After the match, I returned to our base...
"…"
The team greeted me with indescribable expressions.
Yeah, I knew it.
Even I thought it was a terrible match.
Especially that ending…
"Sorry, partner… for making you go through that," Ddraig said.
Don't worry, Ddraig. You're my partner. For you, this is nothing…
Ignis chimed in cheerfully, "From Breast Dragon Emperor to Savage Dragon Emperor, huh?♪"
You're the one who made me do it!! Why act like it's not your fault?! Taking Ddraig hostage, you useless goddess! Taking a Heavenly Dragon hostage, really?!
"To me, Ddraig's like a child," Ignis said.
"A child… me…" Ddraig muttered, shocked.
The mightiest Heavenly Dragon, treated like a kid… This otherworldly goddess is unreal.
"Issei-kun… to think you'd do that. You're supposed to be a hero for kids…" Kiba sighed.
Don't look at me like that! I didn't want to do that in front of everyone!
"It wasn't me! Ignis made me! She held Ddraig hostage!" I protested.
I wanted to end it simply—knock out Coriana and be done! But the monitor showed the commentators, the teacher stroking his chin.
"Hmm, Issei likely manipulated her energy to heighten her senses… a terrifying technique. One touch, and a woman's incapacitated," he said.
"That move might be restricted in future Rating Games. With many female devils competing, some might avoid games altogether," the Emperor added.
Please don't analyze it so seriously. Just ignore it… I'm never using it again!
"Aw, it's such a cool technique! Try it on Miu-chan and the others next!" Ignis teased.
Shut up! Don't drag Miu and the others into this!
The next Dice Shoot began. Rias rolled a 3, Sairaorg a 5. Another 8.
I'd already gone, so I was out. We needed a combination.
Rias returned, and we discussed the next members. Then—
"I'll go next," Xenovia stepped forward.
As a Knight, Xenovia's a 3, so she could fight. It was the fourth match, mid-game. A good time to show Ex-Durandal's power.
"Alright, Xenovia's in. Who'll pair with her?" Rias mused.
With Xenovia's 3, we needed a 5. "Yuto or Rossweisse would work," Rias suggested.
Xenovia's power type paired with Kiba's technique would be tactically sound—Kiba disrupting up front, Xenovia blasting with Durandal's cannon. Or Rossweisse's magic could support Xenovia's charges.
Then, hesitantly, Gasper raised his hand. "I-I'll go. Yuto-senpai and Rossweisse-san are strong, so we should save them… A-And…"
Gasper swallowed hard. "I want to avenge Koneko-chan!"
Such resolve. For Gasper to say that…
I grinned, ruffling his hair. "Go get 'em! Rias, that's okay, right?"
"Of course. Gasper, support Xenovia with your Sacred Gear and vampire abilities," Rias said.
"Y-Yes!" Gasper replied, fired up.
His trembling hid a fierce determination. He's becoming a man!
"We're counting on you, Gasper," Xenovia said.
"Y-Yes, Xenovia-senpai!" he answered.
Thus, Xenovia and Gasper's tag team was formed.
The battlefield was a rocky wasteland with uneven footing. Facing them were a lanky man, Ladora Bune, and a petite, eerie-staff-wielding beauty… or rather, a beautiful boy, Mistita Sabnock.
Is it just me, or does this look like a trap showdown?
"Gremory Team: Xenovia, wielder of the legendary Durandal, and Gasper, the popular monk trap!" the announcer declared.
"Gaaaasper-kun!" roared a group of male fans.
He's… insanely popular. Even in the Underworld, just like at school. Xenovia, though, got more cheers from women, likely for her bold, boyish charm.
"Bael Team: both descendants of extinct houses! Rook Ladora Bune and Bishop Mistita Sabnock, from the former 72 Pillars' Bune and Sabnock families. Governor Azazel, Bael's team includes several such descendants…" the announcer said.
"Ability matters, not status. That's Sairaorg Bael's philosophy. They likely joined him for that. Extinct houses are protected but scorned by some pure-blood elitists," Azazel replied.
"Hahaha, exactly," Emperor Beelzebub laughed.
Hearing this, Ladora and Mistita spoke. "Lord Sairaorg welcomed our diluted bloodlines," Ladora said.
