Chapter 6

(3 am the next morning)

"998! 999! 1000!" Issei grunted as he finished a set of one handed, handstand push ups. In a quick, powerful press he launched himself into the air before landing on the opposite hand and beginning his next set of exercise. "1! 2! 3!"

'I can't believe that asshole Riser.' Issei began to rant in his head while continuing his workout. 'He really had to pull that petty crap and keep me from using my Balance Breaker. Why? Cause he wants to marry a high school girl who clearly wants nothing to do with him. I honestly don't see the appeal, I mean yeah she's hot but I can't imagine spending the rest of your life with a girl as stubborn as Rias who hates your guts would be a very enjoyable existence. I guess I can't be too upset with Riser it's my own damn fault that I couldn't just be patient and wait to sign with Sairaorg and I'm dumb enough that I still care what a ghost thinks of me.'

[Wow partner, your mind certainly is active this morning.] The same deep, commanding from before once again echoed in Issei's head causing a sickened expression to form on the young devils face.

"Dammit and hear I was hoping I was just hearing things." Issei groaned out loud. "What the hell do you want Ddraig? I thought I made it clear that I didn't want anything to do with you the last time we… talked."

[Yes, I remember. You created a mental block that kept me from communicating with you but I never stopped trying to break through. Recently though the block has weakened to the point where I was able to break through. So that leads me to believe that you need my help once again, at least subconsciously.]

"Pffft, don't flatter yourself. I know what your idea of helping me is and I don't need it." Issei rolled his eyes, he had already lost count with his one handed push ups and switched over to squat jumps. 'It wouldn't matter anyway, I can't use my balance breaker in this game anyway. I'll be going in with just my base power set.'

[Are you really arrogant to the point where you believe you have a better grasp on MY powers than I do? The Boosted Gear is an artifact of infinite power and mystery, your preferred method of using one of the most powerful weapons in existence is to hit people as hard as you can with it.]

'Well that's worked out pretty well for me so far.' Issei gritted his teeth as he tried his best to ignore the ominous voice. 'Give it up already, I already told you there's nothing you could give me that I'd want.'

[We'll see about that..] The dragon growled as he willed Issei's crimson gauntlet onto the boy's fist. [JET!] Ddraigs voice echoed out loud and as leapt into the air for one of his jump squats a surge of air erupted from his feet and launched him high up into the air.

"WOAAAHHH!" Issei screamed as he began to hurtle back towards the earth. CRASH! Issei landed face first on the hard concrete, lucky for him his devil physiology "Ouch…" He groaned before rolling himself over onto his back. 'What the hell was that? I thought I could only use the JET ability in my balance breaker armor. When I have, you know, jets.'

[Have I proven my point yet? There's plenty you still have to learn about your power.] Ddraig reiterated. [I can show you what your Missing. I can give you what you need to be victorious even without the use of your Balance Breaker.]

Just then the gem on Issei's gauntlet changed color from dark green to a vibrant glowing red and an explosion of red aura began to surge around Issei that began to eat away at the ground beneath him. 'What the hell is this power?' "Why would you help me? I told you I was done with you!"

[But I'm not done with you, not yet. Don't get the wrong idea I'm not offering my help free of charge. You know how this works. My power comes at a price but this time I won't be taking your arm or any more years off your life. If I help you, then after you defeat Phenex you'll need to do something for me.]

After finishing his request, Issei took a moment to think things over. "And that's ALL you want." Issei answered sceptically.

[You have my word.]

"Fine, then you have a deal…"

[Good to hear, partner. I'll leave you for now but don't expect me to be gone long, I fully expect to have you make good on your promise. Even if I have to… REMIND you.] With that lingering threat Ddraig left Issei's mind.

'Really hate that stupid dragon.' Issei growled in his head before clenching his crimson gauntlet closed. As Ddraigs presence faded the bright red gem returned to its dark green color. [BOOST!] The gauntlet went off as its ten second timer had finished. 'Crap, now I have twice as much energy as I did before. Now I'll never get to sleep…'

"Who were you talking to!" An annoyed Rias called out from behind Issei, causing him to jump in shock. "Do you have any idea how bad it is for your health to be training with zero hours of sleep. Talking to yourself is pretty bad for your health too but I can only tackle one problem at a time."

"And what are you doing out here this early in the morning." Issei growled back, dusting himself off as he turned to face the red haired king. "The game is tomorrow night, you need to be on your A-game. That means get some sleep."

"Wow, someone's hypocritical." Rias sighed as she turned away from Issei with her arms crossed.

