DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 14: Onset of War?

CW (Content Warning): DETAILED ANALYSES OF DEVIL BREASTS

Abandoned Church (BGM: Persona 5 - Restlessness)

The strike team against Kokabiel regrouped on the main floor of the church, with Zach and the present devils all disguised in priests' clothing.
"Never thought I'd see the day," Zach chuckled. "Devils putting on priests' clothes."
"Not without kicking and screaming about it," Irina added.
Kiba finished buttoning up his coat. "Nothing will stand in my way, not even this."
"We'll be most efficient in two groups. Let's split up," Xenovia decided. "Irina and I can take the west. The rest of you will go east. Oh, and I almost forgot. There's one more thing. We appreciate being given such great care, so in return, we'll give you this intel." She looked at Issei. "You should know that the White Dragon has awakened."
Issei gasped, remembering an earlier conversation with Ddraig. Zach glanced down at his arm.

The streets of Kuoh

The larger of the two groups walked down the street with hats pulled low over their faces, hiding their identities. Issei thought about what Xenovia had said and Ddraig's warning about the White Dragon.
You never know when the White One will choose to make an appearance, Ddraig had warned.
"You alright, Issei?" Koneko asked. She walked close to Zach, who was preoccupied with scanning the area for trouble.
"Yeah," he lied. "Just trying to figure out where to go next."
"Somewhere without a lot of people," Kiba suggested.
"You have any ideas?" Zach asked.
Kiba nodded. "I think so."

Kiba led the group to an abandoned warehouse where they'd recently beaten a stray devil.
Issei looked around. "Here? Isn't this where we defeated that stray devil?"
Saji was stunned. "You guys beat a stray here in town?"
"Yeah," Issei confirmed. "She was a huge spider monster."
"Wicked."
Koneko followed Kiba to the entrance. "Hold on, Kiba."
"Something's here," Zach realized. "Above us!"

BGM: Persona 5 - Keeper of Lust

As if on cue, Freed Sellzen leaped down from the roof of the building, laughing maniacally and once again wielding Excalibur. Kiba summoned his sword and blocked Freed's incoming attack, engaging him in combat.
Freed flipped away. "I forgot to thank you earlier!"
"Is that the stray priest?" Saji wondered.
"You bastard!" Issei shouted.
"Oh, hi!" Freed grinned. "If it isn't the little midget and friends!"
Koneko's glare sharpened.
"Oops, I meant little lady! My bad! Y'know, I was really looking forward to some good old priest hunting tonight, but instead, I found a bunch of devils in costume!" Freed brandished his sword, licking its edge.
"Watch out for that sword," Zach warned. "It's an Excalibur, like the ones Irina and Xenovia were carrying."
In unison, the group threw off their priest costumes, Issei summoning his Boosted Gear as well.
"Ooh, four of you, and with a fallen angel too! I'm shocked by my own popularity!" Freed mocked wiping a tear from his eye.
"Don't get too excited. I'm your only opponent tonight!" Kiba leaped up to where Freed was standing, swinging his sword. Freed dodged with ease.
"No matter how many brave little devils fling themselves at me, they're no match for this sword!" Freed moved so fast that he seemed to disappear, becoming visible once more in the air above Kiba, ready to strike from above. "Thanks for playing!" he screeched, bringing his sword down on Kiba's head. The latter blocked the attack. "Some have called this sword the Excalibur Rapidly, but I don't. I call it the Super Fast Sword!" Freed once again vanished. Kiba responded by increasing his own speed as well, allowing himself to apparently vanish and move as fast as Freed.
"He wasn't kidding," Issei muttered. "He's moving faster than Kiba!"
"Aww, are you feeling left out?" Freed taunted. "Don't worry, I'll have plenty of fun with you after I kill this kid!"
"We need some way to slow him down." Zach threw a fireball in Freed's way, stopping him for a brief second before he continued dashing around.
"Oh, is that it?" Saji grinned. "Let's go!" A Sacred Gear shaped like a small black creature formed on his left wrist. "Check this out!" A glowing blue cord of some kind flew out of the creature's mouth, wrapping around Freed's ankle and immobilizing him. "What do you think? It's called the Absorption Line, but you can call it my Sacred Gear."
"Whoa, that's awesome, dude!" Issei's eyes lit up.
"Hell yeah!" Saji pulled his arm back, absorbing Freed's power.
"Dammit! Dammit!" Freed tried to break the line with his sword. "This must be another one of those Dragon Gears!"
This revelation amazed Issei even more. "Yours is a dragon too?! That's-" He was interrupted by Koneko lifting him up. "Hey! What're you doing?!"
"Go transfer your power to Kiba." Koneko threw him in the air towards Kiba. As Issei fell, he touched Kiba on his shoulder. Transfer! Ddraig announced.
"Thanks, Issei." Kiba smiled. "This power is a gift. And I will use it gratefully. Sword... Birth!" He stabbed his blade into the ground, causing dozens of swords to burst out of the ground around him and Freed, who was still struggling to free himself from the Absorption Line. As the swords came closer, Freed began slicing them down with his own to keep himself alive.
A new voice laughed. "Sword Birth, huh?"
"Show yourself!" Zach yelled.
A short, elderly priest stepped out of the warehouse. "A Sacred Gear that can display incredible power based on the user's ability. Oh, Freed. Looks like your Holy Sword skills could use some brushing up, no?"
"Hey, old man Valper!" Freed stopped countering Kiba's swords.
Hearing Valper's name, Kiba's eyes widened in shock.
"So you're Valper Galilei," Zach realized. "The one who ran the Holy Sword Project."
"The one and only." Valper grinned.
"Hey, Valper! Make yourself useful and get this lizard off me!" Freed shouted.
"Pour all your energy into the blade of the sword," Valper advised.
Freed complied, and his blade began shining with golden light. He brought the blade down on the Absorption Line, cutting it off his leg and causing Saji to fall to the ground. "It all makes sense now! The more I learn about using the holy elements of this sword, the more power I gain! I like this game. So here's an idea! How about all of you just stand there and become prey for my sword?!" He leaped at Kiba but was countered by Xenovia entering the fray with Excalibur Destruction.
"Took you long enough." Zach smirked, releasing his wings.
"Yoo-hoo!" Irina called. She ran up to Koneko and Saji. "How's it going?"
"What're you doing here?" Saji asked.
"We're here to help. You contacted us, right?"
"Good to know you're paying attention," Koneko muttered, showing him her call history. At the top was Xenovia's number.
Meanwhile, Xenovia was struggling to hold back Freed. "You're both traitors! Hear me, Freed Sellzen and Valper Galilei! I condemn your souls in the name of our God!"
Xenovia flipped out of the way just as Kiba leaped down, but Freed avoided the surprise strike, laughing.
Valper sighed. "We're done here, Freed. All you had to do was get rid of those vermin from the Church, but they have Holy Swords as well, and you're outnumbered. Time to pull back."
"See ya!" Freed laughed as he threw down a small pellet. He and Valper disappeared in a flash of light.