"His dream is ours. We won't lose," Mistita added.
Their eyes burned with purpose. This could get intense.
"Fourth match, begin!" the referee announced.
"Gasper, turn into bats! Xenovia, attack after!" Rias ordered.
Gasper transformed into countless bats, scattering across the field, while Xenovia unleashed Durandal's waves. Bael's team dodged, Mistita firing flames from his staff—a magic specialist.
"Not so fast!" Gasper's red eyes froze the flames, and Xenovia's waves dispelled them. Perfect teamwork.
"Ladora, Lord Sairaorg's orders came! I'm preparing!" Mistita said, retreating, aura surging.
"Got it!" Ladora stood protectively.
Was he a wall? Then—Ladora's body swelled, sprouting a tail, wings, fangs, and claws.
ROOOOAR!
A black dragon! That lanky guy turned into a massive dragon?!
"Bune's clan controls dragons, but only a few can transform… and he's one!" Rias grimaced.
This ability wasn't in Glasya-Labolas's footage. We were stunned.
"Dragon transformation wasn't in the intel! Sairaorg trained his team to awaken it!" Azazel commented.
He'd honed them for this game. Ladora, now a dragon, clashed with Xenovia and Gasper. Durandal's waves and strikes barely dented his tough hide.
"Gasper, buy me time!" Xenovia called, preparing her Durandal Cannon.
She retreated, bats swarming Ladora to blind him. "Take that!" Gasper taunted, dodging Ladora's flames.
As Xenovia charged Ex-Durandal skyward, Mistita shouted, "There! Holy sword, be sealed!"
His staff glowed eerily, ensnaring Xenovia. Strange patterns appeared on her body, and her hands trembled, lowering Durandal.
"It's… not responding!" Xenovia gasped.
What?! Durandal's not working?!
Mistita, looking drained, smirked. "I'm part human. My Sacred Gear, Trick Vanish, a curse type, only recently awakened."
Another new ability! No wonder we had no intel.
"Xenovia, what about Ascalon?!" I asked via earpiece.
She carried Ascalon, lent to her. If Durandal failed…
She drew Ascalon from her dimensional pocket, but— "No good. Ascalon's not responding either," she said.
Seriously?!
"Trick Vanish seals a target's abilities at the cost of the user's stamina and spirit. Bael's Bishop sealed Xenovia's holy sword powers," Azazel explained.
Her sword-wielding ability itself was sealed. How troublesome!
"I planned to make her take holy damage too, but her talent as a sword wielder was too strong. Still, she can't fight," Mistita said, staggering.
Xenovia couldn't use her swords but wasn't harmed by holy backlash. Small mercy.
BOOM!
Ladora attacked relentlessly, spewing fire and swinging massive limbs. "Xenovia-senpai!" Gasper's bats shielded her, blinding Ladora.
When the bats cleared, Xenovia was gone, hidden behind a rock by Gasper. "Nice, Gasper!" I cheered.
"Sorry, I'm useless now," Xenovia said.
"No way! You're way more useful to Buchou than me!" Gasper replied, pulling items—a vial, chalk—from his pouch.
"I know ways to break curses!" He drew a magic circle around Xenovia, analyzing the curse.
"Won't escape!" Ladora roared, searching.
Time was short. "Gasper, can you break it?" I asked.
"Yes, I think my tools can do it," he replied, drawing unfamiliar patterns, holding a vial of my blood—prepped for his enhancement.
"Mixing Issei-senpai's blood into this circle should break the curse, but it'll take time," Gasper said.
"Wait, if you use that, you can't—" Xenovia started.
That vial was his only enhancement, usable once due to his stamina. Xenovia hesitated, but Gasper smiled. "I found my role. Something only I can do."
"Gasper…?" Xenovia questioned.
He sprinkled my blood, the circle glowing faintly. Then, Gasper leapt from hiding! "I'll buy time! Charge Durandal when the curse breaks!" he shouted.
He was going alone, without drinking the blood!
"No! Come back, Gasper!" I yelled.
"Reckless! Hide!" Rias shouted.
But Gasper's face was resolute. "I have to buy time! Buchou needs Xenovia-senpai's power to win!"
"Get back!" Rias yelled again.
