God in DxD

Preoccupied with training the Baels' strength, I lost track of time. There were some improvements, but they were negligible. The destructive force refused to yield and kept dissipating, preventing me from forming the magical construct needed to give this energy the desired shape. Well, at least this energy began to flow in my blood, mixing with the energies of all my origins and the Grail.

Reinal fit very well into our life, taking on some of the household chores and cooking with Shuri. We went for a walk together, during which she finally relaxed. Apparently, the appearance of new people in her life, who replaced the previous trio, had a very beneficial effect on her mood. So, over the past few days, she had managed to mourn all her lost friends and accept the new reality, adapting to us, just as we had adapted to her.

And now, on another trip to school, I notice two bright souls crossing the city limits. Here come the nuns! Hallelujah, thank God! How long can we wait?

Deciding not to interfere for the time being and to let the proud "mistresses of the city" take matters into their own hands, I stepped aside. If they want me, they'll call me. I'm not going to interfere, it's not worth it if the fallen cross the border.

In the meantime, putting aside extraneous thoughts, I indulged in blissful idleness on the school roof, resting my head on Akeno's legs. She read, I slept, watching the execution training of the three fallen ones.

"Virgil?" A rune circle appeared near my ear, pulling me out of my half-sleep. "Could you come to the club?" Rias asked me and hung up.

"Will you come with me?" I asked my sister, but she shook her head and went home.

I teleported and appeared right behind two nuns, who, not expecting such a turn of events, turned around and attacked me.

"You seem nervous," I said, holding the blades of my swords in my hands. "Rias, sweetheart, what's going on?" I nodded at the nuns and looked at Sitri. "Sona?""They're representatives of the church. They came to the city because, according to their information, the stolen Excaliburs are supposed to be here." The student council president wiped her glasses with a cloth and put them back on her nose.

"Now, now, it's impolite to wear hoods indoors, young ladies. Culture is an important part of negotiations." I raised my finger importantly.

The nuns glanced at each other and took off their hoods. Well, the canon didn't go to the forest here, the very characters arrived.

"We haven't been introduced. I am Zenovia Kvart. My friend is Shido Irina. We have come to inform you that you must not interfere in the affairs of the church, otherwise we have the authority to use force. And you, demon, don't get in the way either.

"...

"…

"Seriously? You just said that to two of the not-so-low-ranking demons? And their bodyguard? You either have balls of steel or unlimited power. But it seems to me that all you have is pride, especially you, blue-haired one.

"What are you... — Zenovia was about to start a fight.

"Calm down, Zinovya-chan," Ira intervened, "There's no need to start a fight over nothing, is there, not-quite-demon-kun? May God protect you!" Everyone grimaced at this remark, except for me and the nuns, who were surprised by my lack of reaction.

"Rias, why did you call me?" I changed the subject.

"You're kind of our protector, so I'm letting you know that there's a third party in town, so you don't accidentally hurt them. Smart girl, quick on the uptake.

"We give you permission to operate. But you need to keep a low profile. Remember, you are guests. And if you don't want to escalate the conflict, you should follow the rules." Sitri glared at the nuns.

"We understand. — Zinovia nodded and hurried to the exit, accompanied by Irina's cheerful farewell.

"Wait," Kiba finally snapped, "That sword, from where... " Alas, lad, your problems will get in my way.

A small magical manipulation and the blond boy falls face down on the floor.

"Go, go. There's a clinic here, don't pay any attention," I waved my hand in a "shoo" gesture to the exorcists, and they nodded and finally left.

"Virgil!" Gremory switched to shrew mode, "What did you do to my figure?

"I put you to sleep and erased the last fifteen minutes of your memory.

"Why?!

"Come on... Rias, sweetheart, don't be stupid, for God's sake." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know if you noticed, but those girls weren't so simple. They had Excaliburs, which your regular bisen are allergic to."

The red-haired girl's face began to show understanding, as did the faces of everyone present.

"So I erased his memory of that so he wouldn't go and take his revenge, spitting on his duty. And don't make that face, you know better than I do that's what would have happened.

"You're right," sighed Rias and sat back down in her chair. "Thank you.

"Then I'll go and keep an eye on those empty-headed fools. It looks like there's a mole in the church who sent teenagers in search of Excaliburs, which are so necessary to the enemy (!). Someone wants to help the 'villains' collect the complete set.

"But they didn't look weak," said Tsubaki.

"Against those who are behind everything, they are nothing. Three well-coordinated winged beings could take the swords from them. They are humans, after all. — I shrugged. — Not even descendants of heroes.

"Should we intervene?" Sona asked.

"No, but you'll know when it's time to help," I grunted in response.

