A/N: Welcome back to Chapter 15! I'm trying something new with a Chapter Title present. That's all! Writing these is taking a long time so forgive me! Enjoy reading!
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
'Nebula'
{Nebula Ability}
"Force"
(Force Ability)
(Albion)
[Ddraig]
Other Abilities/Move
(A/N)
*Actions*
*Time Skip Or Scene Change*
Chapter 15: Change Anew
"You're joking Issei. You have to be!" exclaimed a surprised Rias as she and her peerage stared dumbfounded at what Issei had them carry. Rias already had some weights prepared in packs for her peerage to carry up the mountain to their estate but Issei...Issei's packs made hers look like pebbles compared to boulders.
"If you can't handle it, just go home." Marina sighed as she stared at her nails as she wore her pack.
Rias' eye twitched, "You're crazy if you think we're going home." The rest of her peerage nodded enthusiastically before looking back at their assigned packs and cursing at themselves.
"Relax Rias, see this as strength training?" Issei chuckled as he picked up his pack. With one hand making everyone not in his peerage widen their eyes in surprise. "Marina focus on flying with the packs. Everyone else run up! Let's go! We don't have time to waste!" Issei smiled before running up the mountain. Marina gave Rias a condescending stare but taking flight up the mountain.
"Hey Alec, race ya?" Noct smirked at the vampire. Alec smirked back and nodded before both carried their packs and took off up the mountain, one in knight speed and the other vampire speed. Jane shook her head before taking off behind her brother.
Tiamat sighed in boredom, walking up the mountain lazily as she carried not one but two packs with her. Raviel nervously smiled behind Tiamat before following suit.
Rias gulped as she turned back to her peerage, each member looking worriedly at the packs, "Well if Raviel can do it, so can we! Let's go Gremory Peerage!" With a cheer she grabbed her pack, lifted it up, and prepared to walk up only to fall down as the pack was too heavy. "God dammit!"
John nodded towards Sera before both slowly and shakily took their packs. Thank god for Tiamat's training or else they would've been like Rias.
*At the Top of the Mountain*
"Dammit Alec even as a knight I'm too slow!" Noct complained as he trailed up last behind Alec who was sitting at the top of the mountain where the estate was. To demoralize him even more, Jane who started later than both was sitting next to Alec. "You're kidding me!"
"Damn they're slow." commented a bored Marina who began to stretch. She felt a glare from Noct before glaring back, "Rias and her peerage Noct!"
"Give them time. I did pack a lot of weights." chuckled Issei. He unpacked everyone's pack and took their contents and placed them all into one pack before tossing it to Noct.
"Thanks Issei!" Noct nodded at his king before sitting down next to him and laying down absorbing the sunny day.
"For a shadow user you do like the sun." Marina said while blankly staring at the laid form of Noct.
"Yeah and for a wind user you're loud as fuck." Noct shot back before being sent flying by an annoyed Marina.
"Relax guys, besides here they are." smiled Issei as he rushed over to the group only to see that the group was practically dead, Kiba looked decently better but he was still tired. And Asia was as energetic as ever, probably because she had no weights to carry.
"Attaboy Kiba!" shouted Noct who recovered from the wind blast. He rushed and helped Issei take their packs off. The moment their packs were off, the group collapsed in tiredness.
"That's too much..." commented a tired Kiba as he laid down.
"Relax Kiba you haven't even begun training yet." Noct smirked looking at the scared Kiba.
"Ok now that everyone is here, let's pair us off into groups and began our training." Issei firmly said making his peerage nod as they stood next to their king. Rias and her peerage on the other hand with the exception of Asia were dumbfounded by Issei.
"What?! Can we at least take a break?" exclaimed Rias.
"Still as whiny as ever, no breaks until after today's training." Marina crosses her arms, "It was just a warmup too."
"Warmup?!" Rias looked shocked, ignoring the first part from Marina, "Issei you said this was strength training!"
Issei shook his finger, "I said look of it as strength training, never said it was." He then coughed making Rias and her peerage groan before slowly standing up. Once the peerage stood up, they marveled at the sight of the vampire twins, their skin sparkling beneath the sun.
"I'll just take the newbies." Tiamat yawned before ushering for John and Seraphina to follow her which they did into the woods.
"Hm ok, well Noct will train Kiba with the help of Jane and Alec." Issei ushered to the two knights and vampires, "Focus on speed. And Noct you know the deal."
