High School DxD: Inheritor of Malevolence

by dvdryms

There exist infinite universes, infinite possibilities. In one of them, an almost normal first-year high school student will discover that there is more to the world around him than meets the eye following a certain encounter. But where will his path lead him when the forbidden power sleeping within him awakens?

17. Preparation

Chapter 17 – Preparation

"Ah, how refreshing! As expected, the air here in the mountains is so much better compared to the one in the city."

Takeshi said with a wide grin as he surveyed his surroundings. He and the rest of the Occult Research Club were in one of Japan's mountain regions, hiking towards the mansion near the top that was owned by Rias's family. Each of them was carrying several large backpacks filled with necessities and other stuff. While they could have teleported directly to the mansion, Rias insisted on hiking as a means to warm up before the serious training menu began.

"…Shame this is not a pleasure trip." Koneko said while walking next to Takeshi, carrying the largest backpack among the group. "Maybe we can come back after we've won to celebrate."

"That's the spirit." Takeshi smiled. "We'll definitely crush that flaming chicken and his entourage no problem!"

"I doubt…it will be that easy…" Pandora said, sweat dripping down her brow and a haggard expression on her face. "Phenex is…quite formidable…after all…"

"Are you doing alright, Pandora?" Takeshi asked, a concerned expression his face. "Want some help with your backpacks?"

"I…can do it…" Pandora insisted. "I refuse…to drag all of you…down…in the game…"

"Don't coddle Pandora, Takeshi." Rias, who was walking ahead of everyone, said. "She has to be able to pull her own weight like the rest of us. Otherwise, there's no meaning to all this. Now then, let's pick up the pace, everyone!"

"President really turns into a slave driver when it comes to training." Takeshi remarked, fixing the straps on his backpacks before quickening his steps. "Are all High-class Devils like this?"

"Only a few of them are like President and Student President." Akeno said. "Most High-class Devils rely on their inborn talent and the combat experience they amass from battles and Rating Games. That's why, their rate of growth is slow compared to what it could have been if they trained seriously."

"All the better for us if Riser is like them." Takeshi said. "We're going to need any advantage we can get to bring him down."

"Right."

"This place is a treasure trove." Yuuto said as he emerged from a nearby thicket. "I found several herbs we can use for tonight's dinner."

"…Nice." Koneko said, wheezing a bit. "A little variety…is always welcome…"

"Hey, guys…" Takeshi said, bringing his hand to his chest. "Anyone else…feeling short of breath…?"

"Not only that…does anyone else feel…like their body just got really heavy…all of a sudden?" Pandora frowned, doing her best to keep standing. "Or is it…just me…?"

"No, something is definitely off here…" Rias narrowed her eyes. "I feel…strange as well. Don't tell me…enemies are chasing after us even here…?"

"That's not it, President…" Akeno said, struggling like the rest. "You'll understand…once we get to the mansion…"

Rias raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as the group continued their agonizing ascent. After about half an hour that seemed like a century to them, the Occult Research Club arrived at the mansion hidden inside the forest, a beautiful two-storey building with an outdoor bath in the back. The young Devils tossed their backpacks on the ground and collapsed next to them, their chests heaving the whole time.

"Welcome, Rias-sama and her servants Devils. I've been expecting you."

Standing near the mansion's entrance was Grayfia, wearing her usual maid outfit. Suffice to say, Rias was shocked to see her.

"Grayfia…?" Rias muttered in confusion. "Why are you here? Is it my family again? Did they sent you to deliver another ultimatum? Perhaps get me to back down, throw the game and go through with this marriage like the obedient daughter I should be? If that's the case, then you've wasted your time for nothing."

"None of that is the reason I'm here." Grayfia said as she approached the members of the Gremory group. "With Sirzechs-sama's permission, I'm here at the request of Akeno-sama to help you all prepare for the Rating Game against Riser-sama."

"Akeno…you say?" Rias said as she turned to her Queen, an expression of betrayal on her face. "You did this behind my back? Why? Asking for help from my family when they're the ones who put me in this situation, this is—"

"Grayfia-san has nothing to do with that though." Akeno cut off Rias, a stern expression on her face. "Face it, Rias, we need all the help we can get in order to defeat Riser and his Peerage. You know that he's no pushover, and that we lack experience in the Rating Games. Grayfia-san should be able to come up with effective training plans that will help us in the long run as well."

"Even so…"

"You don't want to depend on your family at all." Akeno said. "You want to show them you can stand on your own. I understand how you're feeling. However, I must ask that you swallow your pride here, both for your sake and everyone else's. You know Riser will use his family's privileges to the fullest, and you must do the same if you want to triumph."

"If I were you, I would listen to what Akeno-sama says." Grayfia said. "Using every advantage possible to cinch victory is what a wise King does. However, if you still find my presence here intolerable, just say the word and I shall take my leave at once."

Rias bit her lip, looking conflicted, but eventually let out a long sigh.

"…I understand." Rias said. "I would be a fool to turn down such an opportunity. We'll be in your care, Grayfia. Now then, mind explaining why we're all feeling so exhausted and ready to spit our lungs out?"

"A special magic formation has been inscribed over a large section of this mountain." Grayfia explained. "Within its confines, gravity has been increased by three times, while the concentration of oxygen has been lowered. These adverse conditions will aid in strengthening your bodies in a faster rate compared to normal once they adapt to them. This will be an uncomfortable month, but bear with it, everyone."

"Wait…a month?" Takeshi frowned. "I thought we only had ten days until the game. What gives?"

"Apart from the magic formation, Beelzebub-sama's agents also placed several devices in the surrounding area that have created a specialized barrier." Grayfia said. "Within its confines, the flow of time is compressed. That means, through the upper limit of applied time dilation, ten days outside equate to one month in here."

"Time flows faster in here?" Takeshi seemed amazed. "That's just like—"

"Just like the Room of Spirit and Time." Pandora completed his sentence. "Right?"

"Huh. How do you know about that?"

"How else?" Pandora smirked. "I read about it."

Opening one of her backpacks, Pandora took out a volume of Dragon Ball, much to Takeshi and almost everyone else's surprise. Taking a peek inside its contents, he noticed a large number of volumes from several famous manga titles in there.

"Well, I'll be." Takeshi whistled. "When did you become such an avid manga reader? It's only been a little more than two weeks ever since you joined this Peerage."

"They caught my eye when I was out shopping with Akeno-san." Pandora said. "I know books, but I had never seen something like that before. It was truly fascinating. I bought the first three volumes of a certain series, and before I knew it, I was hooked. It also helps that I'm a fast reader."

"Unfortunately, you're also in serious debt to me for all these loans you took to buy these manga." Rias smirked. "It's nice being enthusiastic, but overspending like this is a big no-no, especially when you've yet to receive much of an income from your contracts."

"Ara, ara, are you sure you're in a position to lecture others about this, President?" Akeno smiled. "I seem to recall someone getting carried away when buying tons of souvenirs and useless stuff in our tours around Japan. Venelana-sama must be at her wit's end with all these objects littering your room."

"Yes, well…something like that might have happened a few times…"

Rias seemed embarrassed, prompting everyone to snicker.

