The Agreas Dome, where we now sat, was packed to the brim with spectators. Around us, the seats reserved for "Oppai Dragon" fans were filled with excited children waving merchandise hats and toys.
Irina-san, amped up for the event, had wanted to enter wearing her Church battle outfit—yes, that one. We managed to convince her to at least tuck away the prominent cross on her chest. One more second, and there might've been a wave of people collapsing from "health issues."
[Announcer] "Ladies and gentlemen in attendance! Thank you for your patience! The long-awaited match of the century is about to begin! First up, entering from the East Gate: the Sairaorg Bael Peerage!!"
A massive roar erupted throughout the dome, the crowd's excitement hitting a fever pitch as the team made their entrance.
Once Sairaorg and his team finished entering, the announcer continued:
[Announcer] "Next up, entering from the West Gate: the Rias Gremory Peerage!!"
The cheers were just as deafening. From our section, the fans chanted,
"Oppai Dragoooon!"
"Switch Princess!"
"Zumu-zumu Iyaaaan!" — mostly coming from the kids.
From the adult fans—particularly the housewives—you could hear,
"Darkness Knight Fang-samaaa~" Clearly, each of the Gremory team's members had earned individual popularity.
As the fanfare settled, the announcer introduced the key figures officiating the match:
The play-by-play would be handled by Naud Gamigin, a former member of the original 72 Pillars.
The referee would be Rudiger Rosenkreutz, a reincarnated top-class devil.
And for special guest commentators, we had none other than Azazel-sensei and Diehauser Belial, the reigning king of the Rating Game.
The rules were then revealed: today's match would be a "Dice Figure" format.
Naud Gamigin explained for those unfamiliar:
[Gamigin] "Let me explain the rules of Dice Figure. A standard six-sided die is rolled by each team's 'King'. The total number rolled determines the point value of the pieces (players) that can be deployed that round. The system mirrors the relative value of chess pieces in the human world:
Pawn = 1
Knight = 3
Bishop = 3
Rook = 5
Queen = 9
For example, if the dice roll totals 8, any combination of players not exceeding that total can be sent in. Two Knights, or a Rook and a Bishop, are both valid. Also, if a reincarnated devil consumed multiple pieces during their transformation, their point value increases accordingly. In Hyoudou Issei's case—aka the 'Oppai Dragon'—he used eight Pawns, so his value is 8."
"Hmm, I wonder what my own piece value would be if I'd been reincarnated like Issei, knowing nothing about the system. Saji's probably a 4 with his solid Sacred Gear... Mine's basically a dud, so maybe a 2?"
"Ikki, you're forgetting your abilities—Ittou Shura and Self-Destruct. Even if they're not top-tier unless trained, you're probably a 3, or at most a 4."
"Frankly, right now you might not even be worth two Rooks. But keep in mind, the Evil Piece system doesn't just consider the person's ability—it also factors in the qualities and potential of the devil doing the reincarnating. So technically, even someone with a value of 1 could be revived using a Queen piece, giving them an external value of 9."
Makes sense. A high-level devil not interested in Rating Games might reincarnate subordinates as a hobby.
[Gamigin] "Also, if no available players meet the point total, both sides must reroll. Another key point: the same player cannot participate in consecutive rounds."
That rule prevents strategies like constantly fielding Yuuto with Asia and Shirone for healing support—even though that would work against almost anyone if rankings didn't matter.
[Gamigin] "Standard Rating Game rules apply. When a team's 'King' is captured, the match ends. The Kings' point values were pre-determined by the evaluation committee. Let's reveal them now!"
Huge screens throughout the arena split between Rias and Sairaorg, their point values displayed prominently below.
[Gamigin] "OHHHH! Rias Gremory: 8! Sairaorg Bael: 12!!
Sairaorg's value is higher—an indication of greater strength—but that also means he can only be deployed on a perfect roll! It'll be fascinating to see how each side handles their strategies!"
With that, the Rating Game began.
Both Kings approached their designated pedestals and picked up the dice without breaking eye contact.
[Gamigin] "Now to determine the first combatants! Dice... SHOOT!!"
The total roll: 3.
"Looks like it's gonna be Kiba."
