Rias vs Sona part 2
Issei P.O.V
Several minutes after I started to fight with Saji.
He and I were still exchanging punches with each other. No matter how you looked at it, I had the advantage. Saji was already ragged. He was defending himself by using a bundled-up line on his arm as a shield, but he couldn't offset every attack.
Sometimes he was knocked off his feet to the point that he crashed into the store behind him. Our hand-to-hand fighting was mostly equal. However, my offensive and defensive point was rising to the point where we couldn't even be compared. I still hadn't reached my true power, but…
I knocked him down many times. Even so, he still stood up. Even though his legs were trembling as he did so!
He was throwing punches at my armour. Saji's fists were already broken. I could hear his fists' wounds snapping, and they were covered with blood.
Though Saji had fired his line at me, the aura of the Sekiryuutei blew it off and didn't allow it to connect itself to me.
However, the line that had been connected to my right arm when he first arrived wouldn't come off even when I transformed into armour, and no matter how many times I tried to blow it off with my aura, it wouldn't go away! Just where the heck was it connected to?
Maybe the Ascalon I had lent to Xenovia could cut it off, but there was no point in saying that now. I'll have to cut it off when we join up later.
There was something else strange as well. Though my armour should be firm, every time Saji managed to hit me, my mind and body shook and resounded. It was gradually becoming distinct, and the pain I was receiving told me that I was surely swelling up beneath my armour. I was also certainly receiving damage!
"…I'll win…Today, I'll defeat you…I'll take the first step towards my dream…"
What was this person before me? While spitting out bloody vomit, what was he?
At that time, I recalled in my mind the words that Tannin-ossan had said to me during training.
[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 defence you use against it, it will reach the core of your body.]
I understand now, ossan. Saji's blows were piercing me. They were passing through my armour and reaching my body!
[This spirit. Is the Prison Dragon that sleeps in his Sacred Gear responding to Saji's feelings?]
Dragon-type Sacred Gears are scary, Ddraig. I couldn't understand what was happening!
"Hyoudoooooooooooooooou!"
Even if his mind and body was tormented by the cruel reality, Saji didn't stopping punching.
I also responded in kind, and a battle of blows began.
"Let me ask you one thing! What is it like!? Are your Masters breasts soft!? Is the rumour about them feeling like marshmallows true!? Is a woman's body seriously like pudding that doesn't collapse!?"
I was struck by the eyes of Saji that was burning with jealously and envy!
Seizing this opportunity, he fired the line, connected it to a bench behind me and swung it with all his strength, but I crossed my arms and protected myself. The bench broke into small pieces and scattered on the floor.
That was equal to the damage I didn't receive just now!
"What were you thinking when you were rubbing her breasts!? Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiit!"
Wasn't this somehow more intense than the blows when he was talking about his dream!?
Then, he extended several lines to the furniture store, and hauled out a ton of large furniture from there and drew an arc through the air with them as he brought them right above my head! So he intends to bring them all down on me like that!?
Gunn!
As all the large furniture fell down, I fired a Dragon Shot that I restrained to the minimum at the sky! The adjustment of power was too difficult! I couldn't fire ones like this many times!
Doooon!
The wave blast of red magic power instantly erased the large furniture, but—.
Dogoh!
My back was hit by an impact! When I looked back, Saji had changed the trajectory of a single line and knocked a dresser into me! It didn't give me any particularly great damage, but the impact was transmitted to my whole body.
Even if there wasn't any damage, this kind of impact was bad for my body! If I kept getting hit like this, it seems like adverse effects will start to pop up!
"I also want to rub them! I want to rub theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!"
Buwah! Saji was finally letting out tears of frustration!
"I haven't even seen breasts yet! You don't know how much I've prayed for nipples my entire life! And yet you get to see them as much as you liiiiiiiiiiiiike!"
Gonn!
I knocked Saji down, but he stood up immediately! Damn it! What fighting spirit he has!
"But, Hyoudou! It isn't breasts that I want the most! It's to be a teacher! A teacher! I will become a teacher! Can't I become a teacher!? Why do we have to be laughed at!?"
And then Saji cried out at me. No, it was to the many people watching this.
"We didn't declare our dream for the sake of being laughed at…!"
"I'm not laughing! Its impossible to be able to laugh at you when you're risking your life like this!"
[No ones laughing, Genshirou-senpai.]
The ghost of a whisper. That voice was clearly Makoto's but I couldn't see him.
"...Makoto..."
[If you want to become a teacher, lets do it together. Sona-san isn't going to be laughing at your dreams, and neither am I. Besides, you are my senpai so give it your all for your dream! Our shared dream now!]
"I-I will!"
Facing him after Makoto's voice disappeared, I hit Saji! It wasn't enough, so I hit him again!
Saji's face quickly started swelling up, and he spit out broken teeth and blood from his mouth.
Even so, Saji stood back up, and faced me again and again. He was that foolishly honest.
"Today! I will! Surpass you! For Makoto also!"
Saji's shout heavily resounded all the way through my armour and to my heart with a bang.
After that, I pounded tens of blows into him.
