Kiyoshi's POV
I originally planned to get the Sephiroth Grail and deal with Azazel, but I had to change my plan due to unexpected circumstances. The mechanism ended up in my hands, or rather, it was given to me, which is alarming. Rizevim Livan Lucifer, the son of Lucifer and the shadow leader of the "Khaos Brigade", decided to enter the game and also involve me in his plans. But who does he want to use me as: his lackey, a scapegoat, or a higher figure? This is unknown, but in any case, it is not pleasant.
Crom Cruach's presence here proves that the devil already knew about my resurrection, although this should not be the case. It is necessary to conduct a spy check in Kyoto to prevent information leakage. It is also worth speeding up our plans, because now everything can go wrong. We will have to meet with the heir of Lucifer, otherwise this warmonger can screw things up.
Having quickly thought over my actions, taking into account the new details, I had to abandon the idea of killing Azazel today. If earlier the consequences of his death could be predicted, now leaving the fallen one alive may be much more beneficial for us. For the biblical union, Rizevim is definitely an enemy, which means that until Shinto and I cross a certain line, such as killing the leader of Grigori or the sisters of the demon lords, they will first decide to deal with a more dangerous problem in the person of Lucifer's son. Therefore, having moved the bearer of the Grail and given the order to carefully study the dhampir for possible surprises, Akeno and I began to wait for the delegation of guests.
I consider Azazel a smart guy, which means he has already warned the allies and probably requested reinforcements before his arrival at the castle. My guess was confirmed as soon as they appeared in the throne room. Instead of active actions on the part of the fallen one, the raven decided to drag out time, simultaneously trying to break the barrier. Now such behavior plays into our hands, but how it all irritates me. If there is no way to get rid of the bird, then we need to get the maximum benefit from the situation. So, it's time to get our hands on Rias's —Bishop—.
***
A small provocation and the already driven dhampir finally loses control. Darkness enveloped the boy. He rushed at me with a roar, trying to strike with his hand, but I easily catch his hand, simultaneously burning him with my fire. A slight effort and Gasper's body, breaking a wide window, flies into the street. It is better to move the battlefield to an open space, away from the heirs of the clans and their retinue.
As expected, the fallen followed me, quickly dealing with the legionnaires. Hanging in the air, we looked at each other appraisingly, but suddenly a new servant of Rias joined us.
— Lost, girl? — I ask her, not taking my eyes off my opponent.
The girl flying on the wings of a bat frowned. She looked angrily, but said nothing. Turning her head, the demoness watched her raging comrade, surrounded by fiery figures.
The dhampir was using his mechanism to the fullest. Some of the legionnaires froze in place and were easily destroyed by the blows of the figure hiding in the darkness. More and more legionnaires appeared in place of the scattered warriors, overloading the ability to stop time.
— Akeno, — I contact my wife telepathically, — do you know anything about the darkness that the dhampir demonstrated?
— Sorry, but I have no idea. Gasper could not control his power and was afraid of it, so he practically did not use his mechanism.
— I see. It's okay that you don't know, — I reassure my beloved — she should not worry about trifles. Perhaps he himself uses this trick for the first time, since he lost control of himself. Okay, — Xenovia took Durandal in her hands, — don't get too carried away. In five minutes at most, enemy reinforcements will arrive here, so be prepared to retreat.
— Okay, good luck! — hearing her wishes, I ended the conversation.
Azazel formed a weapon of light in his hands, preparing for battle. So, it's time to begin the culmination of this meeting. I call upon the three strongest legionnaires in my ranks.
— Maybe you won't get in the way and go help your friend? — I turn to the blue-haired girl.
— Once I defeat you, these soldiers will disappear, — the girl raised the sword above her head with both hands. A large amount of energy began to emanate from Durandal. A swing — and an arc of several dozen meters flew at me.
The attack speed was high, but not enough to hit me. I dodge to the right. The Fallen had already come very close to me, wanting to finally end my life. One legionnaire rushed to intercept the angel, while the other two were busy with the former churchwoman.
— How ruthless of you, — Azazel commented with a grin as he cut down his opponent. — To do this to your adopted son.
— Shut up! I will free Vali from such a fate, — magic circles appeared in the man's hands, binding both parts of the fiery figure and not allowing the soul in front of him to dissipate. — After you are killed, his soul will be able to calmly go to reincarnation.
— Interesting, — Azazel imprisoned Vali's soul in his artifact. — It is still connected to my purgatory, but I cannot summon it.
The fact that the fallen one has something like this at his disposal or will create it is expected. Without his mechanism, Vali is of little value to me, so his loss is not significant. Hakuryoku was needed for psychological pressure on the raven, but he is too experienced for such a trick.
— So, you managed to capture him, so what?
— Now I can destroy you without holding back, Kiyoshi! — The Grigori leader hid the soul catcher and took out the core of the artificial mechanism.
— This is a little different from before. Did you improve it? — Azazel summoned the golden armor and spear again. It was different in some places from the one the angel had worn when he fought Katareya.
— Yes. Especially to fight you, — the fallen one's voice became bloodthirsty. — Now fire is useless against me. Die!
Perhaps he didn't notice my relaxed appearance or thought it was a bluff, but I really have no need to fear Azazel. Fafnir, who served as the core of the mechanism, is a strong and dangerous dragon. However, I have recently acquired a tool against flying lizards.
