While Rafsan was away in the Underworld, trouble broke out in Kuoh Town.
Issei and his group ran into the people who had stolen Excalibur once again.
They were excommunicated Church members, including the insane priest Freed Sellzen and Valper Galilei, the man behind the Holy Sword Project.
Putting Valper aside—he was only a researcher—Freed was someone Issei and the others had met long ago.
He was a cruel priest who served Grigori and had taken countless lives.
He had even tortured Asia after she was expelled from the Church.
The moment they saw each other, the fight began.
Freed faced the devil group with a grin, without a hint of fear.
He looked thrilled.
He licked his lips as he stared at them with murderous excitement.
He now wielded several Excaliburs.
The original Excalibur had been shattered during the Great War.
Using its fragments, the Church had forged seven Holy Swords.
Irina and Xenovia, both ace exorcists, each carried one.
Freed, however, held three.
Even with Xenovia, Irina, and the rest of the devil group, stopping him wasn’t easy.
Xenovia wielded Excalibur Destruction, and Irina carried Excalibur Mimic.
Freed held Excalibur Rapidly, Excalibur Nightmare, and Excalibur Transparency.
The three swords made him a difficult opponent.
Xenovia’s sword specialized in overwhelming damage, while Irina’s could change into any shape its wielder desired.
Freed’s blades increased speed, created illusions, manipulated dreams, and rendered both sword and wielder invisible.
Combined, they made Freed almost impossible to pin down.
In the end, even when they surrounded him, they could not stop his escape.
Freed and Valper vanished; they failed to catch them.
If someone among them had been able to see through invisibility, they might have had a chance, but no such person was present.
Koneko might have managed it if she had mastered senjutsu more deeply, but she viewed it as an evil art that would bring ruin to its user.
Even so, the failed mission didn’t shake their resolve, and they kept searching for the two criminals who had caused so much trouble.
Then someone far more dangerous appeared.
Kokabiel, the legendary fallen angel who had taken part in the Great War between angels, fallen angels, and devils, stood before them.
His ten wings spread wide as he looked down with contempt.
Even those who had heard Kokabiel’s reputation couldn’t hide their shock when they saw who he was holding carelessly in one hand.
“Irina!” Issei shouted.
“You can have her back.” Kokabiel threw Irina to the ground.
“Asia!” Issei ordered, glaring at Kokabiel as Asia rushed to heal her.
Irina was his childhood friend, and seeing her beaten left him unable to stay calm.
“This is our first meeting, daughter of House Gremory.
Your crimson hair is beautiful.
It reminds me of your brother, whom I hate so much I could vomit.” “Nice to meet you, Kokabiel, one of the leaders of the fallen angels.
I’m Rias Gremory.
Let me add one thing: we of House Gremory stand close to the Maou and avoid ordinary politics.
If you came here to discuss politics with me, it’s pointless.” Rias ignored Irina for the moment and fixed Kokabiel with a sharp stare.
“What did you do to her?” She still wanted to know why he was here.
“She visited our base.
This is your gift for our meeting.
Even so, I would never do something as foolish as talk with a Maou.
Well, if I raped and killed his little sister, then Sirzech’s anger would be directed at me.
That wouldn’t be bad.” “Why are you here?” “I’m going to rampage through this town, using your school, Kuoh Academy, as the starting point.
Then Sirzech will show up, right?” Rias’s face hardened.
“If you do that, the war between God, fallen angels, and devils will begin again.” Freed, standing beside Kokabiel, brandished four Excaliburs.
“This one on the right is Excalibur Rapidly.
The one on the left is Excalibur Nightmare.
The one on my hip is Excalibur Transparency.
I also took Excalibur Mimic from that girl over there!
And I’m thinking of taking Excalibur Destruction from the other girl too.
Hahaha!
Am I the first person in the world to possess this many Excaliburs?
I even got an element from that old man Valper that lets me wield holy swords.
Right now I’m in hyper mode, so I can use all of them, you know?
I’m invincible!
I’m the strongest!
Hyahahahaha!” Freed laughed as if it were all a joke.
“Valper’s holy-sword research is the real thing if it can produce results like this.
Honestly, it seemed suspicious when he joined my plan.” Kokabiel and Valper laughed together.
“What are you planning to do with the Excaliburs?” Rias asked, frowning.
“Hahaha!
Let’s start a war!
The little sister of Sirzech Lucifer, Rias Gremory!” Then a blinding light filled the area.
Their vision turned white, and when it cleared, Kokabiel, Valper, and Freed were gone.
“We have to get to school!” “Yes!” The street fell silent.
Asia rushed to Irina’s side without waiting for another order, while Issei clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
Rias stared at the spot where Kokabiel had disappeared.
“Everyone, we’re returning to Kuoh Academy.” No one questioned the order.
They couldn’t waste another second.
If Kokabiel intended to turn the school into a battlefield, they had to move now.
None of them realized that another threat was already closing in—one that involved someone who had never intended to become part of this conflict.
It really helps the story reach more readers.