" I see... so it has to come down to a Rating Game showdown between my sister and her fiancé, the genius Raiser Phenex."
Sirzechs Lucifer, the current Maou Lucifer of the Devil Faction, said after hearing the report from Grayfia, whose expression remained as impassive as it had always been whenever she was on duty as his assistant and the head maid of the Gremory devil household.
"Father, Mother, what do you think?" Sirzechs asked, turning his attention to his parents, the current Lord and Lady of the Gremory Devil Household, who had arrived a moment earlier at his office in Lilith to hear the report from Grayfia after she returned from Kuoh. Given how stubbornly she had been opposing the idea of marrying Riser Phenex, neither Zeoticus or Venelana Gremory looked surprised as they heard the news from Grayfia.
"It seems I will have to contact Lord Phenex to finalize the details." Zeoticus said with a hint of amusement in his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. Like his children, Zeoticus had bright blue eyes and crimson hair tied in a loose ponytail with a black hairband, complemented by a short, red beard with protrusions resembling fangs or horns.
"Has the children decided the date for the match?" Venelana asked as she turned her gaze to Grayfia. While their children inherited the colors of their eyes and hair from their father, their looks closely mirrored her own, with Rias being an almost identical copy of Venelana, who had shorter, flaxen-color hair and violet eyes.
"Yes, Raiser Phenex-sama has agreed to give Rias-sama and her servants seven days to prepare for the match." Grayfia nodded her head and informed her master, who nodded his head in understanding before he turned his gaze back to his parents. "Can the preparation be made in time?"
"Depends. Are we talking about the match or the wedding? Because I have a feeling that Raiser will want to marry Rias the very next day if he wins." Zeoticus answered, rubbing his beard with a thoughtful expression. "But if Rias wins, we can turn it into a celebration party for her. It may be an unofficial match, but it will still be her first Rating Game victory. Other households will want to come and congratulate her."
"So... you think that Rias-chan has a chance to win, father? Not that I don't believe in her... but this is the genius Riser Phenex we're talking about. Rias-chan only has 7 days to prepare against an opponent like him."
Asked a breathtakingly beautiful and attractive woman, who had a cute young boy sitting on her lap. Her wavy black hair cascaded down her back in elegant waves, contrasting strikingly with her vibrant green eyes that sparkled with both curiosity and concern. She wore a classy yet modest white dress that flowed gently around her, accentuating her slender figure while maintaining an air of sophistication and warmth, making her both captivating and approachable.
"You're not wrong, Anna," Zeoticus nodded, acknowledging the question posed by his daughter-in-law. "Riser and his peerage are skilled enough to compete in the pro league. Meanwhile, all that Rias has right now compared to him is a passion for the game. Her servants might have immense potential, but they are young and inexperienced. It will be interesting to see how the match unfolds, but I have to admit that the odds are stacked against Rias and her peerage."
"Something you want to tell us, Grayfia?" Sirzechs asked with interest, noticing the puzzled look that Grayfia had on her face. It had been a while since anyone, even Anna, who was her best friend, had seen her with such an expression.
"This might be just me, Sirzechs-sama... but I feel that Rias-sama is gonna win this match." Grayfia answered. Her statement left almost everyone in the office speechless, their eyes widening in surprise as they looked at her.
"Grayfia-chan, why do you think that?" Anna asked her best friend, who then turned to her to explain.
"Riser Phenex-sama is underestimating Rias-sama and her servants," She began. "Under normal circumstances, I would highly doubt that this would affect the outcome of the match. A month ago, the difference in experience might have been the deciding factor, but after meeting Issei Hyoudou last night, it's hard for me to say that's still the case."
"The Sekiryuutei," Zeoticus nodded his head in acknowledgement. "I still cannot believe that the famous Red Dragon Emperor is now on our side. Could it be that Rias has managed to bring out his strength in such a short time? Is he the reason you think Rias will win?"
"Yes, Zeoticus-sama. However, I don't think his current strength has anything to do with Ojou-sama." Grayfia paused momentarily before continuing "When I came to his home the other night to stop Rias-sama from trying to break the engagement with his help, I discovered that he was not at home at the time and had been training himself by clearing Gates in Kuoh."
The room fell into stunned silence as Grayfia's words sank in. Zeoticus widened his eyes slightly, his usual calm demeanor momentarily disrupted. Sirzechs, meanwhile, leaned forward with a look of curiosity as he processed the news with a mixture of astonishment and intrigue. Even Anna and Venelana, who had been quietly listening, looked taken aback.
While it wasn't rare for devils who were confident in their abilities to attempt Raiding without proper supervision from the Raiding Department, it didn't take it long for them to realize a significant detail in the way that Grayfia had phased it.
"Grayfia, are you telling me that..."
"Issei-san cleared these Gates out all by himself? Yes, Sirzechs-sama," Grayfia confirmed with a nod. While it's true a well-coordinated Peerage led by an experienced master could raid low ranking Gates with ease, the notion of a single low-class devil clearing a Gate by themselves was practically unheard of. Sekiryuutei or not, he was still a newborn reincarnated devil who was introduced to the supernatural world only a month ago.
