Hey everyone, and get ready for this chapter. This chapter will follow up on the last chapter in that it will be filled with dialogue, but it was set up the fighting by the end of it.

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. Highschool DxD, Highschool DxD New, Highschool DxD Born, Highschool DxD EX, and Highschool DxD Hero are all owned by Funimation, Fushimi Shobo, TNK, Passione, and Ichiei Ishibumi. Please support the official release.


"Shirou" Regular speech.

"Shirou" Thoughts.

DRAGON SHOT Attack names.

(Shirou) Words said previously.

"SHIROU!" Shouting speech.

[Ddraig] Dragon talking.


Fearless Dragon And The Traitorous Prince


—…

In an undisclosed location, two leaders of the Trinity Factions were having a confidential meeting via communication magic.

"I'm sorry I'm reporting to you by this communication system, Sirzechs. It's about the mysterious death of the heir of the Glaysa-Labolas and the increase of Diodora Astaroth's demonic powers….…."

{So it was related like I thought—The Devils still have many troubles even now.}

"I still don't have any evidence, but if we were to believe in the circumstantial evidence, then Diodora is… Looks like we need to do that plan, which we discussed after all. ….…Man, I already feel down because one of the guys with me had a certain "event"….…."

{I heard about it. It seems like one of the leaders of the Grigori got married.}

"…..Man, everyone is rushing things. Not only that, but they were having "fun(sex)" with women from different Factions behind my back….… Shit! Am I the only single guy left!?"

{Fufufu. How about you settle down with someone now, Azazel?}

"Don't wanna. I'm a man who lives by his interests. …There are plenty of w-women!"

{Yes. I will make it that way—Anyway, that plan. I trust you in it.}

"Yeah, leave it to me. Though we would be having them go through harsh things though….."


"…I… Just don't see the appeal."

The previous night, Rias had received a call from Grayfia. The business she had with them was "The television station offered an appearance on their program." It didn't end there since it was an additional offer for the whole Gremory group to appear.

The Rating Game for the Young Devils, including Rias, had been broadcast to the whole Underworld. Rias and other Young Devils were already famous for being family members of Devil Kings and such, and it seemed their fame increased even more after that game.

Even in the Underworld, there was an article in a magazine that had a "Princess Rias Gremory's Special!". It had already been established that Rias was a popular figure during the Summer, but it seemed she became even more popular.

From the Young Female Devils, the girls' uniform of the Kuou Academy was now a popular fashion trend; it even looked like it would get released for sale in the Underworld soon.

"Don't see the appeal in what?"

Shirou immediately felt someone was hugging him from behind. He knew the sensation of large breasts, considering how often the owner pressed her ample chest against him. It was Rias. Shirou separated himself from her and returned his attention to what he was initially looking at.

"What else? The poster."

And, just as he pointed out, on one of the walls of the corridor inside the television station where the Gremory group had arrived for their televised appearance, there was a noticeable posture. On the poster placed in the corridor…..It was Rias—The smiling picture of a crimson-haired beauty who looked like an idol.

"Seriously, who's idea was this dumb posture?" Shirou squinted at it.

"I don't know. I find it flattering." Rias disagreed with him.

"This is a tournament that's centered around fighting. What point is there in selling postures of you like a Kardashian?" Shirou pointed out.

"I agree to an extent that the posture is in bad taste, but for different reasons." Now, Mika appeared to join the conversation. "On two points. The first one being that it's two casual. If you want to be posture-worthy, you need some kind of theme, like Levia-tan."

"Don't call her that." Shirou muttered irritably.

"When compared to that, this is just an oversized selfie." Mika finished.

"Well, personally, I don't intend to become as prominent a figure as Serafall-sama." Rias said good-naturedly. "By the way, what was the other point?"

Now, Mika had an irritable look herself. "I'm just more steamed that I didn't get a posture."

"Are you serious right now?" Shirou rolled his eyes at his Sister.

"Well, come on, I'm obviously the most posture-worthy person on our team!" Mika insisted defiantly. "Look at my magic, my outfit, my demeanor… Look at my frame."

She got more in his face as she went on, so Shirou pushed her back a bit. "I've seen more of your "frame" than I'd care to admit to my shrink."

"Don't worry, Mika. Your time will come sooner than you think, especially if we continue to win our matches." Rias reassured her. "Now, let's catch up with the others."

"I'm so not looking forward to these boring interviews." Shirou complained as they advanced down the hallway to reunite with the rest of the Peerage.

"I wonder what they'll as us?" Mika was more curious about it. "I've only ever asked questions, and those were from live online panels; I've never been the one answering the questions."

Rias let out a small chuckle. "Ufufu. It's alright. You can answer normally when they ask you a question. The one who would be asked the most questions would most likely be me."


After reaching the end of the hallway, the three of them caught up with the rest of the Peerage and one other person.

"We are glad you are here. Rias Gremory-sama. And her servants-sama. Please come this way."

They were led by the person who seemed to be the producer, and they took the elevator to the top floor. The interior of the building didn't look different from those in the human world, but it was different in very simple ways. Many devices worked using demonic powers within the building.

After exiting the elevator, they were led down another long corridor. At the end of the corridor, a familiar person came, bringing ten people with him.

"Sairaorg. So you were here too?"

Yes, the one who Rias talked to is the next heir of the House of Bael, Sairaorg Bael. He had his long noble jacket resting on his shoulder, and he looked wild like always. Even from a novice's eyes, he had no openings. As usual, he's always ready for action. There was a blonde woman with a ponytail, dressed in clothes similar to Sairaorg, who was right behind him. She was likely his Queen, and she was as beautiful as he was handsome.

Sairaorg stepped away from his group to approach Rias in order to start up a conversation.

"Rias. Are you also getting interviewed?" He asked.

"Yes. Have you already finished Sairaorg?" Rias returned the question.

"I will be getting interviewed now. Most likely a different studio from you guys—I saw your match."

Rias raised her eyebrows a bit.

"No matter how much power you have, you will lose if you get trapped. They will aim for the slightest opening with full power. Above all, there are many unknowns in a Sacred Gear. We won't know what will happen and what it can do. Compatibility is also important in the Game. I have learned many things from the match between you and Sona Sitri—However….."

Sairaorg then went over to Shirou and patted him on his shoulders.

"I desire to fight you with only pure power."

…Despite the fact that he only lightly patted his shoulder, Shirou felt a great deal of weight behind it. Regardless, though, Shirou wasn't put off by it and merely responded with words of his own.

