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Chapter 313 ~ Fortress In the Sky

Kuroka froze in place the moment his words registered. Her cat ears twitched upright, tails snapping straight as she instinctively sank into a defensive crouch.

Yuuji, however, only gave a helpless smile. 

Est dissolved into light, slipping back into his body as his white-gold armor shimmered away. In its place was nothing but his unassuming Kuoh Academy uniform, as if the divine figure from moments before had never existed.

“Relax,” he said lightly, his voice carrying an ease that cut through the tension. 

“I don’t mean you any harm. And Vali’s fine. I only knocked him out—before he could push himself into Juggernaut Drive and end up leveling my school.”

“W-What..?” Kuroka’s golden eyes widened, her voice trembling. 

“Vali… You knocked him out before Juggernaut Drive?”

Bikou’s jaw slackened. He understood the words, but his mind screamed against them. The notion was… impossible.

Vali was their leader. The descendant of Lucifer himself, bearer of the White Dragon Emperor, hardened by countless battles and tempered against foes far stronger than himself. He had never once fallen without a struggle that shook the heavens.

And yet—this man stood here, uniform unruffled, body unmarred. He looked not like a warrior returning from a clash with one of the world’s strongest, but like a boy casually stepping out of class.

But the claim was undeniable.

“...He’s the one,” Kuroka muttered, breaking Bikou’s disbelief. 

“The one who defeated Vali the first time. The one he’s been chasing ever since, looking for another fight.”

Bikou blinked, then laughed in shock. 

“Ah! So it’s you! Damn, didn’t expect to meet you like this! Thought you’d be some kind of God!” 

He tilted his head, squinting. 

“Wait… are you a God? You sure don’t act like one.”

His words hung awkwardly, the tension between awe and uncertainty plain in his tone.

Because deep down, Bikou knew. The aura rolling off this man was divine, oppressive yet warm, unlike anything he’d ever felt—even from deities. And damn it all, the guy was handsome enough to be the God of Beauty if he claimed the title.

But what unsettled him wasn’t the power. It was the bearing. Gods carried pride, arrogance, and suffocating weight. This boy? He carried himself like a person. Human. Calm. Approachable.

Yuuji chuckled, shaking his head. 

“No, I’m not a God. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Tsubakihara Yuuji, a student of Kuoh Academy.”

Bikou’s lips curled into a grin. 

“Heh. Fair enough! Nice to meetcha’, Yuuji. I’m Bikou—descendant of Sun Wukong!”

Yuuji nodded politely, then turned toward Kuroka. His smile softened.

“And you, little kitty?”

Kuroka’s cheeks flushed crimson. Her ears twitched, tails whipping behind her as she snapped. 

“D-Don’t call me that! I’m Kuroka!”

But her protest rang hollow. Heat fluttered in her chest, that one simple nickname melting her defenses far more than she wanted to admit. That voice—smooth, low, and maddeningly warm—made her heart quiver.

Regret immediately filled her. 

She wanted to hear it again. To hear him call her his “cute little kitty.” But pride and fear chained her tongue. How could she ever ask him to?

Yuuji only smiled knowingly, raising a hand in casual farewell. 

“Well, this has been nice. But it’s better if you two leave for now. Staying too long will only make trouble with those down there.” His eyes flicked toward the academy where the faction leaders watched, before settling back on them.

“I’m sure we’ll meet again. Hopefully not because Vali’s spoiling for another fight.”

Bikou barked a laugh. “Kahaha! Oh, that’ll definitely be the reason. And honestly? I’m curious about you myself. Wouldn’t mind a spar or two!”

“In moderation,” Yuuji replied with a faint grin.

Then his gaze shifted back to Kuroka, softer this time. “And I’m sure we’ll meet again as well… She’s waiting.”

Kuroka froze. Her breath hitched, her eyes darting down toward the school. A cocktail of emotions surged across her face—pain, regret, longing, guilt. So much she wanted to say, but her throat locked.

Without a word, she turned away, stepping through the yawning tear in space. Just before vanishing, she cast one last glance downward—toward where she imagined her little sister must be—then at Yuuji, her golden eyes shimmering with emotions unspoken, before the void swallowed her.