"When he returned home the other night, he was injured, with cauterized bite wounds on his right arm and covered in Gate residuals. Although I doubt the Gate he fought that night was above C-rank, I believe he had attempted Raiding at least twice, and no doubt he's not going to stop just because we tell him to." Grayfia explained "Regardless, Rias-sama told me that during the incident with the Fallen Angels targeting Asia Argento-san a week ago, he single handedly defeated all four of them and killed several stray exorcists in the ensuing attack at Kuoh Academy. While he is the famed Sekiryuutei, his growth has been incredibly impressive considering the short time since he awakened his Sacred Gear, and also..."
"Yes, Grayfia?" Sirzechs urged, feeling more and more interested in the topic.
"Also, I could have sworn that he was not alone when he returned home that night." Grayfia said, causing Sirzechs to exchange puzzled glances with his family. "It's very faint, but it felt as if there was something behind him the whole time. When we met earlier at Kuoh to discuss the matter with Riser Phenex-sama, I could still sense the same presence from him, like he carries them with him everywhere he goes."
"Them? Multiple?" Sirzechs asked, and Grayfia once again nodded her head in confirmation "Now that's odd. It seems my sister's Pawn is even more intriguing than he already is as the Red Dragon Emperor."
"And you believe that he can help Rias-chan defeat Riser Phenex, Grayfia-chan?" Anna asked, and once again, Grayfia nodded her head, this time to her best friend, whose face seemed to light up upon hearing it.
"Do we know if these... presence poses any threat to Rias?" Venelana asked in concern. From the way Grayfia phased it, those presences certainly gave off an ominous feel to them.
"I don't believe that they are dangerous. Other than an eerie feeling I felt from them, I think it's more a matter of what they were, not what they would do." Grayfia explained, shaking her head assumingly. "Moreover, given that Issei-san has been Raiding, these presences that I felt from him could be his summoned familiars. I believe he could have stumbled upon at least one Rune Stone in those Gates that he raided..."
"Yes, April-san. Again, I'm very sorry that I can't come tomorrow and the next few days. I promise I will work extra hard when I return."
"Ise, you coming!?"
Issei heard Rias calling out to him from a distance just as he ended his call with his foreign client, having just informed and apologized to her that he wouldn't be able to come work for her for the next week and a half. As much as he could just leave for a few hours at night, being able to use teleportation magic circles now with his large mana pool, he wanted to fully focus on his training so that he could beat Riser and wipe that smug look from his face for his master.
"Coming, Buchou!"
Issei called back and adjusted the straps of his massive backpack, which seemed almost the size of a truck, before hurrying up the steep path leading to the private mountain villa that the Gremory family owned on the outskirts of Kuoh town, where they would be staying to train themselves for the Rating Game. They had seven days to train, and Issei intended to level up as much as he could before the fight to make sure that he could beat Riser and anyone from his peerage.
And fortunately for him, it seemed that the System had the exact idea.
[!] Notice – Quest
[The First Trial]
Reach the top of the mountain in 5 minutes.
Time remaining: [00:04:32]
Reward: 40000 EXP
"Race you guys to the top!" Issei shouted as he ran past Rias and the rest, forcing them to move out of the way to avoid the oversized backpack he was carrying. Compared to his daily workout routine, carrying this kind of load on his back while running up a steep mountain felt light with his high Strength.
"Ara, looks like someone is pumped up for this training week." Akeno giggled softly as she continued up the mountain with Rias, while Kiba and Koneko, both carrying massive backpacks on their backs, followed closely behind them. After ten more minutes of hiking, the Peerage eventually reached the villa, where Issei appeared to be waiting for them, admiring the scenery. In truth, he had been talking to Ddraig and browsing his shop to find anything useful for the training.
Eventually, after Ddraig suggested he should save for better gear later, Issei ended up spending only a few thousand to stock up on potions.
After spending the next half an hour cleaning the house from the pilling dust, Issei moved to his room to change into his tracksuit before heading out to the front yard to spar with Kiba using bokken. Issei soon found himself facing Kiba in a circle that had been drawn by the knight, who wished to see the full extent of his swordsmanship and fighting skills.
"Ready?" Rias asked before she swung her hand down. "Begin!"
The moment Rias signaled for the spar to begin, Kiba and Issei sprang into action. The sound of wood clashing against wood echoed through the courtyard as the two traded blows while moving quickly around the circle. Their movements were so fast that those watching from the sidelines found it hard to keep up.
For a moment, it seemed like the two boys of the Peerage were evenly matched, with Issei's superior strength giving him the advantage in close quarters. However, Kiba seemed to be in a league of his own when it came to swordsmanship. His fluid and almost graceful movements allowed him to slip away from danger just when Issei thought he had finally managed to land a blow. Every time Issei pressed forward, Kiba would gracefully evade and counter with a quick slash or jab, forcing Issei to stay on guard the entire time.
"It seems I can move as fast as him..."
