The day before our school trip, the Occult Research Club had come to the Gremory Territory in the Underworld.
Since Rias-senpai's peerage had recently gained a new member, Rossweisse-san, all the slots were now filled. This visit was a formal introduction to the current head of the Gremory House.
Ravel had to skip this trip, unfortunately. Her schedule in Kuoh Town was already packed with her managerial duties. But Irina and I were invited by Rias-senpai to tag along, and since it was a rare opportunity, we agreed.
Kuroka told me, "Bring back souvenirs," so I guess I'll grab something random on the way home.
Also, since it was Rossweisse-san's first time visiting the Underworld as a devil, we traveled using a Gremory-owned private train. Come to think of it, this was my first time riding it too. At one point, Rias-senpai showed Rossweisse-san a map of the Gremory lands and casually asked, "Which area would you like? It's yours now." Rossweisse looked like her eyes were going to pop out of her skull.
Compared to her old job in the Norse Valkyrie division, the benefits here were insane. But honestly, it's kind of unfair to compare anything to the kind of land grants a Gremory peerage member gets.
And now, here we were, seated at a long, elegant dining table, exchanging pleasantries with the current Gremory Lord, Zeoticus, and his wife, Venelana. I'd met them before, so the main purpose of today's visit was for Irina and Rossweisse-san, since it was their first time at the Gremory estate.
"So, Rossweisse-san, I hear you're interested in education?"
"Yes. I'd like to build a school to teach Norse magic, and eventually, I'd like to see if we can raise Valkyries from among devils. I'd also love to open stores modeled after Japanese businesses to stimulate the local economy."
"Hah! Wonderful! You sound full of ambition. As head of the Gremory family, I look forward to what you'll accomplish."
Zeoticus smiled as he spoke, but I couldn't help wondering, was this dream of hers about opening shops actually about a 100-yen store? I've never heard her gush about them, but she's always carrying those bags home. It's probably the 100-yen store, right?
"As an angel, being invited into a high-ranking devil household like this is an honor beyond words! I owe it to the Lord, to Archangel Michael, and of course, to the Devil himself!"
"For an angel like you to say that, Sirzechs and the other Maou must feel their efforts have paid off. Oh, that reminds me, Sirzechs just returned to the residential wing."
"My brother?"
"Yes, and Sairaorg is with him. He mentioned he wanted to meet you all. Why don't you stop by and say hello?"
"Sairaorg too? Understood. We'll greet them shortly."
After a bit of small talk, including Venelana's fondness for pickled vegetables, we headed toward the residential area.
"Sirzechs-sama... I'm not sure how to face him," Issei mumbled beside me, looking like he'd just swallowed something bitter.
"You fought him once, didn't you? When he was doing that sentai hero thing?"
While I was busy helping Ravel move in and touring her new school, Issei apparently got dragged into some crazy situation of his own.
"Yeah, it was a whole thing. All four Maou and even Grayfia dressed up as sentai heroes and threw a series of trials at me. I even fought Sirzechs-sama at the end. He totally played me. And when it was all over, Beelzebub-sama gave me some advice… along with some weird comments."
"Weird how?"
"The advice part was that I haven't fully mastered my Queen piece, so I should promote into other roles to understand how each piece functions. But the weird part... he said something about my body and the Evil Piece system accumulating some unknown power. I have no idea what he meant."
Unknown power, huh? Personally, I have a pretty good guess, it's probably his… boob power from all that energy absorption.
As we walked, we saw Sirzechs-sama and Sairaorg up ahead, standing together with Millicas, who looked delighted. I had met Millicas briefly during summer vacation, but we only exchanged light greetings at the time.
"Brother, I heard you were back, so we came to greet you."
"Rias, thank you. No need to stand in ceremony. I was just discussing the upcoming Rating Game with Sairaorg."
When Sirzechs said that, Sairaorg turned his intense gaze toward us.
Compared to when we first met, his aura had grown dramatically. It radiated pure power. Behind me, Gasper let out a pitiful squeak. Come on, man up, cross-dressing boy.