"I've only learned some things since that fight—Unknown variables, Compatibility, aiming for openings, Sacred Gears, and matches ups. Those are all things I knew long before the match. What I did learn is that some people are capable of reaching greater reserves of strength when truly backed into a corner, some more so than others. I know because I've been in those situations more than I'd care to admit, but even that has limits, and if the gap in abilities is too great, it won't make a difference to the final outcome. That's why I know."

Shirou then gazed into Sairaorg's eyes with complete certainty.

"If we were to fight right here and now, you'd have no chance whatsoever ever of beating me."

Most of the group was taken aback slightly by the boldness of that declaration. However, Sairaorg seemed intrigued by his statement.

"Is that so?" He didn't sound offended, just curious. "You don't seem like the type to underestimate me. We exchanged blows once, so I know you're a formidable opponent, yet you believe otherwise?"

"I acknowledge how strong you are. You might very well be the Strongest opponent I've ever been matched up against, but despite that, I already have a rough idea of the limits of your strength based on what I've already seen from you, and the current you is your limit, then I can't possibly see myself being defeated."

"I see, then I'm fortunate." Sairaorg turned and walked away before flashing him a confident smile. "I can personally guarantee you that I plan on becoming much stronger than my current self when our match arrives."

With that, he departed along with the rest of his group, leaving some of the Gremory group curious as to the meaning behind those words.

"What could he have meant by that?" Xenovia asked.

"Could he have some type of hidden weapon or a secret technique?" Kiba wondered.

"That's not what he meant." Shirou informed them. "Even on the off chance that he does have a trick up his sleeve. All he meant was that he plans on training like hell until the match, so he'll be a lot stronger than the last we faced off." He explained knowingly, thinking about his other Rival who shared that trait. "Just like Vali."


After the greeting with Sairaorg, the OCR went to the dressing room, and they left any bags they happened to bring in there. Azazel didn't come with them because he would appear on a different program. Irina and Ren were also staying back at home. Today, it's just for the Gremory group.

After that, they were taken to what seemed like a studio and went inside. They were still preparing, and the staff was still working. The interviewer lady who was there before they went up to greet Rias.

"Hello, it is my first time meeting you. I am the announcer of Underworld broadcast Studio 1."

"Same goes for you. Hello."

Rias also responds with a smile and shakes her hand.

"I'm sorry all of a sudden, but for the interview…."

Rias, the staff, and the announcer lady started the discussion about the interview. There were also many seats for the viewers inside the studio.

"….…I….I…I….I….I-I…..I want to go hooooome….…!"

Gasper, who was trembling behind Shirou, cried out. He may have made some progress during his training, but he was still a hikikomori. Appearing on television was a big step for him.

"There will also be questions asked for the other group members, but please don't be too nervous about it." The staff says it to them. "Ummm, is Yuuto Kiba-san and Akeno Himejima-san here?"

"Ah, that would be me. I'm Yuuto Kiba."

"And I am Akeno Himejima."

Kiba and Akeno raised their hands.

"I think there would be quite a number of questions asked of you two for the interview. Both of you are increasing in popularity."

"Is that true?"

Kiba felt the need to ask as the staff member nodded.

"Yes. Kiba-san is getting more female fans, while Akeno-san is getting more male fans."

"So it's pretty much the same as at school?" Shirou noted with half-closed eyes.

"Well, do the math. He's handsome; she's beautiful, and they're horny. What can you do about that?" Mika casually pointed out. "Different world, same conclusion, libido knowns no race."

"And who are the other ones, Shirou Amakusa-san and Mika Tsukiharu-san?"

"Uh, that's me, can't you tell?" Shirou stepped forward.

"And me, obviously." Mika followed up.

"You two will also have an interview in a different studio. Shirou-san is famous for being the "Yuusharyuutei"."

"Yuusharyuutei!?" Shirou repeated with a question mark above his head. "What's that?"

Given the confusion at the unknown nickname he was given, the staff member then continued lively.

"You have become very popular amongst children and Young Devils. It seems like you are called "Fearless Dragon" amongst the masses. You screamed out words of courage and determination while you gallantly defeated your enemies in a spectacular fashion in the match against Sitri, correct? That was broadcast in the Underworld, and many who watched wanted to see more of you. After that, recordings of your previous fights against Phenex, Fallen Angels, and the Khaos Brigade became available, and they became very popular among everyone who saw that."

"All this happened in the span of a few days?" Shirou questioned, not knowing which part he should be surprised at.

"Cool, you're an overnight celebrity." Mika seemed more into the idea. "Like Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black, except you aren't a musician, and thousands of people don't initially and violently hate you for undisclosed reasons."

"How did this even happen?" Shirou was still confused. "I don't remember signing off any copyright agreements or letting anyone use my image."

"The idea was brought forth by an entertainment company and approved by Azazel-sama and Sirzechs-sama."

Shirou pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course they did."

"And it's not just you. This is planned to be a joint interview between you and your sister—The Netherworld Sorceress."

"Seriously?!" Mika's eyes lit up the minute she heard that. "OMG, I love my new name—Netherworld Sorceress. It's perfect for my aesthetic and just what I was going for."

"I don't think I understand. What's a Netherworld Sorceress?" Asia wondered.

"It was a moniker that was chosen based on her use of Black Magic, which is rare, especially in Young Devils, and the fact that she's always dressed in dark-colored clothing whenever she enters a battle." The staff member explained. "It was deemed to be an adequate and accurate title."

"I am so going to get a poster." Mika noted excitedly.

"Then Shirou-san and Mika-san, please follow me to the different studio. I will guide you."

They both received a personal script from the staff and started their way toward a different studio, while the rest of the group followed Rias to the initial studio.

"So what do you think they'll ask us, huh?" Mika asked her brother, looking forward to the interview.

"Hoping nothing that drags on too long." Shirou replied, still feeling like this was a chore.


After the recording, the Peerage started relaxing in the dressing room. It was obvious that most of them were nervous after all. So they started relaxing by leaning on the wall or dropping dead on the table as soon as they entered the room.

The program was a collection of questions for Rias from the beginning to the end. How was the match against Sitri? What will you do from now? Is there any Youth Devil you have your attention on? Such questions like that.

Rias answered normally with a smile, and she didn't forget to behave elegantly. Her family might also watch it, so she can't show anything shameful. Rias showed the visitors and viewers an interview that was expected of the next heiress of the House of Gremory.

