One-Punch DxD: NEO

Chapter 27: STORM

Terribly sorry for the long wait, folks! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

"This is completely ridiculous! Why aren't my flames hurting them?!"

Ravel threw sphere after sphere of phoenix fire at the exorcists pursuing them.

However, the rogue exorcists barreled through the flames without issue, the fires of the underworld brushing against the fabrics of their cloaks like water dripping trickling down an umbrella.

"Forget about countering them! Focus on getting to school!" Koneko shouted as she deliberately ran behind Ravel.

Some of the stray exorcists had brandished their light pistols and opened fire at their target - their bullets either missed, or hit Koneko's back, leaving hissing steam from her skin past the punctured cloth.

Koneko hissed, but she endured well, her constitution as a Rook a factor.

"I remember this road We're almost there!" Ravel said with an elated tone, a sentiment shared by the Nekoshou who also recognized the route they were trekking.

They just needed to cross the public park and they would arrive at the path leading straight up to the school. However, a few minutes after entering the park, Ravel and Koneko had to stop their tracks due to several armed exorcists suddenly coming out from the bushes and trees.

"You're out of luck, little girlies."

Three new ones approached them.

One was wielding a chain whip of consecrated silver, another a pair of baptized chakrams, and the third was holding some kind of rifle in his hands. The rifle was of white metal, the grip consisted of wood. It did not look like a gun meant for bullets, however, as there was no ammunition cylinder. The barrel of the gun had a gem placed on the cylinder.

"That one looks unorthodox." Ravel commented on the one with the rifle.

"Oh, never underestimate human ingenuity." The one with the gun aimed at Koneko.

Koneko grimaced as she raised her arms to block the attack, the projectile that emerged was not what she expected.

A continuous stream of light lased her with a whistling shrill vibrating the air, making Koneko cry out in pain, and it wasn't relenting as her skin muscles started to burn as well.

"Aaghh!" Koneko screamed as she started to move, but the rifleman tracked her with his holy laser gun, burning into Koneko at her pace.

"Koneko!" Ravel threw shrouds of flame at the shooter, but the flail of the silver chain whip struck through her fire and lashed at her like a serpent. Light bullets pelted Ravel from behind, a fusillade of holy attacks burning through the small Phenex as she cried in pain with every strike.

"Chicken-ah?!" Koneko shouted, but two flying chakrams zipped past her ankles and sliced her tendons, forcing her on her knees as her wounds burned from contact while the laser continued to burn her arms, more light bullets pelting her hide as a few more steadily walked towards them with silver stakes in their hands.

Having had enough, Koneko decided to take off the gloves and willed her power out.

Sprouting her feline features for the world to see and with newfound energy to coursing through, she explosively dashed towards the nearest exorcist, blood spurting from her wounds with each raging step as she punched the gut of one holding the silver stake and uppercutted the second one before, both sent flying into the air with blood leaving their teeth - both crashing into the dirt with unceremonious landings.

Seeing Koneko start her counterattack, Ravel decided to follow her example.

Ravel fired smaller spheres of flame towards their exposed heads to test a suspicion.

Her targets immediately guarded their faces with their clothed arms, retreating as she continued splashing fireballs at their faces.

"Their clothes are enchanted against magic!" Ravel shouted as she continued firing with precision, switching her aim against the other exorcists with long range weapons, especially the one with the laser rifle.

"This bitch!" The rifleman cursed as he covered his face, retreating back into cover as the fires started to touch the surrounding plants.

Flames started to dance and grow in the park, small fires exploding into a large flame that started to spread, consuming the flora in their need for sustenance.

Ravel spread her phoenix wings and took flight, positioning behind Koneko as she took the vanguard as the fire started to burn the trees and consume life around them.

"That's a Nekomata! Beware of any Sage and Demon Arts! And douse yourselves with holy water!" The rifleman shouted.

The exorcists immediately took out their casks of holy water and poured the water onto themselves to ward off the hellfire as they carefully moved away from the spreading inferno.

"I have an idea! Follow me to the fountain pond at the center!" Ravel shouted.

Ravel immediately started throwing her phoenix flames at the parks, spreading her inferno.

"What are you doing?!" Koneko shouted, following Ravel as they ran towards the stone fountain pond.

"Trapping them in. We can fly, remember? They cannot." Ravel recalled with a grin.

However, a silver chain whipped around Ravel's ankle.

"Oh, no you don't, you winged little shit!" The one with the silver chain whip cursed as he pulled, the girl yelling as the blessed silver burned her skin.

More silver chains flew and snaked around her arms and the other ankle, four pulling her down as the Phenex girl screamed when a flying silver stake impaled her spine.

"Ravel!"

Koneko shouted in worry as the Phenex descended and crashed.

Koneko stomped towards Ravel, but her endurance bled out as she fell, her wounded tendons finally catching up with her. Her Nekoshou mode could 'ignore' the damage for so long as she fell onto her knees again.

"Damn these devil fuckers..." One of the exorcists cursed.

All of them were struck on the stone roads of the park while everything else that was grassy and green was on fire. The park was almost completely on fire, large orange flames coughing black smoke all around them, radiant orange all around as the exorcists started to sweat, others starting to cough.

"Someone do something about that catgirl!" The rifleman shouted.

"On it!"

One approached Koneko with a sword of light in hand, holding it in reverse grip as he raised it up, Koneko on her hands and knees.

