Chapter 32- Kokabiel vs Occult Research Club

"Only someone as crazy as you would understand a pervert even crazier," Haru said beside Rias, nearly dying of boredom.

"Don't be mean to Issei-kun, Haru," Rias replied, pouting.

"I'm not kissing you in the middle of a battlefield," Haru said, reading her pout.

"How cruel, Haru-kun," Rias teased, pouting even more cutely.

"YOU TWO, STOP FLIRTING!" Kokabiel roared from the sky.

"Ara ara, Buchou, you should share Haru with me too," Akeno said, hugging Haru from behind.

"I bet that guy screws tons of devils. I'm jealous now, hyahahaha!" Freed said, surprised, then laughed maniacally.

"Valper Galilei, how many lives did you sacrifice for your greed and experiments?" Kiba's hands trembled, an aura of hatred radiating intensely from him.

"Hm. Since you mention it, I'll give you that orb. My research has reached a point where we can mass-produce these orbs in the right environment. First, I'll destroy this city with Kokabiel. Then, I'll gather the legendary Holy Swords scattered worldwide. Next, I'll mass-produce Holy Sword users and start a war against Michael and the Vatican with fused Excaliburs. I'll show the results of my research to those idiot angels and their followers who hate me," Valper declared, tossing the orb away as if it no longer interested him. It rolled to Kiba's feet. He picked it up, caressing it with distress, love, and tenderness.

"...Everyone…" Tears streamed down Kiba's face, his expression a mix of sorrow and rage. Then it happened. The orb in Kiba's hand began emitting deep lights, spreading to cover the entire school. From the ground, the lights took shape—human forms. Boys and girls emitting a blue-white glow surrounded Kiba.

*It wasn't this bright in the anime,* Haru thought.

"The various powers in this field made the spirits in the orb appear," Akeno explained.

"Everyone! I... I... I've always thought about this. It's not right that I'm the only one who survived... Some had bigger dreams than me. Some wanted to live more than me. Is it fair that I'm the only one living peacefully…?" A spirit of a boy smiled, seeming to say something, moving his lips silently. Tears flowed from Kiba's eyes. The spirits of the boys and girls began moving their lips in rhythm.

Kiba started singing while crying.

*How sad, but pathetic. He seeks revenge, but in the end... We're different. I completed my revenge, yet I still have nightmares of the past. Why's the pervert crying?* Haru thought.

The spirits ascended to the sky, transforming into a great light that fell upon Kiba, as if blessing him.

"Kibaaaaa! Crush both Freed and the Excalibur!" Issei shouted.

"Ise-kun," Kiba said.

"You're the Knight of the Gremory group and my comrade! My friend! Fight, Kibaaaaa! Don't waste your feelings and spirit!" Issei continued.

"Yuuto! Do it! You have to finish this yourself! Surpass the Excalibur! You're Rias Gremory's servant! My Knight won't lose to a mere Excalibur!" Rias declared.

"Yuuto-kun! I believe in you!" Akeno added.

"Yuuto-senpai!" Koneko called.

"Please, do your best!" Asia urged.

"Hey, Kiba," Haru shouted. "If you don't destroy that Excalibur, I'll make you suffer the Thousand Years of Death," he said seriously, his eyes promising pain.

"H-H-Haru-sama!" Kiba stammered, clutching his backside.

"Hahaha! Why're you crying? You were singing joyfully like a little ghost. It's such a nuisance. It's the worst. You know I hate that song. Just hearing it makes my skin crawl! I don't want to hear it anymore. I'm at my limit! I'll cut you to pieces to calm down! With this final Excalibur fused from four!" Freed ranted, waving Excalibur like a stick.

"Freed Sellzen, the spirits of my comrades reside within you. I can't let you do evil with them any longer! These tears are tears of determination... I'll become a sword. My comrades, fused with my spirit. Let's overcome this together. The feelings I couldn't express back then! The wishes I couldn't fulfill! Here and now! I'll become the sword of Buchou and my comrades! Please, answer my feelings! Sword Rebirth!!"

Kiba's Sacred Gear glowed with a holy and demonic aura. "Balance-Breaker: Sword of the Betrayer. You must receive the power of a sword with both holy and demonic power in your body."

