Chapter 10: The Showdown Begins
The air in the Occult Research Club was heavy enough to crush bone. Outside, the dimensional barriers were already shimmering into place. We had sixty minutes before the gates to the "Battle Field" opened.
Issei was a mess of nerves, marching back and forth until Asia stepped in, pulling him into a tight, calming hug. While they had their moment, Rias sat on the velvet sofa, her eyes fixed on me.
"Motohama. Come here," she commanded, her voice soft but absolute.
I walked over, curious. "Yes, President?"
"Sit. Keep your head in my lap."
My brain short-circuited. 'Wait, isn't this the canon scene with Issei?' I thought, glancing at my friend. But Rias wasn't looking at him. She was looking at me with a tired, gentle smile. I obliged, resting my head on her thighs. Her skin was warm, and the scent of roses was intoxicating.
She began to comb through my hair with her fingers, her touch sending a magical pulse through my scalp that washed away the fatigue of training. I caught Issei's eye for a split second, and the sheer mental exhaustion of the last week hit me. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep instantly.
"He's exhausted," Rias whispered to the room, her fingers never stopping. "He's been carrying the weight for everyone. Let him rest until the clock strikes zero."
The Game Zone: Kuoh Academy Replica
BEEP—!
The countdown hit zero, and the world shifted. We stood in the courtyard of a perfect, silent replica of Kuoh Academy. The "Rating Game" had begun.
Rias shifted into Commander mode instantly. "Akeno, set the lightning traps in the north corridor. Kiba, you're on interception. Issei, Koneko, Motohama—you're with me to the Gymnasium. We take the high-value targets first."
We moved. The Phoenix team wasn't hiding their arrogance. Their Pawns appeared almost immediately, looking down at us like we were insects.
The Gymnasium Bloodbath
We burst into the gym, met by Yubelluna's elite Pawns.
Koneko engaged the Rook, her small fists creating shockwaves that cracked the floor. Issei was forced into a 2-on-1 fight against Ile and Nel, two twin Pawns who moved with annoying synchronicity.
"I've got this one!" I shouted, intercepting Meryl.
I didn't use the Dragon yet. I used the high-speed combat spells I'd practiced. Meryl was fast, but my movements were refined. I blocked a kick with a localized barrier and countered with a palm strike to her solar plexus that sent her skidding across the hardwood.
Suddenly, the roof groaned.
"Ara, ara~ It looks like you boys are struggling."
Akeno hovered above us, her priestess outfit fluttering as she channeled a massive, terrifying amount of lightning. With a sadistic giggle, she unleashed a purge. The gym was engulfed in a white-hot electrical storm.
I dove for cover behind a pile of mats, watching as the Phoenix Pawns were incapacitated in seconds. Akeno landed beside me, her eyes glowing with violet power. She leaned in close, her chest pressing against my shoulder as she wiped a smudge of dust from my cheek. "You did well to stay standing, Motohama-kun. A survivor's reward is waiting for you later."
The Woods and the Pervert's Gambit
As we moved toward the woods to regroup, Issei unleashed his new technique: Dress Break.
Within seconds, two more Phoenix Pawns were left shivering and exposed. Koneko looked at him with pure, unadulterated disgust. "You're a degenerate, Issei-senpai."
I sighed, shaking my head. 'This guy is purely a pervert unless Asia is in direct danger,' I thought. 'But hey, a win is a win.'
"Don't look at me like that, Motohama!" Issei cried, his face red. "It's effective!"
The Queen's Ambush
The victory was short-lived.
As we pushed through the dense trees, a sudden, overwhelming pressure hit us. A dark purple magic circle erupted beneath Koneko's feet.
"Koneko, get back!" I yelled, reaching for her, but it was too late.
Yubelluna, the "Queen of the Phoenix," appeared like a vengeful shadow. With a single, concentrated burst of High-Class demonic energy, she slammed Koneko into the ground, incapacitating her instantly.
Issei froze in shock. I felt the Black Dragon Core in my chest begin to throb with a violent, angry heat.
The Queen looked at us, a cruel smile on her lips as she adjusted her revealing outfit. "The Rook is down. Now, shall we see if the Pawns have any bite, or just barks?"
I stepped forward, my golden eyes flashing. The "Calm before the Storm" was over.