Chapter 20: Final Theft
The night after Kokabiel's first descent, Kuoh Town lay under a heavy, unnatural silence. The scars from the battle in the park were still visible — cracked pavement, scorched earth, and faint traces of dark and holy energy lingering in the air. The Emperor knew the Cadre would not accept defeat lightly. This was no longer a game of shadows and probes. This was the final confrontation.
He gathered every available ally in the reinforced basement of the old school building. The peerage was fully assembled: Rias at his right side, Akeno with quiet determination in her violet eyes, Kiba gripping his swords with focused intensity, Asia ready with her healing, and Koneko standing like a silent guardian. Raynare stood near the back, her loyalty now firmly anchored. Ravel Phenex had chosen to remain, her political insight too valuable to ignore.
The Emperor stood at the center, his presence radiating absolute control. The Boosted Gear on his left arm hummed with restrained power.
"Kokabiel will return tonight," he said, his voice calm and commanding. "He cannot afford another failure. He will bring everything he has left — his strongest fallen angels, stolen holy sword fragments, and his own overwhelming power. Our objective is not to destroy him outright. Our objective is to break his momentum, steal his remaining threads of fate, and force him into a position where he can no longer threaten this town or our growing empire."
Rias nodded, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "We fight as one. No one stands alone."
Kiba spoke with quiet resolve. "My swords are ready. If holy energy is used against us, I will counter it with everything I have."
Akeno stepped forward, her long black hair swaying. "My lightning is fully prepared for large-scale disruption. I will cover the team and create openings for you." She looked directly at the Emperor, her voice carrying new weight. "I've made my choice. When the battle begins, I fight not just as a member of the peerage, but as someone who stands with you completely."
The Emperor met her gaze and gave a single, deliberate nod. "Then prove it tonight, Akeno. Your loyalty has been building. Show me it is absolute when it matters most."
Akeno's eyes shone with quiet fire. "I will."
Asia smiled softly but determinedly. "I'll keep everyone healed. No one falls while I can help."
Koneko simply cracked her knuckles. "Ready."
Raynare added, "I will provide aerial overwatch and sow confusion among his forces. Dohnaseek has given us the last pieces we needed — Kokabiel's weak points in coordination."
Ravel, standing slightly apart but fully engaged, spoke clearly. "Politically, if you drive Kokabiel back decisively, several noble houses will take notice. This could open doors for future alliances… or force enemies to reveal themselves."
The Emperor addressed them all one final time. "We do not fight for glory or survival alone. We fight to steal Kokabiel's destiny. Every fallen angel we neutralize, every thread we cut, every moment we dictate the flow — all of it belongs to us now. Stay disciplined. Stay together. The Emperor does not lose what he claims."
The system chimed in his mind as they prepared to move:
**Main Quest: Facing the Cadre — Progress: 82% → Final Stage**
**Level 6 Unlocked upon Quest Completion**
**All preparations maximized.**
Kokabiel descended upon Kuoh like a storm of darkness.
The sky split open with black wings and falling light spears. The fallen angel Cadre landed in the center of the park, his six wings spread wide, eyes burning with rage and madness. Elite fallen angels flanked him, many carrying stolen or corrupted holy sword fragments that pulsed with dangerous light.
"So you dare face me directly, little thief!" Kokabiel's voice thundered across the battlefield. "I will crush you, take the holy swords, and burn this pathetic town to start the war I was denied!"
The Emperor stepped forward, the Boosted Gear glowing bright crimson. "You came for war. I came to steal your fate."
The final battle erupted.
Kokabiel unleashed a barrage of massive light spears. The Emperor activated multiple boosts in rapid succession, his crimson energy clashing violently with the fallen angel's power. Shockwaves rippled through the park. Rias fought at his side, her Power of Destruction tearing through elite fallen angels with devastating precision. Kiba became a whirlwind of demonic swords, countering holy-tainted attacks with growing mastery. Akeno unleashed wide, controlled lightning storms that disrupted enemy formations and protected the team's flanks. Asia's Twilight Healing kept the peerage in the fight far beyond normal limits. Koneko smashed through anyone who broke the line with raw, unstoppable force.
