Part 2: Alex's Determination! The Awakening of a New Red Dragon!

In the underground sanctuary, many stray exorcists gathered as they watched the ritual go underway.

Their attention was on their leader, the Fallen Angel, Raynare, who was at the end of the room atop the altar they constructed for ritual.

Also, on the altar was Asia, dressed in a white gown as she was chained to a large cross as a green aura oozed out of her body and into the cross as she seemed to grow weaker by the second.

Everything seemed to be going well until-

*BOOM!*

"Sup bitches the calvaries arrived!" Alex called out as he burst into the room, causing all the stray exorcists to pull out their light swords. They would have attacked, but the words of their boss suddenly sounded through the sanctuary.

"Stand down!" Raynare commanded as she looked at Alex with a cocky smirk.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Alex-kun. But where in the world is your little Devil friend?" Raynare asked as Alex looked back at her with a scowl.

"I don't need him here to save Asia from you! Now let Asia go before I come up there and beat your crow ass!" Alex threatened as he summoned his Sacred Gear and pointed to Raynare.

"Oh my, how bold of you." Raynare said in a teasing voice before settling back to her serious expression. "However, it's too late. The ritual is just about done now."

"W-what?" Alex said out loud, confused by Raynare's meaning before Asia's body began glowing.

"…Aaah, iyaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Asia screamed out in pain as causing Alex to try to run to her before he was blocked off by the surrounding priests.

"I won't let you interfere!"

"Damn, Devil! I will destroy you!"

The priests shout at him preparing to skewer him with his swords before suddenly-

*SHATTER! FWOOSH!*

"GYAAAAAH!" A priest screamed in pain as a bottle came flying to his face before shattering and erupting into a wave of flames that stuck to the man's upper body.

"W-what the hell!?"

"A firebomb!? Was it magic!?"

"And what is this smell coming from the flames? It smells like chemicals!?"

The priest shouted in disorder as they focused on the corridor and saw a flame flicker on in the passage. Igniting the cloth connected to the bottle, they saw the visage of Neo illuminated by the light.

"D-dammit another fucking Devil! Kil-"

The priest was cut off before he could command the others as Neo threw his second Molotov as he was left to meet the same fate as the priest before.

After that, Neo began attacking in earnest as he lit multiple bottles at once before tossing them as the firebombs rained down on the priest and disorganized them.

"GAAAAH! FUCK IT's HOT! IT'S FUCKING HOT!"

"*COUGH!* COUGH!* *COUGH!* Dammit, what the hell did he put in these damnable things!"

"I-I-can't *COUGH!* *COUGH!* Breathe!"

The priest cried out as the corridor was filled with screams, and the smell of burnt flesh, smoke, and chemicals.

'Just what you fuckers get for holding this damn thing in an unventilated corridor. As far as I'm concerned, you can all burn to fucking death!' Neo thought darkly as he tossed another bomb, managing to hit two priests as they tried to pat out the flames but to no avail.

As he watched the carnage scene unfold, Neo felt dark emotions begin to stir within him as Neo, without knowing so, smirked at the men's suffering.

Alex meanwhile wore a medical mask he got from Neo to try and bear the toxic fume circumventing the corridor as he began running to the altar with incredible speed.

Some of the priests tried to stop him by swinging their swords, but Alex, with his great reflexes, simply pivoted or swirled past them, and once their guard was down, Neo would and landed a hit on them to the back.

With a great leap, Alex made it to the top of the altar, but he seemed to have arrived too late as…

"Iyaaaaaa!…" Asia lets out a final scream before her body limps, and a green light is extracted from her body as Raynare laughed maniacally as she clasps it in her hands.

"This is it! This is the power that I craved for so long! With this, I will be loved!" Raynare said in ecstasy as she hugs the light before as its radiance spreads through the underground corridor.

After the light dies down, Raynare emerges covered in a green glow.

"Ufufu. Ahahahahahaha! I finally have it! The supreme power! With this, I can become a supreme Fallen Angel! With this, I can pay back all those who were looking down on me!" Raynare laughs confidently as Alex, instead of paying her mind, runs to Asia.

Some of the priests try to stop him but are met with Neo's relentless assault, either blocking their path or striking them directly. Of course, some managed to make their way to Neo, but they were no match for him in close combat being defeated in a single hit even with their light swords.

Alex looks at Asia and begins to grow fearful as the girl attached to the cross looking drained of life but tries to shake off his negative thoughts as he undoes the restraint as gently holds her in his arms.

"…A-Alex-san…"

"Y-yo, what's up Asia. You miss me much? I came to get you." Alex said with a smirk trying to make a joke in the situation as a lump was forming in his throat as he felt Asia's body growing cold in his hands.

"…Yes." Asia gave a small but sincere reply to his joke, attempting to provide him with a smile, but she lacked the strength.

"Aw, how sweet. Sweet, but futile." Raynare smirked as she stood confidently over the blonde duo.

"Possessors whose Sacred Gear is taken away from their body will die. That girl is going to die." She said as a fact which pissed Alex off.

"Then give her Sacred Gear back!" Alex said in a commanding tone causing Raynare to laugh.

"There's no way that I'll give it back, you moron. You know I even deceived my superiors into getting my hands on this? I will kill all of you and erase all evidence."

Hearing this, Alex's face scrunches into disgust as he looks to Asia's pained expressions and struggling breaths. "Shit! I can't believe I ever dated a bitch like you."

Raynare laughed out loud as she heard this. "Fufufu, it was pretty fun the time I spent on that date. After all, what's cuter than playing around with pathetic guys who have no experience with a woman."

"Ahahaha! Yeah! Really?! Did you get into a fight for such a thing? It was an ordinary date to the point I was nearly bored to death!"

"...I was serious about planning our date. I went through so much to try and take care of you. I even got into a fight with my best friend to date you!" Alex said as tone of voice began spiking more and more.

"Ahahaha! Yeah! Really?! Did you get into a fight for such a thing? It was an ordinary date to the point I was nearly bored to death!"

"…Yuuma-chan." Alex said bitterly as the memories of the girl he dated that went by that name made him want to vomit.

"Ufufu, oh that? I chose the name Yumma because it meant "setting sun." I thought it was fitting since I planned to kill you at sunset. However, I didn't expect to kill your friend that day too. Man If I knew casting a basic charm spell would cause all of that to happen, I would have done so sooner." Raynare sneers as Alex's rage boils inside of him until it reaches his breaking point.

"YOU FUCKING WHOOORREE!" He roared in anger as he bared his canines at the Fallen Angel.

"You damn brat, what did I tell you about insulting me you low-class shit stain!" Raynare retaliates as she summons a spear in her hand and launches it down before a sudden interference comes in.

*SHATTER! FWOOSH!*

Before the spear could get within a foot of Alex, a Molotov flew in and exploded, making a wall of flame between the two blondes and the Fallen.

Looking at the source of the explosive, Raynare found that Neo was surrounded by a large number of priest bodies, either seemingly unconscious or heavily burned.

"Alex, we don't have time for this shit, just grab the nun and run!" Neo shouted as more began running after them even with the noxious chemical odor afflicting them.

'Dammit!' Alex cursed himself as he knew Neo was right. If they stayed any longer, they were going to be overrun. Picking Asia up bridal style, Alex began dashing to the exit.

Neo noticed some of the priests fighting through the smoke and noxious chemicals as they attempted to run to Alex.

'Oh no you don't!' As he thought that Neo gripped one of the thick wooden doors and began pulling on it as it snapped off its hinges. He began to spin with the door as he gathered speed before releasing it like a saucer.

"GAAAUH!"

"IYAAAHHH!"

"FAAAAUU!"

The exorcist cried in pain as they were sent flying by the rotating projectile.

"Nice one, bro!" Alex shouted to Neo with a grin as his path was now clear. "Asia makes sure to cover your face cause we're heading in!" Alex commanded as he leaped to the ground where the smoke was the thickest heading straight to the passage at once as Neo covered for him.

"You imbeciles what the hell are you doing!? After them!" Raynare ordered from atop the altar as she watched the two boys escaping with Asia.

Her orders did not reach the priest below as Neo's attacks devastated their ranks, and they needed time to recover from the fits of coughing, burns, and physical attacks.

"Useless filth!" Raynare said, clicking her tongue in disgust as she took to the skies with her wings. "I'll just have to go after them myself."

And with that, she flew out of the underground in hot pursuit.

"Holy shit, we made it, but what now!" Alex shouted to Neo as he ran with Asia cradled in his arms.

Suddenly, Neo stopped in the center of a four-way hallway causing Alex to look back, confused.

"Dude, what the fuck are you doing where not that far from the exit lets go!" Alex said as Neo kept his gaze to the left hallway.

"Alex, let's split up, you go on ahead." Neo said, causing Alex's eyes to go wide with shock.

"Are you crazy?! What are we gonna do if they come after us individually? We have Asia, let's just go!" Alex argued as he grew tenser and tenser.

"I know but, you have to trust me on this. Just run out the front and don't look back, ok?" Neo said.

"Besides, you need to get Asia some help and fast." Neo added as he looked at Asia, whose complexion was pale.

Alex flashed a pained expression knowing that Neo was right as he sighed. "Fine. But you have to promise me you'll make it out alive! If you die, I won't forgive you, you hear!" Alex said as he extended his fist.

