Chapter 31- Kokabiel
"Alright. The Church decided it's better for us to destroy all the Excaliburs at once rather than let them stay in the hands of fallen angels. Our minimum goal is to retrieve the Excaliburs from the fallen angels. To achieve that, we're prepared to die. The only way to fight Excaliburs is with other Excaliburs," Xenovia said seriously.
"Is that possible with just the two of you?" Rias asked.
"We won't die in vain," Xenovia replied fearlessly.
"You seem confident. Got a secret weapon?" Rias probed.
"Maybe. I'll leave that to your imagination," Xenovia answered.
*Such greed, Rias,* Haru thought, staring at her. *It's obvious she wants someone with an Excalibur in her peerage. Devils are troublesome.*
Shidou Irina and Xenovia exchanged glances and stood. "We'll take our leave now. Let's go, Irina," Xenovia said.
"You're not staying for tea? I can prepare a snack," Rias offered.
"No need," Xenovia declined.
"Sorry," Irina added, waving apologetically.
As they headed out, both turned toward Asia.
"When I saw you at Issei Hyoudou's house, I thought it might be you. Are you the Witch, Asia Argento? I never expected to find you here," Xenovia said.
Asia's body trembled at being called a witch. Irina noticed and stared. "You're the rumored witch? The former Holy Maiden? The one said to heal demons and fallen angels? I heard you were sent somewhere after being exiled, but I didn't think you'd become a devil."
"Umm... I..." Asia stammered, unsure how to respond.
"It's fine. I won't report seeing you here. Otherwise, those around the Holy Maiden Asia would be shocked," Irina said, leaving Asia with a puzzled expression.
"But becoming a devil? The Holy Maiden took the worst possible path. Do you still believe in our God?" Xenovia asked.
"Xenovia, no way a devil still believes in God," Irina said, shocked.
"No, I can smell belief on her. It's abstract, but I'm sensitive to it. Some betray the teachings but carry guilt because they can't forget them. I sense that in her," Xenovia said sharply, while Irina looked at Asia with growing interest.
"Is that true, Asia-san? You still believe in God despite being a devil?" Asia replied sadly, "I can't let it go. I've believed in Him my whole life."
Xenovia drew her sword from its cloth and pointed it at Asia. "Then you must be cut down now. If I do it, I can do so in God's name. Even with your sins, our God will forgive you."
"Don't touch her. If you get near Asia, I won't forgive you. You called her a witch, didn't you?" Issei snapped.
"Yes, I did. She's a being worthy of the term," Xenovia replied.
"Y-You... Bitch?!" Issei stammered, biting his tongue.
"Stay out of it! Not one person helped her when she needed it! Those who can't see Asia's kindness are idiots! It's wrong that none of them tried to be her friend!" Issei shouted.
"You think the Holy Maiden had friends? Charity to others is what matters. The Holy Maiden fell when she sought friendship and love. She could've lived with God's love. Asia Argento never deserved to be a Holy Maiden," Xenovia said matter-of-factly.
"Shut up already. I'm sick of this," Haru snapped, losing patience with the tedious conversation.
"Kurokami, you're letting her talk about Asia like that?" Issei asked.
"It's got nothing to do with me. Why should I care?" Haru replied coldly.
"W-What?" Issei said, shocked by Haru's tone.
"Now, if you'd kindly shut up or take this boring talk elsewhere, that'd be great. I'm not in a good mood," Haru said, his face serious—an expression Rias had never seen before.
"Hey, Kurokami, she's threatening Asia, and you're mad about your mood? If you won't do anything, I'll help her," Issei said, glaring at Xenovia. "I'll protect Asia! If you touch her, I'll make all of you my enemies."
"A declaration against the entire Church? Bold words from one devil. Gremory, you haven't trained him well," Xenovia said to Rias, then turned to Haru. "And you, Haru Kurokami, a traitor to humanity consorting with devils. I heard you defeated a high-class devil."