However, she lunged forward and punched his crotch so hard that the exorcist flew ass-first, his weapon clattering next to her.

"Phil! This little-that's it, I'm taking her head!" The rifleman shouted but Koneko grabbed the fallen light sword and threw it at the rifleman, the sword of light striking the crystal at the tip of the gun barrel. Immediately, the laser gun somehow exploded with a brilliant flash, the rifleman's head and limbs strewn across the stone road alongside the pieces of the annoying gun.

"Ozwald!" One of the exorcists shouted at the rifleman's demise.

Koneko panted, relief filling her until she screamed from the light bullet pelting her shoulder.

"Screw getting close to her! Just shoot her down like the animal she is!"

To Koneko's dismay, the other Exorcists took out their long-range weapons, from crossbows to chakrams to light pistols as they fired at Koneko.

"Koneko!" Ravel shouted, the pain of the silver stake in her spine still ever present, paralyzing her lower half of the body, including her wings. She watched as silver bolts, silver circular blades and bullets of light pelt Koneko. The girl weakly held up her arms as silver bolts impaled her arms, trying to protect her head as chakrams grazed her ears and light bullets pelted her back.

Two of Ravel's captors unlatched their silver chains from her ankles to throw them at Koneko, wrapping the enchanted silver around her arms.

Koneko grimaced and yanked the exorcists towards her, but they planted their feet halfway as they pulled, her arms slowly being pulled apart in their tug of war. While the girl should have been able to overpower two men, her lack of footing and the damage to her arms proved her downfall as a silver bolt struck her chest.

"KONEKO! NO!" Ravel cried out as Koneko silently stared at the holy metal sticking into her ribs.

Smoke was rising out of her chest as blood started to spill from her lips, one exorcist approaching Koneko with a loaded bolt.

"When you get to the afterlife, tell the others you killed that I sent you." The exorcist snarled at Koneko as he aimed it at her head, point blank.

Koneko weakly looked up, staring at her executioner through the crosshairs of his weapon, his finger on the trigger.

Only for the exorcist to suddenly find his body being punctured by several roots that unnaturally sprouted from the ground beneath.

"What the hell?!" The other exorcists were shocked at the sight as they frantically scoured their surroundings with their eyes for the interloper.

"...Why don't you go there yourself and tell them?"

Through her fading consciousness, Koneko recognized the voice, as well as the visage who had stepped forward to shield her.

"Wha. Who?" Ravel blinked as she saw a woman in a black kimono, but what really caught her eyes were the pair of black cat ears on top of her head.

"...Sister?" Koneko muttered until she finally fell unconscious.

The woman, who Koneko called sister, glanced back at the prone girl by the pond. Her hazel eyes earlier, that were brimming in silent fury suddenly softened for a brief moment before the fury returned two-fold, as she returned to address the stray exorcists.

"My race being a rarity in this world is already bad enough" She began as her demonic power began to leak out of her frame, "And you church dogs dare to harm my only family?"

Ravel felt her breath getting caught in her throat, as the woman - another Nekomata, she presumed, emitting a pressure she had never felt before, not even from any of her brothers.

"We got another one!" The exorcists prepared their weapons, the silver chain users unlatching from Ravel's and Koneko's arms as they lashed at her while those with light pistols, crossbows, and chakrams prepared their weapons, but before they could use them, they suddenly started to gag as they dropped their weapons and clutched their throats.

"Nya, I hope you enjoy yourselves. I prepared a special poison just for humans like you. But I shouldn't waste my breath on dead men. I don't have a thing for corpses."

The woman then turned to Ravel, who tried to move, but her wounds had yet to heal thanks to the silver's effect on her devilhood.

"Phenex girl, we don't have much time. Do you have any Phoenix Tears on you?" Kuroka asked as she quickly ran towards Koneko, kneeling as she rolled Koneko over, inspecting the damage.

The younger Nekoshou was fortunate that the last stake did not pierce her vitals, but she was brushing too close to death's door. Ravel tried to crawl towards them, but still feeling rather weak - a spine injury was not something that even her clan's regeneration power could easily deal with, especially when her demonic power was not as potent as the rest of her family.

"I I do, it's in my skirt pocket." Ravel glanced at the dirty skirt she wore.

The older Nekoshou did not waste any time as she approached the downed Phenex and searched through her. True to the latter's words, inside the skirt was a small tube-case - not dissimilar to a lipstick case, where the former found a small, ornate red glass vial inside.

"Good work, nya." The woman said dismissively as she immediately returned to Koneko's side, leaving Ravel who could not help but pout at the woman's not so courteous treatment.

Kuroka quickly removed the silver bolts from Koneko's arms and chest and uncorked the vial, dripping the miracle drug onto her.

As expected - the wounds on Koneko's body then closed and healed within seconds, restored as if she had never fought exorcists to the death.

Kuroka sighed in relief and ran her hand gently on Koneko's face, seeing the latter's breathing return to a healthy rhythm.

It was when Ravel spoke, "I remember now You are the Black Cat Kuroka, aren't you?"

The now-revealed Kuroka glanced back at Ravel, whose spine recovered enough to allow her to sit up.

"My infamy is of no importance right now when a war is looming on the horizon. Just look after my baby sister for now, nya?"

Ravel blinked at the last bit, "S-Sis ter?"

