"" - Speech
'' - Thought
{} - Sparda
[] - Ddraig
...
Yukio and Saji exchanged punches with each other, Yukio knew he had the advantage as Saji was already ragged from his magic use and he was defending himself with a bundled-up line on his arm as a shield but it didn't offset every attack from Yukio.
Saji was flung off his feet by Yukio's next punch and crashed into the store behind him, a solemn look on Yukio's hidden face as he started to walk towards where Saji was struggling to get up, both his fist were already broken from hitting against his armour and the noise hadn't helped him.
Saji had fired a line at Yukio's armour but the aura of the Sekiryuutei blew it off so it couldn't connect with him, however the line that was on his right arm was still connected although still in its thinner form and couldn't be removed.
'Could Yamato cut it?' Yukio asked, Sparda taking a moment to think before replying
{If you have Ascalon then you could…It's a dragon slayer unlike Yamato which would need a lot of power poured into it}
Yukio had noticed something strange as well as with every time Saji hit him, his mind and body shook and resounded and the pain he was receiving told him that his body was swelling up underneath his armour so he was taking damage from them.
"…I'll win…Today, I'll defeat you…I'll take the first step towards my dream…" Saji spoke while spitting out bloody vomit, part of him recalling what Tannin had said to him before
[Kid. Listen carefully. The most fearful attack is a "heavy blow".]
[A heavy blow?]
[Yeah, the Rating Games that you'll be fighting in from now on will have various people fighting with various feelings. For the sake of one's desire, for the sake of a hobby, for the sake of one's family, for the sake of a woman, for the sake of wealth, and for the sake of a dream. Various thoughts and feelings mix together. Among these, there are even people who have invested their lives into the games. Among the participants in this hellish iron pot, there is an attack that must be feared the most. That is the "heavy blow".]
[Is that a special final move? Or a Sacred Gear? A magic technique?]
[—No. Kid, grasp your fist. What is being grasped inside your hand there?]
[…I don't know.]
[It is "filled" with something. A dream, or a soul. One's life is "put into" that fist. This is, above all, dangerous. If one has time to prepare other attacks, this blow can be dealt with to a certain extent one way or another. But, just that is not enough. The "heavy blow" reaches to the core of the body. This is effective. It is frighteningly effective. Even in the Underworld with its magic and science, the damage of that blow can't be expressed clearly. But, the ones who had been hit with this blow understand. Yeah, this is bad, they think. An opponent that can release this blow is an unmistakably, genuine strong enemy. You must never go easy against them. If an opponent can release that blow even if he is of a lower level than you, that is a different story. If you receive that blow, the battle situation will change completely. It pierces you. No matter what defense you use against it, it will reach the core of your body.]
Yukio smiled slightly at how Saji's blow was continuing to pierce into his body as Ddraig spoke up
[This spirit. Is the "Prison Dragon" that sleeps in his Sacred Gear responding to Saji's feelings?]
"Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" Saji shouted throwing another punch which Yukio responded with one of his own before Saji spoke angrily
"Let me ask you one thing! What is it like!? Your master responding to your feelings? Her doting and caring for you more then a servant!? Are your master's breasts soft!? Is the rumor about them feeling like marshmallows true!? Is a woman's body seriously like pudding that doesn't collapse!?"
Yukio was surprised by Saji's eerie yellow eyes that were burning with jealousy and envy, the Sitri Pawn seizing the opportunity and shot and connected a line to the bench behind Yukio before swinging it with all his strength.
'That's…a Hollow's eyes…but…how….?' Yukio thought shocked the bench hitting his back and scattered on the floor in small pieces as Sparda spoke up seriously
{That line…It must be taking your blood…it's the only way he could get tainted by your Hollow. Yukio you need to knock him out and cut the line now before it affects him any more}
Yukio pulled himself back to his feet, grabbing the line on his right arm as he used Dividing Gear again
[Divide!] The width of the line shrunk again as Yukio looked to see white bone like matter forming around Saji's right eye with black-purple snake like lines decorating it.
"What were you thinking when you were rubbing her breasts!? Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiit!" Saji shouted in a demonic voice, extending several lines into a furniture store before hauling out several pieces, swinging them over his head as Yukio raised his hand and called out
"Hadō #31, Shakkahō!" A ball of flames shot out and destroyed the furniture overhead only for something to hit his back. Yukio turned to see a dresser had hit him, guessing Saji had changed the trajectory of a line to hit him.
Yukio pulled himself back to his feet to see Saji's right side of his face covered in the mask now, serated black lizard like teeth covering his mouth as the mask started to form over his left side as Yukio charged
"I also want to rub them! I want to rub theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!" Saji shouted, taking a punch from Yukio in the face, the mask shattering as he fell down only to start reforming as he stood back up.
"AAARRRRGGHHH!" A purple aura grew around Saji as he roared into the air, Yukio unleashing his own red aura as he closed the distance between them in seconds.
"Genshirou! Snap out of it!" Yukio shouted, Saji head snapped in his direction before Yukio smashed another fist into his face, shattering the Hollow mask and knocking the Sitri Pawn into the air. Yukio used his Sonido to appear where Saji was going to fly, slamming a knee into Saji's back and launching him skyward before disappearing only to appear and slam both of his fists into Saji's gut and smashing him into the ground where Saji vomited blood into the air.
Yukio soon appeared a few metres away. His eyes focused on Saji before he stalked over and picked him up by the front of his shirt as he looked into his half open eyes, sighing in relief as he looked at Saji's normal eyes.