"We are going off topic." Grayfia said, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention. "Regarding the specialized barrier, you don't have to worry about performing powerful attacks since it's quite sturdy. However, I urge you not to step outside of its confines. Individuals entering and exiting it could compromise its stability, since it's still in the experimental phase."

"Is that why time flows only three times faster?"

"Yes." Grayfia responded to Yuuto's question. "This is the absolute limit of the barrier for now. Further dilation could compromise the stability of space-time in the region with…unforeseen consequences. But the data gathered during this trial should help Beelzebub-sama in further refining it."

"An extra month is a pretty sweet deal all things considered." Takeshi said, bumping his fists together. "Now I'm feeling even more confident."

"Yes." Yuuto nodded. "If we work hard enough and hone ourselves here, we'll definitely be able to defeat Riser."

"Hey, why settle for simply defeating him?" Takeshi grinned. "Instead, let's aim for a perfect victory. Sixteen to zero, that's how the truly strong win. It will be an explosive debut for both us and President. Not to mention, that flaming chicken's horrified expression will be priceless for sure."

"…Sounds interesting." Koneko said. "We should go for it."

"Quite the lofty goal." Grayfia said. "However, that's a good attitude. Aiming higher means you will reach the acceptable level at least. Since you're all sufficiently motivated, we'll start right away—"

[Yes!]

Everyone shouted together, but Grayfia wasn't done yet.

"—with a written test."

"…Hah?" Takeshi gaped, mirroring everyone else's reaction. "Why a written test? I don't think there's a quiz portion in the Rating Game."

"No, but this is imperative for your future as servants." Grayfia said. "If you do not possess a basic level of education and literacy, you will only make fools of yourselves and your master in the Underworld. It is unacceptable for the Peerage of the next head to be ignorant about our world. That's why, I want to gauge your current level. Now then, follow me."

Grayfia entered the mansion, with the Gremory Peerage following after her. The group arrived at a room that had been modified to resemble a classroom to a degree, with Grayfia urging the Peerage members to sit down on the desks while Rias stood by her side.

"I don't remember this being here before…" Rias frowned. "Did you set this up as well, Grayfia?"

"Of course."

Grayfia said. She then snapped her fingers, with a sheet of paper and a pen appearing on each Devil's desk.

"These are some simple questions to test your knowledge of the Devil alphabet, the basic structure of the Underworld and the seventy-two Pillars." Grayfia explained. "Pandora-sama, you haven't been a member of this Peerage for long, so I don't expect you to have already become familiar with our written language. Just do the best you can. The time limit is twenty minutes. Now, begin!"

The members of the Gremory group turned over the test papers and began writing. Takeshi was a little anxious, but relaxed upon seeing how basic the questions were. Even for someone like him, who hadn't studied the Devils' language for long, answering most of them was easy. Moreover, even the questions regarding the Devils' history were rather simple and to the point.

Once twenty minutes had passed, Grayfia clapped her hands, with the papers disappearing from Takeshi and the others' desks and landing on hers. After checking them out for a few minutes, she turned back to the group.

"As expected, Akeno-sama, Yuuto-sama and Koneko-sama got everything right." Grayfia said. "Takeshi-sama had a few mistakes, but answered most questions correctly. And Pandora-sama…several mistakes, but not as many as I expected. You've been studying, I see."

"I did my best." Pandora said. "Takeshi also helped me a lot with all that. I don't want to cause more problems for President and the others."

"Good." Grayfia said. "However, while basic knowledge about the Underworld is a must, we must know our enemies as well. Therefore, Pandora-sama, could you please list the names of the leading figures among the Angels and Fallen Angels?"

"Yes." Pandora said. "When it comes to Heaven, the Seraphim are the highest-ranking Angels. The Four Great Seraphs, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel, comprise the Inner Circle, which is responsible for overseeing most of Heaven's functions. The Outer Circle consists of Metatron, Sandalphon, Raguel, Sariel, Remiel and Raziel, and they are responsible for miscellaneous tasks. All of them collectively are known as the Ten Seraphs. There is also Azrael, the Angel of Death, who's responsible exclusively for gathering and delivering the souls of deceased believers to Heaven."

"Excellent." Grayfia said. "What about the Fallen Angels?"

"That's something I'm very familiar with." Pandora said. "The Grigori organization's Governor General is Azazel, with Shemhazai acting as his Vice Governor. The other active Cadres are Kokabiel, Baraqiel, Armaros, Penemue, Sahariel and Tamiel. There were a lot more in the past, but most of them perished during the Great War. Their organization focuses on gathering Sacred Gear possessors and training them in using their powers…though they also eliminate those that are deemed too dangerous or unstable."

"Full marks." Grayfia smiled. "Now, about the origins of the Devils. The test touched upon them, but can you recount the entire tale? Instead of Pandora-sama, how about we have Takeshi-sama answer that question?"

"The Devils' origins, eh…?" Takeshi frowned, trying to recall all the details. "If I remember correctly…the first Lucifer-sama, Asmodeus-sama, Leviathan-sama and Beelzebub-sama were Seraphs created by Deus Trinity. They had different names at that time, but those names were struck from the annals of history after their fall. Among them, Lucifer-sama was the strongest, second only to his creator in power."

"Right so far." Grayfia said. "What caused their rebellion though?"

"They were aggressive, insisting on military expansion to take the war to the other Pantheons and wipe them off the face of the planet." Takeshi said. "They also disagreed with how to treat the emerging humanity. Lucifer-sama and the other three insisted that humans should be utterly subservient to them, while Deus Trinity wished to respect mankind's free will as much as possible, intervening only when necessary, in order to allow for greater growth."

Takeshi paused for a moment there to gather his thoughts before continuing.

"Eventually, their desires consumed them and they fell, becoming the first Fallen Angels." Takeshi said. "They fled from Heaven and found refuge in the Underworld, which was a savage terrain infused with primordial demonic energies at the time. There, in search of greater power, they underwent a transformation. Lucifer-sama bathed in the Lake of Fire in the edges of Limbo, the first circle of Hell, Leviathan-sama submerged herself in the waters of the river Cocytus flowing from the Realm of the Dead, Asmodeus-sama entombed himself in the roots of the highest mountain in the Underworld, while Beelzebub-sama entered the now lost Primal Demonic Forest and allowed numerous insects to burrow inside his flesh."

Takeshi shuddered a bit at that last part before continuing.

"When they emerged, the four of them had changed." Takeshi said. "Almost all traces of holy power had been purged from their bodies, they gained the ability to generate and manipulate demonic power and their twelve black wings had turned into bat-like ones. That was how the first Devils came into being."

"So far, so good." Grayfia said. "What about the seventy-two Pillars? How were they created?"

"Well…" Takeshi hesitated there for a bit, but recalled that specific story. "Oh, right. Since Lucifer-sama and the others lacked the power of creation, seeing as they weren't Gods, they sought an alternative to bolster their numbers. To that effect, Lucifer-sama seduced Lilith, the first woman created by Deus Trinity alongside Adam, the first man, abducted her from Heaven and brought her to the Underworld, transforming her into a Devil. He conducted several rituals with her as the basis, since she contained a fragment of creation power passed to her from Deus Trinity. Those rituals gave birth to the Originators, seventy-two Devils with unique abilities that became the first clan heads of the seventy-two Pillars."