Neo smirked as he did the same. "It's a promise."

""Bones!"" The two boys fist-bumped as Alex quickly ran off with Asia, his [Knight] speed causing him to vanish from sight promptly.

Turning to the left corridor, Neo's eyes became sharp with bloodlust as he cracked his middle finger with his thumb. It was an unconscious habit that came out when he was pissed off or preparing himself for a fight.

"Sorry, Alex but I can't leave until I settle up with that fucking bastard." He said to himself with an image of Dohnaseek coming to mind as he began running to a specific location, not noticing a certain Blonde Lolita trailing behind him.

Finally, making it up the stairway and back into the sanctuary, Alex let out a relieved sigh as he looked at Asia's pale face. "Hey, Asia, stay with me! We made it out ok just wait a little longer, and I'll get you some help." Alex tried to reassure her, but the girl had grown so weak.

"…I was…" Asia tried to speak, but she struggled to get the words out as Alex set her on a pew to reserve her strength.

"…I was happy that…I had a friend…even for a short while…" Asia said with a smile even through all her pain.

"…If I were to be born again, will you become my friend once more…?" Asia asked Alex as he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

He couldn't keep up his charade anymore as the pain was eminent on his face. He didn't want to accept it, but he knew that Asia was dying.

"What are you saying? Of course, I would, you idiot! Even if nobody else would, I'd choose to be your friend just like now! I'd make sure we would have a blast every day! We still can, so just don't give up, ok?!" Alex said desperately, still clinging to hope as he could feel tears flowing down his face.

"…If I was born in this country…and went to the same school as you…"

"Fine, if that's what you want, then we'll make it happen! I mean I might not look like much, but I'm sure I could find a way to-"

Suddenly Asia's hand reaches out and cups Alex's cheek.

"…For you to cry even for…...someone like me…...now I can…" Asia's hand slowly drops before finishing her words.

"…Thank you…"

And with those parting words, the sanctuary fell to silence.

Alex's blue eyes stared emptily at the girl's lifeless body as he had to face the reality of her demise.

'Why? Why did I even try to do anything?' That thought plagued him as he thought of his short interactions with the blonde nun.

'Why did I have to give you hope for a better life when I'm so fucking useless!' His thoughts flashed from grief to anger as more tears dropped from his eyes, yet his face remained emotionless.

'Why does someone like you who is only ever worried about other people have to suffer like this? Why did you have to get involved with someone as shitty as me who can't even keep a promise? Why...why couldn't you just be happy?' Alex thought to himself out as he clenched his teeth in grief and regret.

"Ara, a Devil is repenting in a place like this? Or were you just wishing for something?" Suddenly a voice broke through the silence.

Though Alex didn't turn around to face it, he already knew who it belonged to as Raynare stood smirking at the sight before her.

"Hmm, and what's this? Where'd your little red-headed friend go? Don't tell me he went and abandoned you! My Alex-kun, you seriously need to pick better friends though I guess it's too late for that now." Raynare mocked; however, Alex didn't respond to her provocations; instead, he just sat crouched over Asia's lifeless body with his head hung seemingly in despair.

"Well, whatever." Raynare shrugged her shoulders before holding out one of her hands. "[Twilight Healing]." She called forth Asia's Sacred Gear as a green light enveloped her hands before forming into the pair of rings Alex saw after escaping from Freed.

"Look. Wonderful, isn't it? I can heal any kind of wound. To us, Fallen Angels, who lost God's protection, that child's Sacred Gear was a wonderful present." Raynare said, leaving out that she had to kill Asia to acquire it or rather for someone like Raynare, taking human life was probably the same to her as stepping on ants with the only difference being that she could enjoy watching them suffer and scream before their demise.

Alex began to realize that even though he was a Devil, a being often labeled as cruel deceivers and manipulators, the thing behind him was far worse.

"With this power, my status will rise since I will be a Fallen Angel that can heal other Fallen Angels. I could be of help to the great Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! There is nothing more wonderful than this! Aaah, Azazel-sama… My power is all for you…" Raynare moaned in euphoria as she said the names of the Fallen Angel leaders. Though he didn't fully understand the context, Alex could discern the type of women laid behind him from her words.

'Killing me, killing Neo, and now even Asia. She did all this just so that her higher-ups would notice her? Just so that she could be more useful to them?' As he thought this, Alex's eyes flashed with hatred as a part of the pew he was gripping started cracking under the force of his grip.

"Disgusting." Alex said, aiming to insult Raynare as the cocky Fallen Angel turned to the crouched blonde Devil. "You're so utterly blinded by your sick fucking devotion that you would drag an innocent girl into your selfish conflict only to make yourself stand out more to impress your bosses."

"Innocent girl? Drag? Please, she was a chosen human that possessed a Sacred Gear; she was never an outsider in this, to begin with." Raynare said matter of factly.

"What the hell does it matter if she had power! That still doesn't mean she had to die! It doesn't mean that she couldn't have lived and been happy just because she possessed it!" Alex finally snapped as he raised his voice in the dark sanctuary.

"She couldn't. Those with irregular Sacred Gear would be left out of the world and groups. After all, they possess a powerful ability because they have a different power than others. You know humans hate those things, right? Even though it's an incredible power like this." Raynare explained as she showed off her Sacred Gear once more.

She expected Alex to try and make another argument maybe about how he would be her savior or some childish nonsense such as that but instead was met with an odd silence as Alex fully stood up looking to the roof of the church.

"What's this, are you praying or something? You realize you're a Devil, right? No matter how hard you try, God won't listen to lowly scum such as yourself so why try you may as well give up and let yourself be killed." Raynare said with a sadistic expression as she summoned a light spear ready to impale Alex through his open back.

"Fucking vultures." Alex said in a low voice, which Raynare heard, causing her to be confused by his meaning.

"What?" She asked in response, lowering her spear a bit.

"Neo told me that to him all you fuckers seem like vultures that can only abuse and pick on the weak. But then you bastards have the guts to justify yourselves as a higher race when you're really lower than shit!" Alex said with a dark laugh as he turned around to face Raynare.

Rather than a pathetic sobbing face or an inraged one, like she was expecting Alex's face, was unnervingly calm as his face aside from his scrunched eyebrows was relaxed. Raynare almost mistook him for having stopped caring about the situation entirely until she saw his eyes, his ocean blue eyes which seemed always to be reflecting his carefree and clown-like attitude, was gone and was replaced with cold murderous intent.

"You fucking vultures are nothing but blights that need to be wiped out!" As Alex said those venomous words, the jewel on his Sacred Gear begins to flash on and off as if waiting for something to trigger it.

"You think that after everything you've done, you fuckers just get to leave here, no questions asked?! Fuck that!" Alex shouted as the restraints on his rage began breaking away. "If my master won't stop you and God chooses not to save the people you hurt, then fuck both of them! I'll take down all you fucking bastards and make you pay for what you've done! You are all going DOWN!" Alex roars, as the jewel on his gauntlet releases a bright shine.

(Meanwhile with Neo)

"Shit where the hell is he?" Neo said out loud as he ran down an empty corridor, continually checking his surroundings.

"Dammit! Did he not catch it? I left Alex to fend for himself to pursue him. I have to find him!" Neo began panicking as he started doubting if he should turn back.

*ZVROOM!*

"What the fu-!" Neo shouted out loud as a pink light spear suddenly zoomed past him as he dodged only by a hair's breadth.

Neo recognized the color and shape of that spear, and as he looked forward, his suspicion of his attacker was confirmed.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Blonde Lolita! So do you specialize in sneak attacks, or are you just too scared to do anything else?" Neo taunted Mittelt, who blocked his path.

She didn't respond to his taunt but stood motionless with her hair covering her eyes as her voice crept out quietly. "Why…"

"What?" Neo asked not to hear the girl.

"Why did you come here?" Mittelt asked with irritation in her voice, which Neo was puzzled by.

"The hell does it matter to you why I'm here? Your enemies who have threatened my life multiple times. It shouldn't be that weird for me to attack your base." Neo explained not realizing Mittelt's reason for doing this.

"You're such a damn fool! You realize that you'll die, don't you! You, your friend and, that nun! After you had a chance to survive if you looked the other way, you're just gonna throw it out the damn window!?" Mittelt shouted, becoming visibly enraged at the red-haired teens' suicidal actions after he had the chance to be spared.

Neo was utterly lost at Mittelt's anger towards his actions. Why should an enemy care if he killed himself or not? And why was she so eager to question him about it instead of attacking him? Those were the questions that bounced around his mind, but what was even more puzzling to him was that he decided to answer her. "Well... it's not like I'm too attached to living in the first place. As for Alex, let me just say that idiot won't die; he's too damn lucky and too damn stubborn to keel over for any of you. And as for looking the other way…" Neo's eyes then flashed an expression of cold rage and bloodlust that Mittelt hadn't noticed before. "That shit can't happen when I know the fucker that killed me is still breathing so step aside or else." As he said that Neo summoned his Sacred Gear and got into a battle stance intending to hold nothing back.