"Oh, so he's the one the Church talks about—the human who beat a high-class devil barehanded. But I didn't know he was with devils. What a disappointment," Irina added.
"This is—" Rias began, but Kiba stepped in front of her. Suddenly, a crushing pressure forced everyone in the room to their knees.
The pressure came from Haru, who radiated a black-and-purple aura, preparing to use Hadou 90. With a tired sigh, he dispelled it.
"I almost used Hadou 90 on insects," Haru said, standing. Xenovia and Irina froze in fear, the room gripped by a sense of death. Walking toward them, Haru passed by and headed for the door. "I'm going home, Rias. Need to cool off," he said, leaving.
---
**Scene Change**
Watching Kiba and Issei's duel against Xenovia and Irina, Rias Gremory's thoughts were elsewhere.
*We shouldn't have pried into his past. Now Haru's really upset. He always had an innocent, beautiful smile, but his expression turned cold—almost scary.*
*He was about to use that Hadou 90 he mentioned against Riser.*
*I'll need to talk to Sona and Tsubaki. I don't want to lose our—no, my Haru.*
Returning her focus to the duel, Rias saw Kiba and Issei lose.
---
**Scene Change**
At a diner, Haru was having breakfast during a school break. Rias, Sona, and Tsubaki were too busy to cook, and Haru's cooking skills rivaled Sanji's—he didn't want devils crowding his place.
Rias told him about Kiba and Issei's fight, though Sona and Tsubaki were more interested since their opponents wielded holy swords. Even at that cost.
*[Tenseigan: 4,000,000 TK]*
*Same price as Crash Magic.* "What do you want?" Haru asked the three idiots.
"Haru-senpai, help us convince the Church girls to team up," Koneko pleaded, using a cute expression in Haru's and the author's opinion.
Haru stared intensely at the two hiding behind Koneko, then laughed.
"Hahahahaha! Me, help a eunuch and a lolicon? No way," Haru said, returning to his food.
"See, Issei, I told you he wouldn't help," Saji said, annoyed. "And Haru-san, how dare you call me a lolicon without proof?" Saji added arrogantly.
Haru reached into his inventory.
"Wow!" The three gasped as Haru's hand vanished into a ripple. He pulled out photos of Saji snapping pictures of elementary school girls. "You could get arrested for this," Haru said.
"Pervert," Koneko said, punching Saji, knocking him out.
"Please, Kurokami, I'm begging you, help us. You're the strongest in this city," Issei pleaded.
Haru burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Everyone stared as he laughed hysterically. Stopping, he grinned and extended his hand to Issei.
"What?" Issei asked, confused.
"Hyoudou Issei," Haru said, surprising not just Koneko but Issei and the recovering Saji. "Right now, there are five," Haru said.
"Five what, Kurokami?" Issei asked.
Grinning, Haru replied, "Five beings in this city stronger than me."
The three were shocked.
Swallowing hard, Issei asked, "Who are they, Kurokami-san?"
Haru gave him a bored look. "I'm not telling. Now get lost."
Giving up on convincing Haru, they headed for Kiba. Koneko glanced back at Haru eating dessert, wishing she were with him. But the thought of five beings stronger than Haru in Kuoh troubled her. *Who are they?*
Back with Haru, he ate with a serious expression, thinking about the other two in the city.
*I know Azazel and Vali are here. I lied about five—there are six. Azazel, Vali, Kokabiel, that muscular guy surrounded by demi-humans or beasts. I'm still shocked other races live here, even youkai. But the fifth, in that abandoned building full of ninjas, feels like an angel by his energy. The sixth bothers me—he owns my favorite bar. I've seen vampires there, and someone called Crom Cruach from outside the city. If these six are powerful, the seventh, who rarely appears, is on another level.*
*My biggest shock was him—someone from another anime is here.*
Sighing, Haru stood, left money on the table, and returned to class.
