Chapter 22: Chapter 21
The sun lazily rises above the skyline, bringing the whole world back to life from the dark and cold embrace of the night. Inside the palace, although the day was just about to start, Razjeel was strolling through the halls. The corridors were empty and only from time to time he met some servants who greeted him politely and he greeted them back.
He was just after breakfast, which was obviously made by Raynare. Once he told her that he can cook his own food, as he wasn't accustomed to such a treatment, she said that's the only way she could somehow help him and it's one of her duties as a maid. At the beginning she was only serving him a food made by other maids who knew this or that about cooking or by the chefs, but when the war ended, she asked them in the secret to teach her how to cook. Her "cooking lessons" were either before the dawn or after the dusk. Of course Razjeel eventually found out, he noticed small cuts on her fingers and the rumors sure know their way, that's how "secrets" work in workplaces. But he didn't say a word about it to her. Seeing her happy expression, which she tried to hide, when he "unknowingly" praised anyone who made the dish always makes him feel nice and...
But he had to admit that he was impressed, training from the sunrise, performing her maid duties, now even duties as a secretary, enduring his teasing and even learning how to cook in free time, he started to see her in a different light.
And if he had to be honest, he was in love with her food. He didn't even think about eating his own food anymore, when he could eat something better and for free.
His day was going to be good, that's what he thought a few minutes ago before someone he was avoiding for quite some time blocked his path. Seeing a young, silver haired man in front of him, Razjeel immediately turned around and walked away at a fast pace.
"Hey! Stop!!" Shouted young man. "Let's have a spar! You promised me that, old man!! Hey! Don't leave!" He sprinted and once again stood before him, with stretched arms blocking Razjeel's path.
Heavy sigh escaped his mouth. "Really? It's still morning. I know you are battle maniac, Vali, but it's tiring for me to wipe the floor with you every time. Wait till the afternoon at least."
"Oh? The great Fallen is afraid of me? I see, I see. But I promise, I will go easy on you." Said Vali with a smug face.
The corner of Razjeel's mouth twitched. "You little shit, you dare to look at me with that smirk? I want to remind you that last time when you crossed the line you spent two weeks in bed and it was me who went easy on you." He sent him a mocking smile.
"Bullshit! It was thirteen days, not two weeks! And it was only because Albion didn't want to go all out!" Rebutted Vali.
"It was because you will die if he takes you seriously." A deep, ancient like voice came from Vali's hand.
"You were just scared of him. And that only makes me want to fight you even more, old man!" Said Vali excitedly.
Razjeel didn't want to fight with him, why? Because he would win anyway and when you're winning every single time, it's getting boring. Also the fact that Vali is a battle maniac irritated him to no end. He could simply give up, but no, he wouldn't stop until he lost consciousness. And what is the most annoying part in battlemaniacs? Once you defeat one, he will always come back again and again until you will lose. But the fact is, it's impossible for Vali to win against Razjeel.
"You know what?" A sudden idea popped up in his head. "If you want to fight with me, you have to defeat Kokabiel and his boyfriends first. One by one and then they are all against you. If you win you will have your fun." He crossed his arms, showing that the matter wasn't negotiable.
"Tsk. Fine." Vali wasn't stupid by no means. He knew that Razjeel wanted to play on time. "But try to make another excuse and I will end you." He shot Razjeel a deadly look. The atmosphere around them becomes tense.
"Pfft... Hahaha hahaha!!!" Razjeel tried to hold back his laughter, but he failed miserably. "Oh my, hahaha. Brat, if you keep throwing such a jokes on me it really would be my end." He wiped the tear formed at the corner of the eye. Then he just casually walked pass the Vali, humming unknown melody.
"Why do you keep fighting him? Even I in my prime didn't stand a chance against him." Asked curious Albion, despite knowing the answer.
"That's exactly why. Because he is this strong... It makes me feel... weak... And I don't want to be weak, never. Not until I kill that bastard." Vali clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of determination.
"... You will kill him one day, you will..."
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In front of the Razjeel's office a group of people was waiting in a line, creating a neat queue. They were the vice-representatives of different regions from all around Grigori. The Devils rule their lands by division into social castes, like that of nobility and of course the authority was hereditary. While in Grigori there were people called administrators. Every 5 years they were elected by the people, who lived in a certain region, as their representatives. Their job was to properly maintain their respective region, including solving local issues, accounting for taxes etc. etc.
Sometimes a certain issues appears that exceeds the capabilities of administrators. When that happens, the city or a village from where the problem originated, have to appeal to the administrator for the help. If they deemed that the issue exceeded their capabilities, they fill up a special document with a request for help from the capital. And it was Razjeel's job to listen to who has what problem and solve it.
After the next hour when the last of the "guests" left his office, he sighed feeling tired. There wasn't a single case that couldn't be handled by one of the officers or Division Commander. But one case gained his attention. It was from the village at the very end of the Southern part of Grigori. Apparently, people started disappearing in unexplainable circumstances. There weren't any traces of fight, tracks of beasts or signs that the victims left on their own. Well, that's if all of them decided to live different lives, leaving literally everything they had. 'Hmmm... I'll leave this for Kael. It's quite impressive that he's almost done in one day.'
*Knock*
*Slam!*
The sudden knock and the slammed doors brought him back to the reality. Silver-haired man walked faster towards the Razjeel.
"*Sigh* I told you earlier, knock before you enter, brat."
"I knocked-"
"But you didn't wait for an answer."
"Doesn't matter! Listen, I went towards Kokabiel's office but he wasn't there. And his lackeys didn't say anything about where he could be. You cunning old man, you knew that Kokabiel went somewhere, that's why you told me to first fight with him!" He pointed his finger at Razjeel, accusing him with anger painted on his face.