"Such a fool you think you could beat Dohnaseek?" Mittelt sighed as she raised her hand and created her pink light spear. "Don't make me laugh! Before you have the chance to destroy yourself in front of him, I'll... I'll... I'LL KILL YOU!" Mittelt roared as she looked up for the first time with her intention of murdering him made clear, she spread her wings and blitzed forward.

Reading her spear, Mittelt attempts to decapitate Neo with a horizontal slash, which avoids by ducking under the spear.

Noticing the quickness and lack of hesitation in her slash, Neo notes that Mittelt intends to seriously kill him.

"You're open!" Mittelt shouts as she catches Neo off guard, rearing back her leg as she delivers a kick to the side of Neo's head, which he barely manages to block with his left arm.

Neo was about to take the chance and grab the girl's leg, but Mittelt was quicker and twirling her spear she pointed the bladed end to Neo's chest and attempted to run it through him.

*SLLICCKK!*

"Guh!" Neo grunted as he managed to swerve away from the blade but failed to do so entirely as the blade cut his right shoulder.

'Arrgh! Fuck this hurts.' Neo screamed mentally as he looked at his wound. Although it wasn't deep and he had received worse cut wounds in the past, this was his first experience with light poisoning as a devil, and needless to say, it hurt like a bitch.

'Now I know what Alex was talking about when he said getting hit with light was something different.' Neo rubbed his wound as he gained distance from Mittelt, who was still blocking his path to where he needed to go taking a defensive stance.

'I've gotta find a way to either beat her or get past her to find that Fedora bastard. I can't take too much damage here, or else It'll make fighting him too difficult.' Neo racked his brain to think of how to deal with his current situation, something that Mittelt noticed and refused to let happen.

"I won't give you time to think, Devil!" Mittelt shouted as she flew forward again as Neo widened his battle stance to take a more defensive approach.

'I didn't want to have to use this thing again before meeting him, but if she comes at me this fiercely, I don't have a choice.' Neo thought as he cast a glance to his Sacred Gear.

"Sacred Gear activate!" Neo commanded as the jewel of his Sacred Gear shines before releasing a dark red aura, increasing his strength; however, Neo's eye twitches in annoyance. He noticed the lack of aura and power increase compared to his battle in the park and against Freed.

'Shit just like against that priest my power barley increased compared to that time I was in the park when it felt like it tripled! That Fedora Bastard said this thing doubles my power, but it's so inconsistent is it defective?!' Neo's thoughts were beginning to trail off, but he reeled them back as he noticed Mittelt was closing in and had to focus on the fight.

"Hyyoorah!" Mittelt let out a battle cry as she went for another thrusting attack, which Neo now with his energy increased to an extent, spun to the right around the tip of the spear, and tucked his body inward to avoid being sliced from the light spears awkwardly shape.

Now in a position to attack, Neo put all his weight into his right arm as he grabbed his right fist with his left and attempted to drive his elbow into Mittelt's approaching face.

*FWAP!*

Still, Mittelt reacted too quickly as she flapped her wings to elevate herself before planting her foot on his elbow. She then used it as a springboard as she backflipped into the air.

Neo was sent stumbling forward by the action but was confused why a Fallen Angel, who possessed the ability of flight, would resort to such a tactic.

As he raised his head, he saw Mittelt reeling back her arm as she prepared to throw her spear again, and because of her earlier move, Neo's was off-balance as he was crouched on the ground leaving him in no position to guard.

"Hrmmm!" Mittelt, with all her strength, threw the spear of light aiming to skewer her target through his back. She knew that she was nowhere near as strong when it came to throwing spears compared to her other Fallen Angel comrades, but by making use of her best trait, her small and nimble body, she made a maneuver she was sure would snag her the win.

"Don't fuck with me! Haaaah!"

*CRACK! SHATTER!*

Neo proved too stubborn to let such a maneuver do him in as even in his disadvantageous position; Neo reared back his leg before slamming his foot into the tip of the spear, ignoring his sense of pain as he felt the blade stabbed into his foot. Soon cracks formed in the spear's blade before it shattered and turned into partials and faded away.

"I-impossible!" Mittelt stared in disbelief as she couldn't believe a Devil had just kicked a spear of lights to deflect it and not had their foot split in two! This shock left her stunned even as she fell back to the ground, which gave Neo a window of escape.

'Now gotta push through the pain!' Neo screams internally as he forces himself to his feet. In particular, his right one suffered a deep cut, and although it had not penetrated all the way through, the pain and light poisoning of the energy made it difficult to stand. "Push!" He shouted as he forced himself into a run at full speed.

"D-dammit no, you don't!" Mittelt, who had recovered from her shock, was now behind a sprinting Neo said as she landed on the ground. Attempting to stop him, she gathered light in her right hand, not having the time to make a spear she made a dagger of light instead and chucked in at the sprinting Devil.

"Nice try!"

*CHINK!*

Neo noticed the oncoming projectile and swiped his gauntlet hand at it breaking the dagger as he rounded a corner.

'Dammit I have to chase him!' Mittelt cursed in her mind as she began running. She couldn't extend her wings in these narrow halls, and rounding these turns at full speed was impossible for her causing her to have to pursue on foot.

(Meanwhile with Alex)

[Dragon booster!]

Along with that announcement, a mysterious golden mark appears on his gauntlet as Alex feels his body flood with his Sacred Gears power briefly being coated by a red aura.

Raynare seeing the display scoffs at Alex's efforts as she summons a spear of light. "I will explain it so even a fool like you can understand. It's a simple power difference. I have a power of 1000. You have a power of 1. You can't shorten the gap between us, no matter what. Even with the ability of that Sacred Gear, the power doubled is only 2. It's futile! How can you win agai-"

*FWOOSH!*

Before Raynare could continue mocking him, Alex disappeared from her sights before reappearing in front of her, rearing back his clawed gauntlet. "You talk too damn much."

*FWIP! SLLICKK!*

"Gaaaaah!" Raynare screamed out in pain as Alex cut into her cheek with his claws causing Raynare to retreat into the air gripping her wound.

"Y-you fucker! How dare you strike me!" Raynare shouted as she already began healing her injury with her Sacred Gear, confident she was safe in the air.

'Tch. She reacted to it. I thought I could stab her in the head, but at least know I'm faster than her on the ground.' Alex clicked his tongue as he thought about his fight lacking any fear or doubt that he had in his previous fight as his eyes now swirled with rage.

After healing her cheek, Raynare's rage hit its peak as her killing intent surrounded the destroyed sanctuary. "You fucking shit stain! Now you've really pissed me off!" She roared as light began condensing in her hand before she formed a spear which Alex could tell was far more powerful than the ones she was throwing at the park as it hummed loudly with power.

Seeing that Raynare was reading to throw the spear, Alex prepared to dodge the attack confident in his newfound speed.

"I put a lot of power in it! Eat this!" Raynare roars as she launches the spear that travels through the air at bullet-like speed.

*ZUDON!*

Despite that, Alex was faster as he used his leg strength to leap back, dodging the spear; however, something unexpected happened.

"Ha! You damn fool you're too easy to read!" Raynare, who in a split second had thrown the spear and moved to intercept Alex's escape route, taunted. Raynare then formed an average light spear ready to cleave Alex in two while he couldn't use his speed mid-air.

*SLLIIICCKKK!*

"Guaaaaaaaaaah!" Alex cried out in pain, coughing out blood as Raynare thrust her blade; he managed to rotate mid-air to avoid a lethal blow; however, the light spear still cut into his right side and shattered his ribs but luckily avoided his lung.

*THUMP!*

Alex's body falls to the ground as he grips his bleeding wound and suffers as light poison circulates through his body.

"Hahahaha! Pathetic lowly, Devil! All you have are good reflexes and a little speed; you could never defeat a superior being like myself! And speaking of speed…" Raynare who hovered in the air pointed her spear at the downed Alex and then-

*ZUDON!*

"Guaaaaaaaaaah!" Alex screamed in pain once again as Raynare chucked her spear into his left thigh.

"And now you don't even have the latter! Ahahahaha!" Raynare laughed insanely as she watched Alex writhe and twitch in pain as if she were torturing an insect.

Alex immediately tries to take out the spear hoping to relive the increasing burning sensation in his leg only to realize his mistake-

*SIZZLE!*

"Grooooooaaaahhh!" Alex roars as he feels the flesh on his hand burn. Forcing himself to look through his tear covered eyes, he sees smoke rising from his hand, side, and thigh as the light burns him violently.

"Ahahahaha! A Devil trying to pull that spear out is foolish! To Devils, light is a powerful poison. Just touching it will make you burn. That is the ultimate pain that Devils can taste! For a Low-class Devil like you, it's—" Raynare began taunting Alex before he suddenly shouts out…

"Nugaaaaaaaah! Shut! ...The fuck!...UP!" Alex grits his teeth as he grips the spear tightly, trying to pull the weapon out once more.

'Shit the light from my side...it feels like it's burning my lungs it's so hard to breathe, and every breath burns my chest! I wanna pass out! I wanna just stop! It hurts! It hurts so bad! But.. …' Alex's inner thoughts trail off before an image of Asia reignites his hatred and passion.

"BUT THIS AIN'T SHIT COMPARED TO WHAT YOU FUCKERS PUT HER THROUGH!" Alex bellows as he stops focusing on the pain and begins pulling out the spear with all he might and will.

