It was finally time for the Rating Game.
The air itself felt heavier—as if the world knew something important was about to happen.
Final checks were made. Peerages gathered. Magic circles stabilized.
In the viewing room reserved for the Maou and their guests, Nate sat comfortably among the highest authorities of the Underworld, looking completely at ease.
He had been given permission to invite whomever he wished.
So he did.
His parents sat together nearby, watching with curiosity and barely-contained excitement. Kunou rested in her teenage form on Nate's lap, relaxed and confident. Kuroka leaned against the wall, arms crossed, tail swaying lazily. Kurumu and Mizore sat side by side, eyes fixed on the massive projection screen—both eager to see how Nate trained other people when it wasn't them.
Around them floated and lounged the Yokai who had participated in Rias' training—watchful, calm, and quietly proud.
Kurumu leaned forward slightly. "So this is where all that brutal training pays off…"
Mizore nodded. "If they lose, I'll be disappointed."
Nate smirked.
He shifted slightly, one arm secure around Kunou as she watched the screen with sharp, fox-like focus.
"Relax, Sirzechs," Nate said casually. "Your sister's going to win."
Sirzechs didn't look away from the projection.
Kuoh Academy filled the screen—the battlefield already formed, barriers in place, the familiar school now converted into a war zone.
"Easier said than done," Sirzechs replied, arms folded. "Raiser's peerage is no joke."
Ajuka nodded in agreement, adjusting his glasses. "His coordination and stamina are exceptional. Even with recent growth, victory is not guaranteed."
Nate glanced at them, completely unbothered.
"Have some faith," he said lightly. "In me."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"And in my training."
On the screen, the magic circles flared.
The Rating Game had begun.
Sona's voice echoed calmly through the arena system.
"Match start."
The screen flared white—
—and immediately locked onto the Gymnasium.
Kuoh Academy – Gym
The barrier dropped.
Standing on one side were Issei Hyoudou and Koneko Toujou.
Opposite them:
Xuelan (Rook), Mira, Ile, and Nel—three Pawns spreading out instinctively.
For half a second, no one moved.
Then—
Issei's gauntlet lit up crimson.
"BOOST!"
Ddraig's roar thundered through the gym.
"BOOST!"
"BOOST!"
"BOOST!"
"BOOST!"
"BOOST!"
"BOOST!"
Six boosts in an instant.
Issei vanished.
Not moved—vanished.
Ile barely had time to turn before Issei slammed her straight through the wall. Concrete exploded. She dropped unconscious before she even hit the floor.
Nel screamed—then Issei was already there.
A single punch.
Another wall shattered.
Nel was out.
Two Pawns down in under two seconds.
Mira froze.
That hesitation saved her life.
Because Koneko moved next.
Her eyes sharpened. Senjutsu surged over her body like a silver-white shell.
The floor cracked beneath her feet.
She crossed the gym in a blink.
Xuelan raised her arms, barely managing to activate defensive magic—
—and Koneko slammed her into the ground.
The impact echoed like a cannon shot.
The gym floor spiderwebbed outward from the point of contact.
The Rook went limp.
Silence.
Mira stared at the scene—at the cracked walls, the shattered floor, the unconscious bodies.
She slowly raised her hand.
"I… I forfeit."
The barrier dissolved.
Viewing Room
The room went dead silent.
A Maou dropped his cup.
Another leaned forward, eyes wide.
Sirzechs stiffened.
Ajuka's glasses reflected the frozen image of the destroyed gym.
Only Nate's group looked unsurprised.
Serafall was grinning so hard it physically hurt.
Sona swallowed, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"Raiser Phenex's team has lost three Pawns and one Rook…"
She paused.
"…in four seconds."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Nate leaned back, Kunou comfortably seated on his lap, completely relaxed.
"Told you," he muttered.
Kunou smiled, tails flicking lazily.
"That was the gentle opening."
Sirzechs slowly exhaled.
"…What did you do to them?"
Nate didn't look away from the screen.
"I let them stop holding back."
Raiser's Camp – Observation Room
Raiser Phenex was smiling.
Leaning back in his chair. Arms crossed. Completely relaxed.
"Heh. Four seconds?" he scoffed. "That's it?"
One of his subordinates swallowed. "Milord… that was three Pawns and a Rook."
Raiser waved it off.
"Please. One of them is the Red Dragon Emperor. Of course he hit hard. That's not training—that's a cheat code with legs."
The screen replayed Issei blitzing Ile and Nel.
Raiser smirked again.