Then, when the questions moved to Kiba, female fans cried. His popularity among the female audience was the real deal. Even during Akeno's turn, male fans shouted, "Akeno-sama!"

The interview in the other studio for the Tsukiharu siblings finished before the one for the Gremory Peerage, and so they were able to rejoin Rias and the others. When they did, the questioning panels directed their attention to Shirou. He was popular as well, but unlike Kiba and Akeno, his popularity extended to both male and female fans. His popularity seemed to focus mainly on younger members of the audience, from children to those around his own age.

"By the way, Shirou. What were you and Mika asked to be filmed at the other studio?" Rias asked while eating a snack.

"Just about what you'd expect." Shirou leaned back. "Personal plans for the future and how I intend to conduct myself in our next match. God, how do professional athletes do this all the time?"

"You realize the more famous you become, the more you'll have to stand in front of the press. This is something you'll have to get used to."

Shirou sighed at Mika's statement. "Yeah, I know."

Then something happened while they were trying to relax. The door opened, and someone entered.

It was a cute girl with braided hair in a roll and a pretty noble dress. She looked familiar….

"Is Shirou-sama here?"

"Ravel Phenex. What brings you here?"

Ravel and Shirou's eyes met as he immediately identified her. It seemed like her face became bright for a moment, but she then made an unpleasant expression. She then pushed the basket she was holding toward him.

"T-This! It is a cake! My second eldest Brother has a television program in this studio, so I came to give you this since I had time!"

"Is that so?" Shirou rhetorically responded as he took the basket from her and checked inside. Inside, a delicious-looking chocolate cake was inside. It looked splendidly well made. Yet, she gave the basket to him with a shy face. "Looks pretty good. You made this?"

"Y-Yes! Of course! I have confidence if it is cake! A-And I promised you that I would make you a cake!"

"Well, I appreciate that, but why give it during a sudden and unplanned visit when you could have given it to me during the tea we had already made plans for?" Shirou pointed out.

"I won't do anything to disturb you. You have a match with the House of Astaroth coming up soon, correct?" Ravel spat out a desperate explanation. "So I won't waste your time. But I thought maybe I could just give you a cake. You should be grateful!"

"Classic response of a Tsundere." Mika muttered as she watched her behavior. "She's not bad, but I don't know if I fully approve of adding her yet."

"T-Then I will be leaving here….."

Ravel prepared to leave as if she had finished her business, but Shirou stopped her.

"Wait, let me try some before you go."

He stopped Ravel and reached out as he summoned a small fork with magic make. Shirou stuck the fork into the cake and took a piece of it to my mouth.

…He chewed softly, not only to savor the taste of the cake but also to evaluate it. Ravel stood quietly, and so did the others as though they wanted to hear his verdict.

"Hmm, interesting, you went for a sponge cake in order to give a soft texture and yet a fulfilling taste sensation after swallowing, and for the icing, you used dark chocolate on the outside but added a second thinner layer of milk chocolate to give it a depth of flavor that would optimize the sweetness of the confection without making it too overpowering. Ultimately, it was a cake baked with a strategic and systematic approach with the intent of completely satisfying the one who eats it."

Shirou then put the cake down on the nearby coffee table and looked at Ravel to give his verdict.

"That said… I've tasted better."

When she heard those words, Ravel's eyes widened as she didn't hear the response she had been hoping for. But, before she could lower her head in disappointment, Shirou carried on with his statement.

"Though, that's only including cakes I've made. So, myself notwithstanding…." Shirou smiled at her. "It's a top-notch dish."

Once again, her eyes widened, only this time, a pure and joyous smile appeared on her face, as though just hearing him say he liked it meant so much to her. Everyone else in the room was happy for her as well and almost felt like they were sharing a celebratory moment, considering they knew how high Shirou's standards were when it came to cooking.

"I'll finish the rest when I get home. And I still plan on honoring our agreement to have tea with you on a different occasion. I have to say. After trying that cake, I'm looking forward to it even more."

When he said that, Ravel got teary-eyed, and her face was red to the maximum. "…Shirou-sama, for the next match, I will be cheering for you!"

RUN!

After Ravel said her goodbyes to them, she left the scene quickly. With that, the interviews were finished, and the match against Diodora drew closer.


After showering, Shirou stepped out of the changing room for the big bath on the first basement floor of the house in casual clothes. He drank a protein shake afterward, despite the fact that there were all sorts of milk drinks inside the fridge on the first basement floor so others could drink after a bath.

According to Rias, "Drinking a variety of milk after a bath is a must in Japan." Or so she claimed.

Rias' obsession with Japanese customers might not bother the rest of her Peerage, but Shirou felt it was annoying when she thought they were all required to follow them. She would even change the types of milk drink she drank after bathing every day. Rias was in the fruit-milk faction. Akeno, Asia, and Koneko were in the regular Milk faction. And Xenovia was in the coffee Milk faction.

He had washed himself off after the training for the upcoming game and after his usual training schedule. Working out was just part of his daily routine.

When he left the changing room, the big hall, which was across from the bathroom, was filled with light. There is a big hall next to the big bathroom on the first basement floor, so they could do film-watching marathons and also do all sorts of training. He had been training there just before, too.

The door was ajar, so Shirou looked inside. Xenovia was in there wielding a practice-purpose Sword. She was wearing training wear and was wielding the Sword seriously. After deciding to approach, Shirou walked inside. Xenovia stopped when she noticed his presence.

"…Shirou."

"Last minute training?"

"Yeah, since the game is coming up."

"I know I'm not one to talk, but it's starting to look like you're overtraining lately?"

It was true—He wasn't one to talk. But it was a fact that Xenovia increased the amount of training as the game was drawing near daily. Even today, she overworked herself for training, and it seemed like she was being haunted by something. During the spar, even Kiba seemed like Xenovia's high spirit was overpowering him. But since she was rushing things, she created an opening and received a counter.

"I am… Weaker than Kiba, after all." Xenovia says it with straight eyes. "Even on the video, Kiba showed that he could use Durandal better than me—In terms of simple talents, Kiba has more talent than me."

Xenovia has cloudy eyes. It seemed that there was a part of her that was a bit jealous of Kiba.

"From my eyes, both you and Kiba need more training."

Xenovia looked up at him after hearing those words, which didn't even sound like he was cheering her up. However, she still accepted them.

"You might be right. But the thing I can't forgive the most…is myself, who completely fell for the opponent's trap in the form of a Counter ability during the previous match. If it hadn't been for Mika's strategy and Kiba's help, I would have lost….. That's why I am training so that I won't let my guard down anymore."