*ZURYUUZURYUU!*

The spear makes a horrible sound as its sharp and jagged shape rips and tears against Alex's flesh. You could tell the weapon fit the user as it was designed to inflict as much pain as possible.

"Gruuggaaahhhhhhhaa!" Alex makes an inhuman sound as he finally pulls the spear out from his leg, dropping it to the ground as it disintegrates.

*SPLOSH!*

Now having nothing to stop the flow, blood now oozes from both Alex's thigh and side as a puddle of blood forms underneath him. 'N…...not….yet!'

"Grrraaagh!" Alex starts forcing himself up, but his left leg buckles, and he spews more blood from his mouth. Even then, he doesn't stop as he attempts and fails to stand once again.

[Boost!]

Alex's Sacred Gear announces even with his body's horrible condition as he barely could feel the increase in power. In fact, with his damaged state, the Sacred Gear sapping his stamina with each announcement started to hurt him as he felt a pain in his chest, yet he still refused to recall it.

Raynare examined Alex's condition with a questioning glare before starting up another of her long rants. "…Quite remarkable. A Low-class Devil pulling out the spear of light made by a Fallen Angel. But it's futile. My light isn't flashy but has a high killing ability against Devils. The density of the light is strong. So strong in fact that it's used in the blades of light the priests use. Getting hurt even once will be hard to heal, even for a Middle-class Devil. For a Low-class Devil like you, this is the limit. Fufufu, you can't look down on the damage caused by the power of light, you know? Especially my light." She says with a chuckle, but Alex was still in too much pain to listen as he tried and failed to stand once more grunting and panting exhaustively.

"The light circulates around your system and causes damage to your whole body. If you are late at healing it, you will die. No, normally it wouldn't be weird to die with that damage. Despite your slim build, I guess you're pretty stubborn, aren't you?"

"K-kehehehehe…" Alex chuckles at Raynare's assessment causing the Fallen Angel to raise a brow in confusion, thinking he may have gone mad.

"What's funny?" She questioned.

"T-tough. Do you think any of this is tough? Even now...my muscles and bones feel like lava is burning them from the inside out. I could honestly keel over any minute now…" Alex said as his body was racked with pain as he came to terms with his dire situation.

"...Even so... I don't give a damn?" Alex questioned no one in particular as he tried for what felt like the tenth time to get back on his feet.

"I'm such a fucking loser... all my life that's...what I've always been. I really thought that after I became a Devil, I would be able to be... like him, but..." As Alex said this, an image of Neo with his back turned to him in the distance popped into his mind before vanishing to darkness.

"But I'm still just a fuck up! I couldn't even properly help one damn girl who just wanted a friend!" Alex slowly moves his legs and manages to lift himself off the ground, still shaking from the pain and blood loss.

"But I swear... even if I have to kill myself to do so...even if I couldn't help her and even if I could make myself strong like Neo..." Alex supports himself on three of his limbs as he manages to get off the ground and slowly rises to his feet.

"—! I-Impossible! Your body isn't in a condition to move! Because of the damage of light—" Rayanre shouts, shocked that the boy could get back to his feet and was shut up after looking at Alex's vicious expression.

Even though his body was racked with intense pain, Alex's eyes retained their intense hatred as he looked at Raynare with a malicious expression of wrath and his blood-covered face and his disheveled hair, making him look more like a beast than a man or Devil.

"I swear even if you kill me here...I'll make sure of it you never hurt anyone ever again, you hear me you fucking bitch!" Alex curses as he raises his armored fist-clenching it so tightly he draws blood as he bares his teeth.

"…There's no way you can stand! A Low-class Devil shouldn't be able to stand up with those wounds! The lights are burning your insides from within your body!? A Low-class Devil who doesn't have the demonic-power to ease the effect of light shouldn't be able to endure it!" Raynare shouted as she flew back a few inches, genuinely confused and terrified by the man's animalistic visage before her; however, Alex was no longer listening to her.

'I've only got enough energy to make a few more attacks after that I'll probably...' Before Alex's negative thoughts could rise to the surface, he shook his head as he knew he had to regain his focus. 'If I'm gonna beat her, I'll have to close the gap with as much speed as possible. This environment should be good if I push myself, but to win, I need more.' Alex thought as he assessed the surrounding area before looking to his gauntlet.

"Yo, Sacred Gear... I don't know if you will listen to me, but you're supposed to be some special power that makes people great, right? Well, why don't you give me everything you got so I can at least kill this bitch alright?" Alex honestly didn't know if he should have expected something to happen and was frankly just desperate, but his plea was luckily answered when suddenly his Sacred Gear strongly announces-

[Explosion!]

(Meanwhile with Neo)

"Shit...she really got me good with that last one!" Neo cursed as he leaned against a wall for support with his injured foot. After gaining some distance, Neo tore off a piece of his shirt to tie the wound and stop the bleeding, but the light poisoning coursing through his foot still made walking and running a challenge.

'Phew. Ok, he should be somewhere around here if he took my bait now what's my condition.' Neo thought to himself as he put his back to the wall and assessed his body's damage.

'I've only got one more boost left before I reach my limit. The wound on my shoulder stings because of the light, but I can shake it off easily. The real problem is my foot. It'll be hard to keep my balance and properly dodge, so I should keep off it and only lean on it if I have to.' After looking over his body, Neo hugged the wall as he sharpened his senses as he peeked around the corner to see if he could spot someone.

"You have the gall to call me out, and you chose to hide? What I should have expected from a Low-Class with no etiquette." Spotting Neo first, the rough voice of an older man called out.

Neo immediately recognizes the voice, stops hugging the wall, and walks out, turning into a far more open corridor. He ignores the pain in his foot as he stands normally, refusing to show weakness in front of his enemy.

"Tch. Funny you talk about etiquette when you're the coward, you used a sneak attack at the park. Anyone would respond that way after the shit you pulled you Fedora-wearing bastard." Neo clicks his tongue as he berates the man revealed to be Dohnaseek for his actions in the park.

"Whatever." Dohanseek said with a sigh as he had chosen to forget his embarrassment of the incident earlier today as he pulled something out of his coat pocket. It was a large shard of a broken bottle that reeked of chemicals and alcohol and, in his other hand, was a patch of dark red hair.

"These were your callout cards correct? I must say you're either very brave or very stupid for wanting this." Dohanseek said in a condescending tone as Neo shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Whatever. We both don't want the unfinished business between us to go unresolved. That's why you responded, right?" Neo questioned. He was right; after all, Dohanseek was supposed to be on patrol, leaving that position for what could have been an attempt to distract him. It was a significant error threatening his partner he left behind and this whole operation.

"Well, you'd be correct there. But before we start, I have one question: Devil. How did you know that setting that fire and leaving behind a strand of your hair to make me recognize you would lead us both to this corridor?" Dohanseek asked, not being able to figure that part out.

"Hm? After I had a friend figure out your numbers, I knew where you were holding your little ritual in that underground sanctuary. Since that's the case, in the event you had to evacuate, one of the best paths to do so was through that cellar door in the back of the church. This large hallway is a straight shot to that place and is pretty close to the sanctuary, so if I alerted you I was there I banked on you taking that way and meeting you here like so, but...it was a pretty big gamble on if you'd follow through with my plan or not." Neo explained as Dohanseek looked at him with an examining glance and noticed his injuries.

"...Very well…"

*VROOM!*

Dohnaseek wastes no time as he creates his blue light spear and goes into a somewhat experienced battle stance.

"I won't ask about your injuries, Devil. I also don't plan on letting you complain about them being the cause of your defeat. I refuse to remain disgraced by one who dared to utter those accursed words to me ever again! No matter what it takes, I will end you!" Dohnaseek proclaims as his wings sprout from his back as he prepares himself to blitz into Neo with his spear.

"Funny, I feel the same way." Neo responds as he recalls Dohnaseek taking a similar dashing stance when they first met. In response, he goes into a more evasive stance, keeping himself on his toes as he waits for Dohanseek to make the obvious first attack.

*FLAP! SWOOF!*

Engaging first as expected, Dohnaseek kicked off the ground before extending his wings fully and flapping forward to barrel him at high speed as he held his spear forward to impale him with his charge.

Neo pivoted on his left foot as he jumped to the left, avoiding the charge. Dohanseek quickly reacted as he reeled his leg back in the air and swung it, aiming for Neo's head.

*THUD!*

Neo raises his arm, blocking Dohnaseek's kick but is forced back a few inches from the force.

Wasting no time, Neo kicks off the ground with his bad foot grunting in pain as he aims a fist for Dohnaseek's stomach.

"Nice try, but it's too slow!"

*KRINK!*

Before the blow connects, Dohnaseek raises his spear as Neo's fist makes contact with the blade's flat side, supporting it with his other hand pressed against the opposite side as he pushes Neo back again.

"Ngh!" Neo grunts as he is forced to step using his bad foot as the light's burning sensation gets worse each time he puts pressure on it.

"What's the matter, Devil?! Your strike doesn't have as much 'Oomph!' as before that injury is slowing you down trash!" Dohanseek taunts as he goes back on the offensive, unleashing a flurry of strikes using his spear's range advantage unlike he did before in the park.

