The next day—early in the morning.
Asia, dark circles under her eyes and yawning, ate her breakfast bite by bite.
At this time, Arata, full of energy, had already walked down the stairs.
[Origin +1]
Looking at the text messages from last night, Arata nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing Arata, Asia's face flushed, and the events from last night came rushing back to her mind.
No! I shouldn't think about that…
She clasped her hands in a prayer gesture. "Almighty God, please forgive me for this… ah… it hurts."
…
Two days later.
It was the weekend.
Kuoh school was already quiet.
Lin Luo led his companions to the Occult Research Department.
At this moment, not only were Rias and the others present, but even Sona had arrived.
Without prior coordination, they all focused their attention on Esdeath and the others.
After all, these new followers all seemed extremely powerful.
Toujou Koneko muttered after a glance, "Arata, the erotic devil."
"Kitten, I haven't seen you in so long, and you still say that? It really hurts my feelings," Lin Luo replied with a teasing smile.
"Don't be ridiculous—it's only been a dozen days."
"Really? Isn't it more than ten years?"
"Okay, Arata, stop teasing the kitten," Rias said helplessly. "The firebird is already prepared in the other dimension."
Akame blinked. "Another dimension? What is that?"
"You can think of it as an artificially created alien world where ranking games are played without impacting reality," Arata explained.
He then looked at Sona and said with a smile. "Why, you came to watch the fun too?"
"I'm not that bored," Sona replied, pushing up his glasses. "This ranking game involves two pure-blooded demons, and I am the only one qualified to act as a referee."
Arata suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
"Then, please prepare to enter the alien space," Sona said, waving his hand. A dazzling magic circle appeared on the ground.
"Arata, be careful!" Rias said with concern.
"Don't worry!"
Arata waved and stepped onto the magic circle with his followers.
Buzz!
In a flash of light, Arata and the others vanished.
"Rias, can Lin Luo really win?" Sona asked after Lin Luo left.
This ranking game had caused a sensation throughout the underworld.
Almost all the demon nobles doubted Lin Luo's chances.
After all, his opponent this time, Riser Phoenix, was of pure phoenix bloodline.
In previous ranking games, he had rarely lost. Even if opponents were stronger, he would eventually wear them down with his immortal body.
Rias smiled. "I believe in Arata. He will definitely win."
Himejima Akeno chimed in, "I agree with the Buchou. And it's not just Lin Luo—all his followers are very strong."
Although it was the first time she had met Esdeath and the others, Akeno could sense their battle-hardened aura.
"I hope it turns out as you expect," Sona said with a smile.
"After all, apart from being a little lustful, Arata's command flag is impressive."
"Why, you're not planning to take advantage of my fiancé too?" Rias teased.
"If it's Sona, I don't mind."
"You… what are you talking about?" Sona widened his eyes, feeling his ears burn.
"Ah, are you shy?" Rias smiled slightly but stopped teasing—after all, the competition was about to begin.
…
A different space.
The sky was painted with chaotic colors, as if each hue had been thrown randomly across the canvas.
"This place doesn't seem any different from Kuoh," Kasumigaoka Utaha said sarcastically, glancing around. "This alternate dimension is really perfunctory."
"As long as it's strong enough, it works," Arata replied, shaking his head. "Originally, this so-called alien space was prepared so demons could fight freely."
"So, no matter how much noise we make, it doesn't matter, right?"
Esdeath's icy blue eyes narrowed, a dangerous curve forming at the corners of her mouth. "Master, can I make a scene this time?"
"It's up to you. No need to show mercy," Arata said calmly.
As they spoke, Sona's voice rang out.
"The rules of the ranking game are as follows:"
"The Riser side uses the principal as their base camp."
"Arata's side uses the old school building's supernatural department as its base camp."
"Any soldier from either side who reaches the other side's base camp can be upgraded."
"Now, the game begins!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha analyzed quietly. "According to the rules, improving our soldiers' combat power is top priority. So why not—"
"No need to bother," Arata interrupted. "It's just a firebird. Why would it need strategy?"
As he spoke, Arata had already walked toward the principal's office.
The women followed closely behind. The master had made his decision. Excellent dependents only needed to execute it.
Not long after, the principal's office came into view.
A group slowly emerged.
Their leader had fierce eyes and looked like a gangster. But a burning aura surrounded him.
"Hahaha, I must say… you're a little beyond my expectations," Riser said, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"He actually came here so openly," one of his men murmured.
"Is this confidence… or recklessness?"
The moment the words fell, surging flames erupted from Riser's body, climbing like a storm, covering the sky.
As the inheritor of the phoenix bloodline, he was immortal. In terms of firepower, he was top-tier in the underworld.
Yet facing this, not a single flicker of fear appeared on Arata, Esdeath, or the others' expressions.
They seemed to be watching a clown perform.