Chapter 6: I Rise, You Fall
Alright. I do read the comments section to each of my fics. I want to know what you guys think, want, love, and hate about what I do. And I have read that a few of you, want to see the sex scenes I don't show. I've also gotten a few PMs about it too. I told my buddy ShepardisaBOSS this, so I'll now tell all of you. I HAVE thought about it. But, I'd be no good. If I were to make a sex fic, I need help. So, if anyone with knowledge on how to write smut wishes to help me, and I'll need others help, then I will post an on-going collection of smut fics that showcase all the sex I don't show in the stories. I would also take requests on a few tasteful scenarios. So, if any of you want to help me make smut fics, then I will grant your wish. But the main stories are going to remain relatively clean. Now, let's see what I'm going to do in this deadly game of chess…
One hour. Everything's been set. I have nine bullets in the cartridge for the pistol, five grenades, Balance Breaker, and this. Before we left the training grounds, Rias relayed that I had been coordinating a one-time strategy to beat Raiser. Everyone would have to stay a little bit away from me to avoid damage.
Slinging a backpack on hiding the secret weapon and everything else, I was ready to head off. A knock on the door stopped me.
"Duncan?" I heard Asia. "Can I come in?"
"It's open." And she entered. "What do ya need?"
"This, plan of yours? Are you sure that we'll win? I haven't been able to sleep all night. I've just been thinking about what will happen if we lose."
"I'll assassinate Raiser. That's what would happen."
"I, just want to know, how do you know he won't beat you?" I smiled.
"Let me show you that the ultimate weapon for killing Vampires and Devils is in my possession." I told her, then removed an item from my sling pack. She gasped.
If she still could pray, she would want to pray using this cross.
At the ORC…
Everyone was here. Kiba had his Holy Eraser sword. Koneko was tightening a pair of gloves. Rias and Akeno were sipping tea. The game was about to begin. When Asia and I entered, Rias instantly looked at me with a small smile, which I returned. Now wasn't the time for that unfortunately.
"Duncan," Rias began. "Do you have everything?"
I pulled out a grenade for everyone. "You each get one. They have five second fuses, so there's only three seconds until they blow. Only use them for when you think you're going to be overpowered. Nothing else."
"The gun?"
"Nine rounds. I doubt we'll need it much. I plan on using this," I said, tapping my pack. "To beat Raiser."
Rias took a deep breath. "Okay Duncan. And the Balance Breaker? Will you need that?"
"I'll use it a few minutes after the game begins. Take out as many of them as possible before the seven minute countdown finishes. If I can take out his queen first, we'll have an easier time finishing them all off."
"Agreed. And we have to watch out for Raiser specifically. If any of us see him, call Duncan with these." She said, a handful of little red orbs floating in her hand. The orbs went to each of us before we put them in our ears.
After that, the doors to the room opened again. Sona and Tsubaki entered.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting." Sona said.
"No, please come on in." Rias assured.
"I hope you're all aware that this battle will be broadcasted. We're here to help with that."
"Oh, that will make this even better." I grinned.
Sona looked a little wary at that. "Given how he seems very eager, I assume you and he thought up a way to definitely win?"
"Yes, we did. We won't be able to use this ever again, but no one will see us as pushovers." Rias confirmed.
"Well, I trust that it will be quite the event. I wish you luck."
A large whitish magic circle appeared, signaling Grayfia's arrival. Once she was fully in sight, she told us it was about to begin.
Sona gave her regards. She said if she were a betting girl, then she'd put her money on us beating Raiser seven ways from Sunday.
"There's one more thing." Grayfia needed to add. "I thought that you'd like to know the Great Devil Lucifer will be watching the game." Rias glowered a little.
"Oh. Brother Dearest."
"You know, one should be somewhat surprised you're apparently Satan's little sister, but at this point nothing would faze me. Then again, I already suspected as much." She shook her head at that.
"He's not the original Satan. During the war, our leader died. Sirzechs took over and lead our people through a dark time. He saved the devil kingdom." Kiba told me. But, you all know I already knew that.