…So it is about that. In the match against Sitri, Xenovia almost against Tsubaki, who possessed a Counter-type Sacred Gear. In terms of power, Xenovia was superior. But the timing and compatibility between them were terrible. Luckily, Mika figured out their game plan before time and had a plan for the counter; if that hadn't been the case, she would have been taken out.

They all witnessed how scary a Technique-type can be when watching the video after the match. They settled the match in places where pure power doesn't work, and it helped her realize how broad the game could be. The confidence she had that led her to believe she could overcome any wall with just power had been shaken.

"No matter how awesome a power you have, I realized that there are many ways for us to get defeated. Settling the match with pure power seems the most easiest to know, though. But especially in the game, it would be a team battle, so rather than having one strong individual, we need to cooperate in a style of "Person A ability" + "Person B ability."

"The fact that you've been became aware of that might be more valuable than the win." Shirou acknowledged her thoughts. "You didn't truly believe it until after you witnessed it yourself, like most people who are hard-headed. This experience will help you grow as a warrior, and hopefully, in the future, you won't need someone else to stop a Technique-Type."

Xenovia was happy to hear his appraisal and hoped she could reach that point as well. She then asked what else was on her mind.

"Shirou, you want to become a Maou, right?"

"Yeah….. But why do you ask? You already know that?"

"In the future, you will be going solo from Chief, right? To stand at a greater height."

"…Yeah, again."

"Asia said she and Mika will be following you."

"That's right… What's this about?" Shirou was starting to wonder about this line of questioning.

"Take me along with Asia as well."

An unexpected situation. He clearly wasn't expecting her to say that…

"What? Why do you want me to do that?"

When he asked, she answered with a big smile.

"It would be fun being with Shirou."

"I see. Fun, huh?" Shirou closed his eyes before he went on. "In that case, the answer is no."

This time, Xenovia felt the need to ask. "What? But why not?"

"You wouldn't fit into the kind of Peerage I plan on building."

"I wouldn't "fit in," what does that mean?"

Shirou figured she at least deserved an explanation. "Once I become a King, my final goal to become a Satan will officially begin. From there, I know I'll face major opposition and prejudice from almost all directions in the Underworld. In order to overcome that, not only do I need power, but I also need a powerful Peerage. Like Sirzechs, I want a Peerage made up of monsters, one where every individual is powerful enough for others to call us the Strongest Peerage. I only plan on recruiting the greatest, the best of the best."

"And so, you don't believe I'm good enough to be a part of your Peerage?" Xenovia sounded slightly offended and a little hurt.

"That's not the reason I said no. Be honest; the main reason you want to join me is that you want to stay close to Asia."

Xenovia stopped. She couldn't refute that statement.

"Xenovia, I'm not just blowing hot air. I am aiming to be a Satan with total commitment, and I plan to dedicate everything I have to this cause. The ones I surround myself with have to have the same amount of commitment and dedication if I want any chance to succeed. I can't just let someone in because they think it'll be fun. And even if we're in different Peerages, we still live together, so transferring to my Peerage to stay with Asia would be redundant."

"Yes, I suppose you have a point…." Xenovia lowered her gaze. "But….…"

"Besides, even if you disregard all those things, I still wouldn't let you join me."

"What?" Now, Xenovia really didn't know what to say.

"Xenovia, I wouldn't let you join because your place isn't serving under me. You belong with Rias."

"With… The Chief?"

Xenovia didn't understand what he meant, so Shirou elaborated.

"Regardless of anything else, I always planned on taking Mika and Asia with me. They only became Devils because they wanted to be a part of my world. We entered the supernatural world together, so we'll stay together. But you're different. You were already a part of the supernatural world, and you became a Devil because you were lost, and all direction in your life was gone. Rias was the one who gave you a new direction, and so you swore yourself to her to become her Knight and her servant. You made a vow not to me but to Rias.

"A vow…?"

Xenovia looked as though she hadn't considered this until now. It was clear that his perspective on all this was much broader than her own.

"Of course, if it means that much to you, you could go back on your oath."

Xenovia looked up at him as though she hadn't expected him to say that.

"Would that really be alright?"

"If it's what you want. But I'd prefer it if you didn't. After all, a Sword that can't withhold an oath is sure to one day grow dull and shatter. Everyone else in Rias' Peerage vowed their life to her and keeping it is proof of their convictions. Xenovia, I don't want to see you break your vow because I know your conviction is just as strong as theirs." He finished with a smile.

Those last words washed away all of her earlier disappointment from his rejection and replaced it with happiness, given that it was apparent that he was helping her stay true to her oath.

"You're right. The Chief gave me a purpose when I had nothing, I swore I'd be her Knight, and I meant. I can't lose to Kiba or anyone else." She renewed her resolve. "Still, I was hoping I could have joined your Peerage. I suppose I'll have to settle for having your child."

Shirou fought the urge to groan as his enthusiasm deflated. "Right… That's a conversation we still need to have."

"Yes, I hope you do positively." Xenovia lifted up her practice Sword and prepared to start swinging again. "Somehow, talking to you made the nervousness inside me disappear."

Xenovia approached him, who was just standing there and….

CHU.

She kissed him on the cheek. He wasn't expecting it, but he certainly didn't resist it.

"What was that for?" Shirou asked as she stepped back.

"It's my gift to you. Should I give it to your lips next?" Xenovia joked with a light laugh. "Fufufu. Then I will be getting back to my training now."

"A gift for a rejection? That's a new one." Shirou commented. "Well, just make sure you're in good condition for the match."

Shirou turned to leave after saying that. While Xenovia was engaging in more practice swings, she looked at him, walking away with his back turned, and thought of something.

With his back turned and his guard down, Xenovia believed she saw an opening and wanted to see if she could go for it. Seeing the opportunity while he was halfway at the door, Xenovia used her Knight's God-like speed to close the distance and thrust at the back of his neck.

DON!

"Kgh!"

Before her Sword could reach him, Shirou kicked his leg out behind him and shoveled his heel into Xenovia's stomach, knocking the air out of her legs and knocking her flat on her back. Shirou looked back at her with a sneer.

"You moron, the day I fall for a sneak attack from you, I'll renounce my name."

"…It was worth a try."

She breathed those words out as he left for real this time.


"It's about time."

Rias said and then stood up.

The day of the match. The Occult Research Club gathered late at night in their clubroom. Asia wore nun's clothing, Shirou and Mika were in their usual fighting attire, and Xenovia wore her erotic battle wear. And the others were wearing the Kuoh Academy uniform.