In return, Kuroka merely winked knowingly before a cloud of purple mist suddenly engulfed her figure from the ground and disappeared along with her. However, suddenly Ravel started to feel the fatigue and exhaustion catch up to her, all the silver and the thing still stuck in her spine catching up to her.

That and the air was dangerously thin due to the rampaging park fires as she slowly closed her eyes while the world blurred.

The ceiling was bright.

Why was it bright? Ravel groaned as she shielded her eyes, blinking out the blur that invaded her vision.

"Where am I?" Ravel bemoaned as she tried to sit up, her spine felt numb and her movements were a little sluggish.

A glance around her surroundings revealed white curtains cordoning her, finding herself lying on a white bed with white sheets.

It was an infirmary. Why was she here never mind, she remembered. The image of a silver stake stuck in her spine was clear, though it seemed that it was gone. The numbness was still there, meaning that the silver weapon was stuck a little too long for it to recover properly.

Yet.

"Koneko!" Ravel shouted as she recalled her cat friend.

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She stumbled off the bed and pulled the curtains aside, but she tripped on the curtain and toppled forward.

"Whoa! Easy there..."

A pair of hands caught her by the shoulders before she hit the floor. She looked up and saw Tomoe Meguri looking at her with concern.

"...Ms. Meguri?" Ravel half-asked, half-greeted. "I? Where?"

"Shh, shh. Let's get you back on the bed first, okay? Everything's okay." The Knight of Sitri gently ushered Ravel back on the bed and draped the blanket back over her frame.

"I came to check on you and Koneko-chan, but it looks like you've woken up first. Let's start with how you got here, alright?" Tomoe then spoke once Ravel was settled.

According to the knight, Ravel and Koneko were found by Yuuto and Xenovia, who were on their way to the school to regroup as well.

"Kiba and Ms. Xenovia are currently debriefing with the President in the Student Council room, while Koneko-chan is just on the bed next to you." Tomoe walked over and pulled the curtain next to Ravel's bed, revealing Koneko who was still sleeping soundly on her own.

"Thank goodness" Ravel said with a relieved sigh, "Is she okay?"

"She is." Tomoe nodded, but her expression then was replaced with a small scowl, "Though I can't help but be curious, she's unscathed, yet the park where Kiba found you two was on fire. What happened to you both?"

Ravel returned her eyes to the ceiling. It was a tense silence, not a single breath was drawn for a long moment.

"...We were cornered by the exorcists we encountered at St. Adonai." She recounted the battle that should've led to their defeat. "We didn't prepare ourselves enough for a group of mere human exorcists."

"Kiba told us about the exorcists you encountered." Tomoe grimaced.

"...Koneko nearly died in front of me." Ravel added.

Tomoe gasped in horror, and her eyes darted between Ravel and Koneko, "While it's good that Koneko-chan is fine now What actually happened?"

Ravel stared at Koneko's supine form for a few seconds before having a deep breath.

"We were outnumbered. The opposition had weapons that we could not completely defend against. They tied up my arms and legs with silver chains before they stabbed my spine with a silver stake and paralyzed me. Koneko wasn't so fortunate as she was outnumbered. I could not provide her the support she needed when they fired their weapons at her. She would've died if"

Ravel remained silent. Should she tell her about Kuroka? The infamous stray devil was very wanted in the Underworld, but she did save their lives.

"...I'm sorry, I've fallen unconscious by then. The next thing I knew was waking up here." Ravel ended her story with a shake of her head.

"I see" Tomoe sighed.

"...What is everyone doing right now? Are you sending another rescue team to St. Adonai?" Ravel asked.

"Not sure on that one. The President believed that with how things ended up, the enemies are most likely to either remove Sister Griselda to a different location, or fortify their defences, or both; either way would require a different approach." Tomoe replied.

Ravel looked at her in thought as she contemplated.

Back at the hotel, the two opposing sides were sitting across each other once more, resuming their negotiation.

"I believe I have repeated myself that Sister Griselda is in no condition to come as a witness in her current condition." Valper started with a small frown on his face.

"Bullshit, I have a capable medic on board for that." Issei countered, leaning back on his seat, "In fact, I'm sure we have someone that can give her Phoenix tears. I know someone that can give us some right now if I ask."

"She is already under excellent care in our hands. We do not accept aid from heretics."

"Oh, now that is definitely bullshit. Seriously, are you guys going to take it like this? I thought you Church guys are supposed to be 'impartial'?"

Issei gestured to the small golden figure of Jesus beside Valper.

Yes, it was a golden statue of Jesus. The Church was listening in on the negotiations through a gold statue of Christ himself.

"If you so insist, we shall accept your little offer, and will contact you again as soon as Sister Griselda recovers." Valper replied.

"Yeah, and about that - I'm pretty sure I said that at least I would like to see her recovering myself. Like, right now. There's literally no bullshit you can come up with to deny visitors." Issei replied.

"Then you should come alone, then."

"I said 'visitors'. Plural." Issei spat back.

"I am afraid we won't allow any Devils to visit her. We have baptized the grounds against any evil influence."

"Are you shitting me right now- where'd you pull your bullshit out of? Your ass?" Issei demanded with dwindling patience.

"Yes, from my cleansed, properly cared for ass." Valper gritted out in return, causing Rias, Akeno and even Malkuth to blink in surprise, not expecting a crass reply from the Archbishop.