"Hyuh…Hyuh…"
Before I realised, the sounds of breath coming from Saji's mouth began to sound faint.
He should be at his limit already. Since he had multiple cuts in his mouth now, the blood wouldn't stop flowing out from his lips. He was already at the point where he couldn't even speak.
His face was swollen and his left eye was completely shut.
His body was shaking, and his stance was also unsteady. Some of his fingers were bent in the wrong direction as well. Even so. Even so, Saji faced me with only a strong glint in his eyes.
"Come, Saji. Come! Sajiiiiiiiiiiiii! You won't let it end here, right!? You don't intend to let it end like this, right!? Weren't you going to do the things that aren't possible for idiots like us and run swiftly forward!?"
He slowly moved forward, step by step.
Saji didn't run away. Saji faced forward. Without shifting his gaze even an inch away from me, he advanced straight forward.
His appearance right now was similar to mine in the House of Phenex battle. I had also seen myself then in the recorded video. Though I had been worn-out, I moved forward. In order to absolutely approach my opponent.
"You also trained desperately, right? I trained desperately as well."
I could feel a dreadful pressure from Saji. Though I should clearly surpass him, I was seized with a terrible fear.
Even if I hit and hit, he wouldn't fall.
For there to be an opponent that I feel such great fear against…
Hey, Riser Phenex. You also felt like that when facing me, didn't you? I understand it now. The reason why you kept knocking me down...
"Saji, I'm going to beat you."
Saji made a punch at me with his bent hand. It extended forward with seemingly slow speed, but I avoided it with the smallest movements. There, I exchanged a counter punch against him.
Dagan!
My punch perfectly hit Saji's face. I also felt good feedback from it. It was a blow that completely cut off his consciousness.
Even so. Even so, Saji grasped my right arm with both his hands. So strongly that he wouldn't let go.
Saji had lost consciousness. But his hands wouldn't let go of my right arm.
Then, he kept holding onto my right arm, his body was wrapped in light.
I couldn't take my eyes off from Saji until he disappeared.
Because I felt that, if I looked away, he may revive himself again.
[One of Sona Sitri-sama's Pawns, retired. What a brave Pawn boy. You also have my praise Saji Genshirou-kun.]
Chelia's kind words. Even if she shouldn't say things like that as it might get her into trouble for favouring one team over the other, she right now is right. Saji was great after all.
With my match against Saji over, I broke open the door of a nearby vending machine and gulped down a water bottle from inside. Koneko-chan also quenched her thirst.
Damn it. I couldn't get rid of my body's shakiness. Was it an effect of wearing the armour? Certainly, I had received a lot of damage in the battle against Saji, but it wasn't to the extent that I couldn't fight.
According to an announcement a short while ago, it seemed that one of our Knights had been taken out. Was it Kiba? Or Xenovia? I didn't know which one it was. Whichever of them survived likely wasn't critically wounded.
The opponent's side had also lost one Knight and Rook apiece.
Our side had six people left. The other side had four. Those were numbers we still couldn't be careless against. I also had less than 20 minutes left for remaining in this state. We have to settle this quickly.
"…Ise-senpai."
Koneko-chan pointed at my right arm. That's right, even though Saji had disappeared, the line attached to my right arm hadn't. Even when I activated my armour, only this line hadn't disappeared. This line definitely connected over to the Sitri base.
What was this for? It didn't seem to be a very good thing, but since it hadn't disappeared along with Saji, he must have put a lot of thought and feelings into this…Saji, what on earth did you put into this?
At that time, we were contacted through our communication devices.
[Offence team, can you hear? Its Buchou! Me Buchou! Hehe! We're now advancing towards the enemy base as well. To fucking kill Sona!]
A communication from Buchou. I see, so Buchou had finally started to move as well. The opening and middle stages were over, and we were heading to the last spurt all at once! After taking a big breath, I spoke to Koneko-chan.
"Let's go."
Koneko-chan nodded, and we proceeded towards the final decisive battle.
There was a place that looked like a central plaza in the centre of the shopping mall.
Surrounded by a circular bench, there was a clock pillar in the centre of it. Shoppers that got tired with shopping frequently sat down there. Once we had advanced that far, I stopped walking.
Naturally. Since Sona-Kaichou was right there before me!
"How do you do, Hyoudou Issei-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 in a calm and composed tone.
Kaichou was surrounded by a barrier. The ones generating the barrier were the two Bishop members of the student council. And the line that was attached to my right arm was connected to one of the Bishops?
It couldn't be, was their plan to channel my power through the Bishop and into the barrier? It was bad if the power of the Sekiryuutei was being poured into it!
If Kiba or Xenovia joined up with us, we could just cut through it with a holy sword.
Soon, the vice-president of the student council, Shinra-senpai appeared.
Running after her, Kiba appeared from the opposite direction from which we had come from. So the one that was taken out was Xenovia, huh.
"…Sona you slut, you're quite bold. To have come right to the centre."
Buchou's voice! When I looked back, I saw that Buchou had also arrived here.
"Hello ape. Haven't you yourself, the King, also moved personally as well, ape?"
