The Holy Sword Wielders' Shattered Faith / Please Let Us Become Devils

"Break!"

With a mighty roar, an unprecedented spear of light came crashing down.

Boom!

The heavens and earth shook violently.

The brilliant Magic Barrier shuddered, finally unable to withstand the blow. It shattered completely, dissolving into specks of light.

"Now, struggle to your hearts' content."

Kokabiel swept his gaze across every face, a savage grin curling his lips. "Though I doubt it will change the outcome."

As his voice echoed, another spear of light formed in his hand.

"Let's fight!"

Rias stepped forward, her crimson hair streaming behind her.

The others said nothing.

But their power surged, determination written across all their faces.

Just then, the Magic Circle in Lin Luo's home flashed. Having just returned from another world, Lin Luo turned his gaze toward Kuoh Academy.

"Fallen Angel, you're asking to die!"

Lin Luo's voice was ice-cold.

Origin Lightning Magic activated instantly. A flash of golden light flickered, and it vanished into thin air.

Chapter 39: The Holy Sword Wielders' Shattered Faith

Crackle!

Just as Rias and the others prepared to fight to the death, a bolt of golden Thunder streaked in from the distance, effortlessly piercing the sky.

The lightning stretched over a thousand feet, its vast, overwhelming presence like a bolt of divine punishment bent on destroying everything.

"Who's there?"

Kokabiel's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively turned to look.

There was undisguised terror in his voice.

Almost instinctively.

He sensed how terrifying that Thunder was.

For a hazy instant.

He felt as though he had returned to the ancient battlefield, facing a Devil King.

Without hesitation, Kokabiel switched targets and drew back his arm to throw.

"Die!"

Amid his furious roar.

The already enormous Lance of Light in his hand swelled several times larger, then hurtled straight toward the golden Thunder.

Hiss!

Ripples spread through the air in its wake, as though the Lance of Light would pierce space itself along with the Thunder.

In an instant!

The two collided.

Hum!

At that moment!

The heavens and earth lost their color, as though all light had gathered in one place.

Boom!

Amid the earth-shattering explosion.

The Lance of Light held out against the golden Thunder for only an instant before being crushed as easily as tofu.

"Is that... Lin Luo's aura?"

Watching the scene, Rias and the others all wore expressions of shock.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Kokabiel cried out in disbelief and horror, already making his next move.

The Power of Light erupted from his entire body, and an immense, brilliant Magic Circle appeared beneath his feet.

Crack!

The Thunder struck the Magic Circle, unleashing its terrifying power in full and shattering the entire circle with a bang.

The very next instant!

Kokabiel's entire body was engulfed by the golden Thunder.

For a moment!

Nothing remained in the sky but flashing lightning.

At some point, Lin Luo had appeared above Kuoh Academy, coldly watching it all.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The Thunder between heaven and earth faded.

His entire body charred black and his face filled with terror, Kokabiel fell helplessly from the sky.

A Fallen Angel cadre, defeated in a single strike.

Rias and the others exchanged glances, each seeing undisguised shock in the others' eyes.

They had already witnessed Lin Luo's Origin Magic during the last Rating Game.

But that had been through another world.

Only now, seeing it firsthand, did they truly grasp the sheer magnitude of Lin Luo's magic.

Under everyone's gaze.

Lin Luo slowly descended and stopped before Kokabiel. "Your strength is impressive. You actually still have a breath left."

His body nearly reduced to charcoal, Kokabiel struggled to raise his head.

"When did someone like you appear among the Devils?"

"Your magic is terrifying."

"You only don't know because you're ignorant."

Lin Luo said coldly, "Let me ask you something. God is dead, isn't he?"

"Of course he is. That's hardly a secret among beings like us."

Kokabiel was incredibly weak, yet his tone was mocking.

"Michael has tried everything to manage this mess, but the system governing human faith is still riddled with flaws."

"Who knows how many devout believers have been branded heretics?"

He's even adding his own embellishments.

He really knows how to play along.

Lin Luo gave Kokabiel an appreciative glance, then waved his hand. A bolt of golden Thunder extinguished the last trace of Kokabiel's life.

Meanwhile.

Rias and the others' minds had all gone somewhat blank.

What Kokabiel had said before his death was simply too shocking.

Xenovia and Irina, in particular, had collapsed to the ground.

Their eyes were vacant, like puppets stripped of their souls.

Just a few sentences!

They had answered the questions that had troubled them all this time.

So the Lord was dead.

That was why so many devout believers had been labeled heretics.

Then where... were they supposed to go?

At that moment, it felt as though the entire world had abandoned them.

"Lin Luo, this was your real goal, wasn't it?"

Having recovered her senses, Rias came to Lin Luo's side. "Isn't this a little too cruel?"

"It's the truth, isn't it?"

Lin Luo shrugged. "They would have to face it sooner or later."

"That's true."

Rias nodded, then asked suspiciously, "But how did you know about this?"

Lin Luo gave no answer, merely offering a mysterious smile. "That's a secret."

With that, Lin Luo walked over to Irina and Xenovia. "Now, would you two like to consider my earlier suggestion?"

Irina and Xenovia looked up, murmuring blankly, "Become... Devils?"

"Yes. Come find me whenever you've thought it through."

Chapter 40: Please Let Us Become Devils

Utaha Kasumigaoka sat on the sofa, looking at the dazed Asia. "Master, is Asia going to be all right?"

"She's just having trouble accepting that God is dead."

"True. Even I find it hard to believe."

Utaha Kasumigaoka twirled a strand of hair around one hand, murmuring softly to herself.

Whether when she had been human or now.

The Lord's renown was simply too great.

At that thought, Utaha Kasumigaoka asked teasingly, "But Master, what happened to those two Holy Sword wielders?"

Lin Luo smiled faintly, giving her a look of absolute confidence.

"Just what I'd expect from my perverted Master."

Utaha Kasumigaoka exclaimed admiringly, "No one can compare to you when it comes to taking advantage of people in their weakest moments."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Perverted Master, do you have some misunderstanding about what a compliment is?"

"Really? That's not what you said that night."

"..."

Utaha Kasumigaoka's face darkened.

It's over!

Ever since I gave myself to him, I can't tease him however I please anymore.

Lin Luo took a slice of cake from the refrigerator and handed it to Asia. "You didn't eat anything at dinner. Have a little, at least."

Asia took the cake instinctively and ate a bite now and then.

But her eyes remained unfocused.

Even after reincarnating as a Devil, she had still prayed to God often.

That alone showed how devout her faith was.

But now, she felt so lost.