Chapter 12 - 11 - Truth

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"A Durandal?!"

"You were not the wielder of the Excalibur?!"

"Wrong. I was originally the wielder of Durandal. I was also chosen as the holder of the Excalibur. That's all."

The blade of Durandal in Xenovia's hand started to produce more holy-aura than the Excalibur Freed held.

With a single slash, the Excalibur shattered.

"Are you serious?! Are you really serious right now?!"

Freed started to panic and taking that opportunity, Kiba went right at him.

Checkmate!

- - - - -

"Balba Galilei. Prepare yourself."

Kiba pointed his Holy-Demonic sword.

"HAHAHA...Holy-Demonic Sword...A cursed abomination. Do you want to know the reason why that is possible?"

Xenovia stepped forward as she pointed Durandal as well.

"What do you mean?"

"Fuhaha, fuahahahahahaha! It seems the truth wasn't revealed to you lower guys! Then I will now tell you. In the war between the three sides, not only the Yondai-Maou, but God also died!"

...!.....?!

Everyone became shocked beyond words.

... ...God didn't exist anymore?

Xenovia seemed like she lost all her strength as she stumbled to her knees with a panicked expression that was too unbearable to look at.

An active believer. God's servant. A person who lived by serving God as her mission. If the existence of God was rejected, and she lost the means to live, it was only natural.

"... ...God doesn't exist? God... ...is dead? Then..."

Asia started to cover her mouth with her hands as her whole body shook.

"Fuhahah..." However, before Balba could finish laughing--

DON!

The demonic power shot by Rias left nothing of Balba.

At that moment--

Something bright fell from the sky.

FLASH!

There was a white thing glowing. A white plated armor.

"Hakuryuukou. ... ...Vanishing Dragon."

???!!!

Laying stone cold on the Hakuryuukou's shoulder, was Kokabiel.

"So--"

"It was you who took down Kokabiel, Vanishing Dragon?"

However, the Hakuryuukou shook his head as he picked up the fallen Freed.

"It seems you took care of Balba and Freed. I have to thank you for that. As for Kokabiel, I only cleaned up the mess. It was mainly Uchiha Sasuke who did the job of defeating him. You should thank him instead. It seems I was quite unneeded in this mission."

"Sasuke did?" Rias had a shocked expression on her face.

"Yeah. You should thank your lucky stars that the Sekiryuutei took care of Kokabiel for you. After all, you guys don't stand a chance against him."

"The day will come when he and I battle. After all, the red and white must finally draw to a conclusion"

With that--

The Hakuryuukou turned into a streak of white light and flew up.

- - - - -

"Hmph. So that Xenovia girl became your servant? Good for you."

Sasuke was currently sitting in the living room along with Rias.

"Yeah...after she found out that God had died in the previous war, she decided to become a devil. However, her friend Irina--"

Sasuke noticed the change in Rias's expression and he roughly guessed the reason.

"She is angry at her friend for becoming a devil? I take it none of you told that Irina person God had died."

"That girl is a firm believer of God and Xenovia did not wish to break the news on her."

"Sasuke, I didn't take the chance to say it properly before but--"

"I'm really grateful for you. Thank you for stopping Kokabiel."

"I wasn't particularly going to help you guys. That fallen-angel came to fight me by his own accord."

"Yeah...but I'm still grateful."

Rias lowered her head as a small smile spread across her face.

- - - - -

Sasuke was sitting alone at the same bench by the lake.

"Is this seat taken?"

Sasuke already knew who it was without turning his head.

"You really like this spot eh." The man started with an innocent question.

"Yeah."

"It seems you were targeted recently. Been busy, haven't you?"

"Yeah, trouble keeps finding me recently." Sasuke replied without once turning his head.

"Sitting so comfortably on a bench by a lake. You are not afraid someone else will target you again?" The man's eyes started to shine.

However, Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.

"They can try if they wish to. But--"

"I won't guarantee they will come out alive."

"HAHAHAHA! You're a really honest guy, aren't you?" The man started to issue out a loud laugh as he stood up.

"Well, I have to be going. I am also very busy these few days."

The man raised his hand as he walked away.

"I'm sure we will meet again real soon. Uchiha Sasuke."

A glint flashed through Sasuke's eyes but he did not bother to watch the man's silhouette leave.

- - - - -

"And? Why did you bring me here?"

Sasuke asked a black hair girl who was currently wearing a shrine's maiden outfit.

"Sorry about inviting you over so suddenly. But, there is someone who wishes to meet with you, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke was standing at the bottom of a passage of stairs leading up towards a shrine.

"Rias is not with you?"

Akeno started to leak out her usual Ufufufu laugh.

"Yeah, Kouh Academy will soon be the meeting place between the Three Factions. Rias is currently meeting up with Sirzechs-sama."

"Meeting place?"

Akeno turned around at Sasuke's question.

"Ara Ara. You didn't know, Sasuke-kun? I thought Rias would have told you."

"Yeah, I have been busy recently."

What Sasuke didn't mention was that he was leaving the house early and coming back late everyday because he was testing out something.

That was why he hadn't seen Rias after that talk.

"I see." Akeno nodded her head.

"The Three Factions will be having a discussion at Kuoh Academy. This will be the first time such a meeting takes place. The incident with Kokabiel was what pushed the meeting to take place."

Akeno started explaining to Sasuke as they walked up the stairs.

Just as they reached the top, a voice that was calm and tranquil issued out from above.

"He is the Red Dragon Emperor?"

A handsome-looking man with long blond hair and green eyes was floating above the shrine.

Growing from his back, were twelve wings colored in gold and the man himself was bathed in golden light.

However, Sasuke didn't sense a trace of hostility from the man.

- - - - -

"Nice to meet you, Uchiha Sasuke. I am Michael, Chief of the Angels."