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Jack's timing with the Anti-Magic Domain couldn't have been better. The remaining fallen angels were captured almost instantly.
With the sealing mark suppressing their power, none of them could stir up trouble for a while.
Rias dismissed her magic at once and walked over with Akeno.
"Perfect timing, Jack."
She smiled, openly praising his control of the battlefield. His move had crushed their intent to go down fighting, and more importantly, left her with live captives to interrogate.
"Good morning, ladies."
Rias kept her elegant smile, but there was a cold, commanding edge to it. To the fallen angels, she looked completely untouchable.
"Hmph. What are you so smug about?" one of them sneered.
Even in defeat, they refused to bow their heads.
Of course, what they didn't realize was that this was just how Rias normally carried herself. That cool, aloof presence was exactly why she was the dream girl of every guy at Kuoh Academy.
"Heh. Smug?" Rias let out a soft laugh. "Beating weaklings like you isn't anything worth feeling proud of."
Still smiling, she stepped closer and looked down at them where they lay in a miserable heap.
"So… why don't you tell me your plan?"
They didn't cooperate. One of them burst into mocking laughter.
"Interrogate us? Don't make me laugh, you bitch. You think you're walking out of here alive? That person will slaughter every one of you! Hahaha—"
A flash of cold steel cut her off.
A sword pierced straight through her mouth, entering from one side and exiting the other. It twisted, and a chunk of torn tongue mixed with teeth and flesh flew out, blood splattering across the ground.
Jack held the Sword of Kings, one foot pressing her face into the floor as he looked down at her calmly.
"You don't seem to know how to speak properly."
His tone was flat, but the pressure in his black eyes was suffocating.
That quiet ruthlessness—striking without hesitation—instantly silenced the others.
Rias's smile deepened, clearly pleased with how he'd stepped in for her.
Akeno, on the other hand, sighed with regret. "Ah… that should've been my turn."
She sounded genuinely disappointed she hadn't acted faster. Such a perfect opportunity, stolen right out from under her.
Jack glanced at the remaining four. "There are still four left."
Akeno's eyes curved into a smile. "How considerate of you, Jack."
What kind of "consideration" was that? Saving her four targets to play with?
Rias shot her a look. "Don't flirt with my Jack."
"Oh my~ alright, alright~"
Jack cut in, "Rias, if they won't talk, we'll just go check things ourselves. No point wasting time here."
"Two minutes," Rias said to Akeno.
"Yes, President."
Akeno licked her lips lightly and turned toward the fallen angels, her gentle smile taking on an eerie edge.
"W-What are you going to do…?"
For the first time, fear crept into their voices.
"Oh, don't worry," Akeno said softly. "We'll be spending a lovely two minutes together…"
Golden arcs of lightning flickered at her fingertips.
Soon, the space filled with piercing screams.
In just two minutes, those cries went from shrill to weak and broken. Jack pulled Asia into his arms, pressing her face against his chest. A scene like that wasn't something a pure-hearted girl like her needed to see.
Akeno returned, still wearing that same gentle smile. There were faint traces of blood on her long, pale legs.
She didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"They were stubborn," she reported to Rias and the others. "In the end, they only mentioned the core of this space. Seems to be some kind of laboratory."
"Is that so?" Jack said casually. "Then it's probably dangerous."
"Definitely. They're likely planning to ambush us there," Akeno replied with a light laugh.
"Even so, we're going," Rias said with a faint smile. "Let's see what kind of 'gift' they've prepared."
The group moved out immediately. With the fallen angels dealt with, the rest of this alternate space seemed barely defended. They advanced straight through without resistance, arriving at its core.
A laboratory facility stood there, filled with sleek, modern technology. It looked like the fallen angels had simply relocated a human structure into this place.
At a glance, Jack felt something off about it. The outer walls were surrounded by metal pillars infused with divine power, enclosing the entire base like a cage.
The main door was shut, but not locked. As they approached, sensors triggered and the doors slid open automatically.
The scene in the main hall came into view.
"This…"
Asia covered her mouth.
Inside, rows upon rows of containers were lined up neatly, each filled with a green liquid bubbling steadily. Suspended within them were naked human bodies—men and women alike—nearly a hundred in total.
"Human experimentation?"
Jack raised a brow. He could still sense signs of life in them… but something felt wrong. As if what remained were just empty shells.
"These bastards… they've extracted their souls," Rias said, her expression darkening.
"Where are the people running this place?" someone asked.
"They've probably fled," Jack replied. "These bodies aren't useful to them anymore, so they just left them behind."
"Hmph. Cunning fallen angels," Rias muttered.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass rang out.
Everyone turned.
A nearby container cracked, fractures spreading rapidly before it burst apart with a crash.
The woman inside fell out, coughing violently as the liquid drained off her body. But her cough quickly turned into low, guttural growls, her face twisting in agony.
Then came the horrifying change.
Her skin began to rot and break down. Her body swelled grotesquely, bulging and distorting.
In just a few seconds, she transformed into a hideous, twisted monster.
"..."
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