Chapter 9: Training is over. The Rating Game Part 1
The first seven days have come and gone, with the members of the Gremory peerage doing everything they could to prepare for the upcoming Rating Game against Riser. They were training as individuals to work on combination moves if the need ever arose, developing different strategies, and researching extensively on the members of Riser's peerage and how they operate. Issei explained that the best way to defeat their opponent was by knowing their history, philosophy, tactics they like to employ, etc. Out of everyone, Rias had been working the hardest. Not just in refining her skills with the Power of Destruction to create different techniques for both offensive and defensive purposes. But in strengthening her stamina, watching the Rating Games Riser had participated in to learn them inside and out, and reviewing her brother's and his team's matches. Her Pawn's training regime was intense for sure, but she felt stronger and smarter with each and every passing day.
Issei had also become stronger as his deal with Ddraig was a success. Though he was initially reluctant to agree to his Issei's request, Ddraig ultimately agreed as his host desired the power to protect the people he cared for. That moved him greatly, and the deal was made. Ddraig silently acknowledged this side of his descendant as his previous hosts only desired to use his power to achieve what they wanted and eventually drowned in the power they gained. Yet Issei was different. Yes, he sought power, but unlike several others, he wanted to use it to help protect the people he loved. He was looking forward to the Rating Game against the House of Phenex and, more importantly, against the third son, Riser. It would be a battle worth remembering as he was eager to see who would be the victor.
Near the villa, Issei watched with an impressed smile as Rias demonstrated how far she had come when it came to using her Power of Destruction. She had taken his advice to heart as her demonic power and usage of her Power of Destruction became stronger and more refined. Buchou had started condensing her attacks to the size of soccer and basketball, making them more potent while also conserving her stamina. Each of her blasts had more power than the last. She even started using her power to defend herself; this helped a lot as it didn't deplete her magic reserves as quickly as she needed to create a magic circle to shield herself. Whenever she'd use her Power of Destruction to shield against his attacks, they would be absorbed, and she'd send them back with the added power of Destruction. A good way to both defend and counterattack.
"All right, that's enough," he stopped her after she created another sizeable hole in the ground. Issei walked over to Rias with a towel and a bottle of water when she took a knee, sweating and out of breath. "Buchou, you are becoming more powerful with every passing day," dropping the towel on her Head and putting the water bottle beside her.
She used the towel to wipe the sweat from her face and, more importantly, hide her red cheeks. Issei only had a pair of sweatpants on while his upper body was left exposed. "It's just as I suspected."
Rias blinked, shooting him a questioning look. "What did you suspect?"
"You have more potential than I originally thought. In fact, I say your potential rivals that of an Ultimate-Class Devil." Rias looked at him with wide eyes. She knew she was powerful among the standard High-Class Devils but never thought she would have the power to become an Ultimate-Class, let alone be considered a candidate for one. "Your Demonic power is growing more powerful and refined. However, there is something I want you to think about."
"Power comes in many different forms. If you want to best your opponents, be smarter than them. Remember, might is not always right."
"You mean to achieve victory and come out on top is about how you put it into perspective. Quality over Quantity," Rias surmised, understanding what he meant after a second of thinking.
Issei started laughing. "Well, would you look at that. The Ruin Princess does know how to use her Head. There's hope for you yet," teasing her. In response, she swept his legs right from under him, making him fall onto his back. Then, before he could respond, she pounced on him, holding his hands at his sides with her legs on top of them.
A devilish smile crossed her face as she was straddling him. "This Ruin Princess has just pinned the Red Dragon Emperor," teasing back. "Guess my womanly charm is a power I can use against you."
Her soft hands rested on his well-toned chest. She began to lean down while loving her hands up to his shoulder, and her lips fell to his ear. "Thank you for this, my Issei," she whispered, adjusting herself on him, letting his arms go. Issei was captivated by her beauty when she pulled back. The dragon inside of him was practically roaring for him to make a move on her; another part of him was also demanding the same thing. It was a challenge to squash down his primal urges, though he managed somewhat and raised his right hand to the side of her face, gently stroking her cheek.
Rias seemed completely unbothered by what he was doing. In fact, she was actually reveling in it as his hand gently rubbed against the side of her face. Unfortunately, the good mood was ruined when her Queen arrived.
"Ara ara. Would you look at this? You two seem to be having fun," Akeno giggled as the two teens' faces were the same shade as Rias's hair. Rias immediately jumped off of her Pawn, straightening out her uniform. "Issei-kun, is that all for the day, or can you spare some time to help me with something?" She asked in a seductive voice.
Rias's demonic aura started to flare. "That is enough, Akeno. Training is over for the day."
"Oh, are you sure? Perhaps Issei-kun could spare a few minutes to evaluate my progress. What do you say?" Inclining her Head toward Issei.
"No means no, Akeno," said Rias after blowing a tree away from behind her.
