The worst part about being genre-savvy is recognizing when you're walking straight into a cliché.
Kalawarner stood there with her paper, violet eyes wide with innocent confusion, playing the "lost tourist" role like she'd rehearsed it to mastery. Every bit of her presentation screamed "damsel in minor distress, please assist".
Either this was an incredible coincidence, or I was being actively hunted by beings with centuries of manipulation experience and light-based murder weapons.
Definitely not a coincidence.
"You've been lost for an hour?" I said "That's rough. This area can be confusing if you're not familiar with it"
Kalawarner's smile brightened like I'd just offered her water in a desert.
"Yes! Everything looks the same to me. All these residential streets just blend together" She gestured vaguely at the surrounding neighborhood "I thought I was going in circles for a while, and it turned out to be true"
She absolutely was not lost for sure and I wasn't sure if this was a test or an assassination setup disguised as casual conversation.
The smart play would be telling her to fuck off in a most polite way.
But avoiding her would only lead to more persistence from her. Normaly, most guy won't flee from attractive women asking for directions. But from this one, they should.
I have to act like someone who had no idea what Fallen Angels were.
"Let me see the address" I stepped closer, holding my hand out for the paper.
Kalawarner handed it over without hesitation. Her fingers brushed mine during the transfer, lingering just slightly longer than necessary. The touch felt warm, almost feverish against my skin. Hard to get a reaction when you're lustbaited by someone like Akeno.
I glanced at the paper. The address written there was for a hotel near Kuoh's commercial district. Mid-range establishment, where someone visiting town for a few days might actually stay.
"This isn't too far" I said, genuinely surprised they'd bothered with a real address "Maybe fifteen-minute walk from here. You were heading in completely the wrong direction though"
"Oh no" Her disappointment sounded practiced "I thought I was getting close"
I pointed back the way she'd come, then traced a mental route through the streets "You'll want to head back to the main road, then turn left at the convenience store. Follow that straight for about ten blocks. The hotel's on the right side"
Kalawarner frowned slightly, violet eyes studying the direction I'd indicated "That sounds... complicated. I'm terrible with directions even when they're explained clearly" She looked back at me with hope dawning across features "I know this is asking a lot, but would you mind showing me? Just to the main road at least? I promise I won't take up too much of your time"
Not giving up huh?
If I walked directly into whatever trap she'd prepared. Probably with Mittelt and Raynare waiting somewhere along the route. Three Fallen Angels against me would be a 60/40 matchup and I don't want to risk it if I can avoid the dangers it brought.
So, just play along and finally make an exit.
"Sure, I can show you" I said, forcing a smile that I hoped looked eager instead of skeptical.
Her smile could have lit up small cities "Thank you so much! You're a lifesaver" She fell into step beside me as I started walking "I'm Kala, by the way. What's your name?"
"Motohama"
"Nice to meet you, Motohama-kun" She said with a bright smile.
We turned onto a side street with fewer pedestrians. Residential area transitioning toward commercial zone leading to fewer witnesses with each block we walked.
My right hand stayed loose at my side, ready to activate DISC Creation if violence started.
Kalawarner continued chatting. Questions about school, about local recommendations for food and entertainment. Her voice maintained that perfect balance of interest and curiosity.
I gave minimal responses with brief explanations that revealed nothing substantive. She didn't seem to notice. Or pretended not to notice. Hard to tell which.
We reached the main road intersection. Streetlights had started flickering on as evening deepened toward night. The convenience store I'd mentioned sat exactly where I'd indicated, bright fluorescent lighting visible through wide windows.
"See? Not too complicated" I pointed down the street toward the commercial district "Just follow this straight. Hotel's maybe eight blocks down. You'll see the sign long before you reach it"
Kalawarner looked down the indicated direction, then back at me. Something shifted in her expression "Would you mind walking me all the way there? I know I'm being terribly forward, but I really am awful with directions. And it's getting dark..."
She let the sentence trail off. Implication hanging in air like bait on a hook. A woman alone, unfamiliar city, approaching nighttime.
As if I would fall for it.
My phone?
Oh no, I'd deliberately left at home this morning in my rush to avoid calls from Issei.
Damn it.
