The fifth match, a Queen showdown, ended. Time for the sixth match's Dice Shoot.
Both Kings rolled—Rias got 6, Sairaorg 6. Total: 12, the maximum!
"It's here! This number means Sairaorg Bael can fight!" the announcer roared.
The crowd erupted. Sairaorg shed his jacket, revealing a black combat outfit and a chiseled physique.
His battle-ready gaze pierced our camp, radiating pressure.
"I'll—" I started, moving toward the magic circle.
Kiba's hand stopped me, his eyes resolute. "Issei, Xenovia, Rossweisse, and I will face Sairaorg."
Two Knights and a Rook—11 pieces, valid for the match.
"Kiba…" I muttered.
"We'll wear him down as much as possible," Kiba said with a charming smile.
Rias understood. "You're planning to…"
"I can't beat Sairaorg alone. We'll sacrifice ourselves to weaken him," Kiba said. "Xenovia, Rossweisse, will you join me?"
"Of course. Knowing Issei and Buchou are behind us gives me courage," Xenovia replied.
"It's clear. We'll exhaust him as long as we can," Rossweisse added.
They were resolved. Facing Sairaorg was inevitable, but tiring him out first was strategic.
"What about pairing me with Kiba or Xenovia?" I suggested.
"We considered that, but you're our trump card. Save yourself for the Soldier or Queen next. Then, Asia could fight and resign, leaving you for Sairaorg in the final match," Kiba explained.
Rias nodded. "Akeno weakened their Queen. The Soldier's unknown, but Issei can handle it. You planned this far, didn't you?"
Kiba smiled. "This is the critical moment. We'll sap Sairaorg's strength."
"And if we can, take him down!" Xenovia added fiercely.
Kiba chuckled. "That's the plan."
Rias exhaled. "Alright. Please, all three, do as much damage as you can. I'm sorry—I thought I was ready, but I'm a weak King."
Kiba shook his head. "We were saved by you. Your love brought us here. We'll bring you victory."
He, Xenovia, and Rossweisse headed to the magic circle. Kiba and I faced each other.
"You're reckless… though I'm no better," I said.
"Haha, I'm always chasing you. One day, I'll stand beside you. Protect Buchou," Kiba replied.
"Got it. Your resolve's received," I said, fist-bumping him.
They teleported to a lakeside. Sairaorg, arms crossed, awaited.
"Rias's strategy?" he asked, smirking. "You can't beat me. Ready?"
"We won't go down easily. We'll send you to the Red Dragon Emperor at your best!" Kiba retorted.
"Great words! You keep pushing me higher!" Sairaorg trembled with excitement, his power palpable.
"Sixth match, begin!" the referee signaled.
Strange patterns appeared on Sairaorg's limbs. "These shackles limit me. I'll remove them to face you fully!"
Light burst, patterns vanished. BOOM! The ground cratered, the lake rippled, and Sairaorg glowed with white aura.
"He's cloaked in battle aura, so dense it affects the surroundings!" Azazel commented.
"Is he using chi techniques?" the announcer asked.
"No, he hasn't learned senjutsu. That's pure battle aura from relentless physical training," Azazel said.
"He gained a different power, not magic. Unleashed, he could defeat a high-class devil," Emperor Beelzebub added.
Pure power, self-trained without a master. Incredible.
Sairaorg's pressure hardened their expressions. "No mercy! You're worthy opponents. I'll fight with everything!" he roared.
BOOM! The ground shattered as he vanished—faster than before.
"Not so fast!" Rossweisse deployed magic circles, firing a full burst.
"Kiba, there!" Kiba aimed his holy-demonic sword at Sairaorg.
Rossweisse's barrage of multi-elemental magic rained down like a machine gun, relentless.
BOOM! Xenovia's holy waves joined, obscuring everything in destruction.
Sairaorg punched through the magic and waves, closing in on Rossweisse. "Escape—!" Kiba shouted, but Sairaorg's fist sank into her stomach.