"Wh-What happened…?" Saji asked confused, Yukio's mask folding back to show an angry Yukio who explained
"You turned Hollow…from messing with my blood, you idiot!" Yukio slammed Saji into the ground, a few bones snapping from the force as he added
"Who knows what else is going to happen to you now though…*sigh* I thought you and Kaichou were smarter then to mess with something like this" Yukio let go of his shirt, standing back up with a neutral look.
"We…We have to win for our dream" Saji muttered slowly dragging himself back to his feet as Yukio frowned and asked
"So you're willing to sacrifice even your soul for that…? Kaichou wouldn't want you to die for this or to become a monster!" Saji got into a sloopy fighting stance, Yukio's frown deepening as the Sitri Pawn spoke
"Today I will surpass you…" Yukio growled at how stubborn his friend was being as he threw a punch into Saji's face, making it swell as blood came out of his mouth as he finally knocked out Saji, white light covering him as Yukio panted and shook slightly as Grayfia announced
[One of Sona Sitri-sama's "Pawns", retired.]
"Koneko-san… Could you grasp my hand?" Yukio asked, his hands still shaking in a mixture of anger and shock as Koneko looked at him confused
"…Sempai?"
"This is the first time I knocked down a friend…And he's done something so stupid…" Yukio answered with a forced yet sad smile, Koneko gently grasping his trembling hands while smiling
"You were cool…A sempai to be proud of" Yukio felt himself calm down, pushing down his anger as he added
"Keiko-nee going to be having words with him and Kaichou"
It took them a few minutes before Yukio as completely fine, moving to wrench the door off a vending machine so he could get himself and Koneko something to drink. Both held a bottle of water but Yukio was still shaking, whether from his friend turning Hollow in front of him or an effect the armour was giving him.
An announcement a moment ago had said that either Kiba or Xenovia had been taken out but at least Sona's side had lost a [Knight] and [Rook] making it that they only had four opponents left.
[You've got twenty minutes left on the Scale Mail] Ddraig spoke up in a calm tone, Yukio nodding to himself before Koneko spoke
"…Yukio-sempai." She pointed to Yukio's right arm, reminding him that his blood was still being taken for some use or another as he gripped the line with his white gauntlet and activated its power
[Divide!] The line halved in width again making about the same width as a plastic drinking straw as he wondered what they were doing with his blood, Saji had already been affected by it.
{Luckily we would've heard something if one of the others and went Hollow by it so its most likely being put in a container for something} Sparda spoke before the communication device started up with Rias' voice coming out
[Offence team, can you hear? We're now advancing towards the enemy base as well.]
Yukio drained the last of his bottle before turning to Koneko as he spoke "Let's go."
With that Koneko and Yukio proceeded towards the final decisive battle.
…
They reached the central plaza of the shopping mall, Yukio looking around at the circular bench and clock pillar at the centre before stopping and glaring at Sona that was right before them
"How do you do, Hosokawa Yukio-kun, Toujou Koneko-san. I see, so that's the appearance of the Sekiryuutei. I do feel a terrible wave of power from you. It's only natural for everyone to consider it dangerous." She spoke calmly, only making Yukio glare more as he retorted
"You've screwed over Gen you know, Kaichou…Him taking in my blood made him turn Hollow if I hadn't knocked him out of it you would've lost him… Who knows what else he'll develop now" Sona flinched back slightly shocked as did the [Bishops] behind the barrier, Yukio's eyes fixing on the Bishop that had the line connected to as he added
"It's a good think you're storing it in a container otherwise it would have claimed another innocent"
Tsubaki soon arrived being chased by Kiba as they came from the car park.
"…Sona, you're quite bold. To have come right to the center." Rias spoke, Yukio only sparing a glance back as he gripped the line connecting him to the Bishop and used his [Dividing Gear] again
[Divide!] The line halved in width again, Rias looking concerned at Yukio as Sona spoke up
"Haven't you yourself, the [King], also moved personally as well, Rias?"
"Yeah, since we've already reached the final stage either way. Though it seems to have turned out quite differently from what I expected…" Rias replied with a rigid expression, her eyes widening slightly as Yukio wobbled before dropping to his knees as he growled out
"Damn it…Blood loss getting to me now"
"…Yukio?" Rias asked concerned, Asia moving to activate her [Twilight Healing] over him as he spoke
"It won't work…I'm still losing blood through the line" Rias stopped from taking out the Pheonix Tears she had as Sona gave a small smile and started to explain
"Neither Asia-san's Sacred Gear nor the [Phoenix Tears] will have any effect. Rias, I saw the video records of how the battle with Raiser was finished. What I understood from that was that Hosokawa-kun is a boy that won't give up in battle, to the point of being frightening. For the sake of his comrades, for himself, and above all for Rias—"
"We may not be able to defeat him with just damage. No matter how many times we knock him down, he`ll just get back up. To us, your so-called "guts and spirit" is just as astounding as the power of the Seishinryuutei. Yes, if you don't give up and keep on standing up, you believe that you'll eventually defeat your enemy. That willpower connects directly to the power of the Sekiryuutei and increases your power by several times as well. The power of the Dark Knight and Shinigami makes you more resilient to injuries as well. Those are the greatest weapons for Hosokawa-kun. That's why we had no choice but to beat you with a different method." Sona continued as the Bishop took out a pack from her bag to reveal a bag about half full of Yukio's blood
"Like you know it's your blood, Hosokawa-kun. You are a reincarnated devil that is a Shinigami, Devil and human at your base. It's lethal if a human loses half of the blood coursing through their body even if it's sturdier then a normal human's body. You know it, right? The rule of the Rating Game. When a devil reaches the point of being unable to fight during the game, they are forcibly transported to the medical room. But you countered that by continuingly dividing the width of the line so that the amount of blood would be lessened but the same effect will still happen eventually"
Kiba threw a holy demonic sword dagger and cut off the line that was connected to Yukio, only a trickle of blood coming from what was still connected to him as Sona spoke coldly "It's too late. You've already lost enough blood to be transported to the medical room soon enough."