"Yeah, the Bishop class is full-on support. And while Xenovia can hold her own, Yuuto's definitely the more stable choice."
"As his former partner, I want to root for him, but I can't argue."
Heh... She still hasn't fully mastered Excalibur's abilities anyway.
Also, wait—did she just call him Yucchi? Kuroka really loves nicknaming people.
After a five-minute strategy session, the first two were teleported in: Yuuto Kiba and the armored knight Beluga Fulkas, mounted on a pale steed.
Ironically, Beluga was the one who'd once called my costume fight with Sairaorg a "powerful yet beautiful spectacle." Quietly eccentric guy.
The match began. Despite being on horseback, Beluga's steed—the ghostly Pale Horse—was outpaced by Yuuto, who steadily landed glancing blows with his sacred demonic sword.
Each strike, though shallow, caused smoke to rise—holy power searing demonic flesh.
Sensing his defeat, Beluga summoned dozens of physical clones to overwhelm him, but Yuuto quickly saw through the fakes, cut them down, and went straight for the real body. Victory.
"With me, Ikki, and Shirone all using illusion-based techniques, it's only natural that he's grown sensitive to spotting fakes."
"Still, Yuuto's never seen through your illusions, Kuroka."
The second match: the dice totaled 10.
Gremory fielded Shirone and Rossweisse—the Rook duo.
Bael responded with Knight Riban Crocell and Rook Gandoma Balam.
Shirone dominated Balam. Meanwhile, Rossweisse, hindered by Crocell's gravity-based Sacred Gear, countered using light-based teleportation to blind his field of vision and switched places with Balam. She then unleashed a full magical barrage, blowing both enemies away.
Just when it seemed over, Crocell used gravity to pin them down again. Balam, barely standing, struck back with a fierce final blow.
[Gamigin] "It's not over yet!"
With a burst of energy, Shirone rescued Rossweisse.
[Balam] "I'm not done either! Here's my parting gift!"
Before they could fully retreat, Balam used a hidden teleport spell—linked to Crocell's visual field—to reappear and punch Rossweisse, forcing her retirement.
A brilliant trick—subtle, planned in advance, and only possible because his first attempt had failed when Shirone interrupted. Crocell's a real tactician.
Still, Bael lost both of their players in the exchange.
The next dice roll was 8. This time, Sairaorg preemptively announced his pick before the barrier went up—he'd send in Coriana Andrealphus, the Bishop.
[Gamigin] "A surprise declaration! Sairaorg, may we ask why?"
[Sairaorg] "If I told you this woman has a technique to counter Hyoudou Issei's perverted moves... what would the 'Oppai Dragon' say to that?"
Provoked, Issei accepted the challenge. In the field, the two faced off.
Coriana—gorgeous, blonde, confident—initiated what could only be called a strip show.
"Y-You mustn't look, Ikki-sama!"
Raynare covered my eyes. I couldn't see anything, but with her practically clinging to me, maybe I should count it as a win?
[Gamigin] "Look at this! Coriana's alluring performance has entranced the men in the audience! Governor Azazel—her strategy has completely shut down Hyoudou's movements, but how does she plan to win from here?"
[Silence]
"Governor? …Let's instead hear from Coach Diehauser Belial. Your thoughts?"
[Belial] "Each of her movements is imbued with magic circles. The more focused you are on her, the more the enchantments entangle, eventually paralyzing you completely. Against an opponent like Issei, who willingly stares, the trap becomes far more effective."
[Gamigin] "Terrifying! She's a succubus incarnate! Could the 'Oppai Dragon' fall here!?"
Turns out, while the show looked ridiculous, it was a thoroughly calculated magical trap. But in the end—
[Issei] "No! It's supposed to be bra then panties!!"
With that explosive yell, Issei shattered the magic and won the match.
"Ikki-sama, it's safe to look now."
Raynare let go. Not that it mattered—I could already tell what happened just from the commentary.
The fourth match—marking what could be considered the midway point of the Rating Game—was set with another dice roll of 8. Representing the Gremory team were Xenovia and Gasper. On the opposing side were the Rook-class Ladra Bune and the Bishop-class Misteeta Sabnock.
Visually? Just a lanky old man and a beautiful... boy.