Issei sent a ball of lightning into the air, signaling the others that training was over for the day, and motioned for the two to head inside before things could escalate. "I'll go prepare dinner," he hurried inside to get started.
Unanimously, it was decided that the young brunette would be in charge of the kitchen. To everyone's surprise, Koneko was the one to suggest that he would be taking care of breakfast (sometimes with either Rias, Akeno, or Asia's help), lunch, and dinner. One time, Kiba had made a crack about her enjoying Issei's food too much and received a punch to the stomach. The petite girl also had a light blush on her face.
After dinner, the girls took Issei to the bath with them, much to Kiba's amusement. This had become a routine as every day after dinner, Issei would take a bath with the girls. Initially, he was surprised and felt slightly uncomfortable, especially after one too many jokes from Kiba, but he eventually got used to it. Being the only two males in the group, they became close relatively quickly and started viewing each other as best friends. Issei could Kiba was determined to grow stronger and improve himself, so he happily obliged by doubling his training regime. Throughout their sparring and training sessions, Kiba's speed, attacks, stamina, and ability to use his Sacred Gear had become more pronounced. The young Dragon Devil hybrid was admittedly impressed; similarly, the Knight admired his friend's determination and was grateful for his help.
Later that night, Issei found trying to get to sleep to be a difficult task, as he was thinking about the upcoming Rating Game. He was running mental simulations on what could happen during the match against the Phenex group. While confident that they could win, Riser's peerage was no pushover. He had carefully watched the Games they had participated in and noticed how the overcooked chicken would sacrifice some of his pieces to bring out his opponents. Once that was accomplished, they would use their powers to overwhelm and defeat their enemies.
Another thing that got his attention was Riser's Queen. Without a doubt, she is powerful; however, she has a knack for sneak attacks. They would need to be on guard, so she wouldn't be able to pick them out one by one. Banishing those thoughts away from his mind, he glanced over at Kiba to see that he was sound asleep. Then, taking a deep breath, he got out of bed, left their shared room, and went downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water. The others were indeed improving, and their odds of winning had grown significantly. Number of pieces aside, quality will always triumph over quantity. People, regardless of whether they were humans, Devils, Fallen Angels, Angels, or whatever was in between, put more emphasis on working harder rather than smarter. That is how most of them always fail.
Finishing his glass of water, he exited the kitchen and walked until he was near the main staircase. "Issei? You're still up?"
He saw Buchou descending the stairs in a see-through light purple nightgown with a book and a few documents in her hands. Issei found it to be both a surprise and cute that she was wearing glasses. "Yeah, I could barely sleep. What's with the glasses? Do you have bad eyes?"
"Not at all. I just wear these for looks. They also help me think more clearly," she said, walking down the stairs till she was on the ground floor. "This is actually perfect timing. . .I'd like to chat with you for a while. Would you join me outside?"
She took him outside after he nodded his Head; together, the two walked across the villa's garden to a gazebo. For a short while, the two stayed there in silence, with Rias sitting on the ledge looking through the rule book for the Rating Game. "So far, the only thing I've been able to get from reading this book is some peace of mind."
"You're still worried about the Rating Game." It was more of an observation rather than a question. He looked at the stack of papers next to her and could tell she'd been working on different attack strategies. There was also a map of where the match would be taking place. ". . .Or rather, you're concerned about going up against Riser."
She sighed. "Am I that transparent to you?" Gently smiling at him. "But yes, you are right. And with good reason, as his family is named after the immortal Phoenix; therefore, he can control fire and wind. While he may not be immortal, his regenerative ability gives him a huge advantage. He will be a very difficult opponent to overcome indeed," Rias said.
"Riser is able to immediately regenerate after a large attack and dish out a punishing counterattack. His overall win ratio is eight wins and two losses. The losses were out of respect for the families he's close to. He lost on purpose," Issei could hear the scorn in her voice. "We have our work cut out for us."
"That may be true. . .this will not be an easy victory. However, it is doable," Issei replied. "This past week alone is proof that we have a chance at winning. But more than that, we also have another advantage," walking toward the set of papers beside her and pulling out the one where their match was supposed to be. "The place Riser selected for the Rating Game was a mistake as he seeks to humiliate you and the rest of us on our own turf."
"What do you mean?" Rias looked curious.
"The location where it was decided for our Rating Game is the school. Riser likely believes he can best us here; however, he made a real mistake as we know these grounds better than him and his team," explaining to her why they had home-field advantage. "Riser might have been undefeated for a time, but that is about to change. It is long past time that someone sticks a broom up that bastard's ass."
Rias soon laughed, "he's not the only one. I'd like to shove a broom up my father's and the everyone else. The main reason why they set up this Game is because they anticipate I will lose. And with any luck, I will be able to prove them wrong after winning."