"—Sona. You—!" Rias spoke as she ran over to Yukio, who had dismissed his [Dividing Gear] and the replacing red gauntlet before sealing the line shut with flames from his other hand.
"That's right, I used Saji's Sacred Gear to suck out Hosokawa-kun's blood little by little. —Until he entered a dangerous state. In order to continuously use a Sacred Gear, whose original ability is to suck out the energy of the target, to suck out their blood instead, considerable training and precise control was necessary. But, Saji managed to accomplish it." Sona spoke, Yukio frowning as she added
"Hosokawa-kun. You are close to retiring. You should only be able to do one or two attacks now. The reason is blood loss. Your armor is solid. Your offensive power and speed is great. However, when I searched for ways to defeat you, there were many. Even if we can't physically defeat you, the game rules will consider you unable to fight."
"Rias, what are you willing to bet on this battle? I'm willing to risk my life. My dream is a very difficult one. If I don't destroy the obstacles one by one, I can't cut open a path of solution." Sona questioned Rias before adding
"Rias, I will destroy your pride and estimation." Rias' expression turned sour, feeling mortified as Sona turned her gaze to Yukio
"Saji—. He was always saying that he would surpass you. To Saji, you are a fellow [Pawn], a friend, and a rival he wants to surpass."
Her words didn't help Yukio mood at that moment, Saji had risked a lot more then his life in this match, his very soul was in danger now from that Hollow.
"However, you have a legendary dragon and Devil inside you. With just that, he possessed an inferiority complex towards you. I wanted to convey to that child that he could fight while crying over such a thing. And that was conveyed to him. The line didn't disappear even when Saji was worn out. He filled it with that much intense feelings. I'll say this to you who is about to disappear from this battlefield soon. Saji was running towards the objective of defeating you. —You aren't the only [Pawn] that has a dream and lives earnestly! The one who beat you was Saji Genshirou!"
'Is it possible for me to use double my blood?' Yukio mentally asked, Ddraig taking a moment to think before replying
[…That could work…although its dangerous, boosting power and boosting blood are different]
"Really… Gen may have put up a good fight against me but…you've all overlooked one detail" Yukio spoke with a smirk, his hair covering his eyes as he stood up, raising his left gauntlet up before him as he added
"Cause the [Boosted Gear] can double just about anything…"
"Wh-What…?" Sona spoke surprised as Yukio grinned as he activated it
[Boost!]
[Transfer!] Yukio smiled as he felt something like a blaze of fire run through his veins, his blood increasing to the point he had to cough some out as he explained
"I'm not retiring any more…now I've doubled the amount of blood I've just had which is enough for me to continue fighting" Rias grinned at the shocked look on Tsubaki, Sona and her Bishops faces as he added
"I guess its time for my new move as well…" Closing his eyes Yukio focused his power to expand a mysterious space which blanketed over them all with Yukio at the centre before he turned his attention to Rias as he asked quietly
"Please let me hear your voice!"
[You're amazing Yukio… I wonder what his new move is] A cute voice came from her, Yukio smiling as he spoke
"Buchou, you think I'm amazing right…and wondering about my new move" Rias looked astonished as she asked
"Yukio! H-How do you know that…?"
Yukio smiled to her before turning his attention to Sona as he asked "What are you thinking about right now?"
[Could he have developed a technique to hear the voice of people's hearts ? Sona, that's troubling ] A voice that sounded like Serafall answered
"Sona-kaichou, you thought that my new special technique could let me hear the voices of people's hearts, right?" Yukio asked, Sona looking seriously surprised at his words as he continued
"That's not it. It's close, but that's not it. I wanted to hear it. The voice of souls"
"My new technique… [Soul Resonance]! It allows me to hear the voice of your soul so when I question you I get an answer without lies…" Yukio explained as he turned to one of the Bishops and asked
"Hey! Soul of the [Bishop] onee-san over there, what are you thinking!?"
"No, don't listen!" She replied, feeling danger as she tried to cover herself only to realise that you can't cover the soul
[Kiba-kyun! I'm so happy to be standing on the same battlefield as Kiba-kyun!]
"Ok…Looks like you've got a fan Kiba…The soul of the other [Bishop] onee-san, what are you thinking!?" Yukio replied confused, turning his gaze onto the other Bishop who shouted
"Please stop it!"
[Hosokawa is scary…Even with the strong-looking armor…] Her soul replied back, Yukio frowning as he turned his gaze back onto Sona and asked
"Kaichou's soul! Please tell me what kind of strategy you intend to use now!"
[This special barrier made by the two [Bishops] is a decoy . Only my spirit has been placed in the barrier, and my body is just a holographic image . Since my spirit has come here, it's possible to make the presence of my body disappear and to make it look like my aura is inside the barrier . My true body is on the roof . It's a strategy to make you attack the me inside the barrier and weaken you guys even a little .]