"It's time everyone." Grayfia said, summoning the circle.
"Then let's go."
The battle ground was a perfect recreation of our school. Since it's in a neutral dimension, we could do whatever we wished. Our base was the ORC. Raiser's, the principal's office. Pawns would of course be promoted if they reached the opposing team's base.
Once Grayfia signaled that the match began, Rias turned to me. She looked straight into my eyes and said,
"Duncan… Win." I grinned and rushed out to the field.
The others stayed back. In case Raiser instantly ordered pawns to enter our territory, traps will await them. I paid that no mind, they'd destroy any of Raiser's servants that dared enter.
I was walking to the middle of the school. Out in the open. If I had to guess Raiser already saw me. And he wouldn't allow me to stay in the game. He'll likely send Yuballoona, his queen, to crush me. I was counting on that. That or him showing up himself to kill me. Neither would matter.
At the sound of powerful magic charging up above me, I knew it was the "Bomb Queen."
I dodged the explosive power, because it would raise too many questions I didn't want to be bothered with right now. People would wonder how a pawn survived a blast like that with not a scratch on him. I looked around and noticed that there was also Raiser's sister, Ravel, likely here to watch me squirm.
"Impressive." She said. "No one's ever dodged that before. You just might be a bit above a low-class Devil."
"There's much more to me than meets the eye."
"I can tell. But that doesn't make you capable of defeating my brother."
"Yeah, 'bout that. Why the hell would he include his sister in his own harem? No matter how you look at it, it's disgusting."
"It's not like he actually does anything to me. Nor will he. I'm just a part of it to complete the set, that's all."
"Yeah. That's… uh, still creepy."
"Eh, don't care. It's not like you'll live long after this. You know you can't beat him. He's of the immortal bird. He can't be killed."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong, dear." I said, reaching into my jacket. "You're all Devils, you all have the same weaknesses. Your first mistake? Letting me have time to prepare. And in that time, I studied each of your brother's servant's tactics. I created strategies for each of my teammates against any of them, minus you and Raiser. You, because you never actually fight. And Raiser? He's mine."
"You seem quite confident." She said, scowling a little. "And what, pray tell, have you got to defeat Yuballoona without harming yourself?"
"Oh, just bullets." I said, pulling out Freed's pistol. Without even looking, I aimed the gun at the queen and fired three shots.
A shocked yell later, and the 'Bomb Queen' fell to the ground.
"Lord Raiser's queen has retired.' We heard Sona's voice say in the air. I could tell she was pleasantly surprised.
Ravel was wide-eyed. She took a couple steps back, afraid of the gun. I pocketed it.
"Now if you'll excuse me,"
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]
"Imma go make your brother my bitch."
Then I blasted off, the red armor in the motif of a Dragon having finished forming.
[It feels good to be back. You don't take me out nearly as much as you used to.]
'Hey! You're the one who naps for ten years! You're at fault too.'
[Meh, don't care. Just let me be angry right now.]
With the second most dangerous piece out of the game, it'd be much easier to win. I could hear the others already in combat. Let's go a little higher into the sky and see the world as Superman does.
I fly, as high as I can into the sky without leaving the battlefield. I can see the others now more clearly. I assess their situations, to see if any need my help.
They're all fighting much more at ease. They obviously heard that our second biggest obstacle was out of the way. That didn't make things too easy though. Raiser's team heard as well. They were slightly demoralized but were focusing as much anger as they could into beating my friends.
Oh, we can't have them feeling confident now can we?
[Boost!] X10 [Transfer!]
I sent burst of energy to each of my group that I saw. Kiba was completely decimating the three enemies he was fighting with his Sacred Gear 'Sword Birth.' The boost made the swords erupting from the earth more prevalent and longer. Some were even serrated, I could see.