She soon explained why this marriage proposal was so significant since it was made to the heiress of the Gremory family. It was not that she didn't hate her House; she would always take pride in her title. But the issue was that she wanted someone whom she'd acknowledge and who would see her for who she really was. Not as a Devil or as the next Head of a High-Class family, but as her Rias Gremory. That's the main reason why she came to the human world, as no one knew her, and she felt free to carve out her own destiny. ". . . I know that may seem selfish. But I want to be with someone who acknowledges me for me."
In a way, Issei understood what she was saying. People like her were forced to act and behave a certain way, and most turned into selfish snobs who only sought to improve their stances and images to the public. She was different. He remember how sometimes, when they were younger, she would rant about how things would be thrust upon her without considering what she wanted. There was only one word that came to his mind: Suffocating.
Walking up behind her, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. That action had caught her by surprise. "Issei. . ."
"Feel better?" A smile crossed her face as she leaned into his chest.
"A lot, actually," closing her eyes while relishing in his soft, warm embrace. "I may have you do this more often."
"I will do it as much as you'd like," Issei replied softly. He then added, "if it is any consolation, I like you for you. Whether you are a Gremory or not. . .Rias will always be Rias to me. The woman I admire is kind, compassionate, smart, fun to be around, and an amazing person."
Rias was stunned to silence at what he said. Issei then continued, "it will never matter to me what title or class you have. I'd stand by your side forever. If Riser or any of those arrogant jerks want to take you, they better be ready to deal with me. Even if I have to fight till my last breath and every drop of my blood has vanished, I will fight to ensure your dreams come to fruition." The young crimson-haired woman was positively moved by what he said, tears welling in her eyes. Yet these were tears of joy. She could hear no deception in his voice and could tell he meant every word.
"Thank you," her voice was light and somewhat shaky. "Even if we are here for a short time, I'm glad you are here with me. It puts my mind and spirit at ease," relaxing against his chest.
A minute later, she had to resist the urge to moan when he removed his arms around her waist. To her surprise, he took her hand and motioned for her to follow as they walked toward the nearby lake. "Engrave this scenery into your mind, and let it serve as something you're fighting for. Always know that the strongest source of power comes from the will and spirit of those who hold a special place in your heart and desire you wish to protect."
For the life of her, she felt at peace. She noticed that he didn't let go of her hand, nor did she want him to. This was something she wanted! For someone to see her as something other than the heiress to the House of Gremory. Someone who respected and cared for her with her own heart and mentality. Ideas began running through her mind. Her and Issei together. Just the two of them on a beach watching the sun go down. If she could have one wish, then it would be to stay like this with him forever.
(0^0)
The next two days, Issei surprised everyone by telling them they would no longer be using the weight vests. Something they were all happy about. Because they were nearing the end date of their time on the mountain, he wanted to test them and see how far they had come. He acknowledged them for all their hard work and was impressed with how far they had come. Since this was their ninth day, he had them spar against each other, except for Asia, since she was not a fighter. Instead, he created a clone to have it watch her demonstrate her control over elemental magic and how long she could maintain her Sacred Gear. Thus far, it was Kiba vs. Koneko and Rias vs. Akeno.
Kiba's skills as a Knight and a swordsman have steadily increased, but more than that, so has his technique and usage of his Sword Birth. While he still used conventional moves that befitted a Knight, he was less predictable and began using unorthodox attacks. He could even use his Sacred Gear to defend himself and make it so that they'd follow his opponent. Despite being a Rook, Koneko's speed and attacks had become faster and sharper. She had taken Issei's advice to heart and was using her ears, nose, and other senses to detect if an enemy was hiding somewhere. In short, he taught her how to trust her instincts and her abilities as a nekomata. The poor girl still disliked that side of her and refused to use it save for her enhanced sense of smell and hearing. She was grateful that he agreed to not push the issue of her past and would not force her to do something she didn't want to do.
Akeno had improved by leaps and bounds. Her usage and power of lightning became more destructive; she could now create condensed balls of lightning and lightning arrows. She'd been proud of the latter as they could both cause her adversary a significant amount of pain upon impact and could explode at her whim. As for her defensive skills, she could both create a shield made of lightning and infuse it with her magic shields. In short, along with Rias, they had all improved. Speaking of the group's King, she was currently firing balls of Destruction at her Queen, similar to a shotgun. Having seen enough, Issei fired a ball of lightning into the sky, letting them know it was over. The clone that had been working with Asia walked back to him, and the two merged back into one.
"I have to admit that these past nine days have done wonders for the four of you," a smile crossed his face when they all approached him. "I say our chances of beating that overstuffed chicken are pretty good so long as none of us get sloppy."
Kiba made a move to speak, but Issei cut him off.