"That's right." Grayfia said. "Then, what happened?"

"Using each of the seventy-two and Lilith's flesh as basis, Lucifer-sama created a partner of the opposite gender for each of them to procreate." Takeshi said. "He did the same for his fellow Devil Kings, while he took Lilith as his consort. Then, using a diluted mix of his and Lilith's blood, he created a large number of common Devils, which would serve as the general population that would support the Underworld and serve the Devil Kings along with the seventy-two Pillars."

"Almost perfect, Takeshi-sama." Grayfia said. "However, are you familiar with the term Extra Demons?"

"Extra Demons…" Takeshi muttered, and then clapped his hands. "Right, the Extra Demons. They were common Devils, who, through outstanding achievements, were granted a noble rank from Lucifer-sama and an enchanted drop of Lilith's blood, which resulted in them manifesting clan traits like the members of the seventy-two Pillars. The most prominent members among them were Belphegor and Mammon, to the point where they were known as Extra Devil Kings due to their strength and influence. In this day and age though, Extra Demons do not involve themselves with the current Underworld's matters and live in seclusion apart from a few individuals."

"Well done." Grayfia smiled. "All these are crucial parts of our history that even Devil children are familiar with. You would be a laughingstock in our society if you couldn't recount this tale."

"No offense, Grayfia-san, but could we move on to the game and training now?" Takeshi asked. "We may have a month now, but I'd like to make the most of it. The same goes for everyone else, right?"

"It's as Takeshi says." Rias said. "We should get started, Grayfia."

"Very well." Grayfia said, conjuring a magic circle on the blackboard behind her with several Devil letters inscribed on it. "But before we begin your training, you must know your enemy first. As Rias-sama is well aware, Riser-sama and his Peerage have participated in ten Rating Games so far. They have won eight of them, and the two they lost, it's because Riser-sama threw them as a favor to two households he's close to. You could say he's undefeated so far."

"However, on the other hand, he has only participated in ten matches." Rias said. "There is a gap in experience, but not an insurmountable one. Riser is a promising rookie, not an expert player, so we're nearly even on the tactical level. What's troublesome is the Phenex clan's trait."

"…Immortality." Koneko said. "The ability to recover from any sort of injury. Also, fire and wind control."

"An ability similar to that of the phoenix, the immortal firebird." Pandora grimaced. "That's going to be a pain to deal with. It would take overwhelming power or continuous damage that would wear one's mind down to defeat such a being."

"While members of the Phenex clan are notoriously difficult to defeat, the situation is not as desperate as you might think." Grayfia said. "At the end of the day, this is still an ability fueled by demonic power. If said demonic power is exhausted, even the seemingly mighty Phenex can be brought down."

"But to inflict enough damage to exhaust Riser's demonic power…that's not going to be an easy feat." Yuuto said with a cramped smile. "Riser is a High-class Devil with a large pool of demonic power like President, meaning he can keep his ability going for quite some time and shrug off a large amount of damage."

"Indeed." Grayfia said, turning to the magic circle and conjuring an image of Riser and Ravel. "In addition, you'll be facing two members of the Phenex clan this time. Riser-sama's sister, Ravel-sama, is also part of his Peerage as his Bishop. She hasn't actively participated in her brother's games so far, preferring instead to observe, but there's no guarantee the same will happen here. That's why, we shall move forward with the assumption that she will be an active player."

"Great…" Takeshi groaned. "We'll have to contend with two pseudo-immortal beings. Looks like our only choice is to take down the rest of the Peerage before focusing on these two exclusively. Though that depends on the rules of the game as well."

"The game will probably be a blitz, a battle in an artificial space where the sole goal is to take down the King like in real chess." Rias said with a sarcastic smile. "My family wouldn't want me to take advantage of any special rules and defeat Riser without having to fight him head-on, right, Grayfia?"

"I wouldn't know anything about that." Grayfia said. "Now then, let's move on to the rest of the Peerage members."

Grayfia gestured at the magic circle, which projected the image of a voluptuous woman with long, wavy purple hair that fell all the way down her back and matching eyes.

"Riser-sama's Queen, Yubelluna-sama." Grayfia said. "A Queen that focuses on using her demonic power like Akeno-sama. Her alias is Bomb Queen due to her tendency to use powerful explosion spells. After Riser-sama and Ravel-sama, she's the most dangerous member of Riser-sama's Peerage, so taking her out should be a priority for you."

"The Bomb Queen, eh?" Takeshi grinned. "She sounds scary, but I'm sure she's no match for our Priestess of Thunder. Right, Akeno-san?"

"You got it, Takeshi-kun." Akeno smiled. "I look forward to playing with her, ufufu~."

"Next up are the Rooks, Isabela-sama and Xuelan-sama."

Grayfia said, with the magic circle projecting the images of two girls. One of them was a voluptuous woman with short, light brown hair and grey eyes that wore a plain white mask which covered the right side of her face. The other was a well-endowed young woman of Chinese descent with shoulder-length black hair and blue-green eyes, who wore a navy qipao.

"Both Rooks are experts in close-quarters combat judging from their performance so far." Grayfia said. "Isabela-sama's fighting style takes elements from boxing, while Xuelan-sama mainly uses kung-fu while also mixing fire magic in her blows. Keep that in mind and watch out for it."

Everyone nodded, with Koneko looking especially focused on them. Takeshi assumed that, just like Akeno, she felt the need to perform better and overcome her fellow Rooks.

"Riser-sama's two Knights are Karlamine-sama and Siris-sama."

Once again, the magic circle displayed the images of two new girls. The first was a young woman with light brown hair and green eyes who was carrying a broadsword and had a short sword sheathed in her belt. The second was a tall young woman with long black hair with a dark blue tint and brown eyes that held a Zweihänder almost as tall as she was.

"Karlamine-sama employs fire and wind magic to enhance her slashes." Grayfia said. "Other than that, she fights like a typical Knight, mixing her agility with refined swordplay. Siris-sama, on the other hand, relies more on brute strength to take down her opponents in a manner similar to a Rook. Moreover, unlike Karlamine-sama, who appears to adhere to a code of honor, Siris-sama has no qualms using any means necessary to eliminate an opponent."

"I can respect that, though I'm much more partial to Karlamine-san's fighting style." Yuuto said. "Still, I'm not sure if I can afford to fight with honor here."

"You can't." Grayfia said. "Being honorable is praiseworthy, but not when it drags your team down. When it comes to the Rating Game, pragmatism should take precedence. You must be ready for anything…even sacrificing your comrades if need be. Now, let's move to Riser-sama's other Bishop."

The magic circle displayed the image of a young girl with black hair tied on opposite sides and light brown eyes, who was wearing a kimono.

"This is Mihae-sama." Grayfia said. "She doesn't appear to have any special talents and mostly focuses on supporting the others from the rear with her demonic power. However, you still shouldn't let your guard down. Finally, let's move to the Pawns."