"Don't fucking call me an ape! Hooker! But yeah, since we've already reached the final stage either way. Though it seems to have turned out quite differently from what I expected…"
Buchou wore a rigid expression. Certainly, the plan's goal was for Kiba and Xenovia to take down Kaichou. I was supposed to be the bait for the sake of that, but…She seemed to have completely read us!
Was Kaichou one step higher than us? No, I believed in Buchou!
Suddenly, my consciousness became distant…A-re…A-rere?
I staggered in place…A-rere? The muddiness of my mind was becoming stronger little by little…?
Finally, I fell to my knees where I stood.
"…Ise? What has that hooker done to you?"
Buchou noticed the change in me and Asia activated her healing Sacred Gear over me. While giving off a pale green colour, it wrapped my body with a gentle light, the pain disappeared, but the distantness of my consciousness didn't go away!
Buchou tried taking out the Phoenix Tears, but stopped. She judged that, if something couldn't be completely cured by Asia's Sacred Gear, the tears would also have little effect.
All the other group members had noticed the change in me, and became bewildered. Among them, only Kaichou was giving a small smile.
"Don't call me a hooker elephant. 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 Riser was finished. What I understood from that was that Hyoudou-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..."
"Don't fucking call me an elephant!"
Kaichou continued further after Buchou middle fingered her.
"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 Sekiryuutei. 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. That is the greatest weapon for Hyoudou-kun. Besides I promised Makoto-kun to take out Hyoudou-kun. Chimpanzee."
T-That's because guts and spirit are my only redeeming feature…but she promised Makoto that she would take me out? Why? Did he want me to lose? Or is it she promised herself that to him?
"Stop calling me names Sona you butch!"
"Don't call me a butch and let me explain you monster! Now, that's why we had no choice but to beat you with a different method."
From a bag that was being held by one of the Bishops...a pack was taken out.
The interior of the pack was red. Like blood. The line was connected to the pack and it couldn't be, inside the pack was…Kaichou confirmed the contents of the pack.
"Its your blood. You are a reincarnated devil that is a human at your base. Its lethal if a human loses half of the blood coursing through their body. You know that, 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."
Saji! You! This is what you were aiming for from the beginning!
Gakun! I suddenly lost all strength in my body!
Hyuh!
Kiba threw a holy demonic dagger and cut off the line that was connected to me, but. Red blood rushed out from the cut line onto the floor. Ah, so my blood was drawn out through the line.
"Its too late. You've already lost enough blood to be transported to the medical room."
Those were Kaichou's cold words!
"...You fucking crafty whore!"
Buchou ran up to me. Her expression was wrapped in impatience.
Buchou and us had been completely outsmarted…
"That's right monster, I used Saji's Sacred Gear to suck out Hyoudou-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."
So he kept hitting me even while in that state not only because of his guts and spirit, but also to stall for time! Since he could only suck out my blood little by little, he sacrificed his own body back then in order to buy more time!
He could have stalled for time just by running away from me but, he confronted me face to face instead. Saji! You!
"Hyoudou-kun. You are close to retiring. You should only be able to do one or two attacks now. The reason is blood loss. Your armour is solid. Your offensive power 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."
So there was such a method…So Kaichou's plans were superior to ours!? Kaichou questioned Buchou.
"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."
Kaichou spoke to Buchou from right in front of her!
"Rias, I will destroy your pride and estimation."
At Kaichou's words, Buchou had a sour expression as if she had eaten a bitter bug. She must have been completely mortified! Certainly, Buchou had had the advantage in this battle. The advantage had seemed so great that it was only natural for us to win.
While in that situation, this had happened. If Buchou was simply defeated by an enemy who had taken measures against her, her estimation would lower accordingly! Kaichou had also aimed at that!
Kaichou! Just how far did you calculate things!?
Kaichou's gaze shifted to me.
"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."
I was satisfied with Kaichou's words. Saji's fighting spirit and aspirations when facing me. Those had clearly been of high density.
He was aiming for me from the start, huh.
"However, you have a legendary Dragon 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. Just as you were aiming only for the top, 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!"
…Damn it. Saji. Saji. You're amazing. Even when I kept hitting and hitting you, you only thought of beating me. Even if you couldn't beat me directly, you believed that your comrades could beat me if you left just a scratch.
However, I don't want to disappear without showing my new special technique!
I mustered the last of my power and stood up! I stepped just a little distance away. I stood in a place where everyone present, both Gremory and Sitri, were caught!
If I'm going to fall, I want to fall down after doing some naughtiness! I placed both hands in front of me and set my sights on Buchou's breasts!
"Before I retire…I think I'll disappear after I've fulfilled my worldly desires…"
That's right, I was going to disappear either way. In that case, I might as well reveal everything I have in my last moments and then leave! I poured all the power left inside me into my brain. Flash, my delusions!
The last of my aura wrapped around my entire body! It wasn't concentrated into power! It was concentrated into my head!
"Rise, my lust! Unleash, my worldly desires!"
Using the power of the Sekiryuutei, I aimed at a greater height once again! Hold on a little longer, my body! I will surpass the me of just before! This will be an unrivalled technique depending on how its used!
