Chapter 19: Warnings from a stray demon

The news about the church nun being a Sacred Gear user, and the fact that two people affiliated with demons were involved, wasn't received well. Almost immediately, they were reminded of the consequences of allies from different factions entering enemy territory and yada yada, the scolding dragged on and on.

At least Sona decided to jot down the information they had managed to gather. Rias, on the other hand, preferred to omit anything about the nun, considering the possibility that she was with the exorcists, which would risk the lives of her servants and Issei. Chris found that mature of her, explaining how dangerous holy objects were and how being exorcised could be a nightmare for a demon. So, she chose not to mention the subject further.

After Issei's training, both he and Chris were invited to something important: a stray demon subjugation. The order, coming from an archduke, was to eliminate a dangerous criminal demon threatening society. According to Rias, these were once vassals of demons who had betrayed their masters and acted on their own without controlling their energy, mutating and turning into mindless monsters, like wild dogs. It was the duty of those who protected a territory to hunt down these demons under the law.

Whether for justified reasons or sheer malice for its rebellion, the mission for these young demons was righteous if it meant protecting humans and peace. Demons hunting demons to preserve secrecy, sounds like a movie plot. Chris thought. Either way, their lead was a rumor about a stray demon hiding in a house that was said to "devour humans at night." Chris and Issei would accompany the others to witness how they worked.

However, getting there wasn't easy. Thanks to a bicycle and all his training, they arrived early enough for Issei to rest without throwing up his entire snack.

"Be honest with me, Chris, I'd seriously rather have wings."

"I have no argument here. Just rest."

For a while, even though they could hear movement inside the house, they preferred to wait. After some time, the demons descended from the skies.

"Ise, Chris-san, it's good to see you. Thanks for coming."

"Rias."

"Buchou."

"Alright, let's begin this hunt. We'll go in together, finish this without letting him or her escape, and clean up the mess. There have been reports of people disappearing after venturing into this abandoned house."

"I can smell blood…" Said Koneko

"That's already a bad sign." Chris commented.

"Chris-san, even though we invited you along with Ise, I'd like to ask you to let us face the demon alone. I know that doesn't guarantee anything, but my reason is to show, well… I…"

"Rias… if you're trying to prove something, you've done enough, don't overdo it. You're not Sona. But you're different, I can see it in how hard you try. Let's just go in there and make that demon pay for every human and demon life it took. I don't like the idea of killing, but if it's necessary, I'll completely understand."

"Then I'll simply promise you that there are no tricks."

"Good. Let's go."

With that, we proceeded to enter through the front door.

"Issei, Chris, besides being a good opportunity for you to see us in battle, I also want to explain the Abilities of servants."

"Abilities?"

"Even though Evil Pieces are a form of reincarnation for non-demonic beings, they're also a way to train an elite group within our ranks. Each piece in a set has different benefits and unique Abilities. That's why every demon's servant undergoes training focused on a specific skill. Even if they don't have many abilities, they become incredibly powerful in the ones they master."

"So, it's like a kind of test, Buchou?"

"'Test' is a more elegant way of putting it, Ise. In the Underworld, it's quite popular, so much so that even now, Evil Pieces are used in competitions called 'Rating Games' among noble demons."

"Rating Games?" Asked Issei, but Chris understood.

"I see. So, if Issei fulfills his dream of becoming a noble demon, with his own set of pieces, he'd compete in these games to gain popularity, just like you. Aren't these 'games' dangerous for both sides?"

"Heh, no, not anymore. That was back when the worst kinds of demons were in charge. After a civil conflict, things changed. In human terms, I'd compare it to team battle duels or an elimination-style arena fight. But the risk is minimal since the goal is to strengthen our ranks, not massacre each other to prove who's the strongest, that would be absurd and uncivilized."

"So, it's basically a competitive sport, except every match involves an actual fight. Okay, sounds strange, but I guess that's just how your society works."

"Exactly. I think that's the reason and excitement I feel when searching for new pieces."

