Time for the first part of the Rating Game between Melody and Kaidon. This will be a 2-parter since I don't want to keep you waiting any longer and I still have a lot more to get through for the match. I would have gotten more done or written sooner, but I've been rather irresponsible by playing Tales of Arise. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!
In order to train for the upcoming Rating Game, Melody and her peerage went to an uninhabited island off of the coast of Japan that was owned by the Morag family. Seth, Annabelle, and Alastair accompanied them to assist them with their training since it worked out very well for the Gremory peerage. Issei was breathing heavily as he was doing various exercises like pulling giant boulders.
"If I wasn't a Devil… I'd be dead right now…" Issei said between breaths.
"Don't be so down, Issei." Melody was also pulling boulders, but she didn't seem even a little bit drained and moving at a brisk pace. "At least you're doing better than Hikaru."
Issei and Melody looked behind them and saw Hikari barely able to crawl despite the fact she wasn't carrying or pulling anything.
"Wwwwwhy… doooooo… IIIIIII…" Hikari moaned as she tried to ask something.
"You're asking why we're making you participate in this training with the rest of us when you aren't even a combatant?" Melody guessed.
"Uuuuh… huuuuuuuh…" Hikari did her best to confirm.
Melody let out a sigh. "This is why you need to get out of your room more… Hikari, you're our eyes and ears during a battle. If the enemy finds you and none of us can protect you, that's it."
"Uuuuuuuuggggggh!" Hikaru groaned.
Katherine then walked by, pulling the boulder with ease. Upon closer inspection, Issei realized that she had fallen asleep.
Is she sleepwalking while training?!
"Oh, Issei that reminds me!"
"Huh?" Issei turned to Melody as she remembered something.
"I'm going to need some of your blood."
Issei blankly stared at Melody for a few second. "… I'm sorry, what?"
Training for the Melody peerage was just as rough as it was for the Gremory peerage. It was a mix of sword practice, demonic power training, close combat sparring and physical exercise. There was finally a reprieve once it was dinnertime, which took place inside a house near the beach. Misaki, Spiral and Asia cooked using various plants they gathered and game they hunted around the island.
"Wow, you're an amazing cook, Misaki-senpai!" Issei exclaimed after he took a bite.
"Thank you very much, Issei-kun."
"Melody-sama, do you mind if I ask you something a bit… personal?" Spiral requested.
"What is it, Spiral?" Melody asked.
"Why are you so determined to become the next heir of your house?"
Everyone turned to Melody, except for Misaki, Seth, Annabelle, Alastair, Katherine, and Akira as they all knew.
Melody closed her eyes and let out a sigh. "You're all members of my peerage, so I should have told you all this from the beginning. There are two reasons why I need to become the heir to the House of Morag. The first reason is my eldest brother, Kaidon Morag, is not fit to be the next head of my clan. There are many High-Class Devils from noble families who value purity in their bloodlines, but there are some who go even further than that and believe Pureblood, High-Class and Ultimate-Class Devils are the absolute strongest and all Low-Class and Reincarnated Devils exist to serve them. Kaidon is very much one of them. As a testament to that belief, his entire peerage consists of pureblooded Devils. If he were to become the next head of the Morag clan, there is no doubt that the Low-Class and Reincarnated Devils in our territory would suffer greatly under his jurisdiction. Even my parents think he's bad for our household."
"Then why don't your parents just name someone else as heir?" Issei asked.
"Kaidon is favored by the higher-ups in the Underworld government for not only his strength, but for also being my father's firstborn." Melody explained. "Due to the politics, my parents have their hands tied. And his mother won't allow him to give up his position as heir so easily."
"'His mother'?" Asia inquired.
"We all have different mothers." Seth answered. "Like with nobles in the human world, noble Devils often have multiple consorts to have as many heirs as possible. In the case of Devils, it's more to increase the chances of having an heir at all."
"However, even the higher-ups value strength." Melody continued as she held her hands together. "If I can defeat Kaidon, that will prove that I am worthy of being the next head of my clan."
"And what's the second reason why you need to become heir?" Spiral asked.