"Everyone, the Kaichou in that barrier…is a decoy. She's just a holographic image created by the two [Bishops] inside the barrier…Their strategy is to make us wastefully attack the barrier here and weaken us even a little…The real Kaichou is on the roof! It seems that only her spirit has been moved into the hologram…That's also why Koneko-san's enemy detection couldn't find the Kaichou on the roof. But, because her spirit came here, [Soul Resonance] was allowed to work" Yukio explained as he summoned Amonusen to his hands as he took a fighting stance.
"Now…who am I fighting next?" Yukio asked, looking over at the trio of Sitri servants as Rias spoke confidently
"Looks like my Yukio made your plan backfired, Sona…"
"Yes…Seems that is the case" Sona replied annoyed before the barrier and the hologram disappeared, the Bishop holding the bag of blood throwing it away as they both got into a battle stance before them.
…
Keiko smirked at how Yukio's stopped Sona's plan from where she sat in the VIP room, getting up from her seat as Azazel heard another leader murmur "So this is the current Sekiryuutei"
"Hohohoh, what an interesting battle." Odin spoke up as he continued to watch
"Where are you going?" Sirzechs asked curiously to Keiko, who frowned as she answered in a serious tone
"I know what's going to happen so now I'm going to punish Genshirou" With that she left, Sirzechs shivering at her tone before glancing to the two Shinigami representatives who had been watching Yukio intently.
"He's quite good looking isn't he?" Rangiku spoke with a nudge of an elbow into Rukia's side, the black haired girl blushing with a frown as she retorted
"We're here to observe Hosokawa Yukio-san not to ogle him"
"Why can't we do both... and it would be better if we got closer to him to feel out his true power" Rangiku countered with a leer, smiling to herself as Rukia's blush darkened as she huffed.
Sizrechs chuckled silently to himself, wondering what else Yukio would get involved in as Odin drew his attention "Sirzechs"
"Yes." Sirzechs asked, turning to the Norse God who asked
"About that kid who has the dragon Sacred Gear"
"You mean Hosokawa Yukio-kun? He has the Sekiryuutei."
"No, I mean the [Pawn] of the Sitri family." Odin replied, surprising Sirzechs as he continued
"What a good devil. You should take good care of that one. He'll become strong. The achievement of nearly beating the Seishinryuutei kid is huge. Watching the Rating Games of devils is fun because of this. The weak change in the middle of a match. This is what a true match is."
"That's right, that's right! Odin-ojii-chan really understands things, after all " Serafall replied cheerily.
Azazel turned to pair of black haired young women next to him, one energetic who was Kotake while the other looked shy was Kotume.
Kotake's hair reached down her shoulders in a spiky fashion, pinkish red eyes and was dressed in a tight red blouse, a short black skirt and was smiling at seeing Yukio's means of surviving blood loss as she pointed at the screens "Did you see that Komue, Azazel-sama?"
Kotume's black hair was held in twintails which reached her chest, red eyes that bordered on maroon and was dressed in a pale blue blouse and white skirt which reached her knees. Her cheeks were red as she nodded and spoke in a shy tone "Seishinryutei-sama really is amazing…"
…
"Koneko, can you feel her spirit?" Rias asked Koneko with a smirk, the Nekoshou taking a moment to search, her ears flicking timidly before she answered
"Yes. I couldn't detect it before, but now I can sense Kaichou's spirit on the roof. I think that the barrier from before was false illusion that made it look like Kaichou was inside it, and also a special decoy that made anyone unable to perceive the actual person's spirit and location." Rias nodded in understanding as Yuuto stepped towards Tsubaki and pointed his sword and spoke
"Now then, how shall we do this? As two blade-users, shall we decide it by the blade? Sorry Yukio-kun but I want to finish what I started"
"Go ahead Yuuto" Yukio replied, resting Amonusen on his shoulder as Asia tended to his wounds while Tsubaki replied
"That is also fine. In chess, when a pawn is promoted, in most cases they become [Queen]. However, the battle situation changes if they promote to [Knight] instead depending on the setting. There are also a lot of differences between actual chess and the Rating Games, but—this will be a good match."
Akeno giggled as she moved up to Yukio's side, happily sparking off electricity as she spoke "I can finally show my determination to overcome it…by using this hateful power in front of him"
Akeno's focused her attention onto Kusaka, her S-side showing as she shot a mass of thunder at her.
"Reverse!" Kusaka called, spreading her hands out to attempt and reverse it only for the violent thunder to wrap around her and injury her greatly before she disappeared in the white light.
"Ufufufu…It seems it was useless. She tried to reverse the thunder, but what I shot just now was lightning. Thunder and light. The reverse of the light portion wasn't enough to reverse it all."
[One of Sona Sitri-sama's "Bishops", retired.]
"How did I do, Yukio-kun?" Akeno asked, turning to see Yukio's helmet open as he smiled as he spoke
"That was great, Akeno-san…I'll take the other [Bishop] then" Hanakai stepped back, Yukio setting his sword on his back before using his Sonido to appear behind her and slamming a fist into her back, launching her forwards as he moved to knock her skywards as he swung Amonusen from off his back
"Underworld Creatures!" Yukio called, the eight pale bugs shooting at her slamming into her body which was soon engulfed in light as Grayfia announced
[Sona Sitri-sama's "Bishops", retired.]
Tsubaki rushed off into the interior of the department store, Yuuto giving chase as he created a holy-demonic sword into his hand before stabbing at Tsubaki, who blocked with her naginata.
Tsubaki then took out a small bottle from her pocket, Yuuto's eyes widening at seeing her have the Phoenix Tears as she threw them at him before cutting it apart with her naginata as she shouted "Reverse!"
Yuuto quickly countered by changing his sword into a sword of water and mixing his water with the reversed Phoenix Tears, making them lose there effect.
