Chapter 28.
Kokabiel looked over at them with a smile, with the arrival of Rias Gremory, they weren't so tense anymore.
Rias Gremory brought with her a sense of peace, with her around the members of her peerage, even the boy who held Vritra's sacred gear felt more relaxed.
"What are you planning, Kokabiel?" Rias questioned.
The whole situation was strange, Kokabiel acted as if he was going to kill them all, but he never did even though he had many chances.
First, he could've killed Ryu but he instead knocked him out and left him somewhere in the forest, that's what she was told.
They couldn't go looking for him, the real problem was Kokabiel here.
Rias couldn't take any risks, if she sent someone to look for him then she would also be risking the lives of the ones next to her.
Secondly, he could've killed Issei just now, but he instead brought him back unconscious.
And there was no sign of any holy magic usage.
A Fallen Angel's light magic is very dangerous to devils, even a slight graze could paralyze them.
Not to mention Kokabiel's light magic, given his age, experience and status, it would be even more potent.
A single graze might actually kill them, if Asia didn't treat it in time.
"...Nothing at all Rias Gremory," Kokabiel spoke, "I just... want to fight, and I don't think I need a reason to start one."
Kokabiel then glanced at Yuto, and looked at the sword in his hands, "That's a pretty interesting toy you got there, a holy-demonic sword."
Yuto's grip tightened on it, "What about it?"
"Nothing really, under normal circumstances such a blasphemous blade wouldn't exist at all... but well... I guess Michael's still getting used to father's throne." Kokabiel said.
"What?" Xenovia asked, "What do you mean?"
"Oh? You guys didn't know? I thought you would..." Kokabiel spoke, "Hmmm...." He then hummed, "God is dead."
"W-What?"
Kokabiel's words, brought dread onto the field.
"You lie!" Irina, shouted, accusing him.
"No, I'm not... God, along with the four great devil kings," Kokabiel explained, "Ask about it in the church if you want to, but keep in mind that you'll probably be expelled if you do so."
Xenovia grit her teeth, "...As much as I hate to admit it, he's probably right."
"What on earth... are you talking about, Xenovia?! Have you lost your mind?!" Irina shouted again.
"If god was truly alive, he wouldn't have allowed people like Valper and Freed to walk freely like this." Xenovia spoke.
Kokabiel's gaze held a hint of approval, "Correct."
"With that out of the way," Kokabiel stretched, "It's time for me to play with you guys as well."
"Rias Gremory, you have such a great team of allies," Kokabiel said, "The Red Dragon Emperor, a Holy-demonic sword user, and..." His eyes glanced towards Akeno, "Baraqiel's daughter, as well."
"Don't mention that name again," Akeno glared up at him, "Or I swear, I'll rip you into two pieces, no matter what it takes."
Kokabiel raised an eyebrow, "I see," he spoke, "Your relationship with him is pretty bad huh?"
"Akeno Himejima, you should really ask your father's side of the story," Kokabiel spoke, giving a hint of advice.
"Enough talking," Kokabiel announced, "Rias Gremory, have that Asia Argento girl, heal everyone here." He smirked,
"...What is this? Are you giving us a chance to fight back?" Rias questioned.
"Precisely," Kokabiel answered, "You're all pretty exhausted already, can't have injuries weighing you down."
"Just... What is your goal here?" Xenovia questioned.
"I already accomplished my main goal," Kokabiel spoke mysteriously, "Right now, all my actions are... purely for entertainment purposes."
Just then, sound of footsteps came from the side.
"You sure did a number on me dad," Ryu's voice came, and he walked in.
Everyone could see the bruises and the damage done to his body.
"Oh wow, I didn't expect you to wake up so quickly," Kokabiel whistled, "I was just planning to play with your friends here."
"That isn't gonna happen, I'm the one who's gonna be fighting you," Ryu stretched, got into his stance.
"Ryu, leave it to us, you're hurt," Akeno walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
Ryu glanced back at her, "Doesn't matter, I'm gonna kick my dad's ass, you can sit back and relax."
"Ryu! Don't be stubborn!" Akeno yelled, "You helped us when we needed it, let us help you!"
