Quick note: I edited chapter 15, changing and removing certain parts so I could establish certain plot points because I am a dumb and I realized I could do some things if I hadn't done a thing first. So if you want to check out chapter 15 again then go ahead. Also the small preview I gave you guys isn't something in this chapter but it's something I have planned for the future in case anyone wasn't sure lmao.
GUYS THIS IS LONG AND I AM PROUD OF MYSELF FOR GETTING IT THIS LONG. Although definitely not as long as some other authors make their chapters (I can't even imagine writing 10k words for a chapter oml). Ya girl is here and ready to write (although I technically write these after I finish a chapter but shhh). I also made a pun here so if you can find it holla u. It feels nice to be writing for this story after being gone for so long!
Now onto reviews!
BooBop: Chapter 18 is here right now ;^))))
Warlord of Chaos: I'm glad you like the idea. Lowkey tho, I gotta agree with you, I'm not very fond of stories where Issei has a brother who's the perfect guy and who's got the best powers. (Also your English is fine so no need to worry about that!) As for who Misaki is paired with, that is going to remain hidden for as long as I can keep it hidden. I also toyed around with the idea of Misaki becoming a devil as well, but then I decided it wouldn't work in the way I wanted it to so I scrapped that idea and stayed with the idea of her allying herself with the Fallen Angels.
MIKE202303: This isn't game of thrones my dood, no incest here.
Onwards to the chapter my awesome readers!
Chapter 18: The Finished Game
Flashback: 2 Weeks Ago
-Misaki-
I can't believe I was going to do this. I can't believe that Azazel actually convinced me to do this. I was going to sneak in the old school building that Rias and her group would meet in during the day and after school. He knew that this would be a very rare opportunity to see if Cerberus was really in her possession after I talked to him about Rias and Asia staying with my brother. They'd be away in the gym for a few hours. But still, it made me nervous.
Either I got arrested l for breaking and entering on school property, or I'd have to deal with Rias...and I haven't decided which was worse yet. My one consolation was that I wasn't alone in this whole 'operation' as Azazel had called it. But the one who was with me was Vali, we didn't even meet properly since after the first time I spoke to him and immediately passed out from exhaustion afterward.
"Alright," Vali began, laying plans and other sheets of paper on my desk, "Azazel said your brother's friends and another girls peerage would be playing dodgeball or something, so that means they won't be there." He pointed at the old school building.
"But there's also security around wouldn't they see us?"
He sent a smirk my way.
"That's why I brought these," Vali replied, picking up the bag he brought along with him before dumping its contents onto my bed.
I blinked in surprise, picking up a part of what was a security guards uniform, before saying, "I don't know if I should be amazed that you're actually this prepared or vaguely concerned as to how exactly you got these."
"I do have my moments," He responded with what seemed to be smugness in his voice, "You can also thank Azazel for getting these uniforms. He certainly has his ways of charming people." *
I didn't even need to guess what Vali meant by that.
We had arrived near the old school building pretty quickly via a teleportation circle that Vali created.
"Okay, you have got to teach me how to make one of those things," I muttered, putting my hair into a dark baseball cap I found laying around in Issei's room. The convenience of these things was endless. Sure Azazel was already teaching me the basics but it didn't hurt to gain more knowledge.
Vali chuckled at that, before responding, "If we manage to not get caught while we're here, then I'll teach you all you need to know."
"Sweet."
I led the way since I was more familiar with the school's layout than Vali was and the old school building was right in front of us.
"I'll keep watch," He spoke, "You go in, get what you need, and get out. You remember the signals right?"
I nodded. After that, I started to look at the potted plants, and under some oddly placed rocks. I didn't want to break in if I didn't have too.
It was a pretty small key, so there was no surprise that I overlooked it once...and maybe twice. It still looked pretty new, albeit covered in some dirt. Vali made an impatient noise and I started at him before unlocking the old buildings doors.
"Wish me luck," I muttered before stepping inside.
Without any lights on, this place felt a little...creepy for a lack of a better word. Then again, if Azazel was right, this was where Rias would keep something important like Cerberus here.
"Do you sense anything Aeron?" I asked
"I do sense something," My sacred gear replied, sounding a bit more uncertain than what I would've liked, "but it is rather faint."