"Wouldn't you like that damn vulture!" Neo responds as he fights through his burning pain and dodges the attacks.

'Hmph, even on a bad foot, he's still dodging well. Then how about THIS!' As Dohnaseek thinks this, he plants his feet back on the ground with his back facing Neo in a crouched position.

'What is he-"

"Hrragh!" Dohnaseek shouts as he quickly twirls around with his wings as the feathered end comes barreling towards Neo, who was confused if this was an attack or distraction.

*BAM!*

"The fu- Guoagh!" Neo gasps as the wing slams into his stomach, but instead of the soft texture of feathers that he expected the wing felt more like a slab of stone was slammed into his stomach as he flew back a few feet.

'Hmph shows that?' Dohnaseek exhaled confidently at his attack. It was an advanced Fallen Angel technique that involved pouring Mana into one's wings to increase their sharpness and durability. Dohnaseek was never magically talented, however, so he could only increase the strength and sturdiness of his feathers to the level of stone, but he was sure the force of that attack did something.

"Haah, man, well, that was a thing." Neo said as he stood up, patting off his stomach, seemingly taking no damage.

"E-eh?!" Dohanseek looked confused that Neo seemingly received no damage, which Neo caught on to and flashed a smirk.

"What, you thought that weak sauce shit was gonna hurt me? You gotta do way better than that if you wanna get a reaction out of me vulture." Neo taunted, trying to see if he could probe a response from Dohnaseek like before, but it seems like Dohnaseek wasn't falling for it as he instead raised his spear and prepared to charge forward again.

"If that won't work, I'll just have to go with this! Hrragh!" Dohanseek shouts as he flies forward.

"That again?! Then how about this!" As Neo shouts, he uses the wide hallway pushing off the ground with his left foot he lands onto the surface of the wall and kicks off once more with his foot outstretched barreling towards Dohnaseek from above.

"W-wha-!"

*THUUD! CRASH!*

"Gough!" Dohnaseek cries out in pain as Neo's kick plants itself against his face, causing him to fly back into the ball and blood to spill from his mouth.

As he came down, Neo landed on his right foot as the pain overpowered him and caused his leg to give out as he was forced to his knee. "Auugh! Fuck!" he cursed as he gripped his leg, feeling that the light poisoning had spread to his calf, making it even more challenging to fight.

'S-shit, that was hard!' Dohnaseek cursed as he gripped his head where Neo kicked him and noticed there was blood dripping down his face from the blow.

It took a few seconds for his rattled head to resettle as he came back to his senses and noticed that Neo was crouched and gripping his leg and decided to take advantage of it.

*FLAP! ZUDON!*

"Time to end this! Khiiagh!" Dohnaseek roars alerting Neo to his attack as he flaps his wings taking flight and summons a spear and chucks it at the red-haired teen.

'Ghi- shit gotta move!' Seeing the oncoming spear, Neo forces himself to push off the ground as he barely manages to fly above the spear and avoid taking damage.

"W-what? Impossible!" Dohnaseek screams out, not able to believe that Neo dodged his spear in that way with an injured leg as the teen was still coming at him.

However, instead of slamming into him Neo flips and passes over Dohnaseek's body leaving the Fallen confused until-

*TUG!*

"G-GAAIH! What the fuck!" Dohnsaseek screams as he felt someone grip his wings looking back he saw Neo facing the opposite direction with a tight grip on Dohnaseek black wings.

"Let go! Get off me, you bastard!" Dohnaseek cursed as he tried flapping his wings vigorously to shake the red-haired teen off and gain altitude, but both failed as Neo wouldn't let Dohanseek spread his wings fully and his added weight began pulling them both down.

"You want down?!" Neo shouted as he began swinging his legs as his lower body was rising higher with each swing.

*SHOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!*

After his third swing Neo managed to nearly flip over Dohnaseek finally building up enough force to do-

"Then go down!"

*SWOOSH! SLAM!*

With all the strength in his upper body, Neo swung Dohnaseek over his shoulder by his wings and slammed the Fallen Angel into the ground causing cracks to form from the impact.

"G-guoah!" Dohnaseek gasped in pain from the impact as the blow momentarily paralyzes him.

'Shit, I can't move!' As Dohnaseek fails to gain feeling in his body, he peeks through his eyes and sees Neo still falling to the ground about to slam his good foot on top of Dohnaseek's head.

'Shit gotta move! Move! Move!' Dohnaseek curses as he feels threatened by the attack and tries with all his might to roll out of the way before letting out a roar. "I said, move!"

*BAAAM! CRRICK!*

Dohnaseek wills his body to move at the last second as he manages to roll out of the way, avoiding the attack.

Neo smashes his foot into the ground, forming a small crater as shards of stone flew everywhere.

"Haugh...haugh…" Dohnaseek panted as he lifted himself from his back, ignoring the heaviness he felt in his body as he forced himself to stand.

'Dammit, I didn't think this fight would be so difficult.' Dohnaseek thought as he was forced to admit that he was struggling.

It was even more infuriating for him to see that he had dealt him no damage. Fortunately enough, it seemed the injuries from a previous battle were slowing him down as Dohnaseek observed that Neo struggled to stand up.

'He must have been struck by a weapon of light. It's insane that he can even fight me on that leg. However…'

Dohnaseek summoned his light spear but made no stance or preparations to attack.

'However, if I use 'that', I may be able to win. His defense and offensive abilities have dropped due to his injury. I honestly didn't want to resort to 'that', but if it's between being defeated by some Low-Class or using it, I'd gladly pick the ladder.'

With his mind made up, Dohnaseek finally got into his battle stance.

'Shit… I literally can't feel anything in my leg anymore, and he's still not down! If it's come to this, then I've gotta do it.' Neo also resolves himself as he raises his right hand.

"Sacred Gear! Activate!" Neo summons and activates his Sacred Gear all in one go this time feeling like his power had actually doubled.

"G-rrrrngh!" Neo shouts as he forces himself to stand using his newfound energy from his Sacred Gear as Dohnaseek charges forth to cut him down.

"And now, take this!" Dohnaseek shouts as he readies his spear.

'I don't have the strength to dodge him anymore instead; I need to block him like I did in the park and hit him with everything I've got once I create an opening!' Neo thinks to himself as he raises his armored hand to deflect the Fallen Angel's attack.

However, nothing Neo could have done could have prepared him for what was next as Dohnaseek yelled-

"Shining Spear!"

*SHINE!*

Upon shouting that out, Dohnaseeks spear began glowing brighter before bursting forth with a bright eruption of light even brighter than the flash bomb Freed used earlier.

"G-gah!" Neo shouted as he was forced to shut his eyes from the intensely bright light, which unfortunately left himself open.

"Raaaaaaaahhh!" Dohnaseek, who also had his eyes closed, roared as he swung his spear with both hands with all his might.

*SLICK!*

As Dohnaseek swings, his spear he feels it connect as the familiar sensation of his spear cutting into flesh responds through his blade.

'Got him.' Dohnaseek thinks to himself as he forms a malicious grin after finally cutting down the Devil he so loathed.

"S-shit...Alex, I fucked up…" Neo felt the cold sensation of a blade slash across his stomach, stunning him for a few seconds before the hot feeling of intense pain that quickly followed the slash and the burning sensation of light shot through his body and nerves.

(Meanwhile with Alex)

[Explosion!]

Alex's gauntlet calls out a new announcement and releases a bright light from its green jewel.

As the light enveloped Alex's body, he felt himself overflowing with power.

'T-this is awesome! It's so much energy!' Alex thought as he felt the power of his Sacred Gear coarse through his damaged body, feeling like he could fight.

However, as Alex takes a step forward, blood continues pouring from his wounds, and he covers his mouth as he pukes up more blood. No matter how strong he felt, he knew it wouldn't last forever and that his body was already in critical condition no...maybe even beyond that at this point.

When he fought her in the park, even though he managed to stall for a good while, he couldn't help but feel a difference in power between them. But now, even in his horrible shape, his Devil instincts that had grasped hold over this overwhelming power were telling...no ordering him to defeat her.

And so Alex put his other leg forward and crouched down low as if he were a runner getting into a starting position seemingly aiming at Raynare, who was having a breakdown.

"…Impossible. What is this? Why is something like this happening…? Isn't that Sacred Gear supposed to be the [Twice Critical], which doubles the possessor's power? …It can't be. It's not possible. Why has your power surpassed mine…? This wave of demonic-power I'm feeling... is that of a Middle-class…no, that of a High-class Devil…" Raynare stated.

'A High-Class Devil? Wait so because of my Sacred Gear I'm as strong as Rias?' Alex thinks to himself as he continues his preparations, flexing his calves with the benefits of his [Knight] piece making them even stronger.

"Lies! This is all lies! I am the Fallen Angel that has attained the ultimate healing power! I became a superior being by obtaining [Twilight Healing]! I received the right to be loved by Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! I refuse to lose to some low-life like you!" Raynare shouts as she stretches out both her hands with her wings flapping wildly behind her to gain distance as she gathers her power of light in both hands and forms two spears which she throws at Alex

*ZVROOOOOOOM!*

The spears fly at a speed faster than any of her previous ones but just when she thinks they're going to hit Alex-

*SWOOF!*

Suddenly Alex disappeared from sight as he shot himself past Raynare at a bullet-like speed blowing past her as a large gust of wind. She turned around to try and locate him but once again-

*SWOOF! SWOOF!*

Alex bounced off the old church's wall and blitz past her before bouncing off one of the sanctuary pillars as each time he leaped from one surface to another, he was accumulating even more speed and force.

*SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF!*

And again.

*SWOOF SWOOF! SWOOF SWOOF!

And again.

*SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF!*

And again.

*SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF!*

And again!

*SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF!*

And again!

*SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF! SWOOF!*

At this point, Raynare wasn't even able to tell where Alex was as he had reached far beyond the point of her ability to keep up with him as he was bouncing off the floor, walls, pillars, and ceiling only able to fearfully look around with no hope of catching him.

'Even if I wasn't as injured as I am, I doubt I could have beaten her with my strength. But by using all my abilities to build up my momentum like this…' As Alex had these thoughts run through his mind

Alex thought to himself as he lept one final time, aiming for the ceiling just above Raynare's head.

*SWOOF! CRASH!*

Alex's feet crater into the ceiling with incredible force as he compresses his leg muscles even further than he did when he started as his calves flexed with power.

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

'...I CAN CRUSH HER IN ONE BLOW!' Alex finished his thought and pushed off the ceiling with all his might barreling down to Raynare at incredible velocity as he reeled back his armored fist to land the final blow.

"RAYNAREEEEEE!" Alex shouts the Fallen Angel's name, causing her to look up and become horrified at the Devil barreling towards her.

"N-nooo!" She screams, trying to fly away, but it was already too late.

"DIE YOU BITCHHHHHH!" Alex screamed out as he shot his fist forward, now with a clear shot at Raynare's face.

*WHAAAAM!*

"Grrrroauugghhhhhh!" Raynare let out an inhumane cry as Alex's armored fist slammed right into the middle of her face as Alex's Sacred Gear concentrated all his built up power into the blow.

"Uoryaaaaaaaa!" Alex let out a roar as he drove his fist even further into her face.

*GASHAAAAAAAAN!*

Raynare's body couldn't stand up against the force of the punch any longer as she is sent flipping backward and crashes through the wall at the sanctuary entrance and seemingly smacked against the dirt ground outside before stopping.

*CRASH!*

"G-gah!" Eventually, gravity takes control, and Alex crashes to the ground on his back with a gasp of pain as he was no longer able to move his body, and the power boost from his Sacred Gear was all gone.

As the dust settles, silence rolls back into the destroyed sanctuary. Alex couldn't say if Raynare was dead or not, but he knew for certain she wouldn't get back up from that blow for a while.

"G-gotcha...you bitch…" Alex said weakly with a small smile feeling relieved he was able to avenge Asia. Although he was saddened by the fact that Asia was gone, he didn't even have the strength left to cry and simply closed his eyes, prepared to meet death once again.

*Ton.*

Suddenly, however, he feels someone support him, raising him slightly off his back. Opening his eyes slowly, he sees the person was Kiba.

"Good work Volt-kun. You actually beat a Fallen Angel." Kiba said with a smile.

"K-Kiba-san…?" Alex said in disbelief that Kiba was actually here.

"Forgive me, Volt-kun." Kiba said with a slightly pained expression from seeing Alex's damaged state but changed back to his casual smile. "Buchou told me not to interfere."

'Buchou?' Alex thought to himself, confused why Rias would give him such an order or even send him here and put him on standby in the first place.

"That's right. I believed that you were able to beat the Fallen Angel Raynare." A new but familiar voice suddenly entered the sanctuary.

Alex struggled to turn his head as he saw Rias walking towards him with a smile while waving her crimson hair.

Behind her was Akeno, who quickly made her way over to Alex before crouching down and began assessing his condition.

"Ara ara, this is rather serious. Yuuto-kun, please turn him on his side so I can see his injury." Akeno gives her command, which Kiba obediently obeys, and he gently turns Alex over.

Akeno then extends her hands, and from them comes a soothing yellow light that washed over his injury and, while not as quick as Asia, began healing him.

Gaining back his ability to breathe and speak as the burning sensation in his lungs was slowly fading, Alex raised a hand and grabbed Kiba's shirt sleeve.

"P-please. Help...Neo!" Alex begged with a low voice as his strength had not fully returned. He didn't exactly know if Neo was in any sort of danger, but he couldn't rest easy without knowing he was okay.

"Neo, huh. I assume he is still somewhere downstairs. Very well, Kiba, if you could go find and assist him." Rias commands.

"Very well, Buchou." Kiba responds confidently as he passes Alex to Akeno and stands up with his sword sheathed at his hip. "I'll try not to take to long"

*SWOOSH!*

He then sprints off with his [Knight] speed, which seemed far more polished and graceful that Alex's.

'Ok, Neo's right that dude is a total showoff.' Alex rolls his eyes but feels relieved that someone as reliable as Kiba was going as Neo's potential backup allowing him to focus back on Rias.

"U-um Buchou, where did you come from?" Alex asked.

"From a secret passage. It seems one of the Fallen Angels was very paranoid about invasions, so he had a tunnel dug out that connected to the sanctuary for escapes. We just finished our business, so we used a magic-circle to come here. It was my first time transporting to a Church, so I was nervous." Rias explained as she let out a sigh.

Alex realized that probably meant that she and the other wiped out all the Exorcists there, which left him relieved, but he still was confused about why she was here in the first place.

"But Buchou, why are you here? I thought you weren't going to get involved with what Neo and I were doing, and for that matter, how did you even know we were attacking the church or where that tunnel even was?" Alex berated Rias with an onslaught of questions.

Rias, however, didn't seem daunted as she answered them one at a time. "For starters, I'm here because no matter how much you two may try and act independently from me, I am your master and will never allow you to be strung out on your own. Secondly, The reason I knew you two raided the church was because of this." Rias held out her hand as a summoning circle appeared above it, popping out from the circle was a crimson-colored bat that flew onto Rias' shoulder.

"This is my familiar; I've had it monitoring you two since I left the apartment. It reported back to me that you both were raiding the church, so I gathered my peerage and decided to come over as back up. And as for why I knew the location of the escape tunnel…" Rias looked to the destroyed entrance as light two sets of footsteps trotted in.

Walking into the sanctuary was Koneko holding onto a shining yellow rope, which Alex could only guess was made from magic. He was more surprised that the person whose hands were tied by that rope was a tall, beautiful blue-haired woman in a revealing maroon trench coat and matching mini-skirt.

"This is Kalwarner. She's a Fallen Angel who seemed to be on patrol alone that we managed to take prisoner. After a little convincing, she was more than willing to assist us, isn't that right?" Rias said in a tone that sounded rather dangerous as the woman known as Kalwarner shrinks in fear.

"Y-y-yes, of course!" She said in a quick terrified tone as she knew she could be killed at any moment.

Turning her head to look outside, Koneko walks out of the sanctuary and leaves Kalwarner with the others.

'Dammit! What the hell is that retard Dohnaseek doing!? This wouldn't have happened if that fucking moron didn't fly off talking about some fire and never show back up! Or better yet if he didn't throw a hissy fit and put Mittelt of the fucking patrol team!' Kalwarner cursed Dohnaseek's name in her mind blaming her current situation on the man's pride and incompetence.

"But anyway, Alex, it looks like you managed to win. Though I can't say, you did so safely." Rias said as she stood in front of Alex with a somewhat stressed out expression.

"Hehe...I'm really sorry about that." Alex gives an awkward laugh feeling bad, knowing he worried her so much.

Rias sighs as she shakes away her worry flashing Alex her usual mature smile. "Fufufu, it's fine. I'm happy you won. Just what I expected from my servant." Rias taps Alex on his nose, causing him to blush.

"Ara ara. The Church is in a mess. Buchou, is it alright?" Akeno looked up from her healing treatment with Alex and asked Rias with a troubled expression.

"Wait…...why would it not be alright?" Alex asked Rias timidly.

"Churches belong to God or religions related to him, but there are cases like this where Fallen Angels use it. In cases like this, if we Devil's damage the Church, there will be times when we get targeted by assassins. For revenge and payback." Rias explains as Alex's face grows pale.

"Wait! WHAT! *Cough!* *Cough!* *Cough!*" Alex shouts, causing him to go into a coughing fit as Akeno settles him back down.

"But it won't happen this time. This Church was originally an abandoned one. A group of Fallen Angels and their followers came here to use it for their own greed, and we just happened to fight here. So we didn't step foot on the enemies' actual territory to have war. So it's just a small fight between a group of Devils and a Fallen Angels. This happens all the time." Rias sums up the story in a way that convincingly works out for them.

"Buchou. I've brought it." Koneko reappears, dragging an unconscious Raynare by her wing before dropping her at the group's feet.

Alex could see the damage he caused, and needless to say, it wasn't a pretty sight. The force of his punch had broken Raynare's nose leaving it swollen and bloody and blackened both her eyes.

"Thank you, Koneko. Now then, let's wake her up. Akeno." Rias looked to her [Queen] as Akeno gently put Alex down and stood up, having healed his life-threatening injuries and lessened the light poisoning in his system.

"Yes." She complies, lifting her hand as a small magic circle appears above her head.