Issei thought as he parried an incoming strike. He doubted Kiba was going all out, but while he could see his movements and attempt to counter them, it became increasingly difficult with each passing second. Kiba exploited every opening in his defenses, slipping his bokken past his guard and landing precise strikes on his arms and torso. If this were a real fight, then he would have been killed several times over. The difference between life and death was a simple matter of a thrust of the sword.
"...but his technique is just on another level."
Issei tried to adjust, using his strength to force Kiba back as their wooden swords clashed momentarily in a blade-lock. For a moment, it seemed he might gain the upper hand, but Kiba was quick to recover. In an instance, his stance switched from offense to defense, feinting and blocking attacks with relative ease as Issei shot forward and delivered a flurry of strikes at him. After a moment, Kiba saw his chance when the Pawn swung his sword down while moving forward, causing a subtle shift in his weight that left him slightly overextended. In an instant, Kiba struck his wooden sword, delivering a quick succession of strikes to his ribs and wrist, disarming him in the process.
"Woah..."
Issei uttered in amazement as his bokken clattered to the ground, as Kiba moved back from him with his weapon lowering, offering a respectful nod to the Pawn while smiling with impressed.
"You're really good, Issei-kun," Kiba said as Issei picked up his sword. "But your movements rely too much on instinct."
"Yeah, you tell me about it." Issei said with a small chuckle. Swinging a sword was easy, but swinging it in a specific way, especially at an experienced opponent like Kiba was much more difficult. Outside of Boosted Gear, swords had become his weapon of choice, so the sooner he learnt how to wield one properly, the better.
Kiba smiled encouragingly. "Instincts are important, but technique can carry you further. If you refine your form and combine it with your natural strength, you'll be an even better swordsman."
"Then teach me." Issei said earnestly, making Kiba look at him in mild surprise "From the basics. I want to learn swordsmanship properly."
"Are you sure, Issei-kun? I'm not sure if I'm a qualified teacher, but..." Kiba said with a small laugh, and Issei nodded his head eagerly in response. The knight looked thoughtful for a second as he exchanged a glance with Rias, seeing her nodding her head back at him with a smile before saying "Very well then. Since you want to train from the basics... how about we start with this. You know this exercise, right?"
As he asked the question, Kiba raised the sword above his head, holding it in both hands. He then swung it down in a fluid motion, stopping just above his waist before repeating the action.
"This is the basic overhead strike, called kirioroshi," Kiba explained as Issei moved into his position beside him. "It's one of the most fundamental exercises in swordsmanship. You can start with this to build strength, control, and muscle memory. Do it slowly at first, focusing on your form, then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable."
Issei nodded eagerly and mimicked Kiba's movements, raising his bokken above his head and bringing it down in a controlled strike.
"Make sure your strikes are smooth and consistent." Kiba advised as Issei practiced the exercise over and over again. "Good, Issei-kun. Now, give me 1000 strikes."
[!] Notice - Quest received
[Master the Basics I]
Perform 1000 overhead sword strikes – Kirioroshi with proper form.
Strikes: 0/1000
Reward: 100,000 EXP
[Note] The counter will reset if the form is incorrect.
'I knew it...' Issei thought in amusement, already feeling excited at the quest and the amount of experience point that he would receive by completing it as he glanced at the Quest Window. 100,000 was more than enough to bring him to his next level.
Turning back before anyone could notice him looking at thin air, Issei tightened his grip on his bokken as he brought the wooden sword above his head before declaring loudly.
"1000 strikes? No problem!"
"Your form is full of openings, Issei-senpai," Koneko said emotionlessly as she ducked her head and threw a punch into his gut, causing Issei to grimace and stumble back, his breath escaping in a sharp hiss.
Around noon, Issei had turned his attention to learning hand-to-hand combat from Koneko. Because Koneko moved much slower than him, Issei had to force himself to slow down to match her pace during their sparring session. Despite perceiving her movements in almost slow motion, he recognized the value in her close combat techniques. These techniques could definitely be used to hone his own skills, especially for dealing with non-monster opponents whose attacks would be more calculated and less driven by raw, primal instinct.
"Widen your stance a bit more so enemies won't catch you off balance." Koneko said as she adjusted his stance, grabbing his knee and moving it out with Issei moving his form awkwardly to her instruction "And when you hit, try to put more weight into your strikes. Your power should come from your whole body, not just your arms."
"Alright." Issei nodded as he threw a punch, making Koneko nod in approval just as Kiba returned with the two training dummies that Koneko had requested him to make for Issei to train with, setting it up in the middle of the courtyard. Both dummies were equipped with several spinning wooden arms, each set to rotate at different speeds and angles.
Koneko demonstrated the training exercise by hitting an arm with her palm and simultaneously defending herself from another of the same level using her elbow. "I cannot keep up with your speed, so these dummies will help you practice your reaction time and defensive skills, senpai. The harder you hit the arms, the faster the other will spin and hit you back. You will need to stay alert and react quickly."
"And don't worry about breaking them, Issei-kun." Kiba spoke to him with a smile "I have reinforced the joints of these dummies with steel so it will last for a while. "
[!] Notice – Quest received
[Master the Basics II]
Complete the exercise by hitting the spinning arms of the training dummies while successful evading or block the others.