"If an opening is made even just a little!" Tsubaki spoke as she sharply turned her weapon towards Yuuto who blocked before stepping out of the way, summoning his Holy-demonic swords around her and destroying her weapon
"The current me has no openings." Yuuto spoke as he fired off a second bout of swords at her, Tsubaki activating her [Mirror Alice] in response as the intentionally weak swords destroyed the large mirror. Yuuto took the damage from the counter, clenching his teeth in pain as he raised his left arm towards the sky.
"Petro, Basileus, Dionysius, Holy Mary. Please listen to my voice!" Yuuto chanted, the space warping before a tear appeared which he put his hand into as Tsubaki spoke in shock
"No way!? That's!"
"In the name of the saint lodged in the holy blade, I release thee. —Durandal!" Yuuto finished pulling the legendary holy sword from out of the space and using the momentum to slash at Tsubaki, giving her serious damage as he explained.
"It was Xenovia's suggestion. That, in the case that she became unable to function and fight, she would transfer the sword's right of use to me, since this sword is too good for her."
"However, your holy demonic aptitude is—" Tsubaki spoke as she was wrapped in light as Yuuto answered
"I had no past. Because of that, I saw hell, but…I'm different now. Thanks to attaining Balance Breaker, it seems I can also handle Durandal like this." Yuuto looked at Durandal, seeing the quiet and peaceful surge the blade was giving off which was different to the violent and rampaging surge it had with Xenovia.
"Kuh! This is…! You can handle it better than Xenovia-san!?" Tsubaki spoke, Yuuto shaking his head as he replied
"…Since Xenovia has aura temperament that desires power, Durandal may have also reacted to that. But I choose certainty over power. Ability over strength."
He had intended to suppress the power of the sword, but the floor had been cut into two equal halves for quite a distance from the shockwave of slashing at Tsubaki as he added "I thought that it was a stubborn steed that didn't listen to the words of its wielder, but it really seems to be true. It cut more than I thought…So controlling it is still difficult."
"…! This is outside of our calculations, Sona! Even more than Hosokawa-kun…! Their true ace is…! The servant to pay attention to is…Kiba Yuuto!" Tsubaki spoke before disappearing as the announcement called out
[Sona Sitri-sama's "Queen", retired.]
"It's because I—aim to surpass Yukio-kun, no, the Seishinryuutei." Yuuto stated before heading back to the others.
"Good job Yuuto" Yukio spoke, the group heading up towards the roof of the department store. The sky was white and empty due to it being a different space.
Standing before them was Sona who smiled bitterly at seeing them all as Rias asked "Sona, why on the roof?"
"The [King] must survive until the end. That is the duty of the [King]. If the [King] is taken out, the game would be over, right?"
"…Yes, I didn't question the profoundness of that."
"Rias, Saji would've won against Yukio if I'd not made that mistake. But please don't make light of that child. You aren't the only ones that are desperate."
"I don't…and never had Kaichou" Yukio spoke calmly, Rias nodding as she added
"Yes, I could sense it with my body. —Now then, let's settle this, Sona."
Rias took a step forwards, intent on fighting one against one as Yuuto and Yukio spoke up
"If I sense danger, I'll enter to help immediately. I won't listen to your selfishness."
"Same here Rias-sama"
Rias didn't react to there pair's words but knew if she became close to losing they would jump into to help her.
An aura of water gathered around Sona before gradually formed into a large amount of water that had been collected from everywhere in the department store, Rias quickly letting loose a machine gun hail of magic bullets at her friend. Each bullet was only the size of a softball but had a high purity of magic which was the results of Rias' training.
Sona manipulated the water and made it into a wall, stopping Rias' attacks but the instant that her attacks hit it the water was also annihilated at the same time but it was unlimited.
"Now then, Rias. I shall thoroughly display my water techniques to you." Sona spoke, transforming a large amount of water into many things, hawks, serpents, lions, wolves and huge dragons.
"Just as I wished for, Sona!" Rias replied, smiling fearlessly as she compressed and compressed her power of destruction into countless numbers of magic bullets in the air and showing she favoured power while Sona favoured technique.
The rain of attacks shot at each other explosions happening between them before the announcement called out.
[Resign confirmed. It is the victory of Rias Gremory-sama.]
…
The moment they'd been transported back, Rias had went to check on Gasper and Xenovia while Yukio started to head off to find Saji, running into Georgia after a few minutes as she smiled and spoke "Congratulations, Yukio-sama… I was surprised that your [Boosted Gear] could do that"
"I wouldn't have known unless Sona and Gen hadn't come up with that plan…Actuallly do you know where Gen is, Georgia-san?" Yukio asked curiously as Georgia answered slightly nervous
"Saji-sama is being… educated… by Keiko-sama" Yukio smiled as he knew she meant Keiko was kicking Saji's ass for doing something so stupid.
"Thanks…I'm going to see Keiko-nee" Yukio spoke with a knowing smile as he headed off to pick up Keiko's reiatsu to find where Saji was.
It took him several minutes to find them but he heard several loud and painful slaps coming from where he had tracked Keiko's reiatsu, moving to see her holding the light brown haired Pawn by the front of his hospital gown while her whole body was covered in pink reiatsu, which was more focused on her free hand as she slapped him again
"Idiot! Idiot!" Keiko shouted at him, Yukio leaning against the doorframe with a smirk as she continued while Saji wailed in pain despite his swollen cheeks.