"Ugh…." Issei groaned at the devil girl's defiant attitude. "How about we go for a little walk. We can talk about the game and hopefully by the end of it we'll both be tired enough to get some sleep."

"Sure whatever." Rias said dismissively as she began to walk the opposite direction prompting Issei to accelerate in order to keep pace.

"So, uh. You nervous?..." Issei asked awkwardly as a bead of sweat began to roll down the side of his head. 'Maybe this wasn't such a great idea. I'm not fantastic at small talk.'

"Don't worry so much about me. With Riser eliminating your balance breaker from the rating game I hope you're ready. When I hired you I planned my strategy around you being at full strength, I hope you can live up to your hefty price tag." She said bluntly, almost harshly.

"Yeah, no need to sell me short. This isn't my first battle where I'll be without my balance breaker but you need to remember something Miss Gremory." Issei shot an equally harsh glare over at his master. "As strong as I am and as strong as all your peerage is, we're only game pieces. You have to the one playing the game, if you're off and Riser's on then we don't stand a chance. No matter what you can't act desperately even if you are. If we can pressure Riser correctly then he'll be the one making mistakes brought on by desperation but if you make those same mistakes we can say bye bye to our advantage. For whatever reason Riser is desperate to make this wedding happen if we can knock him down a peg early I guarantee he'll act hastily in response."

"For whatever reason, huh? You don't see the appeal of marrying me? That'd be a first." Rias chirped back.

"Well, you're not my type but…. Actually the more that I think about it you're not really Riser's type. He's more interested in well, submissive girls. At least that's always the impression I got but he's also a major boob freak so that may be the cause." Issei demonstrated his lack of small talk skills as he started to ramble but he soon regained his footing in the conversation and found his point. "I don't think I ever asked you but why are you so against this engagement. I get that arranged marriages can suck but you high class devils are so proud of your pure blood and all that. This is just one of the things that comes with it, like wealth and power. There's gotta be trade backs you know, nothing in this world comes free."

"Lemme guess, you think that I'm selfish because I refuse to do the one thing my family asks of me even after i've been handed everything on a silver platter. Trust me I've heard it before. Maybe it is selfish but if you ask me they can keep all their wealth and power I'd trade it all for the chance to fall in love and marry whoever I choose, like a normal girl. Plus I hate that Riser views me as his possession, I hate being treated like! Like!" Rias began to let things out before Issei stepped in an interrupted.

"Like an object? Like a pawn in someone else's game." Issei answered with a smirk, causing Rias to fall quiet with how close to home that hit. "It bothers me to hear that coming from a high class devil with her own peerage of pieces she can move around, trade and sacrifice as much as she wants. Though I guess I can sympathize at least."

"I don't think it's quite the same for you. You're a pawn by choice at this point, the only obligations you have are ones you create." Rias angrily argued back. "I have to claw and fight my way to get to where you're at. You're free after all!"

Issei glared at his master for a moment but rather than yell back at her he simply sighed and turned away. "Huuuhhhh…. You High Class devils really are detached. A free pawn, that's what they call me. You know how I got to be "free" right? My master and the rest of my family were killed, right in front of me. That term always bugged me, "family" thats what devils who feel bad for calling us slaves refer to us as. Anyway, they call us family but after my master died I didn't get anything not a dollar to use for the rest of my life. I was met with three options, submit myself to my masters family and be forced to serve a king I didn't choose, starve to death or be hunted down as a stray, or become a "free pawn" and bounce around from master to master so that I have enough money to feed myself. You might be thinking, he's exaggerating. He's paid extremely well to fight in the rating game. Yeah I make good money, but I'm also immortal so as well paid as I am it'll never be enough there's no pension plan retirement for reincarnated devils who work for their supper. So I'll be selling my soul until I die."

"Alright I get it. I shouldn't've asked." Rias tried to change the subject but Issei wasn't finished.

"But I don't mind the work, I'm good at fighting. You know what the worst part really is?" Issei continued his rant. "It's everything else. Being treated like a possession when the only obligation I have to any of my temporary kings, including you is strictly a professional one. Yet that doesn't stop those self obsessed high class assholes from parading me around like some kind of trophy, like they've managed to tame and now possess the might red Dragon emperor! So that's where I can empathize with you. Say what you want about Riser he brought me on as a tool to be used in the rating game and that's how he treated me, at least the guy is honest which is more than I can say for most high class devils."