"As I mentioned before, pureblood High-Class noble Devils discriminate against Low-Class and Reincarnated Devils. Even though many of the 72 Pillars are declared as 'extinct', that description is not entirely accurate. A house can be considered extinct for a variety of reasons, but the most common is if they don't have Pureblood Devil heirs. Just because of that, a household is deemed extinct."
Melody's voice seemed agitated, and she tightened her clasp on her hands, indicating to everyone that this was something that genuinely upset her.
"Which is why I want to abolish it! My dream is to achieve a Devil society without discrimination against the classes and species! I've seen how some of the higher-ups treat Seth, simply because he's a Half-Devil and I don't want anyone to experience that! Ever again! It's unrealistic, I know… but someone has to at least try, and it might as well be me."
"… I think it's a good dream to have." Asia spoke up. "After all, you just want people to be happy."
"Yeah, even if it's unrealistic, I think it's worth trying!" Issei confidently assured her.
"If that is your dream, I will do all I can to help you achieve it!" Spiral added.
"Hm." Azusa nodded in agreement.
"You can always count on my full support." Misaki gestured to herself.
"Anyone who laughs at your dream will see a fist in their face." Akira said.
"If it means people can be friends, I've got your back!" Katherine cheerfully and childishly proclaimed.
Hikaru was in the middle of chowing down on some food, but she realized she had to say something or come off as rude, so she just nodded. "Mm-hm!"
"Thank you, everyone." Melody smiled at her servants' words of encouragement. "I'm lucky to have you all in my peerage."
After dinner was night training, followed by a few hours of sleep. The rooms were separated with the women on the left side of the house and the men on the right side. In the middle of the night, Issei woke up feeling thirsty and went to get a glass of water. On his way back to his room, he saw Misaki standing on the balcony outside. He stepped outside and the sound of the door opening made her turn from looking at the sky to him.
"Can't sleep, Misaki-senpai?"
Misaki shook her head. "Oh, no. I just thought it was a beautiful night to look at the stars."
Issei looked up at the sky and saw a vast ocean of stars.
"I always find gazing at the stars to be relaxing." Misaki said.
"The stars do look beautiful."
"Issei-kun, there's been something I've been meaning to ask you. If you're not comfortable talking about it, you don't have to answer."
"O-okay?"
"Those born with Sacred Gears often don't grow up with normal lives. But based on what Melody-sama told me, it seems like your Sacred Gear didn't awaken until you joined us. So, you probably didn't grow up feeling persecuted, did you?"
"No, I may have been a pervert, even as a kid, but I lived a pretty normal childhood."
"You're very lucky, Issei-kun. Asia-chan wasn't quite as fortunate as us."
"Are you saying you were also lucky?"
"Well, one of the luckier ones. It was about 8 years ago when I first awoken to my powers. I was playing ball with the other children. When I caught the ball, suddenly it was frozen solid. When my best friend touched me, they were completely frozen. No matter what anyone tried, the ice wouldn't melt. They… died. I was so scared of hurting someone else, I stopped going to school and locked myself in my room."
"That's awful…"
"My parents tried asking doctors what was wrong with me, but no one could figure it out. As a last resort, they were willing to summon a Devil. That Devil was Melody."
That last sentence really surprised Issei.
"Melody told me I had a special power within me, and she could help me control it. Ever since that day, we've been best friends. When she attained her Evil Pieces, she asked me if I wanted to be her Queen. Even though she said I could refuse, it was impossible for me to do so. I owe Melody so much. I'm grateful to her and my parents."
"It might not mean much…" Issei then gave Misaki a reassuring smile. "But if I was one of those children back then, I would at least give you a chance. You must've been just as scared as the other kids of your power. Especially if your friend died."
"I appreciate the sentiment… but…"
"'But'?"
"… Never mind." Misaki shook her head and gave Issei a smile. "We should be heading back to bed now. We've got a big week ahead of us."
As Misaki left, Issei couldn't help but feel that the smile she gave was disingenuous, however he knew that she would insist otherwise if he pried into it, so he went back to bed.
