The day of the Rating Game has arrived. Issei was permitted to attend the match. He was watching in the broadcasting room with Sona and Tsubaki, who ensured that the broadcast to the Underworld went off without a hitch and was wary of him.
Why are Sona and Tsubaki wary of Issei? That's because Ddraig was on top of his head. They didn't know what could set off the dragon.
Riser and his Peerage were teleported to their corner in school, which happened to be the principal's office, when the stage of the Rating Game was set. Rias was teleported to the ORC Room with her Peerage. The room is an exact replica of the original ORC Room, so you'd think the teleportation failed, but it didn't.
"Everyone," the announcer said. "I am Grayfia Lucifuge. I have been appointed judge between the Gremory and the Phenex Family. For the battlefield, I took the suggestion of Rias and Riser and prepared a replica of Kuoh Academy, the educational facility that Rias attends in the human realm".
"Rias' main base is the ORC Room in the old schoolhouse. Riser's main base is the principal's office in the new schoolhouse," Grayfia explained everything clearly. "Meaning, pawns can be promoted when they manage to invade the enemy's schoolhouse".
Rias then presented a red glowing spherical to her team. She instructed them to wear it on their ear since it's a communicator. Rias then began to tell them about her plan.
As the Rating Game began, everyone went to their assigned positions according to Rias' plan.
Issei watched as Koneko snuck into the Gymnasium. She had to face Xuelan, Ile and Nel and Mira from there. One Rook and Three Pawns. Koneko decided to face all the pieces in the gym, which wasn't as hard for her now as it would have been before her training as Xuelan is quite the Rook.
Xuelan is a close combat fighter like Koneko, but the difference in experience was sky-high. Or it would have been if it wasn't for Issei's training. Koneko didn't waste any time and used Bo-Bup, a movement technique that allows one to appear behind, next to, above, etc., to their opponent instantaneously.
Koneko used this technique to get in front of Xuelan instantly and connected it with Arang, an elbow smash performed on the opponent that sends a shockwave through them. This technique was so powerful that it rattled the entire body of Xuelan, and she vomited blood. She was eliminated.
When Ile, Nel and Mira saw how Koneko could take out Xuelan, they immediately acted. Ile and Nel approached Koneko together, but Koneko was able to separate them with a single kick each. The twin was sent flying in two different directions.
When Nel was able to get up, she used her chainsaw and attacked Koneko, but it was pointless as Koneko used Hoe Grab, a kick used to grab an opponent in a lock position. The fighter feints a reverse kick with one leg and uses that leg to hold the arm of the opponent.
It is mainly used to break an enemy's guard. It can be connected with other techniques, such as Spinning Top Kick, which Koneko did, a technique performed by spinning 180 degrees and kicking the opponent in the face, followed by another kick with the other leg. This was enough to eliminate Nel from the battlefield.
Ile then got up from her stupor when she was pushed back by Koneko earlier. Seeing her sister get eliminated made her angry. She ran towards Koneko without a single plan. She revved her chainsaw to the max, but it was pointless as Koneko used Bo-Bup to get behind her and use Fang on her back, smashing her to the ground. Fang is a technique performed by attacking with both elbows in a downward direction. Ile was eliminated.
Finally, Koneko only had one opponent left, Mira. Koneko wasted enough time against the others. So, she no longer wanted to hold back. Koneko used Bo-Bup one last time for today to get in front of Mira, and she connected it with Baekdu, a knee attack delivered to the opponent, causing them to fly at a considerable distance. Mira shot back like an arrow, and she smashed into the gymnasium wall, eliminating her.
Issei, who was in the broadcasting room, smiled at how amazing Koneko had become. However, he knew she could be better by accessing her latent Youkai powers, but it would take time before he could help Koneko through whatever was making her suppress her Youkai half.
"Her development is tremendous," Sona said. She was shocked at how strong Koneko was. Sona looked at Issei, and she saw him smiling, feeling proud of Koneko. "You were the one that taught her those techniques, weren't you?".
"That's right," Issei said. He looked at Sona, and he saw how she was intrigued by him. "Why do you ask? You aren't planning to employ me to train your Peerage, are you?".
"No, but you are quite the mystery, Hyoudou Issei," Sona said. Issei was strange, but not in a bad way. Everything around him is just so different. From what she gathered from Rias, Issei treats the Infinite Dragon God like a little girl without said dragon killing him. "Everything around you is mysterious. Heavenly Dragon, Infinite Dragon God, you being a half-dragon even though both your parents are human. None of you makes sense, but that's what is attractive about you".
Sona's eyes twitched. Did she just really say that? She called Issei attractive. Sure, he's handsome, sweet, strong, and caring, at least from what her investigation told her, but to be attracted to him? Well, that's new for her.
"Ahem! I meant intriguing," Sona said. For the first time, Issei saw the stoic Student Council President blush. "I meant to say that you're quite intriguing as an individual. You're strong, but you aren't like the others. You don't desire to show off your power or use it for nefarious reasons".
"Well, thanks for the compliment, Sona," Issei said. He was smiling at the sight of the blushing Student Council President. If he wasn't with Raynare, he might have considered her a prospective girlfriend if she liked him back. "Anyways, we should continue watching the Rating Game".
In the forest near the track and field, Kiba was fighting against Bülent, Marion and Shuriya. He beat them with his speed and the mist obscuring the three pawns' vision. Kiba beat his opponent with ease, but that's not his real opponent.