"Sure do!" Noct smiled before lifting up the pack where all the weights were with his shadows making Kiba go pale in shock.
"Good luck." whispered Rias. Kiba nodded before slowly walking with his three trainers.
"Next is Koneko. She'll be with Raviel. You two just practice with your strength and spar." The two mentioned rooks nodded before walking away.
"You sure Raviel can handle it?" asked a worried Rias.
"Really? That's like asking if Koneko can handle it. Raviel's physical strength is immense." Marina rolled her eyes making Rias twitch in annoyance and about to burst her mouth open.
"Anyways, Marina will train Akeno and Rias. Though Marina might not have experience with lightning or Power of Destruction, she might give you some helpful pointers in magic usage."
With a groan, Marina looked at the two girls, "Fine."
"Oh and take Asia with you. You know, because she can help heal." Asia nervously nodded before following her king and queen and Issei's bishop. Rias and Akeno looked at each other and at a smirking Marina before they both gulped.
"So what about me?" Sumire asked as she stood alone with Issei. She blushed as Issei stared her down. She stared back and noticed his firm and outlined muscles which were present even through his shirt. She looked into his warm and brown eyes and stared down in embarrassment as perverted and just full thoughts began to pop in her head. She giggled as drool began to form. She didn't even register what Issei had said making him confused as he stared at the back of Sumire's head.
"Sumire, since we both hold dragons, I'll train you in mastering your gear." Issei stared at Sumire, "Sumire?"
With a jolt, Sumire screamed yes before coming back to her senses. She realized she wasn't in a wedding venue or even in the bedroom, she scanned the area and blushed as she realized where she was and what she was thinking.
'Greatttt. I'm loving this so far.' sighed Nebula.
"Sorry Issei..." Sumire rubbed the back of her head making Issei nod and repeat his statement which Sumire nodded and understood.
"Great. Let's begin then." Issei smiled.
Summoning his own sacred gear, Issei motioned for Sumire to do the same. She nodded and summoned her [Boosted Gear] grinning only for the grin to falter at Issei's tongue tsk.
"No second liberation?" Issei asked disappointingly as he observed the dragon gear. And he was right, Sumire's gear was only in her first liberation, two spikes and one jewel.
"Say what now?" Sumire nervously chuckled, scratching her cheek in confusion.
[Forgive me Sumire but right now the [Boosted Gear] is in its weakest form. The second liberation is say the upgraded form and contains my full power.] explained Ddraig.
{Well great, I'll have to hear his voice in these 10 days.} sighed Nebula.
"Sweet!" She smiled before confusion set upon her again, "So how do I get this second liberation?"
"Let's not ponder into that so fast. Let's just focus on what you have as of now. How many times can you boost before collapsing?"
"I actually don't know." Sumire said with a curious face, indeed never asking herself how many boosts she could take.
"Hm, try boosting right now. Does she know [Transfer] or any other abilities?" asked a curious Issei.
[While [Transfer] is limited to only the second liberation form, she does know [Dragon Shot] maybe we can start with that first.]
Issei nodded before summoning his cosmic spear, he told Sumire to boost until she felt like passing out and to use her [Dragon Shot] much to her shock.
"Hit you? The attack is super powerful!" Sumire widened her mouth in shock at what Issei asked of her to do.
"Heh, I'll be fine. Just start boosting away." Issei chuckled before leaning on his spear which he stabbed into the ground. He waited for Sumire to continue her boosts. He patiently stood as Sumire concentrated and kept on boosting, notching a faint power emitting from her. 'Impressive for a new Devil.'
After a grand total of one whole minute which was six boosts, Sumire was close to panting and was seeing black spots before containing herself. She aimed her gauntlet at Issei.
[Dragon Shot!]
She sent the small ball, to Issei's amusement, at him. Issei's eyes quickly widened as the small ball was suddenly transformed into a huge beam. He quickly pulled his spear out of the ground.
{Gravity!}
The beam was all absorbed into Issei's spear which again surprised Sumire. She was about to faint and fall before Issei quickly rushed over and caught the falling Sumire.
Sumire opened her eyes to see Issei looking down at her, she widened her eyes before quickly getting up and staggering for a bit.
