Strongest in DxD - Chapter 74

His deeds, his power, everything about the man known as Vasco Strada was great, about the man who pushed the boundaries of humanity to the point where he could rival Gods.

He doesn't have Sacred Gear, or a giant affinity for magic, all he possesses is his strong body and his talent with holy swords, and with that he has become someone that even a Top 10 member is wary of.

Okita could say without a shadow of a doubt that if Vasco Strada had been born in his world he would have become a great Heroic Spirit.

The man looked at Okita with a calm, calm look.

"What's your name?" asked Vasco in a gentle grandfatherly tone.

"Okita Souji" replied the servant without caring.

Vasco's eyes widened in surprise.

"The captain of Shinsengumi? But I thought Sirzechs Lucifer's [Knight] was him, you're a descendant of him Maybe?" pondered Vasco looking at Okita: "No, your aura is different"

Sighing, Vasco continued to speak.

"Actually, it doesn't matter" said Vasco before looking at the servant: "Is there no other way to solve this?"

Vasco Strada didn't like what he found out during the meeting, what the Church had done with Ren Katsuo's family, he was always dedicated to God and protecting the Church and knowing that the Angels ordained something like that made her feel betrayed .

But he knew revenge wouldn't solve anything, he didn't want to see the young boy suffer the emptiness it would cause.

Vasco wanted there to be another way for all this to end.

"It doesn't exist" said Okita coldly, she would follow the order her master gave her.

Vasco just sighed: "I see"

Vasco held out his hand beside him.

"Please lend me your power one more time," said Vasco as he closed his eyes.

The space in front of his hand distorted, reality curving causing the air to ripple like water, illuminating one side of his face as the distorted space began to emit a faint golden light. Without any hesitation, he plunged his arm into the distorted space, at shoulder height, before stopping and reversing his course as he pulled something out.

And what did he take...

...It was hope.

He glowed with golden light, his divinity unmistakable. The entire battlefield was awash with his presence as never-ending waves of his blessed power washed over them all. It was a weapon of divine origin, sent from Heaven to help humanity in its darkest moments.

Durandal.

A gift from the hands of God himself given to Roland, his most worthy son. With him, an army of a hundred thousand has been stopped by a single man and in the hands of someone worthy of wielding him, there is nothing he cannot cut.

She was handcuffed and bound by chains of the purest iron, but what chains can hold such a sword? Works made by mortal hands can hope to link such an existence. A single twist of his blade will rip him out of his fragile confinement and he'll be free again

In one swift movement, Vasco held up his sword which flashed, hope gathering on his blade as in one movement Vasco Strada took it from its chains revealing its appearance.

It was a large, uniquely shaped sword with a blue blade and golden edge. The sword has a semicircular shield on the left side of the hilt that extends to the bottom just above the hilt, with a small extension on the right side of the hilt.

It was a sword that claimed to be unparalleled, a sword that claimed 100,000 men alive, it was a sword that believed to be able to cut anything with it, a sword that believed capable of creating miracles, it was a sword that could be called a divine construction.

A sword that was used by Roland... The famous Paladin and leader of the Twelve Pairs. A sword given him by an angel and splendidly forged, like Caliburn. He proved to be nearly indestructible, seeing how Roland's desire to destroy him on the brink of death to keep him from falling into enemy hands ended in failure.

It was Durandal, one of the Four Great Holy Swords created by God alongside Excalibur, Caliburn and Ascalon, one of the mightiest swords ever made.

Originally, Durandal had belonged to Vasco after he received her as a young man and when he ceased to be her wielder she was passed on to Xenovia Quarta, a young exorcist.

However, when Vasco learned of the meeting, he again took out his holy sword so that, for the last time, he could use it while protecting his companions.

But he didn't imagine he would have to use her in a situation like this.

"It's been a long time," said Vasco, smiling as he looked at the sword in his hand.

Okita just watched calmly as he waited for Vasco to get ready without caring.

Vasco's eyes fell on Okita as his gaze softened.

"Forgive me for that, it's really not my intention, I don't want a fight, but to protect my allies we will have to fight" said Vasco seriously.

Okita's eyes simply remained focused on Vasco Strada.

"Don't apologize, this is a fight," the woman said seriously.

Vasco became serious as sacred energy began to flow through his body as he strengthened him.

A clear aura appeared around Vasco, but it was different from light, it was the pure sacred element.

The element of Light exists within every human being, even if it is just small. But some people have a very strong affinity for the Light and this makes them able to wield the Holy Swords or have that element manifested physically, remember in exorcism when some exorcists can burn the evil spirit just by touching. That was the main example.

As much as it manifests the Light element, although impressive but far from being good or rare, many can do this, but manifest the Holy element? Now that's something else.

Manifesting the Light element is something that is not difficult, some magic or Sacred Gear might allow you to do this, but Holy?

No, it's not that simple. Because if you are able to manifest the Holy element, it means you have to be pure, genuine, it was the power given by those who have a very strong faith in God and have a deep understanding of their actions, and so the System does not Heaven recognizes you not only as a Human, but as someone who fights for the righteous, for Him and at the same time carrying other sins and darkness for God's sake, but still has your mind and image in other clear, unblemished eyes.

And people capable of this feat could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Strengthening his body to the limit, Vasco raised his sword as he lunged at Okita at such speed that he broke the ground and generated a shock wave.

To any spectator it was as if Vasco had disappeared and suddenly appeared in front of Okita, even the servant looked surprised by the human's speed.

That was the speed a human over eighty-two years old shouldn't have.

Vasco lowered Durandal, his sword bathed in pure, concentrated holy energy, and thanks to Vasco she could actually use her true power to cut anything.

In a quick move, Okita took a step to the side at a speed that surpassed Vasco's and dodged Vasco's blow.

The wave of holy energy shot from the sword as it continued to advance and devastate everything in its path until it ended up slicing through a mountain several miles away.