Koneko, there wasn't much to improve. Our sparring session during our ten days helped her a lot. The only fault she had in her technique was the fact she allowed herself to get hit too often. So I helped her practice dodging. The boost made her able to go in between each enemy much faster. She wasn't getting hit. I assume her ability to dodge right before any hit came at her was supplemented by the fact she's actually a Nekomata. Something the Nekos she was fighting couldn't tell.
Akeno needed no help. She didn't have many opponents and she was already gleefully shocking them. I could practically feel the heat of the burns each of her opponents were getting. She was fine.
I saw Rias and Asia finally. They left our territory. I assume they're trying to get to Raiser and are communicating with the others of a possibility to get to Raiser before I can hurt myself.
It's sweet that they care. But, I was already behind the wall separating me and Raiser right now.
"Alright guys. Can you read me?" Rias said into the magical links.
"Yeah, I hear you."
"Loud and clear."
"Done."
"Okay. I know Duncan is likely going to try and charge at Raiser soon." Rias said. "I know he's confident that he'll win… But…" She trailed off.
"We know. Raiser's an asshole, but not a pushover. He'll be tough." Kiba said.
"I think given the fact Duncan planned ahead quite a bit, he knows we're going to go behind his back." Koneko reasoned.
"Are you not confident in this Rias?" Akeno asked.
"No, I am confident." Rias sighed. "It's just…"
"You worry."
"Yeah."
The others were already in sight of each other. The main building was now in sight. They didn't need their communicators anymore.
"Well," Kiba started. "Raiser may be tough, but now he's alone. All of us together can beat him no sweat."
"I just hope Duncan's al"-
Smash!
The others were here. I could see them. Their wide-eyed expressions. I had broken through a few walls after first engaging Raiser. His usual attacks consisted of rapidly throwing fireballs. The hits I made were quickly regenerating, but he was gradually getting slower at that. He was getting tired.
Twenty seconds left on the clock for the Balance Breaker. The armor was counting down for all to hear.
Raiser was getting up after I threw him out the building. Blood was coming out his mouth, a few bruises and cuts were starting to heal. He was grinning right now. He heard the timer. He was under the impression I needed Ddraig to win.
[Well, it would be nice to know I'm more useful.]
"I knew it." Raiser spat, wiping the blood from his face. "You may be powerful, but you rely on that for it. And it has a limit."
The timer was at fifteen seconds now. Raiser pulled out a small vial. 'Phoenix tears.' He drinks that, and he's back to full strength. I let him.
"But even with all your power, you're nothing to me." He said before gulping the liquid. We all saw him full revitalize. "The flames of the immortal bird burn within me. It is all I need to defeat you and all my Rias' servants." He gloated, pryokinetic wings bursting from his back. "And now you're out of time."
[1!] And the armor dissipated, but not the gauntlet. I did not look afraid however. I reached into my pack with the armored hand, and gripped the object I was looking for.
"Checkmate!" He roared charging at me. He was right in front of me. I smirked.
Shunk!
He gasped, blood flying from his mouth, the wings disappearing. Before he could look at what just weakened him in one hit, I kicked him off of it into a tree.
"What- What have you done!?" He said, getting back up clutching the wound. "Is that a cross!?"
"It's called the Barbed Cross." I drawled, spinning it in my hand. "The core is made of sacred wood, a chunk of the crucifix Jesus Christ was nailed to, I believe. The edge is silver from King Solomon's Temple. Dipped in Holy Water from the Vatican, and blessed by one of the previous popes. It was made with the death of Vampires in mind… But it will work just as well for Devils, I'd say, given your current state."
"If that's true, you should be dead by now- You, your arm!" He screeched, noticing that the arm holding the cross was pulsing. "You gave it to that dragon?!"
"And a quarter of my own soul. Easy trade." The others, especially Rias, gasped.
"Have you lost your mind!? You don't understand what you've done to yourself! You will never be the same again!"
"I don't need to be nor do I have the desire to. Not as long as I can keep my master safe and put you in your place." I said walking toward him, dropping the cross.