Land 50 hits without getting hit 5 times
Hit landed: 0/100
Hit taken: 0/5
Reward: 100,000 EXP
Note: The counters will reset if the Player is hit more than 5 times.
"Stand between the dummies, senpai."
Issei positioned himself between the two training dummies just as he had been instructed by Koneko, preparing himself for a long exercise and an even longer quest. As soon as he struck one of the spinning arms, another arm immediately rotated toward him from the opposite direction. Issei managed to block it, but the slight shift in his stance triggered the other arms. Within moments, several of them landed solid blows on his waist, hips, and thighs, causing the counter to reset almost instantly.
"Ouch!"
"The moment you panic is the moment you will be hit hard, senpai. This exercise is meant to use your own strength and speed against you." Koneko stated emotionlessly, and just as she said that another arm swung toward Issei from the front, catching him square in the face and knocking him flat on his back. A worried Asia immediately tried to rush to his side to heal him, but Issei held out his hand to stop her as he slowly got back on his feet to try again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
For the next hour, Issei relentlessly trained, each reset of the counters only fueling his determination. His body started to ache from the repeated hits, and sweat drenched his clothes, but he refused to give up. His persistence started to show results as he gradually improved, dodging and blocking more effectively with each attempt.
Eventually, Akeno and Rias appeared with the crimson haired heiress calling out for her servants. "Everyone, lunch is ready!"
Taking a deep breath, Issei nodded and walked with Asia over to the table, where the others soon joined them. He collapsed into his chair, receiving a bowl of rice from Akeno with a grateful bow and immediately dug in with a pair of chopsticks, devouring his food in record time while the others watched him curiously.
"Can I have another, Akeno-san?" He asked, holding out his empty bowl out with a sheepish grin.
Akeno giggled softly as she took his bowl to refill it from the rice cooker. "Of course, Issei-kun. You've certainly earned it with all that training."
As Akeno handed him a second serving, Rias tilted her head with a small smile. "You're really pushing yourself, Ise. Planning to get right back to training after lunch?" Issei just nodded, already halfway through his second bowl.
"Here, have another, Issei-kun." Akeno said as she handed Issei another bowl of rice, which she already filled with an abundance of meat and fried egg that she got from the dishes on the table "Anyway, did you know we have a hot spring..."
"I'm done. Thank you for the meal!" Issei declared, interrupting Akeno before she could finish telling him about the hot spring at the back of the villa as he put his empty bowl down, thanking her and Rias for the amazing lunch with both hands clasping together before getting up and rushing right back to the two training dummies. Soon, Rias and the rest of the Peerage could hear the familiar sounds of wooden arms clashing and spinning, punctuated by the thuds whenever Issei got hit.
"Oh wow, not bad at all, Issei-kun."
Akeno said with a surprised smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she observed the basketball-sized orb of magic power that Issei had managed to conjure between his palms. Though larger, it fluctuated with a slight instability compared to the smaller, softball-sized orb Asia was managing between her palms, though it appeared much more stable. Being a Bishop, Asia was doing quite well in the magical training they were having under Akeno, who was undoubtedly the best in the Peerage at magic, next to Rias.
Surprisingly enough, this seemed to be the training where Issei was finding the most success. The System made it easy for him to use magic and cast spells, as the mana or demonic power required had already been registered and fixed. While he was training to have better control over his magical energy, he didn't really need to do it since the System automatically adjusted and exhausted the exact amount of magical power needed for each spell the moment he decided to use them. It certainly made spellcasting much easier and more straightforward for him.
However, practicing control to perfection was still situationally important, since some spells increased its power based on the amount of energy he channeled into them beyond the required amount. Too much energy could result in devastating destructiveness, while too little might render the spell ineffective. Perfecting his control would certainly allow him to harness the full potential of his spells without the risk of unintended consequences.
"It's nice to see you focusing on your training, Issei-kun, but I hope you haven't forgotten about the concert this Sunday."
"Of course, Akeno-san." Issei replied with a grin while Asia pouted "Now that you mention it, isn't the concert scheduled for the evening a day after the match as well?"
"That's right." Akeno beamed. "So let's give it our best and win so we can enjoy the music with no regrets, yes?"
"Absolutely! I'm looking forward to it already." Issei nodded enthusiastically, feeling an extra boost of motivation to train even harder.
"Good. Let us get right back to it then."
And with that, Issei continued his training, finding the next three days falling into a demanding but rewarding routine. He spent his mornings with Kiba and Koneko, diligently working on the fundamentals of swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. In the afternoons, Issei focused on magical training with Akeno and Asia, working on controlling his magical energy better and learning new spells, particularly fire-based ones, given their synergy with his pact with Ddraig. Despite this, he knew that these spells might not be very useful against the Phenex Peerage and their master, as they were known to use fire spells, with Riser wielding the flame of the phoenix itself.