". . .there is, of course, one final thing I want you all to be aware of. As you all know, my Sacred Gear allows me to multiply my power and transfer it to something or someone. However, there are two obvious weaknesses," holding up two fingers. "The first is that the power I give will only last for a short amount of time. The second is that if I continuously use the Boosted Gear's doubling ability, it will eventually drain me of my stamina until I'm left dry."
"That sounds like a major downside to me," commented Kiba.
"Yes, that would be the case," the smile on Issei's face turned into a big smirk. "However, I've trained to an exceptionally high degree, so it won't affect me much and can last for an extended period of time."
"That's good to know," Rias said thoughtfully. "Would it be possible for you to give a demonstration on how much power you are able to transfer?"
"I don't see why not," his Boosted Gear materialized on his left arm (Boost). "Ddraig boost five times," said Issei.
(Boost) (Boost) (Boost) (Boost) (Boost). The green gem lit up, showing it was ready to transfer power.
"Place your hand on my arm," they did as he said, each placing a hand on his Boosted Gear. "Here is a taste of what I can give you guys. Boosted Gear Gift! (Transfer).
A decent amount of power was transferred to all four of them, with the girls moaning as the power surged within them. Rias and Akeno's demonic aura covered their bodies and expanded in waves. The four understood that the power would only be temporary and immediately tested out how much stronger they had become.
After a few minutes, when the borrowed power left them, the gang went back to the villa. "Ara Issei, I didn't know you were powerful enough to transfer that much," said Akeno. "Makes me wonder how much more you will be able to transfer and what else you have up your sleeves."
Issei laughed. "It's good for a man to have a few secrets. Wouldn't you agree, Kiba?"
"Yes, indeed. We, men, do have our pride," Kiba acknowledged and then asked a question. "Say, Issei-kun, would it be all right if I see how strong you are without your Balance Breaker?"
In response to his question, Issei pointed to another mountain. "You guys might want to take a couple steps back." The green jewel in his Boosted Gear lit up four times, showing his power multiplied by that much. "Dragon shot." A demonic ball of energy came out of the palm of Boosted Gear and, with a punch, transformed it into a beam that raised toward the mountain.
An explosion caused the spectators to shield themselves from the powerful winds after the demonic blast hit its target. Everyone besides Rias looked shocked to see that part of the mountain had been destroyed. "I take it that is only a sample of what you can do. Pretty impressive!"
"I cannot believe that came out of Issei-san," Asia could hardly believe her eyes.
". . .He actually broke the mountain," Koneko added.
"That good enough?"
"I'm satisfied," Kiba answered.
"All right. Well, you all will excuse me. I have work to do," he was about to turn away when Asia asked him a question.
"Where are you heading?" Walking to stand beside him as he took out his demonic locator. He then placed a hand on her head.
"No need to worry," smiling at her. "Some new people have contacted me and are requesting a Devil." He turned to Buchou and Akeno. "I should be back later—probably in a couple of hours. Can you guys handle dinner?"
"Of course," responded Rias with a grin. "You're doing quite well when it comes to getting contracts. As expected of someone from my household." She read his clients' reviews upon their first meetings and was pleasantly surprised by what they'd write about him.
"What can I say, people like me," returning the grin, using a magic circle, he teleported away.
Kiba broke out into a big smile, "he's got style. I wonder how many contracts he's gotten so far."
"You'll find out at our annual meeting," commented Rias, who then added. "Though I will admit that he's exceeding my expectations."
(0^0)
Three and a half hours later, Issei had finished meeting with his last client, who happened to be a friend of Mr. Yoshida. A wealthy client at that. This person was a top executor for one of the world's largest yacht companies. For many months now, Issei has had his eyes on three particular companies. One happened to be called Rossinavi. He had always wanted a yacht of his own. Taking his cash and newly formed contract, he teleported back to the Gremory villa and went into the kitchen.
Upon entering the dining room, he spotted Rias in a red see-through nightgown with her glasses on, looking over the battle plans she had drawn up. "You look tired," she remarked, not looking up from the stack of papers.
"I have to do my part. As a member of the House of Gremory, I have to do my best and impress the people I meet," he returned while heating up his food.
When the microwave finished heating his food, he brought it over to the table and began eating. "These are the new attack strategies you've been able to come up with, I take it?" Looking at one of the papers.
She didn't need to say anything as the answer was written on her face. "I am just unsure about a few things," brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. "Thanks to the knowledge you were able to give regarding Riser and watching how he and his team operate has come in handy."
"But. . ." Issei raised an eyebrow.
She explained her concern about them using phoenix tears and expressed some concern about Riser and his Queen Yubelluna. "Above all, we will need to be cautious around. I believe Akeno can defeat Riser's Queen; however, it might take time and will leave her drained. But if she uses one of the phoenix tears like I suspect, then Akeno could be taken out."
"I got that covered," he remarked with a knowing grin. Rias gave him a curious, wondering what he could be thinking. Issei took another bite of his food before showing the contracts and passing over the rolls of money he earned today. She had no idea what he was thinking but decided to trust him.