As of now, they were waiting till Riser came out of his nest. While waiting, new opponents of Kiba has appeared. Karlamine and Siris, both of which are Riser's knights.
Karlamine was a wielder of a sword and a dagger. As for Siris, she was a wielder of a Zweihänder. Kiba engaged them. Unlike before, Kiba was not only a speed-type fighter with his sword but also a technique based fighter.
Karlamine and Siris engaged Kiba, but no matter how they slashed and thrust their weapon at him, Kiba would always be a step ahead and block, dodge or parry their attacks. With one of Kiba's new techniques from Issei, he slashed Karlamine and Siris nine consecutive times, which overlaps each other. This was Nine Lives Style.
Kiba targeted and slashed Karlamine and Siris' upper arm, collarbone, windpipe, temple, diaphragm, rib, chest, pelvis, and thighs simultaneously at tremendous speed, faster than the speed of sound. There was no doubt that this technique eliminated them.
Not far from Kiba was Akeno going against Riser's Queen, Yubelluna. Akeno was smirking at her opposition as they were shocked at what they saw. Yubelluna blasted Akeno, but the moment the cloud of dust was gone, they all saw Akeno unharmed. Once more, Yubelluna blasted Akeno, but they all saw it this time. Akeno was injured, but they saw flames emerge from her injuries, and it was healed instantaneously.
"I do not appreciate anyone blasting me," Akeno said. Her sadist nature was surfacing. She was giggling at her thoughts of bringing pain to her enemies. "Let me show you how to bring pain to your enemy".
Akeno summoned her lightning. But this isn't just any lightning. This was [Descent of the Lightning Dragon], a magic spell she learned from Issei. Plus, she combined it with her Holy Powers, courtesy of her Fallen Angel blood and a little training from Raynare.
The lightning dragon descended from the sky and slammed into Yubelluna. However, it did not eliminate her. Instead, Akeno used the Holy Energy of the attack to make Yubelluna suffer. Yubelluna tried to escape the power of Akeno, but she was not strong enough to resist it. Eventually, she was eliminated without having the ability to retaliate or even use the Phenex Tears with her.
Isabela, one of Riser's rooks, saw that Akeno was a magic-user. She thought that if she got close to her, she would be able to defeat her. With her strength as a rook, she felt that she would be able to overpower Akeno physically. Oh, how wrong she was.
The moment Isabela got close to Akeno, she felt power emit from Akeno. That's because Akeno used [Super Strength of the White Tiger]. She punched Isabela in the chest and sent her flying and smashing into multiple trees, eliminating her.
Riser was shocked at the announcement that he heard from Grayfia. All of those that were eliminated were eliminated at the same time. Xuelan, Nel, Ile, Mira, Bulent, Marion, Shuriya, Karlamine, Siris, Yubelluna, and Isabela were eliminated simultaneously.
When Riser got out of his nest, in front of him was Rias, who had her hands folded under her chest. Without warning, she used her Power of Destruction to eliminate Ni, Li, and Mihae, who were standing beside Riser.
Riser was pissed. This wasn't the outcome he hoped for, and Ravel, his sister and Bishop, wasn't doing anything.
"Give it up, Riser," Rias said. She hoped for Riser to forfeit rather than be defeated as she didn't want his reputation ruined. Her family and the Phenex were still allies after all. "You should forfeit rather than lose the Rating Game. You can still save your reputation by telling everyone that you allowed me to win".
"Hmph! You think because you eliminated most of my Peerage members that you've already won?" Riser said. He was seriously pissed. "I'm sorry to say, but I'm still an immortal! You have no way of beating me!".
"Is that so?" Rias said. She sighed at Riser's stupidity. "Well then, you've made your choice".
As Rias moved away from the spot she was standing on, Kiba appeared. Riser seemed insulted when he saw that Rias was making her knight fight him rather than herself.
"You insult me, Rias," Riser said with anger. "Do you think that a Low-Class Devil like him is enough to beat me?".
"We'll never find out unless he tries," Rias said. She then looked at Riser with pity. "You'll regret fighting him".
Riser hmphed at Rias and attacked Kiba with his flames. With Kiba's sword, he slashed and stabbed at Riser, but to no avail. Why would he do this? Simple, he wants Riser to think that he was winning.
After a minute of fighting Kiba, Riser became arrogant as he saw that nothing done to him would stick as he would quickly regenerate. This was what Kiba was waiting for, an opportunity to end Riser.
Kiba slashed at Riser's chest. But rather than continue fighting, he stopped and stood on his spot.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! I told you that you can't beat me, Rias!" Riser said. He was laughing maniacally. "There is nothing you can do to stop our engagement! Not…!".
Kiba smirked as it finally affected Riser. Unlike Issei, he hasn't mastered the technique he used. So, it took a while to take effect. But the result spoke for itself. Riser was turning into stone.
"What have you done to me?!" Riser shouted. For the first time in his life, he was scared. "What have you done!".
Riser completely turned into a stone. What Kiba used against him was the [Demon Sealing Strike]. A sword technique that creates a Demon Sealing Aura to seal those struck by it.
Everyone watching the broadcasting of Rias' Rating Game was shocked. No one has ever seen someone deal with a Phenex like Kiba did. They didn't know it was possible. Yet, here it is, a Low-Class Devil turning Riser into stone. Suffice it to say, Rias won the Rating Game.