"Spread out, the world of my dreams!"
Instantly, a mysterious space expanded and unfolded with me at the centre. Feeling it on their skin, the females of both the Gremory and Sitri groups protected and covered their bodies.
However, please be relieved. My new special technique doesn't deal direct damage. Its flashiness couldn't be compared to that of Dress Break.
Then, I cast a voice on Buchou, on Buchou's breasts.
"Please let me hear your voice!"
[Ise, are you okay…? If you do such a strange thing, it'll affect your health…]
I heard a cute-sounding voice from her breasts.
I see, I see. Fufufufu. I can hear it. I can hear it! Excellent!
"Buchou, you're worried about me right now, aren't you? That I'll hurt my body by doing something strange…"
At my words, Buchou had an astonished expression on her face.
"Ise! H-How do you know that…?"
I then questioned Kaichou's...Kaichou's breasts.
"What are you thinking about right now?"
[Could he have developed a technique to hear the voice of people's hearts? That's troubling. Hehe...no, don't think about Makoto-kun fondling you...that's naughty...but his small hands all over my breasts and then using his hot mouth to lightly suck on my pink nipples...ooh Maou, I hope Hyoudou-kun isn't hearing this...]
I hear you! Heheheh!
"Sona-Kaichou, you thought that my new special technique could let me hear the voices of people's hearts, right? And you was thinking about Makoto fondling and sucking your chest?"
Kaichou's face became that of a wondering look...then I see her shed silent tears.
"If you are thinking that Sona, you are fucking sick."
"Ooh fuck off ape! You think way worse things than I do!"
Ignoring their banter, I continue onwards with my explanation!
"Fufufu, that's not it. It's close, but that's not it. I wanted to hear it. The voice of chests! No! The voice of breasts!"
Taking a pose, I magnificently called out the name of my new special technique!
"My new technique, Bilingual! My new technique lets me hear the voice of breasts from women only! …Haa, haa. When I question them, the breasts tell the answer to only me without lies! …Haa, haa. It's the strongest technique that lets me understand the heart of the opponent! Ugh, I don't have enough blood…"
I had decided! I had already decided! I may die while dizzy because I had nowhere near enough blood, but I was satisfied! The voices only I could hear! I wanted to hear them!
At that time, I couldn't reach those thoughts and feelings with my lack of power, but with the power of the Sekiryuutei, the possibilities multiplied! And at last, I have completed it!
"Hey! Breasts of the Bishop Onee-san over there, what are you thinking!?"
"No, don't listen!"
The Bishop Onee-san felt danger to her body and covered her breasts, but too slow!
[Makoto-tan! I hope Makoto-tan is alright!]
She's thinking about Makoto? Ooh yeah, she has a weird thing for him. Stalker maybe.
"The breasts of the other Bishop Onee-san, what are you thinking!?"
With just the turn of my gaze towards her, the opponent crouched down with her head between her knees!
"Please stop it! It's disgusting!"
[Hyoudou-kun is scary…Even though he has such a strong-looking armour, why can I only see him as an ordinary pervert…?]
…As a result of those two in a row, I collapsed where I stood. Uu, so my body was also at its limits…
Damn it! So there were also things that shouldn't be heard! So it was like that!
When I suddenly looked around, everyone's eyes were twitching.
Kaichou's eyes twitched, and Buchou put a hand to her forehead and sighed.
"Rias…This is a little…"
"I'm sorry…"
"I think it's a scary technique, but with this violation of privacy, won't female Devils no longer fight him from now on?"
"Yeah, we'll have to be severely careful now…"
[You ARE a pervert!]
I received a full-blown attack from both the Gremory and Sitri sides!
…Alright, then I'll at least read Kaichou's strategy at the end.
"Kaichou's breasts-san! Please tell me what kind of strategy you intend to use now!"
[This special barrier made by the two Bishop 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.]
In any case, I told everyone about what Kaichou's breasts had said,
"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-chan's enemy detection couldn't find the Kaichou on the roof. But, because her spirit came here, Bilingual also worked and let me hear the holographic breasts, is that it…?"
After communicating just that, I collapsed.
"Ise-san!"
Asia tried running over to me, but Kaichou's Queen didn't let her go to me.
Asia then struck a pose of prayer where she was, and her body began to shine faintly, trying to spread out to her surroundings. Was this the area expansion of Asia's healing ability? This was the fruits of her training!
She should have understood that healing would not have any effect on me at this point. Even so, her natural gentleness made her worry for me. Asia, you really are a good kid.
"I was waiting for that!"
One of the Bishops undid Kaichou's holographic image. Both the barrier and Kaichou's hologram disappeared, but without paying any heed to that, the opposing Bishop set foot into Asia's healing area.
"Reverse!"
Don! The pale green light changed instantly and emitted something red and dangerous instead.
"...Ah."
In that instant, Asia's body shined and was disappearing…!?
"…The reverse of healing is damage…Argento-san's healing ability is immense…If that is reversed…"
The opposing Bishop that had entered Asia's healing area had a satisfied-looking expression on her face, even as she vomited blood. What! What had happened!?