“Well…” Bikou exhaled, shifting Vali’s unconscious form over his shoulder. “Guess that’s my cue. See ya later, Yuuji! I’ll be looking forward to next time!”

With a jaunty wave, he leapt through the rift, which sealed behind them in a ripple of space.

The battlefield was silent again.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Yuuji returned to the room with Erika at his side, the weight of the previous battle still lingering in the air like a storm that hadn’t quite passed.

Inside, Aika, Rias, and Tatsuya had already gathered with Koneko and Gasper. The small dhampir was anxiously hovering by Koneko’s side, wringing his hands, his crimson eyes glancing back and forth in panic.

Koneko sat stiffly, her body trembling faintly, her golden eyes wide and clouded with confusion. The revelation about her sister and everything that had unfolded had shaken her core.

Without hesitation, Yuuji crossed the room and crouched in front of her. He gently laid his hand atop her white hair, stroking it with calm, deliberate motions.

“Koneko… it will be fine,” he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of certainty that pierced through her fear. “She’ll explain everything to you. Just… give her time, okay?”

“Yuuji-san…” Koneko’s voice cracked. Her usual stoic shell broke, and with a sudden, desperate movement, she threw herself forward. She buried her face against his chest, clinging to him like a lifeline.

Yuuji’s arms wrapped around her in return, pulling her close. He stroked her hair slowly, one hand on her back in steady, reassuring pats. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

The sight silenced the room.

“Yuuji-kun…” Rias whispered, her expression conflicted. The image of him standing effortlessly above Vali’s shattered Balance Breaker still burned in her mind. Even though she had only seen fragments of the clash, it was undeniable—Yuuji’s strength was beyond anything she had imagined. And yet, here he was, holding one of her most vulnerable servants with the gentleness of a brother, or perhaps something even deeper.

It was then that Yuuji finally stood, Koneko still holding onto him lightly, and turned to face the leaders who remained. Their gazes—Sirzech, Michael, and Azazel—were sharp, heavy with unspoken questions.

Yuuji, however, smiled. Not the smile of arrogance or intimidation, but one of calm control.

“Shall we reconvene later?” he said in a tone that brooked no argument, yet carried no hostility. “It’s been a long day. And if possible, I’d like to return home and relax with them.”

His eyes flickered toward Rias as he spoke the last words, and her cheeks warmed. She nodded, accepting his implicit invitation without protest.

Sirzech’s lips parted, as if to press further, but after a pause, he exhaled. “Very well… There are matters we must deal with ourselves. We’ll speak again soon.”

Michael, too, gave a gentle nod, though his eyes lingered on Yuuji—curious, cautious. “It is a shame, but understandable. This will not be our last meeting. Rest well, Tsubakihara-kun… and everyone. I pray the next time we meet, it will be under less turbulent circumstances.”

Azazel, leaning back with his usual casual grin, raised his hands in mock surrender. 

“Well, that’s that, then. Honestly, I’m exhausted too. Let’s save the twenty questions for later.” His eyes gleamed with curiosity despite his words.

The meeting dissolved in uneasy harmony, the room filled with the quiet knowledge that this was not the end—merely a pause.

Just then, Grayfia’s gaze drifted toward the window. Her silver eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief.

“Sirzechs-sama…” her voice trembled faintly.

“Hm—?!” Sirzechs turned, only for his expression to harden instantly.

“What… is that…?”

The skies above Kuoh warped. Clouds churned and the very air distorted as a massive shadow descended. It was not a dragon, nor a beast, nor an army.

It was a castle.

A fortress of impossible scale floated in the air like a sovereign that needed no throne. Gardens sprawled across its tiers, walls and spires reached to the heavens, and its presence alone carried a crushing majesty, as if it were a declaration to the world. 

A reminder that there would always be something above them.

The room stirred into chaos. Sirzechs, Serafall, Grayfia, Michael, Azazel, and their entourages instantly flared their auras in alarm.

But then Yuuji raised his hand casually, his expression unbothered.

