"Koneko, Kiba, are you guys okay?"
After repelling Kokabiel's attack, Blake turned around, holding Koneko in his arms as he landed steadily on the ground. His voice was soft, filled with concern.
"Senpai, I'm fine. The main thing is... are you okay?"
This time, Koneko didn't resist Blake's embrace. Instead, she looked up at him with her golden eyes, worry evident in her gaze.
"Don't worry, I'm not so fragile that I'd be knocked down so easily."
Blake gently patted Koneko's head and shook his own. Seeing this, the women watching him finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hahaha, a Holy Demonic Sword?! Such an unnatural thing actually exists? Well, I suppose it's not surprising after all, God is gone! Looks mission wasn't in vain. How delightful!"
At that moment, Kokabiel stroked his chin, his gaze locking onto the black and white sword in Kiba's hands a weapon infused with both holy and demonic energy. His laughter was filled with arrogance and amusement.
Kokabiel's words plunged the battlefield into an eerie silence.
Everyone except Blake seemed as if they'd just heard something they never should have. Eyes widened in disbelief, all turned to stare at the laughing Fallen Angel.
"God... no longer exists?! What is he talking about?!"
The next moment, Xenovia and Irina the two devout Holy Sword users visibly trembled. Their expressions wavered, their faith shaken to its core.
Kokabiel only laughed harder, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Hahahaha! That's right! That's right! Let me enlighten you all in the Great War, not only did the Four Great Satans perished, but even God Himself died!"
...W-What... What did he just say...?
Except for Blake, whose expression remained indifferent, everyone else looked utterly dumbfounded.
"It's only natural that you don't know," Kokabiel continued smugly. "None of the three factions wanted this information to get out. Even among them, only a handful of top officials know the truth."
"God... is dead...? That's... that's impossible..."
"There's no way... how could that be true...?"
"Lies... they're all lies..."
Not far away, Xenovia and Irina who had just been healed by Asia collapsed to their knees, strength drained from their bodies.
Disbelief painted their faces. They were devout believers, God's servants. Their entire existence revolved around serving Him.
And now, with God gone, what reason was left for them to live?
"Azazel also lost most of his subordinates in the war and declared, 'I won't start another war.' Can you believe that?! If we had just pressed our attack, we would have won!"
Kokabiel's expression twisted with frustration. The power within him surged, radiating outward like a raging storm, turning the academy grounds into a whirlwind of oppressive energy.
The intensity of his aura jolted Rias and Akeno from their shock. Their gazes hardened as they focused on Kokabiel with grave expressions.
Although they had become strong in their own right, the overwhelming power Kokabiel emitted felt ten times greater than theirs.
Compared to Rias and Akeno, who had gathered themselves, Asia who wasn't as attuned to power levels simply covered her mouth in horror. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Even though she had become a Devil, her faith had never truly disappeared.
"...The Lord is gone? The Lord... is dead? Then... what has been guiding us...?"
Kokabiel smirked as he responded to Asia's question.
"Exactly. It's only natural that God's protection and love have faded because God is no longer here. Michael has taken charge of the angels and the church in His absence."
"Though the 'system' God left behind is still operational, prayers, blessings, and exorcisms only work to a limited extent. The number of believers it can support is far smaller than when God was alive."
"The reason that Devil brat over there," he motioned toward Kiba, "was able to create the Holy Demonic Sword is because the balance between God and the Satans has collapsed. Originally, holy and demonic energy could never coexist. But now, with both God and the Satans gone, strange phenomena are bound to appear."
Kokabiel's explanation made Kiba tighten his grip on the Holy Demonic Sword, his expression complicated.
Asia, on the other hand, staggered backward before collapsing to the ground.
Just then, a cold voice cut through the oppressive air.
"Are you done with your nonsense?"
Blake's tone was devoid of interest, his expression unbothered.
"I don't care whether God is dead or not. It has nothing to do with me. What I care about... is putting an end to this ridiculous spectacle."
Kokabiel's arrogance faltered for a moment. His gaze snapped toward Blake, irritation flashing across his face.
This brat... actually dared to interrupt his speech? Unforgivable.
Blake ignored him entirely, instead addressing the others.
"Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Kiba, Xenovia, Irina..." He looked at each of them. "How about you let me handle this guy alone?"
His tone was calm too calm.
"I'm absolutely pissed off right now... and I need a good punching bag to vent."
Kokabiel's expression froze.
Rias, Akeno, and Koneko simultaneously placed a hand to their foreheads, sighing. Meanwhile, Xenovia, Irina, and Asia snapped out of their respective grief, looking at Blake in shock.
His face was cold, but his intent was clear.
And Kokabiel, for the first time that night, felt the slightest sliver of unease.
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