"…I beat the Gremory's healer…Kaichou…"
Kaichou's Bishop then disappeared at the same time as Asia.
…Damn it. They took out Asia…I-I too…
My body was wrapped in light. I was already done for…I wanted to promote to Queen by entering the enemy's base…To lose without even doing that…was pitiful!
But, I was satisfied with being able to use Bilingual…
[One of Rias Gremory-sama's Bishops, retired.]
[One of Sona Sitri-sama's Bishops, retired.]
[Rias Gremory-sama's Pawn, retired.]
Yumi P.O.V
After Ise-kun and Asia-san disappeared from the battlefield, there were only four of us left, including me, my Master Rias-Buchou, Akeno-san and Koneko-chan.
The enemy had three people left. Kaichou, Shinra-senpai, and the remaining Bishop student council member.
We had lost half of our members.
A game where one side was supposed to dominate was full of major upsets right from the beginning. The side that was said to be superior had also lost half of their members. I could already hear the comments of those high-class devils watching us from above.
Buchou's estimation will surely fall. But, we couldn't let it fall any lower than this.
Our current members, wouldn't change for the moment. Even if there had been a shocking impact just now, as long as it didn't affect the battle, there was no problem, but…
Asia-san had also been unexpectedly taken out. The so-called Reverse, which had been chosen to be used when she activated her healing ability, and moreover her area-expansion version. So the opposite of healing was damage …Asia-sans healing ability was enormous. The damage caused by Reverse must have also been unimaginable.
More importantly, Asia-san had exited in an instant. The opposing Bishop, Hanakai-san had also disappeared from the attack she gave. Most likely, they had predicted beforehand that the healing ability could be expanded and that it would be used, and made tactics against it. They must have also taken into consideration that Asia-sans area-expanded healing would heal without distinguishing between enemies and allies. If Reverse had been activated when more than one ally was being healed…We could have also been completely wiped out. What terrifying tactics.
So you thought that far ahead, Sona-Kaichou. However, even so, to have the intention of sacrificing her servants…I could feel that their power of unity was greater than ours. Because she believed in her members, they could display such feats of strength.
Sona-Kaichou hadn't aimed at winning with immense power, but instead at using counters that made use of us, who did possess immense power. This was the original Rating Game. You couldn't easily win with just power!
Buchou stood up and looked above. She must have been focusing on Kaichou, who was on the roof.
Even though Ise-kun had been lost, Buchou was calm. As expected of a King. Since if the King didn't function and act, the game would be affected.
"Koneko, can you feel that bitches spirit?"
Buchou asked Koneko-chan this.
"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."
Her cat ears were moving timidly, seemingly searching for Kaichou's spirit.
I pointed my sword at Shinra-senpai and the other servant from the Sitri group.
"Now then, how shall we do this? As two blade-users, shall we decide it by the blade?"
Shinra-senpai responded to my question.
"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."
The battle between me and Shinra-senpai was decided. Besides her, there was only the opposing Bishop, Kusaka-san, but...
At that moment, Akeno entered my sight as she gave off a crackling golden aura from her entire body.
Akeno-san had a cold look in her tear-soaked eyes and was giving off a strange aura.
"…Even though I tried to show Ise-kun my determination…"
She went forward a step on with wobbly and shaky legs. I could feel a strong pressure in that step that couldn't be expressed in words.
"…Even though I tried to overcome it…by using this hateful power in front of him…"
Akeno-san slowly raised her hands in front of her and...
"I won't forgive you."
She showed the natural face of her S-side! The number one state that Akeno-san shouldn't be touched in! Impossible, to think that the usually calm Akeno-san would react to losing Ise-kun like this!
"Disappear."
After that brief anger-filled declaration, a great mass of thunder sprung forth from Akeno-san's hands and swooped down on the Sitri Bishop Kusaka-san!
Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!
"Reverse!"
At the instant of impact, Kusaka-san spread out her hands and tried to reverse the thunder, but...
Bigagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga! The violent thunder wrapped around Kusaka-san!
Kusaka-san couldn't reverse the thunder and directly received Akeno-sans attack!
And at the same time, she was wrapped in light and disappeared!
"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. Wow, Akeno-chan sure has game!]
Chelia-san is chirpy as always!
"The power couldn't be overturned when the power being reversed was changed."
Just as Akeno-san said, it seemed that their training wasn't enough for them to master the power of Reverse. Akeno-san then pointed her hands at the Queen Shinra-senpai!
Akeno-san had already disregarded the battle between me and senpai! She had forgotten me in her shock over losing Ise-kun and her anger at not being able to display her lightning power to him!
It may be that, as a result of that, Akeno-san was able to conquer that power, but what an unexpected development. To think that Ise-kun meant that much to Akeno-san!
"Kuh!"
Shinra-senpai felt the danger to her body and started running away from here!
Kah! Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!
The lightning extended straight towards senpai! If a Devil was hit directly by that, they would be helpless! Since it was mixed with the power of thunder and the power of light, the weakness of Devils, just imagining getting hit by that power was terrifying.
However, Shinra-senpai avoided the lightning and tried to escape into the interior of the department store.
