The 'Three Factions Summit' would take place at Kuoh Academy.
The venue had already been prepared by the Student Council, the Sitri peerage. They were also handling security, since the Gremory peerage, including Kazuki, had to attend the meeting itself. In return, they had helped set up the location.
However, every time Kazuki spoke to Sona during the preparations, she let out strange yelps like "Hyaah!?" and "K-Kyaah!?" Eventually, thinking she might be sick, he placed a hand on her forehead, only for her to turn crimson and collapse on the spot.
'Was she forcing herself to work despite being unwell? Her strong sense of responsibility could be a real pain in the ass sometimes.'
—
That brought him to today. With preparations complete, Kazuki found himself heading toward Akeno's house at her request.
Akeno lived at an old shrine on the outskirts of Kuoh Town. He had always found it strange that a devil like her could live in a shrine, but apparently, it was an abandoned place with no gods left to worship. It was also her childhood home. Special barriers had been set up so she could live there comfortably.
As Kazuki ascended the long stone staircase leading to the shrine, an odd sense of nostalgia washed over him.
Upon reaching the top, he took in the sight of the town below and the slightly worn-down shrine buildings. He couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu.
'Have I been here before?'
The answer felt so close—just out of reach.
"Welcome, Kazuki-kun."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Kazuki turned to the source of the voice. There stood Akeno, dressed in a white and red shrine maiden outfit. For a moment, he was completely captivated by her appearance.
Then, suddenly, a vision overlapped with the present—a small girl wearing the same Miko outfit.
'…!? That girl…!'
Fragments of childhood memories stirred within him.
"Kazuki…? Hey! Kazuki!"
Akeno's worried face came into view.
"Akeno."
The moment he answered, she let out a relieved sigh.
"Geez… What's wrong with you? You just froze up all of a sudden."
"Ah, my bad. I was just mesmerized by how stunning you look in that outfit."
"Oh my~ Fufu… I'm so happy to hear that~♪" Akeno's lips curled into a sultry smile.
"Would you like me to serve you while wearing this?"
She pressed her body against his, her voluptuous breasts—easily the biggest in their peerage—softly enveloping his arm. But more than that, he could feel something firm brushing against him with each step.
…She wasn't wearing a bra.
A primal urge surged within Kazuki. He wanted to push her down right then and there. But somehow, he restrained himself.
"Later. You called me here for something important, right?"
Akeno looked slightly disappointed but quickly composed herself.
"Yes. The truth is… someone wishes to meet you."
"Me?"
From her tone, it was someone of considerable status. 'A third Maou, maybe?' But the summit was supposed to be handled by Lucifer and Leviathan, so who else—
"They're coming. Stay strong."
Akeno's sudden change in demeanor put Kazuki on high alert. And in the next instant—
An overwhelming presence of light descended upon them.
The sheer intensity of the radiance forced Kazuki to shield his eyes. The oppressive force of holy energy made his entire body scream in rejection. As a devil, exposure to this kind of power could erase him from existence.
"Akeno! What the hell is this?!"
"Please! Lower your light, Michael-sama! Do you want to kill us?!" Akeno's desperate cry rang out.
[Oh, my apologies.]
The voice belonged to the light itself. The pressure receded almost instantly, allowing Kazuki to open his eyes.
Standing before him was a tall, handsome man with golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and twelve shining golden wings spread behind him. A glowing halo floated above his head.
"My sincerest apologies. It has been a long time since I descended to the human world—I seem to have forgotten to suppress my radiance."
"Please… Just be careful during the summit. If you show up like that, some devils might literally disintegrate."
"I will keep that in mind. Now then… Is this the one?"
Michael turned his gaze to Kazuki.
"Yes. This is Guyver, Kazuki Fuwa."
"I see… So, you're the one."
The golden-winged man smiled kindly.
"My name is Michael. I am the leader of the angels in Heaven."
—
Kazuki stared at him, processing what had just been said.
Michael—the Archangel.
In a world abandoned by God, the supreme ruler of Heaven stood before Kazuki with a gentle smile.
—
Kazuki Fuwa wasn't sure of the details, but it seemed that this so-called Michael had summoned him here. Led by Akeno, he followed her into the main hall, where he was to have an audience with the leader of Heaven himself.
"So, what does the head of Heaven want with me?" Kazuki asked, sipping on the green tea Akeno had prepared for him.
Michael's expression remained composed as he responded, "I'll get straight to the point since time is limited. Kazuki Fuwa, I have something I wish to entrust to you."
At his signal, Akeno opened the sliding doors and carried in a sword placed delicately on a pedestal.
The moment Kazuki laid eyes on it, he recognized the aura it emitted. The radiant glow, the pure and sacred energy—it was unmistakably a Holy Sword.
"This is Ascalon, the dragon-slaying Holy Sword once wielded by Saint George."
"A Dragon Slayer Sword…?" Kazuki narrowed his eyes.
"What's the meaning of this? Holy Swords can only be wielded by those with holy attributes. So why are you handing me something I can't even use? I'm a devil, in case you forgot. What exactly do you expect me to do with it?"
Michael remained calm as he continued, "This sword has remained dormant in Heaven's vaults without a wielder for centuries. Now, as a symbol of the peace between the Three Factions, we, the forces of Heaven, are offering it to the devils."
"The Three Faction Summit is tomorrow, isn't it? Has peace already been established?"
