DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 5: Raynare's End

This chapter marks the end of Volume I: Brave New World.

The strike team consisting of Issei, Kiba, and Koneko arrived outside the church. "Ready to go?" Issei asked. His comrades nodded, a determined look in their eyes. They walked around to the side entrance Zach had mentioned. Sure enough, there was a hole in the wall, waiting to be used. Unluckily for Issei and his team, things were already going wrong. As they emerged, they found a certain stray exorcist sitting in a pew. Freed Sellzen stood, a mad grin on his face.
"I sit here praying all night, and look what I get! A bunch of little devils to kill!" he screeched.
Issei looked around. Where the hell is Zach?! He said he'd be here... he thought, his faith in the plan being shaken. He began to step forward. "Outta the way, you freakshow!" he yelled. Kiba held him back.
"We've got this," the Knight assured Issei. He drew his sword as Freed ignited his sword of light. The two blades clashed loudly, essentially ruining the element of surprise.
Koneko picked up a pew and threw it at Freed's head. The exorcist sliced it in half before jumping back and shooting at Kiba with another one of his guns.
After a few moments of combat, Kiba put his blade through Freed's heart, killing him. "We're done here," he calmly said as Freed collapsed. "Let's keep going."
The trio ran down into the church's basement, still on the lookout for Zach. Soon enough, they found themselves faced with dozens of stray priests with swords similar to Freed's. On the far side of the room was Raynare, standing next to a large St. Andrew's cross to which Asia was chained, seemingly lifeless. As the trio entered, she looked up. "I-issei?" she murmured, almost too quiet to hear.
"Asia! I'm coming!" Issei yelled back before running forward. He was quickly stopped by the priests.
Kiba and Koneko leaped into battle, slowly defeating the horde of enemies. "Get going!" the former yelled as he sliced down two priests.
"We'll handle these guys. Get to it, pervy," Koneko said as she tossed priests around like ragdolls.
Issei smiled at his friends before nodding and sprinting towards Asia.
Raynare stepped in front of him. "Just what do you think you're doing, sweetie?" she said, a smirk on her face.
"You monster! I may be the devil, but you're the evil one! Let Asia go!" demanded Issei.
Raynare assured, "Oh, I will. As soon as I get what I want." As she spoke, Asia screamed in pain.
Her entire body glowed emerald green as her Twilight Healing rings appeared on her fingers. The rings floated off, taking the green aura with them. Raynare held out her hands and they slid onto her middle fingers. Asia collapsed, only held up by the chains keeping her attached to the cross. "Wonderful," Raynare purred. "Do you like my new accessories, Issei?"
"You bitch!" Issei yelled, charging straight at Raynare. His Twice Critical appeared on his left hand as he used it to punch Raynare. He missed, but one of the spikes on the Sacred Gear sliced her skin open, leaving a small cut.
"A minor inconvenience," Raynare said, holding her hand over the wound. The ring glowed green again and as the aura made contact with the cut, it began to heal. Within a second, it was as if the injury had never been there at all. "You can't beat me now, Issei," she began. "Not with this."
Zach chose this moment to show up. The ceiling cracked, then part of it crumbled, crushing the remaining priests. Kiba grabbed Koneko and dashed to the safety of the stairwell. Zach jumped in through the new hole he'd made, ready to fight. He was in his combat gear: a dark grey waistcoat, a long black three-tailed tailcoat, slim black pants, and armored boots. His gloves were a striking royal blue. "He can't, but I definitely could," he said with a smirk.
Raynare sneered. "I had a feeling you would try something. But working with these idiots? Shameful." She summoned a spear of light and threw it at Zach, who knocked it away.
Zach stepped forward, a dagger in his hand. "Not as shameful as killing an innocent girl for magic jewelry," he said angrily. "That's inexcusable."
While Raynare was distracted, Issei charged her, aiming a punch at her face. His fist made direct contact, knocking Raynare down. "Yeah! Take that, bitch!" he yelled. 
Raynare shakily got to her feet. "Not bad," she admitted. "But you still can't win." Her ring glowed green as she held her hand up to her cheek, healing the injury. She flew out of the basement and up to the ground floor of the church. Zach quietly watched her go.
Issei sprinted to Asia with Koneko and Kiba right behind him. Kiba leaped up, slicing through the chains. Asia fell, Issei catching her. She looked up at him, barely any life left in her eyes. "Th-thank you," she murmured.
Issei's eyes were swimming in tears. "You're gonna be fine, I swear! Just hold on!" he promised, rushing her back to the upper level.
Upon their arrival, he set her down in a pew, letting her rest.
"Issei..." Asia began as she teared up, smiling nonetheless. "Thank you for- for being my friend. I know it was short, but I enjoyed the time we had."
Issei held back his tears. "No, you're not leaving me," he muttered. "You can't leave!" He looked up at Zach, who was sitting a short distance away. "You're super strong, right? Can't you do something?!" he begged.
Zach shook his head sadly. "Nobody cheats Death, Issei. Once someone's gone, they're gone. A high-class devil can revive the recently deceased, but... well, Death can and will make second trips if he needs," he explained.
Asia smiled at Issei one last time before the last bit of life she'd been holding on to faded away. Her hand, previously holding Issei's, fell limp at her side as her eyes closed. They didn't open again.
Issei yelled the girl's name, begging her to come back.