Grayfia snapped her fingers, with eight figures appearing on the magic circle.

"Again, there's nothing unique about Riser-sama's Pawns with the exception of the twins Ni and Li." Grayfia pointed at two young girls with cat ears growing from their heads like Koneko. "They are Nekomata like Koneko-sama, but from a different species."

"That could be a problem." Takeshi said. "Are they also ki users like Koneko-chan?"

"They haven't displayed such abilities so far." Grayfia said. "I assume that's partly due to the incident with Koneko-sama's sister. Because of it, most High-class Devils are reluctant to train their ki-wielding servants to use their inborn abilities out of fear that they might lose control and start rampaging like Kuroka."

"…Their loss." Koneko said. "We'll use that to our advantage."

"Indeed." Grayfia said, dismissing the magic circle. "That's all for Riser-sama's Peerage. Later on, I will have you watch all his matches so far in order to get a glimpse of your opponent's capabilities in real time. But before that, there's something else you should keep in mind, namely, the Phoenix Tears."

"Isn't that…the almighty healing item that can restore a person to full health no matter how grave their injuries are?" Pandora asked. "What does that have to do with the Rating Game?"

"In each game, every team carries two vials of Phoenix Tears." Rias explained. "Because of their potent healing powers, they can be a major game changer if used at the right moment. The House of Phenex is responsible for producing and distributing the tears, which is one more reason why they're so rich and influential. Of course, since this is an unofficial game, neither team will be given Phoenix Tears. However, if they're capable of procuring them on their own, that's a different matter."

"Oh, come on!" Takeshi said in an exasperated manner. "Riser and his family are the ones who supply the damn thing! It's a given he's going to have the tears! What about us? Can't we obtain them somehow?"

"I'm afraid not." Rias said. "The cost of a single vial is astronomical. Since my family won't pitch in, with the resources I have on hand, it's impossible to buy them."

"So, we'd better be prepared to defeat two members of Riser's Peerage twice." Takeshi sighed. "…This is getting better and better. As if having the disadvantage in numbers wasn't bad enough."

"The only silver lining is that Riser himself will most likely not be carrying any tears." Yuuto said from the side. "He's too confident for that. I'd bet his Queen will have one of the vials, but I can't guess who will have the second. Perhaps Ravel-san? Or maybe one of the Rooks? Keeping them around for Castling is imperative for many players."

"Castling?" Pandora frowned. "What's that?"

"In chess, Castling refers to a move in which a player moves their king two squares toward a rook on the same rank and moves the rook to the square that the king has crossed." Akeno explained. "Taking inspiration from that, in the Evil Piece System, a King can swap their position with that of one of their Rooks, provided that neither player is fighting at that time. It can be used to have the King escape from a potentially dangerous situation or a trap, which is why one must be mindful of the enemy's Rooks."

"Regarding the holders of the Phoenix Tears, we'll find out when we find out, I guess." Rias said, turning to Grayfia. "Should we move on to training?"

"Yes." Grayfia said. "Change into your jerseys and meet me outside when you're ready."

The Gremory group left the classroom-like room and spilt up, with Takeshi and Yuuto heading for their room. Once they arrived, they started undressing.

"So, how's strong is Grayfia-san?" Takeshi asked while putting on his jersey. "Riser mentioned she's the strongest Queen, but where does that place her? Ultimate-class level or higher?"

"Grayfia-san's strength, eh?" Yuuto smirked. "Let me put it like this. You know Leviathan-sama is the current strongest female Devil, right? Grayfia-san could fight evenly with that Leviathan-sama. She was actually a candidate for the Leviathan seat, losing it only because Leviathan-sama was a shade more powerful."

"Holy shit…" Takeshi whistled. "We're talking about a real powerhouse. No wonder she became Lucifer-sama's Queen. However, why's she working as a maid of all things?"

"To my understanding, she enjoys it." Yuuto said. "It started off as a way to show her loyalty towards Lucifer-sama and the House of Gremory, but she's genuinely become fond of her work and has shown a real knack for it."

"Why would she need to prove her loyalty?" Takeshi asked. "Is there some sort of history behind that?"

"There is, but it's one we don't have time for right now." Yuuto said. "We shouldn't keep the others waiting."

"Right."

The two boys left their room and joined the others in a small clearing inside the forest surrounding the mansion, where Grayfia was waiting for them.

"Before I assign your individual training, I need to gauge where each of you currently stands." Grayfia said. "A mock battle is the best way to do that. Of course, I understand that the current environment is not favorable to you, but you have to start getting used to it sooner rather later. Now, feel free to come at me without holding anything back."

Grayfia's stance didn't change, but the demonic power emitting from her body intensified, causing everyone to flinch and start sweating bullets. Takeshi could tell that Grayfia was only exerting a portion of her power, and yet she was still pressuring them judging from everyone's matching nervous expressions.

"Strongest Queen indeed…"

Takeshi muttered as he summoned Cataclysm Zone and Mayhem Striker. Next to him, Yuuto conjured a Demonic Sword, while Koneko dropped into a stance. Behind them, several light orbs surrounded Pandora, while Destruction aura and thunder gathered in Rias and Akeno's hands respectively.

"Let's go, everyone!"

Following Rias's command, she shot several orbs of Destruction at Grayfia, while Akeno shot a large thunderbolt and Pandora had several rock spikes erupt from the ground. Grayfia waved her hand, deflecting Rias and Akeno's attacks, while a small exertion of her demonic power crushed the incoming spires.

Takeshi, Yuuto and Koneko, who had moved under the cover of the three girls' attack, aimed at Grayfia with their weapons and fists respectively. She sidestepped Koneko's attack, broke Yuuto's blade with a chop and sent Takeshi skidding backwards with a mere push. Meanwhile, Akeno, Pandora and Rias had spread out, attempting to snipe Grayfia once again. However, Takeshi charged again at that moment, forcing them to adjust their aim to avoid hitting him. Several ash spears and claws formed around him and were aimed at Grayfia, but she clapped her demonic power-clad hands, with the ensuing shockwave scattering the ashes. Before Takeshi could react, she was before him, kicking him away.

Heavy….!

Takeshi cried out in his thoughts as he crashed on a tree. Despite not having put much power behind the blow, Grayfia's kick had knocked his breath out, leaving him gasping even more. Not missing their chance, Yuuto and Koneko caught her in a pincer attack, with the former using his gravity sword to pin her down and the latter being enveloped in Touki as she tried to drive her fist into Grayfia's chest. However, a mere exertion of her demonic power was enough to blow them away before they could touch her.

"Now!"

Rias shouted. Having taken advantage of Grayfia's focus on her two servants, she had conjured a massive sphere of Destruction, throwing it at Grayfia. Meanwhile, Akeno launched an oversized thunderbolt and Pandora sent a small twister at her along with a large number of rock fragments. However, Grayfia was unfazed as a small demonic power blast from her fingers struck Rias's incoming sphere, causing it to explode. The thunderbolt, she evaded with a burst of speed, while the twister struck a defensive magic circle in front of her and dispersed.