They gathered around the magic circle located in the middle of the room and waited to be transported.

The opponent was Diodora Astaroth. The noble house where the current Beelzebub came from. He was a Devil who was capable of going to his enemy by himself directly with his enormous amount of demonic powers. But the game will end when you take down the King. In this group, there were plenty of members who were superior to him in terms of pure powers.

While getting ready to depart for the battlefield, Asia held onto Shirou's hand nervously.

He smiled silently and held her hand as well. Then the magic circle glowed, and we were about to get teleported…..


"….Did we arrive?"

When their eyes recovered from the lights made from the teleportation, they opened their eyes….. The place that they arrived at was a spacious place.

The place was lined up with thick pillars. The ground is made from purplish rocks beneath a crimson sky. They looked around and saw a big entrance to a shrine at a far-off distance.

It looked like those shrines that appeared in Greek mythology. At first glance, there are no broken parts, and it seems like it was just built. It was likely that Diodora's base was in the shrine. So this was their base.

Now, let's get pumped up for it. Would it be a blitz? Or a long battle? I still don't know, but I will just have to accomplish my role!

"…..This is weird. Why haven't they announced our arrival?"

Rias' statement was correct. Even though the start of the match was supposed to be announced right after their arrival, no such announcement had been made, regardless of how much time had passed. It was suspicious. The whole group was also suspicious of this situation. Did something happen to the people in charge of the match?

FLASH!

Suddenly, a magic circle appears on the other side of the shrine. Some of them panicked. The group made their stances. But there wasn't just one magic circle. Many lights appeared, and they surrounded them.

"…It isn't the symbol of Astaroth!" Kiba said that while making a stance with his sword.

Akeno then spoke about it while her hand was covered in electricity. "….None of the magic circles are similar. Except…."

"They are all Devils. But if my memory is correct…."

Rias looked around with serious eyes while being covered in a red aura. The ones appearing were many Devils. All of them appeared with hostility. They glared at them while surrounding us.

The number of Devils who appeared was vast and uncountable. They don't just stop at ten or a hundred; there were several hundred to thousands of them, and they were surrounded by an insane number of enemies. The whole area was covered with Devils that had just appeared.

"Judging from their magic circles, they are affiliated with the Khaos Brigade. They're the…."

[Old Satan Faction!]

Rias was cut off from finishing her sentence when Shirou and Mika finished it themselves at the same time. They faced the hostility the enemy Devils gave them with an even stronger one of their own. Their auras, laced with killing intent, flared.

"The blood relative of the annoying fake Devil King, Gremory. I will have you perish here."

One of the Devils surrounding them spoke out at Rias in a provoking way. But all these enemies surrounding them distracted them from the true enemy lurking in the shadows.

"Kyaa!"

A scream. This was a voice belonging to…..Asia.

When they turned to Asia, she wasn't there.

"Shirou-san!"

The voice came from above. When they looked up, they saw Diodora, who was carrying Asia.

"Hey, Rias Gremory. And Red Dragon Emperor. I will take Asia Argento with me."

He said something foolish with a refreshing smile. Shirou shot him a death glare.

"You dirty rat. So I was right. You really were a turncoat!"

Diodora showed an evil smile for the first time.

"Oh, so, you figured me out already? In that case, good job. Too bad it was too late for it to matter, hahaha!" He laughed maniacally. "All of you will die here by them…..The agents of Khaos Brigade. No matter how powerful all of you are, you won't be able to take on this many High-Class Devils and Mid-Class Devils, right? Hahahaha, so die. Perish right away."

Rias glared at Diodora. "Is this true? Are you telling me you are connected to the Khaos Brigade? Scum. And you even defiled the game—So death would be fitting for you! More than that, you try to take away my adorable Asia away from me…..!" Rias' aura increased as well. She was pissed.

"If I were to stay with them, then it seemed like I can do anything I want to whenever I want. Well, struggle as much as you want. I will become one with Asia while you are busy with them then. You know what I mean? Red Dragon Emperor, I will make Asia mine—Gah!"

While Diodora laughed loudly, his eyes couldn't keep up when Shirou vanished from where he stood. He then reappeared right behind Diodora and kicked him in the back. The damage caught him completely off guard and caused him to let go of Asia. Before he even knew what was going on, Shirou caught Asia and used his speed to once again place himself with the rest of the group.

Shirou then let her down, and she blinked. She herself needed time to process everything since it had happened so fast.

"S-Shirou-san?"

Shirou smirked victoriously. "What did you seriously think I'd stand there and let him take you?"

"Asia!" Rias called out as they all crowded her. "Are you all right?"

Asia nodded. "Mmm, I'm okay."

"Thank goodness, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you come into harm's way. If I had paid more attention, he wouldn't have gotten a hold of you." Xenovia gave her an apology.

"No, it's not your fault, Xenovia-san." Asia assured her.

"For now, just stay close." Mika cautioned her before she looked back at Diodora hatefully. "You're still his target."

Diodora corrected himself in midair and scowled at them. "Damn you, I should have guessed you would have gotten in my way again, you filthy Dragon scum!"

"Looks like you finally decided to drop your mask." Shirou taunted him confidently. "But your smile is still every bit as disgusting."

"Always cracking jokes, aren't you?" Diodora still acted like he was in control. "You seem to have forgotten where you are or do you truly believe any of you can survive facing an army of this size?"

"Why use an army in the first place? Are you too afraid to fight us yourself?" Shirou provoked him.

"Oh please, I don't need to dirty my hands with the likes of you. But I still haven't given up on claiming Asia, so on the off chance that any of you survive, I'll give you a chance." Diodora raised his hand and pointed toward the shrine in the distance. "If you are able to follow me, then come to the depth of the shrine. You would be able to see something magnificent."

Xenovia already had Durandal out and pointed the tip of her blade at him. "Asia is my friend! I won't let you do as you want!"

Xenovia's eyes were burning with rage. She tried to slash at Diodora right away…. But the demonic power released by Diodora crumbled Xenovia's stance. Her blade didn't reach Diodora, but the holy aura released from her Sword went toward Diodora, but Diodora dodged it swiftly up in the air.

"Hahahaha! Try as hard as you can to survive desperately! I certainly hope you make it. I want the pleasure of ending your lives myself!" Diodora laughed violently once more.

Soon, the space started to shake and become distorted. Diodora's body became blurry, and he began to disappear, leaving behind only an echo of his laughter.

