The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Irina stared at Kazuki with a mixture of heartbreak and confusion, while Xenovia's hand rested casually near the wrapped sword at her side—ready to draw at a moment's notice.
"My energy is complicated," Kazuki said, meeting Xenovia's gaze steadily. "I'm a reincarnated devil, but the process used chaos energy instead of standard demonic power. It makes me... different."
"Different is an understatement," Xenovia said, her expression unreadable. "I've never encountered anything like you. Your presence doesn't feel evil, but it doesn't feel holy either. It's like looking into a void that could be anything."
"That's actually a pretty accurate description," Sona interjected smoothly. "Kazuki is unique in the supernatural world. A newly reincarnated devil still learning about his own nature. He poses no threat to the Church's mission here."
"Forgive me if I don't take a devil's word on that," Xenovia said bluntly. "No offense intended."
"None taken," Rias replied with practiced diplomacy. "Why don't we all sit down and discuss the actual reason for your visit? The stolen Excalibur fragments?"
Xenovia nodded, and everyone settled into seats around the room. Irina kept stealing glances at Kazuki, her expression pained. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but what could he say? He genuinely didn't remember their childhood friendship.
"Three fragments of Excalibur were stolen from the Church's vault two weeks ago," Xenovia began. "Excalibur Rapidly, Excalibur Mimic, and Excalibur Destruction. Our investigation traced them to Japan, specifically to this region. We have reason to believe fallen angels are involved."
"Fallen angels operating in Kuoh without our knowledge," Sona said, frowning. "That's concerning. This territory is under joint Gremory-Sitri protection. Any fallen angel activity should have been detected."
"Unless they have someone powerful helping them conceal their presence," Rias added. "Someone with abilities beyond normal fallen angels."
Kazuki listened carefully, his tactical mind—honed through two weeks of strategic training with Sona—analyzing the situation. "Why steal Excalibur fragments? What could fallen angels do with them?"
"Excalibur is one of the most powerful holy swords ever created," Xenovia explained. "After the original blade was shattered during the Great War, the fragments were reforged into seven distinct swords, each with unique abilities. In the wrong hands, they could be used for terrible purposes."
"Or they could be studying them," Kazuki mused. "Learning how to counter holy weapons, or possibly trying to corrupt them for their own use."
Xenovia's eyes sharpened. "That's disturbingly insightful. Have you encountered fallen angels before?"
"Once," Kazuki said. "Briefly. Someone named Kuroka warned me about—"
"Kuroka?" Xenovia and Irina both tensed. "The SS-Class stray devil? She's here?"
"Was here," Rias corrected. "She appeared briefly, spoke with Kazuki, then vanished. We've been monitoring for her return, but there's been no sign."
"The Khaos Brigade," Xenovia muttered. "They're probably involved. This is worse than we thought."
"The what brigade?" Kazuki asked.
"A terrorist organization," Sona explained. "They seek to destabilize the peace between the three factions and plunge the world back into war. Kuroka is one of their members."
Kazuki thought back to his brief encounter with the cat-like devil. She hadn't seemed particularly terroristic, just curious. But then again, he was hardly an expert on reading people's true intentions.
"If the Khaos Brigade is involved, this becomes a much larger issue," Rias said seriously. "Xenovia, Irina, we'll cooperate fully with your investigation. Our peerages can help search for the fallen angels and the stolen swords."
"We appreciate that," Xenovia said, though her tone suggested she was still wary. "But we'll take point on any combat operations. The Excalibur fragments are the Church's responsibility."
"Understood," Rias agreed. "However, this is still our territory. Any operations will be coordinated with us."
As the devils and exorcists worked out the details of their temporary alliance, Kazuki found himself drifting to the side of the room, lost in thought. The situation was complex—stolen holy swords, fallen angels, terrorist organizations. He was in way over his head.
"Kazuki?"
He looked up to find Irina standing nearby, her expression hesitant and vulnerable.
"Can we talk?" she asked quietly. "Privately?"
Kazuki glanced at the others, who were still deep in discussion, then nodded. "Sure. Let's step outside."
They walked out onto the balcony attached to the club room. The afternoon sun was warm, and the view of the school grounds was peaceful—a stark contrast to the tension inside.
"I'm sorry," Irina said immediately. "I didn't mean to make things awkward. It's just... seeing you again after all these years, and you don't even remember me. It hurts."
"I'm sorry too," Kazuki said honestly. "I wish I could remember. But my memories before my reincarnation are fragmented at best. I can barely remember my own family, let alone childhood friends."
Irina wiped at her eyes, trying to maintain her composure. "We were really close, you know. You, me, and Issei Hyoudou. The three of us were inseparable. When my father got transferred to England, I promised we'd stay in touch. That I'd come back one day and we'd be friends again."
"Issei Hyoudou?" Kazuki repeated. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"You really don't remember him either?" Irina's voice cracked. "He was your best friend."