At that moment, Takeshi attempted to slash Grayfia from her blind spot, a large wave of ashes having gathered around Mayhem Striker. Grayfia vanished with a burst of speed and appeared above Takeshi, sending him crashing on the ground with a punch. Several Demonic Swords flew towards her, with Koneko and Yuuto having thrown them, and exploded all around her.

"Hm?"

Although unscathed, Grayfia frowned as Koneko appeared from the smokescreen all of a sudden, with Yuuto having used Instant Swap to switch one of his thrown Demonic Swords with her. In response, Grayfia exhaled, her demonic power-infused breath blowing away Koneko. A large number of rock spears were aimed at her next, courtesy of Pandora, who was using her Knight trait to zip around the battlefield and attack from multiple directions.

Taking a cue from her, Yuuto also started moving around in high speeds, throwing several Blast Ogres at her while also shooting thunder at her with Thunder Call. Rias, Akeno and Takeshi also added their attacks to the mix, with the latter using both his ashes and demonic power blasts. Grayfia was forced to erect a large number of magic circles around her to shield her body from the bombardment.

"Not bad." Grayfia smiled, her barrier keeping the Gremory Peerage's attacks at bay. "However, not quite there yet."

Grayfia snapped her fingers, with several demonic power waves being shot out of her magic circles and aiming for the Gremory Peerage. They scrambled to evade as the waves devastated the surroundings, uprooting the nearby trees and filling the area with small craters.

"As expected of Grayfia…"

Rias remarked with a bitter smile. Before they could move, Grayfia lunged at Akeno, who was closest to her. The Gremory Queen created a defensive magic circle, but Grayfia's fist tore through it, sending her crashing on the ground. Pandora attempted to attack, but stumbled as she felt her control slipping again. The ground started shaking, while the wind started picking up.

"Not now…!"

Pandora said through gritted teeth, struggling to retain control. Grayfia wasted no time, using her demonic power to form chains that restrained Pandora and shocked her, knocking her unconscious.

"Not yet!"

Takeshi shouted as he, Yuuto and Koneko spread their wings, aiming for Grayfia once again. Yuuto was holding Grudge Dent, while Takeshi had formed an ice blade in his left hand as the trio engaged Grayfia once again. She was unperturbed, evading their attacks with ease. Meanwhile, the three Devils were starting to get tired due to the adverse conditions, their breath having become labored and their bodies feeling heavier by the second.

Takeshi's lack of coordination with the others wasn't helping things either as he would often charge ahead, forcing Yuuto and Koneko to go around him in order to attack Grayfia. His ash constructs, while potent, would also get in their way. In the midst of his attack, Takeshi channeled his demonic power to his voice, letting out an aria. Using her demonic power, Grayfia formed a vacuum around her, preventing the soundwave from reaching her.

So strong indeed…! Takeshi thought, paying no heed to his surroundings and he doubled his efforts to strike Grayfia. This is an Ultimate-class…no, a Devil King-class Devil! I can't defeat her, but I'll be damned if I can't mark her at least once! I refuse to go down like that!

[Nice guts there!] Grendel laughed. [But don't hog all the fun for yourself! Let me at her as well!]

Takeshi let out a strangled gasp as Mayhem Striker vanished, with Berserk Devastator taking its place. He howled as his greaves ignited, aiming a kick at Grayfia. She sighed, stopping the incoming kick with her demonic power-clad hand. Her ensuing jab to the head overwhelmed his armored skin and sent Takeshi crashing on the ground, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he fell unconscious.

"Shit!"

Yuuto cursed as he conjured Smoke Signal, letting out large amounts of smoke. However, Grayfia wasn't hindered in the slightest, emerging from the smoke and delivering a kick at Yuuto's abdomen, with the young Knight spitting out blood as he also fell to the ground unconscious. Koneko tried to take advantage of Grayfia's distracted state and attack from the side, but a demonic power blast shot her out of the sky as well.

"I guess I have to use this!"

Rias declared as crimson energy surrounded her hand. Placing it on her chest, she unlocked her inner limiters, with her power skyrocketing.

"Oh, I see you've made some progress since I last saw you, Rias-sama." Grayfia said. "You couldn't even properly manifest Lock Control, let alone use it in battle. Your parents and Sirzechs-sama would be very proud if they saw this."

"I'm sure…they would." Rias said with a pained smile, doing her best not to cry out from the added strain placed on her body. "Grayfia…I will defeat you…and rise even higher!"

Extending both hands forward, Rias unleashed a massive wave of Destruction that headed towards Grayfia.

"Nice resolve, but it's a bit too early for that, Rias-sama."

Extending her hand, Grayfia shot a thin beam of highly condensed demonic power that tore through Rias's attack and passed by her, obliterating a large mountain in the distance. Before Rias could gather herself, Grayfia was in front of her. A demonic power-clad punch to her solar plexus was enough to knock Rias out, with Grayfia carrying her in her arms and laying her down on the ground gently. After dispelling the chains binding Pandora, Grayfia set out to fix as much of the damage in the surroundings as she could until the Gremory Peerage woke up.

After about twenty minutes had passed, all members of Rias's group had regained consciousness and had gathered around Grayfia, wincing and groaning.

"Well then, I believe I have a good idea of your overall strength level." Grayfia said. "I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. Compared to most young noble Devils and their Peerages, you have actually put effort into growing stronger."

"Of course." Rias said. "One of the few things I can't stand is for my servants and me being weak. We have to be strong enough to crush any and all opposition that stands in our way."

"Hear, hear!"

Takeshi cheered, with the rest of the Peerage also following suit.

"Still, there are several issues regarding your abilities and your use of them." Grayfia said, with everyone's expressions growing serious. "We will attempt to address most of your shortcomings during this training camp, and by the end of it, your fighting style will be more refined and evolved."

"Question." Takeshi said, raising his hand. "Judging from our current level of power, where would you place us in terms of class, Grayfia-san? Also, will we be able to jump into a higher class by the end of this training?"

"I'd say all of you are around Middle-class, while Rias-sama is, of course, High-class." Grayfia said. "Perhaps Takeshi-sama could reach High-class when he equips his Balance Breaker, but I would need to judge this with my own eyes. I'm sure you would be averse to that though."

"Yeah, I'd rather avoid having even more years of my life eaten if I can help it." Takeshi said. "Not knowing how many years Nidhogg's taken from me is already driving me nuts."

"As for you reaching the next class…that would be impossible in such a short amount of time." Grayfia said. "However, don't be discouraged. You will still grow stronger, and the foundations you build here will aid you greatly down the line. Now then, let's begin the overview. First is Rias-sama."

"Yes."

"Your firepower is adequate, and like I said, you've made some progress with the Gremory clan's family trait." Grayfia said. "However, your technique is still unrefined. The Power of Destruction isn't compressed enough when you shoot it, resulting in power loss and reduced effectiveness. Now, I'm not asking you to emulate Sirzechs-sama, but your Power of Destruction has to become more concentrated. Once you achieve this, you can move to the formation of constructs."

"Constructs?" Rias frowned. "You mean, like swords, bows and shields?"

