Badr had not held back in his attack. Had they failed to block it, they would have suffered severe injuries.
"What was that power? It suddenly amplified your attack several times over..."
Xenovia asked curiously.
"It's the ability of my sacred gear."
Badr did not hide the truth.
After successfully activating the "Endless Dusk City" in a Rating Game, Badr discovered that the King Sword also possessed incredible abilities.
He had previously assumed that the power of the Sword and Shield of the Benevolent King resided solely in the Shield, neglecting the King Sword. Upon realizing his misunderstanding, he had thoroughly explored the sword's capabilities.
He had successfully unlocked the ability to amplify his own power using the King Sword alone.
Just as the Sacred Shield became an impenetrable barrier when the Endless Dusk City was activated, the King Sword could also activate its amplification independently.
Badr had just used this ability to catch the two girls off guard and defeat them.
"This was just a lesson. Asia is now a Devil and has no connection to your Church anymore. She will have a new life, so please don't bother her again."
Badr spoke softly, ignoring the two Holy Sword wielders as he walked towards Asia, taking her hand and leading her away.
Only after they had left did Xenovia and Irina Shidou finally release their suppressed pain, coughing up blood in unison.
"W-We..lost."
Irina whimpered pitifully.
...
Leaving the bustling street, Badr and Asia teleported to Rias castle.
"Are you hurt?"
Asia was worried about Badr, knowing that the two Holy Sword wielders were quite powerful. Badr's victory had not been as effortless as it seemed.
"I'm fine."
Badr shook his head. Xenovia had indeed put him under pressure, which was why he had resorted to using the King Sword' ability.
Their fight had been a personal matter, and neither side wanted to escalate the situation. They couldn't afford to prolong the conflict, so Badr had used his trump card to gain the upper hand and then immediately disengaged.
In this era, apart from some troublemakers within the Fallen Angels, Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels were not necessarily sworn enemies.
The peace treaty signed centuries ago still held considerable weight, and the leaders of the three factions generally respected the current state of affairs.
Therefore, the fight between Badr and the two Holy Sword wielders was technically forbidden.
Unless they encountered exiled Stray individuals, they were not allowed to engage in combat freely.
Badr's negative perception of Fallen Angels stemmed from the existence of a group within their ranks dedicated to hunting down Sacred Gear wielders.
These Fallen Angels would either try to steal the Sacred Gears or eliminate the wielders to remove any potential threats.
Badr and Asia had once been targeted by such a group, which was why Badr harbored a lingering dislike for Fallen Angels.
Even though he now knew that there were also peaceful individuals among the Fallen Angels, he still held a certain degree of prejudice.
He couldn't help it. After all, he had been killed once by such a Fallen Angel.
If Rias hadn't reincarnated him as a Devil, his journey as a transmigrator would have been for naught. How could he not hold a grudge?
"I need to inform Rias about this."
Badr said to Asia as they entered the castle. Rias and Akeno Himejima didn't seem to be back yet.
After waiting for a while, Rias and Akeno Himejima emerged from the teleportation circle, their expressions filled with urgency.
"Badr! Asia! Are you alright?"
Rias rushed towards them, embracing them both in a tight hug, visibly relieved.
"Uh, President..." Asia was bewildered.
"Rias, what's wrong?"
Badr inquired curiously.
"Did you encounter the Holy Sword wielders? Did they attack you?"
"Hmm? So you already know."
He had planned to report the incident to Rias, but it seemed unnecessary now.
"Akeno and I went to see Sona Sitri, and she informed us that the Church's Holy Sword wielders had appeared and were in your vicinity. I was worried that you might encounter them, and when we arrived at the scene, we found traces of a battle."
Rias explained the situation, her voice laced with lingering fear.
"Holy Sword wielders are dangerous individuals. I was prepared for the worst when I returned. Thankfully... Thankfully you're both alright..."
She hugged Badr and Asia tightly, her voice firm. "I'll cherish you both even more from now on."
Badr finally understood, a soft smile gracing his lips.
He could feel Rias genuine concern and anxiety. Before arriving in this world, he would never have imagined forming such a close bond with anyone.