"Actually...I just remembered I'm supposed to meet someone. The hotel really is just a few minutes away from here. Just keep going straight, watch for the sign. You'll be fine"
Kalawarner's expression flickered again "Oh, of course. I understand completely" Her tone suggested she understood far more than she was saying "Thank you so much for your help, Motohama-kun. You've been very kind"
"No problem. Good luck finding the place" I turned to leave, fighting every instinct that screamed run.
Walking away felt like exposing my back to loaded gun. Each step expected light spear through the spine. But nothing came. Just Kalawarner's presence behind me, watchful and waiting. Just to be safe I covered my back in Armament Haki to get a slight sense of incoming danger.
I changed direction. Took random turns through residential streets, doubling back, creating a confused trail. Standard anti-surveillance tactics I'd learned from too many spy novels and not enough practical experience.
Eventually I found a small park, which was not often visited by people. I sat on a bench that faced open space in multiple directions, making ambush approaches visible.
My mind raced through possibilities. Why had Kalawarner approached me? What was her actual objective?
If they knew I'd killed Dohnaseek, she would have attacked immediately. Three-on-one odds with Mittelt and Raynare in support with overwhelming force before I could react.
Unless they wanted information first. Wanted to understand how a human teenager had managed to kill their colleague. Perhaps wanted to know if I was working alone or represented a larger organization.
Or maybe they didn't know. Maybe Dohnaseek's disappearance hadn't been connected to me yet. Maybe this was unrelated. Pure coincidence that Kalawarner had asked directions from the one person in Kuoh who'd murdered her teammate.
Yeah, the second one sounds more believable. Hah, as if.
The Italian language knowledge had faded hours ago, linguistic framework dissolving as the temporary command expired. But the principle remained. DISC Creation could give me abilities, knowledge, skills that shouldn't exist in my human frame.
What I needed was a combat experience. Real fighting knowledge. Not theoretical understanding from watching anime, but practical muscle memory from someone who'd actually survived supernatural warfare.
Could I create that? Could DISC Creation manufacture combat expertise from nothing?
The gacha system had given me Stand powers from JoJo, abilities from completely different fictional universe. Who's to say those same powers couldn't be repurposed? Adapted? Combined into something new?
I focused on the concept. Combat experience. Battlefield awareness. The kind of skills that kept soldiers alive when everything went sideways. Not any specific style, but general competence. The fundamentals to strengthen my base of overall combat skills.
A DISC materialized between my fingers. White surface gleamed in park lighting. Text formed across it, as I willed the command for it.
[Basic Combat Experience ]
I hesitated. The last DISC had worked perfectly. Given me fluent Italian for several hours before dissolving. But that was language. Pure information. This was muscle memory. Physical skills that required body and mind working together.
Testing became necessary. But not here. Not in public park where random witnesses might notice teenager moving through combat forms with sudden inexplicable competence.
The training grounds. The isolated field I'd been heading toward before Kalawarner interrupted.
I stood from the bench. Checked surrounding area one final time for blue-haired Fallen Angels or other threats. Nothing moved except leaves in evening breeze.
The walk took another twenty minutes. Full darkness had settled over Kuoh by the time I reached the field. Chain-link fence marked the perimeter. Old baseball diamond sat abandoned in the center, dirt and grass reclaiming what maintenance had given up on years ago.
Perfect isolation. No witnesses. No interruptions.
I pressed the DISC against my skull.
Integration was immediate. Knowledge flooded neural pathways with overwhelming intensity. How to stand. How to move. How to read opponent body language for tells. The importance of footwork, of distance management, for incoming attacks. A thousand small details that separated trained fighters from rookies.
My body shifted automatically. Stance widened, weight distributing more evenly. Hands came up in a loose guard position that protected vital areas without sacrificing mobility.
It felt natural. Like I'd been standing this way for years.
I threw a punch. The movement came smooth, efficient. Hip rotation generating power. Fist traveling straight path instead of looping wide. Impact point aligned with wrist and elbow to prevent joint damage.
Holy shit, it actually worked.
Another punch. A kick. Combination strikes flowing together with ease. Not master-level execution, but competent. The kind of basic fighting ability that made the difference between dying in the first exchange versus surviving long enough to escape.