"He got away." Kiba cursed.

"I can't tell which version of him I hate more, him while he's acting or his real self." Mika voiced her complaint.

"I'd like nothing more than to go after him. But unfortunately, we're still in great danger." Rias looked up.

Even disregarding Diodora, they were faced with an army of enemy Devil who all wanted nothing more than to claim their lives. Their hands shined mysteriously. They were prepping themselves to attack. Diodora said not only do they consist of Mid-Class Devils but also High-Class Devils. They wouldn't be able to dodge all of their attacks. And it wasn't as though they had the option to run as they were in a neutral dimensional space that someone else had teleported them to. It truly looked like they were cornered right now.

"Any ideas?" Xenovia asked.

"I'll take the 500,000 on the left; the rest of you take the 500,000 on the right." Shirou suggested.

While they were concocting a plan, another scream was heard in this tense situation.

"Kyaa!"

This time, it was Akeno's voice. When they looked, a single-eyed old man wearing a robe was lifting up Akeno's skirt and looking at her purple-laced panties.

"Hmmm, nice butt. More than that, the curviness only the young ones have is irresistible."

"Would you cut that out?!" Shirou pulled his hand away from Akeno in annoyance. "Now's not the time for skirt-lifting. Wait for happy hour."

"Haha, sorry about that; I couldn't resist!" The old man pulled back good-naturedly. "But I suppose you're right. The fun can wait."

Mika narrowed her eyes at him and muttered. "I still can't believe you're Odin."

That's right. They had met this old man before. Yes, after the match with Sona, this old man visited them after they were departing from the infirmary room. It was the All-Father of the Norse Gods of Asgard—Odin.

"Odin-sama! Why are you here?" Rias asked while surprised.

Odin responded while stroking his long white beard. "Hmm. It will be long if I explain it, but to put it simply, this game has been taken over by the Khaos Brigade."

Shirou raised a brow. "…Yeah, we kinda noticed."

"The game committee and those from different factions are cooperating to take them on." Odin gave them the longer version. "Well, we know up to the fact that Diodora Astaroth was allied with the Old Satan Faction behind the shadows. He must have received the "snake" from Ophis, which resulted in his sudden power increase. Then it will be dangerous for you guys, right? So you needed some help. But this game field is covered by a strong barrier. So it would be hard for normal people to break or go through the barrier. Especially destroying it would be really hard. We can't do anything unless we stop the one who turned the barrier on from the inside."

"But apparently, you can get through the barrier with no problem, right?"

"When I gave one of my eyes to the Mímisbrunnr, I became familiar with these types of demonic powers, magic, and other spells. The same applies to barriers too."

Odin showed his left missing eye to them—Something which seemed like a crystal was put inside, and magical letters glowing in the depth of it popped up.

CHILLS!

When Shirou saw the symbol appearing on the artificial eye, he felt as if his whole body froze stiff. It had a really dangerous glow… He could even feel Ddraig's nervousness through the Sacred Gear. The only other time he felt chills like this was the first time he saw Vali in his armor.

"The enemy is the Chief God of the North! Our name will rise if we take his neck!" One of the enemy soldiers announced.

The Old Satan Faction Devils started to shoot the blocks of demonic powers at once. The number of attacks was off the charts. When the others were prepared to take on the shots aimed at them, Odin just hit his rod onto the ground once.

BOBOBOBOBOBOBOBOBOBOBOBON!

The attacks coming at them get reflected away and perish! Geezer just laughs, "Hohohoho", while stroking his beard.

Just what you would expect from a God, his powers were incredible, just as Shirou had sensed when he first saw him. Odin was a stronger being than anyone he had encountered until now. He made the attacks perish easily. The enemy Devils changed their expression. There were many High-Class Devils among them, but when faced with a God, they were nothing to fear.

"Normally, I can break the barrier with my power, but I could only enter here….. Hmm, so what kind of enemy did this? Though I was told by that brat, Azazel, to give this to you. To make an old man work this much, what should I do with that brat afterward….." The thing that Odin gave them were small communication devices. "Go, leave this place to this Geezer and run towards the shrine. I'm saying this Geezer will be standing on the battlefield to cover you guys. This is a big privilege, you know?"

When the old God pointed his rod at them, a shallow aura enveloped their bodies.

"That will protect all of you until the shrine. Now, go go."

"But Odin-sama! Will you be okay just by yourself?"

Rias sounded worried, but Odin just smiled energetically.

"For a pup who hasn't lived for more than two decades or so to worry about me…."

Something that looked like a spear appeared in his left hand. It shined for a few seconds before it revealed itself. It was a gloriously-looking javelin. The steel and material were made up of divine matter of the highest caliber that could be found in Asgard, not to mention the aura emanating from it, which was matched to the aura that came from Odin himself. It was truly a weapon befitting of a God.

"—Gungnir."

He released a single blow with it toward the Devils. Then…

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

An enormous amount of aura was released from the spear, and a sound that pierced through the sky echoed throughout the area. It was unbelievable to most who witnessed it. The thick, single blow went straight to the end of the Earth, and it deeply engraved the ground. The enemy Devils perished with that single blow. Hundreds of Devils had perished. It was like there was a thick black carpet that blanketed the sky, and Odin just blasted a large hole through it. What intense power. It's not a matter of fact that it was at a completely different level.

"You know, Geezers need to work out sometimes too. Now then, terrorist Devils." Odin pointed his spear at them. "Come at me with all your might. This Geezer here is stronger than you can imagine. Anyone who can strike me down will become a warrior of legend!"

The Devils became even more nervous. There weren't any Devils who would come at them now that someone like Odin was also in the vicinity.

Shirou rolled his eyes. "Not impressed. I could do that too."

Mika crossed her arms. "Without Boosting?"

Shirou narrowed his eyes at her. "Shut it!"

"I apologize! I will leave this place to you!"

Rias gave her thanks to Odin and turned to address her Peerage.

"We will run towards the shrine!"

They all responded to Rias' words and ran toward the shrine. During that time, Odin and the Old Satan Faction soldiers resumed their battle.

When they entered the shrine, the group put the communication devices they received from Odin on their ears. Then they heard a familiar voice.

{Are you guys all right? This is Azazel. It looks like you received this from that geezer, Odin.}

"—It was Azazel.