Additionally, Issei also dedicated his time honing his strength and stamina with Rias helping him, running up and down the mountain with a boulder strapped to his back. The exercise was undoubtedly more challenging than his usual workouts, but Issei didn't complain as it significantly improved his strength, stamina and endurance. Moreover, once he reached the top of the mountain he would get to sit all alone with his beautiful master, who told him stories about her life before moving to Kuoh while he savored the delicious snacks she had prepared for him.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 24 Dragonsworn / Level 3 Shadow Monarch
HP: 4955 / 4955
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 1655 / 1655
Title: Shieldbreaker [Add 10% Armor Penetration]
Strength: 106
Vitality: 89
Intelligence: 84
Dexterity: 94
Perception: 74
Charisma: 64
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV1), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV2 – Pact Affected), Transfer (LV2 - Pact Affected), Penetrate (LV2 - Pact Affected), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV1),
Active spells: Fire balls (LV2 - Pact Affected), Firewall (LV2 - Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV1), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1).
Current Pact [1/4: Y Ddraig Gouch (Fire) – Pact LV1
Current Shadows: 30 / 50
Items: Boosted Gear (LV3), Abyssal Cloak (LV5), Razan's Blade (LV7), Palace Guard's Boots (LV6), Metal Gauntlet (LV5 – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Slumber (LV?) ...
Potions: Healing Potions x10, Mana Potions x10, Greater Healing Potions x5, Greater Mana Potions x5, Miracle Potions x2...
Gold: 81,250 (G)
It was on the night of the third day that Issei finally got the chance to look at his Status Window. While he knew he needed to train more, it was clear his efforts had been paying off. His HP and MP had increased significantly now that they also scaled respectively on his STR and CHAR thanks to his Dragon's Might passive. The EXP that he got from the training quest chain [Master the Basics] had leveled him up a total of six times, with Issei allocating four levels to his Dragonsworn main class and two levels to his Shadow Monarch sub-class.
While his Dragonsworn class did not grant any new abilities, Issei suspected that new abilities might be unlocked through increasing his Pact Levels rather than his class level. On the other hand, the maximum capacity of shadows that he could extract had increased, looking to rise by 10 for each level he invested in Shadow Monarch. This would let him add more shadows to his ranks without having to drop any of the Shadow Wolves unless he had to for stronger shadow when the lineup was full.
[Good leveling today, partner. I'm sure you'll soon be able to take the Phenex on yourself.] Issei heard Ddraig say in his mind while he took a swig from the bottle of water in his hand while standing in the kitchen of the villa. It was ten in the evening, and Issei had just finished a late jog up and down the mountain by himself. It wasn't anything too strenuous, but it helped him unwind after a day of hard work.
"Thanks, Ddraig." Issei said with a chuckle, feeling a bit more at ease. He didn't need to check his levels and stats to confirm that he had become even stronger than before. While Issei didn't want to get ahead of himself and believe that he could defeat Raiser in a straight up duel, knowing that the Phenex had to be around or even above Rias in level with likely much higher stats, Issei had no doubt that he could at least fight him on equal footing if he kept training hard for the next four days.
If only he could have taken a peek at Raiser and his Peerage with Observe, then he would be able to gauge their capabilities better. Grayfia being around had been too dangerous for him to risk it.
Still, that was far from his main concern at the moment...
He had been getting stronger. Great.
Asia had also gotten better at controlling her magical energy, allowing her to use the healing power of her Sacred Gear without exhausting any more than she needed to. Despite not being able to fight, her healing ability made her the most valuable asset of the Peerage.
And that's amazing!
But what about everyone else?
"Ise?"
Before he could discuss it with Ddraig, a familiar feminine voice caught his attention. Issei turned to see his master standing in the hallway in a pink nightgown, which hinted at the amazing curves of her voluptuous body, leaving him captivated but Issei quickly shook it off before Rias could notice him staring.
"Buchou? What are you doing here at this hour? You should get some sleep," Issei said, noticing the stack of files and documents she was holding and the pair of glasses she was wearing. It was his first time seeing his master with glasses, and it certainly added an exotic touch to her already captivating charm.
"I decided to do a bit more research on the Phenex." The crimson-haired girl answered with a smile. "Wanna come sit with me? I can certainly use your company."
"If you insist." Issei smiled and joined Rias in the living room. Before the two settled into their seats, Issei stated "I didn't know you wore glasses, Buchou."
Rias replied with a smile while adjusting her glasses "Well, I just find that wearing glasses helps me think better sometimes. My vision is actually fine."
"Ah..." Issei nodded before glancing at one of the files Rias had laid out on the table. "So, what have you been able to learn so far about the Phenex, Buchou?"
"Mostly information about their previous matches and the strength each member of their Peerage possesses," Rias replied, crossing her arms under her breasts. "However, understanding them is only part of the problem."
"How so?" Issei asked, intrigued.
"Because our opponent is the Phenex." Rias explained, her expression serious. "Outside of their abilities to control powerful flame that can burn anything to ashes, the members of the household are also known for their immortality, which gave them second to none regenerative ability. Simply put, they cannot die. Even if you decapitate them, it will only take a few seconds for them to regrow their heads."
