They do! And issue a challenge!

"Fine, I'll call up Azazel-sama, let him know the details, and see what wheels he can grease for you all," Raynare sighed. "Knowing him, he'll also make me assist..."

"Well, that's quite helpful! If you guys don't mind, we'll start looking into where Kokabiel and his minions are hiding out, and what their plans are," Irina replied, getting up.

"Hold on. If we are actually going to go through with letting them help us, we should at least make sure they're up to snuff," Xenovia cut in, also rising to her feet.

Irina paused. "... that's actually not a bad point," she admitted. "Going up against Excalibur is a dangerous task. Hell, the reason we were dispatched was because we are experienced wielders. We should at least make sure they can support us."

"Good. I'll be one of your opponents," Kiba chimed in before Rias could either agree or protest, thrilled to have an excuse to fight a wielder of Excalibur. Rias sighed and face palmed.

"And just who are you?" Xenovia raised an eyebrow at Kiba, and taking note of his dark look.

"Your Senpai... born of a failed project," Kiba replied darkly.

"Kiba, you better hold back from actually trying to kill them," Issei stated bluntly, making Irana and Xenovia blink in confusion, and he clarified for them, "He... has a history with Holy Swords... I'll be your second opponent, if you want a two on two spar. Asia and I are the newest members of the Peerage, but Asia isn't a direct fighter, so my level should give you a good idea of the baseline skill of us," he told them.

Irina and Xenovia glanced at each other, realizing what Kiba and Issei were referring to. Then their gazes moved to Asia, also recognizing her. "You are... the former Saint Asia?" Xenovia asked her, and Asia flinched, and nodded.

"So that's what became of you... you became a Devil of all things," Irina sighed. "Tell me, do you still believe in our God?"

"I do, yes... but I also no longer believe that existing as a Devil is a sin... or if it is, it shouldn't be," Asia answered, surprisingly firm in her response, making Xenovia's eyes narrow. "One can follow God in their own way, while not agreeing with every single one of His teachings. That is what I believe now."

"How blasphemous," Xenovia stated, a dark look on her own face, before Issei stepped between them.

"I'm not looking to start a real fight, rather than a simple match, but you and your Church have no right to judge her," Issei told her firmly, getting a glare in response. "You all are the ones who cast her out for showing compassion, even to a Devil. Last I checked, mercy was supposed to be a virtue in the eyes of God. Even if it ended up resulting in said Devil killing one of your Exorcists, she had no way of knowing that would happen. And while I don't know the details of the story, you shoudn't blame said Devil for defending himself."

"Insolent. We'll have to beat that out of you during the match," Xenovia stated, and Irina grimaced in discomfort, unable to refute Issei's points. Neither could Xenovia, but Xenovia was a bit... zealous and uncompromising in her beliefs, and would rather make a threat than concede any ground whatsoever.

"Let's just head outside, and do the match," Irina put a hand on Xenovia's shoulder, and giving her a stern look, warning her not to escalate.

As they headed out, Rias gave Akeno a look. "...if anyone on either side starts getting... excessive, zap them," she muttered to her Queen.

Akeno beamed at the notion, clearly hoping someone gave her such an excuse.

(Side note, yes, I know how much of a scumbag Diodora is, but Issei doesn't yet. That benefit of the doubt thing Issei is giving him? Yeah, going to disappear REAL fast once that prick actually shows up.)