"Ok maybe he is honest but that doesn't make up for the fact that he's still a selfish, womanizing, perverted jerk! Who sees me as property and wants to marry me for my looks and my name! I want to marry the man I truly love! Whoever he might be but I know for certain he's not Riser phenex! Maybe its selfish but thats my reason! Ok!" Rias screamed back.

"True love?" Issei smirked for a moment, planning to further ridicule the high class devil but as he thought about it more he decided against it. "Yeah that's a good enough reason if you ask me. Little advice though, when you find this true love of yours make sure you don't wait too long to let them know how you feel. You never know what might happen if you hesitate, there's a chance you'll end up regretting it."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Rias intended to push further but Issei was done sharing.

"HUAAAAHHH!" Issei faked a yawn and turned away from his current red haired king. "Well, I'm sufficiently tired. I'll see you tomorrow, make sure you rest enough for the game!"

"Wait!" Rias called out but Issei simply gave her a dismissive wave of his hand and took off into the sky. "JERK!"

(The next day, the rating game)

Rias, Asia, Akeono, Koneko, Kiba and Issei suddenly appeared in flash of light and were now standing together in the middle of a high school courtyard. "Alright! You guys know the plan! Get moving!"

"Right!" Rias peerage agreed in unison before splitting up in groups of ones and twos.

Issei and Koneko were set to go off together but Rias grabbed a hold of the boy's shoulder and stopped him. "Look, I know things got a little heated last night but I need you to trust me now. You understand?"

"Yeah don't worry about it. I'm a professional." Issei waved dismissively and then he and Koneko took off for real.

"Why doesn't that make me feel any better?..." Rias sighed before she and Asia took there leave as well.

Meanwhile Issei and Koneko had quickly arrived at their destination, the school gym. "Rias was right? There are a couple of those phenex losers hiding in there. I can smell um." Koneko cracked her knuckles along with her neck. "Let's go kick butt."

"Wait a minute." Issei interrupted, placing his hand on the wall of the gym. "You wanna get far in these rating games you need to work smarter not harder. These high school gyms while big are usually pretty hollow. How strong do you think you are?"

"I kick butt. Why?" The white haired girl answered quickly.

"I may have an idea? You think you're strong enough to take down a building?" Issei smirked as a tiny smile formed on the small girl's mouth.

Issei and Koneko stood at opposite ends at the front of the gym both taking martial arts stances with powerful bases. "Ready!" Issei called and Koneko answered with a quick nod. "Okay!" Issei's gauntlet appeared on his arm as he reeled back. 'Lets crank up the power a little bit.' [BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!] "Let'em have it!" Issei called out as he and Koneko through simultaneous punches that once they collide made the building ripple as if it were made of water before CRASHH! The entire gym came crumbling down leaving a pile of stone and metal in its place.

(Lord Riser: 3 pawns, one rook retired)

"Haaaahhhh.. See, smarter not harder." Issei muttered as he wiped some sweat from his brow. 'Damn, I forgot how weak I can be without my balance breaker. I'm lucky I can still call upon boosts at will but it takes a lot more outta me than I'm used to. Maybe I should break out that crazy technique Ddraig showed me. No, I'm saving that one but maybe I can still turn things up a notch!" [Explosion!]

Issei's gauntlet grew in size and an extra set of golden spikes popped out from the back and a second green gem appeared on the back. [Boost!] The gauntlet roared.

"What's with the arm?" Koneko asked. "You really think it's a good idea to kick things up a notch this early on in the game?"

"The boosted gear stockpiles power so there's no reason not to go all out with something like this. This level builds more power than it consumes so I think I'm good. What we should really be focusing on is, huh?! Get down?!" Issei called out but it was too late KAAAABBOOOMM! A massive fiery explosion consumed Koneko and due to her close proximity it caused Issei to go tumbling backwards. "Ugh…" Issei groaned as he began to pick himself up. "Koneko!" He called out but it was no use.

(Rias Gremory, one Rook retired)

'Crap, Koneko's down this early. We barely did anything to their numbers advantage.' Issei groaned in his head as a woman with long purple hair, carrying a staff began floating above him. "Crap!" Issei roared as he barely leapt out of the way of another in the coming explosion. Having successfully dodged the attack Issei looked up to face his new foe. "Yubelluna!"

"Long time no see, huh Issei?" The floating woman joked. "I can't believe you actually agreed to sign on with these losers. Total amateurs am I right? They must be paying you well, huh? Tell you what, for old times sake, I'll take you out for drinks after the wedding. You'll pay of course."