{I know that there are things you want to say, but hear me out. This Rating Game has received an assault from the Old Satan Faction of the Khaos Brigade. The field you guys are at, and the special field where the VIP room is, is flooded with Devils from the Old Satan Faction. But this is something we anticipated beforehand. Currently, all the Factions are working together to defeat the Old Satan Faction.}

"Congratulations, Azazel. If you hadn't figured it out, too, I would have seriously questioned your intelligence."

Shirou told over the communication device.

{Shirou. I had a feeling you would have noticed as well.}

"Me and Mika, to be exact."

"Hold on, would one of you explain?" Rias stepped in, still out of the loop. "What are you saying? Shirou, are you telling me you and Mika were already aware of this impending attack?"

"No, all we really knew about was Diodora's treason." Mika clarified. "We deduced that fact a few days before the match was announced."

"When did you start looking into all this, and why didn't you tell us?" Rias questioned them.

"We'll explain when this is all over." Shirou went back to Azazel. "And we figured you had already known."

{Well, you were right. Lately, those who are related to the current Devil Kings have started to die mysteriously. The ones who were behind it were the Old Satan faction of the Khaos-Brigade. It was told that the heir of the Glasya-Labolas died in an accident, but in reality, the Old Satan Factions killed him. And the mastermind behind it is the descendants of Old Beelzebub and Old Asmodeus. Just like Cattleya Leviathan, who Mika defeated, the hatred the Old Satan Faction has towards the current Devil's government is great. By terrorizing this game, they tried to shake the World as a start by killing and showing the dead bodies of those related to the current Devil Kings. There isn't a better occasion to attack than this. Bad anticipation could be seen ever since the match between Astaroth and Agares.}

"Then the reason why Diodora's demonic power increased more than before is?" Rias realized.

{He must have borrowed Ophis's power. They also must not have thought that Diodora would have used that power during the game. That's why, by adding that to the incident with Glasya-Labolas, we anticipated that something would happen in this match. But they didn't change their plan at all.}

"That's how I figured out as well. His power increase was similar to the one Cattleya had during our fight. I knew I couldn't mistake it."

"It was an oversight to use it during a Rating Game since it tipped us off." Shirou added.

{To them, as long as they can finish us off, anything is fine, I suppose. Even for us, this is a chance we can't usually hope for. It's a good time to crush the Old Satan Faction, who seem like they will have a negative influence on the World. Odin, Greek Gods, and Gods from Sakra's side are also planning to annihilate the terrorists. We told the bosses of each Faction in secret about the possibility of a terrorist attack occurring, and we asked them whether they would participate in this plan. All of them decided to cooperate. All the Factions are thinking about winning. Right now, everyone is rampaging against the Old Satan Faction Devils.}

"In other words, we were the bait, and you were hoping they would take it."

{I'm sorry, Rias. I said War wouldn't happen that often, but it turned out like this. We made you guys fall in such danger. We wanted to have them move before the start of the game. We thought they would appear then, and like we thought they did. But it's certain that we sent you to a dangerous zone. I thought of this plan by persuading Sirzechs. I wanted to bring out the Old Satan Faction no matter what.}

"What would you have done if we died in the process?" Rias questioned him without any care.

And Azazel then answered with a serious tone.

{I was planning to take proper responsibility for it. If my life were needed to make up for it, then I would have done that.}

—He was prepared to die…. He lured the enemy out with that much determination….. That is important, but there was one person who was not impressed by that resolve.

"Don't be an idiot!"

Shirou reprimanded him, getting the attention of both Azazel and the others.

"Think about who you are—You're not only a Faction leader, you're a founding member of the Alliance. It's your very existence that helps convince other Gods to join the alliance. That means your existence is still an irreplaceable existence for the sake of our future. That always means you're not allowed to just kill yourself on a whim anymore. When your life greatly affects the lives of others, it no longer belongs to just you."

Azazel was quiet for a moment before he let out a light chuckle.

{Hehe~! I must have lost my edge if a teenager is lecturing about the weight of my life. Either way, I can't have you guys stay there any longer. Leave the rest to us. It will turn into a battlefield over there. The Old Satan Faction Devils are continuously being teleported there by the magic circle. There is a hidden basement in that shrine. It's made to be very sturdy. Hide there until things settle down. We will eliminate the rest of the terrorists. This field is made by the Longinus possessor, who belongs to the Khaos Brigade. You can somehow enter inside, but it's near impossible to leave from there—Longinus Dimension Lost. It excels among the Sacred Gears, which are related to barriers and space, so even that geezer, Odin, who specializes in techniques, can't destroy it.]

"Are you also on the battlefield?" Shirou asked.

{Yeah, I'm inside the field. It is a really big field, so I'm far from you guys, though.}

"Azazel, we're going to fight too."

Shirou said that to him while speaking for all of them, as none of them argued with that motion.

{Do you know what kind of situation it is right now?}

Azazel's voice is mixed with anger.

"Be honest. Did you really expect us to hide in a safe zone at a time like this?" Shirou wasn't backing down on this. "The Khaos Brigade and the Old Satan Faction are our enemies. If you want us to not take part in this battle, you'd have to stop us by force."

Rias then added to his statement with a smile.

"He's absolutely correct, Azazel. I'm sorry, but we will continue to go forward and participate in this battle as well. The game is canceled, but I won't agree to it if we don't settle this with the Old Satan Faction. They are a threat to the Underworld, and they want my whole household dead. I need to teach them how foolish it is to even attempt to take my servant away from me!"

Akeno also continued from there.

"Azazel. We have the right to use our power against those who do suspicious actions within the Three-Great-Power alliances, correct? You know Diodora showed rebellious actions towards the current Devil society?"

And Mika joined in after her.

"And, not to mention the fact that we already have real combat experience from all those other times we were on a battlefield. At a time like this, where our side is brutally outnumbered, wouldn't it be beneficial to have every able-bodied and capable fighter join the battle? It would be a waste of our abilities just to hide and wait this out."

Azazel made a sigh from the other side of the communication device.

{….Geez. You guys are stubborn brats… Well, okay then. This time, there aren't any restrictions. That is why there isn't anything that will hold your powers back—Go and rampage to your heart's content! Show the power of Rias Gremory Peerage to the Old Satan Faction!}

Oh! Sensei sure knows what he is talking about! Thank you very much!

[Right!] Most of them replied back with high spirits.

{Lastly, listen to this. It is important. They started this while knowing we started to get the gist of their plan. In other words, their plan is something that won't be affected even if we know about it.}

It seemed like Rias understood. "Does it mean they started the terrorist attack because they have something up their sleeve?"

