Short Notice: This chap is looong. It reached 3K words ✏ Enjoy reading :)
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Rias saw the Goddess leaving in a rush so she immediately excused herself from the guests and followed the girl.
" Koneko-chan!" Erin called out but the mascot girl already boarded the elevator. The Goddess proceeded to use the empty one beside it.
" She went down. But which floor did she go to?"
The red head entered the elevator she was in which took the Goddess by surprise.
" Rias?"
" What made you so panicked?"
" Koneko suddenly ran out of the room." Erin replied as she went on choosing a random floor. " It's like she was chasing something."
" I see.. but I don't want to cause a scene just in case it wasn't anything serious. Let's look for Koneko together."
Erin nodded at this and the two searched for the girl. They eventually went outside the venue where Rias summoned her familiar.
*(Poof)*
" My familiar already located Koneko. She's running not far from here."
" Let's not waste time." Erin said and the two raced to the girl's direction. The Goddess used her natural speed to reach Koneko faster.
" I can see her a few meters from here." Erin thought as she squinted her eyes. "If my guess is right, she's heading solely towards the North direction."
" E-Erin.." Rias slightly panted as she caught up with the Goddess. "Slow down. We might stumble if you run in that speed." she added since their dress was restricting their move.
Erin didn't listen to her and had a different agenda in mind. She suddenly halted and yanked Rias' hand and carried her bridal style.
" Wha- What are you doing?"
" It's faster this way." replied Erin without looking at her as she summoned her wings.
*(WOOSH!)*
Rias slightly flinched from the sudden movement and she placed her arms on the Goddess' neck.
" Y-You could have warned me." Rias said with a slight blush due to their close proximity."
" I apologize but we don't have much time."
They flew a distance and Erin saw Koneko stop from her movements. They reached a forest and the Goddess landed behind a tree where they can observe Koneko talking to a stranger.
" Are you all right?" Erin asked and the red head nodded timidly.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." replied Rias in a low tone as she found it hard to speak because of their closeness.
" I'm sorry, but we don't have much choice right now. We might get seen if we cause too much movements." Erin awkwardly said as she realized their position.
" It's been a long time, hasn't it?" The stranger said as she looked at Koneko.
" Just as I thought. It's you."
" Hello, Shirone." replied the stranger with a smirk. She was lazily laying down on a tree and observed Koneko from above.
" I only sent a little bit of my chi your way and you came here in a rush. Big sister is really moved."
" Big sister Kuroka, what is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, don't make such a scary face." Kuroka said which caused Koneko to glare at her. " I heard there was a big party going on so it just perked my interest a little."
" Even so, why did you come here?"
" I came to pick you up, Shirone. I was running away so desperately that I wasn't able to take you with me."
"So that is Koneko's sister.." Erin said as they continue to observe their interaction.
Bikou was at a close range and when he noticed the presence of Erin and Rias, he turned to the cat woman.
" Oy, Kuroka."
" What is it, Bikou?" replied the woman as she sat upright.
" Are you seriously going to ignore the rats hiding in the shadows?" Bikou smirked. "With our knowledge of the Sage arts, we can easily sense others by their flow of chi."
Koneko looked behind her where she can see Erin and Rias approaching them.
" Erin-senpai, Buchou?"
" Kuroka, Koneko is a member of my household. I won't let you lay a finger on her." Rias said in a determined tone.
" My, what are you saying? That's my little sister. I won't give her to a high-class devil like you."
Bikou recognized the Goddess as he immediately stood up proudly.
"Hello again, Miss Cutie. I'm quite glad to see your presence again."
" Who's this girl?" Kuroka asked curiously as she looked at the Goddess from head to toe.
" She's one of Vali's rivals."
" Oh? So this is the one who made Vali retreat? She doesn't look too powerful to me. I can't sense any strong aura on her."
" Sis, why are you doing this?'" Koneko said which made Kuroka look back at her.
" Ophis and Vali will happily accept you. After all, you have the same power running through your veins as me."
" I am part of Rias Gremory's family." Koneko protested.
