Harbinger of Ruin: Ch.23

'Oh, he does not look happy', I thought with a nervous look as Sirzechs landed in front of me, the Power of Destruction rippling from his body making it hard to breathe as I took a few steps back.

Sirzechs was not the only one to arrive as I caught hundreds of devil soldiers in armoured gear and wileding bidents slowly floating down, Rias and the others looking relieved while the barrier closed back up above us.

“Sirzechs Lucifer~ Oh, isn't this quite the glorious gift for me?”

“Kiba, have you guys been holding up?”, Instead of responding to Kokabiel, I blinked as the man turned to me with a soft smile before giving a shaky shrug.

“Uh, we've been trying our best, but it's been a struggle.”

“Well, you all have been doing absolutely wonderful here. Now, rest…”

“Do not ignore me, Sirzechs Lucifer!!”, I heard Kokabiel shout and my eyes widened as the Cadre launched a gigantic light spear at us. With no hesitation, the flames on Arondight surged as I moved and held the blade in front of Sirzechs and I.

To my surprise, Sirzechs didn't flinch as he placed a hand in front of the blade to stop the roaring flames while also unleashing a blast of Power of Destruction from his other hand to utterly destroy the light spear coming at us.

“I appreciate you trying to help, but this might be a bit too much for you, Kiba. Why don't you go and keep the others company while I take care of this lunatic?”

“You will hear no complaints from me”, I answered as I placed Arondight back in its pocket dimension and the man chuckled as I turned and began making my way to the others.

Ignoring the sound that echoes from behind me, I rushed over to the others and knelt besides Asia. Her brows were furrowed as Twilight Healing glowed brightly.

Boost!

Transfer!

Issei was kneeling in front of her as his Boosted Gear was placed on her shoulder, keeping her energy up with Boosts as everyone watched the hole in Mittelt's chest slowly closing up.

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked and grimaced as Rias responded with a sigh and a helpless shrug.

“Asia's doing her best, but it's a struggle. Not to mention I had to restart her heart a few times to make sure it didn't stop”, Saji said with a frown as his vines were attached to her chest while Akeno continuously pumped electricity into her.

'Come on, Kiba. Think of a way to help here”, I thought with a frown as I began to imagine any blade that would help here.

'No, don't imagine just one blade. Imagine them all. Okay, Sword Birth and this Holy Light fragment stuck in my chest, time to help me figure this out', Kneeling down with a deep breath while placing a hand on the ground, the group healing looked surprised as a large Gremory crest appeared below them before I called out every blade I could think of that would help.

'Lilith's Lullaby to boost Mittelt's regenerative capabilities, Boosters to form a Devil's Playground to boost her stamina and recovery rate, Demonic Excalibur Blessing to boost all demonic spells used inside of the designated area and Holy Devourer to absorb any ambient holy energy in the air and redirect it into Mittelt to boost her own holy power' Blood was dripping from my nose and my vision spun as Rias caught me before I could fall.

However, I gave a tired smile at the cage of demonic blades encircling the ground, giving Asia a thumbs-up as she gave me a surprised look.

“That…should help…” Asia blinked in awe as the glow from Twilight Healing was near-blinding and Issei, Saji and Akeno looked shocked as they felt the holy-demonic energy of the blades boosting their individual powers.

It was not long before I gave a relieved sigh as Mittelt's breath hitched, both Raynare and Kalawarna crying tears of joy and even Koneko looked overjoyed as the wound on the blonde's chest sealed up while her aura felt stronger than earlier.

“It's working. It's really working.”

“Yes! Sword Jesus-Ow! Coming in clutch again!”

“Don't call my cuddle buddy that”, Akeno spoke with a smirk, but she couldn't helped the relieved smile on her face while Rias hugged my head to her chest and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

“You are really the miracle worker for me, aren't you?”

“I aim to please.” I whispered and she giggled before I looked up as the sky rumbled.

To my shock, I watched as the immense pressure in the sky cracked the top of the barrier open, Sirzechs looking calm and composed while Kokabiel looked as if the sin of wrath itself was living through him.

“Come now, Cadre of the Grigori. You shout so loudly and yet, your power feels so…ordinary.”

“Don't mock me!”, The Cadre roared as he hurled hundreds of light spears at Sirzechs, but that did not bother the Satan as he simply waved his hand once. In response, his demonic energy flared and I gawked as the Power of Destruction surged forward like a wave and devoured the light spears within the blink of an eye.

That's right. They didn't destroy them like I expected. No, his energy was destruction itself and nothing was to stand in its way.

The wave of Power of Destruction did not stop there as it swatted Kokabiel out of the way, sending the Cadre hurtling ass over kettle through the air and into the ground with a devastating explosion.

“…Your brother is quite the menace” I said to Rias as Sirzechs floated towards Kokabiel, his crimson aura unfurling and wrapping around his wings to make it look like he was a wrathful deity descending down to pass judgement.

The funny thing was that his presence was actually pressing the Cadre deeper into the ground and stopping him from moving while his power was making hard for everyone to breathe even though we were far from the battle.

