The moment her body recoiled, Koneko could clearly feel the force transmitted from Izumi's grip.
Hearing her mutter, Izumi chuckled lightly.
"Is that so? Here I thought Neko-chan stuck around because you overestimated me. Turns out you were looking down on me instead?"
Koneko's brow twitched. Was he deliberately twisting her words? Just as she opened her mouth to retort, a sudden surge of force blasted from Izumi's hand, forcing her to retreat several steps.
Izumi himself jumped backward as well, flicking the weapon in his hand outward.
"We're still fighting, remember? You shouldn't space out in the middle of combat. Otherwise, you really will lose, Neko-chan."
Koneko leaned back, barely dodging the weapon that whistled past her. She stepped forward to close the distance—but froze.
Izumi now held a bow.
"When it comes to archery, I'm… well, average. But I am legitimately an Archer-class fighter. If my shots go astray, don't blame me. I'm not actually aiming straight at you, after all."
As he spoke, Izumi drew the bowstring back—and a longsword appeared in his hand, held like an arrow.
Before Koneko could even process the sight, Izumi released.
The "arrow"—the sword—launched with terrifying force.
Koneko's expression changed instantly. She kicked off the ground and sprinted aside.
Izumi continued firing.Not just once.
Weapons flew from his hands like he had an endless supply—swords, spears, daggers, anything materializing into his grip only to be launched the next second. Every time Koneko tried to dash in and close the distance, a volley would force her back.
The students surrounding the training grounds stared, stunned.
Izumi—the quiet, unassuming first-year—was this strong?
Kato Megumi stood frozen in disbelief.Her desk neighbor—the one who always looked like he had just woken from a nap—was casually pushing back someone who wasn't even human.
Someone who was supposed to be E-plus rank, capable of temporarily reaching C-rank when serious.
And he was pushing her to the defensive.
Izumi grinned as he watched Koneko struggle to dodge the endless rain of steel.
"I'm done playing. Bye, Neko-chan."
The bow in his hands vanished.He snapped his fingers.
Snap.
—BOOM!
The moment the sound echoed, every weapon he had fired—still lodged in the ground or embedded in walls—erupted like planted explosives.
Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had kept one eye glued to Izumi the entire time, paled.
"Hey! Brat! Are you trying to kill Koneko?!"
Even Rias watching from afar stiffened.
That explosion wasn't a joke—at that level, a normal human would be vaporized. Even a devil wouldn't escape without serious injury.
Izumi only shrugged.
"Relax. I know what I'm doing. She'll be fine. None of those were actual high-grade armaments."
All the blades he had launched were low-quality pseudo-relics—barely stronger than common steel. Even the collapse effect he used wouldn't be lethal.
At most, it would knock out a sturdy youkai like Koneko.
After saying his piece, he turned and walked toward Megumi.
A real man never looks back at explosions.That was Izumi's policy.
As he left the battlefield, Koneko lay unconscious in the cratered ground.
Hiratsuka checked her condition and let out a long, long breath.
"Thank god…"
Around her, the students were buzzing with chaotic excitement.
"Holy crap, Izumi-kun is insane!"
"He destroyed Koneko-chan! And she's E+! She can reach C-rank!"
"So Izumi-kun is what? B? A? No way he's still categorized as F!"
More and more students had gathered once they heard explosions. Many could hardly believe Izumi was a new student.
Once Koneko was carried off to the infirmary by several girls, Hiratsuka shot Izumi a fierce glare—though he wasn't even looking her way anymore.
"Testing continues! And let me warn you all—don't pull any crazy stunts like that. I'm not going easy on anyone."
The remaining students gulped.
She still couldn't believe how absurd Izumi's strength was.This was beyond a normal third-year.
Many upperclassmen who had watched the scene unfold shifted their gaze toward Izumi.
On the rooftop, Rias Gremory stared down, eyes gleaming.
"...Akeno. What do you think? Should we invite him into the Peerage?"
Behind her, Himejima Akeno smiled with her usual serene expression.
"Ara ara… If the President wishes it, I don't mind at all.Besides… having a cute underclassman around sounds very fun."
She licked the corner of her lips slightly—clearly intrigued.
Beside them, Sona Sitri felt her heart tighten.If possible, she wanted Izumi too.
But Rias had already set her sights on him.
Rias stood, brushing her fingers through her crimson hair. She dispelled the concealment barrier around them.
A pair of devil wings unfurled behind her.
Without hesitation, she leapt off the rooftop and glided toward Izumi.
"Rias… you're too hasty!"Sona groaned, quickly taking off after her.
Akeno and the members of their Peerages exchanged amused looks and also spread their wings to follow.
Her sudden landing caused a stir throughout the training field.
Izumi was the first to notice her—and also the first to notice that her outfit, affected by insufficient anti-gravity stabilization, showcased… certain overwhelming advantages.
He couldn't help glancing.
Rias caught it.
She lifted a brow, then discreetly activated a magic circle to adjust her outfit. Being seen by Izumi was one thing; being seen by everyone else would have forced her to erase witnesses.
She let it go—for now.After all, this man was someone she intended to recruit.
Though she felt a little embarrassed.
She touched down in front of Izumi, her expression brightening.
"Izumi-kun. Would you be interested in becoming my servant?With me, you'll be able to grow even stronger."
"To easily defeat Koneko… you've certainly caught my attention."
The field erupted.
"RIAS—Rias Gremory herself—inviting a new student?!"
"Oh my god!!! Izumi is insane—this is like being scouted by a celebrity!"
Eyes full of envy locked onto Izumi.
The scene had become completely explosive.