Several days later on a late Friday night, Melody and her peerage had returned back to Kuoh Town from their training, put on their Academy uniforms and gathered inside the Velvet Suite, the special room on the second floor of the music store Modest Major owned by Melody's mother. There was an area on the floor where there was a magic circle with an unusual emblem on it and 10 minutes before the start of the match, it started to emit a bright light and Allegra appeared in the center of the circle.
"That match will start in 10 minutes." Allegra then looked around at everyone in the room and smiled. "I see you managed to gather an interesting group of servants, Melody."
"Thank you, Mother."
That's Melody's mother?! Issei shouted in his head, although his face couldn't contain his shock. She's beautiful! Even though she's wearing that business suit, I can still tell that she's got huge breasts hiding underneath it! Melody already looks like a younger version of her, so will she get breasts as big as her mother's?!
Issei's eyes examined the breasts of the mother and daughter. Even though Allegra was bigger, even under the business suit, Melody was very well-endowed herself.
"Mmmmmmgr…"
Issei could hear some growling next to him and saw Asia pouting at him again.
"Please enter the magic circle." Allegra instructed. "This will teleport you all to your home base in the game field. Once you enter, you will not be able to leave until the game ends or you retire. In addition, your father, his advisor, and a few higher-ups will be watching the match elsewhere. Due to their… relationship… Seth and his servants will be viewing the game at another location. I wish you the best of luck."
As Melody sat up, she realized that Katherine had fallen asleep again and sighed in exasperation. Akira picked up Katherine and carried the white-haired girl over her shoulder to the magic circle where everyone else except Allegra had stepped into. A few seconds after stepping into the magic circle, it emitted the same glow and enveloped the participants in a bright light.
When the light subsided, the Melody team appeared to be in a fancy room inside what seemed to be a castle.
"The field isn't Kuoh Academy this time?" Issei asked.
"The battlefield for a Rating Game is often different for each match." Misaki explained. "They wouldn't be very interesting for the spectators if the same location is used over and over."
"Greetings, everyone." Allegra's voice came from a speaker on the wall. "I, Allegra Morag, third wife to the head of the House of Morag, will be the arbiter for today's Rating Game between the current heir to the House of Morag, Kaidon Morag, and the youngest heir, Melody Morag. In the name our venerable house, I will ensure that the match is fair. Based on Lord Kaidon and Lady Melody's mutual wishes, the battlefield will be a replica of the main Morag residence. Lord Kaidon's home base is at the far end of the west wing. Lady Melody's home base is at the far end of the east wing. All Pawns, please enter the opposing team's base to use Promotion."
"This is your house?!" Issei gasped in shock.
"Yep." Melody replied.
"You must be insanely rich to have a castle this big!"
"Actually, this castle doesn't even compare to the homes owned by the 72 Pillars."
"Seriously?!"
"The match will now begin." Allegra announced via the speaker. "The battle will end when there is a victor or when the 24-hour time limit has been reached."
"All right!" Melody went to a table, took a parchment out of her pocket, and unfurled it all over a large table, revealing the paper to be a map of the main Morag residence. "Our home base is here." She circled her finger around a room in farthest end of the east wing. "Kaidon's base is here." She then circled her finger around a room in the farthest end of the west wing. "While Kaidon knows the battlefield layout, we have Hikaru's Omniscient Oracle."
"I'm on it!"
Hikaru made her visor appear and a bunch of neon lines only she could see stretched out from her feet. The lines covered the entire room and extended beyond the door to the hallway.
"I should have the entire layout in less than two minutes." Hikaru informed her comrades.
"Brilliant work, Hikaru!" Melody praised her servant. "You'll remain here for the entire match and monitor the enemies' movements while keeping all of us in touch. Azusa, I want you to act as her guard."
"Understood." Azusa nodded.
"Spiral, Akira, you'll be our vanguard squad." Melody continued. "Once Hikaru finishes her analysis, head straight toward the west wing. Do your best to whittle down Kaidon's forces and keep them from getting here. If you start feeling pressured, fall back. Hikaru, when Katherine wakes up, tell her to drink that and head straight to the front lines."
"Yeah." Spiral, Akira, and Hikaru agreed to Melody's instructions.