“Attack our lands? I'll try my best to stop my people. Slander my name? I'll ignore it because it has no effect on us. However, you dared to threaten my sister and threatened to kill her friends”, Kokabiel just glared at the Satan before he forced himself to his feet with sheer will, his ten tattered wings flaring out as he roared.

“I am Kokabiel, Seraph of the Starlit Night and a Cadre of the Grigori! I was there when the heavens were split and the Morning Star fell! I was there when the Heavens wept and Hell itself froze over and you believe yourself to be better than I?!”

“You are stuck in the past, Kokabiel. That is why you are weak and why you will stay weak no matter what you do”, Sirzechs spoke bluntly with a stoic gaze and Kokabiel waved his arm wide.

Lighting up the sky around us, Sirzechs was surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of light weapons all around him before the Cadre clenched his fists, unleashing the storm of holy weaponry on the Satan like a swarm of divine missiles.

The Satan in question didn't even flinch as he simply held his hand out towards Kokabiel, a flare of his power sending out a burst of Power of Destruction that erased everything around him like a ravenous void.

“No…No!”

“This is the difference between a fallen angel clinging to a war long lost…” Sirzechs trailed off as he walked closer, raising his index finger to the Cadre who looked scared shitless.

“…and a Satan who fights to protect the future of his people”, With a flash of scarlet, Kokabiel's angered cries vanished, my eyes wide as all signs of the Cadre ever being in front of Sirzechs were erased without a trace.

Silence hung in the air as Sirzechs turned towards us, the sound of the wind whistling being the only turn that echoed across the battlefield as the Power of Destruction was pulled back into his body with a smile.

“You're all safe now”, That broke the trance as the devils raised their bidents with cheers while the others collapsed with exhausted smiles.

I just sat there in a giggling Rias' arms while staring at the destruction still visible on the school, trying to process what just happened.

One moment, we were struggling our asses off against an entity that has been alive for millennia and the next, he was just…gone. Erased like a weakling instead of the Cadre he was.

“Note to self: Do not piss off the leader of the devils”, Nero's muttered words made me chuckle before I frowned as I saw Xenovia and Irina still shocked.

'Right, they just heard that their leader died.”

“Don't let his words get to your head”, I spoke up, drawing everyone's attention as Irina turned to me with a confused and panicked look in her eyes.

“He said that our God is dead. The being that everyone in the church see as almighty…surely…surely that was just a lie, right?”

“It…It has to be. It's not true, Irina. Don't let his words get to you”, Xenovia added as she tried to help her friend stay calm, but even someone as blind as Issei could see that she didn't believe what she said.

“Look, I know it's hard to believe and I know it's even harder to accept, but Kokabiel didn't say it to teach you the truth. He did it to hurt you.”

“We were fighting in His name for our entire lives. He was our purpose and we devoted everything we did to Him. If he is truly gone…then…then what have we even been doing?”

“You've been protecting people and saving their lives. You've been standing between those that wish to do harm and those too weak to defend themselves. That has meaning whether He is up there or not.”

“But the miracles…and the prayers…if He is gone, then-!” Irina looked as if she was about to begin hyperventilating and Rias helped me stand up before Irina looked surprised as we walked over and I placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Then you carry the light now. It wasn't Him that fought against the Cadre to get the Excalibur fragments back and it wasn't him that helped us defeat the Cadre that wanted to destroy our home. It was your hands, your faith and your will that did it. That's not something that dies just because someone told you the Guy above is no longer there.”

“It is true that God…the one who created the Angels, the Sacred Gear system and the miracles you believed in, perished during the Great War.”

'Not helping here!' I shouted in my mind as I turned to Sirzechs and Rias joined in as Irina gasped while Xenovia looked as if she was about to faint before he smiled and continued.

“However, that does not mean you are alone. The belief in good, in protecting what matters and defending the peace, did not die with him. If anything, it became the responsibility of everyone to carry that belief forward and make sure the future generations would nurture and protect it.”

“Why didn't anyone tell us?”

“Because God's…system that he created kept running. The prayers and miracles were still being answered by the Four Great Seraphs so no one wished to break that illusion. Especially since belief in the illusion that God…was still up there gave people strength”, Sirzechs explained, all of us devils wincing every time he mentioned the Big G's name I blinked as Rias let go and walked over to give Xenovia a hug.

“You still believe in justice, right? We're still the filthy devils you want to beat up, right?”

“You are…” Xenovia agreed with a shaky smile and Rias giggled as hse nodded.

“Then nothing has changed since you learned of your Lord's death. The world might be scarier now, but you're still Xenovia, the goofy stoic bitch that would kill me in a heartbeat.”

“…I never expected a devil to comfort me”, Xenovia whispered and Rias rolled her eyes before she looked at the King with a frown.

“I…don't know if I can keep going with this illusion, though.”

“Then, don't. We're all right here and if you need a place to rest and think, our manor has some spare rooms. For all of you.”

“Sweet! I could use some sleep!”, Nero exclaimed with a grin while stretching his arms above his head and I raised an eyebrow as he looked back with a smirk.

“You're awfully happy for a guy that just learned his Lord was dead.”

