The night was heavy with tension.
Xenovia and Irina's arrival had shifted the balance of power in Kuoh, but the real threat wasn't them—it was Valper Galilei and, by extension, Kokabiel. If Valper was in town, that meant he was attempting to fuse the Excalibur fragments, a process that could lead to absolute devastation.
Which meant we were running out of time.
Standing in the Occult Research Clubroom, I listened as Sona laid out the details of the situation. "Based on our surveillance, we've tracked multiple rogue exorcists moving through Kuoh's industrial district. They're transporting Excalibur fragments, likely for Valper's experiments."
A holographic map appeared, showing a warehouse near the city's outskirts.
"That's our target," Rias said, crossing her arms. "We move in tonight."
Issei groaned. "A-Already?! Can't we get a break?"
Koneko stared at him blankly. "If we wait, it gets worse."
Xenovia tightened her grip on Excalibur Destruction. "Agreed. If Valper succeeds in fusing the fragments, even I might not be able to wield the resulting sword. We need to stop this before it's too late."
I nodded but said nothing. My mind was elsewhere.
I needed more power.
The fight against Xenovia had proven that my mutation ability could absorb and adapt to holy weapons, but I still wasn't at the level where I could fight Kokabiel.
Not yet.
I had to evolve my swords even further.
Which meant it was time to push my abilities to the next stage.
After the meeting, I made my way to the training field behind the ORC. The moon was high, casting silver light over the empty courtyard.
Perfect.
I summoned my Abyssal Armory, and my swords appeared around me—Life-Weaver, Limit-Breaker, and the newly evolved Titan's Edge. Each one had grown stronger through battle, but I could feel that they had more potential waiting to be unlocked.
And I had an idea.
"What if I fuse them?"
In the heat of battle, I had already learned that my Abyssal Armory could merge blades temporarily. But what if I took it a step further? What if I forged a permanent fusion—a sword that could wield the best traits of all my weapons?
If my system allowed mutation, then this had to be possible.
I focused my energy, channeling my will into the blades.
My system pinged.
[New Evolution Path Unlocked]
Fusion Process Available: Life-Weaver + Limit-Breaker + Titan's Edge.
Would you like to proceed?
[Yes] / [No]
I took a deep breath. If I did this, I wasn't just creating a new weapon—I was taking a step into uncharted territory.
I selected YES.
A surge of pure energy erupted from my swords. They began to glow, their forms shifting, breaking apart, and reforming as they merged into something greater.
The air crackled with power. The ground beneath me shook.
And then—
A new blade emerged.
It hovered in the air before me, pulsing with a presence unlike anything I had ever felt. Its hilt was adorned with crimson runes, and its blade gleamed with a mixture of holy and demonic energy—perfectly balanced, a sword that transcended both light and darkness.
My system pinged again.
[Mutation Complete: King's Wrath]
Abyssal Armory Evolution: Stage 2 Unlocked.
New Abilities Acquired:
• Sovereign's Edge: The blade adapts in real time, countering enemy attacks by mimicking their energy.
• Overdrive Mode: Temporarily boosts wielder's speed, strength, and reaction time beyond normal limits.
• Holy-Demonic Resonance: The sword retains properties of both holy and demonic weapons, making it effective against all supernatural foes.
I reached out and grasped King's Wrath. The moment my fingers wrapped around the hilt, a rush of power coursed through me—pure, untamed strength.
This was beyond anything I had used before.
This was a sword worthy of a king.
I took a deep breath, steadying my emotions. This was it. This was the weapon that would let me stand against Kokabiel.
Now, all I needed was a battle to test it.
That battle came sooner than expected.
Later that night, our team moved into the industrial district, heading straight for the warehouse where Valper's exorcists were operating. The air was thick with tension, everyone on high alert.
Rias and Akeno took point, leading the group. Xenovia and Irina followed close behind, their swords at the ready. Issei stuck close to Koneko, muttering prayers that he wouldn't die.
I stayed near the back, King's Wrath resting at my side.
The warehouse was massive—an old abandoned factory, its windows broken, its walls rusted with age. But inside, we could sense powerful presences.
Rias glanced at Akeno. "They're expecting us."
Akeno smiled. "That just makes things more fun."
With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a bolt of lightning, blowing the front doors off their hinges.
And then—
We charged inside.
The interior of the warehouse was a war zone. Dozens of rogue exorcists were waiting for us, their weapons drawn, light spears forming in their hands. The air was thick with holy energy, but we didn't hesitate.
Xenovia was the first to attack, cleaving through enemies with brutal efficiency. Irina covered her flank, her twin swords moving in a deadly dance.
Rias fired destruction magic, wiping out entire groups at once.
Akeno's lightning crackled through the battlefield, sending exorcists screaming as they fell.
And then there was me.
I unsheathed King's Wrath, and the moment its blade was exposed to battle, my system reacted.
[Combat Mode Engaged]
• Sovereign's Edge Activating…
• Adapting to Enemy Energy…
The first exorcist lunged at me with a holy spear.
I didn't dodge.
Instead, King's Wrath shifted, its blade absorbing the properties of the spear the moment it made contact. The next time I swung, my sword cut through the spear like paper, sending the exorcist flying backward.
My eyes widened.
It really works.
The next wave of enemies attacked, and I moved like a storm, cutting through them with blinding speed. Every time a weapon clashed with mine, King's Wrath adapted, shifting its properties to counter them instantly.
The battlefield was mine.
And then—
A new presence entered the fray.
At the far end of the warehouse, a man in a white priest's robe stepped forward, his glasses gleaming in the dim light. His aura was different, cold and calculated.
Valper Galilei.
The man responsible for the Holy Sword Project.
And standing beside him—
Was a towering figure with jet-black wings and an aura that screamed power.
Kokabiel.
A slow smile spread across the Fallen Angel's face. "So… the devils finally arrived."
"This is going to be a lot of fun."