raynare said with a sneer, her sultry voice echoing in the ruined hall. "What do we have here? A bunch of devils… a little nun…" Her eyes slid to Issei. "And my pathetic ex-boyfriend. Still breathing, I see."

Issei shivered. His blood ran cold.

"…Yuma?"

He couldn't believe it. The girl who had smiled at him. The girl who almost killed him.

Rias stepped in front of him protectively, her crimson hair like a banner of defiance.

"You've got some nerve, showing up here. What do you want, Fallen Angel?"

Raynare's smirk didn't falter.

"Relax. All I want is the nun. You can keep the priest."

From the side, Freed spat blood and cursed. "What?! You're just gonna leave me?!"

She didn't even look at him.

To her, he was already discarded.

Asia gasped softly behind Issei. Her trembling hands clutched her chest.

Malrik's eyes remained steady.

"So," he said, stepping forward, "what exactly do you want with her?"

Raynare finally acknowledged him, her gaze narrowing.

"And you must be the newly awakened little human. The one with the Sacred Gear."

Her eyes slid toward Mittelt—and something dark crossed her face.

"And you," she hissed. "What are you doing serving this human?! Did you hit your head too hard, or just lose all sense of pride?!"

Mittelt's expression didn't flinch. She stepped forward, eyes cold, voice calm.

"What I do is none of your business. I made my choice."

"Tch."

Raynare's wings flexed, irritated.

Malrik exhaled slowly.

"You still haven't answered my question."

Raynare rolled her eyes but smiled—viciously.

"Fine. You want to know? We're going to take her Sacred Gear. Once we rip it out of her, we'll be stronger, more valued. Simple."

Malrik turned his head, looking back at Asia.

She stood pale and still, lips trembling.

"See?" he said gently. "This is what they want to do to you. Use you. Break you. Kill you."

He took a single step closer, voice soft—but heavy with intent.

"Asia, you're a kind person. You helped someone you didn't know. You saved Issei even when didn't have to."

"Now," he continued, "it's your choice."

"Come with me—and I'll deal with them."

Raynare scoffed. "Big words for a human."

Malrik smiled.

"They're only big if I can't back them up."

The wind blew through the broken roof. Feathers swirled in the dim light. Magic pulsed beneath the surface.

And the storm was just beginning. 

———

{Malrik POV}

Raynare sneered as she turned toward Kalawarna.

"Go deal with Mittelt. I'll handle this human."

Kalawarna took off without hesitation, her black wings spreading wide as she flew toward Mittelt and Aika, light spear already forming in her palm.

Raynare didn't wait either.

With a sharp flick of her wrist, three light spears materialized above her shoulders and launched toward me in a straight volley.

I didn't move at first—just tilted my head slightly.

The spears curved in midair, homing in.

I stepped to the side and raised my hand.

Crack.

A shimmering ripple of gravity pulsed outward, bending space just enough to skew their trajectory. The spears missed, slamming harmlessly into the rubble behind me.

Raynare's smirk faltered.

"You're quick," she muttered.

"I'm just warmed up," I replied calmly.

Truthfully? I was just playing with her.

She didn't even know I was the one who ruined her original plan—to kill Issei before he could awaken. If she did, she'd probably be less smug right now.

Another volley came.

I activated my Sacred Gear, a soft hum of Creation magic echoing as a sleek obsidian spear shimmered into my hand—its edge gleaming like starlight.

We clashed. Sparks flew.

Her spears collided with mine mid-air, but each time, I parried with ease, barely exerting myself.

"Asia," I called without looking away from Raynare. "I'm still waiting for your answer."

She stood frozen by the sidelines, hands clenched over her chest. Her eyes darted between us—between the devils, the fallen angels, and me.

Raynare clicked her tongue. "Still trying to act like some noble savior, human? You won't—"

"I'll go with you!" Asia finally shouted, her voice shaky but clear. "I believe you. I want to go with Malrik-san."

Everyone paused for a moment—including Raynare.

The look she shot Asia was scathing. "You idiot. You really think that human can protect you?"

I smiled.

From across the room, Kalawarna was now fighting both Mittelt and Aika. Mittelt soared through the air, light spear in hand, her movements sharp and precise. 

Aika floated just above the ground, weaving through attacks using gravity-enhanced footwork, her smile more amused than worried.

They were holding their own.

Raynare growled and lunged again. "Stop toying with me and fight for real!"

I grinned. "Alright. Since you asked so nicely."

I let go of the spear and raised my hand again—this time forming a magic circle of deep violet etched with a magic crest. The runes shimmered, pulsing with power.

"This is a new spell I've been working on," I said, my voice calm but cold. "Learned it from a certain Grimoire Rias gave me."

Raynare faltered. "W-What are you—"

From the magic circle, tendrils of arcane energy exploded outward—translucent, glowing, and alive.

Magical tentacles surged forward.

They wrapped around Raynare in an instant—binding her arms, legs, wings, even her neck. She struggled, screamed, cursed—but the tentacles only tightened, glowing with suppressive enchantments.

"What… is this?!" she shrieked, thrashing helplessly in the air.

I walked forward, eyes glowing faintly from the magic.

"A little something I call… Gravitic Bind: Arcane Constrictor. Made for people who talk too much."

Asia stared in awe.

Rias blinked from the sidelines.

Akeno whispered, "Well… that's new."

And I?

I simply raised one finger.

"Round's not over yet."