"Abandoning your master for your own desires definitely deserves death. In the name of the Duke of Gremory, I will gladly eliminate you!" Rias said, crossing her arms as her ample chest bounced.
"You're a bold young girl! I'll tear your body apart! I'll make you as red as your hair!!" The monster roared, but Rias maintained her smile.
"This is the first time I've seen a demon spew garbage," Rias remarked, then... "Yuuto, do the honors."
"Yes!" Kiba, who stood beside Antares, dashed forward to attack the demon.
"I thought she was my target..." Antares muttered, slightly disappointed.
Rias sighed, maintaining her firm but patient tone. "Ise, I need to continue the explanation from where I left off."
He blinked, momentarily distracted before remembering. "Ah, right... the functionality of the pieces."
She nodded.
"Exactly. Yuuto's position is that of a [Knight]. His main characteristic is speed. Those who become [Knights] possess exceptional agility." As she spoke, Antares observed the battlefield, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail.
To the others, Kiba's speed might have seemed impressive, almost supernatural. But to him, who had witnessed countless worlds and battles, it was nothing but... pathetic.
"'Incredible speed,' huh?" He thought with disdain. "If I hadn't invested in perception, I might have had trouble following... This body is ridiculously weak."
Meanwhile, the battle continued. The monster roared, swinging its spears in merciless attacks. However, its strikes cut only air, unable to even graze Kiba.
The [Knight] abruptly stopped and, in a fluid motion, drew his sword. The European blade slid from its sheath, gleaming under the silvery moonlight. Then, before the monster could react, Kiba vanished.
In the next instant, an agonized scream tore through the night.
GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
When the eyes turned back to the creature, the scene was already decided. Its arms had been severed at the torso, and its shattered spears lay scattered on the ground. Blood gushed from the wounds, painting the battlefield scarlet. The monster staggered backward, grunting in pain and despair, unable to comprehend what had happened.
Kiba, on the other hand, remained motionless, his blade immaculate and gleaming, as if it had never been used.
Rias watched the scene with a slight confident smile before continuing her explanation.
"This is Yuuto's power. His speed is not just something the average eye can follow, but when combined with his swordsmanship, he becomes an even faster and deadlier [Knight]."
As her words echoed, a dark shadow spread across the ground, silently creeping up to wrap around the monster's legs. Its eyes widened in confusion, but before it could react, Rias resumed her explanation.
"Now, the next one is Koneko. She holds the position of [Rook]. The characteristic of the [Rook] is..."
"YOU DAMN INSEEEEECT!" The beast, enraged by pain and humiliation, raised its massive leg and stomped down with full force toward the small Koneko, determined to crush her once and for all.
STOMP!
The impact reverberated through the battlefield, cracking the ground beneath its feet. However, something was wrong. The monster felt resistance. Its foot couldn't come down completely.
"Gu... gu... gu...?!" Its eyes lowered, only to witness the impossible.
The small girl, who appeared fragile, remained firm, her tiny hands holding back the colossal weight of the beast's leg. Her feet sank slightly into the ground from the force, but her body did not tremble in the slightest.
Rias smiled slightly, crossing her arms. "The characteristic of the [Rook] is simple: absolute strength and unwavering defense. A demon of this caliber could never crush Koneko. She simply cannot be crushed."
The monster's expression shifted from fury to despair.
With a fluid movement and no apparent effort, Koneko pushed the creature's foot upward, lifting it entirely off the ground with just one hand. The monster flailed its legs frantically, trying to regain control, but it was already too late.
The girl's golden eyes gleamed coldly.
"...Fly."
In an instant, she bent her legs and leaped, propelling herself with monstrous power. Her small yet devastating fist struck the creature's stomach with overwhelming force.
BANG!
The sound of the impact echoed like thunder. The monster was launched like a projectile, its massive body spinning through the air before crashing into the ground dozens of meters away, shattering the earth upon impact. Dust and debris exploded in all directions as the creature writhed in agony.
Koneko landed softly back on the ground, her expressionless gaze fixed on the defeated enemy. As if nothing had happened, she dusted off her gloves and silently returned to her position.
'Exceptional brute strength, considering her stature and physique. Well, apparently, that doesn't matter much in this world. But unlike that so-called Sword Princess over there, this one has a certain level of respect.' Antares analyzed. Unfortunately, it was difficult for him to gauge her full strength just by looking—he would have to fight her. Unlike Yuuto, whom he was already certain he could defeat even in this weakened state.
But the one who truly caught his attention—besides Rias—was Akeno.
"Last but not least, Akeno," Rias announced, her tone filled with confidence.
The long-haired black-haired girl smiled softly, bringing a hand to her lips as she let out a playful giggle.
"Oh my, what should I do?"
The monster, still stunned by Koneko's devastating blow, shifted its attention to Akeno. Its eyes, once filled with fury, now carried a mixture of hesitation and fear.
"Akeno is the [Queen]. She is the second strongest after me," Rias explained, watching the scene unfold. "As a [Queen], she possesses all the characteristics of a [Pawn], [Knight], [Bishop], and [Rook], making her an unbeatable combatant. Additionally, she is the vice president of our club."