Kazuki felt a surge of frustration at his own fractured memory. These were important pieces of his past, relationships that had shaped who he'd been, and they were just... gone. Lost in whatever process his benefactor had used to reincarnate him.
"Tell me about us," Kazuki said gently. "About who I was. Maybe it'll help trigger something."
Irina's expression brightened slightly. "Really? You want to know?"
"I do."
So Irina talked. She told him about a childhood filled with innocent adventures—exploring parks, playing pretend games where they were knights and heroes, getting into minor trouble together. She described a Kazuki who'd been kind and protective, always looking out for his friends. Someone who'd dreamed of being strong enough to protect people.
As she spoke, Kazuki felt... nothing. No surge of recognition, no recovered memories. Just the distant sense that she was describing someone else entirely.
"I'm sorry," he said when she finished. "I can tell those memories mean a lot to you, and I wish I could share them. But that person you're describing... I don't think he exists anymore. My reincarnation changed me fundamentally. I'm not the same Kazuki you knew."
Irina's face fell, but she nodded slowly. "I understand. It's just hard to accept. I spent years training as an exorcist, getting stronger, thinking that one day I'd come back and show you how much I'd grown. And now..."
"Now that person is gone," Kazuki finished softly. "And you're left with me—someone who looks like him but isn't him. I'm sorry, Irina. I really am."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of lost connections hanging between them.
"Can I ask you something?" Irina said finally. "Are you happy? As you are now?"
Kazuki considered that. "I think... I'm becoming happy. My life is complicated and dangerous, but I have purpose. People who care about me, goals to work toward. It's more than I had before."
"Then I'm glad," Irina said, and she seemed to mean it despite her pain. "Even if you're not the Kazuki I remember, I'm glad you're alive and finding your way. That's what the old Kazuki would have wanted."
Before Kazuki could respond, the balcony door opened and Asia stepped out, looking concerned.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said hesitantly. "But Buchou wants everyone back inside. They've formulated a plan."
As they headed back in, Irina touched Kazuki's arm. "Thank you for talking with me. And... maybe we can be friends again? New friends, starting fresh?"
"I'd like that," Kazuki said sincerely.
Inside, Rias had organized everyone around a map of Kuoh that Sona had produced.
"We've identified three possible locations where fallen angels might be hiding," Rias explained. "An abandoned church on the outskirts of town, a condemned warehouse in the industrial district, and an old shrine in the mountains. We'll split into teams and investigate each location."
"Xenovia and I will take the church," Irina said. "It's the most likely location for fallen angels to use as a base."
"I'll send Akeno and Koneko with you," Rias decided. "Extra support, and they can report back if you find anything."
"I'll take a team to the warehouse," Sona volunteered. "Tsubaki, Saji, you're with me."
"That leaves the mountain shrine," Rias said, looking at Kazuki. "I want you to investigate that location."
"Alone?" Kazuki asked, surprised.
"Not alone. Asia will accompany you for healing support. And I'll be nearby, monitoring the situation. If you encounter anything you can't handle, I'll intervene immediately."
Kazuki understood the subtext—this was a test. A chance to prove he could handle field operations, assess threats, and make tactical decisions under pressure.
"Understood," he said. "When do we leave?"
"After school. We'll reconvene here at 4 PM and deploy to our respective locations." Rias's expression turned serious. "Everyone, be careful. If the Khaos Brigade is truly involved, this could be more dangerous than a simple retrieval mission."
The rest of the school day crawled by. Kazuki tried to focus on his classes, but his mind kept drifting to the upcoming mission. His first real field operation, investigating a potentially dangerous situation with only Asia as backup.
He wasn't afraid—more like intensely focused. This was a chance to prove himself, to show that all the training had been worth it.
When classes finally ended, Kazuki made his way to the old school building. Asia was already there, wearing a more practical outfit than her school uniform—jeans, a light jacket, and comfortable shoes. She looked nervous but determined.
"Ready?" Kazuki asked.
"Ready," Asia confirmed. "Though I should warn you, I'm not much good in combat. My Sacred Gear is purely for healing."
"That's fine. Your job is to keep me alive if things go wrong. My job is to make sure things don't go wrong in the first place."
Rias provided them with communication devices—small earpieces that would allow all teams to stay in contact. She also gave Kazuki a detailed map to the mountain shrine and a brief on what to look for.
"The shrine has been abandoned for about five years," Rias explained. "Local legends say it's haunted, so humans avoid it. That makes it perfect for supernatural entities wanting privacy. Look for signs of recent occupation—fresh footprints, disturbed vegetation, magical residue. If you find evidence of fallen angels, report immediately and wait for backup. Do not engage alone."
"Got it," Kazuki said. "Observe and report, no heroics."
"Exactly." Rias smiled. "Good luck, both of you."