"This is completely stupid. I mean, this guy won't let you see Griselda no matter what and he is shadier than a pedophile with a drug addiction!" Issei shouted at the golden Jesus statue, who simply stood there.

"...Can the witness from the Vatican talk through that statue?" Issei then asked. "When I heard the eyes of the Church is here, I thought I mean"

"They're only here to monitor. They do not intervene directly." Valper answered.

"And how do they intervene indirectly?" Issei asked with a quirked brow.

"Simple. Through us."

"Are they telling you to stop pussyfooting and let us see Griselda?" Issei asked.

"No, they are technically not. But I can assure you that they will agree with my decision not to simply let you see Sister Griselda without supervision." Valper returned.

"Tell them that they're retarded cowards that can't look at reality in the face." Issei replied with a disdainful look.

Finally, Malkuth spoke, "...This exchange of barbs has been leading us nowhere."

"Then say it in my face if you think your 'friend' is stalling." Issei dared the angel to speak the truth.

"That depends entirely on you." The angel stated.

Issei skewed his lips. He shared glances with Rias and Akeno. They remained silent this whole time during their verbal war.

"If I may interject, I would like to input our say." Rias said as she stared at Valper.

"Your behavior towards us is unacceptable even by Church standards. The way you regarded us while simultaneously keeping your former superior like guarded treasure is a reprehensible act, especially since you accused us for being in league with the assassination attempt since there is no definite evidence of our 'betrayal.'"

"I beg to differ. Malkuth-"

"Is a stranger that we know nothing about, and the way he introduced himself is suspicious since we did not receive prior notice about him. That in itself is a strike on your record." Rias shot back.

"Hoh." Issei was impressed. Talking smack and true political players were in different leagues after all.

Valper remained silent in response.

"Then I have Irina as my witness."

Malkuth twitched as he threw his gaze at Valper, his reaction more honest than Valper could describe.

"Irina, dear? Why don't you-"

"If you put words into her lips with your slimy fingers, I swear to every god in existence I won't stop beating you until you're a stain on the floor." Issei warned.

Valper stopped as Irina stared at Issei. She was twitching, her fingers quivering, eyes trembling.

"Well"

But before Valper could say anything, the Devils widened their eyes. A large surge of magic alarmed their detection, even Issei could notice that the air was astir.

[Partner! There is great magic at work outside the building!]

Immediately, Issei looked out the window. Valper and Malkuth looked out the window, to see that the air was distorting as a large screen of distorted color filled the window's width and then length behind the glass.

Issei, Rias, and Akeno got up as they walked towards the window.

"Is that a bounded field?" Issei asked, watching as he crouched a little for a better angle. The screen of magic was rising so high that he could not see it past the window's edge.

"No. It is a wide-scale magic barrier." Rias countered.

"Oh, finally, Kokabiel managed to finish just in time." Valper sighed in relief.

The three turned back, seeing Valper grab the golden statue and throw it at them. The three stepped aside as the golden statue flew through the window and fell down the streets.

"...What did you do?" Issei asked, glancing at the broken window.

"Putting an end to this stressful charade. Malkuth, you may act without reticence."

Then without another warning, Malkuth spread his eight wings which shone in a brilliant golden light.

"Finally, I can-ABAFH?!"

His speech was interrupted when Issei's fist dug into his face and launched him towards the wall in a corkscrew spiral, then crashing through the wall as the angel fell out of the building.

Valper and the girls stared at the hole in the wall, processing what just happened before they looked at Issei, seeing him with his fist still smoking.

"...What?" Issei looked at the stupefied Akeno and Rias. "Shit is hitting the fan."

Valper broke out of his dumbfoundment as he stood behind Irina, warily making his way towards the hole in the wall.

"I prefer that I will make my leave. Come, Irina."

"Oh, no you don't." Issei dug his hand into his pocket.

Valper did not expect the boy to pull out something morbid out of it as he stared at the black, shriveled corpse hand.

"What is that?" Valper asked, unable to take his eyes off the thing, the hand's mere presence sending chills down Valper's spine.

"A pain in the ass." Issei took a deep breath. "I wish that Valper safely relinquishes all control over Irina permanently!" Issei shouted, followed by the sound of a finger snapping like a twig.

"What-Ack?!" Suddenly, a cold grip clutched Valper's throat as words came out of his mouth without volition.

"Irina, you are now the Red Dragon Emperor's Property. I am no longer your master, and you will not accept anyone else, even me, as your master anymore after him what?"

Irina's glossy eyes widened, life returning to Irina's dead gaze. The rest stared at Valper after hearing such words come out of his mouth before they stared at Issei.

"...Eh?" Issei just stood there still as a statue before Irina suddenly rolled up her eyes and collapsed like a puppet with her strings cut.

"...What did you just do?" Valper asked as he rubbed his throat, staring at Issei with a genuine terrified mien.

Honestly, Issei had no idea but he would take it.

"Well, the Devil dealt me his hand." Issei smacked his lips before turning his eyes back to Valper. "But I'll deal with that after I beat the shit out of you."

However, a familiar angelic presence returned, hovering outside the hole in the wall as he glared at Issei, his cheek sporting a lumping bruise.

"Malkuth, we must retreat." Valper requested before he walked back to the angel.

"Retreat? We have them!" Malkuth shouted.

"All of the exorcists are stationed in the checkpoints. Your forces are not here lest they alarm the Eyes of the Church until now. We must retreat-uuuugh!?"

