"???"
Everyone paused in confusion at those words.
In a situation like this, was he really admonishing them so bluntly? Could a human even say something like that?
Yet, seeing Hikaru proceed so steadily despite the immense pressure, it did seem he had a point.
But now wasn't the time to be stubborn.
Rias, on the other hand, grew anxious.
"Hikaru, if we just hold out until the Underworld's reinforcements arrive… you alone—"
Before she could finish, Sona grabbed her arm.
"Rias, if Hikaru says so, he must have his reasons."
"But that's Kokabiel, a Cadre-level fallen angel who's on par with a Maou. Even if he's the Red Dragon Emperor with a Balance Breaker, there's no guarantee—"
"I know you're worried about him, especially since you're his fiancée now."
"I…"
Rias couldn't understand why Sona would bring that up at a time like this. Her concern didn't really have anything to do with being his fiancée. Even if it were just a friend, she would still be worried.
"That's all the more reason to trust him. After all, isn't a good woman supposed to support her husband at any time?"
Hearing this, Rias's eyes widened slightly. She looked at Sona, not quite sure why Sona understood such things. But gradually, Rias calmed down.
Indeed.
The mere presence of Kokabiel made her tremble with fear, and it was doubtful she could help in a fight. In that case, the best she could do was stand back and not cause trouble.
"President, I believe in Hikaru as well," Koneko said.
"We'll leave it to Hikaru," Akeno added with a sigh.
Yet both silently resolved that if they survived this ordeal, they would face their own futures head-on.
…
Realizing that the girls behind him weren't charging in after him, Hikaru felt relieved. He'd genuinely feared they would rush forward like characters in a hot-blooded manga, spouting lines about friendship and bonds, and then just complicate things. Luckily, they understood their own limitations.
As for Kokabiel, Hikaru felt no particular emotional response. True, the pressure from a fallen-angel Cadre was far greater than anything he had experienced before, but that was about it. After all those years of hard training, if he couldn't handle even one fallen-angel Cadre, how could he ever hope to slay those countless rogue gods out there?
By his calculations, if nothing unexpected happened, dealing with Kokabiel would fully charge the Dimensional Gate's energy to 100%. The Boosted Gear Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet and Tyrant Mode had never been meant for a mere supporting villain like Kokabiel…
…
Kokabiel glanced down at Hikaru, then dismissed his throne and descended, beating his massive, five pairs of black wings. The overwhelming pressure ramped up further, intensifying the strain on Rias, Sona, and the others.
"Hahahahaha! Ohohohoho!"
Brimming with lofty confidence and a sort of holy arrogance, the fallen-angel Cadre stood before Hikaru, a mad grin on his face.
"Don't tell me you actually think you can beat me? Are you kidding? Hahaha!"
One glare was enough to render them unable to move. A cold dread crawled over their bodies, making their palms and backs drip with sweat. It was only at that moment they fully realized this was a life-and-death struggle. To Kokabiel, their resistance looked utterly futile.
Only Hikaru appeared entirely unperturbed.
Kokabiel stared, frowning at how unaffected Hikaru seemed. "You're an odd one for a human. Even high-class devils panic when they see me. Are you truly this calm, or just pretending?"
Undaunted by the crushing aura, Hikaru spoke casually:
"Your strength—would you say it's on the same level as a Maou from the Underworld?"
Kokabiel hesitated, unsure what to make of the question, but he nodded confidently.
"Of course! The power I wield is equal to that of a Maou! Only a Maou can stand on my level, not small fries like you!"
So Hikaru understood the situation. Kokabiel's mindset seems stuck back in the age of the old three-way war—on par with the "Old Maou." That was how he dared provoke them so brazenly. If he knew the Sirzechs and the others possessed ten times the Old Maou's power, he might not have come even if given a hundred chances. Or perhaps he simply refused to believe it, clinging to past glory.
"How pathetic," Hikaru said quietly.
"What did you say?"
Kokabiel blinked. Though he didn't fully grasp what was going on, he knew the man was mocking him. Rage flashed across his face as he snapped his neck.
"You're about to die, and you still don't realize your situation?"
With that, Kokabiel reached out to grab hold of Hikaru.
~~~
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