DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 12: Interference

Somewhere in Kuoh

Kiba walked through the streets, ignoring the pouring rain. He thought back to Issei's words earlier that night. I'm sorry, Issei... but it wouldn't be right for me to have friends. I don't deserve that. Not now.
An injured priest stumbled into the road from a side alley. "Please, help me!" he cried weakly before collapsing.
"A priest?"
"Yoo-hoo!" a third person called. Following the priest was a man in similar clothing, with shoulder-length silver hair and waving a large sword in the air. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Freed Sellzen cackled. "Did you miss me? Gotta say, I'm honored to see that the playboy of the Underworld paid little ol' me a visit!"
Kiba's fist clenched. "Freed. Have you been hiding in town this whole time?"
"Oh, isn't this a wonderful reunion?" Freed pretended to wipe a tear from his cheek. "It doth bring a tear to mine eye!"
"Unfortunately for you, I'm not in the best mood right now." Kiba summoned his sword.
Freed laughed hysterically. "That's perfect! I could really use some fun! These pussified priests are getting so boring!" He held up his sword, which began to glow with golden light.
"No..." Kiba hesitated. "That aura... it can't be!"
"But it can!" Freed's grin widened. "So as penance for your previous actions, how about we find out which is stronger: your cursed sword there, or my Excalibur?!"
Kiba got into position and prepared to fight. I will never forgive Excalibur for what it did to me.

BGM: Persona 5 - Keeper of Lust

He and Freed charged, the sound of their blades' clash echoing through the night.
"Oh, what an ugly expression!" Freed taunted. "We wouldn't want the devils' pretty boy to end up stuck like that, would we? But luckily for you, my Excalibur isn't picky. It's just hungry for devil blood!"
Kiba growled, "That's enough!" He struggled against Freed, pushing him back a couple of meters.
"Ooh, there's a tone of voice I never thought I'd hear from you! Good job, boy!" Freed laughed maniacally. "You're going off the deep end, just like little ol' me!"
"Holy Eraser!" Kiba yelled. His sword's blade released black tendrils that wrapped around Excalibur. The Holy Sword glowed once more, and the tendrils were vaporized.
"That was a cute attempt. But you win some, you lose some!" Freed giggled.
"It was a test. I wanted to see if that sword of yours was real. Thanks for giving me the license to destroy you and your sword!" Kiba launched forward, ferociously attacking Freed and nearly backing him into a corner.
Freed retaliated with a single slash, cutting Kiba's upper arm. He cried out in pain as his very essence began to deteriorate from the injury. "I guess someone forgot to tell you. This Holy Sword absolutely despises devils."
"Shut it! I'm not done yet, you bastard!" Kiba swept his leg under Freed's, causing him to fall to the ground.
"No fair, that's cheating!" Freed protested as he scrambled away.
"That's what devils do!" Kiba once again took the offensive, charging.
"That was a nice move, I'll give you that," Freed admitted. A green magic circle appeared next to his ear. "Shit! I hate to cut this short, pretty boy, but someone more important is calling. It's been fun. Toodles!"
Freed threw down an orb of light that illuminated the street, blinding Kiba. When he could see once more, Freed was gone.

The Next Morning, Before School (BGM: Persona 5 - Tension)

Sona and Tsubaki walked to Kuoh Academy, greeting their peers on the way when Tsubaki suddenly stopped her King in her tracks. Sona looked up to see two girls dressed in long white cloaks with hoods over their heads. The one on the right had something wrapped in cloth strapped to her back.
"A Holy Sword..." Sona noticed. "What could members of the Church be doing here?"

BGM: Persona 5 - Wicked Plan

"Karaoke?" Issei asked, looking at Matsuda. The three were standing in the hall outside their classroom.
"Hell yeah!"
"We should go to the one in front of the station," Motohama suggested. "They get new inserts every week. There are even competitions!"
"I do love a good insert." Kiryuu seemed to appear out of nowhere behind Motohama. "You guys are having a contest to see who gives the best insert?"
"We were talking about hitting up a karaoke place after school!" Matsuda corrected.
"Oh, that sounds so fun!" Kiryuu smiled. "What time are you guys going? I wanna go! What do you think, Asia?"
"You can't just invite yourself!" Issei protested.
"Oh, karaoke? I'd love to go!" Asia walked over to the group.
Matsuda and Motohama grinned lecherously. This time, it was Zach's turn to sneak up on the group.
"No dirty thoughts, you two." He grabbed Matsuda and Motohama's ears and pulled them hard, causing them to cry out in pain.