" We'll never hand her over to you." Rias added.
" I'll take her by force if I have to."
" Well, a little resistance could kill us some time." Bikou shrugged.
" What do you mean?"
" Hehe. You'll see."
Rias narrowed her eyes at this and motioned to the two.
" Erin, Koneko, we have to hurry back!"
Kuroka smirked at this and released some of her power.
*(FLASH)*
" What did you do?" Erin asked as she noticed the sudden change.
" I created a barrier over this forest and shut us in. This way, you will have no means of escape, nyah~"
"I hope you guys can give us some entertainment." Bikou rotated his staff and prepared to deliver an attack.
" Especially you, Miss cutie. I'm curious to see on how powerful you are to be one of Vali's rivals."
*(BOOOOM!)*
The trio leaped into the air as they avoided the explosion caused by Bikou.
" Tsk. These two are quite strong." Erin thought after she landed safely.
" Such dark auras."
A booming voice said from above and Erin looked up to see Tannin.
The Goddess' gear manifested on her neck and Voltaire spoke to the dragon.
"{ So you followed my power signature, huh?}"
" That's right. I kept track of the power signature emitted by the Blue Dragon Empress. There was something which piqued my interest about your host."
" Hey, Hey! It's the previous dragon king!"
" You look so happy, monkey." Kuroka remarked after hearing Bikou's cheerful tone.
" FLYING NIMBUS!"
Bikou summoned his cloud to hop on it and flew to the sky to rush at Tannin. He extended his staff in hopes of landing an attack on the dragon.
Tannin avoided this and fired a burning flame in retaliation.
" Haha! You're good, previous dragon king!" Bikou remarked as he and Tannin chased each other.
" Anyways..." Kuroka faced back the trio. " Will you hand over my little sister already?"
" Dream on." Erin replied
" If you don't, I have no choice but to kill you right here."
" Rias, Erin Vermillion." Tannin said causing the two to look above. "I'll deal with this monkey. You two defeat that cat."
*(WHOOSH)*
They ducked as the Dragon passed through them.
" Aren't you two the Blue Dragon Empress and her master?"
" You make it sound so easy, old dragon." Erin shouted back.
" The enemy is Koneko's sister. I can't fight her in front of Koneko." Rias thought with a conflicted expression.
" Big sister, I will go to you." Koneko announced which shocked the two.
" Koneko-chan?!"
" What are you saying?"
" So please let these two go." continued the girl as she took a step forward.
" Koneko! You are my servant and a member of my household." Rias crossed her arms over her chest. "I won't allow you to do what you want."
" My big sister's power... I know it more than anyone." Koneko trembled. Rias approached her and gave her a hug.
" Don't worry. I will protect you."
" Heh. I understand Shirone's power more than someone like you." Kuroka interjected. " So come here, Shirone. I'll make you top-class in the Sage arts."
" No. I don't need power like that. I don't need power which brings misfortune to others." Koneko looked down as tears brimmed her eyes.
" Kuroka. When you were drowning in your own power, you left a scar on her that will never disappear. When you left after killing your master, this girl saw hell." Rias announced.
"When I first met her, she didn't have any feelings left inside. Koneko was betrayed by her only family. She had no one to turn to and the other devils hated her to the point she was almost killed. This girl had experienced many painful things."
The red head tightened her hold on Koneko.
" That's why, I will show her many wonderful things."
Koneko was touched hearing this as she made up her decision.
"I don't want to go. I don't want to go with you, Big sister! I am Koneko Tojo. I am going to live together with Buchou!"
" That's right. She is Rias Gremory's rook. She is a treasured devil of her household so by no means are you taking her." Erin announced with a glare.
Kuroka chuckled in amusement at their words.
" Even though you know that you can't win, you keep on spouting this nonsense. Are you stupid?"
She summoned her magic and started tracing some symbols on the air.
" Then Die."
*(Flash!)*
A violet fog enveloped the air. Rias and Koneko dropped to their knees and had difficulty breathing.
"Rias! Koneko-chan!"