“It’s fine. They’re allies.”

The words, spoken so simply, forced them to stop.

And before questions could form, a magic circle lit up in the center of the chamber. Unlike any system of runes or sigils familiar to angels, devils, or fallen, its complex etchings radiated an ancient authority beyond their understanding.

From it, three figures appeared.

The first was instantly familiar to the Kuoh students—she had once appeared during the parents’ visitation. But now, Semiramis revealed her true self: a woman with cascading black hair, her ears elongated, her attire a masterwork of golden-lined black silks that bared flawless pale skin with effortless allure. 

Each step was not taken as a mere mortal, but with a poise of a sovereign empress.

The second was a warrior swathed in jet-black armor, feminine curves hidden beneath the plates, a black helm with white horns obscuring her face. 

In her hands, she carried a halberd in one and a staff crowned with a floating obsidian orb in the other. The quiet menace around her was suffocating.

The third dwarfed them all.

A towering skeletal figure clad in magnificent robes of black and gold. His staff, crowned with seven coiling serpents each bearing orbs of different hues, pulsed with dreadful energy. Within his ribcage floated a crimson jewel radiating overwhelming dread. His skull, hollow and regal, gazed upon them with glowing crimson embers for eyes.

The leaders present—people who had seen gods, devils, and monsters—were struck silent. The sheer pressure of their presence seemed to bend the air itself.

And then—

“Good work~!” 

Aika’s cheerful voice cut through the suffocating silence. The brunette skipped forward, her hand raised high. 

“I saw those massive beams just now, they were so cool~! High five!”

The tension shattered.

Semiramis, with her regal bearing intact, lowered herself slightly. “It is an honor, Aika-sama.” She met the high five with a graceful smile.

Momonga, his skeletal hand rising with a faintly awkward movement, tapped her palm. 

“It was interesting. You should see the aiming mechanism—it feels just like a video game.”

Finally, the armored woman—Albedo—removed her gauntlet with practiced elegance and gave Aika her requested high five. 

“Good work. I’m glad it all went according to plan.”

Sirzechs, Michael, and Azazel stared, utterly floored. The suffocating aura remained, yet the casual exchange—Aika bouncing in delight, the three terrifying beings humoring her—twisted the atmosphere into something surreal.

Yuuji’s voice drew their eyes back to him. 

“You should relax. They’re my friends.”

“Really?!” Serafall’s eyes sparkled, and she practically skipped forward, twirling her wand. “Wow, Yuuji-kun, you have so many cool friends!!!”

“Hello~! I’m the magical girl Levia-tan! Nice to meet you~!”

The Maou struck a pose. 

Semiramis inclined her head with a refined bow. “I am Semiramis. The pleasure is mine.”

Momonga raised his staff slightly in greeting. “I am Ainz Ooal Gown. It is a pleasure.”

Albedo placed a hand upon her chest, her voice elegant yet restrained. “I am Albedo. Likewise.”

Serafall immediately began asking rapid-fire questions, bouncing with energy. Momonga faltered, struggling with her pace, while Semiramis smiled faintly and allowed Albedo to handle most of the conversation.

Meanwhile, Rias and her peerage drew close to Yuuji, still shaken from everything. He offered them a reassuring smile.

Then, turning to the leaders, Yuuji inclined his head slightly. 

“We’ll be going now. If you wish for another meeting, send word. We’ll come.”

There was no objection. None of them were in a position to push him further.

Yuuji turned to Semiramis next, his tone shifting to that of a commander; firm, yet not overbearing. 

“Bring the Hanging Gardens back home.”

Semiramis bowed deeply, her smile as poised as ever. “Your wish is my command.”

Finally, Yuuji’s gaze met Satoru’s.

The overlord’s skeletal face gave the impression of a knowing smile and nodded as he lifted one hand.

“[Gate].”

A massive whirl of darkness spiraled open, a portal that led to elsewhere—home.

One by one, Yuuji and his companions began to step through, their departure as commanding as their arrival. The last image left in the minds of Sirzechs and the others was the overwhelming presence of Yuuji’s allies fading into the void, leaving behind only silence and questions.