"Oh wow."
"In addition, Raiser himself is an exceptionally powerful devil," Rias continued as Issei read the file in his hand. "His power has always been considered top-notch. Since he cannot die or be mortally injured, the only way for us to defeat him and his Peerage in a Rating Game is to force him to forfeit. But that won't be easy. We'll need to throw everything we have at him to somehow overwhelm his regeneration or crush his spirit."
"What about his sister?"
"We won't have to worry much about Ravel. I heard that she was added to the Peerage to learn. It's highly unlikely that she will partake in the main confrontation." Issei nodded his head in understanding as Rias held out the picture of a woman who wore a mask on the right side of her face. "This is Isabela, one of Riser's Rooks. She's in charge of protecting Ravel, so chances are we'll have two fewer opponents to deal with."
"Right."
"Regardless, outside of being an unkillable flamethrower." Issei let out a soft laugh as Rias continued "Raiser is also a tactical genius when it comes to the Rating Game. He has a record of 9 wins and 4 losses, but he threw two of them on purpose out of respect for the households his family was close to. It's not that I don't believe we can win, but this whole ordeal seems to have been planned from the start to force me into compliance with the marriage..."
Rias finished with a tone of resignation, making Issei soften his gaze.
"Say, Buchou..." Issei started slowly. "Why do you oppose this marriage so much? Not about marrying that Phenex guy particularly, cause we both know he's a douchebag, but if I'm not mistaken, you seem to oppose the idea of arranged marriage. Why is that?"
Rias remained silent for a second before she answered. "It's because I'm a Gremory."
"Oh..." Issei acknowledged, and Rias didn't need him to tell her that he understood what she meant.
"I'm proud of being a Gremory, and I'm more than happy to carry the name of my household with pride. It's just..." Rias shifted her gaze to the night sky outside the window. "Everyone just sees me as Rias of the Gremory Household. That's why I decided to come here to live in the human world. It's so refreshing to be seen as just Rias, and not as the heiress of the Gremory household from the 72 pillars or even the little sister of the current Lucifer. Raiser only sees me as a trophy to be obtained and to help with his ambition of carrying the bloodlines into the future. I don't want that... I want to be with someone who sees me for who I truly am. That's all I've ever wanted."
"You know, Buchou..." Issei chuckled softly as Rias turned back to him, noticing the grin on his face while he scratched the back of his head "I think you're the best when you're just being you. For what it's worth, know that to me, you're Rias Gremory, the prettiest girl at our school, and the best club president I could ever ask for. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.."
"Ise..." Rias whispered softly as she looked at her Pawn, feeling her cheeks heat up at his compliment before finding herself nodding her head to him with a warm smile of her own "Thank you."
After that, the two of them continued their discussion and reading the files for half an hour before Issei decided to excuse himself to take a shower, as it was getting really late for one. By the time he returned, however, Rias had fallen asleep on the couch, her glasses resting on the table before her. She looked peaceful, a soft smile playing on her lips as she slept with her head resting on one hand.
Smiling, Issei quietly went to search for a blanket, finding one in one of the spare rooms on the second floor. Returning to Rias, he draped it gently over her sleeping form, adjusting it carefully to avoid disturbing her rest while ensuring that she was comfortable. With a final glance to make sure everything was in place, Issei left the living room and made his way outside instead of his room.
[Partner...]
"I need to make sure we will win, Ddraig," Issei said as he reached into his inventory and pulled out his jacket alongside a gold key. This key, which he had found from the loot box reward of the daily quest that morning, would open a B-rank Instance Dungeon, undoubtedly with the most difficult challenges and enemies he had faced yet.
But he was ready.
[Do what you must, partner. You know I'm with you.]
"Thanks, Ddraig." Smiling, Issei made his way into the forest, finding a secluded clearing well away from the villa after a short walk. The only sounds were the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant chirping of nocturnal creatures breaking the silence of the night.
Without further ado, Issei held the key out in front him and turned it like opening a lock, causing a faint hum to fill air around him. After a moment, a swirling mass of energy started to form before him, gradually taking shape until it became a portal leading into the Instance Dungeon.
As Issei stepped through the swirling portal, he found himself in a wide, dimly lit hallway. The walls were lined with towering stone pillars, while the floor beneath his feet was cold, broken marble that looked like it was front an ancient castle that had been long abandoned. The only sources of light were the flickering torches mounted along the walls, casting shadows that danced across the walls and ceiling.
As Issei took in his surroundings, he soon heard the distant sound of metal clanking, an unignorable sign that the monsters of the dungeon were approaching him. Cautiously making his way down the hallway, the sound grew louder, reverberating off the stone walls. It was after he rounded a corner and arrived at what looked to be an entrance hall that Issei came face to face with the formidable sight of at least twenty knights marching toward him in a tight formation.