*SPLASH!*

From it comes a stream of ice-cold water that splashes onto Raynare's face and awakens the unconscious Fallen Angel.

"*Cough!* *Cough!* *Cough!*" Raynare coughs as she slowly opens her eyes, wincing in pain from the damage to her face.

"How are you doing, Fallen Angel Raynare." Rias asked, looking down at her.

"…The daughter of the Gremory clan…" Raynare said, looking up at Rias.

"Hello, my name is Rias Gremory. I'm the next heir of the House of Gremory. It will be for a short while, but nice to have your acquaintance." Rias greets her with a smile causing Raynare to give her a hateful glare even through her swollen eyes.

"…You think you've got me, but too bad. This plan was kept secret from the higher-ups, but there are other Fallen Angels with me. If I get in danger, they will—" Raynare stops speaking as she looks over and sees Kalwarner with her hands bound by magic. But even more unsettling was the fact that she looked unharmed, meaning she gave up without putting up a fight.

"K-Kalwarner? What the fuck?! You just gave yourself up to them? And where the hell is Dohnaseek and Mittelt?" Raynare asked questions frantically as Kalwarner bit her lip, too scared to answer.

"The reason this Fallen Angel is with us is that she surrendered when Akeno and I approached her and was willing to exchange information for her life. According to her, your comrades Dohnaseek and Mittelt had a falling out recently. While she and Dohnaseek were patrolling the perimeter, he seemed to fly back to the church, so capturing her all by herself was quite simple. Though it's not like it would have been much trouble just to destroy her anyways." Rias explained the events leading Kalwarner to be captured but added something rather terrifying at the end as Raynare was grinding her teeth in frustration at the whole situation.

"C-crap, I guess Rias, or I mean Buchou isn't to be fucked with." Alex said, being able to support himself off his back thanks to Akeno's efforts.

"Of course, getting hit by even one of her attacks won't even leave a trace. The princess of the Duke who has the Power of Destruction. Buchou is a powerful Devil who is called a genius among the group of young Devils after all." Akeno says to Alex, who becomes somewhat amazed that such a person is his master.

Seeing his amazed face, Akeno added something else to prompt a reaction from her cute junior. "She is also called the "Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess", you know?"

'W-wait Ruin Princess! That's so badass I want a cool nickname!' Alex was unaware that Rias was casting an analytical gaze on Alex's gauntlet.

"…Red Dragon. Until recently, there wasn't a mark like this… I see so that's what it is…" Rias said, drawing Alex's attention as he noticed she had a somewhat shocked expression.

"I found out the main reason why Alex was able to beat a Fallen Angel." Rias said quietly before looking to Raynare.

"Fallen Angel Raynare. This boy, Alexander Volt's Sacred Gear, isn't a regular Sacred Gear. That's why you lost." Rias said, causing Raynare to give a puzzled expression.

"—[Boosted Gear], otherwise known as the [Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet]. A Sacred Gear that is said to be the rarest of the rare. The Red Dragon mark on the gauntlet is the evidence. Even you have heard of that name before, right?" Rias stated as she pointed to Alex's Sacred Gear.

Hearing that statement, Raynare and her fellow Fallen Angel Kalwarner become extremely shocked by that statement. "B-Boosted Gear… One of the [Longinus], also called the [Tools that Destroy God] … Even though it's only for a short time, it's said that it has the power to surpass Maous and God… Are you telling me that hateful power is possessed in a boy like this!?"

"If it's just like the legend is told, then the ability of the [Boosted Gear] can double the possessor's power every 10 seconds. Even if his power starts from 1, it doubles his power every 10 seconds, and it can reach the power of the leader-class Fallen Angels and High-class Devils. And by mastering it, he could even kill God." Rias explained, making even Alex become taken aback.

'H-HOLY FUCK I HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO KILL GOD?!' Alex mentally shouted, needing a moment before returning to rational thought.

Looking at his gauntlet closer, he saw the mark of a Red Dragon carved into it, as Rias said. 'Well, I guess this explains why my power kept doubling with those "Boost" announcements even though Raynare said it should only double once.' Alex thought which sorted out the questions he previously had about his Sacred Gear.

'B-but still…' Alex looked to the powerful Sacred Gear on his right arm with a tinge of fear. 'The power to kill God. Isn't that kinda...no it's totally a cheat power. Wait, with this thing, couldn't I become super badass! They did say I could surpass the Maou too, so maybe I could become like the supreme Overlord of Hell or something!' Alex let his thoughts run wild as he grew a cocky grin.

"Well, no matter how powerful it is, a Sacred Gear, which needs time, has a big risk. There aren't any enemies that would wait for the user to get stronger. Since the opponent was taking it lightly, this was the outcome." Rias explained the Sacred Gears' weakness and somewhat rained on Alex's parade.

'G-gah! I mean, I guess she's right but still why you gotta kill my fantasy Rias.' Alex sighed and hung his head as his power fantasy was halted.

*Pat. Pat.*

Alex feels someone patting his head looking up to see it was Rias. He usually hated it when people touched his hair, but for whatever reason, Rias' touch felt soothing.

"But it's interesting. Just to be expected from one of my servants. Just like I thought, you're quite an interesting boy, Alex. I'm going to adore you even more." Rias said with a smile, causing Alex to blush. Suddenly he remembered the talk he and Neo had with her and felt pain in his heart as he lowered his head again.

"B-Buchou I-I'm so sorry. Back at Neo's apartment, I told you off saying worthless crap like I would return my favor to Asia, and that we could handle things ourselves. But if you hadn't shown up, I would have died." Alex started apologizing as he felt truly foolish for the words he was saying back then.

As he started apologizing, however, he was reminded of Asia, of his failure. He didn't know when they began, but soon tears began rolling down his face as he had to let that settle in as he continued with his apology. "A-and to make things even worse…...even with Neo's help I-I couldn't even save her…... I couldn't save Asia." He admitted more to himself than anyone else.

"You don't have to cry. Seeing you right now, no one would blame you for your efforts." Rias said, trying to cheer the depressed Alex up as she continued patting his head.

"Still…... I failed…" Alex repeated.

Reaching out a hand, Rias wipes away the tears falling down Alex's face. "It's okay. You just weren't experienced as a Devil yet. That's all there is to it. Become strong. I'm going to make you work hard from now on, so be prepared. My [Pawn], Alex."

"Y-yes." Alex replied, feeling a little better than he did before, thanks to Rias' encouragement as he tightens his fist.

'I'll work harder so that shit like this will never happen again.' Alex swore to himself.

"Now then, I'll finish my work here." Rias said as her eyes gained a sharp, ruthless look to them.

She then began walking closer to Raynare, who grew terrified at the crimson-haired girls every step.

"I will have you disappear, Fallen Angel-san. And of course, I will retrieve that Sacred Gear back as well." Rias said in a cold tone as Alex felt her killing intent rivaling Neo's in his fight with Freed.

"Y-You can't be serious!? This healing power is for Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama—"

"To live your life for love is beautiful. But you are too tainted with dirt. You have no elegance. And I don't allow that." Rias cuts Raynare off as she aims her hand towards Raynare prepared to kill the Fallen Angel in one blow.

"K-Kalwarner were friends, aren't we? You aren't just going to sit by and watch me die, right?! Right?!" Raynare pleaded with the captured Fallen Angel to save her.

"…...I'm sorry…" Was all Kalwarner said before turning her head unable to look at the fate about to befall her comrade.

"W-what? No. NO! You bitch, how dare you! I was going to help you ascend higher in the Grigor, and you could have received Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama's love along with me, your traitorous bitch!" Raynare roared in rage, infuriated that someone she intended on helping would turn their back on her just to save their own skin.

"Now, Fallen Angel Raynare, who was abandoned by her own comrade. How miserable." Rias spoke in a voice lacking all sympathy as Raynare shivered in terror.

Alex almost wanted to feel sorry for her; however, as he remembered all the horrible things she did to him and Asia, he couldn't muster an ounce.

Honestly, after everything he had been through, Alex just wished for this nightmare to come to a close.

*Shine.*

Attracting Alex's as well as Rias and the others attention was the familiar green light of Asia's Sacred Gear as Raynare cupped her face and was seemingly healing herself.

'Y-you bitch! Stop using her power and just di-' Alex upon seeing Rynare heal herself was about to force himself up as he felt rage burn in his chest. However, his emotions were thrown into disarray by what Raynare did next.

"Alex-kun! Please save me!" The Fallen Angel pleaded, not with the voice of her true evil self Raynare but of the disguise she wore known as Yumma Amano.

"These Devil's are trying to kill me! I love you! I love you so much! That's why we should defeat them together!" Raynare begged through her Yumma persona as tears rolled down her now healed and admittedly beautiful face.

Alex looked at the scene in pure shock, unable to fathom the depravity before him. The woman who manipulated him against the man he viewed like a brother, the women who killed the two of them without a shred of remorse, the woman who found the mention of her name come from his mouth disgusting, and most of all the woman who killed an innocent girl all solely for her selfish desire for affection. That woman was begging him to save her.

After hearing such a thing, only one thought was left in Alex's mind about the being before him.

"You are absolutely shit...no something even lower than that." Alex said with his eyes devoid of any feeling for the girl before him.