"Pardon the intrusion. You're looking well, Rias, Red Dragon Emperor, Arima Ikki."
"Likewise. But what brings you here today?"
"I brought some Bael specialty products. My brother has cultivated a new variety of apples, much tastier now. You should try them. Also, I requested that Sirzechs-sama modify the rules for our Rating Game. I want restrictions on individuals removed."
"That means… you'll accept every unpredictable element from our team?"
"Exactly. Time-stopping vampires, the Red Dragon Emperor's lewd techniques, bring them all. If I can't fight my opponents at their full strength, I have no right to claim the Bael heirship."
His straight, unwavering words brought a proud smile to Rias-senpai's face.
Seeing their rising fighting spirit, Sirzechs made a suggestion.
"Sairaorg, didn't you say you wanted to spar with the Red Dragon Emperor?"
"Yes, I did say that before…"
"Then how about a light bout, right here?"
Issei looked stunned.
"That would be amazing! But if I may… I have a small request."
It was rare to hear Sairaorg ask for anything, so everyone was curious.
"Oh? That's unusual for you, Sairaorg. Go ahead."
"Thank you. I had made a promise to Arima Ikki to spar with him as well. Since there's no chance we'll face each other in an official Rating Game, I'd like to take this opportunity to fight him too."
He turned his intense gaze directly on me. Yes, I remember that promise.
"I have no objections," I said.
"Good. Rias, what about you?"
"If the Sirzechs Lucifer himself approves, who am I to object? Issei, are you ready?"
"Y-Yes!"
And just like that, a mock battle was set. We headed down to a private training arena beneath the Gremory estate.
Issei would go first.
Though it meant Sairaorg would be fighting back-to-back, he didn't seem the least bit concerned.
"Let's go, Ddraig!"
"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!"
After training, Issei could now activate it in 30 seconds instead of 40. With boosters flaring, he shot forward and launched a straight punch, no feints, just raw power.
But Sairaorg didn't even flinch. With his arms folded, he took the punch square on his forehead.
A thunderous boom rang out, but Sairaorg didn't budge.
And so began a pure contest of strength, Sairaorg's fists against Issei's armored form.
Even Issei's Red Dragon Emperor armor began to crack from the shockwaves alone.
"He's only narrowly dodging those punches, and even then, he's still getting damaged," someone muttered.
"Seeing it in person is so different from the Rating Game videos," said another. "He's probably even stronger now."
As they fought, Issei promoted to the "Tank" role, absorbed a punch to the gut, and countered with a left hook to Sairaorg's face.
Sairaorg bled from the nose and mouth slightly, while Issei vomited blood.
Issei's attack had been a clean hit. Sairaorg's had been critical.
"Let's stop here," Sairaorg said.
"I-I can still go!"
"You and I both still have more in us. And you've yet to use your White Dragon Emperor power. I'd love to experience that too. But… this was supposed to be a light match. Anymore, and we'll lose control. Also, that last exchange told me something, you're on the verge of awakening a new power. Our real fight should be in the Rating Game. Let's save it for then."
He held out a fist.
"R-Right!"
Issei bumped his fist against his.
"Now then, it's my turn. Grayfia-san, my match might get a bit rowdy."
"I'll set up a barrier," she said.
"Thanks."
With Issei stepping aside to get healed by Asia, I approached Sairaorg and Sirzechs.
"Thanks for humoring my sudden request, Arima Ikki."
"Not at all. A no-holds-barred fight like this can be refreshing. Though I am human, so don't be surprised if I get a little sneaky."
"Be my guest. Just by saying that, you've already shown your honest nature."
"Are both of you ready?" Sirzechs asked.
"Ready!" we replied in unison.
"Then… begin!"
Sairaorg charged in with a powerful right straight, so I met it with my forehead.
It flipped the earlier scene, this time I was the one taking the head-on blow.
But I had my reasons.
This fight hadn't truly begun yet. Not in my mind.
"Sairaorg-san, you said you were ready… but are you really fine like this?"
He paused, looked surprised, then broke into a delighted grin and backed off.