"See? Boosted Gear. Without it, he's nothing."
Then the replay shifted.
Koneko.
Her body wrapped in pale Senjutsu. The ground shattering. Xuelan—his Rook—cratered into the floor.
Raiser's smile twitched.
"…And the cat girl," he added quickly. "Senjutsu, right? That's a niche build. Rare, sure, but gimmicky."
He leaned forward, tone sharp now, defensive.
"They just happened to counter that lineup. That's all. One power-type and one specialist."
No one responded.
Raiser noticed.
"…What?" he snapped.
A Pawn cleared her throat. "Milord… that was your best physical Rook."
Raiser clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Bad matchup. It happens."
He stood, wings flaring slightly.
"The rest of them won't be like that. Rias Gremory doesn't have the depth for sustained combat."
The screen shifted to another arena—new fights initializing.
Raiser straightened, confidence forcibly reconstructed.
"This ends when they face my real strength."
Back in the Viewing Room
Nate watched Raiser's feed for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"Ah," he said, amused. "He's in the denial phase."
Serafall leaned over, eyes sparkling.
"Oh? What comes next?"
Nate grinned.
"Overconfidence."
"Anger."
"And then—"
The next match queue popped up.
Nate's smile widened.
"—panic."
Kunou giggled, tails swaying.
"He still thinks this was luck."
Sirzechs didn't laugh.
He was staring at the screen.
"…He hasn't even seen Akeno yet."
In Front of Kuoh Academy – School Gate
The four Pawns—Shuriya, Burent, Ni, and Li—were completely immobilized.
Mid-step.
Mid-breath.
Mid-panic.
A translucent field shimmered around them as time itself refused to move.
Gasper floated a little above the ground, eyes glowing faintly as he strained.
"S-sorry…" he muttered. "P-please don't hate me…"
They couldn't answer.
Above them, wings beat once.
Raynare hovered calmly, one hand raised. Holy symbols flared into existence—pure, focused, and precise. Not wild Fallen magic. Controlled. Disciplined.
She brought her hand down.
"Judgment."
Holy light rained from the sky in narrow, surgical beams.
No explosions.
No screaming.
Just clean eliminations.
The light faded.
The four Pawns vanished.
Gasper slowly released his power, exhaling in relief. "…It worked."
Raynare landed beside him, folding her wings. Then she paused.
The wind changed.
Not a breeze.
A pressure.
Dark clouds rolled in unnaturally fast, spiraling inward like the sky itself was being dragged toward a single point. Thunder growled—low, constant, angry.
Raynare looked up.
"…Akeno's fighting Raiser's Queen."
Gasper blinked, following her gaze. "H-her name is… Yubelluna, right?"
Raynare nodded grimly.
"Bomb Queen."
Elsewhere – Rooftop District
Yubelluna Phenex hovered in midair, wings blazing, fire swirling around her like a living crown.
Across from her stood Akeno Himejima.
Hair loose.
Smile gentle.
Eyes glowing faintly violet.
Rain began to fall.
Yubelluna scoffed. "Really? Weather tricks? Against a Phoenix?"
Lightning cracked overhead—not white.
Purple. Black. Twisting.
Akeno tilted her head, sweet as ever.
"Oh my… you misunderstand."
The rain intensified—each drop sizzling as it struck the ground, charged with electrical energy.
"This isn't weather control," Akeno said softly.
Thunder boomed again—closer this time.
"This is execution."
Yubelluna's smirk faltered. "What—"
The clouds split open.
A pillar of lightning slammed down, not at random, but locked onto Yubelluna's magic signature, tracking her midair movement with terrifying accuracy.
She screamed as the first strike hit.
Then another.
Then five more.
Each bolt rewrote the atmosphere, ionizing the air, stripping heat from her flames faster than they could regenerate.
Akeno raised her hand slowly.
"Lightning is not fire's enemy," she whispered.
"It is fire's superior."
The storm obeyed.
Viewing Room
Sirzechs was on his feet.
"…That's not High-Class control," he said quietly.
Ajuka adjusted his glasses, stunned. "She's weaving atmospheric manipulation with demonic lightning on a molecular level."
Serafall clapped excitedly. "Levi-chan approves~!"
Nate leaned back, unfazed, Kunou relaxed in his lap.
"Told you," he said casually. "I fixed her aim."
On-screen, Yubelluna's flames finally gave out.
She fell.
Battlefield
Akeno descended slowly through the rain, landing lightly.
Yubelluna tried to rise.