"Will it be that bad?"

"Something like that. Tell your brothers and sisters. They need to know. I'm going now.

***

It was interesting to watch the nuns. Especially after it turned out that they had spent all the money they had been given on some nonsense. The girls were already about to go begging when their prayers were answered. "Saint Virgil" sent his faithful servants... God's banknotes right into their faces. Ah, that strong sudden wind!

After a quick snack, the girls set about their investigation with renewed vigour. Full of determination, they trudged off to where they had wanted to go in the canon, but didn't make it. They were greeted on the warm evening by the charming and imposing Fried, whom I never spotted in the church while extracting Asia's mechanism.

The battle was epic, but uneven. Fried cut down the nuns like kittens and took their swords, passing them to Galileo. Zelzan was already about to abuse the girls, but my "heroic" appearance confused him, so he got tangled up in his own trousers and ran away, never reaching his goal.

"Hey, hey, hey! What the hell are you doing?" the guy with the belt started to get angry. "Get out of the way! I actually wanted to get some work done!"

"I understand, I wouldn't mind joining them myself. But they still have to finish their work. So shoo, shoo, while I'm still in a good mood." And he pressed down with his aura.

"Got it, I'm not stupid," the former churchgoer nodded like a bobblehead and disappeared in a flash of light and sound.

"Ugh," sighed Irina, "What's going on? Huh?! Where's Excalibur? Zenovia!" — a different behaviour pattern is immediately apparent; the girl knows how to prioritise.

"Calm down," I approached her and began to treat her. "You were attacked, I scared off the bastards, but they managed to steal something from you. I didn't chase after them because you need help." I nodded towards the blood flowing from her side.

"Hah, you're not a bad healer, non-demon," the girl snorts and, standing up, begins to stretch her muscles again.After healing Zenovia and pumping her full of magic, I give her a kick to wake her up.

"Ah!" she exclaimed and jumped to the side, trying to pull out her sword, but it was nowhere to be found. "Who are you? Where's my weapon? Irina?"

"Yes, my friend. We were defeated and knocked out. They took our swords," said the honey-haired woman, shaking herself off. "You're not here for no reason, are you?" they asked me.

"Yes, I'll help you find those responsible for the theft," I said, lighting a cigarette. "The sooner you get out of town, the safer you'll be here."

"What a hospitable host you are," Zinovia remarked evenly, though her voice betrayed a hint of irony.

"I'm not the host," I shook my head. "Let's cut the chit-chat and go find your pickpockets." I grimaced and nodded towards the city.

"They're not trinkets, you blasphemer," Irina muttered, stomping off in the indicated direction.

"Hm," the blue-haired woman remarked informatively, following her friend.

It's going to be a long night. I need to warn my family to barricade themselves in the house and activate all the protective seals.

A circle of communication connects me, my sister, my mother, and Reynal.

"My dear ones, would you be so kind...

***

So, the minimum plan has been carried out. The family has barricaded themselves in the house, although at first they wanted to come and help beat up our enemies. It took a long time to dissuade them, but the killer argument, "You'll just get in the way because you're weak," hurt, but it hit the mark. I don't need any casualties among my loved ones. Better they sulk at me than get into trouble. True, I had to promise to take them with me to the meeting of the factions. I don't know why they want to go, but I didn't want to refuse.

The search continued for several hours. Although it should be noted that I led them around empty rooms in order to stall for time and give Galileo a chance to recreate Excalibur. I don't know what the fallen offered Arthur, but they got the seventh shard that had been kept in his family. Although it's possible they beat the guy up and took it by force...

Well, screw that four-eyed blond, they're forging a legendary weapon here, and I'm thinking about bisenene, that's not right.

A surge of power and a bright light from the academy signalled the beginning of Valper Galileo's ritual. That meant it was time to get ready for the celebration.

"Nuns, I think we found them. I'll take us there now." The girls nodded intently in response. "And one more thing, you don't have any weapons, so don't get in their way. I don't want to have to pick you up in pieces later. I can't perform miracles."

"Understood," replied Ira. Smart girl, but Zenovia was suddenly overcome with irritation.

"Shido, watch your friend, or I'll teach her to listen to orders myself. We're on the same side right now, and since I'm stronger, you'll listen to me." Both girls glared menacingly, but only Ira nodded. "Stubborn fool."

***

Meanwhile, at the academy.

"We've erected a barrier around the area. It should be strong enough to minimise the damage caused by the battle," said Sona, standing next to Rias. "We'll hold it, you go in and try to sort things out. Have you contacted your brother?

"If he shows up here, it will be an open confrontation that could lead to war. We're alone here," Gremory bit her nail in dissatisfaction. "Where is that Borgia?