---
**Scene Change**
*Things move slowly in reality. Days have passed, and they still haven't found the stolen Excalibur. Another boring school day.*
"Haru, breakfast is ready," Tsubaki's voice came from the door. He looked to see her naked. "Why do you guys keep walking around the house naked?" Haru said, getting out of bed and approaching her. They kissed.
Haru lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist, and they moved to the bed. Breaking the kiss, both panting, Haru removed his underwear, revealing himself. Positioning at her already wet entrance, he said, "We have about an hour before class." He thrust in. "Aah!" Haru began with fast, hard thrusts.
---
**Scene Change**
While Haru gazed out the classroom window, ignoring the two perverts' nonsense, he noticed Issei acting strange. Then he heard something interesting.
"You really thought he was the only one with that ability?" Haru looked to see Kiryuu speaking.
Kiryuu glanced at the trio's pants. "Hmm, I see." Her glasses gleamed. "Fufufu. My glasses can calculate your 'size'—length to girth." She patted Issei's shoulder. "I'm sorry for your condition."
Haru smirked. "That's because he's a eunuch, Kiryuu-chan."
Kiryuu looked at Haru. "I see, Kurokami-san. Excuse me, I'll check yours." She looked between Haru's legs, her nose bleeding heavily before she collapsed, murmuring, "It's over eight thousand."
*What kind of crossover is this?* Haru thought, picking up Kiryuu's glasses. "What are you doing with those, Kurokami?" Issei asked.
"Just looking. Oh, I see," Haru said, examining them. "What is it, Haru-san?" Asia asked.
"These glasses are a magical item," Haru said, surprising them.
Haru put them on and looked at Issei.
*[Total Power: 363]*
*Interesting. It doesn't measure HP, MP, DEX, or LUK—just the four basic stats.*
He looked at Asia, who shrank slightly.
*[Total Power: 280]*
*Really interesting.* Haru returned the glasses to the unconscious Kiryuu. "I'm going for a walk," he said, leaving the classroom.
Outside, Haru thought about the glasses. *The bar owner said Sacred Gears can awaken at birth, but it's rare. I never expected her glasses to be a Sacred Gear measuring physical attributes. What a mysterious world—ninjas, demi-humans, maybe even elves.*
---
**Scene Change**
While Rias and Sona planned against Kokabiel outside Kuoh Academy, Haru was at a bar.
"This beer's great," Haru said, taking another sip.
"Hahaha, best in the city, kid," a man beside him said.
"Hey, Tobio-san, another round for us," Haru called.
"Coming up, Kurokami-kun," Tobio replied.
"You're pretty tough, Haru-kun," the man said.
"You're not bad yourself, Mr. Kiyome," Haru replied.
As Tobio set down the beers, he said, "Kurokami-kun, you're listed as the ninth strongest human."
Haru glanced at him. "I don't care about that. More importantly, where's Lavinia?"
"On a mission," Tobio answered.
"Shame," Haru said.
"Hahaha, you only come here to flirt with her," Kiyome teased.
"Eighty percent, yeah. Twenty percent for the beer," Haru admitted.
"One day, a woman's gonna cut you down," Kiyome said.
"Hahahahaha!" The non-humans in the bar roared with laughter.
They drank and laughed at jokes. Minutes later, Haru stood. "Gotta deal with a crow eunuch," he said, leaving money on the counter.
"Come back anytime, Kurokami-kun," Tobio said.
"See ya, Tobio, Jim," Haru said.
"Woof woof!" Jim barked in farewell.
Outside, Haru appeared in a Kuoh alley. "Damn convenient. The bar itself isn't here, but its door pops up in cities worldwide," he muttered, heading toward the barrier at Kuoh Academy.
"Status."
