"Sis, why are you here?"
Koneko's voice trembled with emotion as she stared up at the woman perched on the tree branch.
"Don't look so scary, Shirone. You'll break your big sister's heart."
Kuroka winked playfully, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. She even punctuated her words with a soft, feline "nyan."
"I heard the Maous were throwing some big event, so I got curious and dropped by to take a look."
Koneko's eyes narrowed. "What do you really want, sister?"
Kuroka's expression softened, just for a moment. "I came to bring you home, Shirone. Back then, I was too busy running for my life to take you with me… but now, it's time."
Koneko's face crumpled with pain and confusion.
She abandoned me once—why come back now?
A new voice cut through the forest. "Kuroka, Koneko is my servant. I won't let you take her."
Rias stepped out from the shadows, her presence commanding.
"Rias-buchou, I…"
Koneko shrank back, panic flickering in her eyes.
Rias knelt beside her, pulling her gently into an embrace. "It's alright, Koneko. You're safe now."
Kuroka sat up, her gaze shifting from playful to icy cold. "Well, well, if it isn't the Gremory princess. But Shirone is my little sister, you know. I have every right to take her back—and I'm not handing her over to you devils."
Rias's eyes flashed with anger. She stroked Koneko's back with infinite care, voice trembling with emotion.
"Kuroka, you left this child with scars that will never heal. After you killed your master and fled, she lived through hell—alone, betrayed by her only family, scorned by other devils, nearly punished for crimes she didn't commit. When I met her, she'd forgotten what it meant to feel anything at all."
"Why are you here now, just to hurt her all over again?"
Kuroka's playful mask slipped, replaced by something darker. "Stop pretending you understand me! What do you know about my life?!"
Her words cracked like a whip, and the air around her shimmered with killing intent.
"Come with me, Shirone. This isn't your home. You belong with your sister."
Kuroka's patience was gone; her voice was cold, final.
"I don't want to! I don't want to go!"
Koneko shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face.
Kuroka hesitated, conflict flickering in her eyes—but then she hardened.
"If you won't listen, I'll have to use force. One day, you'll understand how much I care."
In a blur, Kuroka landed on the forest floor, ready to act.
Rias stepped protectively in front of Koneko. "Kuroka, I won't let you take her. This is devil territory. If you make a move, reinforcements will arrive in seconds."
Even without fighting, Rias could feel the dangerous aura radiating from Kuroka—the power of an awakened nekomata, master of youjutsu, senjutsu, and magic. And as Koneko's sister, she was a foe Rias would rather not face.
Kuroka sighed, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're adorably naive, princess. Haven't you noticed? I set up a barrier the moment you stepped in. If I killed you here, no one would ever know."
Rias's heart thudded. She reached out with her senses—and her blood ran cold.
A trap, from the very start.
"Even if I'm alone, I won't let you win."
Destructive power shimmered around Rias, her eyes locked on Kuroka.
Kuroka laughed softly. "Nice spirit. Show me what you've got."
She raised her hand, and arcane runes flickered at her fingertips. With a snap, they shattered, unleashing a poisonous mist that spread through the air.
"Ugh…"
Koneko collapsed behind Rias, her face twisted in pain.
"Koneko! Are you alright?"
Rias knelt, cradling the girl, and glared up at Kuroka.
"What did you do to her?!"
Kuroka shrugged. "Relax, I diluted the poison. It won't kill anyone."
"But it should affect both devils and youkai… So why are you perfectly fine?"
She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
Rias frowned, then realization dawned.
Tenra's power—the Red Dragon Emperor's protection.
Without hesitation, she summoned the [Boosted Gear]. Crimson armor flared to life around her.
Kuroka's eyes widened. "So that's it—the Red Dragon Emperor's power! But you're not the Emperor himself. How did you get it?"
Everyone in the Underworld and the youkai realm knew: the Red Dragon Emperor was the one who defeated Vali, the miracle child of the Phoenix house.
Rias tossed her hair, her voice steely. "My business isn't yours to know."
"Prepare yourself, Kuroka. If you hurt Koneko, even if you're her sister, I won't forgive you."
Her power surged—hundreds of magic circles blossomed in the air, each one burning with destructive energy.
Kuroka smirked. "Think you've already won? Don't get cocky. When I'm done, you'll tell me everything I want to know."
Her own aura exploded, a giant magic circle forming behind her. Bullets of youjutsu and senjutsu spun into existence, ready to fire.
Their eyes met—lightning in the air.
Both attacked at once.
Rias's crimson magic circles unleashed torrents of destructive force; Kuroka's spinning bullets formed a massive wheel of light, tearing towards Rias.
For a heartbeat, it was as if the world itself split open.
Light and energy collided—
BOOM!!!!
—
Back at the banquet—
"Tenra, what's wrong?"
Akeno paused mid-pour, glancing at Tenra, who was staring intently out the window.
"It's… nothing."
Tenra shook his head, then raised his glass and nudged Rossweisse.
"Come on, Rossweisse. Bottoms up!"
"B-bottoms up! Cheers!"
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