"Careful Sumire, you just used a lot of your energy and stamina." Issei carefully led Sumire to some shade and made her sit as he grabbed a water bottle and gave it to her to drink, "For a new Devil six boosts is a decent amount. By today maybe we'll get that up to ten or eleven hopefully."
Sumire nodded thankfully at Issei before draining the entire water bottle, "How are we going to do that?"
"Simple. The amount of boosts you can hold is dependent on well you. The stronger you are whether in the magical or physical compartment, the more boosts you can hold. It's also dependent on your stamina. Since Rias mentioned that your magic level isn't really that high, we'll focus on endurance and strength." Issei peeled his eyes off of Sumire before grabbing his spear and pointing it at a nearby mountain. "Curious?"
Sumire raised her eyebrow in confusion before raising both eyebrows in shock.
{Infinite Cosmos!}
Issei let loose Sumire's [Dragon Shot] as the beam quite literally decimated the entire mountain, "Thats basically how much firepower you have in that one attack with six boosts. Now imagine it with ten boosts or even twenty!" Sumire's eyes were filled with stars as she eagerly stood up and pumped her hands up.
"I'm stoked!" She gleefully screeched, "Riser will not stand a chance!"
Issei laughed with her, "By the end of this, he will never even last a second."
Noct suddenly appeared next to Issei to Sumire's surprise, "Was that you?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. That was some nice power. Well back to Kiba." Noct shadow-stepped back to his trainee, leaving a surprised Sumire and amused Issei.
"Does he always do that?"
"Yuppp."
"..."
*With the Knights*
Kiba was slowly trodding behind Noct and the two vampires to a nearby trail. They suddenly stopped before Noct departed his shadows, dropping the weights with a heavy thud. He signaled for Kiba to go at the start of the trail.
"You want me to run?" Kiba questioned. He was a knight, he was built for speed, running was his calling.
"Yeah with these." Noct pointed back at the weights making Kiba pale again.
'Of course.' He dreadfully thought, "What about Jane and Alec?"
Noct smirked, "Well after you finish your warmup run, I'll tell u. 20 laps around this trail!"
Kiba groaned before stepping at the start of the trail.
"Oh almost forgot!" Noct grinned before tossing the pack of weights onto Kiba's back making him slightly fall over, "Don't forget about these babies. Now run!"
"So what do you need us to do Noct?" asked Alec who stayed in the shade with his sister. Noct was about to answer when he suddenly saw a beam of pure energy pierce the mountain side, decimating the entire mountain. Surprised, he nodded at the two vampires before shadow-stepping away. The siblings shrugged at each other. In a matter of seconds Noct shadow-stepped back in front of the siblings.
"I'll explain when Kiba comes back righttttttt now!" Noct exclaimed as Kiba was visible again. "How many laps was that?"
"Seven!" panted Kiba as he turned around to run again. Soon Kiba finished his warmup and kneeled, tired of the running, in front of Noct.
"Well could've been faster but hey that's what we're training you for!" Noct smiled as he created some shadows to lift the weights off of Kiba who smiled in thanks. "So our spar when we first met, I had a multiple of problems with you. One, you're too slow. Well fast for an average knight but slow in my standards. Two is your endurance. We have to increase this alongside your speed. And finally three, fighting with speed. You usually fight after you run and not during running. And that's why we have Jane and Alec!" Noct grinned before shoving the two vampires with his shadows in front of the kneeled Kiba. ". We'll focus on all three. Try to strike the vampires while you run and don't stop. Doing this will help with endurance and speed. Use a normal steel sword. We'll stop when you can barely walk anymore." Noct snapped his hands and looking sadistically at Kiba, "What are you waiting for. Go!"
Kiba paled once more as the vampires neared him, he summoned the sword and took off into a sprint down the trail, disappearing in mere seconds. Noct nodded at the two vampires who took off, their cloaks moving with them so effortlessly as they disappeared in an instant. Noct summoned his scythe before stepping into the shadows.
Kiba was sprinting down the trail, thinking that the vampires will behind him when he suddenly turned to the right. He blocked Alec's strike, stopping as he prepared to fight. Kiba stood confused at why Alec wasn't striking when Noct tsked his tongue behind him, "The point is to fight while running not stopping to fight. Attack while you run Kiba. Don't stop to fight. Hm also, I feel like you have slight tunnel vision. You're open on all four of your directions, not just the front. Continue running but don't just focus in front of you!" Noct lightly pushed Kiba before telling him to run, "It'll be difficult the first time!"