*[Kiba Yuuto]* 

*[Race: Devil]* 

*[Title: Blonde Emo]* 

*[Equipment: Sword Birth]* 

*[HP: 25,000]* 

*[MP: 15,000]* 

*[VIT: 250]* 

*[INT: 150]* 

*[STR: 200]* 

*[AGI: 900]* 

*[DEX: 1,500]* 

*[LUK: 100]* 

*[Gamer: Friend]* 

*He got stronger. The evolution of devils is terrifying,* Haru thought, checking Kiba's stats.

Kiba rushed at Freed. Freed tried to track him but was outmaneuvered. *CLANG!* Freed blocked Kiba's attack, but the holy aura on Excalibur was being erased by Kiba's sword.

"This sword surpasses Holy Swords!?" Freed said, shocked. "Tch!" He pushed Kiba back and retreated.

"Stretch!" Excalibur twisted as if alive, moving erratically toward Kiba with intense speed. Kiba dodged. The blade split into two at the tip, and Freed attacked from all directions. Kiba blocked, reading Freed's killing intent easily.

"Why? Why can't I hit you!? You shouldn't be able to control a Holy Sword! You shouldn't have the legend to be the final sword!" Freed shouted, his face a mix of pleasure and impatience.

"If it was the final sword, it wouldn't have been broken," Haru answered Freed's doubt.

Freed attacked Haru. Using Observation Haki, Haru coated his hand with Armament Haki and grabbed the sword.

"What!?" Freed gasped.

"Your duel's not with me," Haru said, kicking Freed in the groin. "AAAAAAHHHH!" Freed rolled on the ground, clutching himself. "Get back there and fight Kiba."

Freed grabbed Excalibur and resumed the fight.

"Fufufu, I want to have fun with you, Haru. *Nibble*," Akeno said, biting Haru's ear.

"Akeno," Rias scolded. "You still need Sona's permission."

"Sorry, Buchou, but I can't hold back anymore," Akeno said.

*So that's what she needs permission for. I feel like an object,* Haru thought.

*CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!* Kiba's sword clashed with Freed's transparent Holy Sword. Kiba blocked every attack.

Freed's eyes narrowed, shocked.

"Keep it up," Xenovia interjected, holding a Holy Sword in her left hand and raising her right. "Saint Peter. Saint Basil the Great. Saint Denis. Holy Mother Mary. Please hear my voice." The space distorted, and Xenovia pulled a sword with a monstrous holy aura from a dimensional rift. "In the names of the saints within this blade, I release it. Durandal!"

"Durandal!? You weren't an Excalibur wielder!?" Valper and even Kokabiel were stunned.

"Wrong. I was originally Durandal's wielder. I was also chosen for Excalibur. That's all," Xenovia said, assuming a dual-sword stance with Durandal and Excalibur.

"Absurd! My research didn't reach a stage where someone could wield Durandal!" Valper exclaimed.

"Of course. Even the Vatican couldn't artificially create a Durandal wielder," Xenovia replied.

"Then how?" Valper asked.

"Unlike artificial Holy Sword users like Irina, I'm a natural-born wielder," Xenovia said, leaving Valper speechless.

"Durandal is a sword that devastates beyond imagination. It cuts everything it touches. It barely listens to me most of the time. That's why I keep it in another dimension—it's dangerous otherwise. Even I, its wielder, have suffered with it. Now, Freed Sellzen, thanks to you, we can have the decisive battle between Excalibur and Durandal. I'm trembling with excitement. Don't die in one hit, okay? At least use Excalibur to its fullest!"

"Hey, Xenovia, Excalibur's incomplete," Haru shouted.

"Hah, true. Thanks for the reminder, Kurokami," Xenovia said.

Durandal's blade radiated more holy aura than Freed's Excalibur, surpassing Kiba's aura.

"Is this even allowed!? This situation!? You shitty bitch! I don't need this setup!" Freed screamed, charging Xenovia with killing intent. Kiba couldn't track him.

*GAKIIN!*

With one lateral swing, Durandal shattered Excalibur. The swing's pressure left a massive hole in the school field.

*Holy shit, that thing's stronger than in the anime,* Haru thought, sweating at Durandal's power.

"This is just a fraction of a Holy Sword's power, huh. It can't even compete with my Durandal," Xenovia sighed, bored.

"You serious!? Excalibur-chan's broken to pieces!? Horrible! This is awful! Kaaaa! Was it wrong to use something broken from the start? The shallowness of humans. The Church's madness. I want to grow up glimpsing it!" Freed ranted, his killing intent weakening.

Kiba charged. Freed tried to block with Excalibur's remains.

*BAAKIIN!* A faint sound of breaking echoed as Excalibur crumbled.