It was Rias and the others who had gradually changed him.
His gaze softened as he gently embraced Rias. "I'm fine. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"Hehe, and Badr even defeated those two Holy Sword wielders!"
Asia exclaimed proudly, her heart filled with warmth as she recalled Badr's decisive actions in defending her. Her eyes were practically sparkling with admiration.
"What? You defeated them?"
Both Rias and Akeno Himejima were surprised, clearly not expecting Badr to be capable of such a feat.
"I took advantage of their underestimation and caught them off guard."
Badr didn't think it was anything special. After all, it wasn't a life-or-death battle, and neither side had fought with their full strength.
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Chapter 82: Kokabiel Is in Town!
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...
"Well, it seems our worries were unfounded," Akeno Himejima remarked with a sigh of relief. Badr's growth was truly astonishing.
"What did President Sona discuss with you? Do they know about the Holy Sword users as well?"
Badr inquired about Rias recent trip.
"To be precise, the Holy Sword users approached Sona Sitri first, and then through her, they contacted us. We're scheduled to meet them tomorrow in the clubroom. They said they have something to discuss."
Rias didn't know the specifics, but the appearance of two Holy Sword users didn't bode well, no matter how you looked at it.
Badr nodded. "Then let's meet with them tomorrow."
The next day, after classes ended, Badr and the others gathered in the Occult Research Club room.
They were greeted by the two Holy Sword users, Xenovia and Irina Shidou.
The two girls were taken aback when they saw Badr and Asia.
"So you're Rias peerage."
"Please, have a seat," Badr said calmly. "We've already met, haven't we?"
He invited them to sit down. Akeno Himejima had already prepared tea. Badr, along with Asia and Koneko Toujou, sat beside them, quietly listening to Rias conversation with the two Holy Sword users.
Rias couldn't help but smile, remembering how Badr had reprimanded these two Church members the day before. She sat there with her legs crossed, her smooth legs swinging gently, revealing her pleasant mood.
"So, why would followers of God request a meeting with Devils?"
"Well, I won't beat around the bush. There were once seven Holy Swords held by the three factions of the Church. Excluding the one that was lost long ago, the remaining six were divided among the three factions. However, three of them were recently stolen by Fallen Angels."
Xenovia explained the situation concisely, causing everyone's eyes to widen in surprise.
Badr immediately recalled the boy named Freed Sellzen who had appeared. He had wielded a Holy Sword.
Rias eyes flickered, realizing she had already encountered this matter. She smiled faintly.
"So, what's the reason for you seeking me out?"
"This is a matter between the Church and the Fallen Angels. It would become quite troublesome if the Devils here were to get involved."
Xenovia was very straightforward.
Or rather, she was incredibly blunt, not even considering whether she might offend anyone.
Badr smirked. Xenovia, the idiot, really didn't know how to speak properly. She had already offended Asia before, and now it seemed she was about to provoke Rias...
...
Despite Xenovia's rude remarks, Rias, as a high-ranking Devil with a certain status, managed to restrain herself from showing any signs of anger.
"Your words are bold. Are you trying to threaten us? Do you suspect that we might be colluding with the Fallen Angels and planning to dispose of your Holy Swords together?"
"We can't rule out that possibility, can we?"
Xenovia stubbornly admitted it, causing a glint of coldness to flash in Rias eyes.
It was important to remember that the Holy Sword users belonged to the Church, which was backed by the Angels and God's faction. Even with the peace treaty in place, countless years of resentment couldn't be easily erased.
In the eyes of the three factions, the peace treaty was a necessary compromise, but they remained hostile towards each other, far from reconciliation.
From Rias perspective, Xenovia's current behavior was akin to an enemy barging into her territory and arrogantly ordering her not to interfere in the Church's affairs!
And she even forbade Rias from joining forces with another enemy, threatening consequences if she did...
Yet, Xenovia remained completely oblivious, continuing on her own tangent.
"Our superiors don't trust Devils or Fallen Angels. Eliminating the threat of the Holy Swords from the Fallen Angels would be beneficial to both Devils and Fallen Angels, wouldn't it? So, it's entirely possible that you might join forces.