Ryu sighed, "No Akeno, if you try to help me... I'll attack you first, then I'll continue fighting my dad. I've some questions for this old crow."
"You..." Akeno was taken aback by hid words, "...Fine, if I see that you're in danger, I'll intervene and slap some sense into you."
"...Okay, I agree to those terms." Ryu sighed, "
Kokabiel watched this patiently.
"Done with the lover's quarrel?" Kokabiel asked, "Because I'm getting bored over here."
"Sorry to keep you waiting dad," Ryu said, "Hope you're ready for round 2."
Kokabiel leaned forward, "Oh yeah, now you're speaking my language."
The two of them dashed towards each other immediately after the last exchange.
Ryu went low and punched from below, performing a beautiful uppercut.
Kokabiel leaned back at the last moment, evading the blow and then he twisted his body and kicked Ryu's side.
Ryu took the blow and locked his leg using his left arm then he used his right arm and brought it down towards Kokabiel's knee.
Kokabiel revealed his magic, he conjured up a spear and thrusted it towards Ryu's chest.
Ryu abandoned the attack, but he leaned in front an extreme shift in weight.
Ryu grabbed onto Kokabiel's clothes and punched him in the face.
"Nope, we aren't doing that this time," Kokabiel spoke then he struck Ryu's elbow,
*CRACK*
The bone broke.
The spectators, they all tensed up.
Akeno was ready to charge in to help, but she was stopped by... Xenovia, of all people.
She shook her head, telling her not to.
And against her better judgement... Akeno stopped.
Because deep down, she knew... that if she did charge right in and help Ryu... he might never forgive her for it.
"GRAHHHHHHH!" Ryu shouted in pain, and despite the broken arm, he still attacked.
He opened his mouth and chomped on Kokabiel's arm.
Blood flew from his arm.
"UGH!" Kokabiel grunted, "NO BITING DADDY!" Kokabiel shouted and kicked him in the stomach, pushing him away.
He then looked down at his arm, a chunk of flesh was missing from it.
Ryu spit the flesh from his mouth onto the ground, and gagged on the taste of iron.
One of his arms hung limply to the side.
He raised his arm and focused his light magic, on it.
"NGHHH!!" Kokabiel grunted in pain once more, he was trying to cauterize the wound to stop the blood.
And he managed to do it.
Kokabiel let out a sigh.
"Hey... Ryu," Kokabiel called out.
Ryu panted, "Yeah?"
"This might be a bad time, but how're your grades at school?" Kokabiel questioned.
Ryu raised an eyebrow, "...Decent, I'm struggling with math?"
"Math?" Kokabiel questioned, "Of all the things... you're struggling with... math?"
"Yeah."
Kokabiel's body trembled for a second, "YOU DAMN DELINQUENT!" He shouted and charged towards Ryu,
Ryu could barely react, before Kokabiel was upon him.
Kokabiel grabbed him with his uninjured arm and began kneeing him in the stomach.
"HOW!" He shouted *POW* "THE HELL!" *POW* "ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH MATH?!"
Ryu struggled to hold on.
"IT'S HARD!" Ryu shouted back, then he caught Kokabiel's knee and then he headbutted him away.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT SHIT!" Kokabiel shouted back, "I KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES! I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN ANYONE! AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU..." He charged forward again.
"HAVEN'T BEEN STUDYING!"
Ryu met Kokabiel's charge head on, he threw a hook to Kokabiel's face, which he caught with his palm.
"Get your head in the game Ryu," Kokabiel said, "You're struggling with math... and you're struggling with being a rebellious little shit who hits his own dad, pick a struggle, you can't do both!"
Then he swiped Ryu's legs from under, forcing him to fall on his back.
"Speed," Kokabiel said, "What you're missing is... Speed and Technique."
Ryu understood what his dad was saying, "Give me a moment... I can feel it, it's close..."
"I'm giving you 2 minutes, if you can't achieve it..." Kokabiel said, his eyes glancing towards Saji, "I'll kill that blonde boy, the one with Vritra's sacred gear."
"You wouldn't..."