"Do you not know how dangerous a Hollow is after fighting them that you risk and end up corrupting yourself with one!?" Saji's cheeks were both bright red as well, Sona and a nurse was stuck on there knees as Keiko's spiritual pressure had forced them down as he stepped in without too much difficulty. He'd trained with Keiko enough times to adjust to his level of pressure from her which was another form of punishment aimed at Sona who was giving him an asking look for help which he ignored as he turned back to his sister.
"Once you get out of here I am going to force you into hell training for your insolence and so that you don't have to die at Yukio-kun, mine or either of your friends' hands!" She spoke in a dangerous tone before Yukio interrupted her, spotting Sona finally collapse onto the ground from the last pulse of spiritual pressure
"I think he's had enough Keiko-nee" Keiko slapped Saji one more time before dropping him back onto the bed as she huffed and turned to him
"I had to make sure the idiot knew what he did to himself, given he's weaker by using his lifeforce up against you"
"Is it safe to come in now?" Sirzechs joked with a forced chuckle only to get shot with a glare from Keiko which made him step back with a gulp before he entered, holding an expensive looking box which he handed to Saji
"Please take this."
"U-Umm…This is…?" Saji asked nervously trembling as he glanced to Keiko for a moment before Sirzechs explained with a fake smile
"This is something awarded to the person who excelled and fought the most impressively in the Rating Game."
"I-I…lost to Yu…T-This isn't a situation where I should be receiving this." Saji spoke as he grasped the sheets of his bed.
"That's true. But, consequently, that Yukio-kun—the Seishinryuutei was nearly put into a critical state. We watched your battle in excitement from the spectators' room. To the extent that even Odin of the Norse praised you." Sirzechs replied, taking the medal from the small box and putting it on Saji's chest.
"You shouldn't humble yourself. Even a devil like you can aim for the top. I'm happy that I can see promising young devils of the future. Devote yourself more. I have high expectations of you." Sirzechs added as he patted Saji's head as he added
"Its fine no matter how many years or decades it takes. —Continue aiming to be a Rating Games teacher."
"…Saji, you displayed a gallant figure to a lot of people. Because you fought a splendid battle." Sona spoke with a calm and self controlled look, hiding the fear in her eyes which grew as she nervously glanced to Keiko only to find a death glare aimed at her.
"…Yes…Thank you very much!" Saji spoke with tears in his eyes, Sirzechs turned serious as he added
"But what you both did by taking Yukio's blood was stupid…It is only because of Yukio-kun defeated you, Saji, that the Rating Game wasn't cancelled as a Hollow wild would cause chaos and most likely have killed someone or caused some of our guests to intervene"
Sona and Saji both looked down ashamed as Sirzechs continued to berate them, Yukio and Keiko leaving the room before he turned to his sister and asked "What else happened to him?"
"He's only got a moderate level of reiatsu from what I can sense so he'll need some training in Shinigami techniques but he'll never have the level of an ordinary Shinigami…if I remember rightly I'll have to force him to develop his own Fullbring" Keiko answered coming to a stop when a voice from behind them spoke up
"Hosokawa Keiko-san, Hosokawa Yukio-san…"
"Yes?" Keiko asked turning around to be greeted with Rangiku and Rukia looking at him as the latter bowed to them and spoke formally
"I'm Kuchiki Rukia from the Gotei 13 of Soul Society, this is Matsumoto Rangiku…We have a matter to talk with you about"
"Hosokawa-kun, I enjoyed watching your fight against Saji-kun" Rangiku spoke with a smile, winking and making him blush as Rukia shot a glare at her fellow Shinigami, despite the blush on her cheeks. Rukia coughed into her hand before speaking toYukio
"We just wanted to pass on our congratulations for how well you fought in the Ratings Game and hope that you would help us in the future"
Keiko smiled as she sensed Rias heading towards the room Yukio had been in, giving her little brother a nudge as she spoke "You should head back to your room…I'll explain things once I've got the details from them"
"Alright…It was nice to meet you Matsumoto-san, Kuchiki-san" Yukio replied with a bow, both Shinigami blushing to varying degrees as he turned to head back the way he came, unaware that Rangiku was staring at his backside.
…
Yukio came across Rias just leaving Gasper's hospital room as he spoke "Hey Rias-sama"
Rias smiled to him as she pulled him into a empty room before speaking "Yukio, thank you for your hard work in the game, you did great. Your [Soul Resonance] was overwhelming against them"
"I thought it would be helpful outside of the games so I doubt it'll be allowed anymore" Yukio replied, scratching the back of his neck as Rias nodded as she spoke
"Yes…That technique is sealed when in games as it would ruin the game" Yukio nodded understandingly as Rias continued
"But, we finally had a victory. Compared to last time, it was better, but I still lost Xenovia and Gasper. Even if our family is said to be blessed with ability and overflowing with power, if that power can't be displayed at critical moments, it has no meaning. Even though the probability of victory is high, when you lose, you lose."
'If we'd a single mistake we would've lost…I'd rather not think what would happen to Gen if I'd not stopped his Hollow'
"But Yukio, both Akeno and Koneko overcame their walls in this game. This is something to be happy about." Rias spoke while gently smiling as Yukio replied
"Yes, I think so too! I feel like we won the match, but lost the game, but even so I'm happy that Akeno-san and Koneko-san have advanced forward!"
"It's thanks to you, Yukio. Thanks to you, everyone in my group are breaking through the things they carry. You've broken through all the things I've worried about, Yukio. I'm very grateful." Rias countered, Yukio shrugging his shoulders as he replied
"I didn't do anything in particular. I just thought about keeping everyone happy."