"You saw that? Our power surpassed Excalibur," Kiba said to himself.

*Idiot, Xenovia already broke it with Durandal,* Haru thought, seeing Kiba happy with his pointless revenge.

Freed collapsed, blood oozing from wounds on his shoulder and side from Kiba's attack.

"Holy-demonic sword…? Impossible… The opposites can't coexist," Valper said, stunned.

"Valper Galilei, prepare yourself," Kiba said, pointing his holy-demonic sword.

"I see! I understand now! Holy and demonic. It explains it—if the beings representing both become unbalanced! Not just the Maous, but God too…"

*STAB.*

A spear of light pierced Valper's chest.

*GOUGH.*

Valper collapsed, spewing blood.

"Valper, you were remarkable. Your conclusion proves it. But I don't care if you're with me or not. I could've done this myself," Kokabiel said sarcastically from the air, laughing. "Hahahaha! Kahahahahahaha!" A crushing pressure emanated from him.

*[Kokabiel]* 

*[Race: Fallen Angel]* 

*[Title: Fallen Eunuch]* 

*[HP: 1,000,000/995,768]* 

*[MP: 5,000,000/3,968,000]* 

*[VIT: 10,000]* 

*[INT: 50,000]* 

*[STR: 1,500]* 

*[AGI: 10,000]* 

*[DEX: 5,000]* 

*[LUK: 100]* 

*[Gamer: Hostile]* 

Kokabiel, a young-looking fallen angel with long black hair, red eyes, pointed ears, and five pairs of black wings, wore a black robe with detailed accessories.

*What a bullshit system. I'm not strong enough to see this yet. Maybe the mission lets me,* Haru thought, drinking two MP potions from his inventory, recovering 10,000 MP. *Thanks for wasting MP, Kokabiel.*

"What's that, Haru?" Rias asked.

"Just medicine," Haru said, tossing the vials. "Would've been better with alcohol."

"What's it for?" Rias asked curiously.

"So I don't die of boredom," Haru replied. "Focus on the enemy. I don't want you dying here," he added, glancing back.

"Boost Sekiryuutei's power and transfer it to someone else," Kokabiel said confidently, infuriating Rias.

*Idiot devil,* Haru thought.

*[Rias Gremory]* 

*[Race: Devil]* 

*[Title: Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess]* 

*[HP: 50,000]* 

*[MP: 80,000/40,000]* 

*[VIT: 500]* 

*[INT: 800]* 

*[STR: 70]* 

*[AGI: 40]* 

*[DEX: 80]* 

*[LUK: 350]* 

*[Gamer: Second Bride]* 

"Huh!?" Haru was shocked by "Second Bride." *Bride? Second? I'm sure I didn't propose,* he thought, wide-eyed.

"Something wrong, Haru?" Rias asked, concerned.

"Nothing, just remembered something stupid," Haru lied blatantly.

Rias turned to Kokabiel. "You're giving us a chance!? Don't move!"

"Don't move? Hahaha. You're the ones playing. Think you can beat me?" Kokabiel mocked.

While Kokabiel waited, Haru activated reinforcement, coated both hands and his sword with Haki, and vanished with Sonido.

*With reinforcement, my STR's 2,340. I can't match his speed or senses, but his AGI's only maxed in flight.*

"Issei-kun, activate your…" Rias began, but Haru appeared before Kokabiel, sword raised. Kokabiel had a light sword ready.

Their blades clashed. Haru stomped, cracking the ground, and pushed Kokabiel back three meters with brute force. Kokabiel's light sword shattered.

"Hahaha, Sekiryuutei, transfer your power to the human," Kokabiel said, as a murderous intent flooded the area.

*[Devil's Child: Activated]* 

*[Due to Intense Hatred: Reinforcement Evolved: Burst Lv1]* 

*[Burst Lv1: All Stats x2, Once Daily]* 

*[All MP Restored]* 

*[Haru Kurokami - Burst]* 

*[Race: Human: 99.9% / God: 0.1%]* 

*[Title: Devil's Child]* 

*[Equipment: None]* 

*[HP: 450,000]* 

*[MP: 540,000]* 

*[VIT: 4,500]* 

*[INT: 5,400]* 

*[STR: 1,560]* 

*[AGI: 2,400]* 

*[DEX: 980]* 

*[LUK: 2,400]* 

"Hey, Fallen Eunuch," Haru said with contempt, his voice dripping with disdain, amplified by his black-and-purple aura.

