Vali has arrived!

A figure in white armored that looked similar to Issei's own Scale Mail stepped into the dilapidated church, clapping as he did. "...I must say, I'm quite impressed," he remarked as Issei could practically FEEL Ddraig stiffening within his being. "A ten winged Fallen, against two inexperienced, incomplete Peerages, two string but also wet behind the ears exorcists, and a newly minted four winged Fallen... On paper, the outcome should have been obvious."

"What the?" Rias asked, standing shakily, her clothes barely hanging on her body from Kokabiel's last attack. "How did you know where to find us?"

"...we WERE kind of making a racket," Sona mused as she adjusted her glasses, frowning as she noticed a crack in one of the lenses. "...bother. This prescription is expensive."

"Actually, Raynare sent me the coordinates," the armored man noted, jerking a thumb towards her. "Congratulations by the way in getting another set of wings," he remarked.

"Erm, thanks," she replied, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry to call you for nothing... I thought we were outmatched at the time..."

"For good reason. Had Kokabiel taken you all seriously from the start, I doubt things would have turned out the way they did," the man stated as he approached Kokabiel, and nudged his body with his foot, as if making sure he was actually dead. "But arrogance was his undoing, and by the time he realized he was taking things too lightly, it was too late... Not to minimize your accomplishment, of course. I'm genuinely impressed you were able to pull this off, even if he was underestimating you."

"Seems you have a host with potential, Red," a voice echoed in Issei's mind.

"White," Ddraig acknowledged. "Not going to start up our battle again?"

"Nah," Albion replied. "Your host just got out of a fight. There's no honor in defeating an exhausted enemy. Or a fledgling, and despite his accomplishment tonight, he counts as both in my mind. He hasn't had your power as long as Vali has had mine. Vali would much rather let him grow into a worthy rival before we begin another round. Besides, taking a break for a bit doesn't sound so bad to me."

"Hmph. Fair enough. Looking forward to our next fight, Albion."

"You as well, Ddraig."

Issei was surprised at how amicable they were despite Ddraig's own insistence on the animosity between them, before he approached Vali as he picked up Kokabiel's body. "... it's almost a pity. Azazel-sama had a different fate in mind for this traitor, but this solves the immediate problem just fine," Vali noted.

"...so you're Vali huh?" Issei asked cautiously, momentarily distracted from his crisis.

"And you must be Issei," Vali nodded. "Like I said, well done. Even if you outnumbered him, and he underestimated you, what you pulled off is no small feat. Though you're still not ready to face me, I doubt it will be much longer." Freed, laying where he had been cut down, coughed up blood. "...oh, you're still alive, are you?" Vali asked, also picking up Freed. "Suppose I should take you back as well. You may have information on any other potential schemes Kokabiel had been cooking up." Vali turned to go with the corpse, and the almost corpse.

"Vali!" Raynare called after him, making him pause.

"Hmm?" he asked, turning his head.

"...if anyone asks, you're the one who killed Kokabiel. I'm sure Azazel-sama will agree as well," Raynare told him.

"Eh? Why?" Issei asked, turning to look in confusion at Raynare.

"Is it not obvious?" Sona stated flatly. "We just killed a member of the Grigori. Regardless of his crimes, that won't sit well with many of the Fallen. Especially given that we, by all rights, should not have been able to pull it off. It will be an embarrassment to the Fallen if it were to get out. It will be easier to keep things calm if Azazel's enforcer takes the credit."

"Exactly. It will seem more like a matter handled internally with some help from us that way. And be a smaller blow to their egos," Rias nodded in agreement.

"I'll keep that in mind. I'll let Azazel-sama know of the suggestion before I tell anyone else as well, and go along with it if he agrees," Vali nodded, before moving to where his group was waiting, and they headed off.

"...I still can't believe it... We won," Raynare sighed, placing her hands on her knees and panting. "...I can't believe we pulled that off..."

"And no one on our side died either," Irina agreed. "Guess we can thank you for that," she praised Asia, who flushed at the compliment. Indeed, everyone with serious injuries had been patched up by her well enough.