DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 21: The Khaos Brigade

BGM: Persona 5 - Getaway & Arrest

Koneko sat with Gasper in the main room of the old schoolhouse. The young vampire was curled up in his box, playing video games without a care in the world. Koneko was more cautious. Detecting a threat, she stood. "Don't move a muscle, Gaspy." She closed the lid on his box and shoved it under the table.
As if on cue, a group of women in hooded cloaks blasted through the door. "We are magicians and are far superior to you, little girl. Do as you are told and this will be easier for all of us," their apparent leader commanded. "Hand the vampire over to us. We've already confirmed that he's here, so there's no point in lying." The group blasted rays of orange light at Koneko, setting off an explosion.
Koneko avoided the attacks, scooping the box into her arms and sprinting past the attackers under the cover of the smoke and into the hallway. She froze, looking out the window to see dozens more of the cloaked individuals floating upside-down on magic circles outside.
"There's nowhere to run. Nowhere at all." The magicians fired another volley of orange rays.
Koneko dodged once more, leaping down the stairs and dashing into another room.
The magicians tried to blast through the door, but their attacks were deflected by a magic circle. "Dammit. There must be a spell on this room!" Their leader cursed.
Within the room, Koneko placed Gasper's box on the floor gently. "We should be able to stall in here, at least for a little while. Just don't worry, I'm sure Rias and the others will come to save us soon."
"Y-yeah, they will..."
Orange beams shot out of a magic circle on the ceiling, hitting Koneko's back and knocking her down. A magician's head rose out of it, smiling eerily. "I've been waiting for you..."
Within minutes, the magicians had Gasper and Koneko restrained.
"Those magic squares will render all your physical abilities useless," the magicians' leader explained. "So don't even bother struggling."
"Please, stop!" Gasper cried. "What are you even trying to do?!" The restraints on Gasper glowed brightly, forcibly activating his Forbidden Balor View as he screamed in pain.

Kuoh Academy Conference Room (BGM: Persona 5 - Interrogation Room)

"Our perpetual three-way stalemate is getting rather old and is hardly doing the world any favors," Azazel declared. "I assume we're all in agreement on that matter?"
"God and the first Devil Kings are gone," Michael stated. "Both of our leaders were annihilated centuries ago."
"We also have a... complication," Azazel continued. "Once again, it's not even one of our three powers. But these two forces are equally destructive to us, if not more so. The Red and White Dragon Emperors. So I'd like to hear their thoughts on the matter."
Vali crossed his arms nonchalantly. "What I want is to fight someone as strong as me."
Azazel chuckled. "Yes, but you can still find powerful opponents without having all-out war."
"I suppose so. In that case, peace is fine by me."
"Very well. And you, Issei?"
"W-well, uh..." He looked to Rias for support, then to Zach. The former gave him a supportive nod.
"Say what you feel, Issei. Put it all out there," the latter suggested with a reassuring smile.
"Before he does, why don't we hear what you have to say?" Sirzechs requested. "You're the biggest anomaly here."
Zach shrugged. "Alright. What do I think of peace between the factions? Keep in mind that I haven't been around long, but there's something happening in your world. Something big. I've already relayed my thoughts about that to Sirzechs, and I'm sure he's filled the rest of you in. If you three are stuck in a war, I'm worried that none of you will come out on top. Whatever threat we're dealing with will either take over or destroy everything you know. Peace is the best option if you want to survive and my best hope of getting home."
"Very intelligent of you," the Archangel congratulated him. "And now it's your turn, Red Dragon Emperor."
Issei's fist clenched. "Peace or war... to be frank, I hate fallen angels. More than just about anything else. It's honestly pretty damn hard to imagine working side by side with them, other than Zach and Akeno. But if what you're all saying is true, with this big danger coming to kill us, then I guess peace is what we need."
Zach was stunned. "Wow, Issei. That was... really mature. You've been holding out on us, dude. I thought you'd mention something like how you'd have a higher chance of getting lucky with Rias if you're not busy fighting a war."
"Well, yeah, that too! But I have real priorities too, you know! It's more important for us to be alive and able to smash than just having a chance at smashing!"
"I'm right here, you know," Rias pouted.
"And so is her brother," Kiba added.
The brother in question wasn't upset in the slightest. In fact, he was barely controlling his laughter at the exchange.
"You're both nightmares," Rias muttered, covering her face with her hands.
Issei cleared his throat. "Anyway. The bottom line is, I'm not going to use my power unless I'm helping Rias or my friends. So you don't have to worry about me causing trouble."
Michael smiled. "You really can be noble if you wish, Red Dragon Emperor. At any rate, you had something you wanted to ask? Or so you said, last time we met."
"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd remember."
"I made a promise. Ask away."
"...You weren't fair to Asia. I want to know why you kicked her out of the Church. Even as a devil, she loves God more than anyone, and the Church had no right to do that."
Rias put a hand on his shoulder. "Issei, that's enough."