It's arrived.

As it turns out Raiser did try to do something during the night but as to what that was I had no idea. He has scampered off before I could catch him but I was able to shut off the blaring noise of the beacon quickly enough. Seriously, I had forgot how loud they were. Rias didn't look happy at all after being woken up by it.

Aika's training with Sabrea has started to bear it's fruit. Her agility is coming along very well and she has learned to use magic in her attacks but they are still at a low-level for the moment. The training itself was a weird one, I didn't really understand why Sabrea had Aika running along a tightrope while having balls shot at her. Part of the training was for Aika to balance herself, quickly invoke magic and then hit the balls away before they could hit her. This seemed to be a lot more than I had expected it to be but Sabrea did a good job from keeping to overwhelm Aika.

Yuuto had actually intergrated well, especiakky with his 'Older Self'. Really, they look too much alike to not be family. I was originally gonna put it down to blonde guys with blue eyes looking alike but then I remembered that I fitted into that category and I was a lot more handsome compared to them so I dropped that thought. Working along with Guy somehow allowed Yuuto to unlock his own 'Blade Blacksmith', I was a little sceptical at how he had both the demonic and holy version of the sword gears. It was odd to say the least, still though I was surprised to see that he could push Guy to get the slightest bit serious. Yuuto couldn't force Guy into summoning his family sword though, if you can do that then you are a pretty good swordsmen. I know I can't even force Guy to get any amount of serious in swordsplay.

Ravel was … Actually I don't know what she was doing. She wouldn't come out of her room for whatever reason she had. She did seem a little grumpy though, maybe it was the monthly cycle acting up. I know that female devils don't get it as bad but their anger is much worse than a humans after all.

…

We had all gathered in the main hall of the castle. I was on one side and Raiser was on the other sporting his trademarked smirk. You are more likely to see him being kind to women than him without that damn smirk.

As we waited for Rynar-nii to alert us of the start of the program, we spoke amongst each other. Everyone other than me at least, I was doing what I always did before a rating game and that was yawn obnoxiously. I always feel tired before a fight that I know is coming. I wasn't nervous at all because my opponent was Raiser, anyone else and I might be a little sceptical. I know that he isn't weak by any means and his regeneration rate is remarkably close to my own but there is Gneaux to factor. I can only properly feel him when I think or am around Raiser. It's like he is my trigger for this.

Before the wedding with Rias I couldn't even feel Gneaux at all but I did know of his name and that he was there in my body but not where. After the wedding I could feel him, his awakening brought him closer to the surface. I could feel him but I couldn't talk to him. Efreet nor Sylph could get anything out from Gneaux.

"Reon-kun, you ready?"

"We are Haha-ue."

I nodded along with my response to the question. In her own response, my mother started up the transportation circle for my peerage. Just as we were being teleported away I could just make out the words 'Good Luck' on Rias' lips.

The room we teleported into seemed to be an old throne room, the walls around us were made out of ruined stone and patchy fabric draped the cold walls. It looked to be like a rundown castle. Tapping the small pedastal in front of me, a 3D image of the playing field appeared and the rest of the group huddled round to look at it.

[Boys, I will be the arbiter for your Rating Game. As you can see your home bases are rundown castles, the whole of the castle grounds are enemy territory so once in them your Pawns can promote themselves. This will be a 3-hour max blitz style game, you both have 10 minutes to prepare. Start.]

"10 minutes huh? Seems like this will be a real quick one."

Guy spoke out to the group as I kept my vision focused on the map in front of us all. From the dimensions on the map, it seemed to be a near mile long canyon with a castle at either end. Their was a slight bend in the centre of the canyon, enough so that each castle was obscured from the view of the other one. At the centre there was three paths of travel, the main and central approach was just the large opening past a small stream which ran down the exact centre. The second path was the high ground, an upward path jutted out of the canyon walls. Right at the start of this second path was the opening to the third path, it was a cave path underground and it seemed to be the same length as the high ground path making the central path the fastest but most open.

"So Taichou, what's the plan? A minute has already passed by."

The plan? Our usual style should work, even more so with more numbers.

"We just attack with supporting fire. Aika, Sabrea you will both go out through the centre towards the enemy base. You will more than like meet all 8 of Raiser's pawns and his two rooks. Yuuto, I want you to head straight underground and if you meet both knights then immediately call Guy. Guy, I want you to help Aika and Sabrea until Yuuto calls for help. Ravel and I will slowly approach from the rear using cavalry tactics to attack whoever is out in the open."