"Yes." Grayfia nodded. "This should help you focus your powers better, and perhaps even discover different uses for your power apart from long-range combat. Next is Lock Control. As it stands, it's a double-edged sword that grants you great power at the expense of severe strain, making you a glass cannon since you're only raising your demonic power reserves. Not to mention, you're far from being able to properly affect others with it. Were you more attuned to it, you might have even been able to seal Riser-sama's ability."

"That would have been nice." Rias let out a cramped smile. "Unfortunately, I'm not my father. From what little I've seen, he's very good at this."

"He wouldn't be such a renowned Devil if he wasn't." Grayfia said. "However, even he would struggle if he were in your shoes. Trying to wield two clan traits is like trying to learn how to write with your non-dominant hand. You're inclined towards the Power of Destruction, so Lock Control comes more difficult to you. The only remedy for that is more practice. It will be difficult, but rewarding."

"I understand." Rias said. "I will put more effort into it."

"Last but not least, you shouldn't neglect studying about Rating Games." Grayfia said. "Growing stronger is desirable, but a King should also pursue intelligence, tactical ability and quick decision-making. Your strategies and choices could spell the difference between victory and defeat, both in the Rating Game and in the battlefield. That's why I've brought several books and recordings of old Rating Games from the Gremory main house. When you're not training, I expect you to study them, Rias-sama."

"I will."

"Next is Akeno-sama." Grayfia said. "The first issue is your use of the Queen piece's traits. Queens like us are supposed to be all-rounders, but you seem to focus too much on the Bishop trait and have left the other two traits somewhat underutilized. If you had used the Rook trait during my last attack at you, you might have been able to defend yourself better. The best Queens know how to keep a good balance even when leaning towards a specific trait."

Akeno nodded, listening to Grayfia with an attentive expression.

"As for the other issue…well, you should have already guessed what I'm about to say, no? You must accept your heritage and the blood that flows through you. The power you've suppressed for so long can be a great asset for this game."

A frown appeared on Akeno's face, her hands tightly clenched into fists. Rias, Koneko and Yuuto had sympathetic expressions on their faces, while Takeshi and Pandora seemed confused.

"I… I can grow stronger even without relying on that power." Akeno said through gritted teeth. "I don't need it."

"You know that's not the case." Grayfia said. "Denying yourself will only hold you back. We in the Gremory family understand your pain and your reluctance when it comes to your birthright, but you can no longer afford to hide from it. This group has been dragged into several dangerous battles so far, and that could keep occurring in the future. If you can't display your full power when the time comes, you'll come to regret it for sure. You should take the advice you offered before to Rias-sama here."

"I know that…"

Akeno said with an anguished expression. Takeshi wanted to say something to comfort her, but wasn't sure what were the appropriate words here, especially since he didn't have the full picture yet. He resolved himself to ask Akeno about that later. If there was something he could for her, he wanted to do so.

"Next is Yuuto-sama."

"Yes."

"Your speed and technique as a Knight are first-rate." Grayfia smiled. "Okita-san has done his job well. I'm certain you'll grow into a formidable warrior in the future."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"However, it's not as if you're without weaknesses." Grayfia said. "A single, well-placed hit is enough to take you down due to your build. However, it's going to be difficult for you to change your physique into one that can withstand and absorb blows. That's why, it's best if you focus on honing your strengths, namely your speed and your Sacred Gear."

"I see." Yuuto said. "How should I do that?"

"For starters, you have to get used to moving in anomalous terrain." Grayfia said. "You won't always be lucky enough to fight on flat ground or open spaces. Fortunately, there are caves, rough and steep paths, and the dense forest all around us. You can use these areas to practice. Moreover, you must enhance your stamina and practice economy of movement in order to be able to maintain your maximum speed for longer periods of time. Of course, you shouldn't forget your situational awareness. Responding to unexpected events is of paramount importance as well."

"What about my Sacred Gear?"

"Sword Birth is a versatile power with many applications." Grayfia said. "However, why are you limiting yourself to summoning your blades only in your hands or right next to you? From what I can understand, it should be possible to expand the area of effect, allowing you to conjure blades beneath a charging opponent for instance. In addition, you could use your blades as projectiles in a better manner by conjuring them all around you and propelling them with your demonic power or another blade."

"Blades as projectiles…" Yuuto frowned, rubbing his chin. "I hadn't thought about it, and I should have. I was so focused on fighting as a Knight that I overlooked an important aspect to my Sacred Gear even though it was right in front of me. I've already been throwing my blades around, so why didn't I think of refining this? What a failure…"

"You are still young, so it comes as no surprise that you overlook certain things." Grayfia said. "Apart from all that, you should work on increasing the number of Demonic Swords you can summon per battle."

"I will."

"Next is the same Knight-class Pandora-sama."

"Yes."

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how to approach your training." Grayfia said while frowning. "That's mostly because I don't fully understand how your power or curse works, so I would appreciate it if you could clarify things. We only have a few books on Spirit Magic, and they're not exactly clear on the subject."

"For starters, Spirits exist everywhere in nature." Pandora said, gesturing all around her. "They dwell in the trees, in the ground, in the water, even the wind itself. My power allows me to call upon them and control them. However, there are conditions to this, namely each Spirit's preferred habitat."

"Oh?"

"Take this forest around us for example." Pandora said. "It's filled to the brim with Earth Spirits, both in the ground and in the trees around us. On the other hand, since there are no large sources of heat, there is only a small amount of Fire Spirits present. That means I can use powerful earth-attribute attacks, but only minor fire-attribute attacks through Spirit Magic."

"What would happen if we set up a large fire here?" Rias asked. "Would it attract fire Spirits? Also, does using Spirits drain you in some way?"

"Attract isn't the exact term." Pandora said. "More like awaken. Fire Spirits are present around us at this moment, but they're simply hibernating since this isn't their preferred environment. As for your second question, there's no strain to myself when using the Spirits since I'm borrowing power from them, and since they have an inexhaustible supply, I can attack for as long as I wish…well, if the curse doesn't interfere or if I'm not knocked out."

"Interesting." Grayfia said. "I questioned Rias-sama's choice of giving you the Knight piece, but it can result in a unique combination. However, this presents a problem. Rating Game battlefields are artificial constructs in a pocket dimension. Will Spirits dwell in such areas?"

"They might not." Pandora said with a frown. "If materials from either the human or supernatural realms are used in its construction, there should be a small amount of Spirits present, but not to a large degree since they are averse to processed materials. If that's the case, you shouldn't expect too much from my Spirit Magic."

"There's also the matter of your curse." Rias said. "How exactly does it work?"

"I'm not sure how to explain it…" Pandora said. "It feels…as if a black mass inside me starts pulsing like a heartbeat after some time passes, and that sound drives the Spirits I summon into a frenzy. Same thing happens with my Charm, which leaks unconsciously at times. I don't know how to suppress it…or if I can for that matter."

"It appears I will have to look more into this before you start training in the use of Spirits." Grayfia said. "In the meantime, you will practice using your demonic power as a substitute and focus on honing your speed as well like Yuuto-sama. Also, you will study the books I brought with me. Perhaps you will be able to grasp something that evaded my notice."