*[Haru Kurokami]*
*[Race: Human: 99.9% / God: 0.1%]*
*[Title: Problem Child]*
*[Equipment: Dark Repulser]*
*[HP: 225,000]*
*[MP: 270,000]*
*[VIT: 2,250]*
*[INT: 2,700]*
*[STR: 780]*
*[AGI: 1,200]*
*[DEX: 490]*
*[LUK: 1,200]*
*Not bad, but I doubt it's enough for Kokabiel. Hadou 90 might use more MP than I have. Unless I use the MP Crystal I got back in One Piece.*
*[MP Crystal: 1,000,000: 1x: Grants 1 million extra MP temporarily. Side Effect: Three Days Unconscious]*
*Maybe I can use full Hadou 90 with it.*
---
**Scene Change**
"Open the barrier, Sona," Haru said, appearing near the Kuoh Academy barrier.
"Haru, where were you? We tried calling," Sona said.
"At a bar," Haru replied casually.
"I told you to stop drinking," Sona scolded.
"Alright, open the barrier," Haru said, approaching.
"You sure you can beat him?" Sona asked, worried.
"Don't worry. If he was serious, this city would already be gone," Haru said nonchalantly.
"Okay, be careful. We're waiting for Maou reinforcements," Sona said, opening a hole in the barrier.
"I'll probably sleep for days after this," Haru said, vanishing inside.
"Will he be okay, Kaichou?" Tsubaki asked.
"We have to trust him," Sona replied, focusing on the barrier. *He'll be fine.*
---
**Scene Change**
As Haru headed to the battle, new mission notifications appeared.
*[New Mission: Survive]*
*[Reward: 2,000,000 TK]*
*[Reward: 4,000 PDS]*
*[New Mission: Defeat Kokabiel]*
*[Reward: 5,000,000]*
*[Reward: 10,000 PDS]*
*Surviving's good, but defeating him's better. Looks like I'm going all out.*
Haru drew Dark Repulser, coating it with Armament Haki, turning it black with a faint purple aura.
*I can't waste magic like against Riser. Elemental attacks burn too much MP. If I stick to Haki and reinforcement, I can fight for hours. The crystal's my last resort—maybe it'll let me use full Hadou 90, but I'm not sure it'll take him down.*
Activating reinforcement, Haru saw a Cerberus charging Asia from behind. Using Sonido, he moved.
"ROOOOOOOAR!" The Cerberus roared, about to crush Asia with its paw. "ASIA!" the Occult Research Club screamed.
A sharp sound rang out.
With Sonido, Haru slashed the Cerberus multiple times, severing a head, a leg, then another head. Appearing in front, he raised Dark Repulser, its purple aura glowing. Seconds later, a slashing energy split the Cerberus in two.
The energy carved a deep trench in the ground, stopping short of the barrier.
"Haru!" Rias ran to him.
Kokabiel launched a spear of light at her.
Haru appeared behind Rias with Sonido. "Full Counter," he said, flicking Dark Repulser's tip at the spear. It turned into a holy energy orb, returning to Kokabiel with double the power and speed.
*BOOM!* The orb exploded on contact, enveloping Kokabiel in black smoke.
"What?!" Rias gasped.
"Don't turn your back on the enemy in a fight," Haru said sternly, not looking at her.
"Sorry, I was worried something happened to you," Rias said, remorseful.
"WHO ARE YOU?" a furious voice boomed from above.
"Just a mere human," Haru replied.
"Human? Kukuku, I see. White hair, blue eyes. Azazel's interested in you since he saw a DevilTube video of you nullifying the Phoenix's regeneration without Church involvement," Kokabiel said, excited, returning to his floating throne.
Seeing Kokabiel wasn't attacking, Haru deactivated reinforcement and Armament Haki but kept Observation Haki active.
"It's complete," an old man's voice said—Valper Galilei, a short, gray-haired, mustached priest with black eyes.
The four Excaliburs at the school's center emitted intense light. Everyone, including Issei, turned to it. Issei, gripping his arm, stared at Haru's sword in terror.
"The four Excaliburs will become one," Valper said. A divine light engulfed the academy.
Haru, unbothered, used Observer on someone else.