"Time is running out, and it looks like something is happening under the barrier. According to the information received from the familiar, they are preparing a ritual. Whatever it is, we must prevent it," Queen Citra reported.

"Rias, come in." Sona opened a breach in the barrier, letting her friend's team through. "And... good luck."

"Thank you," the red-haired girl nodded, and the opening closed behind her.

The path was short, and soon Rias's entourage emerged into a clearing next to the school building, which was covered in drawings of an unknown ritual.

"What's going on here?" Kiba asked, seeing the glow of the Runes.

"They're trying to recreate the original Excalibur." The speaker's voice was pleasant to the ear, but when they looked up, the observers saw a fallen angel with pointed ears and sharp teeth.

"Cocabiel," Gremory breathed, feeling the power of the creature before her. "You have disrupted the fragile world by attacking this city. Your actions will not go unpunished."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! You little brat, that's exactly what I'm counting on. Stir up this swamp! The angels have become completely stupid, letting valuable recruits fall into the enemy's camp! A new war will reduce our numbers, but it will allow us to move forward with our plans to replenish our forces with humans. Just as you demons do. And we angels will once again take our place in heaven, protecting it and destroying you, the spawn of darkness!

"This is madness! This is a war of annihilation, there will be no winners!

"Madness? The desire to make angels great again! Is that madness? You have not been through war, you have not seen the rot in your own people, you have not watched them fall lower and lower, giving themselves over to vice and your," he pointed at the demons, "sweet words. His voice grew louder. "I will start a new war to cleanse our ranks of the wicked and rise again into the bosom of light, into our cradle! And your death will be another step in the fulfilment of my plans. Galileo, begin the ritual.

"Yes, sir." The scientist bowed and took a crystal from his pocket containing the souls of the children who had not survived the experiment.

"What is that?" Kiba gasped.

"O-o-o, this is the quintessence of my work. The philosopher's stone of my research. This stone contains the souls of those who could have unlocked their potential as wielders of the holy sword. It's a pity, of course, that their potential is so small, but their combined power is enough to give anyone the ability to wield the holy weapon.

"You sealed the souls of innocent children?" Rias blurted out in shock. "Monster, beast."

"Strange to hear that from a demon," remarked the clergyman. "You're too late, children," the man threw a stone onto the ritual circle, activating the ritual. "The sword will be assembled, my work will be complete!"

Light blinded everyone on the school grounds, even those holding the barrier.

"Fried, please take the sword," Galileo asked his subordinate.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Oh yes, now I can slash demons with great zeal!" the exorcist exclaimed madly, waving the artefact.

"And for this... my friends, my family were killed? They went through inhuman experiments?" Yuto growled. "You... I'll kill you! Sword smith!"

The light around the swordsman grew more intense, the artefact inside the vessel resonating with his feelings, mutating, granting him new strength and abilities.

"I will take all the holiness you worshipped, desecrate it and destroy you," Kiba roared. "Cursed holy sword!

"Just as I expected. Using the mechanism like that... Ha! I was right. God is dead! Without him, the entire system has become extremely unstable, causing errors like this," he pointed at Yuto, "What irony, ah-ha-ha-ha!" The former priest laughed maniacally.

"Do you really think a being of that level can be killed so easily?" An ironic chuckle came from somewhere to the side.

"And who are you?" Galileo asked in surprise.

"Ah, Vergilius, my nephew. The throne on which Kokabiel sat lowered. I was wondering when you would show up.

"Hello, Koki-chan," the young man was carefree. "You finally decided."

"Yes, I'm sorry, but it has to be done." The fallen angel shook his head. "Even if you stand in my way, I will finish what I started."

"Stop, uncle?! You're the son of one of Grigori's generals?!" Rias exclaimed in surprise as the church ladies sighed.

***

"Something like that," he made an indefinite gesture with his hand. "And here's something else," he turned to Fried. "Friend, could you give this piece of junk back to its owner?" He pointed at Excalibur, causing Irina to snort indignantly.

"What? You're the owner? Are you kidding?" Zelzan looked at Kokabiel in confusion. "Is he serious?"

"You can't be sure of anything with him," the angel general shrugged. "I wonder why you chose that name for yourself?"

"Here's why," I summon the mechanism, accelerating, and snatch the sword from Fried's hands, kicking him into the wall. "My beauty." The artefact begins to glow, generating light energy and suppressing the demons within its radius of effect.

"What? It can't be! The shards have never reacted like this to anyone before!" Zenovia exclaimed, leaning on Irina.

