It had been... disappointing.
Not a challenge, not a spectacle worth remembering, just another annihilation.
The surrounding space was completely destroyed. What had once been a dimensional landscape resembling a mountain range was now nothing more than a crumbling void, a sea of fragments from all the destroyed "creation." There was no color, sound, or form—only the absolute silence of nonexistence.
At the center of it all, Kazuya remained motionless.
His gaze was serene, expressionless, and with a slight movement of his hand, he made the staff or the sword—depending on who named it—disappear in a golden rain of particles, returning to the [Gate of Babylon].
He had just used his most powerful Noble Phantasm: the Sword of Rupture, [EA]. It was Gilgamesh's strongest and most ancient Noble Phantasm, which he had obtained through the [Fate Gacha]—a Divine Construct so ancient that it predates the very concept of swords. As a weapon exclusive to the King of Heroes, it can only be wielded by him and exists solely within the Gate of Babylon. It was also used by the god Enki (also called "[EA]," the origin of the sword's name) to create the textures of planet Earth before finally ending up in Gilgamesh's hands.
Though classified as a "sword," the divine artifact resembled a staff more, sustained by three independently rotating segments. Each one spun around the central axis like perfect gears, and on each ring was engraved a lithograph: Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. Together, they represented the Universe.
When unleashed, the combined rotation of the three rings made space vibrate and distort, breaking all surrounding laws, even those of Creation. It was the negation of the very concept of "existing." [EA]'s function as a Noble Phantasm was essentially a spatial slashing attack that revealed the "Truth," originally used as a powerful Nation-Building Authority capable of separating Heaven and Earth—something Gilgamesh describes as "revealing the reality behind a dream."
By spinning the separate sections of [EA] at ever-increasing speeds, he released a vortex of energy while twisting, compressing, and intertwining the air until the pressure exceeded the laws of physics, creating a displacement in space-time. Once activated, the energy vortex and space-time displacement caused catastrophic damage that could not be mitigated without an attack of equal power.
Furthermore, [EA]'s attack sliced through space itself, allowing it to tear the world apart to reveal the "Truth"—or in other words, the base of hell, the primordial form of the planet where no life can exist.
And he had used it.
First, he sealed all the ExE Gods that had entered his perception, imprisoning them within a [Pocket Dimension] before they could react. Then, with a low voice, as if bidding farewell to nothingness itself, he unleashed the full power of [EA].
The result was inevitable.
All the ExE Gods were reduced to dust!
Annihilated along with the [Pocket Dimension] that had been stationed there at that moment.
Kazuya slowly raised his gaze. Before him, the structure of reality was still trembling, trying to recompose itself. Cracks in space extended like luminous roots, while time, fragmented, oscillated between "before" and "after."
"It's finally over. No danger remains for this world; I just need to finish stabilizing a few things to keep humanity safe for the next few millennia, and then I can take a long vacation in some other world..." He murmured, more to himself than to the void.
A subtle snap, and Kazuya opened a new portal before him. Emerging from the [Pocket Dimension] and completely dismantling it.
When he stepped out on the other side of the portal, the contrast was almost violent.
In the real world, the illuminated night of the amusement park was still alive, colorful, joyful. The sound of music, people's voices, the glow of lights... everything was as it had been before.
For a moment, he looked at the night sky—so normal, so absurdly ordinary—and let out a soft sigh.
"...I'm back."
That gentle voice cut through the surrounding silence.
And then he felt it: the familiar trace of Serafall's energy, still nearby, still waiting.
A small smile curved his lips, discreet, almost imperceptible.
"You're still here, huh..."
With a snap of his fingers, the space around him distorted, and he reappeared exactly behind her, at the same spot where he had vanished.
Serafall, who had still been looking around trying to detect any sign of him, froze for an instant upon sensing the sudden presence.
"Kazuya-kun!" She exclaimed, spinning around: "You disappeared for—!"
Kazuya took a step forward, enough for the park's light to illuminate his face.
"Sorry..." He said simply. "I had to... take care of a hiccup."
Serafall blinked several times, the relief evident in her shoulders as they relaxed upon seeing him back. Still, her expression soon became a mix of irritation and curiosity.
"What happened?" she asked, crossing her arms and tilting her head. "You just vanish in the middle of a date as if you'd gone to buy soda and took twenty years to come back!"
Kazuya maintained the same calm demeanor, his gaze serene, almost peaceful.
"It was nothing major," he replied, with a slight smile. "A minor hiccup."
"Hiccup...?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes. "You know that answer doesn't reassure me at all, right?"
"But it's the truth." He shrugged, stepping closer and extending his hand. "Come on. The park hasn't closed yet."
Serafall stared at him for a few seconds, weighing whether to press the question. In the end, she sighed, took his hand, and replied with a half-smile: "You're the worst. But fine. I've decided I won't let a sudden disappearance ruin my day."
"Good choice."
And so, without further explanations, the two returned to the light and casual rhythm of the date.
The first stop was the instant photo booth. Serafall insisted they "needed to capture the day," and before Kazuya could refuse, she was already dragging him into the small colorful cabin. Lights flashed, the digital background switched between cute landscapes and animated hearts, and she struck increasingly exaggerated poses, from cat ears to idol expressions.
Kazuya, as always, remained serene in the first photos, until Serafall nudged him with her elbow and said:
"Come on, smile a little—you look like an NPC!"
He let out a resigned sigh and, in the last photo, leaned in closer to her, smiling faintly—that rare, lazy smile that Serafall loved to provoke. When the photo paper came out of the machine, she looked at the images and nearly burst into laughter.
"Look at this! You look like a bored model!"
"Then it fits the theme."
"What theme?"
"My constant mood around you."