The building was bigger compared to what the exterior actually let on, The first floor alone was pretty large. But although nothing really looked out of the ordinary, I still looked around, I found a pretty old book on one of the bookcases, its letters weren't any language I was familiar with, but with Aeron's help, the text suddenly changed into something readable.
However, I shook my head, putting the book back down. I was curious about it, but right now, I couldn't be distracted. Maybe I could look at it some other time, that is if I ever went in the old school building again, which I doubted.
I took the stairwell, the second floor wasn't terribly small, but not as big as the first floor. There was another pair of stairs, going up to a third floor, which probably led to that clock tower I saw outside. But first I'd check here. The second floor had a pretty long hallway, and all the way at the end there was a pair of large doors were immediately noticeable...and surprisingly open once I pushed them. So this must've been the clubroom. It was a wooden paneled room, with a lot of Victorian-era looking furniture. On my right, there was what looked to be a pretty fancy bathroom, so no need for that.
Then I saw a large magic circle in the center of the room, going around that I was finally at the desk opposite from where I came in. The first two drawers were full of papers, and 'contracts' so I shut them again.
I paused for a second, nearly facepalming myself for not thinking of this before.
"Cerberus?" I attempted at the mental link between myself, Aeron, and Cerberus.
It was silent for a few seconds, and so I tried again.
There was a small rumbling sound, but then I heard him, his voice barely above a whisper, "About damn time." It didn't have any real sting behind it, he just sounded worn down.
"Cerberus!"
"For a second I was starting to miss you two." He replied nonchalantly, "But now that you're here, I don't miss you that much."
"Trust me I didn't miss your sorry mug," Aeron quipped.
"Guys now's not the time," I interjected, both inside my head and out loud. Jesus how many drawers and tiny compartments did this desk have?
The last one I opened was seemingly locked, but the key from earlier was marked with a symbol of a rose inside of three or four circles, and so was the lock. In a very convenient stroke of luck, it fit. And inside that drawer was exactly what I was looking for. Cerberus in his weapon form.
Taking him out, and closing the drawer, locking it, then triple checking that everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, was back the way I had found it, I left the room, closing the door behind me. From the floor above me, it sounded like someone or something** was scurrying around, they even stopped whenever I'd stop walking. So I kind of booked it down to the first floor, nearly falling down the stairs on my way down.
Instead on the bookshelf, how I left it, the one book was in the center of the room. It felt like I was in some sort of trance, my legs moving on their own. I think Aeron and Cerberus were saying something, but it sounded muffled. I moved towards the book, picking it up, and exited the building.
Vali was outside, leaning against one of the wooden pillars outside.
"I got it," I spoke up, holding Cerberus up while making sure that the book was out of sight.
Vali nodded, "Good, let's go, I heard people coming from afar, we shouldn't stay any longer."
After he created the magic circle, we were gone, back inside my room once more.
Present Time
The Rating Game was a lot more entertaining than I would've liked it to be. Which was surprising since I normally wasn't fond of anything like Boxing, MMA, or Wrestling.
Azazel, however, was having the time of his life. It was like watching Dad and Issei cheer on the teams they were rooting for.
Currently, Issei was going to meet up with Kiba, while Akeno was dealing with the other Queen after Koneko had been eliminated. Even if Issei wasn't affected by the explosion, well save for getting pushed back by it, for a second I nearly choked on air. Only feeling a little relieved after the smoke cleared and Azazel and I saw Issei getting up.
"Riser Phenix-sama's three Pawns retire."
In The Fake Dimension
Although she lacked the manpower, Rias' group were certainly proving themselves as skillful enough to last this long, especially considering that it was the Gremory Heiress' first rating game.
Only nine members Riser's group were left. Rias only had five pieces of her own left.
Issei was running towards where he was supposed to meet with Kiba, but he had to be careful, who knew if one of Riser's girls would jump out and try to get him. So when a hand grabbed his arm and pulled into a storage closet, Issei was immediately on the defensive. But to his relief, it was Kiba, the Knight of the group.
"Hey."
"Oh, it's just you."
"Yup."
"You took out those three pawns on your own?"
"It was all thanks to Akeno-san's barrier," Kiba explained, "It was pretty easy to beat them."
Issei looked down, "Kiba, sorry, Koneko- she was-"
"I know. She's usually not that lively, but Koneko-chan was pretty excited about today," Kiba shook his head in disappointment for his friend, "It's a shame."