" What are you talking about? He should be in his Division barracks. I didn't assign any mission to him either. Maybe he's in the brothel?" Responded Razjeel with raised eyebrow.
"He isn't there. And in any of the pubs or bars. And in any of the nearby cities. I checked." Stated seriously Vali.
"That's weird... Wait, did you check every city nearby?" Vali nodded "And every bar?" He nodded again. "And brothel?" Another nod. Razjeel shook his head helplessly. 'What the hell this kid had inside his head...'
"Back to the topic, he didn't get or ask for the permission to leave. That-" Razjeel was interrupted by a middle-aged man who barged inside his office, breathing heavily.
"I... *huff* My lord *huff*... I... *huff*... News*huff*"
"Catch your breath. I don't understand what you're mumbling about." Said Razjeel, stopping a middle-aged man with his hand.
"I... I have some news... Kokabiel left the Underworld and is trying to kill Sirzechs Lucifer's younger sister..."
"Oh...". Was all Razjeel said. He waved his hand, signaling to the man that he may leave.
"What are you going to do? I can go there and-" Vali couldn't finish what he wanted to say as Razjeel started speaking.
"No. I'll go." Was all he said before he unfurled his wings and disappeared, leaving few black feathers behind.
°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°×°
Behind the Kuoh Highschool, at the playing field, the group of teenagers was facing a man dressed in black. The surrounding area was devastated, filled with craters, cracks and slash marks. If it wasn't for the barrier that isolated that place from the rest of the world, the damage would be far worse and impossible to go unnoticed by others.
"Aaaaagh!!" Screamed blue haired girl in black, tight suit. She blocked the big Light sphere sent by man, barely though. She immediately fell on her knees, stabbing a big blue and gold sword to the ground.
"Hahahahahahahahah!!!" The man known as Kokabiel started laughing madly, covering his face with his hand.
The teenagers were in dire situation. They were exhausted, they received some damage, whatever they did, they couldn't defeat the man in front of them. Their bodies could barely move, devoid of any energy. This opponent was out of their league. Xenovia along with Asia, despite the headache, started praying toward God for help and strength.
"Let me tell you a brutal truth, servants of God!!" Kokabiel started speaking with ridicule in his voice. "In the previous Three-way War, God was actually killed by the Four Great Devil Kings!!" He looked at them as if it was the most funny thing in the entire world.
"W... What?" Xenovia managed to say, without any strength in her voice. She doubts what she just heard.
Kokabiel continued speaking. "All sides were ruined to the point where they had to rely on the humans to survive. Angels, Fallen Angels, Devils, the leaders of three factions decided to seal this information to keep other Gods-. No, I don't have time for that. It's only a matter of time before he'll find out." His maniacal grin disappeared and was replaced by a rare, serious expression.
The Rias's Peerage and Xenovia were still trying to comprehend what they just heard, with Xenovia and Asia having the hardest time to accept that.
Kokabiel flew high in the air with his arms above his head. A single Light lance manifested above his hands. It started growing bigger and bigger, just like the pressure it was releasing. It only stopped growing when it's size reached that of a three-story building.
Wicked grin adorned Kokabiel's face. "Hahahaha!! Be glad! You will be the spark that will ignite next war!!" The lance flew towards Rias's Gremory Peerage at high speed.
They were tired. They couldn't move. They didn't have any energy in them. 'I will die? I don't want to...' Issei thought with hollow eyes, looking at the incoming attack.
Kiba bites his lower lip, but he still couldn't stand up. Tears started flowing down Asia's cheeks, her eyes were closed and hands folded in prayer. Rias looked at her servants and started mumbling that she apologized for everything. Xenovia, just like Kiba, bites her lips to the point they started bleeding. She managed to stand up but she didn't have any strength to even swing with her sword. The lance was coming closer and closer, and she eventually fell back on her knees again. All of them thought it was their end, the feeling of dread crawled inside their hearts.
*SHATTER*
Suddenly, the loud noise of shattered glass spread through the area, meaning that the barrier was broken. With a corner of her eye, Rias noticed a silhouette of a man walking calmly between members of her Peerage, with big, black wings on his back. Everyone was observing him in startle, thinking how and what is another Fallen doing here. The man eventually stopped in front of the Xenovia and looked at her.
Blue-haired girl looked in his emerald eyes without a hint of fear, but rather with determination to fight. He looked at her for a moment longer before his attention traveled to the sword on his right. His eyes widen unnoticeable for a moment before they return to normal. He grabbed the sword by the handle and lifted him out of the ground with ease. Making a few swings to better feel out the blade he took a few steps forward, looking at the incoming, massive lance.
He casually swung his sword, creating a light slash in crescent moon shape. Both attacks collided, it looked like they were evenly matched, but it was only looking like that. In the next moment, the man's slash cleanly slashed through Kokabiel's lance, cutting it in half and disappearing behind clouds that weren't spared either.
"I have enough of you." The newly arrived man said to Kokabiel, in a voice colder than ice.
Kokabiel's face lost its colors, his hands, unknowingly to him, started to shake. He gulped and summoned the Light sword in each of his hands.
"Oh shit...."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ReeviN
ReeviN I'm sorry for the delay, I have no excuse, I just beg for forgiveness!
Anyway, here's the chap for you, I hope you enjoyed it.
I wanted to say that in two weeks I will start posting Demon Slayer FF chapters but they'll be short (around 1500 words). Of course 'Rise of the Fallen' will be still released every two days.
I have few things to think about this FF so I'm sorry if next chapters will be bad or something, it'll probably be because I won't be focused.
Good day/night!
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