Another thunderbolt struck the ground beside her—a warning.
Akeno smiled.
"Stay down."
The storm dissipated.
Sona's voice echoed across the field, barely hiding her shock.
"Riser Phenex has lost his Queen."
Silence.
Then—
Somewhere far away—
Raiser Phenex stopped laughing.
Vowing Box
The replay slowed, frame by frame.
Purple-black lightning.
Rain falling in precise arcs.
Yubelluna's flames failing to regenerate fast enough.
Aaron leaned forward, eyes narrowed.
"…Was that Spirit Bond?"
The room went still.
Nate blinked, genuinely caught off guard, as the footage rewound again—Akeno lifting her hand, the rain responding before the lightning even formed.
Lily tilted her head, watching carefully. "It felt… similar. Not the same structure, but the intent was there."
Nate frowned slightly, then glanced down at Kunou in his lap.
"I didn't teach her that," he said slowly. "Lie-In Heart didn't either."
Kunou hummed, thinking. "She didn't copy you directly."
Kuroka stretched, tails swaying lazily. "She copied Asia."
Nate's eyes widened a fraction.
"…Oh."
The realization clicked.
He looked back at the screen—Akeno grounding herself before the storm, synchronizing with the air, asking instead of forcing.
Nate let out a short laugh, rubbing his face. "You know what… yeah. That explains it."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Nate gestured at the screen. "She's not just manipulating the atmosphere with lightning anymore. She's forming a bond with it."
Lily's eyes widened slightly. "You mean—"
"—the sky answered her," Nate finished. "Not because she dominated it, but because she aligned with it."
Kunou smiled proudly. "That's Spirit Bond logic."
Nate chuckled, shaking his head. "She combined demonic lightning control with Spirit Bond resonance. Lightning as a request, rain as a response."
Kuroka grinned. "So instead of casting weather…"
Nate smirked. "She negotiated with it."
On-screen, the final image froze—Akeno standing in the rain, calm, smiling softly as the storm obeyed her.
Sirzechs exhaled slowly.
"…She just jumped an entire tier."
Ajuka nodded grimly. "That technique scales dangerously well."
Serafall clasped her hands, eyes sparkling. "Ooooh~ Rias-chan's Queen is scary now~!"
Nate leaned back, satisfied.
"Yeah," he said lightly. "Raiser's done."
And somewhere far away—
Riser Phenex felt a chill run down his spine.
Kunou finally slid off Nate's lap, smooth as ever.
Kurumu took her place instantly, curling against him like she'd planned it hours ago, kissing his cheek with a smug little hum.
Nate didn't even flinch. His eyes stayed on the screen.
"Now," he said calmly, "his move."
Meanwhile — Riser's Side
The moment the report came in—
Queen: Yubelluna — Eliminated
Riser Phenex stopped smiling.
Pawns? Fine.
Rooks? Acceptable losses.
But his Queen?
His first piece.
His bride-to-be.
That was the line.
Flames erupted around him as he stood.
"We move. Now."
His remaining peerage straightened instantly. No hesitation. No jokes.
Their destination was obvious.
The Occult Research Club.
Viewing Room
The map shifted. Red markers converged fast.
Aaron leaned forward, eyes sharp. "All-out assault. High risk."
Ajuka blinked. "That's… correct. How did you assess that so quickly?"
Nate answered without looking away.
"My dad plays League of Legends."
The room froze.
Sirzechs slowly turned his head.
Serafall blinked.
Ajuka adjusted his glasses in disbelief.
"…I see," Ajuka said carefully.
Aaron nodded proudly. "Macro sense transfers."
Battlefield
Rias felt it before she saw it.
The pressure.
The heat.
The intent.
She raised her hand, crimson magic forming instantly.
"Everyone," she said, voice steady.
"Return."
Magic circles flared.
One by one, her peerage regrouped around her.
And then—
BOOM
Riser's forces arrived in a wave of fire and fury.
Raiser hovered above the courtyard, wings blazing, eyes burning.
"This ends now."
Raynare & Gasper vs Shuriya and Mihae
Time froze around Shuriya mid-step.
Gasper trembled, but held firm. "S-sorry…!"
Raynare raised her hand.
Holy light formed—not wild, not unstable.
Focused. Controlled.
It rained down.
Elimination.
Ravel rushed in, fire flaring—
Koneko vanished.
She reappeared inside Ravel's guard, Senjutsu coating her body like a second skin.
One punch.
The ground cracked.
Ravel slammed into the pavement, unconscious.
Three enemies.