"Issei, a few minutes after the vanguard heads out, take Asia and protect her. Just like Hikaru, Asia's support is critical for our success. No one in Kaidon's peerage has access to healing like we do. If any of us gets hurt, Asia's Twilight Healing is our lifeline, although it won't have any effect on our stamina."
"Even if you didn't ask, I'll protect Asia-chan!" Issei proclaimed.
"That's the spirit!" Melody said to Issei before turning to Misaki. "Misaki, I want you to go to the third floor. I have no doubt that later in the match, Kaidon will make his way to the Chamber of Ascension on the fourth floor. There's only one staircase connecting the third and fourth floors. His Queen never leaves his side, so she'll likely be stationed to guard that staircase."
"And you want me to clear the way?" Misaki asked.
Melody nodded. "Let me know when she's defeated, and I'll head over."
"Once we've cleaned up the rest of his peerage, you want us to face Kaidon?" Issei asked.
"Here's our plan for Kaidon."
Melody relayed her plan for fighting Kaidon.
"Analysis complete!" Hikaru announced. "I sense five enemies in the halls of the west wing, second floor! Two Knights, two Rooks and one Pawn!"
"Kaidon's already made his move. Everyone, move out!" Melody ordered.
Spiral and Akira ran out the door and through a long corridor, keeping a swift pace without wasting too much stamina. After a few minutes had passed, they arrived at what looked like the main hall and saw four figures waiting for them. One of the Rooks was a shirtless man with short blonde hair and wearing boxing gloves, boxing shorts and boxing shoes, all with a red and black color scheme. The second Rook was another shirtless man with short blonde hair and black and red shorts, but he appeared to be a Muay Thai practitioner instead of a boxer. One of the Knights appeared to be a man wearing a grey mask and black cloak and was holding dual swords. The other Knight was the visual standout, a young woman with medium-length, curly cerulean hair, blue eyes, sleeveless black shirt, black leggings, and a white leather skirt and knee-high boots. The female Knight was also carrying a silver spear at her side.
"This is all Lord Kaidon's little sister sent to greet us?" The Muay Thai Rook had a mocking smile.
"This won't even suffice as a warmup." The boxer Rook cracked his neck with a bored expression.
"Spiral-kun, leave the Rooks to me." Akira said as she took a step forward and turned to the boxer while cracking her knuckles. "You're right, Ebichan Aglon. This won't be a warmup because I'm gonna crush you and your brother Sawalee!"
As one of the earlier members of Melody's peerage, she was very familiar with the identities of Kaidon's peerage. The provocation from Akira made Ebichan dash and throw a right hook at her. Akira also threw out her right fist with a mysterious aura surrounding it and the moment their fists collided, Ebichan felt his arm snap and Akira used her left fist, also coated in a mysterious aura, to deliver an uppercut that sent the enemy Rook flying through the ceiling.
"DAMN YOU!" The Muay Thai Rook, Sawalee, yelled as he charged toward Akira.
Sawalee tried to deal a powerful kick to Akira, but she coated her leg in the same aura and clashed kicks with her opponent.
"I see, that's how you're able to match our strength." Sawalee growled as he struggled to push back Akira's kick with his own.
"I'm not very imaginative when it comes to using my demonic power." Akira said. "I prefer to hit things really hard, so I coat my body in demonic power to enhance my physical strength. You shouldn't have underestimated me."
Akira's kick finally broke Sawalee's leg and while he was reeling back, she grabbed him by the throat and threw him upwards toward the hole in the ceiling where she launched his brother just seconds ago. As Ebichan fell back down, Sawalee was flying right toward him and they crashed headfirst into each other with a loud smack, losing consciousness and getting enveloped in the light of retirement.
"Lord Kaidon's two Rook have retired." Allegra announced via the speakers installed all around the game field.
"I told you I'd crush the both of you." Akira confidently smirked.
The masked Knight tried to attack Akira from her blind spot, but Spiral quickly closed the distance and slashed him across the chest with the sword he pulled out from another space.
"How are these… Reincarnated Devils… so strong?" The masked Knight groaned in pain.
Spiral jumped up and Akira came running from behind her comrade and punched the masked Knight square in the face, breaking their mask and sending them crashing into a nearby wall.