The mountain trail was steep and overgrown. Kazuki and Asia hiked in silence, saving their breath for the climb. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the path.
As they climbed higher, Kazuki became increasingly aware of something wrong with the atmosphere. The air felt heavy, oppressive. Birds and insects that should have been making noise were silent. It was the kind of unnatural quiet that screamed danger.
"Do you feel that?" Asia whispered.
"Yeah," Kazuki confirmed, his chaos energy stirring in response to the wrongness. "Something's definitely here. Stay close and stay alert."
The shrine came into view as they crested a ridge. It was a traditional structure, weathered by time and neglect. The torii gate at the entrance had collapsed on one side, and vines covered most of the main building.
But there were signs of recent activity. The path to the shrine entrance had been cleared. Footprints in the dirt—multiple sets, some human-sized, others much larger. And there was a scent on the air that made Kazuki's instincts scream: blood and corruption.
"Kazuki-san," Asia breathed, pointing at the shrine's entrance.
A magic circle glowed faintly in the doorway—fallen angel design, if Kazuki's lessons were correct. Someone had set up a barrier.
He activated his communication device. "Rias, we've found something at the shrine. Fallen angel magic circle, signs of occupation. Requesting instructions."
Static crackled in his ear, then Rias's voice came through. "Copy that. I'm sending backup. Do not enter the shrine. Observe from a safe distance and—"
The communication cut out with a burst of static.
"Rias? Rias, can you hear me?" Kazuki tried adjusting the device, but it was dead. Something was jamming the signal.
"That's not good," Asia said nervously.
"Understatement," Kazuki muttered. They were cut off, alone, at a site with confirmed fallen angel activity. Everything about this screamed "trap."
But they couldn't just leave. If fallen angels were here, if they had the stolen Excalibur fragments, then walking away meant letting them escape.
"We need to get a better look," Kazuki decided. "Figure out what we're dealing with, then retreat and find a way to contact the others."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Asia asked.
"Probably not," Kazuki admitted. "But sitting here doing nothing isn't an option either."
They approached the shrine carefully, staying low and using the overgrown vegetation as cover. As they got closer, Kazuki could sense multiple presences inside—at least three distinct energy signatures, all of them radiating the dark power of fallen angels.
And something else. A holy energy, but twisted, corrupted. One of the Excalibur fragments?
Kazuki was trying to decide their next move when he heard voices from inside the shrine.
"...taking too long. Lord Kokabiel is expecting results."
"The analysis is nearly complete. Once we understand how to corrupt the holy swords, we can proceed with the plan."
"And the sacrifice? Is she prepared?"
"Yes. The girl is bound and ready. Her holy power will fuel the corruption ritual."
Kazuki's blood ran cold. They had a hostage—someone with holy power they planned to sacrifice.
He looked at Asia, who'd gone pale with horror. They couldn't walk away now. Someone's life was at stake.
"New plan," Kazuki whispered. "I'm going in. You stay here, hidden. If I'm not back in ten minutes, run and find help."
"Kazuki-san, no! You can't face three fallen angels alone!"
"I don't have a choice. Someone needs help, and we're the only ones here." Kazuki checked his chaos energy reserves—full and ready. "Trust me, Asia. I've gotten stronger. I can handle this."
Before Asia could argue further, Kazuki moved. He channeled his chaos energy, letting it cloak him in shadows as Rias had taught him. It wasn't true invisibility, but it made him harder to notice, harder to track.
He slipped past the barrier magic circle—his chaos energy simply phased through it as if it wasn't there—and entered the shrine.
The interior was even more corrupted than the outside. Dark magic circles covered the walls, pulsing with malevolent energy. In the center of the main room, three fallen angels stood around an altar.
And on the altar, bound with glowing chains, was a girl about Kazuki's age. She had blue hair, wore tattered exorcist robes, and struggled weakly against her bonds. Blood dripped from wounds on her arms—ritual cuts, by the look of them.
The fallen angels were too focused on their preparations to notice Kazuki yet. He had maybe one chance at a surprise attack.
He gathered his chaos energy, compressing it into three precise lances just like he'd done against the stray devil. But this time, he was more controlled, more focused. The training with Rias had paid off.
Kazuki stepped out of the shadows and released all three lances simultaneously.
Two struck true, punching through the fallen angels' wings and pinning them to the floor. They screamed in pain and shock.
The third lance missed—the fallen angel leader had reflexes like lightning and dodged at the last instant.
"An intruder!" the leader snarled, black wings spreading wide. "A devil? Here? How did you bypass our barrier?"
"I'm special like that," Kazuki said, moving to put himself between the fallen angels and the hostage. "Let the girl go, and maybe I won't kill you."
The fallen angel laughed. "Bold words for a child. Do you know who I serve? Lord Kokabiel would obliterate you for this insolence!"
"Then I guess I'd better make sure you don't get the chance to tell him," Kazuki replied, and attacked.