The group advanced a few meters before noticing the shift in rhythm around them. Silhouettes emerged ahead, far too aligned to be coincidence, occupying the space with clear intent to block their path.
"One, two, three…" Saji counted under his breath, adjusting his footing. "Ten. They outnumber us by quite a bit."
Asia swallowed hard and stayed behind Koneko, her hands close to her body, moving only as much as necessary.
Two figures stepped forward from the enemy group, advancing with confidence far too open to be caution. Their ears twitched atop their heads, tails swaying with exaggerated excitement.
"Look, Li, we found them first nya!"
The second opened her mouth to finish, her grin too wide for the moment.
"If we take down the—"
Gasper's body vanished from the line for an instant. There was no warning, no visible preparation. The distance was consumed in a direct, low, precise displacement.
THUD
Both heads hit the ground almost at the same time, the dry impact cutting off any remaining sound. Their bodies slid half a meter before stopping, motionless, their words unfinished.
The silence lasted less than a second.
The enemy group reacted too late, eyes wide, formation shattered by immediate shock. Those behind froze mid-step, their advance disorganized by the sudden visual impact.
Saji blinked once, then exhaled without realizing he had been holding his breath.
Asia raised a hand to her mouth without making a sound, eyes fixed on the spot where Ni and Li had fallen.
Gasper returned to his original position as if he had never moved, the action ending exactly where he had stood before. His body remained aligned, no trace of display.
"I said it before." Gasper spoke without raising his voice. "Be decisive."
The nekomatas vanished from the field in a brief flash, the space they occupied left empty without a trace.
"Two of Riser's pawns have been eliminated," Grayfia's voice announced neutrally, echoing across the area.
Asia blinked again, still staring at the empty ground.
"Where did they go?"
"Since deaths aren't allowed," Kiba replied without taking his eyes off the front, "anyone who faints or suffers serious injuries is teleported to the infirmary."
"You damn brat will pay for that." Shuriya rushed forward in a straight line, body low, her momentum too direct to be stopped by mere repositioning.
Saji stepped forward at the same instant, his hand dropping to the ground without theatrics.
"Shadow Prison."
SHHHK
Shadow tendrils burst from the floor and wrapped around Shuriya's legs and arms, halting her advance mid-motion. Her body was pulled down hard enough to break her rhythm, but not to crush.
"Let me go now!" she twisted her torso, shoulders tensing. "You really think shadows can hold someone like me?"
Gasper kept his gaze fixed, analyzing the structure of the technique.
'He has abilities similar to mine.'
"Nice one, Saji," Kiba confirmed without turning his head, sword already aligned for a cut.
"Let's show them our training," Saji replied, maintaining control of the shadows.
From the opposite side, the reaction came in overlapping shouts.
"Let her go!" Isabela roared, her mask unmoving as she stepped forward heavily, her footfall marking the intent to crush head-on.
Before she could complete the motion, two smaller figures shot in from the side, their speed uneven, smiles too wide for the situation.
VRRRRRR
Chainsaws roared simultaneously, blades spinning high as Ile and Nel charged in a cross pattern, attempting to split the line with brute force.
Kiba did not retreat.
His body pivoted at a short angle, the blade rising at the exact moment they came too close.
CLANG
The first slash cut straight through the center of the attack, splitting the charge before the blades reached full range. The second followed immediately, continuous, without pause.
The chainsaws were severed along with their momentum, the girls thrown backward by the abrupt interruption. The impact against the ground was dry, without drag.
THUMP
Both disappeared the instant they hit the floor, teleported before any further move could be attempted.
"Pawns eliminated," Grayfia's voice echoed neutrally. "Ile and Nel removed from the game."
Saji kept the shadows active, the tendrils still wrapped around Shuriya's body, preventing any late reaction.
"You bastard…" she growled, trying to lift her torso. "You think this is over?"
Gasper stepped forward with short, firm precision. His foot came down directly on her shoulder, pressing her against the ground, nullifying any attempt at momentum.
CRACK
"Stay." Gasper spoke quietly, without changing tone.
Shuriya's resistance collapsed completely, her tension giving way under the concentrated pressure.
"Pawn neutralized," Grayfia announced at once. "Shuriya removed."
The space beneath Gasper's foot became empty, the shadow dissolving as the teleport completed.
Isabela advanced at that very moment, her shout muffled by the mask as her heavy frame closed the distance.
"Don't you dare touch anyone else!" Her fist came straight in, loaded with brute force.
Gasper rotated his torso half a step, his base steady, arm retracting only as much as necessary.
