Highschool DxD: The Game (Early Work)

Part #23. Small Child Vs. Members of the Church

(Third Person POV | After school)

Rias: "The schoolyard has gotten a lot cleaner, so it's like we're getting a fresh start." She stated.

Most of the O.R.C members were currently in the club room. Kyu and Koneko were sitting beside each other as usual, Issei and Asia were standing in front of the front doors. Akeno wasn't there this time, and Rias was sitting on the opposing couch from Kyu and Koneko's.

Issei: "Oh, where's Kiba?" He asked.

Koneko: "It seems Yuuto-senpai is taking the day off from school." She replied.

Kyu: "Wait, we can do that?" He asked.

Issei: "Kiba is?" He asked.

Issei: "President, does this have something to do with what we talked about yesterday?" He asked Rias, who just looked down at the table.

Issei: "Please tell me what Kiba has to do with holy swords, President." He said.

Rias: "I told you how Yuuto was a survivor of the Holy Sword Project, right?" She asked after releasing a sigh.

Issei: "Yes." He nodded.

Rias: "Besides Yuuto, there were a number of others who were being raised to use Excalibur." She stated. Asia and Issei's eyes widened at this new information, while Kyu had his eyes closed, he was just barely listening, but he was more focused on levelling up Kenbunshoku Haki.

Rias: "Right now, there are seven holy swords with the name Excalibur." She explained.

Issei: "Seven?!" He exclaimed.

Rias: "Pieces of the original Excalibur were scattered in a war long ago. The church gathered the pieces and used alchemy to make the seven new swords." She told them. Kyu made a quick note in his head "Learn alchemy".

Issei: "So Kiba is supposed to be able to use those swords?" He asked.

Rias: "None of those being trained were able to adapt to Excalibur. The project ended in failure." She sadly stated.

After spamming Observation Haki for the umpteenth time, Kyu fell on his side and groaned. He was completely drained from trying to use Haki, and he wasn't able to use it a single time. Koneko grabbed his arm and pulled him over to her, he wasn't really able to move, so he just swayed to the side a bit before falling onto her lap.

Koneko ran her fingers through the boy's hair as he groaned in pain, he had definitely overused the limited amount of Haki he had. It felt like every single doubt he had was stabbing him in the lungs.

Issei: "What's wrong with him?" He pointed at Kyu. Koneko shrugged and continued playing with the boy's messy hair.

Kyu: "Haki's mean..." He stated quietly.

Asia: "Failure?" She asked Rias.

Rias: "And those in charge of the project decided to dispose of Yuuto and the other test subjects." She said angrily.

Issei: "Dispose of? You don't mean..." He paused.

Rias: "They were already on the verge of death." She said solemnly.

(Flashback to years before this moment)

A young boy around his early teens was laying on a snow covered ground located inside of a large forest. He appeared to have been there for quite a while, seeing as he was almost covered in snow.

Rias: "But that child was able to run away alone while near death, and swore to get revenge." She narrated.

A pink boot crunched against the snow, and the young boy opened his blue eyes and glared at the red haired girl who was standing over him. She was wearing a heavy pink coat and a pink hat.