When Issei finished the last of his dinner, he looked up to see that his master was still feeling uncertain and got an idea after putting the dishes away. Rias turned her head when he tapped her shoulder. "Come on. You need a break," holding his hand out to her.
Part of Rias wanted her to say she was fine, but another part of her was curious about what he had in mind, and truthfully, she was tired. Carefully taking his hand, he led her to the sitting room and had her sit on one of the sofas. "Imma needs you to lay on your stomach," he cracked his knuckles while she did as he said, and within a few minutes, she felt the tension in her body slowly fade away.
Rias moaned in relief as he continued massaging her shoulders. He was doing it like an expert. "Oh. . .right there. That's the spot," the stress in her muscles became less tense. "Who knew you were such a good masseuse? Can you go a little lower?"
Her face started to heat up at how good his fingers were making her feel as they traced down her back to the area where most of her tension was at. "Yes, that's the spot." The idea of Issei or anyone coming into the room and seeing her face did not register in her mind. If anything, it was buried so deep in the back of her head that the only thing on her mind was how wonderful he was making her feel.
In about twenty minutes, the Princess of Ruin had lost all the fatigue she had in her body. To the young crimson-haired, her body felt incredibly light—more than ever before. If she could describe what she was feeling, it would be: amazing. Like every negative thing that was in her mind had vanished like they were never there. Even walking to her room, her feet felt incredibly light, almost like she was walking on air.
(0^0)
Finally, the day was here. The Gremorys were allowed to go home for the day and rest for the upcoming match, so they did that. Issei had created a magic circle to teleport him and Asia to his house. Since the match was at midnight, Issei thought taking a nap would be a good idea. Yesterday had simply been a review day for everyone. They had gone over attack strategies, thoroughly researched the members of Riser's peerage, and ensured that everyone knew their roles, etc. Rias understood the meaning of the word preparation. It was something her Pawn told her she would need to exercise.
An hour before arriving in the club room, Issei decided to meditate in his room after dinner. The silence he was afforded relaxed him greatly. To go against a powerful opponent, especially one from a powerful House like the House of Phenex, he would need to be calm in body, mind, and spirit. Prick or not, Riser would not be an easy opponent to defeat, though he is confident he and the others would win. The silence was ended when someone knocked on his bedroom door.
There was no mistaking the sense he felt on the opposite side of the door. "Come in, Asia." He looked surprised when the door opened, revealing a nervous Asia who was dressed in the same attire she had when they had first met. Looking at her questioningly. "Asia, those clothes. . ."
"Buchou said I could wear it as long as it made me feel comfortable for the Rating Game," her timidness and anxiety were showing. "I wanted to get your opinion on it."
"I think you look cute," giving her a nice smile. "It reminds me of the day we met in the park.
"T-Thank you," she replied, a little shy. Then, he went to take a seat beside him. Asia was practically an open book to Issei, as it wasn't hard for him to tell that she was nervous about the Rating Game. When she hugged his arm, he blushed a bit.
"I can feel how nervous you are about the upcoming battle."
"Yes, but still," she began, "as long as I have you here with me. . .I know everything will be all right." Gently, he rubbed her head, making the former nun feel more at ease. "Whenever I'm with Issei-san, I feel better."
"Can I stay like this a little bit longer?" Lifting her head to look at his face, which had a soft smile.
"Sure. We can stay like this until it is time to leave," Asia was at a loss for words and, a second later, had pounced on him, throwing her arms around his neck.
At 11:40, a magic circle appeared in the room, and the two were then transported to the clubroom, where they found the others. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba were nervous but kept calm. Akeno had poured her companions a cup of tea and went to stand by Rias.
"Relax everyone, this match is ours. Remember, air on the side of caution, smart, effective, do not let your guard down, and above all, let us show that arrogant, overstuffed chicken why it was a mistake to cross us and our King," Issei declared, standing up with a look of determination on his face.
"I am with you, my friend! I refuse to go down without a fight today," Kiba sheathed his sword and stood up.
Koneko was the next to stand up, "those chickens will fall before our power," cracking her knuckles after putting on her blue MMA fingerless gloves on. They each had a pink paw print on them. This was followed by Asia, who was still nervous but looked a little more determined than when she came in.
Their attentions were then drawn to the double doors when they were opened by Sona and her Queen Tsubaki. The former stepped in while the latter closed the door. "Apologies for interrupting."
"No, please come in, Sona. To what do we owe the nature of your visit?" Asked Rias.
"Aside from the live broadcast that will be showcasing the overall match. This is also your first Rating Game. I wouldn't miss it for the world," Sona explained with a small smile.
Rias returned the smile, "then I promise to make this entertaining for you then." Her attention was then pulled away to the white magic circle that appeared in the room.