Valper could not finish his sentence when Issei's fist punched him right in his fat gut, forcing his eyes and lips to bulge to comical, disgusting proportions before Valper flew and crashed into Malkuth. Issei picked up Irina without another word.

He checked her pulse with a finger, finding out that she was okay.

"Issei!" Rias shouted.

"We're bailing! Get us out of here!" Issei shouted.

Rias and Akeno did not waste time and bolted towards the shattered window where Valper had thrown the Jesus statue out.

As soon as the two girls had flown out, Issei was about to follow with Irina in bridal carry, when he noticed from the corner of his eyes that Malkuth had removed the incapacitated Valper off him and had a sizable spear of light ready to be hauled.

"Youuuu.!" Malkuth shouted as he threw the light spear at Issei.

An explosion was then seen from outside of the hotel - back in the hotel conference room, dust was flying around from the impact of Malkuth's spear of light; the angel narrowed his eyes, waiting to see the result of his handiwork.

Malkuth hissed out a sharp breath as he walked towards the new opening in the window. Malkuth saw no body, only the widened hole from the wall. He walked out to see the Son of the Strongest Man running across the rooftops at fast speeds with the girl in his arms.

"This isn't over! There will be nothing but war and death, and your father will be the one to see true Hell!"

Malkuth roared at them, his voice a thundering boom.

Issei and the rest of others were gathering in the Occult Research Club room, having deposited Irina in the school infirmary with several of Akeno's familiars watching over her.

"Well, that went to hell. Glad that we got out of the political trash show that was 'negotiations.'" Issei used his finger to quote the word. "Still, what is happening outside? Why is there a fucking bounded field surrounding Kuoh?" Issei asked.

"We detected a powerful signature entering the town when the barrier was erected." Sona provided, "The signature belongs to a fallen angel, a powerful one at that. Not only that the barrier will prevent anyone from getting in or out of this town, our means of communication have been cut off as well - we cannot call for reinforcement."

"...Well, that sucks." Issei pursed his lips. "How strong is the barrier anyways? Is it breakable?" Issei asked.

"Theoretically? Yes." Sona shrugged, "There are two ways when dealing with barriers in general; either you break through them through sheer brute force, or you break it down systematically through precision. The problem is, we probably don't have enough time for the latter, and simply too weak to resort to the former.. Unless you can do something about it?"

"Honestly, this is my first time seeing a bubble that big before, but there's a first time for everything." Issei wondered if that would be enough to break down the barrier. He might have to boost himself to the very limit just in case.

"...And if you can't break it?" Tsubasa asked.

"Then we go for the mastermind and his goons. Speaking of which, any update on finding Kokabiel?"

Sona simply shook her head much to Issei's chagrin.

"Shit... Hah, damn it. Alright If there's nothing else, I'm going to check on Irina." Issei needed to see if the Monkey's Paw did not do anything too funny to her. He heard the words from Valper's mouth, but he needed to make sure there was not anything extra mixed in.

"...Be gentle with her, Issei." Sona warned lightly. "If the suspicion you've told us were any indication, we do not even know what she had endured under Valper's machinations."

Issei looked down, already having an idea. Without a word, he left the student council room and headed towards the infirmary.

The trip to the infirmary did not take too long; soon Issei found himself inside the room covered in stench of bleach and disinfectants, finding that Irina had woken up, sitting on her white bed with her face turned towards the window beside her. Her hair was not tied in her twin-tails, falling down freely on her back. She was also dressed in a white hospital gown instead of her exorcist suit.

"Iri?" Issei greeted.

The girl blinked and turned to him - Irina's eyes had more life in them, but still clouded with something that Issei could only guess. The said girl gave him a weak smile. "...Hi."

"Hi, yourself." Issei gave his own small smile before he strode over and sat on the chair by Irina's bed. "...You doing alright?"

Her smile dimmed as she looked down at the sheet covering her lower body.

"I don't know."

Issei bit down his lower lip.

"Do you feel funny? I mean" Issei gestured to her.

"Funny? Umm I feel it is hard to word it out. I mean, my body is fine I think."

"...No backlash from the wish I made?" Issei asked the second most important question.

"I don't know do you think there is a downside?"

"I'm not taking any chances with that thing. I mean, it did go better than I expected, but still, Monkey's Paw."

Irina giggled at Issei's blatant fear for the corpse hand.

"I'm surprised that you even had it. Though to risk your life with that just to save me I don't know what to say."

"How about a thank you and a wave of good luck that the thing doesn't choke me to death by the end of this?" Issei joked, lightening the mood with Irina starting to giggle at his sense of humor.

A minute of giggling later, an awkward silence descended between them. Irina was shifting in her bed uncomfortably as her eyes darted left and right, a blush on her cheeks.

"...Do you remember anything?" Issei asked.

Irina's hands balled into fists as she grabbed a fistful of the sheet, "My memories, they're vague, but there's. This unsettling feeling crawling all over me like little insects under my skin ever since I woke up. I" Irina closed her eyes as she bit her own lip while sucking a breath, "I can't shake them off. I I even remember moments flashbacks. But it was never whole, like clips of a movie."

She stopped before tears began to swell in her eyes.

"Ise What have I done? What have they done to me? What What did they make me do?" Her body trembling, her arms crept up to hug herself - Irina then turned to Issei, the first time he saw such sadness, fear, and despair behind her eyes.