At first glance, they appeared to be humanoid warriors cladded in dark armor, reminiscent of the Black Shield Knights Issei had fought in his second Instance Dungeon. However, their armor had a distinctly different design, featuring a mechanical, almost futuristic style that set them apart from anything he had encountered before. The chest pieces, boots, and gauntlets, which had robotic-like joints, were a dull, metallic black with sharp edges and spikes jutting out at various points. Each knight's helmet was adorned with a glowing red visor that pulsed ominously, their faces concealed behind menacing skull-like masks.
Their weapons were equally striking. Half the knights wielded massive battle axes with jagged, crude blades, while the other half carried in their hands broadswords with edges that glimmered in the orange glow from the wall mounted torches. The synchronized clanking of their armored steps created a rhythmic echo as they advanced, their perfectly coordinated marching and imposing figures creating an overwhelming presence, intimidating Issei and making him feel suffocated.
[Magitek Axeman LV. 29]
[Magitek Swordsman LV. 29]
"More armored monsters." Issei murmured before smirking, summoning Boosted Gear before reaching his hand into his inventory to pull out a longsword that he had bought a few days ago and point it at the Magitek knights as they came to a halt at a distance while facing him. "Good thing I came prepared."
[Ironbane Longsword LV. 10]
Rarity: B
Category: Longsword
ATK 180
Description: A longsword that excelled in piercing through the strongest of defense and delivering devastating damage to fortified enemies with its reinforced blade.
Ironbane: Inflicts 35% more damage to enemy targets with heavy armors.
The Ironbane Longsword, combined with the benefit of his Shieldbreaker title and the Penetrate ability if needed, should make quick work of these Magitek Knights. Moreover, despite the fact that there were at least twenty of them and only one of him, Issei was far from outnumbered.
"You boys ready for your first battle with me?" Issei asked, and he could hear his Shadow wolves howling in response from his shadow "Alright..."
"Ise?"
"Eh?"
For the second time that night, Issei heard his name being called, causing him to turn around, this time in shock. His eyes widened in bewilderment when he saw Rias, dressed in her dark red tracksuit, appearing from around a corner. Her expression mirrored his as she took in the sight of him, and then at the group of Magitek Knights he was about to fight. In her hand was a device emitting a beeping sound similar to a dosimeter, making it clear to Issei that Rias had used it to find him, or to be more precise, the Gate she believed he was raiding.
Women and their intuition... Since time moved faster inside Instance Dungeons, another trait that it shared with Gates, there's no telling how long she had been out looking for him outside, but he really should have moved a bit further away from the villa.
Then again, she could just fly around the mountain with that dosimeter until she caught a signal...
[!] Notice – Party Feature Unlocked.
Note:
1. The Player might share their EXP with party members depending on their contribution.
2. Party members will be visible on the map, allowing the Player to track their positions.
3. Party members can be revived if they fall, provided the Player survives and has sufficient resources.
4. The Player can track the conditions and stats of their Party members in real-time.
5. All System Functions will not be seen by the party members.
Accept Rias Gremory to your party? Y/N
But Issei barely paid any attention to the notification window that flashed before his eyes. The familiar white text blurred into the background, being overshadowed by the sight of Rias as she turned her gaze back to him.
"Buchou, what are you doing here!?" Finally, he managed to ask as he turned fully around to face her "This place is dangerous, you should not be..."
"I could tell you the same thing." Rias said. Before Issei could respond, Rias widened her eyes in shock and cried out to him "Ise, watch out!"
In an instance, Issei spun around and swung his blade upward, intercepting the downwards strike of a Magitek Swordsman. The force of the impact reverberated through his arms, as the sudden clash of steel-on-steel sent sparks flying. The armored swordsman pushed down with surprising strength, its mechanical joints hissing as it tried to overpower him, but Issei did not have any trouble standing his ground.
As the other Magitek knights closed in on him, moving with surprised quickness and coordination despite their armored body and robot-like joints, Issei twisted his blade and forced the swordsman he was facing aside with a practiced motion, throwing it off balance. Dodging an axe that swung at him from the opposite direction, Issei slashed his sword horizontally at the first swordsman, severing its upper body from the lower half with a shower of sparks. The knight's red visor flickered and dimmed as it collapsed into a heap of metal on the ground.
[Magitek Swordsman LV. 29 - Defeated]
Five more Magitek knights closed in on him, two swordsmen and three axemen, their presences dwarfed over his as they attacked him with their weapons. Issei took a quick step back, narrowly avoiding the swings of the massive battle axes. The weapons crashed into the stone floor where he had just stood, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.
The next swordsman lunged at him with surprising speed, its longsword aimed directly at his chest. Issei dove to the side to avoid the attack and countered with a swift slash to its midsection, the Ironbane Longsword slicing through the armored plating with ease. The knight staggered as sparks flew from the cut, but Issei didn't give it a chance to recover, following up his sword slash with a powerful hook with Boosted Gear that sent the knight crashing into a wall with its helmet shattered, its body crumpling under the impact.
[Magitek Swordsman LV. 29 - Defeated]
Another knight rushed at him from the side, its battle axe raised high. Issei braced himself to dodge, but the axeman never got the chance to strike. A black orb, swirling with a crimson aura, slammed into the knight, blowing apart half of its torso. Issei turned his head around momentarily to see Rias standing just a few paces away, her left arm, with palm facing forward, still outstretched. The immense aura of demonic power that surrounded her made it clear that she was ready to fight with him.