A demoness was approaching from behind the fallen one at the same time, trying to catch me off guard. With senjutsu turned on, it's a bad idea. Concentrating more power, waves of fire spread out in all directions from my body. Xenovia had to stop to avoid the flames, but Azazel did not. As he said, the armor handled the heat of the fire. I blocked his thrust with a spear with the sword that appeared in my hand. A further attempt to break through the block with force was unsuccessful, forcing the leader of the Grigori to retreat.
— Beware of this sword. It can harm me, — a deep voice came from the armor of the fallen.
When the fire dissipated, Xenovia and Azazel could see the black longsword in my hands. The crack that replaced the smile on the fiery figure's shapeless face became even wider, going beyond human capabilities.
— A good blade, right? — I make a few swings, demonstrating the weapon. — They say that Gram is equal in strength to Durandal. Now I have the opportunity to find out.
— Graaaah! — Before I could answer, a roar was heard.
A wave of energy spread from the bearer of Balor's Gaze, producing a similar effect to the incident at the signing of the peace treaty. Only the scale of the time stop seemed much smaller, affecting only the open courtyard of the castle.
The attempt to freeze me in time failed. The Fallen and the swordswoman were also able to resist the effect, albeit for different reasons. Looking at the boy, I was able to understand the reason for what was happening. Gasper is a dhampir and a demon in one person, which means he is highly susceptible to Holy Magic. The constant attacks of the legionaries drove him to the edge. The Gremory servant awakened his balance breaker, but this spent his last energy. Now the dhampir is standing, staggering, surrounded by frozen figures.
— Gasper! — Seeing the state of her friend, the swordswoman rushed towards him.
Taking advantage of this pause, I decided to end here. The rapid approach to the fallen ends with a spear piercing my body, but I achieved what I wanted. Such a close distance did not allow Azazel to dodge. Gram easily cut the armor on the man's chest, damaging the sphere with Fafnir.
— Now let's create symmetry, — while the fallen was disoriented for a second, I grab his hand with my free hand, and with the other I strike it with all the available force.
— Bastard! — this cry of pain warmed my ears so pleasantly.
Holding on to the stump, Azazel instantly flew away. He watched me closely, preparing to continue the fight, but I have other plans. Looking at the rest of the hand in my hand, I waved it at the raven and demonstratively burned it.
My impulse to mock the enemy was interrupted a little more by a beam of demonic energy flying out of the castle. Frowning, I instantly focus my feelings on the throne room. Having made sure of the safety of my beloved, I decide to end the performance. Enough time has passed, so the demons can arrive at any moment.
All the frozen legionnaires disappeared and reappeared. With a mental order, I send them to detain the raven while I am busy getting the toy.
— What are you... — I interrupt the blue-haired girl with a swing of my sword. She blocked my blow, but the flame from my body flows onto her, completely covering the girl. — A-a-a-a-a!
I kick her away from me, putting out the flames at the same time. I was tempted to take the sword for myself, but it disappeared instantly. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get Durandal. Unlike the fragments of Excalibur, it has its own will. Unlike my swords, the Holy Blade cannot be forced using my power. In addition, Durandal is tied to a separate fold of space, which means it can be summoned back through it. Turning my gaze to my target, I see two red eyes looking at me with hatred.
— Calm down already! — A simple blow to the head knocks the exhausted boy unconscious. Grabbing the dhampir by the scruff of the neck, I feel the appearance of a powerful demonic aura. — Finished in time. If I remember correctly, it should be Ajuka.
Having teleported to Akeno, and then together with her, we left the territory. Upon arrival, the first thing I did was go to the deepest part of the dungeon.
— Put up additional barriers that block any kind of spatial movement, — throwing the dhampir into the cell, I give orders to the guards. — Keep him unconscious at all times so he doesn't get rowdy.
Having finished with the boy, it was time to report on the work done to my superiors.
End Pov Kiyoshi.
***
Phoenix sat opposite the goddess and the nine—tailed kitsune. He had already finished retelling what had happened in the vampire castle. Now they were discussing further plans.
— I agree that we need to extract the Forbidden Gaze of Balor as soon as possible, — Yasaka expressed her opinion on Zankoku's idea. — However, such a mechanism cannot be given to just anyone.
— Choose someone with a strong will. I don't know if the dhampir himself is weak or if the mechanism was affecting him, but towards the end there was malice in his eyes that wasn't typical of a normal person, — the blond warned, remembering the scarlet eyes in the darkness.
— We understand, — the goddess took the floor. — Perhaps Balor's consciousness has been preserved in the mechanism and can influence its owners, so we will need to carefully monitor the chosen person.
— Okay, Amaterasu-sama, — the kitsune bowed her head, accepting the order. — What should we do with Rizevim?
— We don't have many options anyway, — Kiyoshi answered helplessly. — It's better to start our plan as soon as possible, and I should prepare to meet the son of the Lightbringer. I need to learn at least a little about his plans.
— What will happen when you learn them?
— I don't know, — the guy shrugged, — but the demon's fate has long been determined. Ophis is going to deal with him in the most brutal way.
— The sentence from Ouroboros is a terrible thing, — Amaterasu shuddered, recalling the power of the dragon God of Infinity. — Okay, let's end here. You can go rest, Kiyoshi. You must be tired today.
— Yes. Thank you, Amaterasu-sama.
— Yasaka, — the goddess addressed the leader of the youkai, — for now, focus on finding a candidate to receive the Forbidden Gaze of Balor, as well as researching the Sephiroth Grail.
— It will be done.