So… this girl's actually my fan, huh.
That last remark almost made me lose focus, but I forced myself to recover, tightening my fist as I charged forward again.
Even so, while these girls clearly struggled to handle my attacks, they still managed to block them—and even counterattack.
You've got to be kidding me!?
I attacked with enough force to knock them unconscious or completely incapacitate them—based on the footage I'd seen of Riser's previous matches!
Of course, I had factored in that they'd been training recently… but still!
And their counterattacks were heavy. Even that Pawn—Mira—clearly had power comparable to a high-class devil.
I could feel the impact reverberating through my armor.
I glanced toward Xenovia and saw she was dealing with something similar.
A greatsword I could understand but a chainsaw? That should've been a joke weapon, yet the aura surrounding it was top-tier.
People often say the Gremory peerage's growth is abnormal, but that's because we've survived countless insane real battles—not just training.
And yet, Riser's peerage—who only recently started training—had all reached high-class devil levels?
No… that's impossible. There has to be some kind of trick.
"Hehe, curious? But I'm not going to spoil the secret here!"
That line confirmed it—there was something going on. And not through cheating, either.
I blocked an incoming strike with my arm, quickly flipping my palm to grab Xuelan's kicking leg.
"Take this!"
Mira thrust her staff at me during that opening, but I ignored it, landing a counter on Xuelan and forcing her to retire.
The staff slammed into my side, sending me crashing into the gym wall. Even through my armor, my breath caught for a moment.
"What a reckless counter!"
"Sorry about that. I'm a pure power type. No way I can skillfully handle multiple attacks at once."
As I said that, Mira regained her composure and attacked again.
Her overhead strike came down—but I stepped forward half a step and struck the base of her staff with my palm, forcing her stance to collapse.
"But, you know—I've been fighting Ikki since middle school. So in a one-on-one, I can manage counters decently well."
With her arms lifted and her guard wide open, I drove another palm strike into her abdomen—blasting her away. She vanished into light.
[One 'Rook' and one 'Pawn' from Riser Phenex's side—retired.]
Alright! Now to back up Xenovia and finish the rest—
Just as I turned, Xenovia's opponent vanished into light as well.
[One 'Rook,' two 'Knights,' one 'Bishop,' and four 'Pawns' from Riser Phenex's side—retired.]
Whoa—that announcement came all at once.
Looks like Shirone and Kiba finished their fights at nearly the same time.
If it took them this long, their opponents must've been strengthened too.
Well, no point overthinking it now.
"Issei, I'll head to assist the vice-president's group."
"Got it! Leave Riser to me!"
Following Rias's orders, Xenovia spread her devil wings and flew out of the gym.
I needed to head to the new school building too.
When I arrived at the new building, Shirone and Kiba had just gotten there as well.
"Rias, Shirone, Kiba, and I are entering the new building now."
[Understood. Three of Riser's remaining Pawns have advanced near the old building. We'll intercept them and then head your way.]
So the hidden Pawns had slipped through the battlefield unnoticed.
"It was likely Sister Kuroka. She can use illusions to conceal the presence of nearby allies even during combat."
I see… that's how they got close to the old building.
With Gasper's shadow creatures focused elsewhere, it's possible they really did slip through.
"The enemy King's presence is on the rooftop. Let's fly."
Riser… on the rooftop, huh.
[Three Pawns from Riser Phenex's side—retired.]
Good—Rias's group wrapped things up too.
"Let's go!"
At my signal, the two of them nodded and spread their wings—
Well, mine were dragon wings.
When we reached the rooftop, Riser was there as expected.
But there was someone else too—someone who absolutely shouldn't have been there.
"Yo. I've been waiting, Gremory peerage."
Standing there with arms crossed… was my best friend, Ikki.
"Whaaaaaaaaaat!? IKKI!? WHY!?"
I couldn't help but gape in shock.
The other two didn't shout, but their jaws were hanging open just the same.
"What do you mean 'why'? I'm the Bishop reinforcement for the Phenex peerage this time."
"No, no, no! The Bishop was supposed to be Kuroka-san—"
"Did anyone from the Phenex side actually confirm that? The method is simple. I participate as the Bishop—and Kuroka is my familiar."
…Oh, come on!!
I did think it was strange they allowed the Dragon King Fafnir earlier—but this was definitely set up for this exact moment!
