บท 18: Quest Complete

After thinking it over once more, Kokabiel started to think that the interloper was actually telling the truth. In his memory, the Black Emperor was someone who could make a simple bow and arrow work extraordinarily well against the supernatural races. As such, in Kokabiel's mind, it would provide a reason why weapons that he doesn't believe should be strong against him hit so hard. Fortunately for him, all the machines have been destroyed, leaving just the interloper Han Xiao and the sisters of Lucifer and Leviathan along with their peerage.

Kokabiel smirks, "Even if you're telling the truth, it doesn't matter. Your weapons have been destroyed, without them, none of you is of any threat to me!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Han Xiao says as a surge of mechanical force is released from him as he uses his Waste Modification skill, restoring the entire mechanical army to operating condition.

Kokabiels facial expression does a complete 180 as he sees all the machines he destroyed back and restored with their guns aimed right at him. His previous arrogance was gone, replaced with a sense of fear. Kokabiel immediately turns to run.

Watching the events fold out from her seat on the train, Huang Luan speaks in a low voice, in a language long forgotten, "In Kuoh Town, Japan, To leave a battle without the permission of thy opponent or opponents is prohibited. Lawbreakers will be flogged."

"Hm? Did you say something?" Kazuko asks.

"No, it was nothing," Huang Luan replies, turning her attention back to Han Xiao's stream.

Back over at Kuoh Academy, Kokabiel attempts to flee but is immediately stopped as he cries out in pain, much of his clothing destroyed revealing several deep bloody lashes.

Koneko, a small girl with short white hair, looks towards Issei, "I knew you were a pervert, but to use that technique on an old guy… gay pervert."

Issei instantly shakes his head in denial, "It wasn't me! I swear! I have absolutely no interest in stripping a man of his clothes!"

"It makes sense. Issei's Dress Break doesn't deal any real damage. But if it wasn't Issei…" Rias trails off, looking towards Han Xiao.

Issei, who is standing only a metre away from Han Xiao, takes a few steps back.

"It wasn't me either," Han Xiao says as he sends a message to the group chat.

Black Star: "What was that?"

Retired Loli Sovereign: "In Kuoh Town, it's currently against the law to leave a battle without the permission of your opponent. Lawbreakers will receive a flogging."

Understanding the reason behind Kokabiel's sudden injuries to be because of Huang Luan, Han Xiao says, "It was my employer that caused this. Currently, in this town, it's against the law to leave a battle without permission from the opponent. The punishment for breaking the law is as we just witnessed."

While Han Xiao gives an explanation for what happened he sends out the command for his mechanical army to fire at Kokabiel who's trying to bear the pain and keep moving, but for every centimetre he takes in an attempt to flee he's met with another strong lash. With his previous injuries from the lashing, Kokabiel isn't able to block or evade the shots fired from Han Xiao's machines, causing him to be unable to maintain flight and fall to the ground.

Han Xiao walks over to the singed crow, thick metal chains in one hand and the Super-Gene Extractor in the other. But before he is close enough to tie up the old fallen, a person in white armour with eight energy feathers stretching from their back.

"Sorry, I can't let you take him. I've got orders to bring him back alive."

"Same to you, I can't let you take the newest resident of my Happy Fun House," Han Xiao says.

At the same time in the chat.

Black Star: "@Retired Loli Sovereign, can you undo whatever it is you did so I can pick the bird up and leave?"

Retired Loli Sovereign: "Nah. This looks interesting so why don't you play with Vali and keep me entertained for a bit."

Black Star: "Remind me to never help you again."

As the conversation in the chat moves on to who Vali is, Han Xiao comes up with an idea. He has the mechanical army fire a few shots at the new challenger, but it doesn't really amount to anything.

"As much as I'd love to fight, I'm on a tight schedule here," Vali moves over to pick up Kokabiel.

Vali keeps an eye on Han Xiao and his machines, but seeing as they aren't doing anything to stop him, Vali flys up to leave. Or tries to at least. Due to Huang Luan's Law, Vali is hurt the same way Kokabiel was, even causing his scale mail to break apart.

"What did you do!?" Vali haggardly asks.

"Nothing. You can't leave because of… my employer. In this town, It's against the law to leave a battle without the permission of the opponent. The punishment is, well, you should know by now," Han Xiao says.

"Against the law? Just who is this employer of yours?" Vali asks with a hint of suspicion.

"The Emperor," Han Xiao says.

"The little girl?" Vali questions.

"So you've met?"

"You could say that. Here, take him," Vali tosses Kokabiel to Han Xiao.

"You're just going to give him to me? I heard you were a battle junkie."

"It ain't for free. Put in some good words with the little girl. I want her to fight with me."

Since he can't go back empty-handed, Vali moves over to the unconscious stray exorcist, Freed, "I'll be taking this guy though."

"Yo, Albion, I didn't expect to meet you here," Issei's gauntlet glows up and speaks.

"Ddraig, it has been some time," A voice says from Vali's armour.

Meanwhile, Vali is looking over Issei and sighs, "I was hoping that when I met the Red Dragon Emperor, we would engage in a legendary battle, but you're far too weak." Vali turns to Han Xiao who had just finished returning the mechanical army to his space compression devices, "You're free to go, I'll be heading out too."

"Same here. And the little lady will hear about your contribution but don't expect much from it."

Han Xiao turns in his Quest with the Chat System instantly teleporting him back to his world. And just before Vali flies away, Albion says, "Ddraig, a word of warning. If you're not careful an old acquaintance might come back to haunt you."