I swiftly ran after her! I won't lose when it comes to speed!
While dashing, I created a holy demonic sword, and when I caught up I stabbed at her! My blade was blocked by her naginata, but I didn't know when she would bring out that counter Sacred Gear!
Shinra-senpai took out a small bottle from her pocket. Phoenix Tears! So the Sitri Queen had theirs!
She threw the small bottle at me and cut it apart with her naginata. The liquid inside was poured onto me!
"Reverse!"
Shinra-senpai shouted that! She intended to change the immense healing power of the tears into damage the instant it hit me! I quickly changed my holy demonic sword into a sword of water!
Bishah!
The wave of water mixed together with the tears. When mixed with something else, the tears lost their effect. And as a result, the Reverse also lost its meaning!
"If an opening is made even just a little!"
Senpai sharply turned her naginata towards me!
I see, the attack just now was to make me block and step out. However...
Zan!
Holy demonic swords bloomed in profusion around Shinra-senpai! The multiple holy demonic blades that sprouted out from the floor destroyed senpai's naginata.
"The current me has no openings."
When I tried firing a second bout of swords at her, she made the mirror from before appear in front of her. I weakened the swords as much as possible and they stabbed with just enough power to destroy the mirror.
Barin! Dooooooooo!
The short-lived mirror broke and the impact was returned to me with double the damage, but I could endure this much! I clenched my teeth in pain and raised my left arm towards the sky.
"Petro, Basileus, Dionysius, Holy Mary. Please listen to my voice!"
Space warped and a tear was created! I stuffed my hand into there!
"No way!? That's!"
Understanding the meaning of this, Shinra-senpai was shocked.
"In the name of the saints lodged in the holy blade, I release thee. Durandal!"
The item I took out from the space was the legendary holy sword, Durandal!
Xenovia! I'll clear away your regrets here and now!
Following the momentum as I took Durandal out, I slashed at Shinra-senpai! The holy sword hit, and serious damage was given to Shinra-senpai.
Even in that situation, she didn't activate her counter Sacred Gear. So she was unable to use it continuously.
"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."
That's right, Xenovia had taught me how to use Durandal.
"However, your holy demonic aptitude is..."
Shinra-senpai said that as she was wrapped in the light of retirement teleportation.
"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."
Buuuuuuuuuuuun…
Durandal was emitting a quiet and peaceful surge. It wasn't letting out a violent and rampaging surge like it did with Xenovia.
"Kuh! This is…! You can handle it better than Xenovia-san!?"
Shinra-senpai said that, but I didn't think so.
"…Since Xenovia has aura temperament that desires power, Durandal may have also reacted to that. But I choose certainty over power. Ability over strength."
I had intended to suppress its power, but even so the floor had been cut into two equal halves up to quite a distance away from the shockwave of slashing Shinra-senpai. It seemed I would receive a minus evaluation because of this.
"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 Hyoudou-kun…! Their true ace is…! The servant to pay attention to is…Kiba Yumi!"
Shinra-senpai left just those parting words and disappeared from this place.
[Sona Sitri-sama's Queen, retired. This doesn't bode well for Sona-sama!]
The only remaining opponent was the King, Sona Sitri-Kaichou. We all made our way to the roof to confront Kaichou of the student council!
The roof of the department store. The sky outside was white, empty of anything. Because it was within the space of the game.
Kaichou turned her gaze towards us and smiled bitterly. Buchou asked.
"Bitch, why on the roof?"
"The King must survive until the end gorilla. That is the duty of the King. If the King is taken out, the game would be over, right monkey?"
"…Yes, I didn't question the profoundness of that slut."
"Rias, Saji won against the Sekiryuutei. Neither Hyoudou-kun nor you made any mistakes. Please don't make light of that child. You aren't the only ones that are desperate."
"Yes, I could sense it with my body. Now then, let's settle this, bitch."
Buchou took a step forward. Does she intend to do this one-against-one?
She was a person that wouldn't listen even if stopped. In that case...
"If I sense danger, I'll enter to help immediately. I won't listen to your selfishness."
"Don't you get involved! I'm going to kill her!"
She's going to kill Kaichou!? She's actually going to kill Kaichou! Kaichou steps back a little at the murderous glare Buchou is directing at her.
"Ape..."
"DIE!"
Tackle!
Ooh no. I knew this was bound to happen. Buchou has tackled Kaichou to the floor and is pulling her hair!
"Get off me ape!"
"I'm going to kill you!"
Bang!
Ooh! Buchou just punched Kaichou in the ribs! Ooh, that looked like it hurt. However Kaichou gathered water in the palm of her hand and smashed it right into Buchou's face!
"Iyaaaa!"
With a cry from Buchou, Kaichou kicked Buchou off her and got some distance! With a roar, Buchou chased after her! Geez, Buchou. This isn't supposed to be a squabble, this is a proper fight.
DON! DON!
"APE!"
Buchou is firing balls of destruction at Kaichou who is dodging them quite nicely! Hehehe, this looks more like a school yard fight! Suddenly. Kaichou stops in her tracks and looks at Buchou strongly!
"Lets fight ape!"