Kiba nodded before taking off again. Seconds later, Noct and the vampires took off after him. This time when Kiba intercepted Alec, he blocked Alec before twirling around and continuing to run. Jane came in front of him making him leap and slash down at Jane, who dodged it, before sprinting down the trail. While he was running, he saw Noct next to him who was stepping in and out of the shadows.
"Nice. That was decent. Now let's continue this!" Noct states before launching his scythe at Kiba. Kiba spinner while running and sent the spinning scythe back at Noct with his blade while running up the trail. Noct nodded in approval before chasing after him.
With the Rooks*
"So uh hi." Raviel nervously introduced himself as he and Koneko stood in a clearing. "I think we just try to train each other."
"Hi. Ok." Koneko said in her monotone voice. She felt disturbed, it wasn't because she was going to fight what seemed like a twelve year old, no it was because she couldn't feel what he was. There was no energy signature. Suddenly she widened her eyes. Raviel summoned his sacred gear and she felt it. That surge of strange yet powerful power. She braced herself before the two launched at each other. She was surprised, Raviel was not only blocking her punches, but he was able to take some too. While Koneko was standing her ground like a shield, Raviel used the momentum of his punches to go around Koneko. He managed to land a few hits when two two of them suddenly stopped as Raviel looked at Koneko.
"Why don't you move?" He tilted his head, he was watching her fight and her still movement was confusing. Sure they were rooks but that doesn't mean they couldn't move.
"We are rooks not knights." Koneko glazed over Raviel as she watched some of Raviel's heal.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean we can't move. Issei always taught me that everyone has an opening, even those with strong defenses. So even as rooks, we have strong defenses but we should still move around quickly. If we don't move, he said we were like fighter tanks. Bulky strong but slow and easy to take down once our weakness is found." Raviel thought back to when Issei first trained him. He was like Koneko now, standing and tanking the hits.
"Rooks are slow." said Koneko.
"But our attacks are strong. If we move to our enemy and not let our enemy make the first move, we have the advantage. Our defenses are higher than everyone else in the peerage meaning we can charge in and tank hits." Raviel explained as he tried to continue to remember what Issei taught him. "Issei always mentioned that if rooks were able to master their defense and offense along with some sort of speed, we would be strong." His eyes suddenly sparkled, "Hit like a tank. Move like a cheetah! That's what he told me. While we are slower, we can use our strength to our advantage!" Raviel demonstrated what he meant. He ran towards a tree while grabbing it with one arm.
Koneko expected him to tear it off but to her surprise, Raviel ran around the tree while grabbing it, not necessarily destroying it, he launched himself with the momentum he applied to punch a rock destroying it.
"We can use our strength and defense to our advantage!" Raviel yelped suddenly as he saw a powerful red beam shoot across the sky and hit a mountain.
Koneko widened her eyes eyeing the beam as it completely destroyed an entire mountain, "Powerful." She then looked back at Raviel, "So you want me to use my body to my advantage?"
"Basically.." Raviel said before facing Koneko, "Wanna do that again?"
"Sure."
The two rooks launched themselves. This time Koneko used her small frame to dodge Raviel's punches. She dashed to the trees before hopping off of several and launching herself at Raviel. Raviel couldn't see how fast she was dashing from tree to tree and didnt expect the punch. Thankfully he was rook which meant he also had enormous defense. He grinned at Koneko.
"See? If we use our strength and body to our advantage, we can have our speed match that of knights and punch like a mountain!" Raviel smiled as he spaced himself from Koneko who had a very small smile present on her lips, "Issei also said to use your opponent against them." Koneko looked confused at Raviel making him explain further, "If I come at you, since we are rooks, we have a strong offense. Issei told me that if you could stop the person, you can potentially use the person's own strength and make it their weakness. Let me show you." Raviel charged and punched at Koneko who grabbed the punch. "Now toss me." Koneko nodded before proceeding to toss Raviel.
"So you want me to use my opponents strength against them?" Koneko asked.
"Yeaaa. Issei told me there were two rooks in Riser's peerage and both are exempt at martial arts. If you can use their bodies to your advantage, you can make them immobile before finishing them with a single attack!" Raviel slowly got up but Koneko intervened, offering a hand. "Thanks."