{Yeah. We don't know what it is, but it is certain that this field is dangerous. The game has stopped, so there isn't any retiring. Even if you guys get in a dangerous situation, there is no way to help you, so keep that in mind—Be careful.}

"Koneko, can you find Diodora?" Rias asked Koneko.

Koneko pointed toward the end of the shrine while having the cat ears appear on her head.

"…I can sense Diodora Astaroth from there."

"I see, so he was serious about challenging us. Everyone prepare yourselves. We're going to storm his base."

"Wait."

Shirou stepped forward and stared up at the shrine.

"Let me handle this one… Alone."

[!?]

His request met with surprise from the rest of the club.

"Do I even need to dignify that with an argument?" Rias was clearly unhappy with him for even asking.

"Hear me out. Diodora is an issue we need to put to rest, but we don't need all of us to beat him. Let me take care of him while you guys help Sirzechs and his forces around the battlefield."

"Shirou, even if you can stop Diodora by yourself, that doesn't mean I'm going to just let you go off on your own in a situation like this. We're on a battlefield. The only sensible solution is for us to stay together."

"I agree. We are on a battlefield and think about how many casualties there are on the battlefield, the just for the enemy but for our side as well. Like we told Azazel, we should have every capable fighter join the fight. Think about how many allies' lives will be lost while we all go after Diodora. Lives that could have been saved if we had been out there. The "most" sensible solution would be only to send those who are needed. The smaller the number, the better, and nothing's better than one."

"Even if that's true, you won't face just Diodora. You'll be up against his whole Peerage. You shouldn't face those numbers alone. At least let me go with you."

"I should go as well. Diodora won't make it a fair fight. He'll most likely have traps and hidden tricks lying in wait. Going alone is too reckless."

Kiba and Akeno stepped in, hoping to change his mind, but Shirou wasn't swayed by their concerns. However, one other person stepped forward and voiced her opinion.

"I say you should let him go."

This time, the one to step forward was his sister.

"Mika?" Rias blinked.

"I'm the Strategist, remember? And, as the Strategist, I agree that his idea is our best course of action. I can confidently say that Big Bro has the power to face Diodora and his Peerage alone. There's no merit for all of us to go if our presence is needed elsewhere."

"But, Mika—"

Mika cut her off. "I know, personally, I'm not thrilled about it. But think for a second, even if some of us went with him, he'd just insist on doing all the fighting himself. We can't afford to lessen our numbers if all we'll do is act as spectators. Let's just put our faith in him, like always."

After saying that, not only Rias but the others were silenced. It was apparent that when Shirou had made up his mind, no one could change it. He clearly wouldn't be convinced by their arguments, and on top of that, his own arguments had more grounds.

Mika then walked right up to her brother and looked up at him. Her expression was one without any worries, only faith and a sister's belief in her brother.

"I won't wish you good luck because I know you don't need it. Just give 'em Hell."

Shirou responded to her expression with complete and total confidence.

"Oh, I plan to."

"Shirou-san…."

This time, Asia stepped forward. Unlike Mika, she looked very worried, and her expression was filled with concern. But she didn't say anything as Shirou held up his hand toward her.

"You don't have to say anything, but you also don't have to be concerned. Just leave this to me. Next time you see me, this'll all be over, and we can go home."

His words were soothering and had a calming effect. Just like always, she felt worries fade away. She knew that she didn't have to be afraid as long as Shirou was there, his existence made her feel safe and protected, and her trust in him made her sure that he would return to her.

Before he could turn to leave, Rias held onto his arm and wanted to share a last bit of words with him.

"I know I can't stop you. I've never been able to. But, if you truly insist on going, then promise me this, at least. Promise me that you'll return unharmed. I won't forgive you if something were to happen, you or myself."

Rias' words were emotional and heartfelt. Despite it all, she still didn't want to let him go. It was genuinely essential to her that he give her this promise because she knew how much he valued promises, and it was that that would give her the reassurance she needed to not be riddled with concern.

"Luckily, neither of us will need forgiveness." Shirou reassured her, gently removing her arm from his. "I've always come back, and that's not going to change today."

Rias smiled, happy to hear those words, and felt more at ease. "I'll hold you to those words."

With that, Rias sprouted her wings from her back, and so did the rest of the Peerage. Arguments had been settled, and they all knew how things were going to be arranged. They all took the sky and elevated higher in order to make their way to join forces with Sirzechs' forces and take part in the battle against the Old Satan Faction. Once they were gone, Shirou started to march ahead toward the shrine where Diodora awaited.

Although, now that he was alone, his presence and demeanor started to shift, and his aura became much more oppressive. The truth was, all the reasons he gave to convince the others were mere excuses. The true reason he wanted to go alone was far simpler—He just wanted to kill Diodora with his bare hands.

"Finally, they're gone…." Shirou spoke to himself while his eyes started to glow brighter. "Now, time to shed this humane facade…." The look on his face was one that could make a man's blood run cold; it was practically beastlike and very bloodthirsty. "Diodora… I will drown you in the depths of desire."

—…

Ō ō


And that's the chapter.

First of all, we finally got the name drop. Now Shirou is officially Fearless Dragon. I figured he deserved a moniker like Issei had that summarizes who he appears to be to the public. I just didn't want it to be something stupid. And don't worry, he won't be getting a show or theme song like Issei did, but I might consider merchandizing. And I also gave make a name because why not?

Now, onto his conversation with Xenovia. I want to point it out right here, aside from Asia and Mika, none of the future members of Shirou's Peerage will be from trades. A majority of Issei's Peerage were just girls he got from Rias, along with Ravel, who also came from a trade. Shirou will be more ambitious with his selections and seek out whoever he deems as someone he can't pass up. It'll be a copout to use up potential pieces on people he already lives with and fights with.

And now, the fighting can finally begin. From the beginning, I wanted to arrange it so that Shirou would face Diodora and his group alone, but I didn't believe the others would really serve a purpose if they went. In the Canon, no one besides Issei really did anything important, with the exception of Kiba, but with Freed dead, that won't happen, so he's out. I also prevented Asia from being captured because, from my perspective, a truly competent person who wasn't a one-dimensional Power-Type (Issei and Xenovia) wouldn't have allowed Diodora to just swoop in and take her.

For those of you who love watching Shirou savagely massacre his targets, you'll really love the next chapter.

Anyway, thanks for reading hope you enjoyed. If you want more, then be sure to leave a review. If you like the story, then click the follow/favorite, and as always, have an awesome day.