I worked through various scenarios. Defense against straight attacks. Counters to grabs. How to create distance when overwhelmed. The combat knowledge provided answers instinctively, body responding before conscious thought completed.
This changed everything. If DISC Creation could grant temporary skills, I wasn't limited to just gacha ticket rewards. I could become whatever the situation required. Linguist, fighter, medic, strategist. Limited only by imagination and how long temporary commands lasted.
Which brought up the critical question: how long exactly did they last?
The Italian language DISC had faded after I reached at school. Maybe three or five minutes. This combat experience felt stable so far, no sign of degradation. But would it last the same duration and it's gone.
I made another Command Disc with same command but with a command for one hour to use it. And result, still three to five minutes. Sigh, still it's better than just accessing it for a few seconds only. I could work with it.
The training session continued. I kept practicing until movements became second nature, until muscle memory and DISC-granted knowledge merged into seamless execution.
Eventually exhaustion set in. Physical tiredness from exercise combined with mental strain from maintaining focus. I stopped, breathing heavy, sweat cooling against skin in night air and immediately Cloranthy Ring took the hold of it.
Having long lasting stamina sure leads to long lasting joy.
I sat down on the pitcher's mound. Grass was damp beneath me, soaking through pants. Uncomfortable but grounding. Physical sensation keeping me anchored to reality while my thoughts churned.
Tomorrow would bring new complications. Kalawarner had found me once. She'd find me again. Raynare was still operating from the church. Asia remained entangled in their schemes. Issei would probably trigger canon events eventually, assuming I hadn't already derailed everything completely.
I was one human teenager with a gacha system, trying to survive in a world designed to step over weaklings.
The smart play would be running. Leave Kuoh entirely and find somewhere remote to live a quiet life far from supernatural conflicts.
But I'd already killed a Fallen Angel and has already decided to save Asia from that horrifying ritual.
No running now. Only forward. Into whatever hell was waiting for me next.
---
( 3rd PoV )
[ The Abandoned Church ]
The church loomed on the edge of Kuoh like a bad joke waiting for its punchline. Stone walls that used to be white now wore decades of neglect like a dirty coat. Stained glass windows caught moonlight and threw it back in fractured colors that probably looked mystical to idiots. Boarded-up entrance with overgrown graveyard. The whole "abandoned holy place" aesthetic cranked to eleven.
Perfect hideout for Fallen Angels planning crimes against humanity. Because why wouldn't supernatural terrorists set up shop in the most obvious evil lair of a horror movie?
Inside, Candles flickered along the walls because apparently electricity was too mainstream for rogue operatives. The main chamber stretched up toward a ceiling lost in shadows, wooden pews pushed aside to create open floor space. Religious iconography still decorated the walls, crosses and saints watching with empty eyes while evil literally happened beneath them.
The irony probably wasn't lost on the Fallen Angels. Then again, beings who'd been kicked out of Heaven for various offenses might find the whole thing hilarious.
Raynare sat on one of the remaining intact pews like it was a throne. Her true form on full display now with black wings folded against her back, violet eyes sharp with intelligence and cruelty in equal measure. Long black hair fell past her shoulders, dark enough to drink light. The revealing outfit she favored made tactical sense for someone whose primary weapons were magical and who needed freedom of movement. Also happened to be calculated psychological warfare, but that was probably just bonus points.
She held the expression of someone who believed everything was going according to plan.
Kalawarner stood across the chamber, leaning against one of the stone pillars with arms crossed beneath her chest. The blue-haired Fallen Angel's posture screamed casual arrogance mixed with boredom. Her outfit matched Raynare's aesthetic, lots of exposed skin, minimal actual coverage, maximum intimidation factor. The kind of clothing that said "I'm dangerous and I know it" in seventeen different languages.
Above them, Mittelt dangled her legs from the second-floor railing, looking like gothic lolita nightmare fuel come to life. Blonde twin-tails framed a face that could pass for innocent if you ignored the cruel amusement dancing in blue eyes. The frilly black dress with white accents would've been adorable on anyone who wasn't a supernatural predator.
Three Fallen Angels in an abandoned church. A psychotic exorcist somewhere in the building. One kidnapped nun with a Sacred Gear they planned to steal.