"You're right. Unlike with Hyoudou Issei, I may never get another chance to fight you. Then let me remove this limiter."
Magical circles lit up on his limbs. When they vanished, his aura exploded. Even Issei in his Queen form wouldn't have stood a chance against this.
"Let's go!!"
Chapter 100: SFX
Moving at a speed far surpassing his previous strike, Sairaorg's fist rushed in. At the same instant, I leapt upward, placing my hand on his head as I executed a forward somersault. At the apex, my body spun, and I delivered a powerful kick into his back, sending him hurtling through the air.
He'd already been charging at me with tremendous force; the kick launched him even farther.
Although hardened ki had boosted my defense, my fighting style isn't about trading blows like Issei or Sairaorg. I evade incoming attacks and strike back with counters. There's no need to, and I have no desire to, contort my method now.
"Hahahahaha! Splendid! It's been ages since I've been taken down like that!" Sairaorg roared, emerging from the dust with his aura significantly amplified, each step cracking the floor beneath him.
The battle resumed in close quarters. I landed several counters, but each time he absorbed them without faltering. The trick of blasting opponents away and resetting the distance worked, but he'd repeatedly close it, forcing my limiter on and off, it was brutal.
As a cultivator, I excel in close combat, but chaotic tactics can disrupt calm qi flow. Against Sairaorg's overwhelming aura, such methods barely register. I've honed my resistance to such interference, just like Kuroka's own defenses. Sairaorg, with his training, has this crazy resilience too.
So, I shifted tactics mid-battle, stopping tricksy moves, focusing instead on channeling pure aura energy. I sprinted across the training hall, carving craters with fists and kicks.
Suddenly, Sairaorg glanced toward Sirzechs, then closed in, not with a punch, but with a tight clinch. In a low voice:
*(SFX: *"Arima Ikki, I have something to tell you.")
From the outside, it looked like a power struggle, but they'd intentionally distanced so Sirzechs couldn't hear. He spoke again:
(SFX: "What is it?")
(SFX: "My mother has awakened.")
His words hit me like a jolt. So that's it… snapping turtle blood can cure even incurable maladies, in the underworld.
(SFX: "The trials on that drug finished faster than expected. My mother awakened the other day. And I never properly thanked you, my benefactor. I'm truly sorry.")
He apologized, but I don't think he forgot, nor would he make excuses. But why hadn't he reached out?
Then clarity. I nodded silently.
(SFX: "You kept the drug's origin secret.")
(SFX: "…Of course.")
His mother had suffered from a demonic incurable disease. The drug's source would've drawn scrutiny. If we'd tried to contact each other openly right after her miraculous recovery, it'd look suspicious. Worse, anyone on Baal's staff might view me as a threat. The alliance between Three Factions in Kuoh Town is delicate. And if word got out that I had some unknown world-saving drug? Paladins and greedy nobles would swarm.
So he did right. I felt bad he'd held back, but I understood.
(SFX: "Then… should I inform Sirzechs and Rias?")
(SFX: "Is that okay?")
(SFX: "We can't overdo secrecy, it traps us. Now… let's resume. Show them the battle of a 'human'!")
(SFX: "Yes! Unleash your humanity!")
Locked in a clinch, I tried to off-balance him. Breaking through an alert opponent is near-impossible, but in a tight grip, you can transfer power directly. If you can disrupt their focus for even a moment, you can strike.
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
"Guh!"
My sudden invocation of the Buddhist chant momentarily loosened his frame. I seized the opportunity, executing a shoulder throw that slammed him into the floor.
Then, channeling a massive aura into my leg, I kicked him toward a specific spot.
"Still going strong!"
As he flew, I pulled out the bangle-style speaker Azazel had crafted from an interdimensional stash, it would play a looped chant of "Namu Amida Butsu."
Back in that Riser fight I'd used my Divinity to amplify a live chant. But this? It's just a continuous broadcast, annoying, headache-inducing, but non-damaging.