" It works so well with devils and spirits though. I guess it doesn't work with dragons." Kuroka said in wonder.
" Why you...."
" I weakened the poison so they won't die immediately. After that, you would be next." Said Kuroka in mischief.
Erin jumped backwards so she is near Rias and Koneko. She summoned her wings and a bright light shone behind her back which acted as a shield to the two.
Rias and Koneko were immediately healed and stood up.
" Oh my? That type of attack.. Are you perhaps affiliated with light magic?"
" Those rare wings.. that could only mean that you are a deity of some sort!" Bikou said in surprise as he glanced down below. It was hard not to notice the bright light emitted by the Goddess.
" Rias, Koneko-chan. I can only maintain this power from a static point. If you move farther away, you will be affected by the poison again." Erin gritted out as she had her arms raised to the side.
" So try to subdue Kuroka from this point and try to find a way to eliminate the spell she used. Don't mind me. I'll act as your shield."
"Senpai.." Koneko said in worry. It was a hard decision for Rias but she eventually nodded.
" I understand. I'll be trusting you then, Erin."
" Wow. Just earlier you kept on spouting that you'll protect everyone in your household. And now, you would willingly use someone as a shield and let her die? You're quite the hypocrite." mocked Kuroka to the red head.
Rias summoned her power and fired a blast to Kuroka. The cat woman merely vanished from her position and was now sitting on a tree.
" That was a good attack. But it's no use." She blasted her own power in retaliation which effectively hurt Erin.
The Goddess winced at this as her dress got tattered.
" Erin!"
"Focus, Rias." Erin said as her gear glowed, strengthening her defense. "Kuroka is your priority and as I said, Do not mind me."
The red head had a conflicted expression but faced Kuroka back.
"Nyah~ This will be fun. So you'll just die from here because you are protecting those 2? Oh well. This would be quite the achievement, killing a Goddess doesn't sound too bad.
The cat woman summoned multiple magic blasts and directed it to the Goddess.
*(BOOOM!)*
" Ack!" A blast hit Erin's abdomen with force and she coughed up some blood in the process.
*(BOOOM!)*
" Erin-senpai, stop this already." Koneko said in worry.
"Even if you are a Goddess, I can't imagine how you managed to make Vali retreat if you would just willingly die and not put up a fight." Kuroka boredly said.
*(BOOOM!)*
Erin trembled from this but still managed to maintain her shield. Her wings got hurt from the impact and she winced at the burn.
" Even if you are her sister, I can't forgive anyone who makes my plushie cry!" gritted Erin with blood trailing down her mouth.
" Damn. This shit hurts."
" Nyahaha~ You should audition for an action movie. You would fit the role of the heroine and looking at this angle, the scene would be perfect when you say those lines while you are at a battered state."
Kuroka licked her lips in amusement.
" Your pretty face would be the cherry on top. Bikou wasn't entirely wrong when he keeps mentioning that you are a cutie, nyah~ "
" Erin, you are seriously hurt now!" Rias was slightly panicked at this point.
The Goddess merely laughed at this which shocked the two. Her laugh made Kuroka tilt her head in confusion.
" What's so funny? Are you reaching the point of being delirious and nearing your death?"
" Rias, Koneko-chan.. Don't you believe in me? And most of all, don't you believe in your capabilities?"
The two widened their eyes at this and Erin continued talking.
" You think that I would die just because I suffered multiple blasts from this cat woman? Well, they indeed burn but I didn't survive Tannin's training for a week just to die from a simple magic blast! This doesn't even compare from the flames Issei and I suffered from Tannin!"
Tannin roared hearing this and he shouted in reply while in the midst of duel.
" That's right! I didn't chase their ass just to see one of them fall down from a simple attack!"
" And Rias." Erin snapped to the read head. "Aren't you the weird, persistent, cool persona who keeps on bugging me? So why the hell are you losing your cool now?!"
Erin stressed out her next words.
"I am not a stranger to death and even if I die right now or suffer countless deaths, you would just fudging revive me or find a way to bring me back to life, won't you? OR AM I WRONG TO TRUST IN YOU?!"