Putting my hand into the 3D map, I took a hold off nothing and increased the size of the map.

"Raiser's bishops will probably take the highground for their own safety. They will be Ravel's targets. Yubelluna his Queen will be my target mainly but I will support whoever else needs it when necessary. Sabrea and Aika, you two will use your defensive power to hold back the pawns and Rooks. Aika, you concentrate on the two Rooks as your Sacred Gear can weaken their strength dramatically. Sabrea, you use your Rook abilities and your Nekoshou agility to deal with the pawns. Use the barrier cards as you will from magic attacks that get past me and Ravel. Guy, you will be doing hit and run tactics on any pawn or rook who isn't dealing with Aika or Sabrea at any given time. Be very careful with releasing your gear, we don't want any accidental team kills here. Yuuto, I want you to use your demonic swords as your primary weapons. Only use the holy version when you can catch your opponent off guard and remember that if you fight Raiser's knight who has the Zweihander then do not by any means be chivalrous, that matters not to her."

'How much time left?'

{You have about 3 minutes left, Reon.}

'Thanks Sylph.'

Clapping my hands together, the 3d map reset itself and summoned a roster for Raiser's peerage. I quickly duplicated so their was one full set for each member here and I passed them out.

"Quickly look over each profile and find your own targets. We have 3 minutes before kick-off, get yourselves ready."

I left the members to their own devices and walked out of the throne room, making my way out onto the castle grounds, stopping at the large, open stone entrance to the ground.

Taking in the view of the field, it didn't look like it would be a problem footing wise. I know Aika has her Gear but there is still a possible problem for Guy and Yuuto if it hampers their speed. The ground was relatively flat, having a slight decline in towards the centre of the canyon where the stream was situated. The stream itself looked to be barely flowing, no real momentum there at all. There was no wind either, the field itself was rather plain and i'm thankful for it. I don't want to experience a Rating Game during Monsoon season again anytime soon, that one was just ridiculous.

[Your time for strategizing is now over. You can now begin the Rating Game.]

Along with the announcement, my team starts to put the plan into effect and start to move towards their positions. Kiba sprinted off ahead as Guy leisurely took his time in a light jog behind Sabrea and Aika who were running towards the centre of the canyon. Ravel stopped by my side and gave me a small smile before she started to walk at a slow pace, I let out a small sigh before starting to walk as well swiping my right hand down in a flurry of flames summoning my bow.

It started off well, the plan was an appropriate one and fit into accordance with what Raiser had planned. The only problem being that Yubelluna, the Queen, was flying a bit higher in the air. That meant I couldn't really kill two birds with one stone through artillery because they would have enough time to dodge because of it.

I sent a quick glance over the battlefield's current state before starting to attack Yubelluna. It was all set into motion, the pieces were attacking their targets. As I let a volley of fire arrows fly into the sky I lifted my free hand up to my ear.

"Guy. If the knight so much as shows you her back take your chance."

'~Yessir!~'

The fighting was smooth for the most part, Aika's small lack of experience did show at times but thanks to Guy he was able to pick up the slack in those instances with his speed.

(Raiser's Knights have retired.)

Hmm … that was faster than I thought. Good job I made Kiba go underground then.

"Yuu-kun, go after the Bishop on the left side. Guy, move to take on the Bishop on the right. Ravel, you concentrate on Yubelluna."

''~Yessir~''

I turned to get a small nod from Ravel and I made my bow disappear and charged in myself.

(4 Pawns and 1 Rook for Raiser have retired. Reon's Rook has retired.)

The announcement came along with a massive explosion that caused the gravity in the canyon to strengthen, I felt my body get pushed downwards slightly. The smoke from the explosion lifted and I could see Aika curled up on the ground with a small purple barrier around her slowly cracking in response to the blast. Raiser's final 4 Pawns and Rook looked worse for wear than Aika did due to having no barrier.

(Raiser's Bishops have retired. One of Reon's Knights have retired.)

Sending a quick glance up to the sky I saw that Guy was still here meaning that Yuuto was the one who had retired. I brought my gaze back down to see Aika heavily on the defensive against her 5 opponents. I summoned my bow back to hand while stopping my momentum and focused arcing electricity through my flaming bow and arrow.

"Voltaic Line."