[Magitek Axeman LV. 29 - Defeated]
[!] Notice – No EXP gained
Accept Rias Gremory to your party? Y/N
Once again, the notification was ignored, as Issei widened his eyes in alarm as the space next to his master seemed to distort. Rias seemed to have noticed it too, turning her head just in time to see a knight — sleek and deadly, with a short sword in each hand that was perfect for assassination – materializing out of thin air. Without even a moment of hesitation, Issei acted, swiftly hurling his longsword toward the knight. The blade pierced through the air with deadly accuracy, impaling through the knight's torso just as it lunged toward Rias. The force of the throw pulled the knight with the sword as it embedded the assassin against the wall with a loud thud.
Rias gasped, her eyes wide as she realized how close she had come to being struck down. She turned to Issei, a mix of shock and gratitude in her expression as the lifeless knight slumped against the wall, its limbs twitching for a moment before falling.
[Magitek Assassins LV. 28 – Defeated]
Before the two could say anything to each other, Issei noticed more silhouettes flickering at the edges of his vision, realizing that more Magitek assassins were sneaking him and Rias, with their camouflage allowing them to blend almost seamlessly with their surroundings, making them nearly invisible. Issei wasted no time to rush to her side to help her, but a group of axemen instantly blocked his path and swung their weapons at him.
Issei managed to dodge the first swing, but the other axemen quickly overwhelmed him. Two of them struck him hard with an overhead blow, forcing him to one knee as he used Boosted Gear to block. Struggling to rise while the axemen pressed him down, he glanced up to see Rias fighting for her life. She managed to kill two assassins with her Power of Destruction, but at the same time, she could only narrowly avoid their blades to prevent her throat from being slit. Rias seemed to perceive the camouflaged assassins far better than he could, evidently from the way she could see them before they made their moves against her, but since she was a mage and not a fighter like him, assassins were undoubtedly her worst matchup.
Without any other choice, Issei roared.
"LYCAON!"
With a feral snarl, Lycaon leaped out of his shadow and charged at the Magitek assassins with terrifying speed, tearing through the other knights standing between him and Rias as it reached her side in an instance, its powerful jaws snapping shut around one of the assassins and crushing it with a single bite. Throwing the assassin like a chewed up toy across the hallway, Lycaon then lunged at the next assassin, crushing it under its paw before sending another flying through the air like a bullet.
Two more assassins and a group of knights tried to attack, but Lycaon snarled as it shifted its attention to them, its streamlined form shimmering with a dark, flame-like aura. With a guttural growl, Lycaon opened its mouth and unleashed a torrent of blazing black flame, engulfing the assassins and the advancing knights in an inferno that consumed their mechanical bodies, reducing them to nothing but molten metal and ashes.
"Issei, this is..." An overwhelmed Rias found herself uttering in utter shock and bewilderment as she stared at the massive wolf that stood protectively in front of her while snarling at the remaining enemies. Her gaze then shifted to Issei as he walked to her side and yanked his sword out of the wall, being left speechless when three more wolves, smaller in size compared to Lycaon, came out of his shadow and gathered around them.
"You three, stay back and protect my master." Issei commanded, twirling the Ironbane longsword in his hand as he addressed the Earthen, Fire, and Water wolves, making the three growl in acknowledgement before moving in front of Rias.
"N-No, take them with you as well, Ise! Even with Lycaon, you can't possibly be thinking about taking all of them on..." Rias shouted to Issei, who walked confidently ahead with Lycaon at his side, even as more knights flooded into the hall and formed a battalion in front of him.
"The rest of you... with me!"
"... your own." Rias trailed off, left completely speechless as more wolves emerged from Issei's extended shadow and bared their enemies ahead. Swinging his sword down, Issei stabbed the weapon into the stone floor and turned back to give Rias an assuring smile.
"If you want to help, do it from behind these wolves. They will keep you safe."
[!] Notice
Accept Rias Gremory to your party? Y/N
'Confirm Yes.' With that confirmation to the System, making a second window with Rias' portrait, HP, MP and her current level under his own portrait, Issei then turned back to face the enemies, casting his gaze momentarily to the pieces of armors that lay scattered on the floor before speaking up the command.
Arise.
If Rias had been shocked before, then the feeling that followed as she watched the scene playing out before her was a level beyond anything she had experienced. Tendrils of darkness rose from the fallen Magitek knights on Issei's command, their forms taking shape as shadowy versions of their former selves as they burst forth from their crumbled husks. Slowly, these spectral figures rose to their feet, joining the wolves around Issei with glowing eyes and weapons at the ready as they faced their former comrades, now ready to fight alongside their new master in the upcoming fight.
[Magitek Trooper LV. 1]
Rank: Common
[Magitek Assassin LV. 1]
Rank: Common
[Magitek Berserker LV. 1]
Rank: Elite
"All troops!"
"CHARGE!"