"Yukio, I'm glad that you're my servant…Please stay with me forever."
"Of course, Rias-sama, I'll always stay by your side!" Yukio replied as he hugged Rias before she frowned and poked him and speaking seriously
"Don't go using your lifeforce for that [Dividing Gear] ok?"
"I'll try but my Otou-san always said its what you do with your life not how long you live" Yukio spoke with a sigh, Rias smiling at the mention of his late family before Yukio gained a small smirk as he added
"I doubt Kaichou or Gen is going to try that again any time in the future after Keiko-nee slapped some sense into Gen"
"I saw the fight between you and him…Saji-kun went Hollow badly didn't he…I couldn't believe that Sona would use such a plan myself. Keiko-san must have scared them both with her power" Rias spoke, squeezing his hand with a small smile
"I think she scared Sirzechs-sama as well when he stepped in" Yukio added, Rias giggling at the image that came to mind before someone knocked the door.
"Yes come in!" The door opened to reveal an old man who only had a single eye and was wearing a hat
"Who are you?" Yukio asked puzzled, the old man laughing as he answered
"I'm the Old Man of the Northern Countryside."
"You're Odin-sama, right? This is the first time we've met. I'm Rias Gremory." Rias spoke up, Yukio glancing to her before turning back to Odin as he spoke
"I see, I see. Sirzechs' little sister, huh. I saw you in the game. Well, there was also something like that. But, I see, hmm. So big. When I was watching, I was fascinated by just these."
"It's rude to stare old man" Yukio growled out, stepping in front of Rias as he noticed Odin's lewd stare before a beautiful armoured woman entered and hit Odin's head with a paperfan.
"Geez! Did I not already tell you that indecent eyes were prohibited?! Since there's going to be an important meeting now, please pull yourself together as the King of the Norse Gods !" She spoke annoyed at Odin who responded with a half opened eye as he rubbed his head
"…Truly a Valkyrie with no openings. I know already. It's a conference on terrorist-countermeasures with the angels, devils, fallen angels, Zeus of Greece and Indra of Mt. Sumeru"
"Well, it's fine. Sirzechs' sister and Seishinryuutei. The world isn't full of only trials, there are many fun things as well. Advance forward while both fully enjoying and suffering through it all. Being reckless is the only way for youngsters to grow up. Hohoho." Odin left after saying that, the Valkyrie blushing when she glanced at Yukio before leaving closely behind Odin as Yukio sighed
{I didn't know Odin was so perverted…} Sparda spoke up annoyed as Yukio calmed himself down as Keiko entered with a frown
"So what did Kuchiki-san and Matsumoto-san want with us?" Yukio asked, Rias looking surprised between them as Keiko sighed
"There's potentially a dangerous group going to rise against Soul Society so she wanted to know if we would help when the time came…I told her we'd answer her once we had more information about whatever was going on"
"Soul Society?" Rias asked, Yukio looking confused himself as Keiko started to explain
"The Soul Society is where the Shinigami live and amongst them is the Gotei 13, thirteen squads focused on different tasks which are lead by a Captain and Lieutenant in each. The Captains all have gained there Bankai forms and have had years to master them"
Yukio rubbed his temples with his finger and thumb as he wondered how much more complicated his life would get.
"Ah, here you are Yukio-kun!" Azazel called as he entering the room with Kotake and Kotume behind him, the latter only glancing up every so often while Kotake was looking over every inch of his face.
"What's the matter, Azazel?" Yukio asked curiously, his gaze wandering onto the two girls who's blushes darkened as there eyes locked
"I just wanted to introduce two of my star pupils, Kotake and Kotume" Azazel introduced his hands signalling to which twin he meant as he added
"To think Kokabiel could have such studious children…anyway I've told them all about you, Yukio-kun"
"Really…? As long as you've only being staying realistic things about me" Yukio replied, Kotake blushing as she stepped forwards to speak with a curtesy
"It's nice to finally meet you Yukio-san…I was so excited when Azazel-tousan told us we could come see you in a Ratings Game, Kotume was so nervous about meeting you"
"…I… I just wanted to but we shouldn't trouble Yukio-san while he's recovering" Kotume added embarrassed, Kotake smiling broadly to her sister while Rias looking annoyed at Azazel who was grinning as Yukio chuckled nervously
"It's alright, Kotume-san…I recover rather quickly"
…
The Gremory group were receiving a farewell from the underworld at the station in front of the main residence, Keiko had headed back before them due to her work and he hadn't heard anything from her about what the Gotei 13 wanted with him and her.
"Well then, Yukio-kun. I look forward to the day we can meet again. You may return here any time without hesitation. Think of the Gremory family as your own family." Rias' father spoke with a smile, many servants behind him as Yukio smiling happily as he replied
"Thank you very much"
"Yukio-san, please take care of Rias in the human world. Since my daughter can be so selfish, I worry." Rias' mother added, Rias' face turning a deep red as she rebuked
"M-Mother! W-What are you saying!?"
"Of course!" Yukio spoke with a smile and nod, Rias' father bursting into tears as he cried
"…Uu, I'm also being moved to tears. The future of my family is bright…" Rias' mother sighed beside him
"Wait a minute, dear. Isn't this where the father is supposed to retaliate by saying something like [I won't give up my daughter yet!]?" Yukio scratched the back of his neck at Rias' mother's words, part of him expecting that to have happened at some point.
"Even if you say that, Yukio-kun seems to have surpassed my power already, so isn't it enough already? I think it will be fine even if I settle down soon."