"No, stop!" He pleaded. "This engagement is important to the future of all Devils! A servant like you has no business in the affairs of your betters!"
I had already reached him. I stared at him. His wounds from crashing into the tree aren't healing, the splinters are causing him more pain. He looks pathetic.
"You're feeling it now, aren't you?" I asked him, not caring what he begged. "What mankind lives with everyday... Your own mortality. You're just as weak as everyone else can be." I told him, before kicking him three meters to the right.
"Don't worry. You'll survive." I continued, picking him up by his collar. "The effects won't last long. Just long enough for me to make my point." I punched him three times, hearing teeth start to break. The fourth punch knocked him toward the others and right next to the cross. I slowly walked toward him again.
"I didn't have to go easy on you. A few more seconds in your stomach, a little higher. I could have even used it to paralyze you from the neck down. Permanently removing your healing ability by severing just enough of your spine." I informed him, the entire realm of the Underworld hearing my every word. I put my foot on his chest, there's at least two broken ribs I can feel. "I want you to remember that. I want you to know never to try and take Rias ever again. In all the years to come, in your most private moments… I want you to remember the one man who beat you."
"No! Stop!" I heard Ravel Phenex scream running toward me. "Don't! You can't kill my brother! You can't!" She cried, pulling on my arm.
I stared at her for a few seconds. Then I raised my hand. She flinches at the contact.
Though it's unnecessary. I'm only ruffling her hair. She notices this, and slightly relaxes her hold. She gapes a little.
"I'm not going to." I assured her. "But this is over. You've lost Raiser. Surrender now" I said, turning back to the man I'm standing on.
"… I… 'Gasp!' I-I, s-surrender…" He said, losing consciousness. I lifted my foot up now.
"Good." I said. Ravel was already on the ground, lifting him up. He's gotten the message. They all have. Anyone that opposes me and those I stand with, will know pain.
I turned back to my team. Rias is speechless. The others don't know what to say either. I start to walk toward them. As I reach the group, I kneel before Rias.
"I'm sorry if I scared you." I said. "I-I, I hope you don't think I'm some kind of"- She cut me off, kneeling to me to hug me. She's smacking my back a little with her fist.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid..." She says with each hit. Though I can tell that she doesn't mean it. "You're a liar. You gave up even more than your arm for this."
"I needed to win. I couldn't let you stay with him for even a second believing that you'd have to marry him at the end of this fight. So I made the deal to give me the power to protect you and everyone I else I hold dear."
She sighs. "You, oh, what am I going to do with you?" She says, smiling at the end a little.
"You could, you know, just, be happy? That's all I need, all I want."
"What about the soul thing? That's gotta have drawbacks." Kiba said.
"Not really. I'm still Rias' servant. But now Ddraig has more power to give if I require it, and a little more influence with me. I wanted to go the extra few miles to beat some humility into him. He'll be broken, for now. He'll probably have a fear of Dragons and crosses now too. But, he has no choice but to learn from this experience."
"Congratulations, Lady Rias." We heard, and turned to see Grayfia. "I must admit, though I'm sorry to say, we didn't expect you to win. You chose your servants well."
"I know."
"Lord Sirzechs would like you all to come to the Underworld to celebrate your first Rating Game victory. Your parents and he will take care of voiding your engagement with Raiser. And he's looking forward to seeing you especially, Duncan Hyoudou. Not many would do what you did just to make an example."
"Well, I aim to please."
"Tell my brother we'll be there." Rias said. "But, we need to clean ourselves up first. Wouldn't want to look like a mess now, would we?"
Grayfia nodded, then teleported us all back to the ORC.
I looked at everyone for a few moments.
"So… Who wants pizza?" I asked.
Not so much a battle as it was me beating a severely weakened Raiser. But, I think I put some good detail into it. If not or it's too short, tell me. I'll go back later on and try and add a more detailed fight scene where Raiser's actually putting up a fight.
Like I said earlier. I'm only hesitant on writing sex scenes due to lack of experience. So if you want to see those, you're going to have to help me.