Rias gasped in shock, the Goddess' words moving her to a point of realization.
"{ That's right, Rias Gremory! My host and I wouldn't concede to defeat that easily. Even death would not stop us from achieving our purpose so don't even decide our fear for us when we can embrace death with open arms!}" roared Voltaire.
"So go do what you have to do." Erin smirked. "Don't hesitate to go all out! Destroy everything if you have to!"
Azazel's words flashed back in Rias' mind and she was enveloped with a strong red aura.
"Koneko-chan.... Erin is right. She believes in us so we should also prove to her that she isn't wrong in that."
Koneko nodded in determination as her fears slightly vanished.
"Hai, let's do this. Buchou."
Koneko used an amount of her real powers and combined with Rias' destructive magic, they sent a mighty blast heading Kurokas' way.
*(BOOOOOM!)*
The cat woman was blown away in her position and staggered. Erin also suffered a portion from the attack but she maintained her defense. The attack effectively erased the poison after Kuroka was caught off guard.
" Rias! Koneko-chan! Good job. I'll be taking things from here." Erin said as she hid away her wings.
" Hai! Erin/senpai!" The two moved away as the Goddess prepared to transform.
"{BALANCE BREAKER!}"
*(FLASH)*
Erin dashed at Kuroka and delivered a lightning attack which chased the woman.
"{Flash Voltage!}"
Kuroka gritted her teeth and jumped from tree to tree to avoid the attacks. She delivered a magic blast in retaliation but the Goddess was quick to counter it.
"{DIVIDE!}"
" Kuh. Why you-"
"{ Enhanced punch!}"
*(BOOM!)*
The attack destroyed several trees in the process including the one Kuroka was standing on. She fell to the ground in shock as the Goddess cornered her.
Erin held out a punch which was close to hitting her face.
*(CHING!)*
*(BOOOM!)*
It created a strong gush of wind surrounding them and Erin glared at Kuroka behind her armor.
" Don't make my cute plushie cry."
Kuroka was shocked but gritted her teeth in anger.
" If you target Koneko-chan again, even if you are a fellow woman or Koneko's sister, I won't hesitate on killing you. You are considered as my enemy."
Kuroka flew to the air to deliver another attack.
" You shitty brat-
*(Whoosh)*
Bikou retrieved the woman and the latter squirmed on his hold.
"What are you doing? It's not over yet-"
" Did you had so much fun that you didn't notice?"
Kuroka concentrated and slightly gasped.
" Loki's presence.. But why?"
" Who knows. But we don't have time to play around anymore."
An octagon-shaped portal appeared on the air and the two entered inside.
Erin transformed out of her armor and clutched her shoulder in pain.
"Tsk. My wings surely suffered some burns."
Rias rushed to the Goddess together with Koneko.
" Erin! Are you okay? I'm sorry for the attack we did earlier. You got caught up in that."
" What are you getting sorry for, Rias?" Erin said with a small smile. She was still wincing from those burns.
" In fact, you should be proud. You managed to get past your fears and prove Azazel that you can go all out."
Rias smiled in return while Koneko hugged the Goddess.
" Arigatou, senpai." the girl said with teary eyes.
" No need to cry, Koneko-chan. I'm just glad that my plushie is safe." replied Erin as she hugged the girl back.
" We'll ask Asia to heal your wings when we get back."
" Good Job, Blue Dragon Empress." greeted Tannin from above and eventually disappeared.
Erin nodded at this and proceeded to tear away the remaining fabrics of her dress which made Rias gape.
" W-What are you doing?"
" This? Oh nothing. What good would it bring if my dress is tattered anyway. So I might as well tear it down." She replied and continued with her task. The Goddess was now left with her shorts and bra on full display.
"Senpai....." Koneko deadpanned.
" What? And Rias, don't give me that look. You even sleep naked. I don't understand why you are so bothered by this." Erin rolled her eyes.
Rias shook her head and instead focused on their agenda.
" Let's head back to the venue. I have a feeling that the enemies would make their move there."
" Hai."
- End of Chapter -