Chapter 41: The Red Dragon awaken (1)
Just than the silence of the ORC clubhouse was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. Kiba burst into the room, his face dark and tense.
"President," he began, his voice clipped. "People from the Church have entered the city."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Rias, who had been lounging on the couch, sat upright, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"The Church?" she echoed, her tone sharp.
Kiba nodded, his jaw tight. "They're searching for something in the city."
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
"Are they here to find Itachi?" Akeno asked, her usual calm replaced with worry.
"We don't know, but they told me they would only speak to Rias or Sona," Kiba admitted, his fists clenched as memories of the events from a few days ago resurfaced.
Rias stood, her commanding presence filling the room. "Kiba, gather everyone. We're going to confront them, and I will make sure they do not cross the line this time."
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Flashback
After the events in the Underworld, Itachi's strength and abilities had become a topic of heated discussion across the supernatural world. Rumors of his connection to a hidden faction wielding chakra sent shockwaves through every major power.
Even the Church, despite its fractured state, saw his existence as an opportunity. News of his presence in the city controlled by the sisters of the Maou—though initially kept under wraps by Rias and Sona—had somehow leaked, prompting a team of human mages to infiltrate their territory.
The ORC, upon learning about the mages, rushed toward Itachi's room. Several mages adorned in robes marked with holy symbols were combing through Itachi's belongings.
"This is private property," Rias announced, her voice cold and authoritative. Her peerage stood behind her, tense and ready.
One of the mages, a tall man with an air of arrogance, turned to face her. "We are here on orders from the Church. Itachi Uchiha is to be found and his abilities surrendered to the service of God. Stand down, devil."
Rias's eyes flared. "Itachi is under my protection. If you think I'll let you drag him into your schemes, you're mistaken."
The mage's lips curled into a sneer. "Protection? Do you think you are capable of protecting him? We all know why you want him. A devil's greed knows no bounds."
Akeno stepped forward, her voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath her words. "Leave. Now."
The tension snapped like a taut string. A spell was cast by the human side, its light blinding, and the room erupted into chaos.
The mages were stronger than anticipated. Their holy magic clashed violently with the ORC's demonic powers. The air buzzed with energy as spells flew, crashing into walls and floors, leaving scorch marks in their wake.
Koneko darted through the fray, her small frame a blur as she aimed to incapacitate without killing. Despite her efforts, the mages' coordination and sheer numbers began to overwhelm them.
"These aren't ordinary humans," Kiba muttered, summoning multiple demonic swords to push back the attackers.
Then, one of the mages stepped forward—a Sacred Gear wielder. The ring-like artifact glowed as a dome-like barrier expanded outward, encasing the entire battlefield.
"What is this?!" Akeno exclaimed, trying to summon her lightning, only to find her power unresponsive.
"The barrier nullifies magic," the Sacred Gear user said with a smirk.
The mages drew firearms, their weapons blessed with holy enchantments. They fired without hesitation.
"Get down!" Issei, already badly injured, shouted, throwing himself in front of Rias. She froze, surprised to see her power nullified. Bullets tore into Issei's body, the holy energy burning his flesh. Despite the pain, he stood his ground, shielding his King.
"Issei!" Rias cried, her voice breaking.
Koneko's vision blurred with rage. She leapt at the Sacred Gear user, her fists striking with raw power. But without her senjutsu, her strength wasn't enough to break through the barrier.
The mages took advantage of her distraction, aiming their weapons at her. A bullet grazed her arm, and she winced, retreating to Rias's side.
"They're trying to kill us," Akeno said, her usual composure slipping.
"I'm sorry. I should have taken action sooner," Rias replied grimly, realizing her decision to let her peerage handle the situation alone had put them all in danger.
The mages advanced, their leader's voice ringing out. "Surrender now, and perhaps we'll spare you after playing with you."
The only reason they were in this state was because of the butterfly effect caused by Itachi. The plot, which was originally tailored for the main character, was broken, and characters who never appeared in the anime had now emerged.