"Hahaha, come on, hum—" Kokabiel didn't finish as Haru appeared, slashing down. Kokabiel dodged as a cutting energy sliced everything in its path. Haru swung sideways at Kokabiel's head. Kokabiel blocked with a light sword, but Haru's blade cut through, grazing Kokabiel's neck.

They stepped back, staring intensely. Kokabiel laughed. "Fuhahaha! Good! This power flow—devils have fallen far for a human to surpass them!"

"Buchou, take it. *Transfer*," Issei's gauntlet echoed.

"Hah!" Haru scowled, furious. "Haru, get out. I'll handle him," Rias said, radiating immense power.

"Tsk," Haru clicked his tongue, using Sonido to retreat. He noticed Kokabiel channeling magic. *What's he doing? Observer,* Haru thought.

"Blast!" Rias unleashed a high-value demonic power coated in destruction. *GOOOOOOON!* The shockwave shook the ground, heading for Kokabiel. He tried to deflect it with both hands, gathering fallen angel light energy.

"DOOOOOOOOOOOON!" Kokabiel took Rias's blast. His expression turned grim. "Nuuuuuuuuuun!" The blast was pushed back, losing form.

Kokabiel emerged unscathed, though his robe was tattered, and his hands bled. Rias's breathing was ragged.

*That bastard's toying with us. It's impossible to beat him,* Haru thought, checking Kokabiel's stats.

*[Kokabiel]* 

*[Race: Fallen Angel]* 

*[Title: Fallen Eunuch]* 

*[HP: 1,000,000/905,768]* 

*[MP: 5,000,000/3,068,000]* 

*[VIT: 10,000]* 

*[INT: 50,000]* 

*[STR: 30,000]* 

*[AGI: 10,000]* 

*[DEX: 5,000]* 

*[LUK: 100]* 

*[Gamer: Amused]* 

*He multiplied his STR 20x by channeling magic into his muscles. Even with the crystal, Hadou 90 won't cut it. Hadou 99 could destroy the city—too risky. Rias's aura hit 4,000,000 MP with Issei's 50 boosts, reaching low Ultimate-Class devil power.*

"Lightning!" Akeno fired a bolt at Kokabiel, who was focused on Rias. He dissipated it with a wing flick.

"You dare interfere!? Barakiel's heir!?" Kokabiel sneered.

"Don't compare me to him!" Akeno snapped, enraged, firing more lightning, all deflected by Kokabiel's wings.

Kokabiel laughed, nullifying Akeno's attacks. "For you to become a devil! Hahaha! You have interesting servants, Rias Gremory! Sekiryuutei! The Holy Sword Project's remnant reaching Balance Breaker! Barakiel's daughter! And a human. You have odd tastes, like your brother!"

"I won't forgive you for insulting my brother, our Maou! More than that, for insulting my servants, I'll take your life!" Rias said, standing.

Kokabiel sneered. "Come, try to destroy me, Maou's sister! Welsh Dragon's master! Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess! You face a long-time archenemy of demons! If you don't see this as a chance, your reputation will be tarnished!"

Kiba and Xenovia charged Kokabiel.

Kokabiel created stronger light swords, blocking Kiba and Xenovia with one and Haru with another. "Hmph! Durandal, huh! Unlike the broken Excalibur, its light is something! And the human's sword isn't bad either, but…!" *BOOOOOOM!* Haru was sent flying by an invisible force from Kokabiel's free hand. The air trembled, buzzing in their ears. Kokabiel's other hand emitted a shockwave, making Xenovia float. He kicked her stomach. "Gaa!" Xenovia flew back, screaming.

"It depends on the wielder, girl! You can't control Durandal yet! Its previous wielder had unmatched strength!" Kokabiel said, parrying Kiba. Xenovia adjusted mid-air and landed, charging again. "Kokabiel! I'll eliminate you with my holy-demonic sword! I'm not allowed to lose!" Kiba shouted.

"Ho! Simultaneous attacks from a Holy Sword, a holy-demonic sword, and a human's sword. Interesting! Excellent! Come! You can't beat me unless it's too much for you!" Kokabiel blocked Haru's attacks with another light sword.

"No!" Koneko landed a punch from behind. Kokabiel's wings turned into sharp blades, slashing her. She collapsed, bleeding heavily. "Koneko-chan!" Kiba shouted, lowering his guard and taking a light sword hit. *GIIIIN!* A crack appeared in Kiba's sword. *DON!* An invisible force sent the three flying. Haru didn't go far.