Grayfia appeared in the room looking as stoic as ever. "It is almost time, everyone. The Rating Game will begin in a few short minutes," she said. "I even came to inform you that Sirzechs-sama and a few others will be watching. This includes the parents from both Houses, Tannin-sama, and Gourou-san," her eyes fell on Issei when she mentioned his father. The brunette could only sigh as he had a feeling his Dad would come.
"Issei," she said, getting his full attention. "I have a personal message for you from Sirzechs-sama. He said: Give Riser a few hits for me." Issei nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Sona, Tsubaki, and Rias were wrapping up their conversation. "We will be in the Student Council broadcast booth watching the game. We'll be cheering you on. . . Good luck." The two then turned to walk away.
"Thanks," replied Rias. "Just try to keep the play-by-play fair."
Sona turned her head a little to look over her shoulder. "I'll keep it clean on my part. Though if I were betting, I'd say you'll beat that scumbag seven ways from Sunday. But off the record here. I am personally pulling for you on this one. Break that Devil swine's heart," she and Tsubaki soon left.
Grayfia told the Gremorys to step inside the magic circle and explained that they would be transported to an alternate space for the battlefield. One by one, they each stepped onto the magic circle and were transported away.
"Um, why are we in the same place? Did something go wrong?" Asia wondered until Issei explained they were now in a different dimension equivalent to their school. In other words, everything in and outside the room was a replica, and they could run rampant and destroy anything they wanted without suffering consequences. Before she could inquire about what he meant, Grayfia's voice was heard over the microphone from the VIP room.
[Greeting everyone. I am Grayfia, a servant of the House of Gremory, and I have been assigned to referee today's match between the Lady Rias-sama of the House of Gremory against Riser-sama of the House of Phenex. Both combatants have suggested and approved this battlefield; thus, we have prepared a replica of the Kuoh Academy, which Rias-sama and her peerage attend in the human world.] Everyone could hear Grayfia's voice over the speaker system.
"What does she mean by that?" Asia enquired.
"Look outside," Issei pointed to the window, which she opened to see an aurora light in the sky. Instead of the normal dark night sky, different lights were shining above.
[The places where both sides have been relocated will serve as their home base. Rias-sama's main base is the Occult Research Club room in the Old School building. Therefore, Riser-sama's main base will be the Principal's office in the New School building. All the [Pawns] will be permitted to "Promote" themselves if they are within the perimeter of the enemy base. Now let the Rating Game commence.] Grayfia finally said.
"Buchou, remember," Issei turned to Rias. "If Riser challenges you—which he likely will—only keep him busy and at bay until I can reach his base and Promote myself to a Queen. I have special for his ass. Something he will never forget," he evilly laughed.
"Ufufufu," came Akeno. "You're getting me all hot, Issei-kun," putting a hand on her face while blushing a little, showing her sadistic side.
Rias did not respond to her Queen's words and called everyone over. "Gather around everyone," taking out a map of the entire school while Koneko handed everyone a magical earpiece. Seeing the confused look on her Bishop's face, she explained, "these will help us stay in communication while on the battlefield."
"Here is us," she said, getting to work pointing to the Old School building on the map and then pointed at the New School building. "While right here is Riser. Our fastest way to get there would be through the Athletic field, but. . . They will be able to see us coming from a mile away if we take that route.
"How about the gym?" Issei pointed to the building on the map. Undoubtedly, he will have some of his pieces waiting for us there. Keep in mind Riser has a knack for sacrificing. . . so it is a possibility that after whoever he put in the gym, his Queen might show up and launch a surprise attack."
"In theory, it's a good idea, but as you said, there are bound to be some very strong [Pawns] and likely a [Rook] or two there. However, if we can take the gym, we will be able to storm their base quickly. Since this is based on chess terms, the gym is in the middle. If we can take the gym, we will be able to get to their base a much faster." Rias said as she thought it through.
"Before that, I want to point out something!" Issei said. "That path may be the fastest, but it will also be the most complicated as Riser will likely suspect us going through there. We will be able to use it to our advantage."
"Not so fast, Issei. It's the 6 of us against their 16. We must first think of a way to protect our building. If his [Pawns] come here and "Promote" themselves, they will become a real problem. We must set traps and destabilize them." Rias explained. "Yuuto and Koneko. I want the two of you to go into the forest and plant some traps. Be discreet."
When they were gone, Rias looked at the others. Everyone else will remain here on standby. Akeno," turning to her Queen. "I want you to cast illusions and mist around the entire field and forest, including the sky," explaining her plan and what she intended to do. Akeno agreed and left.
"What would you like me to do?" Issei wondered.
"You will stay here until we get a signal from the others," Rias said as she looked up from the map. "Would you take a seat beside me and place your head on my lap?"