An aura of water gathered around Kaichou, and gradually formed something. This was no ordinary amount of water. Looking at it, the water seemed be collected from everywhere within the department store.
As expected of the Sitri family whose specialty is water magic. I had heard that the older sister's specialty was ice, while the younger sister's was water.
"Alright you bitch! Lets do this shit!"
In her magic, Buchou carried the power of destruction. An attack that destroys the opponent. Without hesitation, Buchou fired magic bullets at her friend/enemy Sona-Kaichou! The number of bullets was endless like that of a machine gun!
The bullets were only about the size of a softball, but I could feel magic of high purity in each shot. It seemed that the results of Buchou's training were also coming out. That she wasn't attacking showily was because of the rules.
Zabun. Zabaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.
Sona-Kaichou manipulated the water and made it into a wall, stopping Buchou's attacks. The instant that Buchou's magic hit, the water was also annihilated at the same time, but because she was gathering it from the entire building, it was unlimited.
"Now then, iguana. I shall thoroughly display my water techniques to you."
Kaichou transformed a large amount of the water with magic, turning it into many hawks that flew in the air, serpents that slithered on the ground, valiant lions, wolves that herded together, and several huge Dragons as well. Wait, Kaichou just called Buchou an iguana! Buchou looks confused by that.
"What the fuck's an iguana?"
Kaichou sighed heavily at Buchou who made an upset face, but then she smirked so evilly that it isn't even funny.
"Don't fucking tell me then, hooker!"
Smiling fearlessly, Buchou piled compression upon compression of her power of destruction and made a countless number of magic bullets in the air. Those without enough power would vanish from just one of those shots. To have condensed that many of them, it seemed that Buchou had built up her magic power fairly well in her training.
Both excelled in the quality of their magic, but looking at it like this, Buchou stood out in power while Kaichou stood out in technique.
Both of them stood ready. Then, the two of them unleashed their attacks at each other at the same time!
[Resign confirmed. It is the victory of Rias Gremory-sama. Well done to both teams! Be proud you fought so well!]
Issei P.O.V
After the game had ended, I woke up within the medical facility. I was on a bed.
That's right, this is the first time I've ended up here.
My case this time had been more a matter of blood loss than injuries. It seemed I had been given a blood transfusion immediately after that and could now move like this. I had gone outside and was drinking juice by the vending machine.
We had won.
However, half of us, consisting of me, Xenovia, Asia and Gasper, had been taken out, and the Gremory group which had been said to be overwhelmingly superior before the game had our estimation lowered.
Our estimation seemed to have particularly lowered because of how Gasper had been lost so quickly right at the start and how I, the Sekiryuutei, had been taken out. As the natural result hadn't come about, the evaluation of those at the top was harsh.
Buchou appeared completely mortified. There were also the achievements of Kiba, who displayed ace-class strenuous effort and the fact we had achieved victory in the end, but. It seemed that the end had been won by a direct confrontation between the Kings.
This had been our first victory…Somehow, we hadn't been blessed with a complete victory. We had certainly gone through a tough battle. Even though our group had enormous power, we were far away from a perfect victory.
Yeah! This situation was bad!
Shaking my head, I decided to change the mood and to go to Saji's hospital room. His injuries had also been completely cured already. In the game we were enemies, but once it had ended, we were friends as usual.
Well now, I'll go boast about Buchou's breasts again.
"Please take this."
I heard Sirzechs-sama's voice from Saji's room. I could see inside the room from the slightly open door. Inside were Sirzechs-sama, Kaichou, and Saji on his bed.
Saji was receiving something from Sirzechs-sama. He was holding an expensive-looking small box in his hands.
"U-Umm…This is…?"
Saji was nervously trembling.
"This is something awarded to the person who excelled and fought the most impressively in the Rating Game."
Sirzechs-sama said that while smiling. However...
"I-I…lost to Hyoudou…T-This isn't a situation where I should be receiving this."
Saji grasped the sheets of his bed in apparent frustration and regret.
"That's true. But, consequently, that Ise-kun, the Sekiryuutei was defeated. We watched your battle in excitement from the spectators' room. To the extent that even Odin of the Norse praised you."
Sirzechs-sama took out a medal from the small box and put 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."
Then, Sirzechs-sama patted Saji's head.
"It's fine no matter how many years or decades it takes. Continue aiming to be a Rating Games teacher."
At Sirzechs-sama's words, Saji cried silently. His tears flowed down endlessly, and his face became disheveled.
"…Saji, you displayed a gallant figure to a lot of people. Because you fought a splendid battle."
Sona-Kaichou was brimming with calm and self-control from her eyes.
Kaichou is also surely happy that her prided servant had gained such a huge estimation.
Saji fingered the medal on his chest, then wiped away his tears with his hand and nodded strongly.
"…Yes…Thank you very much!"
Feeling that it would be impolite to listen any further, I left that place.
"Naughty naughty~ Aniki was listening to others conversations~"
That voice...when I looked hopefully...
"Makoto! You're awake!"
"Aniki! You attained Balance Breaker! Hehe, told you so~"
There's something different about him. When I looked at him, he's in a wheelchair with Serafall-sama behind him looking sad.
