They do, but the situation changes!

"You sure you want to kill me, and end our exciting Excalibur battles?" Freed asked Kiba with a sneer at he approached, but he was ignored, and hastily had to defend himself from more swings. "Tsk!"

"Well well, it's the Sword Birth boy, hmm? I had wondered how your body disappeared, but it seems you had reincarnated as a Devil," another voice called from a nearby rooftop, making Kiba freeze and jump back from Freed, his gaze whipping up to see an old man in church garb.

"...Valper!" he shouted, rage entering his voice.

"You know him?" Issei asked, readying his gauntlet again with another Boost.

"He was the one who oversaw the project," Kiba snarled, pure venom in his tone. Issei's eyes widened, and he turned his gaze towards Valper.

"Oi, old man, this damn dragon tongue is getting to be a real problem!" Freed shouted, trying to cut the cord, to no avail.

"You're such an immature Excalibur user," Valper remarked, though with his a tone of patience. "Use the sacred element I granted you, and that cord will come loose."

"Yeah, yeah," Freed growled, before channeling additional Light into the Excalibur. "Like this, right?" he grinned, before swinging his blade down at the cord, striking it. As if alive, the cord recoiled and retracted back to a stunned Saji's gauntlet.

"Freed, we should fall back and return to Kokabiel. Leave it at this for now," Valper lectured, causing Freed to grumble.

"Tch, fine, whatever you say, old man," he conceded, before leaping away as Kiba, Raynare, and Issei charged him again.

"Hey, wait!" Kiba snapped, preparing to leap after him, as Raynare flared out her wings again, preparing to take flight.

"Sorry, but I need to take my leave now!" Freed jeered, leaping to another rooftop. "But when we next meet, it's going to be the best battle ever!"

"Not on our watch!" Irina shouted as she and Xenovia arrived, leaping up to the next roof nearby.

"Eh?" Freed blinked, turning to look at him. "Ah shit, it's you bitches..."

"In the name of our rebel crushing Lord, I apprehend you!" Xenovia barked, her blade raised.

Freed scoffed, and threw down a flash bang, blinding everyone briefly. When the light died out, Freed and Valper were already a good distance away in their retreat. "Shit! After them, Xenovia!" Irina shouted, and they got moving immediately to give chase.

"I'm going to!" Kiba added, also giving chase.

"...I already informed the others. They're coming for our location..." Koneko told Issei. "Do we go after Kiba now?"

Issei paused, considering their options. Could Kiba be trusted to contact them if he tracked Freed and Valper down to where Kokabiel was?