Irina could only sob as Issei stood and pulled Irina into his arms, holding her tight as she sobbed in his chest.

"I'm scared I'm so scared to find out, Ise What have they made me do?!" Irina cried.

"It's okay, Iri It's okay." Issei shushed with a gentle tone, "That's not you, Iri. You did nothing wrong."

"But I- I!" Irina choked, "Sister Griselda's blood is on my hands!"

"Griselda is still okay. We will find her, I promise." Issei soothed in her ears, letting Irina to vent out the rest of her fear and despair from her mind.

"...Do you want to talk to Xenovia? She's here with us." Issei asked.

Instead of answering, Irina simply wrapped her arms around Issei and hugged him back tightly. Catching her meaning, Issei moved to sit on the edge of her bed, letting Irina bask in the comfort. He could feel Irina's warmth coursing through him.

He did not see Irina bitterly smiling and her tears, how she cried silently on his shoulder.

He allowed Irina to remain as long as she needed. She went to sleep after ten minutes, allowing Issei to help lay her back to bed as he pulled the covers over her.

Issei returned to the student council room.

"Hey, I'm back. What did I Huh?"

The atmosphere of the room turned somber. Rias and Sona's faces were grim, a level of seriousness he had never faced before. They looked like someone murdered their pet and they were glaring at him as if he committed the deed.

"...Alright, spill. What's with the suspense? Did someone die? Oh god, did someone kill Saji?"

"No! Don't just kill me off like that!" The guy in question shouted as he was also present in the room.

"...We have confirmed Kokabiel's presence." Rias shook her head.

"Why does it feel like it is not a good thing?" Issei asked.

"Because he announced it via a public transmission. We believe he sent it to everyone in the Biblical Faction." Sona direly explained.

"...What did he say?"

"Listen." Rias raised her finger and drew a magic circle in the air.

[To the Church, Azazel, and the Underworld. I am Kokabiel of Grigori, and I am burdened with glorious purpose. I do not need to introduce myself to those that were born after the Great War. As you can see, I have annexed all of Kuoh as my territory and I prefer that none of you dare attempt to trespass. For if any of you even graze my dome, all of Kuoh shall be reduced to dust. If there is even a single crack on the barrier, consider all life in Kuoh to be forfeit. For those who are familiar with my strengths, know that I have hidden a magical bomb within the peaceful town. It is powerful enough to reduce all below my level to ash and dust, not even a single speck of dust will remain if it is triggered. Anyone that you cherished in this town will perish because of you from this point on. Be warned.]

The voice of Kokabiel resounded from the magic circle, replaying the transmission in the room to Issei's dumbfoundment.

"...Well, shit." Issei was so going to beat the shit out of that guy. However, he noticed that some of what Kokabiel said sounded rather off.

"Wait, could you guys track a magic signal?" Issei asked the high-class devils in the room.

"Yes but" Sona and Rias only shared anxious glances, which caused Issei to sighed knowingly.

"Welp, ain't that just great. Alright, like it or not, we'll have to search through the whole town to find where he is, maybe we should-"

"I know where he is, nya."

Every head whipped towards the voice, which came from a stray black cat making itself comfortable by the windowsill.

"Seriously?" Issei remarked.

"Seriously, nya~" The cat giggled.

"I know you're not a normal cat since day one, but come on" Issei groaned with skewed lips while the cat smiled at him.

"That answers my question why my parents always forgot about you." Tsubasa commented with a frown.

"If it's worth anything, your parents are very nice people, nya. I'm really thankful for the extra sushi they always treated me with." the Black Cat winked.

"The Black Cat Kuroka" Rias then spoke with a small venom in her tone, "What are you doing here?"

Rias, Akeno, Sona and Tsubaki were scowling at the newcomer. Issei did not know why, but the hostility was quite forced.

"...What is happening?"

"Stay on your guard, Ise. We are dealing with a wanted criminal here." Rias said.

Issei blinked and returned to stare at a small cat called Kuroka, the cat dismissing the devils with her eyes wandering around the room.

"Looking for something?" Issei asked away.

Kuroka glanced at Issei before shrugging, "Nothing, really, nya. Just wondering"

When her eyes met Rias', the latter's scowl deepened, "You won't find her here, she's still resting from her injuries."

"What is happening?" Issei asked again.

"Oh I see." The cat dropped her ears. "...I am not here to cause trouble, nya. You want to stop the guy that really looks like a vampire bred with an angel with ten black wings, yes?"

The Devils quirked a brow at Kuroka's choice of words.

"...Go on." Issei gestured. The Devils turned to look at Issei.

"Issei, I wouldn't suggest trusting her. She has committed crimes in the Underworld." Akeno warned.

"Yeah, and your laws don't apply here. If she's as bad as you say, I'll deal with it." Issei brushed off her warning.

"Nya~ so manly. It is strange, you look nothing like that egghead, but so much like him. I think I am starting to like you."

Issei was not sure whether to feel complimented or a little disturbed since he was not into animals - who also implied that she knew his father.

"You know my dad?"

"The Strongest Man, nya~ I met him once when he's at work. Very deceptive. Very powerful, and funny." She giggled as she hopped from the windowsill. Immediately, her form was shrouded in a swirling thick purplish fog as her figure grew, dispersing to reveal much more voluptuous figure if Issei could describe it.