"Rias...no Buchou, please, this thing is too far gone to be allowed to live." Alex pleaded with his master. He looked away as both his emotions and any residual feelings he had for Raynare had completely vanished in that instance as the Fallen Angel's expression froze.

"…Don't try to flirt with my cute servant. Blow away."

*DON!*

The intense blast of demonic-power shot out from Rias' hand, Raynare didn't even have time to scream as she was obliterated without a trace once the blast made contact.

Floating around where Raynare had perished was a green light that Alex immediately recognized as Asia's Sacred Gear.

Rias extends her hand as she takes hold of the Sacred Gear. "Now, let's give this back to Asia Argento-san."

Alex gave Rias a confused stare, not understanding the point of such an action as Asia had already passed.

"Buchou i-it's ok. We should try and find Neo and Yuuto-san after that we can worry about Asia." Alex said as he thought it was best to focus on his best friend and fellow Devil rather than have the rest of the club members worry about Asia despite how painful it was to make that decision.

Reaching into her pocket Rias pulls something out and shows it to Alex. "Alex, what do you think this is?"

Alex noticed it was a chess piece as crimson as Rias' hair, although he had no idea which one it was. "...It's a chess piece, right?"

"Yes, but to be more precise, this is a [Bishop] Evil Piece." Rias states as Alex was taken aback by what he just heard.

"An Evil Piece? You mean like the ones that Devil servants get their traits from?" Alex asked, remembering Rias' explanation of them in their Stray Devil hunt.

"Indeed, but what I failed to mention is that these Pieces are also what we use to turn and revive other races as Devils." Rias explained as Alex locked on to one of the words she said.

'Revive! Wait a second, I remembered dying to Raynare on my date, and according to Neo's story, I was dead for a couple of minutes. Does that mean she can revive even the dead as Devils as long as their death was recent?' Alex's eyes widened like saucers at this realization as Rias began walking to Asia, who lay lifeless on the pew.

"A Devil with a Peerage receives 15 chess pieces in total, made up of 8 [Pawns], 2 [Knights], 2 [Bishops], 2 [Rooks], and 1 [Queen]. Same as in an actual chess game. I already used one of my [Bishop], but I still have another one left." Rias explained as she placed the crimson [Bishop] chess piece on the deceased Asia's chest.

"The [Bishop]'s role is to support the other members of the group. I'm not a fan of reincarnating the dead, but this girl's healing power could be useful as a [Bishop]. Therefore, as I did with you, I will make an exception and reincarnate this girl as a Devil." Rias says as a crimson demonic-power surrounds her body.

"I order, in my name Rias Gremory. You, Asia Argento. I, resurrect you back to this soil as my servant and have you reborn as a Devil. You, my [Bishop], be delighted with your new life!" Rias chants as her demonic-power flown into the chess piece, making it give off a bright light.

The crimson chess piece then begins going inside Asia's body with her stolen Sacred Gear returning to her as well.

Rias stops her flow of demonic-power after she confirms that the chess piece and the Sacred Gear went inside Asia's body, letting out a sigh when everything was finished.

After a short while, Asia opened her eyes as Alex looked at her with a mix of happiness and shock.

"Huh?" Asia said, confused as she realized she was not dead.

Hearing her voice again, Alex couldn't help but start crying. 'S-she's alive. She's alive!'

"W-wah! A-Alex-san?! What wrong?" Asia shouted with a blush as Alex crawled over and embraced her tightly.

She suddenly felt Alex's body begin shaking, feeling worried as she believed something was wrong. Then she felt tears fall into her lap.

"*Sniffle!* *Sniffle!*" Alex was too embarrassed to let himself be seen crying, so he kept his head down as he cried.

"A-Alex-san, what's wrong?! If it's something I did, then I'm sorry, so please don't cry!" Asia didn't understand what was wrong but hastily apologized, assuming she was the fault of Alex's sorrow.

"*Sniffle!* You idiot! I'm just happy that you're alive, so quit apologizing!" Alex said. Although she was still confused by what was going on, Asia smiled as she patted his head to soothe him.

"I resurrected her because I wanted her power that can even heal Devils. Fufufu, Alex, from now on, you'll protect her. Since you will be her senior Devil." Rias said as she looked over at the two blondes with a warm smile.

Suddenly a red magic circle appears next to her ear. "Yes, Kiba, did you locate Neo?" Rias tapped the magic circle as she began talking to Kiba with everyone looking to see what was said.

"Yes, Buchou, I found him, but the situation down here is very precarious. Can you come to my location?" Kiba whispered with haste in his voice.

"Kiba, what's wrong is Neo injured?!" Rias shouted with worry in her voice, causing everyone to grow tense.

However, Kiba didn't answer Rias' question seemingly distracted by the events taking place at his current location.

"Wait, is he going to...he is! I'm sorry, Buchou, I have to go! Until you find your way down here, I'll stall him as long as I can!" And with that, Kiba disengaged his communication circle.

"Akeno, it's time to move, Koneko, bring the Fallen Angel with us to use as a guide. Also, both of you prepare for combat." Rias immediately issued her orders as her servants complied.

""Yes Buchou!""

"W-wait! Buchou!" Alex shouted as he forced himself to stand with Asia supporting him up.

"Alex, stay here with the Sister and rest you're to beat up to come along." Rias commanded, but Alex shook his head in refusal.

"No way. Neo's my bro, and I'm the one that pulled him into this mess, so there's no way in hell I'm gonna lay back up here if something happened to him." Alex stood resolved by his words with a serious gaze.

"Haah. There's just no reasoning with you once you set your mind on something, is there?." Rias sighed as she waved her crimson hair. "Very well, you may accompany us, but remember, you're in charge of protecting the Sister, Alex."

"Yes, Buchou!" Alex grinned happily.

He then turned to Asia, who was supporting him up. "I'm sorry I'm having you do this when you must be confused about everything Aisa, but please help me!"

"Don't worry, Alex-san, after all, Neo-san is in trouble, so of course, I'll do anything I can to help!" Asia responded with a smile.

"Thank you." Alex thanked her as the group began descending the stairs to follow the signal of the area Kiba had contacted them from and using the captured Fallen Angel as a guide.

'Neo were coming, so please stay alive!' Alex prayed, hoping nothing had happened to his best friend.

END

Hello everyone! Firstly, I want to apologize for taking so long to release this chapter, but unfortunately, things in real life happened and got in the way, but I'm okay, and I hope you all are doing well. Anyway, I was initially going to try and wrap both fights in this chapter, but I decided against it as I feel like doing so may overshadow either Alex's or Neo's moment, and I didn't want to do that. So instead, I'll conclude Neo's fight and the wrap up for this arc in the next chapter, so I don't feel rushed to finish his fight for one. And two so you guys can get a chapter you were long overdue. And now for my favorite part, responding to the reviews!:

kpop1392as: Greetings, and thank you for reviewing all my chapters. To answer your questions in order, so when you say Neo knows about his past, I assume you are comparing him to characters in other fanfictions that aren't aware of their history, background, or family. I find that many people do that trope, so I think it's a little stale at this point, I find having a character that has to face and embrace the past a lot more interesting than one who has to discover it, so that's my reason for that. I'm pleased you're enjoying Alex and Neo's bromance. Their relationship and characters reflect me and my best friend in real life, so it makes me happy people like it. I'm also glad that people like the comedy I try to put into my story. It isn't my strong suit, so knowing many people enjoy that door slam scene makes me happy. And finally, I decided to inject some tension into the Fallen Angel group to add some life and personality into the group. I always hate wasting and not fleshing out characters. On top of adding personality into Dohnaseek, Kalwarner, and Mittelt, I thought having a rocky dynamic could also make things interesting, so I'm glad you like it. As for the ninja thing, despite how they act, both Alex and Neo are nerds with one of them being nerdier than the other, so if there's ever a chance for them to good off or nerd out, you can bet they'll do it.

Evowizard25: Once again, I have to thank you for reviewing my chapters, and I'm happy you liked the combat and hope you enjoy the fights in this chapter as well. I also wanted to thank you for liking the direction I took Mittelt in this story, and reading your comment got me interested, so I ended up reading your fanfiction and found it to be a lot of fun. I believe you did an excellent job capturing the attitude Mittelt displayed in the anime really well and gave her a more tender side that was believable and likable. I also like Dohnaseek and Mittelt's relationship in your fanfiction and find it cool how their relationship in my fanfiction differs from yours, but both seem believable. Also, Theo is adorable and hilarious, so please keep up the excellent work!

MPrevilO: Greetings, and thank you for reviewing all my chapters. While Matsuda and Motohama, the Perverted Duo, Neo, and Alex, as explained in chapter 5, were a delinquent duo that stirred up trouble and picked fights with other delinquent groups. Alex and Neo will reluctantly get involved in Matsuda and Motohama's shenanigans from time to time. As for their reputation, Alex and Neo(mainly Neo) are regarded as worse than them because they get into fierce fights with anyone and have even caused trouble for the school. But more on that at a later date.

I think I'll wrap things up with this. I don't want to make it too long. I'm still open to discussion about Harmes, I have an idea about how I want them to be structured, but new opinions are always welcome. Anyway, I'm done, please remain safe, and I hope all of you are healthy.

As always, please continue to read and review