"Ok then let's focus on this. My speed or agility and my countering." Koneko prepared herself as did a nodding Raviel. They then attacked each other once again.
*With Marina, Rias, Akeno, and Asia*
The four were seen walking around the huge mansion on the mountain when Marina soon stopped with the other three followed suit. Marina turned around to meet her trainees.
"I'll be honest and straightforward with you guys." Marina stood in front of the three, more specifically Rias, "Your magic is pretty weak-"
"What do you mean? Power of Destruction is the strongest power!" Rias smirked arrogantly, taking pride in her family power. Since her brother was the Devil King and even placed in the Top Ten in the world, that had to have meant her power was strong.
"Its not what the power is, more how you use and master it." Marina twitched her eyebrow, she was already annoyed by Rias not just because of the events yesterday but because of well her being Rias.
"Sureeee. I'm pretty sure my power is stronger than yours." Rias smirked as she summoned a sphere of P.o.D. and sort of showing it off in front of Marina. Akeno slightly poked her king.
"Issei assigned her to us to learn and enhance our magic. Rias, let's not fight her already." Akeno tried to have Rias stand down but failed to. Rias simply shrugged her off before continuing her rant.
"I bet the only reason Issei has you in his peerage is because you're his girl not because you're strong." Rias stared down Marina in pure cockiness, "I'll beat you and show him why you're useless. Gosh a wind teacher. Ahahaha."
"Rias! That's enough!" Akeno tried once again but she was suddenly pushed alongside with Asia. She knew Rias had a crush on Issei and that it annoyed her that Marina was so close to him. Akeno knew that Rias was a jealous girl but this...this was too far.
"Issei doesn't need you bitch." spat Marina before preparing herself. Rias smirked back before the two began their fight. Rias sent spheres of P.o.D everywhere at Marina. Marina being a user of wind simply dodged them pretty easily. She swiped her hand and made Rias fall on her face.
"ARGHH!" Rias glared at Marina before sending another sphere at Marina. Marina smirked before using the wind to redirect the attack back at Rias. Rias quickly got up and was impacted by the explosion the attack had.
The two were so focused on each other that even the huge red beam unfazed them. Akeno and Asia took their eyes off of the two to marvel at the sight. They took their eyes back to the fight but it was over. Marina had Rias in her clutches, she levitated Rias using the wind and began to slash wind at Rias making the latter scream in pain.
"Marina! That's enough!" Akeno cried out trying to stop Marina. Marina looked at Akeno before sighing and letting Rias down. Asia quickly rushed over to heal the heavily injured Rias.
"What a terrible king." Marina glared at Rias, "I'll train by myself. You guys have fun." She quickly turned around and walked away.
Rias was still being healed and was infuriated. Her power, rendered useless by Marina. By Marina. The girl who was the with the man she belonged with. She couldn't take it, how dare she walk away from her? She was Rias Gremory and no one walks from her.
"Fucking bitch! Do you know who I am?" Rias shouted at the back of Marina.
Marina turned, "I don't care. Honestly I don't know why Issei even bothered helping you. Enjoy your marriage." She smirked at the furious Rias before turning around again
"Issei helped me because he loves me!" Rias arrogantly said making Marina stop. The wind user turned around and quite literally flew in front of Rias.
"Get this through your head. Issei will never love you. You're a fucking disgrace. You honestly belong with that Riser pig." Marina looked disgusted at Rias.
"Shut up! You don't know hard it is! People see me as only a Gremory. Not Rias! I don't want to be married to a selfish pig who will only see me as a trophy wife!" Rias transitioned from an angry and jealous teen to a crying one. Akeno began to sooth her king, placing her hand on Rias' back.
Marina looked even more disgusted, "If you don't want to be seen as a Gremory then stop acting like one. God. You sit here preaching how you don't want to be seen by everyone as just a Gremory and yet you're literally tossing your name around like you're higher than everyone. Face it. You're nothing without your name. And what's more. Rather than helping your pure-blooded race survive, you act selfishly because your leaders arranged a marriage, again, for the sake of your entire species. God what a hypocrite." Marina looked once more at the crying Rias before shaking her head and walking off.
The only noise present was the crying and sniffling from Rias. She was crying because she was weak. She was crying because maybe Riser was her destiny. She was crying because everything Marina said about her was right.
