The sight before them made Rias and Akeno's hearts tighten.
Ryuichi was actually provoking the three Fallen Angels into fighting at full strength.
But Asia was still in their hands—if they unleashed their magic recklessly, she'd be caught in the crossfire. The Fallen Angels wouldn't care if she lived or died!
Still… Ryuichi wasn't the kind of person to act without a plan. He would never risk Asia's life on a whim.
Rias and Akeno exchanged a silent glance, both of them instinctively gathering their demonic power.
A flash of silver streaked across the sky.
The Sealing Crest returned—its tiny white wings fluttering as it perched in Ryuichi's palm. The Anti-Magic Field it projected spread outward again, enveloping the Fallen Angels in its invisible grip.
Their expressions darkened immediately.
"Tch… You! Tell your familiar to stop that field—right now!" snarled the lead Fallen Angel, Gunard, pressing the tip of his glowing light spear against Asia's chest.
The blade of holy light tore through the front of her robe, revealing a sliver of her pale skin. A thin line of blood welled up and stained the fabric crimson.
"Do it! You know I'm not bluffing!" Gunard barked.
Under the Anti-Magic Field's suppression, he knew perfectly well that their side couldn't match Rias and Akeno in a fair fight. Their only advantage was the hostage trembling in his grasp.
Ryuichi clenched his jaw.
He wanted nothing more than to let the Sealing Crest finish the job and crush them all—but its power had limits. It had already burned through most of its strength sealing those three female Fallen Angels earlier.
There wasn't enough energy left to sustain the field much longer, let alone trap another three enemies.
Besides, they'd seen what his sealing magic could do. They'd never fall for it again so easily.
So Ryuichi let out a slow breath… and dismissed the crest.
The silver light dimmed and vanished.
The King's Blade in his hand lowered slightly.
Then, without hesitation, he took two calm steps forward and said quietly,
"I'll take her place. Let Asia go."
"Stop right there!" Gunard snapped, his wings flaring. The other two Fallen Angels tensed immediately, light spears forming in their hands.
But Ryuichi's composure didn't waver in the slightest.
"What's wrong? Wouldn't that be a better deal? I'm far more valuable than Asia."
His tone was steady, even casual.
"I'm a Devil who's been enhanced with two Knight pieces and eight Pawn pieces," he said, his voice carrying through the air. "You won't find a better hostage than me."
The three Fallen Angels hesitated, surprise flickering across their faces.
"Impossible!" Gunard scoffed. "You expect us to believe that crap? Everyone knows a Devil can only hold one Evil Piece rank at a time!"
Ryuichi smiled faintly.
"Normally, yes. But I'm not your average Devil. Compared to me, Asia's worth nothing to you. So how about it? Trade her for me."
As he spoke, he took another step forward. Then another.
And just like that, the distance between them closed—to within striking range.
It all happened so smoothly, none of the Fallen Angels even noticed the subtle shift.
Then—
"Fool! Who cares how important you are! Since you're so eager to die, we'll grant your wish!"
All three Fallen Angels attacked at once!
Light spears ignited in their hands, stabbing forward in blinding arcs. They had never intended to negotiate—they were only waiting for him to come close enough to kill!
But Ryuichi's reaction was instant—violent, explosive.
The calm words earlier had only been bait. Every phrase, every step had been part of a setup—his real goal was to get close enough for a decisive strike.
And now, he was in range.
With a powerful leap, he swung his sword down in a blazing arc—
The King's Blade roared with crimson light, its energy surging wildly as it cleaved downward toward all five figures at once—the three Fallen Angels, Freed the exorcist, and even the captive Asia!
At the exact same moment—
"Now!"
Rias and Akeno unleashed everything they had been holding back.
A flood of scarlet demonic flames burst from Rias's hands like a dragon's breath, while Akeno called down pillars of golden lightning that split the sky in half.
The combined force was enough to annihilate an army.
"What—!?"
Freed's face twisted in horror. The mad ex-priest could feel death bearing down on him like a tidal wave.
These maniacs!
Asia was still in his grasp—did they not care if she died too!?
His hostage had just turned into his greatest liability.
The Fallen Angels' expressions shifted from arrogance to sheer panic.
They shouldn't have done this!
But instinct took over. They raised their weapons and shields of light, bracing themselves for the impact.
Yet in that instant—Ryuichi was already there.
Before they could even process it, he was upon them—
closing the distance with an aerial slash that brought him face to face with Freed.
The exorcist's eyes went wide. What kind of lunatic charges straight into friendly fire!?
Did he not understand that Rias and Akeno's attacks would engulf them all!?
"Damn you!" Freed screamed, whipping out his signature weapon—a sword hilt that ignited into a blazing blade of holy light.
He met Ryuichi's descending strike with a defiant swing.
Clang!
To his shock, Ryuichi's sword felt light, almost weightless—he parried it easily.
"What the—?"
Then he saw it.
Ryuichi's wrist flicked, and a faint silver glow appeared in his palm—
The Sealing Crest.
"...Eh?" Freed blinked, dumbfounded.
"Seal!" Ryuichi shouted.
He thrust the crest forward with brutal precision.
Smack!!
The enchanted talisman slammed straight into Freed's face with a bone-jarring crack, leaving a glowing mark on his cheek. The priest's head snapped back, his jaw hanging askew.
Before he could even scream, Ryuichi's fist drove into his wrist joint—
a perfect strike that made his grip spasm open.
Asia fell free, gasping for air.
Ryuichi snatched her from the priest's arms in one smooth motion.
And right then—
The combined attacks of Rias, Akeno, and even Koneko's thrown boulder struck.
"Now!"
Ryuichi raised his Divine Weep Shield, expanding its force field around himself and Asia.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A storm of lightning and crimson fire swallowed the plaza.
The roar was deafening—the entire night lit up like a second sun.
Ryuichi and Asia were blasted backward, heat and energy washing over them in waves even through the shield.
Despite the Divine Weep's protection, the sheer intensity of Rias and Akeno's magic burned against their skin.
They hadn't held back at all.
And they couldn't.
If they didn't go all-out, the Fallen Angels would never have raised their defenses—and Ryuichi would never have gotten the chance to save Asia.
No one had expected him to dive into the heart of the attack himself.
But he had.
He'd risked everything on that one reckless, impossible move.
"Ryuichi!"
Beneath the shimmering barrier, Asia's voice broke in panic. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw the blood trickling from his lips.
He smiled faintly, even as crimson dripped down his chin.
"...It's fine," he murmured, his voice weak but calm. "You're… safe now."