"Listen, if you want me to buy pity booze after I kick you butt then you're gonna need to ask a little nicer than that." Issei smirked before his gauntlet went off once again. [BOOST!]

"Haha, funny." She said with a roll of her eyes before summoning a ball of orange light to her palm. "I always wanted a chance to see which of us with stronger. Don't hold back on m-aahhhhh!" Before she could finish a bolt of light zapped Riser's queen and sent her flying.

"Woah, Akeno." Issei turned to see his own queen dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit with sparks of lightning surging across her body. 'A blindside attack? Talk about brutal…'

"Sorry Issei, this is what you get for kill stealing. I was supposed to blow up the gym, remember. You take my fight, I take yours." Akeno taunted with a malicious smile.

"Hey no far!" Issei whined to no avail.

"Issei!" Rias' voice shrieked in her pawns ear causing Issei to flinch. "No time for bickering. I need you to regroup with kiba over by the track. With Koneko down the two of you will need to double your efforts taking down Riser's pieces. Get to work."

"Ugh, yes ma'am." Issei groaned before rushing off to follow Rias' instructions. 'She does have a point but that just pisses me off more.'

[Lord Riser: 3 pawns retired]

'Sounds like someone's putting in work.' Isse thought as he made his way to the concrete track area, there he was met by a loud CLANG! As he witnessed Kiba locking swords with one of Riser's knights dressed in armor with strange white cloth wrapped around her forehead, her name was Karlamine. 'Good job kiba, sticking to fighting lower valued pieces like pawns and rooks. Just like we talked about. Kinda makes me wanna let him keep kicking but on his own but we're here to win not to have fun so I'm afraid I'm gonna have to lend him a hand.' Issei smirked as he pointed his gauntlet in the direction of battling knights. "Hey Kiba! Turn her around this way!" [BOOST!] A small red ball formed in Issei's open palm.

"Not so fast Red Dragon Emperor!" A familiar voice called out as Ravel descended from the sky, a pair of flaming wings sprouting out from her back. She was followed by five of her fellow pieces a Rook, a Knight, a Bishop and two pawns. An antagonistic smile formed on "I don't like the idea of you and your cute new friend double teaming poor Karlamine so we decided we'd come and keep you company. Ni, Li. Why don't you keep the cute knight company!" The two pawns were twin cat girls who eagerly rushed off to join the fight with Kiba.

"Couldn't leave me alone huh? Listen Ravel, I've tried to be subtle about this but to be honest I'm just not that into you." Issei taunted, playing it up by awkwardly rubbing the back of his and causing Ravel's face to turn beet red. [BOOST!]

"W-W-WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT!" The young blonde girl shrieked at the top of her lungs.

"I mean, it's nothing personal really. I just never thought about you like that. It's not like there's anything wrong with you in particular, I mean you're cute and all." Issei kept the act up as his power continued to build. [BOOST!]

"C-Cute?! I'm not… I mean… I don't… You're not…." Ravel was at a total loss for words as she quickly began to reach her boiling point. "I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU OR ANYTHING IDIOT!"

"I think the whole Tsundere thing is really the biggest turnoff for me. It's really not as attractive as you may think it is." Issei smiled devilishly as he continued to torment the young phenex. [BOOST!]

"I'M NOT A TSUN!" She began to roar once again but she soon found a hand resting on her shoulder that belonged to a black haired girl wearing a purple Kimono.

"I think he's trying to distract us in order to buy himself time." The girl, whose name is Mihae, riser second bishop, pointed out.

"Bingo!" Issei declared as he pointed his gauntlet right at Ravel and a base ball sized energy orb formed in his palm. "Sorry ladies, better luck next time! Dragon Shot!" Issei punched the crimson orb and created a massive blast of energy.

"Lady Ravel!" Mihae called out, pushing her master's younger sister out of the way but getting absorbed by Issei's blast. When the attack dissipated a large crater was left but the Bishop was gone.

[Lord Riser: 1 Bishop retired]

"Wow, I tried to dial that one back a little but would you look at that." Isse smirked as he clinched his gauntlet into the fist. "I didn't see her being retired, I hope she survived…" A vicious look appeared in Issei's eyes, sending chills down Ravel's spine.

"Bastard!" Siris, one of Riser's knights whose hair was tied up into a ponytail, cried out as she rushed forward to avenge her comrade.

"No Siris!" Ravel called out but it was too late for the knight.

