The massive spear of light was hurled with Kokabiel's full might. Even the surrounding air currents twisted and reversed from its power.
Faced with this seemingly all-erasing, annihilating light spear, Vitan showed not a trace of fear.
"『Analyze』."
"『Construct』."
Behind Vitan, space rippled like water, and a massive cannon muzzle emerged from the spatial distortion.
Crimson magical energy began gathering and solidifying within that cannon.
The entire process took less than a second. Just as the spear of light was about to pierce Vitan's body—
The magic cannon fired, unleashing a blast that collided head-on with Kokabiel's spear.
"Fool, your charged attack time was too short—"
In any world, the longer you charge an attack, the more powerful it becomes. That's an eternal truth.
Kokabiel firmly believed in that logic.
He could admit that this little devil's strength wasn't far beneath his own.
But in this clash, there was no way the brat's hastily prepared magic cannon could rival his fully charged light spear.
Just as Kokabiel indulged in this self-assured thought, his pupils suddenly widened.
"Im… impossible…"
The crimson beam wasn't being overpowered by his light spear—instead, his spear had started cracking all over, on the verge of being completely pierced and shattered by the magical blast.
For the first time, fear and retreat appeared on Kokabiel's face.
If earlier he could still comfort himself by saying he was caught off guard…
Then this time—this was his full-strength strike, and with a significant advantage in charge time—yet his attack was completely invalidated.
Brutal, savage, merciless, and fond of bullying the weak—these were all true traits of Kokabiel.
But knowing when to back down, fleeing from stronger opponents to preserve his life—this too was one of his creeds.
Otherwise, why do you think he reacted so strongly to what Vitan said earlier?
Because on past battlefields, that's exactly what he'd done.
Vitan had ruthlessly torn open the very truth Kokabiel had always tried to bury.
Five pairs of ten-winged black wings flared open again—Kokabiel was already preparing to run.
As for abandoning his subordinates? Let them be. As long as the mountains stand, there'll be wood to burn.
He was sure he'd find another chance to reignite the Three Factions War.
"Well? After boasting so much, you've ended up like this. Doesn't your face hurt, Kokabiel?"
A fallen angel's wings are part of their body—the nerves within them are naturally linked to Kokabiel's brain.
He could now clearly feel that his wings were being crushed into a bundle, gripped in someone's hand.
That annoying voice—it was the same as that brat's voice from earlier.
"How did you get behind me?"
Kokabiel turned his head in terror, only to see the man behind him clutching his wings, wearing a gentle smile.
That growing sense of terror… reminded him of facing Archangel Gabriel and the Morning Star, Lucifer, back in the day.
BAM—!
A downward stomp landed directly on the back of Kokabiel's head. Instantly, red and white fluids burst from his skull; the forceful closing of his mouth sent half a tongue and four or five front teeth flying.
"Oho! Your wings are pretty tough, huh?"
Vitan's lips curled into a cruel smile. The '卍' on his chest glowed a faint blue, and the power in his leg suddenly increased more than tenfold.
Rrrrip—!
Following a series of sounds like tearing silk, bright red blood fell from the sky like a drizzling rain.
"You've completely become a bald bird now, haven't you, Kokabiel?"
The devil's whisper once again echoed by Kokabiel's ears. A size-42 shoe pressed firmly onto his blood-drenched, agonized back.
His blurred eyes opened slightly and looked toward the man behind him.
In that man's hand were his own ten fallen angel wings, torn straight from his back.
Black flames roared in the man's hand, burning steadily under Kokabiel's horrified gaze. His wings were slowly turned into charcoal.
"You…"
Fury surged once again in Kokabiel's heart. He propped himself up on both hands, trying to rise—only to be stomped firmly back into the ground by that foot on his back.
"I heard that Kokabiel is part of the Fallen Angel Sacred Gear Research Institute. Well then, I have a job opportunity here. Would you like to make a deal?"
The desire to live instantly overwhelmed Kokabiel's rekindled rage.
Why fight back? Only when death is certain. If you're going to die anyway, better to go out fighting, leaving behind a bold final image.
But if there's a chance of survival—Kokabiel would trade away his pride, his secrets, anything.
"What… kind of deal…"
Kokabiel mumbled through broken teeth.
There was nothing he could do—though the injuries weren't fatal for a ten-winged fallen angel, the blood constantly gushing from his severed tongue and exposed gums made speaking almost impossible.
"Why, of course—the method to create artificial Sacred Gears, and how to extract them from their hosts."
In Vitan's eyes, the fallen angel race was truly brainless.
Their strength was abysmal. Even Governor Azazel was only on the level of a veteran Satan.
But down at Kokabiel's level? He didn't even qualify as a Satan—just barely hovering at the peak of Ultimate-class devil tier.
Yet it was precisely such a race where the arrogance of the fallen angels ran higher than the next. Vitan truly had no idea where their confidence came from—thinking they could win the Three Factions War.
Still, despite being such a brainless race...
Vitan had to admit that the "Sacred Gear Research Institute" founded by their Governor-General was indeed a fascinating place.
And he had long been coveting two particular technologies developed there.
As the third-in-command at the Sacred Gear Research Institute, it was only reasonable that Kokabiel would possess knowledge of those two technologies.
That had been a decision Vitan made the moment he arrived in Kuoh Town and trapped Issei Hyoudou in his time-space barrier:
To force Kokabiel to reveal the method of extracting Sacred Gears.
"I… don't know that… stuff."
The unexpected answer froze Vitan's expression instantly.
He stomped hard twice on Kokabiel's back with his foot, then withdrew it and crouched down, making eye contact on the same level.
"I say, Kokabiel."
"You—aren't—joking—with—me—are—you!"