Yep—this match was technically a battle of otokonoko—pretty boys who could pass as girls. Not that it mattered, but still, kind of a fun detail.
The match began with Ladra transforming into a dragon right off the bat. Xenovia tried to fire off a Durandal Cannon, but Misteeta sealed her ability to wield the holy sword with a curse from her Sacred Gear.
Xenovia was quickly hidden behind a rock by Gasper, who had taken the form of a bat. While concealed, he performed a ritual to lift the curse. Alone, he stood up to the dragon, buying time and refusing to let unconsciousness take him—repeating the "Occult Research Club's Code for Men" that Issei and the others had recently taught me.
No matter how badly injured he got, Gasper held on until the curse was lifted. Just as Xenovia was about to be retired from the match, he supported her until the tide turned—and with that, victory was theirs.
"Honestly, Gasper might just be the MVP of this match."
"I'd go as far as to say there's no 'might' about it."
"To think that Gasper would show such courage... I'm tearing up in so many ways."
"Nyaahaha~ Once the match is over, how about we treat him to a special garlic-themed full-course dinner with Shirone to help him recover?"
...That would probably finish him off instead.
Still, Kuroka had been dead serious during the match, so I want to believe she's not messing around this time... right?
As the Gremory team looked on with serious yet resolute expressions, clearly moved by Gasper's performance, the next dice roll came up—a total of 9.
Once the strategy phase ended, the next two combatants were teleported onto the battlefield.
It was a Queen vs Queen matchup.
As soon as the match began, the stage lit up with explosions of magic—fire, ice, wind, water, and raw energy clashing in midair as both women darted across the field. It was evenly matched... until Akeno began combining her magic techniques to increase her attack count.
Even though her opponent, Kuisha, managed to defend herself, several attacks broke through—if only partially.
"Tch! No one said she could use magic!"
"Of course not. I only just started learning it recently myself—so I wouldn't say I've doubled my capabilities. But I do plan to finish this while I've still got the upper hand. Lightning!"
With a thunderous cry, Akeno unleashed a wide-range lightning spell, hoping to bring the match to a close. But Kuisha responded by expanding the Abaddon clan's unique ability, Hole Magic, to a scale that wasn't in any known records—completely engulfing her own body and neutralizing the attack.
Then, she deployed multiple holes around Akeno and extracted the light element from the lightning spell, redirecting it as a focused counterattack. The blast pierced through Akeno's defenses, forcing her retirement.
"Nyaah~ Looks like not being able to learn defensive magic from Rosse hurt her in the end."
"Didn't you teach her magic, Kuroka? You're pretty good with defensive spells, too."
"I started her with Norse-style magic. It's not good for beginners to learn multiple systems right away, so I held off for the sake of her long-term growth, nya."
So that means President Rias entered this match having added magic to her already power-focused style... I think Rossweisse is probably done with her injury treatment and watching this from her hospital bed, but she might be facepalming pretty hard right about now.
After Akeno's defeat, the next dice roll was displayed, and the entire arena stirred with excitement.
[Announcer] "Ahhhh! The moment has finally arrived! A roll of 12! That means Sairaorg Bael is now eligible to enter the field!!"
In response to the roaring crowd, Sairaorg removed his jacket and strode to the teleportation platform before the protective barrier came up—his stance and expression said it all: he had nothing to hide.
Once the timer ran out, he was transported to the battlefield—where he was met by three of Rias's warriors: Shirone, Yuuto, and Xenovia.
Sairaorg's smile deepened as he saw them.
[Sairaorg] "Was this Rias's idea? Hmph... It seems she's grown once again as a King."
[Xenovia] "We're not going down easily. We'll bring you to the Red Dragon Emperor at your absolute best."
[Yuuto] "Don't get me wrong—we're not planning on losing."
[Shirone] "Even a moment's carelessness, and it's game over."
Each of them hurled their spirit and determination at Sairaorg.
[Sairaorg] "Magnificent! Let's see how far you can push me!"
Sensing the introductions were over, Rudiger Rosenkreutz, the arbiter of the match, quietly raised his hand. Both teams assumed their stances.
[Rosenkreutz] "Let the sixth match... begin!"
With a downward swing of his arm, the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the battle!