"Ooh... That makes more sense." Issei was relieved. He wouldn't have to deal with a talking cat attracted to him anymore Well, she was still kind of a cat, but at least she was more manageable in humanoid form.

Kuroka wore black kimono, a yellow obi, a set of golden beads, and an ornately detailed headband decorated her head. The kimono had a red interior and was open at her shoulders, giving view to her ample cleavage. She had the beauty of a succubus with cat-like hazel-gold eyes, her black hair covering her forehead in split bangs.

"Nya, I hope you prefer me better in this form, Son of the Strongest Man." Kuroka giggled as she blew a kiss his way.

Issei blushed a little. Tsubasa was giving him the death glare of womanly anger, making him look away.

"...But back to business, do you girls want to know where the vampire angel is, nya?"

"How do we know that you're not going to lie to us?" Sona asked with a skeptical tone.

Kuroka's expression went unamused, "Really? Really, nya? Come on, I know that I have a record, but can you at least trust me that I have stuff in this town that is good enough for me not wanting to lose them?"

"So, where is the angel vampire?" Issei asked.

"Seriously, why do you keep calling him a vampire?" Saji asked about his choice of words.

"You'll know when you take a good look at him."

Kuroka turned to Issei, giving him a Cheshire smile.

"Quick and to the point, I like a man that won't bow to unnecessary obstacles."

Tsubasa's womanly death glare was growing more intense, though Issei ignored it.

"Hmmmm.. Well, St Adonai." She answered.

"...St. Adonai?"

"St. Adonai, nya."

"...Seriously? That place? Again?" Issei was now convinced that God cursed that place to hell, doomed to house all manners of wicked souls just to spite him.

"Does it matter? That means we can hit two birds with one stone." Xenovia quipped, "Sister Griselda is being held there too, remember?"

"Depends if they moved her or not."

"Nya, they didn't move her. She is still there." Kuroka waved off.

"...Alright, that answers that question. We still need a plan, though. Kokabiel is not that dumb, and he holds the trigger to this so-called magical nuke, which I believe I haven't heard of in any history class." Issei pondered. "Wait, can someone make a magical nuke like that in the first place? If I recall, I thought the thing has to be charged somewhere."

"You're not wrong." Akeno replied, "However, magic kind of works like science in a manner of speaking, so it evolves as people study further. It's not that surprising if someone were able to make a destructive spell of that scale."

"Shouldn't something like that be easy to find for people like you? And something like a nuke should be very hard to miss unless we're talking complete magic bullshit."

"That's the problem, Issei, we're not sure about the bomb. There is a possibility, but we will have to split into two teams here. Yuuto informed me that he might have a way to track down a magical bomb at least unless you decided to use that thing again-"

"No, no, no, not gonna use it like that. Maybe in a real, dire emergency situations, but still, NO." Issei shook his head frantically at the mention of the Monkey's Paw.

The girls smiled slightly at Issei's complete fear of the corpse hand. It was kind of funny and sweet if it weren't for the fact that the hand was extremely deadly.

"Alright, we'll split into two teams, but" Rias then turned to Issei, "Just in case, perhaps you should contact your mother to-"

Issei immediately cut her off, "My mom's already moved to a safe house with a bunker just outside the town a while ago, along with Asia. They'll be fine."

"You have a safe house?" Tsubasa asked.

"Of course, we do. How else do you think we survived this long? It should be enough to withstand a Disaster Level Dragon."

Everyone in the room stared at Issei, even Kuroka.

"...You mean an actual dragon, nya?" Kuroka asked.

"What? No, I mean it's a term where Dad came from. Well, let's just say it can hold out Rover's atomic barks if you want a better word."

The Devils, even Kuroka, stared at Issei.

Rias then shook her head, "Why am I still surprised by this? The things you pull out are Whatever. Kuroka, while I still question your presence in this town, we do not have the luxury to attempt to apprehend you as a SS-Class Stray Devil."

"Wait, what?" Issei turned to Kuroka. He eyed Kuroka from head to toe, squinting at the catgirl.

"Nya, stop it. You're making me blush~" Kuroka teased as she turned her body away with a playful sway.

"Ise..." Tsubasa was starting to use her tone of womanly anger.

"I thought strays are supposed to be monster-ish. She looks normal-ish," Issei pointed out.

"Not all strays are. There are exceptions among the norm, but moving on, are you going to help us deal with Kokabiel?" Sona asked.

"Of course his actions lead to the harm of someone I love, after all." Kuroka said, her tone no longer playful, serious and laced with a taste of vengeance.

Everyone exchanged glances, silently discussing if it was truly alright to cooperate with the stray Nekoshou before them. Eventually, Rias spoke, "Very well. We will trust you for now. Although, can I ask you to stay after we have dealt with this fiasco? There are questions you have to answer."

Kuroka hummed while tapping her chin playfully, before she replied with a cheshire smile, "No promise, nya~"

Issei could tell that she would flee somewhere. For some reason, he imagined her entering his room and charming him to keep her or something like that. Probably the same with Tsubasa.

"Alright, when can we move out? Who will go search for this bomb and who will face the final boss?" Issei asked.

"Rias and I will go search for this bomb." Sona nodded to Rias, who returned the gesture.

"The rest of you will go to face Kokabiel and rescue Sister Griselda." Rias addressed the others, "Akeno, can you and Tsubaki look after things? As soon as we're done dealing with the bomb, we will call in reinforcements from our elder siblings."