"Understood." Pandora bowed. "My apologies for causing trouble to all of you once again. Not only is my power useless, but Grayfia-san also has to waste her precious time with me…"

"There's no need for this negative attitude." Grayfia said. "Helping one of Rias-sama's Peerage members is never a waste of time. Moving on, it's Koneko-sama's turn."

"…Yes."

"Just like with Pandora-sama, Senjutsu and Youjutsu are beyond my area of expertise." Grayfia said. "These are techniques exclusive to Youkai after all. That's why I arranged for a more suitable teacher. You can come out now."

"At last! I was getting tired of hiding like some bandit."

Emerging from the forest was a familiar girl with black hair tied in a side ponytail, violet eyes, pale skin and two horns protruding from her forehead.

"It's been some time, Devils of Kuoh Town. Or rather, too little time. I never thought we'd be reunited so soon."

"You are…Chiharu-san!?" Takeshi exclaimed with evident surprise. "What are you doing here!?"

"I came to pay back my debt." Chiharu said. "Normally, I wouldn't be dispatched anywhere for some time since I'm still on house arrest after that whole debacle with Hisaya. However, one of your leaders called upon the favor we owe you from the Oni incident, so Nurarihyon-sama sent me in response to your request for a teacher proficient in Senjutsu and Youjutsu."

Chiharu then turned to Koneko and bowed.

"Toujou Koneko-san, I understand you might feel uncomfortable having me here after what you went through because of me." Chiharu said. "However, if you would have me, rest assured that I will do my utmost to teach you to the best of my abilities."

"…Raise your head." Koneko said. "I'll be your care for the next month, Chiharu-san. Please treat me well."

"Likewise."

Chiharu said with a smile.

"Chiharu-sama will be responsible for most of your training." Grayfia said. "She will also aid you in improving your close-quarters combat technique. I couldn't help but notice that your moves were too straightforward at times, and that you couldn't maneuver that well in the air. Keep that in mind and work on refining your fighting style."

"…I will."

"Setting up the barrier and the magic formations around the mountain, calling Chiharu-san and researching about Pandora's power…" Takeshi muttered with an amazed expression. "How the Hell did you manage to do all that in a single night, Grayfia-san?"

"It's an acquired skill." Grayfia said. "Finally, we come to you, Takeshi-sama."

"I have a feeling I'm not going to like this…"

"There's no doubt that you're strong, especially for a newborn Devil." Grayfia said. "However, you seem to be rather terrible at coordinating with others. While there was teamwork between the other members of Rias-sama's Peerage, only you were out of synch, Takeshi-sama. You moved on your own and paid no heed to the others' position and movements. This forced your companions to adjust on the fly to compensate, creating fatal openings that one could exploit to bring all of you down."

"That's true." Rias added from the side. "I mean, even Pandora was able to work with us to an extent. But the fault is mine as well. I should have given more detailed instructions during the battle."

"There won't always be time for a detailed battle plan, especially under fire." Grayfia pointed out. "All members should have a rudimentary understanding of each other's fighting styles and know how to coordinate with each other to a degree. A team working together is greater than the sum of its parts after all, but the opposite also holds true. Not to mention, there are the issues of his Sacred Gear to take into account. If Takeshi-sama gets his consciousness hijacked by Berserk Devastator during battle all the time…he is pretty much a potential liability as things stand."

Takeshi doubled over with a dismayed expression, feeling as if several metaphorical arrows had pierced his body.

"There's also the fact that you responded to Riser-sama's provocation and revealed one of your Sacred Gears." Grayfia continued. "At that point, it would have been better not to use it all, or perhaps even lose the fight on purpose. You wouldn't have tipped your hand, and Riser-sama would have underestimated you. That would have given you an advantage. You need to approach situations in a more rational manner."

"Perhaps…but there's no way in Hell I would lose on purpose, not Riser's Pawn, not to anyone." Takeshi said with a severe expression. "I have my own pride, and I don't want to compromise it."

"In that case, I suggest you grow strong enough to uphold that conviction." Grayfia said. "Otherwise, it's meaningless."

"That's the plan." Takeshi said. "Regarding the problem with Berserk Devastator, couldn't I just use my Balance Breaker to compensate like last time?"

"Absolutely not, Takeshi." Rias said with a stern expression. "I want to defeat Riser, but not at the expense of trimming down your lifespan even further."

"What Rias-sama said." Grayfia said. "Your Balance Breaker's power is formidable, but it's not wise to engage in a battle of attrition with Riser-sama. It's risky, and you'll be left with an even more fractured lifespan. Moreover, there's still a chance Grendel could overpower even the Balance Breaker and manifest his Sacred Gear against your will."

[You bet I will.] Grendel's voice echoed in Takeshi's head. [It won't be long now. Soon, you'll be completely at my mercy!]

[You should have given in to my influence and rampaged to your heart's content back then, whelp.] Nidhogg said. [Now, you'll suffer a messy and painful death at the hands of Grendel. Not the way I'd like to go, that's for sure.]

"So, I guess you want me to take control of Grendel and unlock his Balance Breaker to solve that issue." Takeshi let out a cramped smile, ignoring the two Evil Dragons laughing in his head. "However, do we know what sort of demerit his Balance Breaker will have on my body?"

"Unfortunately, we don't, since every time Grendel's Sacred Gear entered the Balance Breaker state, it was in an uncontrollable manner." Grayfia said. "However, there's no other path for you right now if you want to keep on fighting. Should the downside be even more serious, we'll consider our next step at that time."

"So, in the end, it's sink or swim, eh?" Takeshi grinned. "I have to do something that no-one's ever succeeded in if I want to move forward. Sounds interesting! I always love a good challenge!"

"…Don't get carried away, Senpai." Koneko said. "This is serious."

"What Koneko-san said." Pandora added from the side. "You shouldn't take this lightly."

"I get it, I get it."

"Other than that, you will keep working on your basic training, Takeshi-sama." Grayfia said. "As a Pawn, you should get used to all the traits and understand their strengths and weaknesses as much as possible if you want to bring out your full potential. On a related note, from what I understood from Beelzebub-sama's report, the power granted by the Balance Breaker to you is not as high as it should be."

"Not as high…?" Takeshi frowned. "Now that you mention it…if Nidhogg's level is greater than that of a Dragon King, I should be Ultimate-class level at least in Balance Breaker. What gives?"

"This is only a conjecture drawn from reports complied on the past users." Grayfia said. "We're not experts on Sacred Gears, so this guess might not reflect the reality of the situation."

"I understand." Takeshi said. "So, what is this theory?"

"Judging from the discrepancy in power levels when past users were rampaging compared to when they were in control, Beelzebub-sama has theorized that the controlled release of Balance Breaker also limits its power output." Grayfia said. "It's also possible that the Sacred Gear itself is imposing restrictions on the flow of power to prevent your body from being even further damaged."

"That…makes sense, I guess." Takeshi said. "So, if my body grows stronger, could I draw even more power from the Balance Breaker?"