Asia immediately grew jealous when he complied. Rias's lap was incredibly soft to Issei as he rested his head. For as much as she wanted to, Rias had to resist the urge to kiss Issei, and Maou knows she wanted to. Instead, she placed a hand on his forehead, and a Magic Circle appeared. At that moment, the pieces inside Issei's body began to glow. "That should do it. I removed the seal I placed on you to make you a member of my household. While your demonic power is formidable without your Boosted Gear, I figured this would give us an edge."
"Are you sure you didn't just want me to put my head on your lap?" He teased, causing a light blush to appear on her face.
"In your dreams, Issei," she teased back after seeing him grin.
"You are always in my dream," he said. This time, her face became redder.
Before she could respond, Kiba and Koneko returned. "Buchou, everything has been prepared according to your instructions," Koneko said.
"Great job, Koneko. Our first objective will be the gym. We must secure it before moving on with the plan," Rias replied, trying to still her beating heart. This was not the time to flirt or tease her Pawn. "Issei will be going with you."
"Understood," Koneko said. Issei got up from where he was and ran out of the room with Koneko and Kiba.
"Good luck, Issei" Rias mumbled. Her voice then became authoritative. "Now, my precious servants, let's show Riser Phenex, everyone watching, and the entire Devil community why it was a mistake to underestimate us."
"Right!" They all said through the Magic Circle.
(0^0)
As the trio raced toward the gym, Kiba then went in another direction after wishing them luck. The minute Koneko and Issei stepped into the gym, the former said. "I can sense four others. 3 [Pawns] and 1 [Rook]."
"Yeah, they're near the stage," Issei added. "Let's have some fun," cracking his knuckles. A small smile appeared on Koneko's face. Together, they stealthily made their way to the dark area, where they hid behind the curtain.
"Well, it looks like the Gremory filth has arrived. There's no use in hiding as we know you are up there," one of the girls said. The lights then went on as Koneko and Issei emerged from behind the curtain.
"Just like we thought, one [Rook] and three [Pawns]," Issei surveyed the girls though let out a sigh. "In a way, I'm a little disappointed. Hello, Mira. Ready for a rematch?" Narrowing his eyes at the blue-haired girl, she quickly went pale. The two green-haired girls also seemed to pale a bit when they saw the fire in Issei's eyes. To him, they were even shorter than Koneko-chan.
The three girls received a sharp glare from the taller girl and went to introduce themselves. "I am Mira. I'm a [Pawn]." The weakest of Riser's team introduced herself, and she received a new bo staff.
"I'm Shui. I'm a [Rook]." Given her attire, one could assume she was a Chinese stylist, which meant her fighting style would likely revolve around Kung Fu.
"My name is Ile! I'm a [Pawn]!" One of the girls said
"And I am Nel! I'm also a [Pawn]!" The second girl said. They were most likely twins. They are identical in everything, save for their name. The two of them were wearing female Kuoh Academy gym uniforms. On their backs were two very large bags, and the twins pulled out chainsaws.
"The [Rook] is a powerful one, perhaps at a [Queen] level based on her power stats alone. It's nothing I cannot handle," Koneko narrowed her eyes at the Chinese girl.
Issei chuckled. "This should be amusing. I'll let you pick which ones do you want?"
"I'll take the [Rook]; Issei-senpai, you take the [Pawns]," Koneko responded.
". . . Fair enough. Try not to have too much fun with her." Issei materialized his Boosted Gear and his dragon tail. (Boost).
Koneko shot him a look that said the same goes for you. The two jumped off the stage, and while Koneko raced toward the [Rook], Issei walked over to the three [Pawns]. Koneko and her opponent immediately started going at it, with Shui launching a barrage of fast, fiery kicks and punches. Thus proving that her fighting style was based on that of Dragon.
Among the three [Pawns], Mira was the first to launch herself at Issei with her wooden staff. The girl was both angry and scared from the last time she faced the brown-haired boy. He had humiliated her like she was nothing. What's worse is that he had broken her favorite staff and had to order a spare. Each time she would try to strike him, he would dodge and parry her attacks like they were nothing. She was shocked when he stopped the staff from hitting him in the head and was forced to skid back after receiving a kick to the stomach.
Issei didn't stop there; he took the staff away from her and broke it in two, shocking the girl. Faster than she could see, he hit her directly in the face, sending the girl flying hard into the wall. He then jumped back when Ile and Nel tried to slice him with their chainsaws.
"Take you apart! Take you apart!" They said together.
"What's the matter, pansy boy?" Came Nel.
"Are you afraid of chainsaws?" Ile asked with a big smile.
"Not at all," replied Issei. "It's just that little girls shouldn't be playing with them." They tried slashing their chainsaws at him several times, but he would effortlessly dodge them. Quickly, he glanced at Koneko to see how she was doing. She had no injuries, though part of her clothes had been destroyed, exposing part of her bra and panties. Other than that, she had virtually no injuries. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for her opponent, as she had a couple bruises and was knocked down by Koneko, who rammed her shoulder into the [Rook's] stomach.