Yeah, this operation was definitely going to end well for everyone involved.
"So?" Raynare's voice cut through the quiet, sharp and expectant. "How did it go? Did that human discover your true identity?"
Kalawarner snorted. The sound carried enough disdain to fill a swimming pool. "As if a weakling like him could discover anything." She shifted against the pillar, one hand coming up to examine her nails with exaggerated disinterest. "The only reason I bothered with that stupid drama was because you promised me his Sacred Gear afterward. So don't forget that, Raynare"
The last part came out harder. Less casual observation, more statement of terms. The kind of tone that said promises better be kept or there'd be consequences.
Raynare's lips curved into something approximating a smirk. The expression held zero warmth and maximum predatory satisfaction "Of course. I always keep my—"
"But it was me who discovered him using his Sacred Gear!" Mittelt's voice exploded from above, indignation clear in every syllable. She leaned forward over the railing, twin-tails swinging with the motion. "Just because I lost in rock-paper-scissors with Kala-chan doesn't mean I shouldn't get it! That's not fair!"
The whine in those last words could've shattered glass. Classic case of someone who felt entitled to reward without actually doing the work. Then again, discovering a Sacred Gear user probably did feel like accomplishment worth recognizing. Especially when it got stolen by random chance via children's hand game.
Kalawarner's eyes cut upward, expression shifting from bored to dangerous in half a second. "His Sacred Gear belongs to me." Each word landed with finality. The kind of statement that invited argument at your own risk. "I did the legwork. I played the role. I earned it."
The tension in the church ratcheted up several notches. You could practically see the invisible lines being drawn. Mittelt's claim versus Kalawarner's work versus Raynare's original promise. Classic distribution of spoils argument that ended badly more often than not.
Raynare's smirk widened into something closer to genuine amusement. "If you want it that badly, Kalawarner, then so be it." She waved one hand dismissively, like the whole discussion bored her. "I'm happy with getting Twilight Healing from Asia. That was always the primary objective anyway."
Because of course it was. Sacred Gear that could heal any wound if used correctly. Twilight Healing represented the kind of power that made Fallen Angels salivate. Someone like Raynare could do serious damage with that kind of support ability in her arsenal.
The fact that obtaining it required murdering an innocent nun probably didn't factor into her moral calculations.
"That's not fair!" Mittelt's voice pitched higher, frustration bleeding through. She kicked her legs against the railing like a child throwing a tantrum. "I want a Sacred Gear too! Why do you both get them and I get nothing?!"
Kalawarner's response came flat and unsympathetic. "Then go out and find one yourself. There must be plenty of unknown Sacred Gear users in this town." She pushed off from the pillar, wings rustling with the movement. "This territory's been Devil-controlled for years, so be watchful of them"
Mittelt's expression suggested she'd bitten into something sour. The kind of look that said she knew the argument made sense but hated admitting it.
Raynare's voice dropped several degrees. The playful edge vanished, replaced by cold command "Just don't do anything stupid to get in trouble with those filthy Devils" Her violet eyes fixed on Mittelt with enough intensity to pin butterflies "I don't want my ritual going wrong because of your idiotic actions. Understand?"
Threat implicit but clear. Raynare had invested too much planning into stealing Twilight Healing. She'd positioned Asia to set up the extraction ritual. Brought together the necessary components and personnel. One wrong move from her subordinates could bring Devil attention down on them before completion.
And Devils interruption was the last thing she wanted.
"Fine" Mittelt muttered "No Devils. Got it!"
Raynare's attention shifted, violet eyes scanning the church interior with growing irritation "Where is that fucking psycho?" The words came out sharp enough to cut the silence "I told him not to take Asia anywhere without my permission!"
"I swear" Raynare continued, voice rising with each word "Once I get Twilight Healing, I will kill that bastard myself"
Kalawarner made a noncommittal sound. The kind of noise that could mean agreement or just acknowledgment. Hard to tell if she cared about Freed's eventual fate or just wanted the complaining to stop.
Mittelt perked up slightly "Can I do that?! Freed's so damn annoying!!"
"Get in line" Kalawarner muttered.
The three Fallen Angels settled into uncomfortable silence, waiting for their psychotic associate to return with their captive.
. . .
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