Akeno was left with Asia as they tried to soothe their king, "Asia stay with Rias, I'll try to talk with Marina to help us. Rias you should apologize to Marina. What you did wasn't right..." With a final gloom look, Akeno rushed off to follow Marina.
Akeno rushed through the woods following the trail Marina left behind. She found Marina and the sight of her training surprised and in admiration. Marina wasn't just using the wind, no, she was the wind. Marina looked so smooth. bobbing and weaving and landing quick blows to the leaves. Her attacks looked effortless as she was light on her feet. With a swift kick, Marina blew some leaves up before jumping. She quickly made some movements and soon after the leaves were shredded into pieces. One survived and it landed in front of Akeno.
"What do you want Akeno?" asked Marina without turning. She continued her movements, sending air blasts and strikes swiftly and quickly.
"I'm sorry for what Rias said. It was out of line and shouldn't have happened." Akeno bowed. Marina stopped before turning around and floating towards Akeno.
"Ok. Is that it?" Marina asked before landing on the ground. Akeno got up from her bow with determined eyes.
"Can you please train me? Even though you won't help Rias please help me. I want to help her get out of this marriage." Akeno looked at Marina, determination shown throughout her face.
"Even though Rias is as arrogant and cocky as she is, you still will help her?" Marina cocked her eyebrow up in curiosity.
"She's my friend and evening though she is like that, no one deserves that fate."
"I see. Well you are a good friend. So sure why not." Marina offered Akeno a hand.
"I understand if you don't-wait really?!" Akeno glanced at Marina's hand before quickly shaking it. "Thank you!"
"Eh no problem. It's getting boring training by myself anyways." Marina smiled. She had no problem with Akeno. Even if she did have a small crush on Issei, she had a good feeling about her unlike Rias. "Demonstrate one of your attacks."
Akeno nodded before calling down a lightning strike. Marina stopped her much to her confusion.
"See? That takes too long. If you fight and this is how fast your attack is, kiss yourself goodbye." Marina commented which alleviated Akeno's confusion. "Focus on trying to speed up the spell and sending the attack faster. But this doesn't mean to lose the accuracy or power of the attack. Focus mainly on cast time. Now demonstrate another attack."
Akeno nodded before placing her hands together to create a magic circle only to get stopped by Marina.
"Again. Too slow. If your opponent was me I would've been behind you already. The time you take to execute one move gives your enemy time to react and counter before you even realize it. That's one. Also both of your attacks use a huge magic circle that is summoned through command. Akeno you command lightning. The lightning doesn't command you." Akeno looked confused at this.
"But I use and summon lightning like I was about to do." Akeno didn't know what Marina meant.
"Hm, so you know how I control wind?" Akeno nodded. "Well basically I don't just use wind, I become the wind. Akeno I basically want you to become the lightning."
Akeno understood what Marina meant but she didn't know how to essentially move and attack like lightning.
"Lightning strikes fast and is sudden. Those heavy attacks you did, it's strong for sure but it's so small but such a long cast time and strength. For those attacks make it bigger so people can't dodge and decrease the cast time. Essentially you want to focus on attacking like lightning. You're a queen. You're speed is of that of knights. Use it. I'll try to teach you something today." Akeno's eyes focused back on Marina at this. Marina motioned for her to open her hand, "As a queen, your magic abilities is immense much more than a bishop. I want you to generate lightning by just your palm. Like how I can use wind with just my hand." Marina pushed her hand forward, creating some wind that moved the leaves. "Try it with lightning."
Akeno nodded before feeling her lightning and pushed her hand forward. And out came a magic circle which generated a...small spark.
"Hmph, it's something at least. Let's focus on this. By the end of today I want to introduce you to learning how to use lightning quickly and not just by a fancy attack." Marina told Akeno, crossing her arms as Akeno concentrated again before doing the same motion as before.
"Shooting lightning using just my hands and without making a huge magic circle, copy that." Akeno said before pushing her hand forward, a small bolt was seen but it was so small that the tree it hit was barely affected.
"It's decent." Marina commented.
"Let's continue." Akeno said determined in mastering this.
"Why are you training yourself Akeno? Is it just for Rias?"
"And for myself." Akeno summoned another small, but bigger than last time, bolt of lightning. "And for my friends!" She sent another bolt of lightning. The bolts got bigger and bigger with each try.