“Oh, that's because I knew.”

“What?!” Irina exclaimed, the rest of us just as surprised as the blonde man just grinned and shrugged.

“Yeah, found out about a few years ago, but it doesn't bother me. I know that the Lord would be proud of the man I'm becoming and that's all I need.”

“…Right, forgot you have a few brain cells missing”, Irina muttered and Nero rolled his eyes before I turned as Sirzechs spoke up.

“Well, I am glad to say that the immediate threat is over, but that does not mean we can rest easy. You children can go and catch some good night's sleep while we clean up here.”

“Fine by me”, I said with a thumbs-up as Rias helped me walk, which wasn't needed since the aches in my body was beginning to fade away, but as I felt the sides of her chest pushing against me, I immediately curbed every thought of doing so.

'I've fought tooth and nail for this sensation. I'm enjoying it.'

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The Gremory manor was quiet when we appeared in the living hall, my senses letting me know of the dozens of guards floating around the manor while the comforting warmth of the room helped me relaxed.

“We'll get Mittelt to her bed.”

“That would be best”, Rias nodded in agreement at Kalawarna's words and I watched as she carried Mittelt up the stairs while Raynare followed after them, the look of disappointment visible on her face and making me frown.

“We'll be doing the same”, Xenovia spoke up from the side and Rias looked at the exorcist trio with a smile before turning to Koneko who nodded.

“Follow. I'll take you to your rooms.”

“Thank you”, Irina spoke with a soft smile as they followed after the Rook and I gave a soft chuckle as Nero and I bumped fists before the guy followed after them.

“Akeno, could I have a few moments alone with Kiba?”

'Well, here comes the shouting', I thought with a sigh as Akeno gave a nod before walking out the hall, closing the door behind her while Rias helped me sit down on the sofa.

She didn't say anything as she sat besides me and I smiled as I wrapped my arm around her when I felt her shaking.”

“I almost lost you…”

“I know…”

“You almost died…”

“But I didn't.”

“You saying that doesn't make it better”, She answered as she looked at me and I sighed at the fear and helplessness shimmering in her eyes.

“You fought against not one but two Cadres and nearly went brain-dead when you overloaded your Sacred Gear to help Asia and the others. Then, you have the nerve to tell me you're fine. Why do you do that to us? Why do you do that to me?”, She pleaded and I didn't answer immediately before taking a deep breath and exhaling softly.

“Because if I can protect you all and make sure you have a chance to smile again, the pain doesn't seem so bad.”

“…You're such an idiot” She whispered as she hugged me tightly, burying her face in my neck as I chuckled and hugged her tighter as well.”

“I've been called worse.”

“My idiot.”

“That doesn't sound so bad to be honest”, I murmured, kissing the top of her head and her giggle made me smile. A calm and comforting silence hung in the air as the adrenaline faded away, the two of us just sitting there as her warmth calmed my mind.

'This…is quite nice.'

“I brought te-Oh, am I interrupting?”, Rias looked up along with me as the door opened, Akeno walking in and holding a tray with three cups of tea while dressed in her black nightdress.

“Thank you, Akeno.”

“I can leave if you guys want…” Akeno spoke as she placed the cup down before smiling as Rias shook her head.

“No, I want you to stay.”

'Huh, usually she would keep her out', I thought with a raised eyebrow even as I sat back, shifting my position as Akeno sat down on the other side while wrapping her arms around me.

“This is nice.”

“I know.”

“…Okay, am I missing something? You two would be trying to fight the other right now”, I asked with a raised eyebrow and Rias rolled her eyes as Akeno giggled.

“We would be, but considering both of us were scared of losing you, I think we'll let tonight be just a peaceful one”, Rias answered and I smirked as I turned to Akeno.

“You were?”

“Terrified. You know it's not a pretty sight when a…guy starts bleeding from his nose and ears while trying to save a friend.”

“Why the pause on 'guy'?” I asked, chuckling as she simply rolled her eyes while Rias giggled before surprising both Akeno and I as she kissed my cheek while interlocking both her hand and Akeno's that was resting on my chest.

“Just for tonight, you can be girlfriend No. 2, but just for tonight, okay?”

“…I have a feeling she won't stop at tonight,” I whispered to Rias, who huffed before I blushed a bit as Akeno tilted her head and laid a soft kiss on my neck.

“Abusing your privileges already?”

“Ufufufu~ Of course”, I didn't say anything as I let the two talk it out, lying back and letting out a soft exhale as a smile grew across my face.

For the first time in a while, I let myself rest. Not as a warrior or a Knight even Sword Jesus as Issei called me.

Just as Kiba.

'Their Kiba…Heh, that has a ring to it.'

A/N: And we end off the Kokabiel arc with a nice romantic moment of comfort and joy~

Kokabiel was taken out by Sirzechs and both Irina and Xenovia are on the cusp of becoming devils and staying exorcists. Which way will they go? We'll have to wait and see.

Next chapter: Meeting a White-Haired Devilishly Handsome Bastard?!…Wait, I'm a Devilishly Handsome Bastard…Imposter!!

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!