"Oh yeah, I would," Kokabiel said a malicious grin crawling up his face, "No pressure of course, it's just that your friend's life is currently hanging on your shoulders!"
"...Crazy old fuck," Ryu muttered.
Ryu sprang up again, this time he instead of his fists he switched to his elbow.
Kokabiel blocked the rush attack, though he regretted that.
Because the damage had built up in his body, from the previous fight with Ryu, and the quick brawl with Issei.
Unlike Ryu, he didn't have a chance to rest at all.
Slowly but surely, Kokabiel was getting exhausted. His guard weakened for a brief second, and Ryu... took that chance and made the most of it.
*SLASH*
Ryu had done it, he had done the impossible.
Ryu broke through both Thresholds, Speed and Technique.
Ryu's Speed completely overwhelmed Kokabiel.
And the Technique... oh was it a beautiful sight.
Ryu's elbows became deadly blades, combining speed and technique he was now capable of slashing his opponent to pieces.
Kokabiel stood there dumbfounded, his shirt completely torn open while his torso was covered in numerous cuts from which crimson blood flowed freely.
He looked down, and swiped his hand over them.
Then he looked up at the sky with a satisfied smile, "My job... is done," Kokabiel muttered to himself, then he looked at Ryu.
Ryu stood, frozen in place. His body, had now completely transcended the human limits.
He was in a state of bliss.
Ryu breathed in, and breathed out.
He was... in a league of his own, he now stood equal to Kokabiel in terms of physical strength and such.
Kokabiel hadn't used his holy magic as much as he normally could have, because... he wanted to push Ryu to the limit, but he didn't want to kill him or seriously injure him.
That is precisely why, he limited his magic.
And now... it was time for the ultimate test.
"This is it Ryu," Kokabiel said with a smile, "Let's finish this in one last attack."
Ryu clenched his fist. "Gladly."
Ryu began moving, one leg in front the other behind. His fist drawn far back, as far as he could.
Kokabiel shifted forward, his wings releasing from his back.
He then covered them all with magic, they were coated in bright yellow aura.
The ground under Kokabiel's leg cracked, he flew forward directly at Ryu.
Ryu tensed every muscle in his body, starting with his toes, ending with his back and arm.
He was planning to use every last drop of strength his body held.
The two met head on.
Ryu Ogami and Kokabiel, father and son, Fallen Angel and a human, new generation, vs old.
Of these two, which one is stronger?!
Ryu and Kokabiel shouted, pushing each other back.
But ultimately... Ryu prevailed.
His punch tore apart Kokabiel's wings... and then pierced Kokabiel's stomach.
"Geh," Blood overflowed from Kokabiel's mouth, and hit Ryu directly in the face.
Ryu's eyes widened, the adrenaline wearing off immediately.
"DAD!" He shouted, realizing what he had just done.
Kokabiel started falling, Ryu caught him in his arms.
He fell down onto the ground holding his father's body.
"ASIA! QUICKLY!" Ryu turned around and shouted towards her, tears were beginning to form in his eyes.
His friends, all of them rushed towards him.
"There's... no need..." Kokabiel said, smiling despite his condition, "I'm... so proud of you... my beloved son," Kokabiel cupped Ryu's face in his hand.
Asia arrived, and began using her sacred gear to the fullest... however it was useless.
"It's no use!" Asia muttered in despair, her sacred gear wasn't working.
Kokabiel was using his leftover strength to disrupt his body's regenerative functions which Asia's sacred gear was boosting to heal the fallen angel.
"You're... the greatest, and shiniest... treasure, this old crow... has ever had..." Kokabiel, said rubbing his son's face.
He then looked up a the sky, and he saw it.
His own father's face, smiling down at him.
His eyes widened, before they closed once more.
"Father... forgive me..." Kokabiel took his last breath.
Kokabiel the Fallen Star, died by the hands of his own son.
"NOOOOOO!!!" Ryu let out a scream of pure pain and agony.
The boy's cry sounded throughout the field, exactly as if it were coming from the mouth of a ferocious dragon.
Author's note: I'm really proud of this chapter.