"So it was you who summoned me," said the woman with flaming hair and a stunning appearance. "Since you've met your end, I'll accept it."

Issei, lying on the ground, had eyes that no longer reflected the light of life.

Timing was crucial; had it been a bit later, Issei's reincarnation as a Reincarnated Devil would no longer be viable.

In Rias Gremory's hand, a chess piece appeared - a simple pawn. The moment she placed it on Issei's chest, a look of surprise took over her face.

"Just one piece is all that's needed?" Her demeanor, previously calm and slightly arrogant, was now filled with conflicting emotions. "How can that be?"

━━━━━━━━

The abandoned church showed its decay. Gothic arches, once majestic, now sported moss. Broken stained glass let in a soft light. Old benches were lined up irregularly, and the altar, still intact, was covered in dust and webs. The silence was broken by the dripping water from the compromised ceiling.

"You did a good job," said Light, breaking the silence. "Here's your reward."

Raynare, kneeling before him, extended her hands, gratefully accepting Light's gift. "I'll be eternally grateful!"

"It's the Lacrima of the Sacred White Dragon," Light informed. "Be ready for the pain it might cause. In the worst-case scenario, it could be fatal. Of course, I can offer you another option, but it won't be as good as this."

"I still prefer this!" Raynare replied with determination. "I'm ready!"

Light pondered, 'If she succeeds, she might overcome her 'genetic flaw' that restricts her divine energy.'

Then, Raynare, with a resolute look, began to merge her magical power with the Lacrima. A luminous aura enveloped her body as she sought to control the vast power of the Sacred White Dragon.

The process was agonizingly slow. Raynare's distressing screams echoed throughout the deserted church. What were minutes seemed to stretch for hours. Despite the evident pain, Raynare remained resilient, never begging for help.

Almost two hours passed until her screams ceased, and she took on a meditative posture. A milky white light aura began to envelop her.

'She might be a fallen angel now, but her affinity with sacred energy is remarkable,' Light silently reflected.

Feeling that Raynare was now in a stable state, Light gestured to his subordinates, Kalawarna and Mittelt.

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"Keep an eye on her. I'm leaving," declared Light, departing without waiting for any response.

Watching Light form a pair of dark purple wings made of lightning and swiftly take flight, Kalawarna whispered, "He's gone..."

"Kalawarna, did you also notice that Light-sama has become even stronger?" Mittelt questioned. "It seems his magic is more intense, and even his wings look more imposing."

"Yes, I noticed," Kalawarna replied, turning to her.

"Kalawarna, do you regret?" Mittelt inquired.

"Regret what?" She retorted. "Submitting to him? If that's it, no, I don't."

"Neither do I," Mittelt stated. "Look, in just a few days, just by performing a simple task, he granted Raynare such a valuable gift."

There was a touch of envy in Mittelt's eyes as she concluded her statement.

"Well, I believe our chance will come," Kalawarna commented. "Asia Argento and Freed Sellzen are expected to arrive tomorrow. I don't understand Light-sama's interest in them, but I see it as an opportunity for us as well."

"Exactly, unlike Lord Azazel who never rewarded us even after so much effort, Light-sama is much more generous," Mittelt observed. "Even if I don't receive something as grand as Raynare, correcting our genetic flaw would be more than enough."

At the end of these words, both fell into reflective silence.

━━━━━━━━

As he flew over the skyscrapers of Kuoh City, Light abruptly stopped.

Descending and landing on a building, he spotted, a few meters away, a girl who appeared to be between 8 and 9 years old. Her short green hair had several bangs covering her forehead, and side strands framing her face. Her red eyes sparkled, and her skin had an abnormally pale hue, giving her the appearance of someone who had just been rescued from drowning.

"You again?" Light questioned. "Why do you insist on following me?"

"I'm watching you," she replied. "And my name is Shizuku."

"I've told you," Light retorted. "I'm not of the Amakawa Clan lineage."

"But you are," Shizuku responded firmly. "You have the 'Light Ferry', so you belong to the Amakawa. However, I can't determine exactly where you fit in the Amakawa Clan's family tree."

"Even if I am, it makes no difference, I don't intend to follow the path of a demon hunter. As long as don't attack me, I won't harm any Ayakashi." Light stated: "The five I eliminated before tried to kill me first. I couldn't just accept and let them kill me, could I?"

"Either way, you pose a risk," Shizuku observed. "That's why I'll keep my eyes on you."

In a blink of an eye, Light appeared in front of her, wrapped in intense purple lightning, and gently lifted her chin with his right hand.

"Aren't you afraid I might end your life?" He questioned with a menacing smile. "From this angle, it would be quite simple to electrocute you to death, don't you think, Shizuku-chan?"

"You won't do that," Shizuki replied, looking directly at him.

Her expression remained unchanged, even in the face of the threat.

"Tsk," Light expressed his frustration with a tongue click. "I'm telling you, stop following me."

Light distanced himself from her.

"Say what you want," she retorted. "I'll continue to tail you."

"Oh, really?" Light responded.

The next moment, a pair of wings made of dark purple lightning emerged from Light's back. Additionally, in his right hand, a golden light medallion appeared, merging with his wings, making them even more majestic, now with three wings on each side.

Taking flight, Light moved at a speed faster than a supersonic jet.

Shizuki morphed into water, trying to chase Light through the pipelines, but she couldn't match his speed. Eventually, she stopped several kilometers ahead, having lost sight of him.

"Damn it..." she murmured, clearly frustrated.