"I see. So, do you want to be one of those people who compete in these games?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Buchou, it stinks in here." Koneko pointed toward the door that seemed to lead to the main hall. Rias stepped in front of her.

"Simply put, it's like placing a demon servant on a board and engaging in a true large-scale battle, like a real game of chess. But it can even influence a demon's position and their rank within the nobility."

"So, Buchou, if you win these competitions, it's how you climb the ranks until you reach the highest class?"

"Exactly. That's our goal. Sooner or later, we'll end up fighting in one of those games. But I'm not mature enough as a demon yet, so I can't officially appear in the arena. Actually, all of us are still beginners."

"That's true, Yukine-san, Hyoudou-san." Kiba added.

"To participate, we need to meet certain requirements."

"I bet one of those requirements is having a full set of noble pieces, right?" Chris asked.

"For the most part, yes, but not entirely. Either way, we won't be able to compete for quite a while."

"Buchou, what are the abilities of each piece?" Issei asked as Rias opened the door.

"Of course, I—"

Before she could continue, a sudden tension filled the entrance as the sounds of struggling and screaming echoed through the air.

"STOP ATTACKING ME! LEAVE MY PREY ALONE! WHAT ARE YOU?!"

"This is strange. It's more agitated than I expected." Said Rias.

The dreadful dark mist seemed to fade, but the smell grew stronger. Everyone had to cover their noses as various comments followed.

"Ugh, what a stench!" Issei

"Yeah… It smells like blood." Chris

"It stinks." Koneko

"Smells like nothing good." Akeno

"Everyone, stay alert." Kiba

Rias took a few steps forward before declaring:

"Stray demon Vizor, we've come to destroy you!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Is it just me, or does it seem scared of something?" Chris said, moving forward slowly with the others. her foot bumped into something, and as the mist cleared slightly, she saw it. A body… No, there's more…

As the fog fully dissipated, dozens of bodies were revealed. At the center stood the supposed stray demon—a creature with the body of a four-legged lion, the upper torso of an adult woman, and two pairs of spears lying on the ground. Issei was scared.

"What the hell is that?"

"That's a stray demon." Rias introduced calmly.

"That's horrible." Chris muttered.

The creature turned its head, its eyes wide with terror, glancing around as if searching for something unseen.

"YOU'RE REAL, NOT THOSE THINGS!"

"What are you babbling about, Vizor?" Rias asked, narrowing her eyes.

"THOSE STRANGE THINGS… THEY PASSED THROUGH WALLS, SURROUNDED ME… I ATTACKED, BUT I COULDN'T TOUCH THEM… MY BODIES, MY PREY… THEY TURNED EVERYTHING TO DUST… THEN THEY CAME FOR ME!"

"What?"

That simple description was enough to drain the color from Chris's face. The accuracy of the description matched the Noises perfectly.

"But the bodies are still here. Did it go insane?" Issei asked.

"We don't know yet… Chris-san?"

Chris ignored everything, stepping closer to the demon.

"What were those things that attacked you?"

The demon seemed to calm down after a while.

"THOSE THINGS… THEY WERE… THEY WERE… AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

"CHRIS!" Issei screamed.

Suddenly, the beast grabbed a spear and lunged dangerously toward Chris, but a shadow moved at incredible speed, carrying her out of the way before the spear could hit. It was Kiba, carrying Chris in a princess hold before gently setting her down.

"Are you okay, Yukine-san?"

"Thanks, Kiba. That was fast."

"Can I ask why you did something so reckless?"

"It seemed like she was describing a Noise. That scared me more than my life if it was real."

"It could've just been trying to confuse us."

"I hope so, but it worries me. I'm fine!" Chris signaled with a wave of her hand.

Both Rias and Issei let out a breath of relief before the redhead began giving orders.

"Get ready to eliminate it! Chris, please fall back. We'll cover you."

"IF YOU'RE NOT THOSE THINGS, YOU'LL BE MY NEW PREY! I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE THEY COME BACK!"

