Looking at Qin Xiao, whose entire body was covered in blood and wounds, Rias Gremory couldn't help but feel confused.
Just what kind of opponent had he encountered to end up in such a terrible state?
She didn't fully understand Qin Xiao's true strength, but from what he had shown so far, his combat ability was already comparable to a High-Class Devil.
In fact, she suspected that even she might not be stronger than him—though she hated to admit it.
And the terrifying magical fluctuations earlier had shocked her deeply.
For something like that to happen in Kuoh Town, a place supposedly under her control—
It made Rias extremely displeased.
"I'm still too weak…"
Supported by Akeno Himejima, Qin Xiao spoke slowly.
That battle couldn't really be called a fight.
From the beginning, Azazel had merely been playing with him.
Even though Qin Xiao's strength had surprised him, Azazel was simply using the opportunity to test his experimental Sacred Gear.
A Demon-King-class powerhouse…
The gap in strength was an insurmountable abyss.
"Qin Xiao…"
Akeno wanted to comfort him.
But she didn't know what to say.
Should she say he was already strong?
Looking at his current state—
Severely injured and covered in blood—
Those words would feel meaningless.
Still, the battle wasn't without gain.
At the moment Azazel left, Qin Xiao had heard the system notification.
System Notification
+5% Template Inheritance
A full five percent.
It must have come from the results of that battle.
Azazel leaving meant Qin Xiao hadn't technically lost.
But winning?
That was impossible.
Most of Qin Xiao's injuries had actually been caused by himself.
He had pushed power far beyond his limits, damaging his body under the strain.
If not for the Perfect Form ability—
His body might have collapsed completely.
Now Qin Xiao's inheritance rate had reached 43.1%.
Although he had crossed the 40% mark, no new skill had appeared like before.
His strength had increased slightly, but not dramatically.
Qin Xiao guessed that the next major breakthrough would likely come at 50% inheritance.
And after that, the improvements might become even greater.
During this time, his injuries had partially recovered.
He could already stand without needing support.
Rias looked at him seriously.
"Qin Xiao."
"Who exactly did you encounter earlier?"
After all, Kuoh Town was her territory.
She needed to know what had happened.
"The Governor-General of the Fallen Angels."
"Azazel."
Rias froze.
"The Governor of the Fallen Angels?"
"Why would he appear in Kuoh Town?"
"And how did you end up fighting him?"
Qin Xiao shrugged.
"I don't know why he came."
"But he probably attacked because he saw me killing the fallen angels here."
Rias blinked.
"You killed the fallen angels here?"
"Yeah."
Rias sighed helplessly.
"You really are something else…"
She already knew that fallen angels had a presence in Kuoh Town.
Even though the area was her domain, other factions inevitably had influence there as well.
She didn't want fallen angels operating nearby.
But she had no choice.
Relations between devils and fallen angels were extremely tense.
And because of her identity, she couldn't act recklessly.
Her brother was a Demon King.
If she made a careless move, it could spark a war between the factions.
"Fallen angels…"
Akeno's expression suddenly changed.
Even though she had severed contact with her father, she knew something.
Azazel had visited Kuoh Town before.
They had never truly met face to face.
But she knew someone had been watching over her.
And that person never tried to hide it.
It was almost like he wanted her to know.
In Akeno's mind, a terrible thought formed.
Azazel must have come to Kuoh Town because of her.
Because she was here.
Because of that—
Azazel encountered Qin Xiao killing fallen angels.
And that led to the battle.
Thinking this way, Akeno felt an even deeper hatred toward the fallen-angel bloodline flowing through her veins.
She felt like a disaster.
Because of her birth—
Her mother had been killed by her own family.
And now—
Just when her relationship with Qin Xiao had begun to grow closer—
He ended up severely injured.
None of these things were logically connected.
But in Akeno's heart, they formed a chain of cause and effect.
"I'm sorry…"
Supporting Qin Xiao, Akeno lowered her head.
"Hm?"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I'm sorry… this is all my fault…"
"Akeno?"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry… this is all because of me…"
Qin Xiao was completely confused.
This wasn't part of the original story at all.
This battle had happened because of his own actions.
If anything, it was his own reckless behavior.
What did it have to do with Akeno?
"Calm down, Akeno."
"I'm sorry…"
Tears began streaming down her face.
Everyone present was confused.
Especially Rias.
Why had Akeno suddenly broken down like this?
"Akeno."
"What exactly happened?"
"Azazel must have come to Kuoh Town because of me…"
"I'm sorry…"
Qin Xiao and Rias immediately understood her misunderstanding.
Akeno was the daughter of Barakiel.
Even though they had no contact now, blood ties couldn't be erased.
And Barakiel was a high-ranking fallen angel.
It wouldn't be impossible for Azazel to visit Kuoh Town to check on her.
Qin Xiao quickly spoke.
"Akeno, calm down."
"This has nothing to do with you."
"Azazel came because I killed a fallen angel named Raynare earlier."
"She was his subordinate."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"He wasn't here because of you."
"He attacked because I killed his subordinates right in front of him."
The truth wasn't the most important thing right now.
What mattered was calming Akeno.
Despite her sadistic personality—
Deep down, she was extremely fragile.
Especially emotionally.
When her mother died, she had blamed herself as well.
After all, her mother had been killed by her own family for refusing to sacrifice Akeno—the child they considered an "abomination."
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