She gave him a playful slap on the arm, laughing, and carefully tucked the photos into her bag, as if they were treasures.
Afterward, they decided to go to the park's aquarium, one of the largest in the country, with glass tunnels surrounded by enormous tanks. The air inside was cool and silent, and the soft blue of the water painted their faces with an almost hypnotic calm.
Serafall walked slowly, watching schools of colorful fish pass overhead.
A group of children ran by, excitedly pointing at a huge ray gliding above them. Serafall smiled, watching the scene, and then commented softly: "I wish I could freeze moments like this."
Kazuya raised an eyebrow. "Freeze literally?"
She glanced at him sideways. "...Maybe a little."
Later, they stopped at a themed café inside the park, one where the waitstaff dressed as characters. Serafall chose the flashiest one, the "Magical Sweet Café," and Kazuya simply accepted his fate.
The interior was a pink chaos, full of glitter and sugary music. The waitresses wielded wands and shouted "Mahō Mahō Kira-Kira!" every time they delivered an order.
Serafall, evidently, was in paradise.
"This is wonderful!" she exclaimed, looking around. "Look at these lights! And the smell! And—ah! They have star-shaped pancakes!"
Kazuya watched her excitement and shook his head, a small smile escaping. "If you overdose on sugar, I'm not responsible."
"I doubt there's such a thing as 'too much sugar' when it comes to me."
She ordered the full combo: star-shaped pancakes, a milkshake with edible glitter, and blue ice cream. Kazuya, in contrast, ordered just a black coffee.
When the waitress delivered her plate and performed the magical blessing ritual with a pose and shout, Kazuya watched in silence. Serafall followed the choreography, raising her hands and repeating the spell cheerfully with a light laugh.
"You know you just participated in a sugar ritual, right?"
"Of course! And it worked! Look how pretty!"
He simply nodded, taking a sip of coffee.
After the café, they returned to the nighttime attractions. The park was now a sea of colorful lights, and the cool air made their breaths dance like vapor under the illuminated lampposts. They stopped at a shooting gallery booth with giant plush prizes.
This time, Serafall tried again and, to both their surprise, hit the target. Twice.
"See?!" she shouted triumphantly, hugging a plush bear that barely fit in her arms. "Practice makes perfect!"
"Or absurd luck," Kazuya commented, amused.
"Don't downplay my talent, Kazuya-kun."
"Never."
They walked side by side down the main avenue, the noise of laughter and music filling the air. Serafall was calmer now, talking about the anime she liked when she was younger and how the park reminded her of simpler times.
"Sometimes I think life got... too big," she said, looking at the lights. "Being a Maou is amazing, of course, but it's exhausting. There's always someone needing something, some crisis, some meeting..."
Kazuya listened in silence, hands in his pockets. "Then days like this are good."
She looked at him, surprised. "You really get it, don't you?"
"More than it seems."
Serafall stopped walking for a moment. The light from a lamppost reflected in her eyes, and for a second, she just watched him. Then she smiled—a small, genuine smile. "I think that's why I like hanging out with you so much."
"Because I get it?"
"Because you let me forget for a while."
Kazuya didn't respond; he simply reached out and gently adjusted her bangs, brushing a stray strand from her face.
"Then don't think about anything now."
She blinked, and her smile widened. "Order accepted, Mr. Mysterious."
The rest of the night passed between laughter and random strolls. They played claw machines, took more photos, watched a small fireworks show from the top of an artificial hill inside the park. The lights exploded in the sky like ephemeral flowers, reflecting in her eyes, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze again.
Serafall leaned lightly against his shoulder, the plush bear still in her arms. "You know... if all my days were like this, I think I'd forget to be a Maou."
Kazuya replied without taking his eyes off the sky. "Then don't forget. Just... take a vacation from the idea of being one."
She laughed softly.
"A vacation from absolute power. I like that."
When the fireworks ended, the park began to empty. The streets grew quieter, and the night wind blew gently. Serafall checked her watch, then looked at him.
"Looks like the night's over."
"Not quite." He took a step forward and, teasingly, added: "We still have one last place to go... If you catch my drift...."
Serafall stared at him, her smile gaining a mischievous touch. "Ah, of course. Out of pure chivalry, I imagine."
"Exactly."
"Hmm... then I think I'll accept your kindness, Kazuya-kun."
The walk to the last place was peaceful. The city lights twinkled like artificial stars reflected in her eyes, and their footsteps echoed softly on the sidewalk. Serafall held the plush bear, Kazuya walked beside her, hands in his pockets and a faint smile on his face.
When they reached the motel door, she stopped and turned to him. "You know... if you keep being this perfect, I'll end up getting used to it, right?"
Kazuya tilted his head, his gaze calm. "Then don't stop."
She laughed, a low and sweet sound. "Too late."
And, with one last look loaded with mischief and tenderness, she pulled him by the hand, guiding him inside.
_____________
(A/N: This chapter was harder to write than I expected. The original idea was to make an epic, detailed battle — with cosmic explosions and absurd power displays — but I realized I had already done that several times before. In the end, there was never really a challenge for Kazuya. He simply obliterated the ExE Gods without effort, and turning that into a long fight scene would've made everything feel repetitive and without real impact.
That's why I decided to leave the "battle" off-screen — because, honestly, it wasn't even a real fight. The focus ended up being the contrast between Kazuya destroying universes and then casually returning to a lighthearted, fun date with Serafall. To me, that says much more about his character than any scene of destruction ever could.
The next chapter will probably be the last one set in High School DxD, since there are only a few loose ends left to tie up. After that, I'll dive into Tensura, and honestly, I'm really excited for that. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter — even with less action — and thank you so much for following the story this far!
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