Chris sprinted toward where Rias and Issei were waiting. The beast lunged at her, but Kiba swiftly intercepted it.

"Yuuto, now!"

"Right." Kiba launched himself at the beast. It tried to skewer him with its spear, but he dodged with incredible speed.

"Issei, I'll continue the explanation from here. Yuuto's role is that of a 'Knight,' and a knight's main ability is speed…"

Kiba kept dodging with movements far faster than anything Issei had done when he fought Saji. In fact, it seemed like the demon was hitting him, but they were just afterimages from how quickly Kiba was moving.

"…And his strongest weapon is a technique that combines his incredible speed with his expert swordsmanship."

With a sudden flash, Kiba drew two swords and managed to land a single, decisive strike, severing the monster's arms in one swift motion.

"DAMN INSECT!"

The beast looked like it was about to crush Kiba, but Koneko rushed in and arrived at the point of impact just in time. Chris, knowing how fast Kiba was, figured it wouldn't have been a problem. They're showing off… That means she can handle it. The creature's paw seemed to have smashed the small white-haired girl.

"Koneko-chan!"

The beast appeared satisfied, but the wobbling of its own foot threw it off balance, leaving it confused.

"Don't worry Ise. Koneko's role is the 'Rook'…"

Koneko didn't even flinch under what must've been a crushing weight. When she stood up, she struck the ground, leaving cracks beneath her feet. Effortlessly, she pushed the paw aside.

"…A Rook's ability lies in incredible strength and defense."

The demon's tail whipped around and sent Koneko flying into a wall. It looked victorious, but Rias remained nonchalant.

"That attack won't work on Koneko."

Sure enough, Koneko was fine, already preparing to launch herself back into the fight.

"Time to fly…"

She jumped toward the creature's ribs, hitting it like a cannonball. With equal force, she sent it crashing into a wall, burying it under a pile of rubble. The beast barely managed to stand back up.

"HOW… CAN THIS GROUP OF BRATS… DEFEAT ME?!"

"So weak…"

The calm, almost indifferent tone made Chris and Issei think twice about ever picking a fight with the tiny Koneko. She could probably take Senpai's giant sword and swing it around like a baseball bat.

"And finally, Akeno."

"Yes, Buchou. Hehehe… Now, how should I handle this?"

Akeno approached gracefully. Given the demon's current state, Chris doubted it could put up any more resistance, so she relaxed a little.

"Akeno's role is 'Queen.'"

The creature growled in disbelief, but a chill ran down both humans' spines as Akeno spoke.

"Oh? You still have some energy left…" She raised her hand, and with a spark, it transformed into pure electricity. "In that case, let's try this level of attack…"

The beast was struck from above by a torrent of lightning. Chris and Issei glanced at Rias, wondering what other powers the "Queen" held. The answer, though, quickly became clear.

"With all the abilities of a Pawn, Knight, Bishop, and Rook combined, here stands the club's unstoppable vice president."

The beast somehow survived the assault, but Akeno approached with a disturbingly cheerful expression.

"Oh, still standing? How much longer can you keep that up?"

"Akeno-san seems even more dangerous now…" Issei commented.

"Uh, Rias, don't you think she should stop?" Chris asked, uneasy.

"I'd say yes… but it looks like she's going for another round."

"Another?!" Chris asked, but was cut off by Issei's sudden, dry scream, his face going pale. Turning back to the source, she mirrored his terrified expression, Akeno was now visibly excited, licking her lips with pure joy.

"Well… how should I put this? Akeno is…" Akeno unleashed another wave of lightning, smiling with utter bliss. "…a solid S-class when it comes to this."

And here I thought Fine's torture to me was unmatched… I've just been proven wrong.

"Relax, guys. The vice president is really kind… to her allies."

The combination of laughter and the agonizing screams—"At this point, poor woman, just end her misery already…"—made Chris and Issei exchange a look of mutual dread. Without a word, they both took a cautious step away from Akeno. No thanks, I'd rather live without the memory of that terrifying torture.

As expected… she's terrifying!