Raising his fist up, Issei, with a determined look on his face, said, "Let's win this, for Buchou."
Kiba smiled in return, "Of course."
Even though Issei thought the bishounen was rather pesky during the school day, he also believed that Kiba was the one who Issei could rely on the most during battle. They were the men of the Occult Research Club, they had to look cool in front of the girls! (as Issei so believed). They bumped fists, before hearing their master's voice.
{Yūto, Issei, can you both hear me? Are you both alright?}
Both boys looked up, curious.
{Asia and I are to attack their main base, but we need for you two to buy us some time and distract as many enemies as possible. As much as I would've liked to avoid it, I don't have much of a choice. Our plan in waiting for Akeno to recover to destroy each building here won't work anymore. Not now that Riser has brought out his Queen.}
"But Buchou," Kiba interjected in surprise, "It's way too risky for you to leave the base, especially if you're the King.
{They'll definitely be thinking the same} Rias replied, {So I'm hoping that we have the element of surprise on our side. Physically, Riser is indeed stronger, but if I manage to make him lose his fighting spirit then we can win. I'll break his fighting spirit myself if I have to!}
"Well then," Issei said turning to Kiba, "Let's just show them what we're made of!"
"Absolutely."
Being confronted by the rest of Riser's available pieces was more difficult than either Issei or Kiba would have liked to admit. Kiba was facing a fellow knight named Karlamine, while Issei was fighting against the last Rook, Isabella.
The Knights' battle was intense, Kiba countering Karlamine's weapons with his own sacred gear, Sword Birth, much to the frustration of his opponent.
Isabella was rather strong, her strength increased thanks to the attributes given to Rooks. But Issei wasn't attacking just yet. The Boosted Gear still needed to charge up and gather some more energy before he launched his little plan.
Ignoring the throbbing in his cheek from the last punch from the rook, Issei looked down at the red gauntlet.
[Boost!]
Yes! Finally!
Raising his hand, a small orb of concentrated demonic energy flew from his fingertips, before growing exponentially, as if it were firing a large canon. As planned, Isabella got out of the way, distracted.
"How dangerous," Isabella muttered to herself with a frown, "I have to take him out now!"
Issei grinned, "Gotcha."
-Misaki-
"Let's rip her clothes apart!"
If I hadn't died from that near heart attack I got when I thought Issei nearly blew up, I definitely would have died right now out of pure mortification. I was hoping, no praying more like it, that Issei wasn't going to use that move. But he did and I wanted to scream. He definitely sounded way happier than what I would've wanted to live with. I started to understand that maybe this what my parents felt like most of the time.
After taking that girl he was taking out with his weird laser attack, my oh so darling brother had one of his usual lecherous grins on his face as if he was saving (or perhaps savoring was a more appropriate term) the mental picture of that girl's naked body.
Azazel certainly was living it up at my expense.
"What a terrifying move," Kiba's opponent remarked, "Well terrifying for a woman really."
"It was the first time I've seen it," Kiba responded before bowing his head,"I apologize for that fact that my friend here such is a pervert."
"Took the words right out of my mouth," I murmured.
My brother was indignant.
Until the small blonde girl some feet away from him pointed upwards, and the cameras followed in that direction, there was Rias, flying in the air, with a worried Asia in her arms. They were fighting Riser now.
While Kiba was still fighting the same person, Issei was surrounded by women who from cat girls to another swordsman (...swordswoman?) and a calm, petite looking girl. The arrogant one in the pink dress was off to the side as if she was a spectator.
I could tell my brother was struggling, as the two cat girls were moving really fast and if Issei tried to avoid one girl's attack, he'd get hit by the other one's and vice versa. I could tell he was getting tired, his movements became more sluggish as the girls got more hits on him.
Then they called on that other girl with a sword, who had begun swinging at my brother as the cats moved away.
Until he grabbed the sword with his hand, the one with the gauntlet.
Azazel and I were watching, the both of us very quiet as we were watching. The green gem in the center had begun to glow.
I looked over at him, eyes furrowed in curiosity, "Is that supposed to be happening?" I asked the Fallen Angel.
Azazel, as if from nowhere, had an old looking notebook in his hands, looking at different notes, even the languages he wrote in were ones I've never seen before in my life, much less knew that they even existed. He then nodded with a knowing look in his eyes, "I see, I see."
