Kazuki Fuwa's fist slammed into Baraqiel's body…
The moment he heard the words "as Akeno's father," Kazuki's anger exploded.
He unleashed Tiger Cannon into the defenseless body, knocking Baraqiel to the ground. Even though it was a direct hit, it didn't seem to have done much damage—probably because, like Sirzechs and Kokabiel, his immense magical power naturally formed a defensive field.
'But that doesn't matter.'
"If you call yourself her father, why did you leave her back then!?"
"Nn!?"
Kazuki followed up with a low kick, throwing Baraqiel off balance, and his face twisted in pain.
"Back then, she might have rejected you… But Akeno was only eight years old, and she was in shock after having her mother killed! And you took the words of an eight-year-old girl seriously and left her… No, you ran away!!"
"Th-that's not it! I just…!"
"What's not it!? The fact is, you never showed up in front of her until today, did you!?"
Kazuki kicked up from above Baraqiel's guard as he tried to make excuses.
"Do you know what kind of life Akeno lived after you left? Hunted by the Himejima clan, she used the techniques Shuri-sama taught her, making a living by doing exorcism work! She lived like that until she met Rias, and what were you doing all that time!?"
"That was—! I was watching over her from the shadows… So I never abandoned her…"
"That's no different from being a stalker! Why didn't you show yourself in front of Akeno and just hug her!?"
Kazuki's roundhouse kick on Baraqiel's head sent him flying. Whether it was because Kazuki's words had shaken him mentally, his defensive field seemed to be weakening.
"Akeno wanted you all this time! But you got scared just because she rejected you once! Someone like you has no right to call himself her father!!"
"Gahah!!"
Gravity Kick broke through the defensive field and exploded, sending Baraqiel's body flying. Whether it finally did the trick, Baraqiel couldn't even stand up.
'Is this the end?'
"That was my fault…"
Azazel muttered quietly.
"Huh?"
"That day, it was I who called Baraqiel out. There was a job that I absolutely needed him for, I had no choice…"
"Azazel, you…"
Ignoring Akeno's voice, Azazel continued. He looked as if he were confessing.
"Because I asked him for a job for just one day, just one day, I tore your family apart, Akeno! You probably think, what right do I have to say this, but please, won't you talk with Baraqiel? He hasn't been able to move forward even a single step since that day ten years ago. I can't bear to see him like this any longer, as his friend! Please, Akeno!!"
She had never seen Azazel so desperate. 'What should I do?' Akeno thought.
Her mother was dead. No matter how much she blamed anyone, she wouldn't come back. Yes, it wasn't her father's—Baraqiel's fault. She knew that blaming him wouldn't change anything.
'But why? Why couldn't I be honest!?'
As she wrestled with her thoughts, Baraqiel, covered in wounds, stood up…
'This young man had said many things to me.'
'But he is right.' Baraqiel had lost Shuri, was rejected by Akeno, and had run away in fear.
What he should have done back then, no matter how much she rejected him, was to not let go of Akeno's hand, to hold her, and to grieve with her.
Akeno was a smart, kind girl. If they had stayed together, she would have understood eventually. He couldn't even do what was natural for a father. Even if she called him a failure, a father unfit to be called one, he had no excuse.
But,
"Even so, I will protect my daughter, Akeno! No matter how much she resents me, no matter how much she rejects me, I will protect her!!"
He renewed his vow. But the young man, Kazuki, denied him again.
"Sorry, but you're done. Akeno is my woman now. Protecting her is my role now. When I accepted her confession, I swore I would protect her from everything that would hurt her. So you—it's time to put down your burden."
'Hmph, this fellow... To call my vows mere baggage... What an insolent fellow. But not yet!'
"Hmph, if you say that much, then show me whether you can protect Akeno!!"
"Bring it on!!"
Summoning his last strength, Baraqiel flew around the young man at lightning speed. The young man didn't move, watching Baraqiel's movements. If he disrupted him with this speed, he wouldn't be able to react to this technique, which he was seeing for the first time.
'Here it comes!!'
"Tch!?"
Firing lightning bolts while moving at lightning speed. The bolts coming from all directions wouldn't be completely absorbed by his Black Hole. Then, Baraqiel went for the finishing blow, leaping high into the air and unleashing his signature technique, the lightning-wreathed heel drop known as [Thor's Hammer, the Thunder God's Iron Fist]
But,
"He can react to this too!?"
As if sensing Thor's Hammer, Guyver intercepted with a high kick.
A tremendous shockwave ripped through the area, sending his body spinning through the air. As he tried to right himself, Guyver grabbed his arm.
"OOOOOOOH!!"
It was all over in an instant.
Grabbing his arm, Guyver twisted it into a reverse lock and threw him with an over-the-shoulder throw. Just before his head hit the ground, Kazuki delivered a low kick, sweeping his head aside.
"Fuwa Enmei-ryu Lightning…"
In his fading consciousness, Baraqiel heard Kazuki Fuwa's voice. "Haha, to think you could defeat me with a technique bearing the name of [Lightning]... You're an incredibly arrogant fellow..."
----------
Comment, Review, Power Stones if you love the story.
More than 20 advanced chapters available at: ko-fi.com/supreme_king
More chapters at patreon: patreon.com/c/mike_kun