*Damn it, I can't go all out with Xenovia and Kiba nearby,* Haru thought, irritated.

Xenovia and Kiba panted on the ground. Asia and Issei rushed to Koneko, Asia healing her with her Sacred Gear. "Kokabiel! I'm not done!" Kiba said, standing as his sword's crack vanished.

"Hahaha! Still coming at me? Fine! But know you two are holding the human back from fighting all out!" Kokabiel taunted.

"What?" Kiba said, shocked. *ZAN!* Kiba summoned holy-demonic swords around Kokabiel.

"You think you've trapped me?" Kokabiel smirked, his ten wings turning into blades, easily shattering the swords. Kiba attacked head-on, but Kokabiel stopped it with two fingers. Haru saw an opening and sent a cutting energy at Kokabiel's arm.

Kokabiel pushed Kiba back with his wing-swords, blocking Haru's attack. The purple energy dragged him back fifteen meters, his wings smoking but undamaged.

"Seriously, how tough are those wings?" Haru sighed.

Kokabiel grinned as some feathers cracked. Everyone looked terrified, realizing they couldn't do much. "Impressive, human. You have potential. But even after losing your master, you devils and God's followers still fight, huh!" Kokabiel said.

"I don't serve anyone," Haru replied, annoyed.

"What do you mean?" Rias asked, confused.

Kokabiel laughed loudly, finding it amusing. "Fuhaha, fuhahahahahahahaha! That's right! I forgot! The truth wasn't revealed to you underlings! I'll tell you. In the war between the three factions, not only the Four Maous but God Himself died!"

Everyone was shocked, except Haru, who didn't care, strategizing.

*The air slash didn't seem effective, but…*

*[Kokabiel]* 

*[Race: Fallen Angel]* 

*[Title: Fallen Eunuch]* 

*[HP: 1,000,000/895,768]* 

*[MP: 5,000,000/3,000,000]* 

*[VIT: 10,000]* 

*[INT: 50,000]* 

*[STR: 3,000]* 

*[AGI: 10,000]* 

*[DEX: 5,000]* 

*[LUK: 100]* 

*[Gamer: Amused]* 

*He took damage.*

"It's normal you didn't know. Who'd say God died? Humans are incomplete. Without God, they can't control their hearts or follow laws. Even we fallen angels and demons couldn't tell our subordinates. You don't know where info about God might leak. Only the top or select few among the three factions know. Though Valper seemed to figure it out," Kokabiel said, distracting the others. Haru bought an MP potion from the system shop, restoring all his MP.

"After the war, the angels lost their God, demons lost their Maous and most high-class devils, and fallen angels lost most of their kin besides leaders. It wasn't just exhaustion. All factions fell so low they relied on humans to continue their lines. Especially fallen angels and angels, who can only reproduce with humans. Fallen angels grow if angels fall. But pure angels can't increase after losing God. Even pure devils are rare, right?"

*Angels reproduce with humans?* Haru thought, impressed. *I'm going after some angel girls, hehehe.*

"Lies… It's a lie…" Xenovia looked like she was losing strength, her face filled with unbearable panic.

"The truth is, another great war won't happen unless someone starts it deliberately. All three factions went through hell last time. Everyone decided it was pointless to continue with God and the Maous dead. Even that bastard Azazel declared no second war after losing most of his men! It's hard to bear! Truly hard! To lower your weapon after firing!? Don't mock me! If we'd continued, we could've won! Yet he…! Is there value in fallen angels who only live through humans with Sacred Gears!?" Kokabiel ranted, his face twisted with rage.

The truth hit harder than expected. Asia covered her mouth, eyes wide, trembling. Though a devil, her faith hadn't faded. Haru, unbothered, was lost in his own world. Kiba, observing, thought about the situation.

"…God doesn't exist? God… is dead? Then our love from Him, His divine protection…" Kokabiel laughed at Asia's doubt.

"Exactly. There's no love or protection from God. He's gone. Michael's doing a good job, taking God's place, managing angels and humans. If God's system is running, prayers, blessings, and exorcisms work. But compared to when God was here, believers have dwindled. That kid with the holy-demonic sword created it because the balance between God and the Maous broke. Holy and demonic powers shouldn't mix. When those ruling them—God and the Maous—disappear, unique phenomena occur." Kokabiel's sarcastic words hit Asia, and she collapsed.

"Asia! Hold on, Asia!" Issei shouted, holding her.