"Please wait until Rias has graduated from high school at least before talking about retirement." Rias' mother added.
"Rias, send us a letter during your remaining summer holidays." Sirzechs added while carrying his son, Millicas, in his arms. Grayfia and a nervous looking Georgia were standing immediately behind them as Rias replied
"Yes, onii-sama. You stay well as well, Millicas."
"Yes, Rias-nee-sama!" Millicas replied before Sirzechs remembered something as he spoke
"Oh yes…Georgia-chan wants to experience the human world so won't you let her stay with you, Yukio-kun"
Yukio looked surprised, glancing to the reddening Georgia as he nodded "It's alright with me Sirzechs-sama"
Georgia stepped forward with a brown suitcase in her hands, dressed in a blue sundress with a white cardigan over it and silver sandals on her feet as she bowed to him and spoke "I'll be in your care, Yukio-sama"
Rias looked accusingly at Sirzechs who smiled back, Yukio noticing Grayfia giving him a look that meant 'Don't hurt my Nee-san…'… The or else wasn't needed in Yukio's opinion as the group boarded onto the train after giving there final farewells from the windows.
…
On the return train, Yukio sighed and slumped into his seat as he thought to himself
'Guess I'll have to do my homework when we get back…can't believe I forgot about it between all of the training and important events in the Underworld'
{You'll get it done, you always do} Sparda spoke up, Ddraig sobbing as Yukio asked
'What's wrong with you Ddraig?'
[We didn't get to do anything erotic with the girls] Yukio's eyebrow twitched dangerously at Ddraig's answer as he started on his homework, Georgia sitting next to him, nervously gazing at him every so often while he worked on his homework.
'Need to learn to control and hold back on my power' Yukio thought, adding it to his list of things to do under 'working out what would happen if he combined his Scale Mail with his Bankai', 'Neutering/ Curbstomping Gen' and 'Controlling/ Destroying his Hollow'
"Rias-sama?" Yukio asked, Rias sitting in front of him asked curiously
"What is it?"
"I've acted reckless until now just blindly going forwards to become stronger —But, Tannin-ossan told me. That it's a waste to not come up with my final goal. So, I thought about it a little and decided that I want to do something good when I become a High Class Devil…Not sure how but I guess that's at least a start" Rias smiled at Yukio's words before replying
"It seems the summer training camp was a success. Meeting other devils in the Underworld seems to have been a big plus for you. We both seem to have learned and advanced forward a lot."
Yukio jumped slightly as Koneo appeared before him, surprised even more when she sat down on his lap with her cat parts out.
"K-Koneko-san…?" Yukio asked surprised, a confused look on his face as she smiled brightly
"Nyan "
Asia had teary eyes from his right side, Rias scowling with narrowed eyes as Georgia looked envious and jealous while Akeno was giving off pressure with a silent smiling face. Yukio swore a fight was about to start up although he found himself captivated by Koneko's cuteness
…
Yukio stretched as he got off the underground platform in the human world as he spoke back to Asia
"Well, we've arrived. Now then, let's return home, Asia—" When she didn't reply he turned back to see a mysterious man with delicate features near Asia
"Asia Argento…We finally meet." The mystery man spoke, Yukio's eyes widening as he recognised him as Arisu's older brother, Diodora Asaroth. Arisu hurried up along his side, smiling at seeing Yukio.
"U-Umm…" Asia spoke bewildered as Yukio stepped between Diodora and Asia and spoke with a smile
"Nice to see you Arisu-sama…" Arisu blushed, missing his smile fading as he turned to Diodora as he continued
"What business do you have with Asia, Diodora?"
"…So you've remembered me…that's nice Seishinryutei" Diodora spoke with a fake smile before revealing a large scar on his chest, Asia's eyes widening as she muttered as she remembered
"—. That wound, could it be…"
"Yes, my face couldn't be seen back then, but I am the devil from that time." Diodora answered, Asia's unspoken question making her become speechless as Diodora continued
"My name is Diodora Astaroth. That time you weren't able to treat it to the point where a scar wouldn't remain, but my life was saved due to your Sacred Gear."
'So this is the Devil who got Asia ex-communed' Yukio thought with deep frown
"Thank you for saving my Onii-san, Asia-san" Arisu spoke with a formal bow
"Diodora Asaroth?" Rias spoke as she recognised him, Yukio remembering that he and Arisu were younger siblings to Ajuka Beelzebub.
Diodora tenderly took Asia's hand and kissed it, Yukio fuming and about to react as he spoke to Asia "Asia, I came to meet you. I apologize that I couldn't greet you at that meeting. But, I think the encounter between you and I was destiny. —I want you to be my wife. I love you."
Somewhere in the dark rescesses of Yukio's mind, an eerie sing-songy voice spoke in a whisper as to not draw any attention "Looks like things will become interesting, Yu-ki-o"
...
Author's Note
Here's the last part of the Arc, hope you enjoy it. Got the idea for Yukio avoiding retirement due to reading Secluded Dragons and with Vali using Divine Dividing to half the size of things. Keiko will be putting Saji through hell after what happened to him and Yukio will help to some extent at least till the Visors show up to help them both with Hollow/ Mask Training which'll happen during the next arc and possibly some of the arc after that.
Harem: Rias, Akeno, Asia, Koneko, Xenovia, Irina, Rossweisse, Ravel, Kuroka, Serafall, Le Fay, Abe Kiyome, Arisu Asaroth, Georgia Lucifuge, Kotake, Kotume, Rangiku, Rukia (Work In Progress)
Anyway hope you enjoy it.