"Serafall-sama..."
"They can't do anything. The best doctors in the Underworld can't do anything to help Ma-tan. He's...stuck like this now. He's...the crazy one Ise-chan. Ma-tan is...no one can help him now."
The crazy one...so, he's like the one...when Azazel-sensei...and no one can help...
"Makoto!"
Chelia! She comes rushing down the corridor! She rushes to Makoto and hugs him tightly!
"Aneki! Aneki! Aneki! She's here! Aneki! These people are trying to kill me! Will you protect me?"
"What..."
"Chelia-chan. Ma-tan is like back then. Doctors can't help him...no one can."
"I...see. Well, I will help you Makoto. Don't worry."
...Eh? She, can help him? How can she help him? If the best doctors in the Underworld can't help him, how can she help him? What can she do that doctors can't? I don't understand that at all.
"How, Chelia-chan? If doctors can't..."
"This problem isn't medical, it is magical. I know what Akihiko has done. He's done it to several others before. Makoto, you want to go back, don't you?"
"I don't want to be here anymore Aneki. I wanna go back inside. This place is scary."
The Makoto before us cried out with teary eyes. This one doesn't want to be here. Is the world that bad?
"...Yes, the world is scary, and I wish I could go back also. Don't worry, you can go back inside. Makoto, can you do something for me?"
"I will do anything for Aneki. Please let go back inside! I hate this place!"
Chelia placed her forehead to his forehead.
"Shhh, it is alright. I don't like this place either. Can you clear your mind for me?"
"Ok Aneki. I will clear my mind. I love you Aneki."
"I love you too. Now do as I ask."
He nods and closes his eyes. Chelia places her hands on either side of his head and concentrates. Her hands glow white, and in turn that white aura surrounds Makoto.
"Shhh, its ok now."
"...Aneki..."
"Don't worry...you can go back now..."
"...Thank you..."
The white aura that was covering his entire body glows brightly and then Makoto shakes violently!
"I-Is that supposed to happen!?"
"Shut up Ise-kun!"
She told me to shut up! Hehe, I seem to anger her quite abit, don't I? I don't mean to.
SWISH!
The air around Chelia and Makoto got really violent! I had to cover my eyes because the wind was so intense! Is it really supposed to be like this? Then, she's flung back into the wall! I go over and help her up.
"A-Are you alright?"
"I'm fine...oow, that hurt. Ooh damn it. Makoto will be fine now."
He will? What did she do? As if reading my mind, she continues on.
"I negated the spell Akihiko put on him. I knew Akihiko would do something like this. And he knows that I would be the only person to be able to take it away. Hmph, it is like he is trying to..."
"...Aneki?"
"...Makoto. Its you."
They smiled at one another. The bond of siblings. Tears slip out of Makoto's eyes.
"I got lost and it hurt so much. I was all alone and it was dark."
Chelia leapt from my side and hugged him so tightly.
"I'm sorry. I am so sorry. You don't have to ever worry again."
"...Don't leave me again."
"I'm not going to. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere. I am so sorry that bastard attacked you. I've done so many wrong things Makoto, and I don't know if I can ever make it right..."
"I never blamed you Aneki. I just wanted you to be by my side. You aren't going to leave, are you, Aneki?"
She shook her head as tears slipped out of her eyes.
"Never again. I swear that I wont leave you. I was an idiot. I thought you would hate me for everything I've done. I'm not perfect and I've done terrible things. Things people would hate me for. But I always had good intentions...even if they didn't turn out like that..."
"You don't need to explain yourself Aneki. I'm just happy you are here with me now. You saved me from darkness..."
"I always will."
"Ma-tan! You're awake and normal!"
Serafall-sama then glomped him into a hug!
"Sera-tan! I was scared!"
"I know it was. But you're fine now...although...there's something's we have to talk about..."
"W-What?"
"Well, it concerns what happens now. Your body and spirit went through a traumatic experience..."
As she was explaining, I felt sadness come over me. So, because of that bastard, Makoto has to go through things like that now. After the explanation, Makoto just went quiet and didn't speak or anything.
AN; And the Rating Game is complete! And Makoto is back to normal! As to answer the question of high class for both of them, the answer is yes. By the end of the story, or at halfway through it, Makoto and Issei will become high class. Also, when should Issei get a promotion to mid class? Before canon or in canon? Finally, should I add Walburga to Makoto to complete the bad girl Longinus users? Anyway, thank you for reading!
Issei; Rias, Akeno, Xenovia, Tsubasa, Aika, Yasaka, Bennia, Kiyome, Le Fay, Seekvaira, Isabela, Katarea, Elmenhilde, Mira, Karlamine, Xuelan, Slash Dog (fem), Jeanne, Griselda, Dulio (fem), Murayama.
Makoto; Serafall, Koneko, Sona, Asia, Ravel, Gabriel, Kunou, Ophis, Irina, Rossweisse, Raynare, Yumi (fem Kiba) Gasper (fem) Vali (fem) Cao Cao (fem), Chelia, Valerie, Kuroka, Tsubaki, Katase.