"The leaders have come to an agreement. None of us desires war any longer."
Kazuki smirked. "That's good news, but it makes this even more suspicious. I'll ask again—why give me this sword?"
Michael sighed, smiling wryly. "To put it simply… consider it insurance."
"Insurance?"
Michael's golden eyes focused intently on him. "Kazuki-kun, after the peace between the Three Factions is solidified, what do you think will pose the greatest threat?"
Kazuki pondered for a moment. 'If Angels, Devils, and the Fallen Angels stopped fighting, that would eliminate the largest known conflict. But what else could be a threat? Other mythological pantheons? No, at this point, they were working towards alliances. The Khaos Brigade? No, their movements weren't well-known yet…' Then, realization hit Kazuki like a bolt of lightning.
'A dragon-slaying sword.' The worst possible answer clicked in his mind.
"Michael… you're not saying—"
Michael's expression didn't change. "That's correct. This Holy Sword is meant for you to use in case the Two Heavenly Dragons—Ddraig and Albion—ever go berserk."
Kazuki's eyes widened. "What?"
Seeing his reaction, Michael continued, "Kazuki-kun, how much do you know about the Two Heavenly Dragons?"
Kazuki hesitated. "Not much… just that they once wreaked havoc against the Three Factions, and as a result, they were defeated by God and sealed within the Sacred Gears."
Michael nodded. "That much is true. But you underestimate the devastation they caused."
Kazuki's brows furrowed. "Don't tell me… You were there?"
Michael gave a small, bitter smile. "Indeed. I fought in that war alongside Serafall, Sirzechs, Azazel, even Kokabiel. We all took part. The battlefield where our three factions were locked in a final, decisive war… was the very place the Two Heavenly Dragons appeared."
Kazuki listened as Michael recounted the battle.
The Two Heavenly Dragons had initially ignored the war and fought only each other. Their overwhelming presence disrupted the balance of the battlefield, and at first, the factions merely attempted to drive them away.
However, the moment they interfered, the dragons turned their wrath on everyone indiscriminately. Enraged that their battle was being disturbed, they attacked both Heaven and Hell alike.
At first, the Three Factions believed they could easily subdue the dragons.
However, they were wrong.
The sheer destruction wrought by Ddraig and Albion was unlike anything seen before. Cities were annihilated. Entire armies were wiped out in moments.
The battlefield turned into a slaughterhouse as both angels and devils fell like leaves in a storm.
Realizing that continuing their war would lead to mutual destruction, the Three Factions temporarily ceased hostilities and instead focused on eliminating the common threat.
After an apocalyptic battle, the dragons were finally brought down, and their souls were sealed into the Sacred Gears by God's hand.
Michael let out a deep breath as he finished the story. "As a side note… shortly after the battle, God and the Four Great Satans, already weakened, clashed once more. And that, Kazuki, is how they all perished."
"Afterward, the two dragons' souls were sealed into the [Boosted Gear] and [Divine Dividing] by God's hand. Yet, as if drawn to each other by fate, they continued to appear in the same era, possessing new hosts and waging war over and over again. Each time, the battles were beyond devastating. The past possessors of the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Empress were consumed by their own power, losing themselves to its rampage and meeting their end at a young age. Do you understand now, Kazuki? We have experienced the terror of the Two Heavenly Dragons firsthand. That is why we perceive them as a threat."
"I see. So that's why you consider the Red Dragon Emperor, Issei, and the White Dragon Empress, Vali, dangerous. But why give this to me?"
"If they were ever to fight, it is highly likely that the Gremory peerage would be involved. Among the Gremory's ranks, the only one capable of standing against them in the event of their rampage is you, Kazuki, the [Guyver]. This Holy Sword is meant to serve as your aid in such an event. We have already taken special measures to ensure that even a devil like you can wield it."
"That's impossible. I don't have that kind of power."
"Is that so? Sirzechs, who recommended you, seemed quite confident."
'That damn Devil Lord! Shit, showing him [Gigantic] was a fucking mistake!'
"I understand that the Maou has already approved of this. But Rias Gremory. Does she know about this?"
"Yes. By now, Sirzechs should be explaining everything to her."
"....."
Rias wouldn't accept this easily, but if it was a direct order from the Maou, she wouldn't be able to refuse. Which means… 'I have no choice but to take it. I've never used a holy sword before, but there's no way in hell I'll let Rias, Yumi, or even Xenovia be forced to cut down their own comrades. That's my responsibility.'
"Can I hold it?"
As Kazuki fixed his gaze on Ascalon resting on the pedestal, he asked. Michael, with a composed nod, gestured for him to proceed.
Kazuki reached out and grasped Ascalon, slowly drawing it from its sheath. A holy light bathed him, yet he felt no discomfort. It seemed the so-called "special measures" had been flawlessly executed.
With renewed resolve, Kazuki slid the sword back into its scabbard. A clear, resonant chink echoed through the shrine.
"Understood. I'll take the Holy Sword, Ascalon. But only as a last-resort measure. I believe in Issei. I refuse to think that he'll lose himself to power and go on a rampage."
Kazuki's declaration was unwavering. Seeing this, Michael's usual wry smile softened into something more gentle.
"Heh... Very well. My duty is only to entrust Ascalon to you. Then, I shall take my leave. We'll meet again at tomorrow's conference."
With those words, Michael flashed a serene smile before vanishing into the light, leaving Kazuki alone with the weight of what had just transpired.