"DIE!" The knight roared, drawing her mighty Zweihänder (Two handed sword) but Issei simply smiled as he took a quick step to the side, just out of the way of her slash attack. "No!"

"I told you I was holding back before right? Too bad for you, I still have a few shots left!" Issei taunted as he pointed his gauntlet point blank in Siris face. "Dragon shot!" Another massive energy blast enveloped Riser's knight. [BOOST!]

(Lord Riser: 1 knight retired)

"Man, I love this game." Issei muttered to himself before looking down at his gauntlet's smoking palm. His eyes then fell upon Ravel. "But, I think I'm ready to end things." [JET!] A powerful blast of air erupted from Issei's feet, launching him forward. Quickly closing the distance between himself and Ravel, he then grabbed the young Phenex girl by her dress collar and lifted her up into the air. "Nothing personal little birdie, but I'm really hoping this pisses big brother off! I'll try to make this quick!" Issei reeled back his gauntlet and Ravel winced.

"Not so fast!" The Rook, a woman dressed in leather with spiky brown hair with burgundy highlights and a white mask covering half of her face grabbed Issei by the shoulder and managed to throw Issei off but with his grip locked on Ravels collar he accidentally ripped her dress open, letting her shapely breasts spill out into the open.

"HYAAAAHH!" Ravel shrieked in embarrassment but the attention wasn't on her at the moment as Issei and the Rook named Isabela squared off.

CRACK! The girl dressed in leather cracked her knuckles and Issei simply smirked at this gesture. "Seriously? Cut the dramatics, and let's get this show on the road!"

"Fine by me!" Isabela reeled back and let a punch fly which Issei simply caught in his gauntlet. "GRRRRR! Don't think you've won yet!" Isabela prepared to strike with her other fist but Issei twisted the arm he currently had under his control into a painful position. "AAAHHHAAAHHH!"

"C'mon Isabella, you know how this goes. Rook or not, I'm still stronger than you." Issei said as he continued to twist her arm back. "I'm sick of playing around with you ladies! Give up so I can get to what I came here for!"

"I don't have to beat you… I just have to by time…." Isabela said through her painful wincing before looking over her shoulder to provide context.

Issei followed his foes eyes to the top of the school building to find Rias and Asia doing battle with Riser and his king was clearly on the defensive . 'Oh shit….' Issei thought but to make matters worse.

(Lady Rias: Queen retired)

'OH SHIT! What the hell is going on? Akeno is way stronger than Yubelluna there's no way she would've lost in a fair fight unless… crap, I forgot about the damn phoenix tears. I have to act fast or we're done for.' Issei's mind then returned to the battlefield. [BOOST!] Issei tossed Isabella on top of Ravel's exposed chest. "Game over! Dragon shot!"

"Huh?" The two girls could only watch as the massive energy blast came hurtling towards them KABOOM!

(Lord Riser: 1 Bishop, 1 Rook retired)

"Hey Kiba! You're done yet! Hurry up we need to move." Issei called out but Kiba didn't answer, he simply kept up the fight with the two cat-like pawns and the knight. Kiba was clearly winded, each time he used his devil boosted speed to try and close the gap with his opponents, they simply leapt out of the way but they didn't move in to attack. Issei was mesmerized by the strange battle tactics. 'What are they doing? He's clearly running low on steam why don't they move in and finish the job, unless….' Issei's eyes widened as he realized just what's going on. "KIBA MOVE!"

"Huh?" The fatigued knight could barely hear his comrade over the loud beating of his own heart and this would lead to his demise as a large orange orb came crashing down from above causing another large explosion. KABOOOM!

(Lady Rias: 1 knight retired)

"Crap! Kiba!" Issei cried out in vain as the three pieces Kiba left unbeaten surrounded Issei and Yubelluna descended directly in front of him, holding an explosive energy ball in her palm.

"Well, you put up a good game Issei. No one can take that away from you, your stats will look great tomorrow morning and you'll get high marks on your performance grade and Riser will have his bride. Plus you're still getting paid for this right? So just give up, everybody wins." Yunbelluna tried to remain optimistic as her glowing orb increased in size. "But even if you don't it won't matter. Either the four of us defeat you or Riser finishes off your king. Either way this is game over for you."

'Yeah right, like I'm gonna let that happen. Hey Ddraig, you listening? I promise I'll do you that solid but you gotta hold up your end of the bargain. Whaddaya say? Ready to kick some ass?' Issei asked in his head but there was no immediate answer until suddenly his gauntlet began to glow a deep red and a powerful aura exploded around him.

[You bet!]

(End)