However, for a demon, constant exposure to the chant is like fixed damage, they'd drain stamina resisting it. Especially someone like Sairaorg, who wouldn't even be able to use magic to mute it. His ears are sharp enough to hear quiet whispers a hundred meters away, the chant would distract even over battle noise.
That's when I went all-in, muscle and mind unlocked, leading the offensive.
He threw a right fist. I grabbed his wrist and yanked, pulling him in as I closed the distance, folding my right arm into a powerful elbow strike to his chest.
"Guh!"
He gasped, my elbow hitting dead center in his chest.
Then I grabbed his other arm, whipped him around, and threw him with centrifugal force.
I use throws and send-offs often, and the harder the surface, the more devastating the impact. Like judo on iron instead of mats. The hardest thing nearby? Grayfia's mystical barrier.
A barrier she could instantly reinforce if needed. I made sure to throw him where the barrier was strongest, away from spectators but lethal enough.
"BOOOOOM!!"
A comical crash filled the arena. The barrier absorbed the force; there was nowhere to run.
It was a pure one-on-one fight, with spectators powerless to intervene. Complaints? Take them to Sirzechs, the transcendent Maou referee.
But it wasn't over. Before he could stand, I slammed in a rapid flurry of fists and kicks, smashing his gut, smashing his face, rattling his brain.
Yet despite coughing blood, he laughed and struck back.
"This is fun, Ikki! I've fought stronger, by magic. But never has anyone overwhelmed me this way with pure skill!"
His blows grew heavier. With each onslaught, I spread aura across my body, no pinpoint defense, and bruises blossomed. Without my qi-hardening, even my bones might have shattered. Though if that had happened, I'd just change tactics.
Finally, Sairaorg stumbled back, hitting the barrier behind him.
He probably realized he was losing ground. One eye swollen and bleeding, he staggered.
Seizing the moment, I left a self-reflective qi clone behind, then circled to his blind side. I spun in, a high roundhouse kick right to his temple.
He couldn't see it coming.
"Stop right there!"
Sirzechs called the end just inches before impact.
"Sairaorg, you didn't respond to Ikki's last attack. That's a clear loss. Ikki, great fight. But could you please stop the speaker now?"
"Ah! Yes!"
I shut it off. The chant ceased, and spectators, including Asia, ran forward. Asia surged healing light onto Sairaorg.
"Asia Argento, thank you. I'm in your debt."
"My duty is to heal! Ikki-san, I'll fix you next."
"Thank you."
Within seconds, Asia healed both of us. Her restorative power is truly next level.
"I lost? It's rare, but disappointing. I need more training. I couldn't even force Ikki to use his trump cards."
"Actually, I mostly use my trump cards to go down fighting!" I joked.
"But still… I couldn't push you harder, that's my fault. I'll train harder when I return. I can't let this feeling go!"
As Sairaorg boasted his determination, I asked Sirzechs and Rias to follow me aside, I needed to explain about his mother's strange medication, and they were the only ones I trusted.
"Really? I came running when I heard Aunt Misra awakened…but Ikki, you were behind it? Thank you so much."
"Yes, Ikki-kun, I also thank you. I owe Aunt Misra a great debt. I tried to send a letter through Sairaorg, but it was troublesome for the Maou to visit personally."
"I'll make sure to deliver it to her!"
"I understand. Rias, you can keep in contact with him without raising suspicion. Let's stage encounters so we can appear casual. Oh! Sairaorg, would you like to guest-star in 'Oppai Dragon'? We usually use disguise-actors, but they'd love for you to actually appear on stage."
Sairaorg brightened.
"So that's your plan: to publicly deepen the bond with Arima Ikki? And I've always wanted to bring smiles to Underworld children as Oppai Dragon. I'd be honored."
No need to display aura, he's seriously into this!
"My mother requested to meet you, too. I'll give you a tour of Baal Territory soon. Sirzechs-sama, I'll take my leave. Goodbye, Ikki!, And Rias, I'll look forward to our Rating Game."
"Yes, me too, Sairaorg. Give it everything in the game!"
With that, he departed, and we returned to the human world.