"Lord Kaidon's Knight has retired."
The announcement confirmed the Knight's retirement as it was difficult to tell with all of the dust kicked up. With the other opponents defeated, Spiral and Akira turned to the only remaining Knight, who seemed to be leering at the violet-haired boy.
"… You! Knight!" The woman pointed her spear at Spiral. "What's your name?"
"It's Spiral Hirano." Spiral answered.
The Knight's leer turned into a glare overflowing with hatred. "So… it's you!"
Spiral looked at the Knight for a few seconds "… Akira, fall back." He didn't even turn his head to his comrade.
"What?" Akira questioned his thinking.
"I'll take care of this Knight myself." Spiral said. "Besides, that Pawn isn't here."
"Kh!" Akira realized what Spiral was implying with that last sentence. "… All right. I'll let you handle this. Just promise me you won't lose."
Akira ran off toward the east wing corridor and Spiral prepared himself in case the enemy Knight tried to chase after her, but the opponent's focus was solely on him.
Once Akira was no longer within earshot, Spiral spoke up. "You know who I used to be?"
"I could never forget the face of the one who killed my parents." The Knight responded. "My name is Primoir Talraxen (Age 16). Does that name ring a bell?"
"'Talraxen'… and that cerulean hair… Now I remember… So that was their family name…"
"Tchgr!" Primoir gnashed her teeth in anger. "You killed them and yet you didn't even know their name?!"
"… I don't have any excuses… I'm sorry…"
"'Sorry'?! That's all you have to say?!"
"The only other thing I can do atone for my sins."
"… If you want to atone…"
Primoir disappeared and Spiral immediately deflected a spear strike that was aimed at his head. Even though he parried the attack, Primoir didn't lose the slightest poise.
"THEN DIE!"
Spiral and Primoir began clashing their weapons against each other. Striking and blocking attacks with graceful movements, it was like a ballet of blades.
"You're a lot stronger than your comrades, that's for sure." Spiral commented.
"For two years, I've been training non-stop so I can avenge my parents!"
The two Knights continued dueling without either one showing an opening.
"Melody-sama told me most of Kaidon's peerage doesn't train. Guess you're the exception."
"I'm not the only one who trains."
After another couple of weapon strikes, Spiral backed off.
"There's another?"
"Yeah, and she's on her way to take out your support."
"Spiral-senpai, we've got a problem!" Hikaru's voice echoed in his head through her Sacred Gear. "That Pawn knows some secret passageways, too! They've nearly reached Asia's position! Akira-senpai is on her way, but she won't make it in time!"
Did you tell that to Issei-kun and Asia-chan? Spiral thought back to her.
"Uuuhh…"
Why are you telling me first?! They're the ones in immediate danger!
"R-right!"
As Spiral sighed, he ducked before he was nearly stabbed in the head again by Primoir's spear.
I can't let her defeat me here. Spiral thought. Otherwise, she'll just slip past Akira and Issei and take out Hikaru. If that happens, we have no means of communication or reconnaissance.
Preparing himself for a long and grueling duel, Spiral dashed at Primoir and the two Knights continued their fight.
At the east wing home base, Melody was sitting in a chair, patiently waiting for Hikaru to tell her that Kaidon was on the move. She was now wearing what appeared to be cybernetic gauntlets and boots. Azusa was keeping watch of the surroundings in case the enemy tried to ambush them. However, Melody's ear suddenly twitched, and she looked toward the room's only window.
"We've got company! Azusa!" Melody called out to her servant.
Azusa readied herself for combat upon Melody's order. After a few seconds, Azusa could hear an unusual sound approaching and a large machine had descended to the front of the window. The machine was a large humanoid robot with an almost skeletal frame, a machine gun on each arm, two reverse-joint legs, silver armor plating over the chest, and a jetpack keeping it airborne.
"If it isn't my little sister!" There was a voice coming from the machine's speaker.
"Giardas!" Melody shouted.
The silver plate on the machine's chest opened up to reveal a cockpit where an unkempt young man was piloting it. His black hair looked greasy, and it seemed like it hadn't been cut in years. He was also wearing a beige jumpsuit with oil stains all over it. This was the second oldest of the Morag children Giardas Morag (Age 19).