"...We probably don't need that." Issei raised his hand up, showing his cellphone with a text message on its screen. "Forgot to mention this, but after mom's little chat with Azazel, Azazel notified me before the big bubble that he sent a squad here to deal with Kokabiel, along with some agents that can help. Luckily, there are some that are on the way to Kuoh as we speak."

Again, Issei surprised them with something unexpected.

"...That's good news. Are there any agents that we can meet?" Relief briefly washed over Sona's face.

"There are. I have the place in mind. As for the main forces, considering the army he needed to assemble, his other schedule and how he manages his work in general by a day, twenty-four hours." Issei suddenly grimaced before his gaze shifted uncomfortably at Akeno, "Though. Um."

Akeno did not fail to notice the abnormal tune. "Is there something the matter, Ise?"

Issei opened his mouth for a second before he closed it. Kuroka tilted her head, confused by his hesitation.

"Your dad, Baraqiel, is the leading commander, so yeah."

Akeno was stunned in place, eyes from her friends turned to her with surprise, a few with worry. Issei hissed a little, feeling the tension of the atmosphere. Maybe he should not have said that considering Akeno's history with her parents.

"...We should focus on the matter at hand." Akeno said with a hushed tone.

Issei agreed, it was for the best for Akeno right now.

"Alright, let's go over the plan again." Issei exhaled. "Rias, do you still need Akeno and Tsubaki for calling reinforcements? I don't know how organized you Devils are but I take it that they won't make it in time."

"Forget about making it in time, I don't think they can come here, without endangering the whole town." Rias frowned, "If only we can at least tell whether Kokabiel is bluffing or not"

"Knowing him, he's not the kind to bluff but again, I seriously doubt that he has a magic nuke. Then again, holding hostages isn't his style as well he must be very desperate." Issei did not take Kokabiel as the kind of man that fights dirty. Then again, he probably wanted this war for a while now.

He ran his hand through his locks while grumbling under his breath in frustration - too many possibilities and chances for them to act on.

"Can Grigori's forces subdue Kokabiel?" Sona asked.

"Oh, yeah. There are a few people I grew up with that can take him down indefinitely - they're veterans in their own right. Baraqiel himself is one of those people and definitely not a push-over." Issei promised.

"Then that is enough. Tsubaki and Akeno can join the strike team. We will meet with the agents to see if they can help us find the magic bomb." Sona concluded.

"Uh, when are we leaving?" Saji interjected.

All eyes turned to him.

"Now."

The door of the abbey was flung open, one fat figure tripping and fell on his face while the other scowled at the fat human and walked past him.

"I see that you have encountered the Son of the Strongest Man."

One man sat on a throne of stone, candlelight the only source of light for this dark room, but his eyes bypassed the need for light as he closed the book in his hand.

"So? How is he, Malkuth? I can see that you felt his fist." The man with very pale skin asked as he stood up, ten black raven wings flapped unfurled from behind, dark feathers littering the floor.

"He has his father's brazen audacity." Malkuth spat.

"And you seem to have suffered the most." The man looked down at the fat thing.

"Lord Kokabiel," Valper coughed, "Are we all ready for the final phase?"

Kokabiel sneered a little.

This pathetic servant had exhausted his use as a pawn at this point, but there might be a time where his wit should be useful.

"Ready whatever forces we have for the next phase. If I know the boy right, he will come here. As for the others, just in case"

"At once, my lord." Valper bowed and quickly did as he was told. Malkuth simply nodded before he went to do his own preparation.

The halls of St Adonai were filled with surviving rogue exorcists and Fallen Angels. Almic was leaning against the wall, throwing and catching the silver knife in his hand.

"Are you guys finally ready?" Almic asked.

"Inform the others and ready them for the next phase. Commence a search party for the other two at the checkpoint, and if you cannot find them, return here as soon as possible." Valper ordered.

"You got it." Almic stopped throwing the knife.

Valper walked down the corridors and headed towards another room inside the underground abbey.

It was a small room where a man in paramedics attire, one who was overseeing a sleeping woman laid on a bed, with IV drops connected to her arms, with an oxygen mask and some life-support system connected to her mouth. In addition, her limbs, stomach, and neck were restrained with leather belts.

"How is she?" Valper asked as he approached the bed of the captize Griselda Quarta.

The paramedics replied, "She has yet to recover, sir. But her condition has been stable."

Valper hummed as he observed the slumberring nun before him.

"Begin the preparation for the next procedure."

The paramedic blinked before asking, "...Are you sure, sir? With all due respect, commencing that on her while in this condition could have put too much strain on both of her body and mind. She might-"

"If she dies, then that's as far as she goes." Valper shot a sharp glance at the paramedic, "We have lost an asset, and we no longer have the luxury to safely follow our usual protocols. Begin the preparations. NOW."

"...Yes, sir."

Once the paramedic left the room, Valper returned his gaze at the vulnerable sight of Griselda Quarta, as he began to walk around her bed and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Oh, dear Griselda. How I wished to spend time making this a more proper induction under my counsel. But I shall make do with what I have. You are going to be marvelous, my dear. I wonder how you taste"

Valper grinned before he leaned down and ran his wet tongue across Griselda's cheek.

The abbey was then filled with the echo of Valper Galilei's demented laughter.

The next chapter can be found in you-know-where website.

Thoughts? No flames, please!