"Ah-ha-ha, I've heard about your experiments," the fallen one smiled crookedly, sitting on the three, "But to do something like this. How did you achieve such a result? After all, the clergy had to put many children to the knife just to get close to your ideal.

My silence made all the teenagers tense up. What's that flash? Oh, Fried has run away.

"After my experiments, not a single child was harmed," I shrugged, watching as the tension among the demons and clergy eased slightly. "You won't mind if I take Galileo's soul, will you?"

"Go ahead, he did his job," Kokabiel waved his hand. "My angels are already approaching."

In an instant, my spear pierced the priest's chest, consuming his soul.

"Red, gut his memory, you know what to look for," I say to the guest.

"Now," the lizard set to work with great enthusiasm.

"Now that we've solved that problem," I kicked the clergyman's body. "Let's deal with you, uncle." A smirk appeared on Luz's face, causing the fallen man to raise an eyebrow and grin crookedly.

"My people will arrive... now!" — he spread his arms wide, waiting for the result.

"...

"...

And silence, the only thing missing was a tumbleweed. And here it comes, rolling along. I watch it go, ignoring the fallen man's shock.

A small seal appeared in front of my hands, and a small piece of paper fell out of it.

"We've got everyone, Verge. Finish off Kokabiel. Baraki is on our side. Az." Damn, that's concise.

"Sorry, uncle, but your guys have already been taken care of," I say, burning the piece of paper to the sound of the general's teeth grinding. "But they gave me the opportunity to deal with you. Just know that I don't take prisoners."

"Me too," growled the fallen, summoning spears of light.

I close the barrier reinforced with Ddraig's demon mechanism and the two churchwomen, teleporting them to Sonya.

"Now nothing will stop us." The armour in which I had wrought carnage in the church appears on me. Excalibur takes its place in my right hand, and my own mechanism in my left. The sky is clouded over, and the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning deafen my ears."With these special effects, you look like a northern god," the fallen one sneers. "Well, never mind, I killed him, and I'll kill you." He closes the distance, swinging his sword, which is filled with light energy.

A blow, then another. A dodge. Our battle was like a dance. Lightning blinded my opponent, preventing him from counterattacking. My armour was already crumbling around my shoulder and right side. Cracks in my helmet soon split it open, revealing my face, contorted into a satisfied grin. The enemy didn't look any better, with numerous bruises and abrasions decorating his body. Kokabiel's experience allowed him to fight on equal terms with an enemy wielding two weapons at once, which allowed us to prolong this enjoyable duel for a while longer.

If anyone had seen our faces at that moment, they would have been stunned by the range of emotions reflected in them. Our smiles were mirror images of each other. Except...

"You can afford five more boosts, which will allow you to destroy him quickly and irrevocably," said the red voice, which finished tearing Galileo's soul apart.

"I know your endurance isn't endless, so we should end this dance now. While we're still happy with our partners," I gathered my strength, and my speed increased exponentially, preventing the fallen from damaging me and successfully blocking my attacks.

A sweeping blow to the general's sword sent his weapon flying into a multitude of fragments that evaporated in mid-air, leaving no trace. Another swing of Excalibur and Kokabiel's arm was knocked aside, leaving him exposed. My artefact pierced his chest, splitting his heart in two.

"Kha, kha." Blood gushed from his mouth as the wide blade damaged his lungs. "But I just wanted to restore the greatness of the angels so that false gods would not use HIS best creation, so that demons would finally stop defiling HIS creations.

The fallen angel's body went limp, and his soul departed into the system. His eyes remained open, gazing at the stars above him with the same indifference.

"I will restore the system, uncle. I will bring you and your brothers back. You will still be able to fight for heaven." I closed the fallen angel's eyes, watching as his body turned into particles of light, carried away by gusts of wind.

The biblical system needs to be repaired anyway, and the resurrection of the archangels and seraphim will help restrain the beast of the apocalypse.

The barrier over the academy falls, revealing to the astonished demons the sight of me watching the general's body disintegrate. In my hands is a sacred sword pulsing with a soft light. The scattered energy of the lightning and storm I used in battle rises higher into the atmosphere after the barrier is removed, causing clouds and rain to form, the first drops of which begin to fall on the battle-scarred ground.

"I think I'll go. — I can't even believe that's my voice.

"Verg..." Rias' quiet appeal was ignored.

My wings, which had changed colour to white and taken on an effect of eternal decay after merging with Lucifer, spread out, revealing themselves to the world.

Each flap carried me further away from this place, closer to home, where I was already expected. After all, no matter how much of an asshole I or Lucifer were, we valued and loved our families. Let our love be expressed in an unusual way.

"Ha, that was harder than I expected...

***

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