"So it turns out that a Sacred Gear that chooses trash for a host is trash itself, huh?"
Raynare let out a mocking laugh, her tone dripping with disdain.
"Well, even if it's one of the weakest types, it's still better than nothing. So, Issei-kun… just die quietly for my sake."
At this point, Hyoudou Issei had a gaping hole through his abdomen. Blood poured out endlessly, and his consciousness was already beginning to fade.
The only things keeping him barely awake were the searing pain—and the burning hatred he felt toward Amano Yuuma.
The crimson gauntlet on his arm glowed brightly, bathing his body in red light as his strength surged to twice its original level.
A doubling of power sounded impressive on paper.
But in this situation… it changed absolutely nothing.
Issei was just an ordinary human.
And not even a particularly strong one—he was the kind of guy who spent his days indulging in less-than-healthy habits, leaving his physical condition weak and unimpressive.
Meanwhile, his opponent—
Raynare, though only a low-ranking fallen angel—was still leagues beyond him.
If Issei's strength was a mere 1…
Then Raynare's was easily 100.
Even after doubling, Issei's power only reached 2.
And the gap between 100 and 2…
Was still an abyss.
"Boosted!"
Just as Issei hovered on the brink of death, the crimson gauntlet erupted once more with an intense light, releasing a deep, resonant voice.
At that moment—
His physical abilities doubled again.
Even with two consecutive boosts, the gap remained overwhelming.
But Raynare's expression changed.
The boredom from before vanished, replaced with unmistakable excitement.
A Sacred Gear that could double its user's power once was nothing special.
But one that could stack that effect repeatedly?
There was only one like that.
One of the thirteen Longinus—the so-called God-Slaying Instruments.
A Sacred Gear that housed the soul of one of the Two Heavenly Dragons—
The Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig.
The Boosted Gear.
Longinus were still Sacred Gears…
But their power was so extraordinary that they were given a special designation.
It was said that with a Longinus, even an ordinary human could gain the power to slay gods and demons.
Looking at the dying Issei before her, Raynare's excitement surged.
Who would have thought that a trip to this backwater town would reward her with a Longinus?
If she could obtain the Boosted Gear—
Forget becoming a high-ranking fallen angel…
Even reaching the level of an elite officer wouldn't be impossible.
—
"I am Rias Gremory. This territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Gremory family."
A clear, commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Fallen angels—violating the rules within our domain is one thing. But now you intend to kill a student of our academy as well?"
Just as Issei's life was hanging by a thread—and just as Raynare was about to claim the Boosted Gear—
Someone interfered.
The newcomer had striking, vivid crimson hair.
Though she appeared to be a high school girl, her figure was flawlessly developed, and her features were so refined they bordered on perfection.
From her presence alone, Raynare immediately recognized her as a member of the devil faction.
And not a low-ranking one, either.
Beside her stood another girl—long black hair, an equally stunning figure, and an elegant, dangerous beauty.
Akeno.
Two against one.
And the red-haired devil in particular radiated a presence that was anything but easy to deal with.
Under normal circumstances, Raynare would have retreated without hesitation.
But now—
Knowing that the Sacred Gear within Issei was the Boosted Gear—
She couldn't bring herself to walk away.
This was a Longinus.
With that power, who would ever dare look down on her again?
There were two enemies before her.
But she was a fallen angel.
The power of light she wielded was a natural nemesis to devils.
Victory wasn't impossible.
And besides—
She didn't need to defeat them.
All she had to do was seize the Boosted Gear and escape.
After quickly calculating her options, Raynare made her move.
In an instant, she formed multiple spears of light in her hands.
Fallen angels, once angels, still possessed the ability to wield light.
A typical low-ranking fallen angel could only create a single spear at a time.
But Raynare—
Could generate several simultaneously.
The spears of light shot forward like meteors streaking through the night, hurtling toward Rias and Akeno atop the building.
Light was poison to devils.
Even high-ranking devils couldn't ignore it.
At the same moment she launched her attack, black wings unfurled from Raynare's back.
With explosive speed, she dove toward Issei, who lay in a pool of blood below.
Her plan had been flawless from the start.
Given the distance between them, whether Rias and Akeno chose to block or evade—
They wouldn't make it in time to stop her.
Once she secured the Boosted Gear…
Would she even need to run?
No.
With that power, even high-ranking devils would be nothing to fear.
—
Rias unleashed spheres of crimson demonic power, obliterating the incoming spears of light.
But by the time she realized Raynare's true objective—
It was already too late.
Raynare had started closer to Issei.
Even if Rias pushed her speed to the limit, she couldn't catch up in time.
A faint frown appeared on Rias's face.
She didn't have any personal bond with Issei yet.
But the reason she had come here—
Was to prove herself.
To show her family what she was capable of.
If something like this happened under her jurisdiction…
And she failed to handle it properly…
She might be summoned back to the Gremory estate—
And forced into an unwanted engagement.
—
Raynare beat her wings, rapidly closing in on Issei.
Victory seemed within reach.
The Boosted Gear was practically hers.
But then—
Her eyes widened slightly.
At some point, an unfamiliar figure had appeared in front of Issei.
Standing there casually, as if he had always been there.
The man glanced between both sides, his tone almost conversational.
"The guy lying there seems pretty important to both of you, doesn't he?"
"He looks like he's about to die… yet you're all busy fighting each other."
"…Is that really okay?"
Raynare frowned.
She had no idea who this third party was.
But from what she could sense—
There was almost no magical power coming from him at all.
A complete weakling.
Her irritation flared instantly.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"If you're so eager to die…"
"Then you can lie down next to him."