A sudden surge of power erupted from Ryuichi, his aura flaring so fiercely that it sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, making the nearby Fallen Angels falter.
Did that brat just break through his magic limit… right in the middle of battle?!
That was insane. No, worse—unbelievable.
But though they were shocked, none of the three Fallen Angels looked afraid.
So what if he'd broken through to a Mid-class Devil?
They were two Ultimate-class Fallen Angels and one High-class—facing a newly advanced mid-tier devil was nothing. The difference in rank was still overwhelming. Just like before, all it would take was one strike to finish him off.
Divine light burst from their bodies—holy power twisted by corruption—rushing forward in waves of blinding gold and white.
It was almost laughable.
To see Fallen Angels unleashing holy power was the very definition of irony. No wonder the pure Angels hated them with such burning contempt—these fallen ones had soiled Heaven's grace, dragging down the very name of angels.
The blinding storm of power rushed toward Ryuichi and Asia.
Feeling the crushing pressure, Ryuichi reacted instinctively—his will flared, and the Shield of Divine Tears materialized before them, gleaming silver. He thrust it forward, protecting both himself and Asia behind its radiant surface.
In his golden eyes, a new light ignited—something ancient, vast, and immovable. He felt a strange pulse deep within the sacred shield, a resonance awakening at his call.
The next instant, his magic was violently drained!
The shield's aura twisted, its presence shifting entirely—
The oppressive weight of its power rolled outward. It no longer felt like a simple shield. To their senses, what stood before them was a towering fortress, black and unyielding, an ancient citadel that had withstood the erosion of eternity itself.
That heaviness—steady and eternal like a mountain—radiated a sense that even time itself could not erode it.
The Fallen Angels' attacks struck in unison, slamming into the shield with the force to obliterate entire buildings—
And then… vanished.
Their jaws dropped.
The instant their holy light touched the surface of the shield, it melted away like snow under a blazing sun.
It was as if a vast abyss had opened its mouth. Their divine power froze for a fraction of a second, then dissolved, swallowed whole in the blink of an eye.
"Wha—what…!?"
The three Fallen Angels stared, stunned, their faces twisting in disbelief.
A Mid-class Devil—had just shrugged off their combined assault?!
Ryuichi suddenly understood.
He had unlocked a new ability within the Shield of Divine Tears.
Until now, he'd only used the shield's outer defensive field—a basic manifestation of its protection. If the artifact truly possessed a will, it must've been sulking this whole time. To think it carried such power, yet its wielder hadn't known how to unleash it…
But this—this immovable, overwhelming power—this was the shield's true strength!
Even three Fallen Angels couldn't break through!
Of course, there was a cost.
That single defense had nearly drained Ryuichi's entire reservoir of magic.
The light faded, the towering image of the black citadel dissolving into the ether, its connection to the shield severed completely.
Then, information flooded into his mind—a whisper from the artifact itself.
When his magic reached sufficient strength, he could fully summon that black fortress into reality.
Its name echoed in his thoughts—
Eternal Twilight Citadel, the ultimate form of the Shield of Divine Tears.
Within its domain, Ryuichi's entire being—his magic, body, and even soul—would be locked in a state of stillness. As long as he maintained that form, every aspect of him would remain unchanged, eternal.
Unfortunately, he wasn't yet strong enough to wield that power fully. He could only channel a fragment of it into the shield itself.
But even that tiny fraction… had blocked the combined assault of three Fallen Angels.
Even Ryuichi himself hadn't expected it to be that powerful. He could still fight!
Using the shield as cover, he moved in a flash—his sword slicing through the air toward Freed, the crazed exorcist priest.
Freed was already near death, his body battered by Rias's and Akeno's combined magic. Earlier, Ryuichi's Seal of Demonbane had locked away his holy energy, leaving him completely vulnerable.
Ryuichi's blade struck true, cleanly severing Freed's head.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed Asia and leapt back, retreating from the three Fallen Angels.
Naturally, they weren't about to let him go. They moved to chase—only to be met head-on by a storm of crimson and violet magic.
"Not so fast," Rias Gremory's cold voice echoed.
Twin blasts of Destruction and Lightning erupted from Rias and Akeno, slamming into the Fallen Angels with overwhelming force.
The trio cursed under their breath, forced to defend again as they watched helplessly while Ryuichi and Asia fell back to Rias's side.
"Well done," Rias said softly, her crimson eyes glinting, a faint, satisfied smile curving her lips.
Akeno tilted her head, her voice lilting with amusement. "Ara, ara~ Now we can finally let loose, can't we?"
She ran her tongue lightly across her lips, eyes narrowing toward the three Fallen Angels like a predator gazing at prey.
The sadistic, queenly aura radiating off her was… unmistakable.
Ryuichi couldn't help but offer a silent prayer for the Fallen Angels' souls. They were doomed.
"Akeno," Rias said calmly, though her tone carried a chill that could freeze blood, "don't let even one escape."
Her poise was elegant, but the murderous intent behind her words made Ryuichi's spine tingle.
The red-haired heiress of the House of Gremory was furious—and when the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess was angry, nothing survived.
The battle that followed was brutal.
Ryuichi stayed alert, watching Rias and Akeno unleash their full might.
Without the need to protect anyone else, the two of them were terrifying. The sheer magnitude of their magic made the air tremble.
Rias, a pure-blood devil of noble heritage, was already among the strongest of her generation—her power rivaled the upper levels of High-class Devils despite her youth.
And Akeno, her Queen, was no less formidable. As a Queen piece, she possessed the traits of every other piece combined. Her magic was a lethal mix of elegance and devastation.
Within moments, the High-class Fallen Angel fell first. His strength barely matched that of a Mid-class Devil, and without his comrades' support, he never stood a chance.
With their formation broken, the other two were quickly overwhelmed.
Two screams split the air. Black feathers scattered like snow.
Then came the crack of thunder and the roar of fire—and the Fallen Angels were reduced to ash.
Only then did Ryuichi finally let himself breathe. His legs gave out, and he slumped against Asia's soft embrace.
"Ryuichi! Are you alright?!" she asked, her blue-green eyes wide with worry.
"Just… out of strength," he managed weakly.
Thanks to Asia's healing, most of his injuries were already closed, but the blood loss and total mana drain left him shaky and pale.
Rias approached, her crimson hair swaying gently, her expression softening. "Let's head back. Asia, keep healing him. I'll help replenish his magic. He'll recover soon."
Her voice held warmth, yet also command.
She knelt beside him, brushing her fingers gently across his cheek. "You really worked hard today."
Ryuichi smiled faintly, shaking his head.
"Rias… I did it. I've advanced."
For a moment, she blinked—then understanding dawned in her eyes.
He'd broken through, just as she'd hoped he would.
Her expression melted into tenderness, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You idiot… don't push yourself that hard again."
The battlefield quieted.
The storm had passed.
But for Ryuichi, it was only the beginning of a much greater journey.