"Do you really think you have any hope of defeating Kaidon?" Giardas questioned. "Just give up already and spare yourself the humiliation."
"I see you still have your machines do your dirty work." Melody retorted.
"I've got this." Azusa stepped forward and pulled out her gigantic sword from another space. "Dyrnwyn!"
The gigantic sword became enveloped in a holy aura and flames engulfed the blade.
"No way!" Giardas exclaimed. "A Holy Sword?!"
"That is the Holy Sword Dyrnwyn." Melody explained. "When drawn by someone worthy or well-born, the entire blade blazes in fire."
"How'd you get your hands on that?!"
Azusa prepared to swing Dyrnwyn, causing Giardas to panic, close the plating to protect himself and the machine guns opened fire at her. With a single sword swing, a wave of blazing holy aura shot out from the blade, knocked away all of the bullets and destroyed the machine guns on both arms.
"Dammit!" Giardas cursed.
Azusa leapt toward the large machine and with one slash from Dyrnwyn, it was sliced in two. The machine fell to the ground and exploded upon impact.
"One of Lord Kaidon's Bishops has retired."
In the corridor of the east wing, Issei was running through while making sure that Asia was keeping up with him.
"So far, so good." He said as he heard the retirement announcements so far.
"Issei-kun, Asia-chan, to your left!" Hikaru's voice shouted in their heads.
Before Issei could ask Hikaru any questions, one of the doors to his left burst open and a figure charged out, heading straight for Asia. Issei quickly got in between them and crossed his arms to block the figure's punch. With the assailant up close, Issei got a good look at a girl with short, white-hair, pink irises and a youthful, but determined face. She was wearing a school uniform with a dark blue buttoned-up blazer, white shirt, black skirt, dark grey leggings, and dark brown shoes. The girl jumped backwards.
"Here I was hoping I could deal you a sneak attack." The girl said. "I haven't seen you around before, so you must be one of the newer servants Master Kaidon's little sister made."
"How'd you get past our vanguard?" Issei asked while gritting his teeth in frustration.
"I'm quite the explorer, ya know? This castle has plenty of secret passageways that I'm familiar with, so I just slipped past your frontlines."
Even though her surprise attack had failed, she still seemed pretty cocky.
"I am the sole Pawn of Master Kaidon!" The girl proudly introduced herself. "Grencin Korin (Age 17)! Remember my name, because one day I will be the Ultimate Pawn!"
A/N: Finally finished this chapter, but there's still plenty more to this Rating Game. Not only did I introduce some of the abilities of Melody's peerage, but I also got to introduce a couple of new rival characters. If you're wondering how I came up with the names for Kaidon's peerage, like in DxD, I combined the names of Pokemon and/or Gundam characters, sometimes even mixing the languages.
Grencin and Primoir are going to have more significance in later chapters, as they will be rival characters for Issei and Spiral, respectively. I actually have another rivalry between a member of Kaidon's peerage and Melody's that I will introduce in the next chapter.
Speaking of the next chapter there is going to be quite a lot. Issei will be fighting Grencin, Misaki will be fighting the opposing team's Queen, another major event will happen, and, of course, the battle with Kaidon himself.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for next time!
Luke Harem: Rias Gremory, Annabelle Wright
Issei Harem: Asia Argento
Rias Gremory Peerage: Rias Gremory (King), Akeno Himejima (Queen), Yuuto Kiba (Knight), Koneko Toujo (Rook), Fumiko Kazuya (Bishop), Gasper Vladi (Bishop), Luke Sigmund (8 Pawns)
Seth Sigmund Peerage: Seth Sigmund (King), Annabelle Wright (Queen), Alastair Wright (Rook), Emery Belmont (Rook), Hana Sakuya (2 Bishops)
Melody Morag Peerage: Melody Morag (King), Misaki Shirayuki (Queen), Katherine Petrova (Knight), Spiral Hirano (Knight), Azusa Hirano (Rook), Akira Kazuya (Rook), Hikaru Ueda (Bishop), Asia Argento (Bishop), Issei Hyoudou (8 Pawns)