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  ....

  The tension in the air alpable. Outside the Occult Research Club, the night was still, yet the battlefield was anything but. The faint glow of streetlights barely illumihe courtyard, casting long shadows over the waiting spectators.

  I pointed [Excalibur] at Xenovia, a casual smirk on my lips.

  "Alright, let's see how much power you unleash with [Durandal]."

  Xenovia's grip tightened around the holy sword's hilt. She knew she was outmatched—her instincts screamed it—but she refused to back down. With a determined gre, she lunged forward, [Durandal] slig through the air with a divine hum.

  'Still too slow.'

  I sidestepped effortlessly, watg her bde pass inches from my chest.

  "Your speed is g, and your swordsmanship is sloppy," I said, dodging her follow-up strikes with minimal effort.

  Xenovia gritted her teeth, refusing to let frustration cloud her focus. She pressed forward, ung a relentless barrage of sshes, trying to break through my defense.

  It was useless.

  Every attack, every strike—I was always just out of reach.

  My movements were precise, almost mog in their ease. Worse yet, I wasn't even using my full strength.

  Xenovia noticed it too.

  One hand.

  I was wielding [Excalibur] with a single hand, barely exerting myself, yet I was still pushing her back.

  Her frustration boiled over.

  "HYAAAAH!!"

  Golden energy surged from [Durandal], crag wildly as she swung with everything she had. The sheer force of the attack ed the air, sending a shockwave rippling outward.

  The courtyard trembled.

  Even Rias and the others, who had remained silent observers, stiffe the overwhelming holy power radiating from Xenovia's bde.

  But the result was the same.

  I stopped it with one hand.

  The moment [Durandal] struck my bde, a surge of bd crimson lightnied from my body, splitting the grouh us.

  Xenovia's eyes widened in shock.

  I vanished—and before she could react, my [Excalibur], imbued with immense power, sshed through the air.

  A moment ter, Xenovia was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a dull thud. [Durandal] slipped from her grasp, skidding across the dirt.

  I sighed.

  "You lose."

  Xenovia y there, dazed, her breath ragged. Slowly, she forced herself up, her gaze locked onto me.

  "You're not a true Holy Sword Wielder yet," I tinued.

  "What…?" Her voice barely escaped her lips.

  She had brought out [Durandal], poured everything into her attacks—a, she couldn't even touch me.

  "Even though you wield two Holy Swords, your teique and power are far from enough to be reized as a true Holy Sword Wielder."

  I walked forward, stopping just a few feet from her.

  "Your performance was impressive, but that's because you're borrowing Durandal's strength, not unleashing its full power. The previous wielder of [Durandal]—Vasco Strada—could sy an Ultimate-css Devil with a single swing. What about you?"

  Silence.

  Xenovia ched her fists, her expression clouded.

  "…Maybe you're right," she admitted. "I'm not worthy of [Durandal] yet."

  She had fought with everything she had—yet it hadn't been enough. The realizatio a bitter taste in her mouth.

  ...

  Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Kiba's battle with Irina was also ing to an end.

  In the inal timeline, Kiba would have been pletely overpowered by the Holy Sword's natural suppression and lost.

  But that was before my training.

  Now?

  The differen strength was clear.

  A few moments ter, Irina was disarmed, her [Excalibur Mimibsp;falling to the ground. She stood motionless, her face pale, uo process what had happened.

  Kiba didn't say a word. He simply sheathed his sword and walked over to me.

  I smiled.

  "Good work, Kiba."

  "Thank you, Kyoya." Kiba nodded, gratitude fshing in his eyes.

  A soft chuckle broke the silence.

  "Ara~ It looks like everything's beeled."

  Akeno's voice carried amusement, but her gaze flickered toward Xenovia and Irina, who stood there defeated aed.

  "Yeah," I muttered.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  Then, to everyone's surprise, Xenovia and Irina stepped forward—and bowed deeply.

  "Asia, Kiba… I apologize for what we said earlier. We were wrong."

  Asia flinched.

  "N-No, you don't have to apologize!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically.

  Kiba's expression remained unreadable, but he no longer looked at them with the same ess as before.

  Rias sighed.

  "Now, let's talk."

  Xenovia and Irina straighteheir expressions still clouded.

  "There's o worry," Rias said calmly. "This is yht with the Fallen Angels. As long as you don't bring trouble to us, we won't interfere."

  Xenovia hesitated for a moment before nodding.

  "Uood."

  But I wasn't about to let them off that easily.

  I g the two of them, my voice turning sharp.

  "You both should know by now—you're not strong enough."

  Xenovia's shoulders tensed.

  "Going up against Kokabiel with your current strength? That's suicide. Are you really pnning to gh with this mission?"

  Everyouro look at the Church duo.

  Xenovia and Irina exged a gheir eyes filled with sorrow. But even so—

  "Yes," Xenovia said firmly. "Even if it costs us our lives, we won't abandon this mission."

  Their resolve didn't waver.

  Rias sighed again.

  "The Church really is cruel… Sending them on a suicide mission like this."

  Everyone fell silent. Even Kiba, who hated the Church, couldn't bring himself to say anything.

  "Kiba," I said, watg him closely. "You've been ag different ever since you saw those Holy Swords. What's on your mind?"

  Kiba hesitated.

  I already khe answer.

  "Kiba," Rias spoke up softly. "Kyoya saved me—You trust him"

  Kiba's eyes widened slightly.

  "Buchou…"

  A moment passed. Then, with a slow breath, he nodded.

  "Alright, we'll leave you two alone," Rias said, gesturing for Asia and Akeno to follow her.

  Ohey were gone, I turned back to Kiba.

  "Talk to me, Kiba. We're friends, right?"

  He was silent for a moment—then, finally, he spoke.

  He told me everything.

  How the Church had taken him and a group of children, f them into Holy Sword Adaptability Experiments. How, when none of them succeeded, they were discarded like trash—poisoo death, their souls extracted for Holy Crystals (Holy Element).

  Kiba had only survived because of his 'friends' sacrifices'. He had carried that hatred with him ever since.

  I already khis story.

  What Kiba didn't know was that the Church itself hadn't ordered the massacre—it was Valper Galilei, a rogue stist obsessed with his own experiments.

  "Kiba," I said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me—and trust Rias. We're your allies. And as for those alchemical Holy Swords…"

  A smirk pyed at my lips.

  "I'll make sure you get your revenge."

  Kiba's eyes widened.

  Then, slowly, he nodded.

  ...

  Later that night, as we walked home, I suddenly stopped.

  "I've got something to take care of. I'll be back ter."

  Rias raised an eyebrow.

  She had no idea.

  The truth? I wasn't about to let Xenovia and Irina walk into their deaths.

  This was my ce, and I wasn't going to waste it.

  ????

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