Marina nodded in approval as she continued to instruct Akeno.
"And for Issei!" This time, the bolt was a decent size as it scarred and burned the tree in front of her.
"What?!"
*Several Hours Later*
"Well now you can use lightning with just the palm of your hands which is a neat tool to use." Marina smiled as she looked at Akeno. She looked around but she couldn't find her, hearing a whimper she stared down and there Akeno was, panting and begging for water. Sure they had breaks every now and then but to see how tired Akeno was just through the practice of novel magic was disturbing to Marina.
"We really have to up that stamina and magic bank. Let's focus on that tomorrow! The suns coming down so let's go back into the mansion." Marina pulled Akeno up as she began to walk. Noticing how Akeno couldn't walk, she sighed and carried the poor queen with just the wind. She carried her the whole way into the mansion where she saw the rest of the groups. The majority were resting on the couch relaxing after a long hard day of training. The mansion was huge of course. It looked grandeur, fancy as chandeliers were present in every hallway and room. The mansion itself looked like the size of Kuoh Academy itself. To say it was fancy was an understatement. Marina couldn't help but whistle at the mansion's insides.
"Told ya Marinas last." grinned Noct.
"Hey Marina! Dinners ready in a few!" Issei shouted from the kitchen.
Ignoring Noct's comment she sat down in an empty seat and lifted Akeno next to her, "Issei's cooking? That's a nice treat."
"Yea and I have a few minutes before everything finishes so hows everyone's training coming along?" asked Issei.
"Eh the new people are doing good. They'll be strong enough to spar one of us soon." commented Tiamat. John and Seraphina widened their smiles before winding in pain. Issei grimaced at this, Tiamat's training was harsh but the results were worth it.
"Kiba...is improving." Noct simply said grinning at the poor knight.
"Yeah, a shadow reaper and two vampires chasing after you really was something." Kiba somewhat laughed.
"But hey, you improved." Noct shot back with a smug grin. Kiba only responded with a wavering grin and a thumbs up.
"Koneko and I are doing great!" Raviel bursted out as Koneko gave a thumbs up.
"Akeno is doing well. She might be as proficient as me with enough training." Marina smiled slighting at the smiling yet slumped over queen. Rias who was with Asia looked down in shame as her queen was seemingly improving and could surpass her.
"Just Akeno?" Issei raises his eyebrows glancing at his fellow king. The look from her eyes and her posture confused Issei but before he could ask, the oven made a sound signaling to the group that the food was ready to be served. Issei rushed back and finished dinner preparations before coming back out to ask the group to help.
The two peerages set dinner up and began to dig in. Soon the two groups engaged in friendly conversation, Rias was still trying not to look at Marina. She seemed out of it, even her own peerage seemed concerned as they kept glancing at their king.
"So what's the training plan for the next few days?" asked Issei.
"Well for Kiba, I want to focus on his speed and endurance. Then I want to improve his use with his sacred gear." Noct took a bite of some food while nodding at Kiba. "By the end of this, you will be a force to be reckoned with. Trust me."
Kiba nodded thankfully at his trainer and at the two vampires on the table both of which were just sucking some blood from a juice box they both brought along.
"Koneko and I will just try and get stronger by sparring." Raviel states before giving Issei a strange look by which Issei only noticed. Issei nodded understanding before Tiamat spoke up.
"Eh I'll focus on their strengths and weaknesses for now. Their scared gear and powers will be later." Tiamat began to quite literally gulp the food down. Everyone felt grateful to Issei who made a ton of food. But when they saw how much Issei was eating they began to wonder if he cooked for them or for himself.
"For Sumire." He nodded at the tired pawn, "I'll try to improve you in everything." Sumire nodded understanding but too exhausted to speak.
"You did good today. Increasing your maximum boosts not only by one but by three. You should be proud." Issei smiled at the pawn. Everyone nodded too making the pawn blush. "Marina?"
"Akeno's doing well even though she may look like it." Everyone laughed at this, "We're going to focus mainly on how she can improve her overall offense. That's all."
Issei again was wondering why Marina wasn't talking about Rias. He knew the two's relationship wasn't all that great but what was going on? He glanced at Rias and saw how ashamed she was.
Rias looked down in shame as she picked her food. She couldn't believe it. Her peerage was improving and it wasn't because of her. They improved because of Issei. Tears began to pour out of her eyes as she thought back to what Marina told her.