In accordance with my vocal command comes a green version of the Phoenix magic circle placed right in front of the flaming arrowhead and starts crackling with electricity. As I let the arrow loose, the circle shatters like it was glass and the electricity and fire morphs into a green frenzy and multiplies it's speed sending the arrow through the air rippling the space it passed through. In the blink of an eye, the arrow pierced straight through the chest of one pawn and through the shoulder of the final Rook. As the pawn dropped to the floor retiring from the game I saw the Rook's arm drop like it was dislocated.

(3 of Raiser's Pawns are left. Reon's final knight has retired.)

'~Ravel, come take on Yubelluna. Use N.R. if you have to.~'

I put the bow down next to my side as I pushed my body back into motion. The three Pawns and the Rook were now hightailing it back to their base. As I brought my bow back up to take aim, I gestured forward with my head and Aika started to run after them.

Running my hand over the string, the single arrow there flickered and a number of small black lights came into view along the shaft. As I pulled back the string, I curved backwards and pointed my bow straight up into the air. One large magic circle took form above me, a light blue in colour as thin lines curved around it creating intricate designs throughout the circle with no real direction. I let go of the string and the arrow disappeared away into the magic circle, it came with a huge drop in my magic reserves as 6 magic circles took shape covering the walls of the castle with a single, larger magic circle to take form covering the centre of the castle.

"Astral Rain."

The magic circles covering the castle lit up with a flurry of flames as the arrow multiplied and cascaded down from the circles in a pale red torrent.

(Raiser's final few Pawns and Rook have retired.)

I allowed my bow to disappear and started off once again, this time to the final destination which was Raiser's base, that was now lit up in pale red flames thanks to my torrent of arrows.

As I moved I could feel the heat around the area dying down. That would mean that Ravel is coming to the end of her power right now, her stamina was never that great to begin with. I probably should have concentrated on that with her first before getting her to concentrate better on her magic … ah well, that's all in the past now. Noble Roar will be sure to take Yubelluna out, it is an attack that works as a suicide move after all but only thanks to our Regeneration powers.

With each approaching step I could feel Gneaux waking up, I could physically feel the strands of my hair darkening one by one.

(Raiser's Queen and Reon's Bishop have retired.)

Oh … She used it then. She still musn't have got to the explosion part of the technique yet because I didn't hear a Boom!

Poor Ravel, she must be distraught about not making the Boom! It's the most satisfying part of it all.

(Reon's Pawn has retired.)

Aika … she did well for her first game. Hell, she did well for her first proper fight against another person. I'll have to congratulate her well for this but first i've got Raiser to deal with.

"Oi Raiser. Get out of your base."

I stopped myself, around a hundred metres away from the gates to Raiser's castle/base.

I watched him slowly walk out of his base with a smug expression. It was 1-on-1 now but he was definitely in better shape, although that didn't make the outcome absolute. I am physically better than him after all, I don't sit around doing nothing … well, i'd like to think so anyway. I still do my training.

Flames sprouted from our backs at the same time, taking on the form of wings. His stayed the usual Phoenix orange as mine shook in the light breeze, taking on a deep black which cooled the space around me like a cold night. I felt my eyes narrow with each of his steps, each strand of hair darkening. I felt a change in my demeanour. In contrast to his smug smile, I was now wearing a confident smirk thanks to Gneaux.

It was awake but not all that there. It was there, right at the back of my mind. The magic I had used before was now coming back, richer and fuller. I felt my original limit blow over as my wings behind me grew in size and became more erratic like they were running out of control.

But I could feel that his presence wasn't as strong as it was during the wedding. I couldn't feel that strange link to my peerage, I couldn't feel my connection to their powers.

"The black flames again Reon? How vulgar of you."

Vulgar? How does that make sense here?

"Yeah yeah Raiser. Come on, let's finish this so I can get back to not being near you."

"N'awwh Reon~ You make it sound like you don't love me."

"Don't be like that Rai-bou. Of course I love you, just not more than I love pears."

"But you are allergic to pears."

"Then I guess I don't love you after all."

Hmm … It's been a long time since we had an exchange like this plus i'm surprised he remembered my allergy to pears.

As I took a step forward I felt my body stop abruptly, my vision darkened.

"Well … Why don't you leave this to me, Young Phoenix."

This chapter stopped before you thought it would right?
I have two reasons for that. Incompetence and Different Point of View.
Incompetence being me doing too many things this week leaving little time.
Different Point of View will be showing it from someone else's view from Reon's peerage.

I'll be doing it from another point of view because Reon won't be there.
Also stopped there a little due to the word count, it's averaging out at this length so i might as well try to keep it that way.

See you next time, Ciao.