Therefore, we're stating our position upfront: if you collaborate with Kokabiel in this matter, we will completely annihilate you, even if you are the Satan's sister. Those are the exact words from our superiors."
Badr calmly interjected, "Stop boasting. First of all, we would never join forces with Fallen Angels. And in your current situation, you're in no position to wage any kind of war. So stop pretending to be strong. What's the point of empty threats?"
His blunt words caused Xenovia and Irina Shidou's faces to darken.
"Are you looking down on the Church?"
"This concerns God's dignity. We can't just ignore it."
"Tch, I'm just stating facts."
Badr remained unfazed, his gaze fixed calmly on the two girls.
"Are you willing to defend your God's dignity with your lives? Go ahead, try me. I wouldn't mind giving you two another beating."
Xenovia: "..."
Irina Shidou: "..."
The two girls were speechless, caught in a dilemma.
They were angry, but they knew they couldn't win against him...
Even if they were willing to defend their faith with their lives, what would happen to the Church's mission to retrieve the Holy Swords?
Badr looked at the two foolish girls, wondering what to say to them.
He truly didn't understand how the Church managed to brainwash its followers to such an extent. It was quite impressive...
Akeno Himejima and Rias exchanged glances, then smiled approvingly at Badr.
They both marveled at the fact that since Badr had joined them, they had never lost an argument.
"Ahem, alright."
Seeing that Badr had gained the upper hand, Rias decided to intervene.
"Since you know I'm the Satan's sister, it means your status isn't low either. You must be connected to the higher-ups. In that case, I'll make my stance clear: I will absolutely not join forces with the Fallen Angels. Absolutely not. I swear on the name of Gremory."
Xenovia glanced at Badr, then nodded slightly. "Very well. I can tell you that Kokabiel has infiltrated this city with three Holy Swords. You will likely be affected as well. Consider this a warning."
"Thank you for the warning."
Rias frowned slightly upon hearing Xenovia's words.
After the two Holy Sword users left, Badr asked softly, "What's Kokabiel's strength?"
"I've never met him, but he's definitely a cadre-level Fallen Angel. It's highly likely that his strength surpasses that of a High-Class Devil."
Rias furrowed her brow, clearly worried.
Badr couldn't help but recall the final spear of light attack in the dimensional gap. Was that Kokabiel's attack?
"The Angels only sent those two Holy Sword users? Isn't that suicide?"
Badr continued, "Even if those two Holy Sword users have hidden abilities, they're probably no match for a Fallen Angel of that level."
"They're obviously aware of that, but they still came. Perhaps that's their faith," Rias shrugged.
Sitting on the sofa, Badr pondered the situation.
On the surface, this was a conflict between the Angels and the Fallen Angels, unrelated to them. However, Badr felt a sense of unease for some reason.
Carefully replaying Xenovia's words in his mind, Badr suddenly realized something.
Something wasn't right... Xenovia had said that the Fallen Angels had brought three Holy Swords here...
What were they doing here?
With the abilities of Fallen Angels, they could go anywhere in the world, even with Holy Swords. Why bring them here specifically?
Unless there was something here that the Fallen Angels desired!
Or perhaps, someone they were targeting?
Badr tilted his head, still feeling puzzled.
Rias looked at him. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about the Fallen Angels' intentions," Badr admitted honestly.
"They're definitely up to something, but that's not unusual for Fallen Angels," Rias said. "Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll inform my brother immediately."
It was nice to have a Maou brother who doted on you.
Badr couldn't help but chuckle.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Wait a minute."
Everyone looked at him, noticing the serious expression on his face. After a few seconds of contemplation, he spoke.
"What if... what if the enemy's target is the Maou?"
"...What do you mean?"
Rias was confused. Badr continued slowly, "Why would the Fallen Angels bring three Holy Swords here? Think about it, is there anything here worth targeting for the Fallen Angels? And why wouldn't they act themselves? Why bother stealing the Holy Swords?"
"I don't understand," Koneko Toujou shook her head. "Just explain it clearly."
Rias and Akeno Himejima's expressions grew increasingly serious.
