"Then stand back. Don't get in my way." Koneko's gaze softened—just a little—as she addressed Ravel.
But the moment passed in a heartbeat. One of Riser's Rooks stepped forward, eyes cold, voice dripping with arrogance. "Koneko Toujou, this is Lord Riser's command. You'd better step down quietly!"
She didn't wait for a reply. With a burst of bravado, the Rook lunged, fist flying—no tricks, just raw force.
No one expected what happened next. Koneko didn't dodge. She shifted her stance, palm snapping out to meet the attack head-on.
The collision was thunderous. The Rook's scream tore through the battlefield's hush as her arm snapped, the force sending her tumbling, blood spraying.
"How is this possible? Isn't Koneko Toujou supposed to be the weakest?" gasped a spectator.
All the intelligence on Rias's Peerage had pegged Koneko as their weakest link. That's why they'd sent a mid-class Rook to handle her—restore some face for Riser. But after that single, devastating exchange, it was clear: Koneko was a wild card.
She turned, eyes glinting coldly as she swept her gaze over the remaining three. Her presence was overwhelming—enough to make even seasoned fighters blanch.
"Come at me together. I don't have time to waste." Her voice was calm, almost bored.
The injured Rook staggered back, barking, "You two, with me! Take her down!"
"Right! There's no way she's that strong. Together!" The three rushed in, forming a pincer.
On the sidelines, Rias and her team looked utterly unconcerned, as if this was all going according to plan.
"Iron Body." Koneko's magic surged, her body hardening as the trio's attacks landed. It was like punching steel—their blows bounced off, pain ricocheting up their arms. They stared at her, stunned.
"Weak," Koneko muttered.
"Second Gate—Open." She vanished, the ground shattering where she'd stood. In a blink, she was in front of the already-injured Rook.
"Finger Gun." Her fingers tensed, stabbing forward in a blur. Non-lethal, but brutal—turning the Rook into a human pincushion. The girl collapsed, bloodied, then dissolved into light and vanished from the field.
Koneko moved like mist, weaving between the last two. Her fists struck with frightening speed—both opponents coughed blood, bodies battered, before they too were eliminated.
Up in the stands, Riser could only stare as his Peerage—everyone but his Queen and little sister—was wiped out.
How? How could Rias's team be this strong? Kiba, a Knight, had already shown power beyond a Rook. And now Koneko—her strength and speed were monstrous. Were they all monsters?
He wasn't alone in his shock. Across the Underworld, devils watched in awe and confusion.
"Rias's servants…?" Even Maou Sirzechs, seated among the VIPs, was taken aback. As Rias's brother, he knew exactly how strong Koneko should be. Or so he thought.
From what he'd just seen, Koneko had at least reached mid-class devil strength, maybe even high-class in that explosive burst. Seven days to reach this level? Unbelievable.
A slow smile tugged at Sirzechs's lips. "So this is the handiwork of that human boyfriend… Shuo Nangong, was it?" He'd heard plenty from his wife Evelyn about Shuo's role in training Rias's team.
With servants like these, Rias and her Queen must be even more formidable. Maybe—just maybe—she really could overturn this political marriage. This Rating Game was turning out to be something no one expected.
And Sirzechs found himself intensely curious about the boy behind it all.
Back on the battlefield, Koneko's icy gaze landed on Ravel, who instinctively shrank back several steps. But Koneko's voice softened.
"You don't have to worry. Shuo-senpai told me you're different from your brother—kind, not a fighter. I won't hurt you. Just stay put and don't run around."
Ravel's cheeks flushed. "I—I see. Thank you for sparing me!" She remembered Shuo, her face growing even redder.
Koneko watched her, a flicker of disdain in her thoughts. Hmph. Shuo-senpai's just got a thing for her, doesn't he? Making excuses so I won't touch Ravel… Typical playboy.
On the other side of the field, tension simmered. Riser's Queen, Yubelluna—the infamous Bomb Queen—glared at the unfolding carnage.
"What is going on? Their power level doesn't match any of our intel!" she spat.
After seeing Kiyome and Kiba's overwhelming strength, Yubelluna had stopped underestimating Koneko. She'd planned to take Koneko out first, but Rias's Queen, Akeno Himejima—the Priestess of Thunder—stood in her way at every turn.
Forced to abandon her plan, Yubelluna's frustration burned.
Akeno's smile was as serene as ever. "Ara ara, it looks like everyone's finished their opponents. I suppose I can't fall behind. Shall we begin?"
Yubelluna's mind raced. I have to finish Akeno quickly, or Riser will be swarmed. If I don't act now, we'll really lose!
She summoned a magic circle overhead, unleashing a barrage of magical bombs. Explosions rained down toward Akeno.
But Akeno didn't flinch. With a sweep of her hand, she conjured thunder beasts—each one a match for a magical bomb. They surged forward, detonating the bombs midair.
"Is that all? I gave you your chance. Don't blame me for what comes next." Akeno's smile turned playful.
She soared upward, lightning swirling around her. In an instant, a massive thunder dragon coiled behind her and lunged at Yubelluna.
Yubelluna tried to dodge, but the dragon twisted in midair, homing in. Caught off guard, she was pierced through, lightning crackling.
Thunder crashed across the battlefield as Yubelluna's charred form hit the ground with a thud. She stared at her ruined body, disbelief etched on her face.
One hit. She'd been taken out in a single strike—by another Queen. She was a high-class devil. How could this be?
She gritted her teeth. Akeno must have used a forbidden technique. She can't do that again. But I still have my trump card.
Yubelluna clutched the Phoenix Tears—a precious treasure of the Phoenix clan—and poured its power into herself. In a flash, her wounds vanished. She stood, reborn and ready.
Akeno's voice drifted down, teasing. "I figured you'd have Phoenix Tears, being Riser's Queen. But that won't save you."
"Lightning Cage!"
Bolts of electricity spiraled, weaving a cage around Yubelluna in the blink of an eye.
Yubelluna hesitated. Why wasn't Akeno attacking? Was she planning something?
She readied a spell to break free, but Akeno's eyes blazed. "Thunderfall!"
Clouds gathered overhead, roiling with power. A storm of lightning erupted, crashing down upon the trapped Queen.
"And now—Ice Meteor!" Akeno's hair shimmered ice-blue, cold radiating from her body. The battlefield frosted over. A mountain-sized iceberg plummeted from the sky, aimed straight at the caged Yubelluna.
Yubelluna's eyes widened in terror. Trapped, helpless, she could only watch as lightning and ice closed in.
"No—NOOOO!"
The screams echoed as she was first electrocuted, then crushed beneath the glacier. Her form flickered, then dissolved into light—eliminated.
Silence fell.
Rias's team stood untouched. On Riser's side, only Ravel—who hadn't fought—and Riser himself remained.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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