"What a terrible king."
"You're a fucking disgrace."
"You honestly belong with that Riser pig."
Rias knew everything Marina said about her was right. She was truly nothing without her name. Marina was right, she was a disgrace. She didn't deserve to be Rias Gremory. She didn't deserve her peerage; she couldn't even train any one of them. Their improvement in just one day showed how inefficient she was as a King and as a leader. All these thoughts plagued her mind before it all came out.
"I'm sorry!" Rias cried out as she suddenly stood up from the dinner table eyeing her peerage in tears before rushing off, tears dropping from her eyes onto the nice carpeted mansion floor.
"Rias!" Akeno shouted in worry. She tried to get up but she couldn't, her legs simply couldn't move from the exhaustion. No one else could move too, their training having exhausted them to point that they couldn't even run after their crying king.
Marina pulled Issei close to her before whispering some things into his ear. Issei widened his eyes as he separated from Marina and stared at her. Marina stared back at Issei before shrugging and whispering, "She deserved it."
Issei looked hesitantly at the crying and running Rias, not sure of what to do. If what Marina said was right then she was in the right and Rias in the wrong but the effect it had on the poor girl. Everyone else in his peerage at the table was confused as to what happened. Seeing Rias storm off crying was something new to them and they didn't expect it.
"Fine I'll go." sighed Marina before running to Rias.
Marina using the wind and flying around the mansion eventually found the depressed king in what seemed to be her room. She walked in and looked at the crying king.
"Wow didn't think I would have that sort of effect on you." started Marina which startled Rias. Rias quickly glared with her red puffy eyes at Marina.
"What do you want? Everything you said was right! Are you here to berate me again?" Rias shouted at the bishop.
"Depends. Kinda sad that you're like this. Pathetic to think you're the king of Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Sumire." Marina stared at the king who widened her eyes.
"Shut up! I fucking hate you. What's worse is that you were right! I don't deserve my peerage. I'm nothing without my Gremory name!" Rias began to have tears fall again before Marina rushed in front of her.
"Ok and if I'm right what are you going to do? Are you really going to be this pathetic girl?" Marina stared at the back of the King's bowed head as she felt the water from the tears touch her shoes.
"I don't know! I don't deserve to be their king!"
"So that's it? I honestly don't even care but giving up your entire peerage to Riser seems pretty selfish and stupid." At the mention of Riser, Rias looked up to meet Marina's eyes.
"You're their king so fucking deal with it. And guess what? You're Rias Gremory not Akeno Himejima not Koneko Toujou and definitely not Sirzechs. I admire that you want to fight for yourself but what I hate is dragging your friends down with you because you think you have the right to decide what happens to them. They are training and fighting for you Rias. If you want to rule your destiny and not have it ruled then don't be a hypocrite and act like a spoiled brat. It's time for you to grow up." Marina stared down the king before taking her leave, "I was angry with you before but seeing as you are now, I can't even feel anything." She closed the door leaving Rias all alone in her room.
Rias thought of what Marina said. She was right again, she was the king of a peerage and she didn't want any of them to suffer. She was their leader, their torch, their flame, their hope. They looked to her for guidance. She slowly got up. And so what if she was a Gremory. She's Rias fucking Gremory. She took a step forward. And she will act like a king. Another step forward. And she will fucking will deal with it. Another step. I won't fail my family or my brother. Eyes stared determined at the door. She won't fail her peerage. She walked in front of the closed door. Because she was Rias Gremory and it was time for her to be a King. She was no hypocrite or spoiled brat. Not anymore. She's going to fight Riser not as a Gremory but as Rias and as the King of the Rias Gremory peerage. Her destiny was for herself to forge and forge it she will. She opened the door. She was done living as a Gremory. It's time to live as Rias and to be seen as Rias. She took a step out with determined and motivated eyes. She mentally thanked the person that started and ended of all this before venturing out to find her peerage and join them as their king Rias Gremory. 'Thank you Marina.'
'No problem Rias.' smirked Marina as she walked to join her love, Issei Hyoudou.
"What are you smirking about?" asked Issei.
"Nothing." Marina simply said before the two walked away.
A/N: And that's the end! Next chapter will be about the training days and I'm leaning towards writing the peerage battle. Not sure yet though. Don't forget to review!
CrazeEmperor Out!