And that fallen angel ex-governor—Azazel-sensei—is absolutely behind this prank!
He's probably laughing his head off in the audience right now!
Though honestly, Ikki and Kuroka going along with it makes them just as guilty.
"Seriously, Ikki! You're supposed to be on our side!"
"Relax. This match is mostly for fun. And besides, I'm going to marry Ravel someday—so Riser will be my brother-in-law. It's not strange for me to side with either."
This guy—he just casually dropped a future marriage declaration with a beautiful girl!
That's basically a proposal already, isn't it!?
"Ikki-senpai has already declared he'll take me and Sister Kuroka as his wives as well, so it's nothing new."
Still reading my mind as usual, huh, Shirone!?
So he's already proposed to all the girls around him!?
…It's not like I'm jealous or anything!!
"Issei, wipe those tears first."
My vision had gotten a bit blurry when I heard Rias's voice behind me.
Turning around, I saw Rias, Asia, and Gasper in his shadow form.
Looks like they caught up.
"Ugh… Rias. As you can see, this is the situation."
Even while half-crying, I gave my report. Rias responded with a wry smile.
"Yes, I understand. Issei and Shirone—you'll hold off Ikki. You two are the strongest duo in my peerage. The rest of us will take down Riser. Asia, summon Fafnir as well… and Shirone, I have one very important mission for you."
Rias paused, then looked at Shirone with a serious gaze.
"Tomorrow, we're having a girls' night. Drag Kuroka and Ravel there—even if you have to force them."
…Rias?
You just want to talk about romance, don't you?
Your eyes are sparkling like a maiden right now.
"…Understood. That was careless of me."
Yeah… definitely careless.
She's going to get interrogated thoroughly.
"Anyway, our objective doesn't change. With Yuuto and his holy sword at the center, we'll crush them with everything we've got!"
"Hah! You underestimate me. Even if you've grown over the past six months, I've been training too—sparring with Sairaorg himself. My toughness is nothing like before!"
Training… by trading blows with Sairaorg!?
Even with immortality, that's not something an ordinary mind could endure!
Riser used to be your typical arrogant noble brat…
But now, I really need to rethink that image.
"Shirone, let's go all out too! If we take down Ikki, Kuroka's effectively out as well. Let's score the biggest upset possible!"
"Yes. Prepare yourself, Ikki-senpai. Even if it's a game—no, because it's a game—we won't hold back!"
"Fuhahahaha! Come at me, Oppai Dragon and Hellcat! I, the All-Evil, shall face you! At least entertain me enough to polish my blade!"
Tch—he's really getting into it!
Then I won't lose either—as the Oppai Dragon!
Shirone and I charged at Ikki at the same time.
========
[Ikki's POV]
Issei and Shirone rushed toward me.
Since they'd already entered the new school building, Issei was in his Cardinal Crimson Promotion form from the start.
"IKKIIII!! I've gotta say this now! Why are you steadily building your way to becoming a Harem King while I keep getting interrupted at the worst possible timing every single time!?"
"Like I'd know!! That just means you're too hesitant! And if we're talking numbers, you actually have more girls! In fact, Riser's the one way ahead here!"
I've got four. Issei has six, including Rossweisse.
And Riser has fourteen!
That's triple mine—and still more than double Issei's!
Even while we argued, they entered my range.
As I moved to deflect Issei's usual straightforward punch, I caught a glimpse of the gem on his armor glowing blue—
I immediately switched from deflection to evasion, creating distance.
Looking back, I saw small white dragons flying around him.
If I'd deflected that punch, those dragons would've hit me and activated "Divide."
"Heh! What do you think? My new move Dividing Wyvern Fairies! It's power I gained after becoming a rival acknowledged by the past White Dragon Emperors!"
"…Do you attend that 'Breasts vs. Butts' meeting too?"
"…Sometimes the past emperors show up in my dreams and force me to join."
…Yeah, that tracks.
"You're perverted even in your dreams, Issei-senpai."
Well… it is Issei.
Still, those flying "Divide" abilities are a nightmare to deal with.
As Issei cloaked himself in draconic aura and Shirone in purifying flames, they pressed in close—
While white fire wheels and small white dragons swirled around us.
Attacks came from all directions, constantly shifting trajectories.
If you're not someone who can fight based on presence detection like me… you'd get hit almost instantly in close combat.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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