I blinked, "Well what does that mean?"
"You'll see."
The gauntlet on Issei's arm had begun to glow, before changing completely, gold spikes growing out of it, and I was pretty sure it reached near his elbow now.
My brother yelled towards Kiba to "liberate his sacred gear" although perplexed at first, he got it, before planting his sword into the ground. While Issei did the same with his gauntlet. The blue energy that had come from Kiba's sword went inside Issei's sacred gear. the word [Transfer!] being announced loudly.
Thousands of different types of swords rose up from the ground, one of the girls, the tiny blonde one, had flown up in the air, in an attempt to save herself, but she was still hit. The ones that were still near the ground...were not as lucky as the blonde was. I couldn't help but flinch and cover my eyes when one of them actually got impaled with the sword right through the chest.
"Issei can transfer power like that?" I asked in awe.
"Definitely," Azazel answered a smirk on his face, "Many of the past Boosted Gear users could use this ability, sometimes it could even turn the tides of battle if it was used correctly."
"Damn."
"Riser-sama's three pawns, two knights, and one bishop retire."
My brother cheered for a few seconds until the sound another explosion made him, Kiba and the cameras look that way.
It was Akeno, and she was taken out.
"Rias-sama's Queen has retired."
Azazel frowned.
You could feel the atmosphere over there change. Kiba's yell of pain also caused a bit of a shock, and soon he was gone as well, taken out by Riser's Queen.
"Rias-sama's Knight has retired."
My brother was preparing to fight this woman, but I had a feeling it wouldn't end well at all. He was beginning to look exhausted, and that Queen looked as if she hadn't gotten a scratch at all. The little blonde girl was back somehow, I guess this time she really was speculating.
But then he ran in the direction of Rias. I chewed my lip nervously.
While Rias did land some attacks on him, Riser, albeit annoyingly, was regenerating from his wounds thanks to that Phenex quality of his.
Although Asia did faint, but thankfully Issei covered for her.
"She'll be alright, the shock from the blast made her faint," Rias said with a relieved look on her face.
Issei glared at them, "Buchou, although I may be an idiot and know next to nothing about chess or even any chess terms" -He did know chest terms- "I can and will still fight! As long as I can make a fist with my hands I will still fight!"
That was pretty inspirational, even if my worries were still a little high.
-Issei-
I fought as hard as I could, but yet even with that, it was far from enough.
...
Everything hurt. But I remained standing. Even as my whole body tremored with pain, I stayed standing. For her. For Rias. If it was just to see her smile, I'd fight a thousand men.
Riser kept hitting me, expecting me to stagger and fall, but I didn't. My muscles ached and I was pretty sure more than one bone was broken. But if it was for Rias' sake, I'd accept these hits any day.
She was begging for Riser to stop or for me to just stand down.
But why?
I promised her I'd win.
...
I could even hold my own head up, Riser held my hair in a fist, while a huge fireball formed in his other hand. A smirk was on his face like he expected me to give up,
But I didn't. I looked right at him, the look in my eyes telling him, 'Give me your best shot.'
He was furious.
Rias wailed.
...
"I resign."
Buchou...why?
We were so close to winning, so close to getting you out of this marriage!
"Rias-sama's resignation is confirmed. Riser Phenex-sama wins the Rating Game."
...
Everything hurt.
...
"Issei, I'm so sorry."
...
"You'll be alright now. Please rest."
Hoo boy this chapter was wild.
Now we see that Misaki has Cerberus back #winning. But she also has that book mmmmm. Also, she and Vali are sort of friends now, they're more than acquaintances but they're not as close as let's say Misaki and Hina.
Also here's some little explanations for the asterisks.
*- ;^))))))
**- a small nod to our favorite crossdressing dhampir
I also bring both good news and bad news, bad news (although good for me lmao) is that I am going on vacation on the10th (which is this Monday as I type this [it's currently April 6th]), and I won't be returning until the 23rd and so I probably won't be able to post a new chapter until some time afterwards. The good news is that I am back (hopefully for good) and I'll be writing the chapters out (yes with a pen and paper how exciting) to get something out to you guys more quickly.
Now, enough of my rambling though, leave a review and tell me what you think!
Until next time!
P.S
Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers the Musical have amazing soundtracks, and if you're interested in that kind of thing give them a listen.
Okay for real now, see you guys later!