Rias's squad huddled together, voices low but spirits high, plotting how to bring this Rating Game to a close.
Kiyome Abe couldn't hold back her excitement. "President, what's there to talk about? With the power we've got now, who needs strategy? Let's just bulldoze them and see how that turkey reacts!"
Akeno's lips curled into a sly smile. "Ara ara, Kiyome-chan's got a point, Rias. A direct confrontation is the only way. If we crush them head-on, no one will dare question your engagement again."
Rias nodded, a confident grin lighting her face. "If that's the consensus, let's show them what we're made of."
"Understood!" The team exchanged glances, battle lust sparking in their eyes. No more holding back—they charged straight for Riser's position.
Spectators shook their heads as Rias's group rushed in. Reckless. Outnumbered, outgunned, and now they'd given away their location. If Riser's team managed a surround…
Meanwhile, Riser was deep in tactical thought when five distinct waves of magic slammed toward him. His expression twisted—Rias was coming for him, no tricks, no hiding.
So she never took me seriously, huh?
Riser scoffed. "Fine, Rias. If you're so eager for defeat, I'll oblige." He snapped out orders for his team to engage.
Moments later, both sides collided near a park.
Riser sneered, "Rias, whatever you're scheming, you must be ready to lose if you're coming at me head-on."
Rias's response was ice-cold. "Don't count your victories yet."
"Enough! Hit them hard—teach them a lesson!" Riser barked.
A Knight and two Pawns surrounded Kiyome, but she just glared, indignant. "Three against me? You're seriously underestimating the future queen of magical beasts."
The Knight snorted, "A low-class devil with a big mouth."
They lunged, aiming to finish her in a single blow.
Kiyome's lips curled into a wicked grin. With a flourish, she summoned three magical beasts: a jade-green serpent dragon, a silver-white demon tiger, and a three-eyed golden wolf.
The three attackers froze, stunned. "What—how—?"
Kiyome pointed. "Make them disappear. Anyone who looks down on us deserves it."
Her beasts surged forward. The serpent dragon spat a stream of venom at a Pawn, who collapsed, skin turning sickly green before dissolving into light. The demon tiger unleashed a wave that knocked the other Pawn unconscious and out of the game.
The Knight, who'd dared to mock Kiyome and her wolf, got the worst of it—a single bite from the golden wolf, and she was left riddled with wounds, blood pooling before she vanished.
The audience erupted. A low-class devil with beasts like these? The three-eyed golden wolf alone radiated power on par with a high-class devil—maybe even an ultimate-class. The entire stadium buzzed with disbelief.
Across the field, Yuuto Kiba faced his own challenge—a Knight and four Pawns boxed him in.
Yuuto didn't flinch. He summoned a demonic sword, gripping it with both hands as he sized up his opponents.
The Knight eyed him, katana ready, and scoffed. "You think you can take all five of us? Don't make me laugh. Get ready to be sent packing."
Yuuto's smile was pure confidence. "If anyone's leaving, it's you."
He vanished in a blur.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared before the Knight, sword flashing—her katana snapped in two, and she was launched backward.
She stared at her broken blade, eyes wide. "How are you so fast?!"
They were both Knights, both trained in speed and swordplay. But Yuuto was moving at a level she couldn't even track. And the raw power behind his strike—impossible.
The four Pawns gaped, unable to process what just happened.
Yuuto struck again, a shadow in motion. In less than a second, he was behind the Knight, blade piercing through. She dropped to her knees, terror on her face before dissolving into particles.
The remaining Pawns rallied, attacking from all sides. It was a good plan—on paper.
Yuuto's sword flicked out, slicing one into oblivion. He moved with unhurried precision, dispatching each Pawn with a single swing. In four seconds, all five were out.
Two years in the Time Chamber had pushed Yuuto to his limits—ten times earth's gravity, non-stop sparring, Shuo's merciless training. Now, freed from that weight, he felt light as air, every movement effortless. Against these low-class devils, he was unstoppable.
Yuuto dismissed his sword and strode back to Rias, smiling. "Mission accomplished, President. All clear."
Rias's smile was serene. "Thank you, Yuuto. Now let's sit back and watch Koneko and Akeno do their thing."
Riser was left speechless. Not only had Yuuto wiped out five opponents in seconds, but Rias was telling him to stand down and let the others finish the job.
The magical broadcast audience was no less stunned. Everyone knew the numbers favored Riser, and the power gap was supposed to be vast. But Yuuto's breakthrough to high-class devil level—matching Riser himself—was unthinkable.
No one had believed Rias's side could win. Now, with Kiyome's monstrous summons and Yuuto's overwhelming display, the tide had turned. And Rias's Queen and Rook hadn't even shown their true power yet.
In the Occult Research Club, Sona Sitri watched the match, her gaze flicking from the screen to Shuo, who was using her lap as a pillow. Her expression was a mix of shock and disbelief.
Shuo had said Rias's team had "improved a bit." Sona almost wanted to ask if this was his idea of "a bit," but she held her tongue for now.
More than anything, she was desperate to see what Rias and Akeno could do next.
Back in the dimensional battlefield, Riser's face was thunderous. So many eliminated already—he barked at his remaining Peerage, "I refuse to believe all of Rias's team are monsters! Take out her Rook first!"
Two Rooks, a Pawn, and Riser's sister Ravel surrounded Koneko.
But Koneko's eyes were cold, her expression unreadable. Not a trace of fear.
Ravel shrank back, voice trembling. "Um, hi! I'm just here in name, really—I don't plan on fighting. I'm just here to watch. I'm terrible at combat, so you don't need to worry about me…"
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