*[Freed Sellzen]*
*[Race: Artificial Human]*
*[Title: Psychopathic Genius]*
*[HP: 50,000]*
*[MP: 5,000]*
*[VIT: 500]*
*[INT: 50]*
*[STR: 150]*
*[AGI: 600]*
*[DEX: 1,000]*
*[LUK: 5,000]*
*[Gamer: Hostile]*
A young man with short white hair and red eyes, dressed as a priest, often with a disturbing smile.
Haru's eyes widened as the light faded. He stared at Freed. *What the hell? Artificial? I thought he was a Church genius turned rogue priest. But he was created by humans, just like me? Conceived in that medical facility—not that I'd call those lunatics doctors,* Haru thought, chuckling.
When the light cleared, a Holy Sword stood at the school's center, emitting a blue-white aura (golden in the anime, maybe).
"The light from the Excaliburs' fusion completed the magic circle on the ground. This city will be destroyed in under twenty minutes. The only way to stop it is to defeat Kokabiel," Valper said, shocking everyone except Haru, who didn't care much.
"Freed!" Kokabiel called.
"What's up, boss?" Freed replied.
"Use the Excalibur formed from the four," Kokabiel ordered.
"Right, right. Geez, my boss knows how to use people recklessly. But I'm honored to wield Excalibur-chan, now so splendid! Like this? Uhehehe! Time to slice some demons!" Freed grinned wickedly, gripping the Excalibur.
"Hey, Rias Gremory's Knight. If you're still up for it, let's destroy that Excalibur together," Xenovia said to Kiba.
"Will that be okay?" Kiba asked.
Xenovia laughed. "No issue if I retrieve the Excalibur fragment acting as its core. Since Freed's using it, it's a holy sword that's not a holy sword. Even if it were, it's just a weapon—it changes based on its wielder. That's a heretical sword."
Haru thought, *That emo jerk was obsessed with destroying Excalibur earlier. This is stupid.*
"Kukuku," Valper laughed. "Valper Galilei, I'm a survivor of the Holy Sword Project. No, I was killed by you, to be precise. I kept living as a demon," Kiba said calmly, his eyes burning with hatred.
"Oh? A survivor of that project. What misfortune, meeting you here. It's fate, fufufu," Valper said arrogantly, as if others were beneath him.
"I love Holy Swords. They appear in my dreams, probably because I was obsessed with Excalibur's legend as a child. When I learned I couldn't wield it, I despaired," Valper began, telling a tedious story.
"I admired those who could, since I never would. That feeling grew so strong I started experiments to create wielders. It's complete, thanks to you and the others," Valper said.
Haru and Issei shared a rare thought: *An old man's past? Disgusting.*
"Complete? You discarded us as failures," Kiba said, skeptical.
Valper nodded. "I realized a key factor was needed to wield Holy Swords. I used the number of those factors to study their potential. Many test subjects had the elements but lacked the numerical value to use Excalibur. So I concluded: can we extract and combine those elements?"
"I see. The blessing given to Holy Sword users is…" Xenovia gritted her teeth, realizing the truth.
"Exactly, Holy Sword girl. We extracted the sacred elements from those who had them and crystallized them," Valper said, pulling a glowing orb from his pocket. "This advanced Holy Sword research. Yet, the Church fools banished me for heresy and took my research. Seeing you, I know someone completed it—Michael. He made me a criminal, and this is the result? Typical of that angel. Even if he extracts elements, he wouldn't kill the subjects. That makes him more human than me. Kukuku," Valper laughed gleefully.
"You killed my comrades to use their elements for Holy Swords?" Kiba asked, voice dripping with murderous intent.
"Exactly. This orb—I used three on Freed. This is the last," Valper said.
"Hyahahaha! Others died because their bodies couldn't sync with the elements! Hmm, that makes me special," Freed interjected.
"You thought guys like me were dangerous, right, Ise-kun? Nah, I won't die that easily," Freed said, reading Issei's thoughts.