31 Life: 2.2 The Training begins : Part 4

Our training commenced on regular basis.

I felt quite strong in these few days but was that enough!?.

[Partner considering your current strength. After boosting it a few times you could rival Raiser. But, he would mostly try to exhaust you until you reach him]

Yeah, he will be attacking in waves. His peerage is strong I could tell that. Also, he has [Phoenix Tears].

Let's get back to training. It isn't gonna solve the problem by just sitting around.

Later that night,

Up until now, we have repeated many formations of offense as well as defense. I saw Kiba sleeping in the next bed. He is amazing, isn't he? After knowing I was on his level he kicked up the gear and surpassed me. He gained all that through his hard work and experience, which I cannot copy.

I can't take it anymore. I woke up and walked out of the room to head to the kitchen for some water to drink. When I was drinking a cup of water—

"Ara? Your awake?"

Rias's voice came from the living room. When I look, there is Buchou who is sitting where the table is.

"Ah, Princess. Hello."

"Why are you so stiff? Good timing, let's talk for a bit."

I sit opposite to Rias where we have the table between us.

Rias is wearing a red negligee while wearing glasses and tying her crimson hair into one.

"Do you have bad eyesight"

"Oh, this? It's just for looks. I can think more clearly while having my glasses on. Fufufu, this is proof that I have been in the human's world for so long."

Rias chuckles. Even with glasses, she looked beautiful...

More like, she also looks wonderful when she wears a negligee!

On the table, loads of paper looks like a map and battle formation. ...Was she making a plan by herself at night?

Buchou closes the notebook with different strategies written on it.

"...To be honest, the only thing I will get by reading this is to have peace of mind."

Buchou says it while making a sigh.

"Why is that?"

"If the opponent is another High-class Devil, then we could fight by reading this. This book is written with lots of research. But that isn't the problem."

"? Then what's wrong?"

"Raiser himself. No, the biggest problem is that our opponent is the Phoenix."

Buchou takes out a book and then she explains the relation between Phoenix and its ability specifically the [Immortality]

"There are two ways you can defeat him. One is to beat him down with incredible power and the other one is to keep on taking him down until his mind crushes. The first method requires the strength of a God-class. The second one is to save our stamina until Raiser gets his mind crushed. Even if his body is immortal where he can resurrect his body many times, his mind isn't immortal. His mind will definitely tire down every time we defeat him. It's our win if we completely crush down the Phoenix's mind. Then he will stop resurrecting and he will fall. Well, the easiest way is to defeat him with a power that is on par with God that crushes him down with one strike which takes down both his body and mind."

Such a strike would be difficult to get and I don't think his servants would be just sitting around while we prepare for an attack. But ...Won't both methods need a lot of effort to it to pull off?

"Buchou."

"What is it?"

"Why do you hate Raiser...no, more like, why are you against this marriage?"

Buchou sighs at my question.

Certainly, Raiser seems like scum and is quite the womanizer, but I think she can't reject this arrangement if you think about Rias's house problem.

"...I'm a "Gremory"."

"Huh? W-Well, you certainly are..."

"No. I didn't re-introduce myself. I'm a Devil from the House of Gremory, and that name will follow me to wherever I go."

Oh, I think I get it.

"Do you hate it?"

"I feel proud of it. However, this is also something that is a burden to me. Everyone looks at me as Rias from the Gremory. I can't have them look at me simply as Rias. That's why I'm enjoying my life in the human world. They don't know about the Gremory the Devil. Everyone looks at me as who I am. I really like that feeling. I never felt something like this in the Devils' society, and I never will now on as well. The only time I can enjoy my life as myself is when I'm in the human world."

Rias has a distant look. She also has very sad eyes.

"I want to be with someone who will love me as Rias without the fact that I'm a Gremory. That's my small dream I have... Unfortunately, Raiser only looks at me as Rias from the house of Gremory. And he loves me as Rias from the Gremory or the heir to the house of Gremory. That's why I hate it. But still, the pride of being a Gremory is very important. My feelings may be complicated, but I want to cherish this small dream I have."

That's the small dream you have huh. Maybe I could complete it now.

I stood up and went beside the window. After turning back,

"I like you the way you are"

As I said that 'Uh' was heard, with a cute little voice like she was surprised and she had a red face all of sudden.

I then made my way towards her.

"I don't give a damn about 'Gremory' I like you for who you are. I like you as 'Rias' not because you are my master or you saved my life or such that. It's just a feeling I get which I can't put into words. I could just say that I like you for what you are."

I then poked her forehead with my finger as Itachi does with Sasuke.

I turned again and said

"Besides you were the one who let a worthless person like me choose his dream. I can't thank you enough for that. Even being your servant you treated me more like a family. After a long time, I could feel that warmth because of you. I was truly glad that you didn't abandon me. I am truly a worthless person to show you such side of me—"

HUG

—!

Before I could react Rias hugged me from behind into a tight embrace. Her big mounds were squashing on my back as she said

"You are not worthless Ise. And I won't ever abandon you, never ever"

I unconsciously leaned back and after a while, I turned around

"Thank you"

"I know you are lacking confidence Ise. Let's meet tomorrow okay!"

CHU

I received a peck on my cheek before she left with a red face

"That was unexpected. Well, let's look forward to tomorrow"

The next morning I was sparring with Kiba and I was told to only use my sacred gear truth be told I didn't have any confidence in beating Kiba without [Sharingan].

"Ise we will start battle after two minutes after you have activated your sacred gear."

"Boost!!"

[Boost!]

After ten seconds

[Boost!]

After two minutes passed

"[Boosted Gear]! Let's go Ddraig"

[Explosion]

It's like a stopper to my gear. After this, I can battle with my current accumulated power for a certain time. Time depends on my usage of the power of attacks I use.

"Begin"

SWISH!

Oh crap, Kiba vanished.

I sensed something coming from my side so I put my hand to block it.

BANG!

The strike was blocked.

He was shocked momentarily. Gap, then I punched in the gap but he vanished

SWISH!

Sure [Knight] speed is truly great. I looked for him he was nowhere to be found. Above!?

I acted on my instinct and raised my left hand

BANG!

The strike was blocked but I received a slight impact. Kiba strikes me with a piercing attack I took guard against it but unfortunately it was a fake and the attack landed on my head. Damn! This must be the first time anyone could hit me. If only I had my [Sharingan]. On the other, though I have been depending on it too much.

"Ise! Shoot a block of Demonic-power"

I took a distance between us by doing a backflip and put my left hand in front and gathered concentrated Demonic-energy in it. The sphere started to increase in size.

GUOOOOOOO!

Eventually, it became as little as the size of a football. I then shot it

SWISH!

And as expected Kiba dodged it

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!

The mountain to which the sphere collided was flattened.

[Reset]

So this is the power of [Boosted Gear]

After that Kiba came and said

"I decided to end it with my first strike. But I am shocked"

"Now you see Ise. You are totally worth it"

Said Rias.

After that was the day of our match with Raiser.

The day for Decisive Battle.