"Possibly." Grayfia said. "That will depend on how the Sacred Gear operates and your efforts though."

"Got it." Takeshi nodded. "I'll do my best!"

"Apart from your individual schedules, there will be group exercises that will help you enhance your coordination as a team." Grayfia said, directing a pointed look at Takeshi. "I expect you to tackle this with the same enthusiasm you just displayed, Takeshi-sama."

"I will."

Takeshi nodded, while Grayfia continued speaking.

"The curriculum during this one-month training will be as follows." Grayfia said. "You will all wake up early in the morning and do basic training to strengthen your bodies and get used to the environment. Once you're done, you will move on to your individual training menus and group exercises until lunch. After that, you will have three hours to rest before moving on to more individual training until dinner. Then, I will have you all study Riser-sama's past battles, the Rating Games' rules and basic knowledge regarding the Underworld and its history. Rias-sama, especially, will focus on knowledge regarding the Rating Games. Once you're finished, you may sleep until the following day, where the curriculum will repeat itself all over again. Any questions or objections?"

"None." Rias said. "Once again, we'll be in your care, Grayfia."

"In that case, we begin at once."

Grayfia said as she conjured several orbs of demonic power around her.

"Eh…what's this, Grayfia?"

"Incentive." Grayfia responded to Rias. "For starters, I want you to run tens laps around this mountain while dodging my blasts. While they're not lethal, I assure you that they will hurt a lot if you're hit by them. Also, you're not allowed to counterattack or take flight. Now, go!"

Grayfia shouted as she shot one of the orbs at the group. They all scrambled out of the way as the orb landed where they formerly stood, with the ensuing explosion creating a large crater.

"Oi, oi, how's that not lethal!?" Takeshi cried out. "Feels like these things will blow us all to kingdom come if they hit us!"

"Less talking, more running!"

Grayfia shouted as she shot more orbs at the members of the Gremory Peerage. The young Devils started running as if their lives depended on it while explosions shook the area around them.

"I think I'm starting to see where President got that spartan mentality when it comes to training!" Pandora shouted while weaving through the explosions. "This is insane!"

"Hey, even I'm not that bad!"

Rias shouted amidst the explosions while Akeno was giggling. Meanwhile, Chiharu, who was watching the proceedings with an amused expression on her face, got up and started stretching.

"As entertaining as this is to watch, I'd better move around a bit and start getting used to this environment as well." Chiharu said. "Of course, there's no way I'm getting close to the bloodbath over there…"

Chiharu started jogging in the opposite direction while the sounds of explosions and the dismayed screams of the young Devils echoed behind her.

---

In the Underworld…

"Will you start listening to what I'm saying already, brother!?"

"I'm listening, I'm listening. There's no need to shout, Ravel."

Riser said with an exasperated tone in response to his sister's attitude. Both siblings were inside the Phenex castle, with Riser being seated on a luxurious couch and looking through a large number of magazines.

"That's what you say, and yet you're more focused on these fashion magazines."

"It can't be helped, Ravel." Riser said. "I need to look my best for the upcoming ceremony. The nobles present there will be the cream of the crop. Looking sloppy before them is the last thing I want. Oh, do you think this tuxedo would match best with Rias's wedding gown?"

"Before all that, you should be more concerned about whether the wedding ceremony will go through as planned."

Ravel said, prompting Riser to frown as he set aside his magazines.

"What are you saying, Ravel?"

"I bribed one of the servants working in the Gremory castle to learn about Rias-sama's plans during these ten days." Ravel said. "Imagine my surprise when I found out that Grayfia-sama would be training her and the rest of her Peerage."

"What about it?"

"What about it?" Ravel had an incredulous expression on her face. "Are you seriously saying that, brother? Do you not understand the gravity of the situation? Grayfia-sama is the Queen of Lucifer-sama, one of the strongest Devils around. If she's the one training Rias-sama's Peerage, then—"

"Then they might defeat me?" Riser finished Ravel's sentence with a serious expression. "Is that what you're saying, Ravel? As if that's possible. There's absolutely no chance in Hell of that happening. I'm the immortal Phenex. A mere ten days of training won't be enough for Rias and her servants to get on my level no matter who their trainer is."

"You're taking this too lightly, brother." Ravel said. "There are a lot of unknown factors in Rias-sama's team. That's why, I'm taking no chances. I'll be participating as a player as well this time."

"Hey, isn't that a bit overkill?" Riser smirked. "Rias's chances are already minuscule, and you want to drop them to zero? You're quite merciless, my dear sister."

"This is no laughing matter." Ravel said. "Also, brother Ruval will be here for the next two weeks, right? That's perfect. I'll ask him to train the rest of your Peerage. I don't know how much they can do in ten days, but it's better than sitting around and doing nothing."

"Oi, what are you saying, Ravel?" Riser frowned. "Involving brother Ruval in all this is—"

"Brother, shut up for a bit and listen to me." Ravel cut off Riser's words with a stern expression. "I'm doing this for our own good. In this match, apart from securing your engagement, we'll be carrying the name of Phenex in our backs. There's no way I'll have it dragged through the mud by showing a shameful performance. Nor will I allow anyone to laugh at you!"

"Ravel…" Riser said with a gentle expression on her face. "You're worried about me? That's sweet of you."

"Who the Hell is worried about you!?" Ravel exploded, her face beet red. "I-I'm just worried about the reputation of our family, that's all! I'm asking for brother Ruval's help, and that's final!"

Ravel stormed off, prompting Riser to chuckle.

"A model tsundere." Riser remarked. "If only she could work on her dere a bit more… But not making a laughingstock of myself, eh? It's a little too late for that."

Riser sighed as he stood up and headed towards the window, gazing outside.

"My eldest brother is a Rating Game prodigy, and my second eldest brother is a media boss." Riser said. "And then you have me, the third son with absolutely nothing of note other than being a frivolous playboy as they say. But all that will change. I will rise even further in the ranks of pro players, and I will raise my status even higher through this marriage. No-one will dare look down on Riser Phenex again after this."

Riser clenched his fist, a determined expression on his face as he contemplated his future plans.

---

This concludes Chapter 17. First, in response to your questions.

—To Rai of bladeedge: Yes, Takeshi will eventually be able to combine elements from his Balance Breakers, but that will happen later down the line. As for the members of Qlippoth, that goes into spoiler territory, so I can't give too many details.

The Gremory Peerage's training under Grayfia has begun at last. Like many of you guessed, they are employing a Hyperbolic Time Chamber-like method in order to increase their training time, along with added gravity and lower oxygen levels for faster growth. In DxD canon, we've seen techniques that allow one to manipulate the flow of time (Seekvaira's clan trait and Azi Dahaka's time dilation barrier in Volume 17), so it's not too farfetched to assume that the concept of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber could be replicated. I intend to use it more often down the line with greater dilation as a means to excuse the Gremory group's rapid growth.

On a somewhat related note, I've created two pages about this story on the DxD Fanon Wiki, with one of them being Takeshi's character page. There are no major spoilers for future chapters, so you can view them without reservation if you wish.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, favorite, follow, but most of all, enjoy!

See you all next time!