BOOM
The punch landed clean in Isabela's abdomen, the dry impact breaking her charge mid-motion. Air burst from behind the mask in a short sound as her body was launched backward, her feet leaving the ground briefly before the fall.
THUD
Isabela dropped to her knees, torso bent forward, her strength dispersed at once.
Kiba did not look away. "Good read."
Saji released the remaining shadows, adjusting his stance.
Asia placed a hand over her chest, breathing deeply, eyes fixed on Gasper without wavering.
"She's still conscious," Koneko informed, stepping forward, ready to intervene.
Isabela tried to rise, one knee trembling.
"This… isn't over…" her voice came out broken behind the mask.
"Isabela!" Xuelan called as she rushed in, her body entering in a direct line, clearly intending to interfere before removal.
Saji raised his hand at the same instant.
"Shadow Prison." His voice was firm.
Shadows burst from the ground and air around Xuelan, tendrils wrapping around her arms and torso, freezing her mid-step.
FWSSHH
Xuelan tried to pivot, forcing a shift in balance.
"Let go!" she strained, shoulders tightening, feet scraping the ground. "This won't—"
The tendrils tightened further, nullifying the motion.
"You're not getting through," Saji replied. "Not now."
Koneko advanced without announcement. Her step was short, direct, aligned with her center. Her fist rose only as much as needed.
"Impact Knuckle."
THUD
The blow landed clean on the side of Isabela's face. Her body lost support instantly, the mask tilting before she collapsed fully.
Isabela fell sideways without resistance, her movement ending on the floor.
"Participant incapacitated," Grayfia's voice echoed. "Rook Isabela removed."
The teleport activated immediately, her body vanishing before any further reaction.
Xuelan gritted her teeth as she saw the empty space where Isabela had been.
"Damn you…" she strained again.
Saji kept the shadows firm.
"You're staying right there," he replied. "Or you're out trying."
Marion stepped forward, hands raised in front of her.
"Nous devons—" she began, forming a hurried seal.
Bülent moved beside her, mirroring the gesture.
"Basic magic in preparation," Kiba warned without taking his eyes off them.
Mira rushed in behind them, wooden staff steady in her hands, her step hesitant but determined.
"Delete Field." Saji spoke quickly.
The field formed in a short pulse, invisible yet absolute. Marion and Bülent's formulas failed instantly, the seals unraveling before completion.
FSSHH
The magical energy dispersed into the air without effect.
"My magic—" Marion froze, fingers opening to emptiness.
"It's not working." Bülent stepped back half a pace. "It was nullified."
Kiba advanced a palm's width, blade low and ready. "Pressure maintained."
Gasper lifted his gaze.
Above, a silhouette cut through the air in a direct line. Wings beat in an aggressive rhythm, body angled for attack.
"She's coming," Gasper warned calmly. "The enemy queen."
One of his bats dove and returned in a short arc, dissolving upon touching the ground.
"And more," Gasper continued. "Two knights on the ground. Flanking route."
Kiba adjusted his stance immediately. "Then this is it."
Gasper turned to Koneko. "Initiate phase two."
Koneko nodded and raised two fingers briefly. The symbol appeared for an instant, compact, before dissolving at the exact point it was formed. The message traveled without sound, straight to its destination.
Inside the replica of the clubroom, the seal responded.
Rias lifted her gaze the moment the information arrived. Her body did not hesitate.
"The queen moved away," Rias said as she stepped forward. "That's the opening."
Akeno was already beside her.
"Finally," Akeno replied, her light step matching the advance.
The two left the room without pause, moving directly, no further orders needed.
Outside, the tempo of the field shifted in that same second.
Akeno raised her hand.
"Lightning." The word came out clean.
KRAAASH
Lightning descended in a straight line, slicing through space with absolute precision. Mira was struck first, her staff slipping from her hands before any reaction could be attempted.
ZZZAAAP
Bülent and Marion were hit next, their bodies halted mid-advance, their basic magic cut off before completion.
KRRRSSHH
Xuelan tried to shift her base, pivoting to interfere, but the second arc reached her in the same motion, her body locking before she fell.
All four vanished almost simultaneously, teleported the instant they hit the ground.
"Four removed," Grayfia confirmed without change in tone. "Mira, Bülent, Marion, and Xuelan eliminated."
Rias stepped forward once more, her gaze already repositioned toward the remaining field.
"Kiba and Saji, handle the knights," Rias ordered without raising her voice.
"Understood," Kiba answered at once.
"Already moving," Saji added.
Then Rias turned her gaze forward.
"Gasper." Her voice was firm. "I'm counting on you to handle Riser."
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