Ladora and Mistita closed in. "Found you, vampire. Hiding the swordswoman? Maybe flames will flush her out—or I'll burn everything," Ladora growled.
Trembling, Gasper stood firm. "I won't let you rampage!"
"Facing me alone? Your courage is admirable. Only the brave stand before a dragon," Ladora said, unleashing flames.
Gasper's defensive circle shattered, blown back by the fire. "Gahhh!" he screamed.
He couldn't block Ladora's attack! Burned, he staggered up. "Stay back, Gasper!" Xenovia yelled.
"She's close, huh?" Ladora searched.
Gasper, spreading devil wings, latched onto Ladora's arm. "Let go! I need to take out the Durandal user before the curse fades!" Ladora roared, grabbing Gasper.
Crack! Bones snapped as Ladora squeezed.
"Arghhh!" Gasper screamed in agony.
"Stop!" Asia cried, covering her face.
Ladora tossed the bloodied, battered Gasper to the ground, barely breathing, on the verge of retiring.
Yet—Gasper crawled toward Ladora. "I'm… a boy… I have to protect… Xenovia-senpai… be useful to Buchou…"
His words hit me. Gasper…
"Out of my way!" Ladora kicked him, sending him bouncing.
Still, he crawled. "Men… have to be strong enough… to protect girls…!"
Blood poured from his mouth, legs trembling, barely standing.
Crack! Mistita, weakened, struck Gasper with his staff. "Give up. You can't win."
Harsh, but true. Enhanced by my blood, Gasper might've stood a chance. Not now.
Yet, he stood, facing them. "Even without power… I want to use it… for someone… With that will, I can be strong… I have to protect Xenovia-senpai…!"
My words, taught to him, barely audible but clear. His strong voice.
Thud! Ladora stomped Gasper, leaving him broken, unable to fight.
"…I… won't… give up…" Gasper rasped, trying to rise.
"Gasper…" Rias looked away.
"Don't turn away, Rias. He's fighting for you. That timid shut-in's standing up, broken as he is. You, his King, can't look away," I said.
Tears fell, but Rias wiped them, focusing. "You're right. I can't run when he's trying so hard."
Asia and Akeno sobbed, Rossweisse teared up, Kiba bit his lip, bleeding.
"…I can… fight… Issei-senpai wouldn't give up… So I…" Gasper gasped.
Then—black mist rose from Gasper's body. His eyes glowed red.
"I'll… protect them…! I promised Issei-senpai… and everyone…!"
"His Forbidden Balor View?!" Ladora gasped.
"Impossible! Stopping us in that state?!" Mistita exclaimed.
He'd frozen them both! They struggled, but his power held.
Where'd this strength come from?! Ignis spoke. "His dormant power awoke, responding to his will."
His potential, unlocked by his unyielding heart. "Probably. That resolve let it surface," Ignis said.
"Must be his partner's influence. He's changed," Ddraig added.
I had to see it through—Gasper's will and resolve.
"Impressive, but how long can you hold us?" Ladora sneered.
"Long enough," Xenovia said, emerging from hiding.
Durandal radiated massive holy aura, so intense it could erase anything nearby.
"Sorry. My lack of resolve got you hurt," Xenovia said, tearing up.
"I lacked the will to die for my comrades, my King. I'm ashamed… I can't forgive myself!" she cried.
Ex-Durandal's sheath slid, shifting to attack mode. Holy aura enveloped her, glowing brighter.
"Your will demands one answer: I'll obliterate them! That's my response to you!" she vowed.
A towering pillar of holy light rose from Ex-Durandal, shaking the field, bigger than in Kyoto.
With a roar, Xenovia swung. "HYAAAAA!"
BOOM! The massive aura wave engulfed Ladora and Mistita, retiring them in a flash of light.
"Sairaorg Bael's Rook and Bishop, retired," the announcer declared.
As the fourth match ended, Gasper collapsed. Xenovia sheathed Durandal, rushing to him, cradling his body.
"It's over. You beat them," she said.
"…We won… Good… I was useful…" Gasper mumbled, passing out, retiring in a glow.
We won, but lost two juniors. They fought harder than us seniors. Koneko-chan, Gasper—we won't lose. We've received your resolve.
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