Ile and Nel were becoming tired as none of their attacks were making contact with Issei. Just when they thought they got him, he blocked their slashes with his Boosted Gear and hit them hard with his tail, taking the wind out of them. Darting toward them, he quickly dispatched the two with a couple jabs and a kick to Nel's back. "What the. . .hell are. . .you?" Ile groaned.
"I'm taking it easy, you and your twin there. Take my advice and stay down. I don't want to hurt either of you any more than I need to," he easily responded.
"Nice work, Koneko-chan," turning his attention away from the two to see that her opponent had been defeated. She blushed in embarrassment as he saw the state her clothes were in.
"Thank you, Issei-senpai," she said, trying to cover herself.
Shedding his black blazer, he tossed it over to her, which slightly confused her. "It may be big, but you need it more than me." As she put it on, a little Magic Circle appeared next to their ears.
"Issei, Koneko. How are things in the gym?" Asked Rias.
"It's secured here, Buchou. Koneko-chan and I took care of everything here," Issei informed.
"Good work, you two. Head outside and go help Yuuto. Akeno is already in position," she instructed.
"Roger that," the Magic Circle then disappeared. "Let's move, Koneko-chan." She gave him a quick nod, and the two ran toward the exit.
Hey, come back here! Who runs in the middle of a battle?!" Shui demanded. The two only ignored them, and before they knew it, a large lightning bolt courtesy of Akeno blew the gym to smithereens, leaving a large crater and scattering some of the debris.
[3 of Riser-sama's [Pawns] and 1 of his [Rooks] have been retired]. Grayfia announced. Issei and Koneko looked up into the sky where Akeno was flying above in her shrine maiden uniform, her right hand held straight up.
"Damn. Note to self: never get on Akeno-san's bad side," Issei was both amazed and weary of Akeno.
"She's the real deal. Akeno-senpai's nickname is The Priestess of Thunder. She knows how to bring the boom. . . And she likes it a lot." Koneko explained as the two watched their teammate giggle and lick her fingers.
"You know what. I'm glad she's on our side. Akeno-san has become a lot more powerful these past ten days." Just then, a small magic circle appeared by their ears.
"Our plan worked!" Rias proudly said. "We cast a trap, and they fell for it. Charging up enough lightning to obliterate the school's gym took a while, but it was well worth it. Now it's time for Phase 2. Koneko, Issei go rendezvous with Yuuto. Akeno needs a few minutes to recharge."
"Understood," Issei said, and the tiny Magic Circle vanished. He then looked at Koneko. "Well, you heard the lady. You ready to go?"
Koneko nodded. "We need to get to the Athletic field. Yuuto-senpai will need backup."
"Probably. . . Kiba may be strong. However, if he starts acting too much like a [Knight], then things could become problematic," Issei's voice held a light amount of worry.
"Yuuto-senpai can be a real idiot every now and then," remarked Koneko.
The two then started heading toward the Athletic field; however, Issei's senses alerted him that danger was about to strike. Thinking quickly, he materialized his dragon wings. "Koneko-chan!" he yelled, launching himself toward her and wrapping his tail around her. He pulled her close to his arms and quickly flew back just as the ground exploded where she was walking.
The brunette looked up to see that Riser's [Queen] Yubelluna had appeared with her devil wings spread out and was flying high with a sadistic smile. "That was a rather brusque way of saying 'hello,'" Issei quipped, glaring at the purple-haired woman. "Still, I had a feeling you'd show up sooner than later." He soon looked at Koneko.
"Are you okay, Koneko-chan? Did you get hit?" The small girl blushed, feeling embarrassed by what had just happened. He could tell she was mentally scolding herself for not detecting the woman sooner.
". . .suck it," she replied, though her voice showed she was embarrassed by what just happened. Koneko turned her head away, not wanting Issei to see her this way.
Contrary to what she thought he might do or say, Issei only chuckled. "Come on, Koneko-chan. Don't you start being nice to me yet," his quip was responded with a light jab to the shoulder. Issei returned his eyes toward Yubelluna, and anyone watching could see he was not happy.
A split second later, they heard Rias's voice. "Issei! Koneko! Are you two okay?! What happened?"
"We're fine, Buchou. However, it looks like the real hell is about to begin," Issei answered and put Koneko down.
". . . Understatement," getting over her embarrassment, she sent a dark glare toward the person who almost took her out.
A/N: The ten days of training are over, with the Gremorys having grown stronger under Issei's training. Issei and Rias are becoming more attracted to each other. I have a few ideas for this story, so if you are interested, please stay with it.
[Grayfia's voice over the microphone and naming the pieces of everyone competing in the Rating Game.]
Next Chapter: The Rating Game Part 2. The winner is?