'If I were to use my power…' Antares thought. 'Would she still be the second strongest?'
The monster growled, charging at Akeno despite its battered and heavy body. It knew the battle was lost, but its survival instincts forced it to fight to the bitter end.
Akeno maintained her smile, her violet eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
"Oh my, it seems they've already drained most of your energy… What should I do now?"
Antares watched with interest, analyzing her every movement. 'I like this woman… She mocks her opponent for being weaker, toys with their despair, and, in the end, eliminates them without hesitation. Just like a true predator…'
Akeno raised a hand toward the sky, and in the next instant, a burst of light tore through the clouds.
FLASH!
The sky seemed to darken in response to her call, and a bolt of lightning struck down violently, hitting the monster directly.
"GAAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA!"
The creature's body convulsed, sparks dancing across its grotesque skin as its muscles burned under the sheer intensity of the electricity. Its agonized scream echoed through the area, but Akeno showed no mercy.
Another lightning bolt descended from the heavens.
BOOM!
The scent of scorched flesh filled the air. The monster could barely stand. Its eyes were glazed, its consciousness fading.
Akeno then lifted her hand once more, and with a cold, cruel smile, she called down the final blow.
The third bolt of lightning crashed down like a divine hammer, obliterating the monster in a blinding explosion of light and energy. Its body was consumed by the shock, turning to ashes before it could even hit the ground.
The young woman slowly lowered her hand, gazing upon the destruction she had wrought. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure, and an enchanting—yet terrifying—smile graced her lips.
Antares remained silent, but his mind absorbed every detail.
'She really is beautiful…' The absolute dominance Akeno exuded, blending beauty and power so naturally, made her an almost hypnotic figure.
"Akeno stands out using demonic powers. She can wield natural elements like lightning, ice, and fire. And above all, she is definitely a sadist." Rias confessed this as if it were nothing.
'More and more interesting...' Antares' gaze never left that woman.
"Casually, she is very kind, but when the fight starts, she won't stop until she calms down," Rias explained.
"...Interesting," Antares said aloud.
Rias heard this, and her jealousy sensor blared so loudly that she momentarily froze before returning in a robotic manner. "Akeno is very kind to her companions, so there's no problem at all."
'Including the fact that she found you handsome. But I won't say that, or I'm afraid he might really get too full of himself...' Rias thought.
"Ufufufufufufu. How many more lightning bolts can you endure? Hmm? Little monster? You can't die, okay? The only one who gets to kill you is my master. Ohohohohohohoho!"
Antares simply stared at Akeno with fascination and curiosity while she laughed.
'...I'm having lustful thoughts... Calm down... Don't let this control you!'
Antares tried to suppress the ideas bubbling in his mind. He wasn't used to feeling this kind of distraction, but something about these women made him lose focus for brief moments. He took a deep breath, repressing any stray thoughts, then returned his attention to the scene before him.
Rias slowly walked toward the fallen monster. Her eyes analyzed the creature with cold detachment, confirming that it no longer had the strength to continue fighting.
"Any last words?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with authority.
The monster, completely defeated, lifted its head with difficulty. Its expression no longer showed rage, only resignation.
"Kill me."
Rias showed no hesitation. Her gaze remained firm, and a small smile curved her lips.
"Then disappear."
DON!
A gigantic sphere of demonic power emerged from Rias' palm, launched with overwhelming force. The black energy engulfed the monster's body entirely, its sheer magnitude seeming to devour everything around it. The creature let out one final roar before being completely consumed.
When the energy dissipated, nothing remained. Not even ashes. The monster had been obliterated without a trace.
Rias observed the spot where it had been and let out a light sigh.
'Hmm... She's not bad either... Despite appearing kind, she is still a demon. Kills without mercy. I like that...'
Antares' eyes gleamed with interest as he analyzed the power Rias had displayed. Her attack wasn't just destructive—it was absolute. Her power was similar to the Breath of Destruction, an attack that erased everything it touched from existence.
'Strong... Very strong...'
Rias then clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"It's done. Good job, everyone."
The tense atmosphere vanished, and the group relaxed. Akeno, in particular, seemed carefree, her smile returning to its usual playful tone, as if nothing had happened.
Antares, on the other hand, remained silent, reflecting on everything he had witnessed. He let out a sigh, ignoring the conflicting thoughts surfacing in his mind. He had never allowed himself to consider these kinds of things before. But finding certain women interesting didn't go against his nature. He had just never been in a situation like this.
He turned, taking a few steps before deciding to clear his doubts.
"For peace of mind, I'll just ask."
He stopped and cast a sharp look at Rias.
"President, there's something you haven't told me."
Rias raised an eyebrow, curious.
"What is it?" she asked with a carefree smile.
Antares narrowed his eyes, their red glow intensifying. The aura around him shifted almost imperceptibly, becoming dense and lethal. It was a silent warning, but only Rias could sense it.
"I am a pawn. Right?"
For a brief moment, the air around them seemed to grow heavier.
Rias, however, maintained her calm expression.
"Yes, you are a pawn."
Her response was firm and without hesitation.
Antares stared at her for a few seconds before closing his eyes and suppressing his aura.
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