The moment the word Holy Sword was spoken, Rias's expression hardened.
At Ituso's command, No.2 dispelled his previous light-blade. In the next instant, a longsword radiating sacred energy appeared in his hand.
The moment that blade manifested, every Devil present felt a chill down their spine — the instinctive dread one feels in the presence of a natural predator.
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed as he looked at the Holy Sword. He didn't fully understand what kind of weapon it was, but his demonic instincts told him loud and clear that this thing was bad news.
"One of the six Sacred Artifacts kept by the Vatican? Why is it in your possession…?"
Rias stepped forward, her gaze deep and severe. "Ryuichi, be careful. We handle this one together."
"Got it."
Ryuichi nodded without hesitation. Clearly, Rias understood the destructive potential of a Holy Sword — enough to worry that Ryuichi alone wouldn't be able to hold against it.
Ituso burst into laughter. "All of my research, all of my experiments — everything I have done has been for the sake of adapting the human body to wield Holy Swords! Witness it! Witness my masterpiece! Marvel at it! Marvel!"
"So that's it. I've heard of the Holy Sword Project before. That was your handiwork as well, wasn't it?" Rias replied coldly.
"Heh. So you know of it. Yes, it was devised by my mentor. It was by joining this project that I reached the truth — the truth of life and soul itself!"
Arms spread wide, Ituso looked like he was embracing some invisible divinity. His behavior bordered on unhinged.
Rias drew a long breath. The situation was far worse than she expected — a holy sword, one of the most powerful weapons safeguarded by the Church, was now here, in the hands of this lunatic. Did this mean the Church was involved in the project as well…?
There were too many unknowns to draw a conclusion — but defeating this enemy came first.
"All units, hear my command — crush him!"
Rias flung out her hand. To avoid needless injuries among her peerage, she chose the most reliable strategy — overwhelming force in a group attack.
No.2 swung the Holy Sword. His already massive divine energy surged even further.
Ryuichi blocked a strike head-on with the Crying-God Shield. His arm went numb on impact — and in that same moment, he realized that part of the magic he'd poured into the shield had been erased. A prolonged exchange would be fatal.
"Holy Swords are king-slaying relics handed down through ages of battle. Do not let it so much as graze you — the consequences will not be light."
Rias warned Ryuichi as she began her own magic assault.
But the sword's destructive power showed its teeth at once. In No.2's suicidal onslaught, he not only shattered their attacks, even Koneko refused to meet him head-on.
For a Devil, a Holy Sword was pure nemesis — even a scratch inflicted pain far worse than a lance of light through the body.
Koneko normally relied on raw strength and defense in combat, but against a Holy Sword wielder she had been forced into a reactive posture.
No.2 swung wildly, a mad beast off the leash. Rias and Akeno both grew grim — his fighting style had become suicidal, and combined with the Holy Sword, even a group assault felt restrictive.
"No.2! Burn your soul-power! I created you for this very moment! Kill them for me!!" Ituso roared.
He had finally realized No.2 was gaining no advantage against Rias's side. At this rate, No.2's divine reserves would dry out.
That was unacceptable.
Clearly, Ituso had never realized that Rias and Akeno were the strongest assets in this fight.
At the command, No.2 let out a scream that no longer sounded human. His skull began to glow — and one after another, human souls appeared above his head.
"Those are… the souls of the humans taken earlier?" Rias gasped.
Ryuichi narrowed his eyes. The souls twisted, contorted, and then began to burn — and No.2's aura exploded upward.
"We have to stop it! Burning a soul like that allows only a single strike — but that one strike will be catastrophic!"