Kiba inhaled once.
Then—
Five swords appeared behind him, hovering in perfect formation.
Each with a different aura.
Holy.
Demonic.
Cursed.
Pure Mana.
Dragon-forged.
The Phenex fighters stared.
"What in the anime—?!"
Kiba moved.
Steel screamed.
Riser landed in front of Issei, heat rolling off him.
"Move."
Issei planted his feet. "I won't."
Riser scoffed. "Very well."
He struck.
Issei blocked—boots skidding back, arms shaking, but holding.
Riser frowned.
Issei looked up at him. "What do you even think of Rias?"
Riser sneered. "She's my fiancée. She belongs to me."
Issei's teeth clenched.
BOOST.
BOOST.
Ddraig roared.
"You don't even know her."
Fire blasted Issei through a wall.
Concrete exploded.
Silence.
Riser turned, wings spreading. "I don't need to."
He lifted off, heading for the rooftop—
Then—
A presence.
Lightning cracked the sky.
Riser looked up.
Akeno stood above, rain beginning to fall, eyes calm, smile gentle.
He grinned. "So you're next—"
Issei's voice echoed from below.
"Welsh Dragon—Over Booster!"
The battlefield shook.
And in the viewing room—
Nate smiled.
"Checkmate sequence started."
The battlefield went dead silent.
Even the flames hanging in the air seemed to hesitate.
Riser stared.
Not mocked.
Not scoffed.
Just… stared.
The crimson armor radiated power—dense, pressurized, alive. The emerald cores pulsed in rhythm with Issei's heartbeat, each Boost thudding like a war drum.
Rias felt it.
Akeno felt it.
Every Devil, Fallen Angel, and Dragon watching felt the pressure crash down on their chests.
Ajuka leaned forward unconsciously.
Sirzechs' smile vanished.
Serafall forgot to blink.
"…A Dragon's Balance Breaker," Ajuka whispered. "Already?"
In the battlefield—
Riser's flames flared violently, reacting on instinct.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "So you're a Sacred Gear user who thinks armor makes him special."
Issei slowly clenched his gauntleted fist.
BOOST.
The emerald jewel on his chest flared brighter.
"I don't think it makes me special," Issei said calmly—dangerously calm.
"I think it lets me fight you… fairly."
Ddraig's voice rumbled again. '90 seconds. Waste none of them, partner.'
Riser exploded forward.
A sonic boom cracked the air as he threw a fire-coated punch meant to incinerate Issei on contact—
—but Issei vanished.
He reappeared behind Riser in a burst of crimson light and slammed his fist into Raiser's back.
The shockwave obliterated the rooftop, sending chunks of concrete and flame spiraling outward.
Riser skidded forward, boots tearing grooves into the ground.
He twisted mid-slide, eyes wide.
"…You hit me?"
Issei didn't answer.
BOOST.
BOOST.
His aura spiked violently.
Riser roared, wings erupting in phoenix fire as he launched himself into the sky. "DON'T GET COCKY!"
He unleashed a storm of flames—spears, torrents, explosions—turning the air itself into a furnace.
Issei crossed his arms.
The armor absorbed it.
Not completely—but enough.
He lowered his guard, smoke curling off his armor.
"You know," Issei said, voice echoing through the ruined battlefield,
"You keep saying Rias belongs to you."
His eyes burned beneath the helmet.
"But you never once asked what she wanted."
Riser's face twisted in rage. "SHUT UP!"
He dove.
Issei met him head-on.
Dragon fist against phoenix claw.
The collision sent a pillar of crimson and gold light straight into the sky.
Elsewhere—
Kiba froze mid-fight, staring at the explosion.
Akeno smiled slowly. "Ara… so that's his resolve."
Rias pressed her hands together, heart pounding. "Issei…"
Ddraig's voice growled, urgent. '60 seconds.'
Issei pushed harder, forcing Raiser back inch by inch.
"I fight," Issei said through gritted teeth,
"because I chose her."
The emerald cores blazed.
Riser screamed as he was blasted through the air, crashing into the far side of the building in a torrent of fire and debris.
Silence followed.
Smoke billowed.
Then—
Flames erupted again as Raiser rose, panting, wings flickering unevenly.
"…You're running out of time," Raiser sneered.
Issei hovered, armor humming, aura flickering but unbroken.
"Yeah," he replied.
"But that's all I need."
Ddraig chuckled darkly.
'Then let's finish this properly.'
The jewels flared brighter than ever.
The battlefield held its breath.
To be continue
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