The group gathered at the open field near the Occult Research Club. Shuo and Yuuto Kiba faced each other across the grass, their eyes locked, the tension between them crackling like static. Not far away, four girls watched in rapt silence—Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Tomoe—each holding her breath, waiting for the clash to begin.
"Kiba-kun, ready?" Shuo called out, voice clear and steady.
Kiba's answer was a simple, confident smile. He gripped his demonic sword with both hands, his posture relaxed but alert. "I'm ready when you are, Nangong-kun."
No more words were needed. Shuo summoned Zangetsu, its obsidian blade catching the sunlight, and took up his stance.
Kiba, Rias's loyal knight, was no ordinary swordsman. His Sacred Gear, Sword Birth, allowed him to conjure demonic blades at will. He fought with the speed of a gale and the precision of a master, but his eyes held a shadow—memories of a childhood spent in the Church's cruel Holy Sword experiments, of friends lost and a life reborn as a devil. No wonder he hated Holy Swords with a passion.
From the sidelines, Akeno's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Ara ara, so that's your weapon, Shuo-chan? It looks like an ordinary katana, but there's something… dangerous about it. Could it be some unknown Sacred Gear?"
Rias's gaze lingered on Zangetsu, a knowing smile touching her lips. She nodded in agreement.
Koneko's golden eyes narrowed, her voice low. "That sword radiates danger. Even I feel a little pressure just looking at it."
Tomoe, hearing this, found herself staring at Shuo's Zanpakutō, curiosity and awe mingling in her expression.
"I trust your instincts, Koneko," Rias said softly, affectionately ruffling Koneko's hair. She knew how sharp her rook's senses were—before becoming a devil, Koneko had been a nekomata youkai, her spiritual perception second to none.
Akeno clapped her hands, breaking the tension. "Looks like it's starting!"
Without hesitation, Shuo raised his blade, black energy swirling around him, blue lightning crackling along the ground. "Getsuga Tenshō!"
A surge of power exploded from his sword. The air split with a howl as a black crescent, wreathed in blue lightning, tore across the field. Thunder crashed, and arcs of energy gouged deep craters into the earth—each impact sending dirt and debris flying. The girls watching could only gape, their voices caught in their throats.
This was no ordinary Getsuga Tenshō. Shuo had fused it with the lightning of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, creating a slash that not only struck with devastating force but also caged its target in a net of electricity. Dodging was nearly impossible; the lightning sealed off every avenue of escape.
Kiba's eyes widened. He could feel the static crawling over his skin, muscles twitching, a numbness threatening to seize his limbs. "No way to dodge…" he muttered, jaw tight. Who the hell opens with their ultimate attack?
The black crescent was on him in a blink. Kiba swung his demonic sword, pouring magic into the blade, bracing for impact.
He underestimated the force. The instant their blades met, Kiba was blasted backward, skidding several meters before digging in his heels and stopping just short of the wall.
But Shuo pressed the attack. Lightning flared around him as he charged, moving so fast he left afterimages in his wake. Blade raised, he closed the gap in a heartbeat.
Kiba spun, sword flashing to meet Shuo's strike.
CLANG!
Steel clashed, sparks flying. The two locked blades, each pushing against the other, muscles straining. For a moment, they were evenly matched—but sweat beaded on Kiba's brow, his breath coming faster. Shuo's relentless assault was pushing him to the edge.
Seizing the opening, Shuo slipped his left hand free and drove his fist into Kiba's chest. The blow landed with a dull thud, sending Kiba sliding back until he hit the wall, breathless but still standing.
Disheveled but unbroken, Kiba straightened, a smile of genuine admiration on his lips. "Nangong-kun, you're incredible. I've never been pushed this far by swordsmanship alone."
What no one noticed—not even Kiba—was that, in the flurry of blows, Shuo had marked him with the Flying Thunder God seal. His ace in the hole, set without a trace.
Shuo planted Zangetsu in the ground, catching his breath, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You're too modest. Most people would've been down for the count after that. Your reaction time is unreal."
As expected of a peak mid-class devil, Shuo thought. He's not easy prey. My surprise attack barely rattled him—he took everything I threw at him and kept going. Guess a quick win was too much to hope for… but that's fine. This is what I wanted—a real fight.
On the sidelines, Rias and the others were speechless. The black slash, the crackling lightning, the sheer brutality of the exchange—none of them had ever seen swordsmanship like this.
Koneko stared at Shuo, her face a mask of disbelief. The image of him as a lazy, shut-in otaku had been burned into her mind. She'd always known he was strong, but this? This was something else entirely.
He's a monster… she thought, her lips pressing into a pout. "Nangong-senpai… you really are a bad guy."
For all his strength, he'd played the part of the ordinary student. If Rias and the others hadn't caught him killing that stray devil, he'd probably still be hiding it now.
Rias, meanwhile, struggled to contain the storm of excitement inside her. She'd known Shuo was talented—his victory over Tomoe had proven that—but this? Watching Kiba, her knight, forced onto the defensive, she felt a wild, reckless urge.
If only I could make him my Peerage member… The thought sent a flush to her cheeks. If Shuo were by my side, maybe… just maybe, I could break free from that engagement…
Akeno caught the look on Rias's face and smiled knowingly, saying nothing. She, too, found herself looking forward to what this boy would become.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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