Raynare provided critical aerial support, sowing chaos and feeding real-time information.
The battle was brutal and relentless. Kokabiel was overwhelmingly powerful, his light spears capable of leveling buildings. But the Emperor's team fought with superior coordination and the accumulated advantage of stolen threads. Destiny Sever weakened Kokabiel's command structure. Phoenix Thread Theft dampened his regeneration-like resilience. Advanced Thread Weaving allowed the Emperor to bind small disruptions across the battlefield.
At the height of the chaos, Kokabiel focused his fury on the Emperor.
"You are nothing but a thief!" he roared, summoning a colossal spear of light. "I will end your stolen existence!"
The Emperor met the attack head-on. "Boost! Boost! Boost!" Power multiplied cleanly. He channeled everything — crimson energy, stolen phoenix resilience, and the full weight of his fate theft abilities — into a single, decisive counterstrike.
The collision created a blinding explosion that lit up the entire park.
When the light cleared, Kokabiel staggered back, his wings damaged and his aura flickering. The Emperor stood firm, breathing steadily, the Boosted Gear glowing brighter than ever.
Akeno seized the moment, unleashing her most powerful lightning barrage yet, striking Kokabiel's weakened guard and creating a decisive opening. Rias followed with a concentrated Power of Destruction blast. Kiba and Koneko pressed the advantage on the ground.
Kokabiel roared in fury and pain, but the momentum had shifted irreversibly.
"You… dare…" he snarled, retreating into the sky with his remaining forces. "This is not the end! I will return with the full might of the fallen angels!"
The Emperor's voice carried across the battlefield with cold finality. "No. Your fate ends here."
With one final, coordinated assault from the entire peerage, supported by Raynare from above, Kokabiel was forced into a full retreat. The Cadre disappeared into the night sky, heavily wounded and humiliated, his plans for immediate war shattered.
The park fell silent once more.
The peerage stood together, exhausted but victorious. The Emperor turned to them, his expression carrying quiet pride.
"Tonight we stole a Cadre's destiny," he said. "Kokabiel is broken. His war will not begin here. We have proven that our empire can stand against even the strongest threats."
Akeno stepped forward, breathing heavily but with clear emotion in her eyes. She looked at the Emperor directly.
"I fought with everything I am tonight," she said softly. "For the team… and for you. I am yours, Issei. Completely."
The Emperor placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his touch possessive and approving. "You have earned your place, Akeno. Welcome fully into the empire."
Akeno's eyes shone as she leaned into his touch, the final thread of her loyalty clicking into place.
Rias smiled proudly beside him. Asia beamed with relief. Kiba offered a deep bow of respect. Koneko gave a small nod of approval. Raynare and Ravel watched with clear recognition that the balance of power in Kuoh had shifted permanently.
The system chimed triumphantly:
**Main Quest: Facing the Cadre — Completed!**
**Level Up! Current Level: 6**
**All Stats +20**
**New Skill Unlocked: Fate Weaver (Advanced) — Actively rewrite multiple stolen threads into powerful, lasting alliances.**
**Massive EXP Gained. New Title Acquired: "Cadre Breaker"**
**Fate Points: 520**
The Emperor looked out over the scarred battlefield, the peerage standing united behind him.
"The weak Issei is gone forever," he murmured. "Only the Emperor remains."
Rias took his hand. "And the empire has only just begun."
Far away, Kokabiel retreated in rage and humiliation, his plans in ruins. The Church agents would soon seek a new understanding. Noble houses would begin to take notice. Greater threats loomed on the horizon.
But for tonight, Kuoh belonged to the Fate Thief Emperor.
The conquest continued.