Rias calmly walked over to the monster, now coughing and barely pulling itself together after the torment. The creature locked eyes with her.

"Any last words?"

At this point, both Chris and Issei expected it to beg for death, but to everyone's shock, despite its obvious agony, the creature let out a dark, unsettling laugh that put everyone on edge.

"HAHAHAHA… IF THEY COME BACK, THEY'LL KILL YOU ALL. HEHEHE… YOU'LL BE NOTHING BUT DUST WHEN THEY ARE DONE WITH YOU."

Again, that same expression used to describe a Noise. You could just say exorcist, but he said it in plural. What attacked it before we did?

This time, there was no word of reassurance. From her hand, Rias summoned the same intimidating aura as before when Chris slapped her, forming it into a swirling red-and-black sphere. She let it drop onto the creature, and it disintegrated almost instantly, its destructive energy so absolute that nothing could survive it.

When it was over, only a crack in the ground remained. Chris and Issei were in awe, though the air was still thick with the tension left behind by the demon's final laugh. Everyone let out a breath of relief. Chris now understood the true strength of a demon, and it was terrifying. There was no doubt it would be incredibly difficult for both of them if they ever had to face a real high-class demon, if these weaker ones were already so monstrous, what horrors awaited higher up?

The word monster echoed in Chris's mind as she remembered the ominous "they" the demon had mentioned. While Issei congratulated everyone and Rias, visibly nervous but still optimistic, suggested going back to the club for some tea before calling it a night, a strange sound suddenly echoed through the area.

The abandoned house seemed to light up unnaturally. Koneko suddenly tensed, her face going pale. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, A new sound grew louder, unnatural scraping and shuffling, as if something was crawling… or approaching. A small army of something.

"What was that?" Issei asked.

"I don't know…" Rias replied, confused—until a bright crimson light illuminated everyone's faces. It was Chris. "Chris-san."

Killter Ichaival Tron!

The chant triggered the transformation faster than anyone could react. Chris was already clad in her armor, swapping her crossbows for miniguns.

"Everyone… Everyone get to the center, now!"

'Billion Maiden'

Chris spun around, firing bursts of bullets in two directions. The flanks were being torn apart by gunfire. Despite not fully understanding the situation, Issei didn't hesitate anymore.

"Buchou, quick, to the center!"

"What? But Ise—"

He took Rias's hand and dragged her with him, the others nodding and following his lead. The deafening sound finally ceased as Chris's turrets spun down, her heavy breathing filling the silence. The rest waited for her next command, fully aware now that the warnings from that stray demon had been far more than mere empty threats.

Outside the house, Ryoko leaned against a tree, watching through a hidden camera as her former puppet struggled to resist.

"Oh, my dear Chris, you know that sounds all too well. But if you think your bullets will stop this, you're gravely mistaken. I'm far from finished with you."

With a single press of a button, the lights inside shifted. Through the camera feed, more shapes appeared, crawling through the cracks in the walls, slithering in from the hole left by the demon, pouring in through the door where escape had once been an option. Different forms, strange colors… their faces….blocky, unnatural. There was no mistaking them.

"Noises… Why are there Noises here?"

Everyone tensed as they became surrounded, but Chris noticed something horrifying, those she had shot down were regenerating, their bodies repairing themselves as if they had never been hit. Her eyes widened in terror, and her face turned pale.

"They're… recovering… How?!"

Outside the complex, Ryoko let out a cruel laugh.

"Hahahaha, that's right, Chris! They regenerate, now despair! This is the hardest level I've prepared just for you. And judging by my little test subject's reaction early, your trauma will serve me perfectly. Now, how will you escape? How will you protect them? Show me everything you've learned… or will you let them fall into the deepest despair you've ever faced? That fear you always tried to avoid, the fear of them dying, and it being your fault for it! Hahahahaha!"

As she watched the demons and the boy being cornered, the young man summoned the gauntlet that had caught Fine's interest.

"Show me what those Sacred Gears can really do. Let the show begin."