CRASH! Her Valkyrie armor shattered, and she flew into the lake, retiring in a flash of light.
"One down," Sairaorg said.
Xenovia charged, swinging Durandal cloaked in holy aura, but it missed. Sairaorg appeared behind her.
"Xenovia, behind!" Kiba warned.
She dodged his kick, which split the lake in two. "He'd have retired you!" I gasped.
Sairaorg smirked. "Magic user down. Now, two swordsmen—holy and holy-demonic."
His aura surged. Xenovia and Kiba unleashed theirs. "He's insane! Full power or we're done!" Xenovia yelled.
"Understood! He's too strong to hold back!" Kiba replied.
Sairaorg grinned. "Bring it all! Only that can stop my fists!"
BOOM! He lunged, punching at Kiba. Kiba formed a holy-demonic sword wall, but it shattered.
"Too weak!" Sairaorg taunted.
"Then, Durandal!" Xenovia unleashed a charged Durandal Cannon. Kiba created a sword wall around Sairaorg, trapping him.
BOOM! The cannon hit directly.
But— "Good wave, but not enough," Sairaorg said, unscathed, his aura thicker.
"He took it head-on?!" Xenovia gasped.
"Combination, Xenovia!" Kiba summoned seven swords, charging with Xenovia. They struck, but Sairaorg dodged minimally, shattering Kiba's swords.
"Xenovia, back!" Kiba ordered. Shattered sword fragments floated, surrounding Sairaorg.
"Blade Rain!" SLASH! Tiny blades rained down, unavoidable.
"This won't touch me!" Sairaorg's aura exploded, dispersing them.
Kiba switched to holy swords, summoning his Dragon Knights. "Go!" Twenty knights charged Sairaorg.
"Your new Balance Breaker from Furcas? Perfect!" Sairaorg met them head-on, destroying them with single blows.
"Not tough enough," he said as the last knight fell.
Kiba and Xenovia attacked again, their coordinated strikes relentless. "Talented, but I'm superior here," Sairaorg said.
THUD! His palm strike hit Xenovia's stomach, and a roundhouse kick landed on Kiba's side. Both spat blood, collapsing.
"They're hurt bad…" I muttered.
Kiba, trembling, smiled. "Issei… took hits like this and kept going…"
He stood, using his sword as a cane. "I can't stop here…!"
Xenovia rose, gripping Durandal. "For Issei, for Buchou, I'll swing!"
Sairaorg grinned. "Still entertaining me?!"
Rossweisse appeared behind him, wielding a transparent sword. "At this range?!"
BOOM! A close-range full burst hit Sairaorg, smoke rising as he staggered.
"Rossweisse?!" I gasped.
Rias explained, "The retired Rossweisse was a fake, using Excalibur Mimic and Transparency from Ex-Durandal's sheath. She mimicked herself, hid, and struck."
Incredible teamwork! I hadn't thought of that.
Sairaorg, bleeding but steady, said, "Superb coordination. I'll honor you with this."
His eyes sharpened, pulling back his fist, aura concentrating. Dangerous!
The trio retreated, but—BOOM! His punch carved a massive trench.
"Rias Gremory's Rook, retired," the announcer said.
Rossweisse was down. That punch rivaled my ranged attacks but was far stronger.
Sairaorg readied another, but Kiba and Xenovia slashed his arm. Kiba's swords broke against his aura, and Xenovia's Durandal barely cut through.
Kiba grabbed Durandal's hilt with Xenovia. Their combined will unleashed a blinding aura, severing Sairaorg's right arm.
"Impressive. You've forced me to use my tears. I wanted to face the final battle at full strength," Sairaorg said, kicking Xenovia and punching Kiba's stomach.
CRASH! The blows cracked the ground. Both collapsed.
"We've done enough. My King and friend will finish you," Kiba said, smiling.
They retired in light. Sairaorg retrieved his arm. "Your strength and will are etched in me. Thank you for this fight."
"Rias Gremory's two Knights, retired."
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