24 Rating Games1

[Now it's the time for the commencement of the battle. Also, this match will continue till dawn in the humans time. So, the Game starts now.] 

RING RING 

The ringing of School bell signified the start of the first Rating game for Nishimoto Ken and his allies.

"Everyone, Will you please put this transceiver on your ears"

Akeno hands over an earphone look-alike magical device.

"We will be using that to communicate with each other during the Rating game," Rias said "Before the game starts, We should discuss the plan first"

When she noticed everyone nodding their head in agreement she ordered "Perfect, Yuuto!"

"Hai!" 

Kiba brought up a map from somewhere and stretched it across the whole table. It was a complete map of the School with consecutive horizontal and vertical lines drawn, dividing the whole map into several tiny squares. Each square closely resembles a box over a chessboard.

Rias picked up a red marker lying on the table and drew two circles, One was surrounded by woods on all sides-- The old school building and the other was the first building one will see after entering the school grounds through the gate "These two are the "Base" for us and riser during this rating game. For either of the [pawns] to use promotion, they have to enter the premises of the other party's Base...Riser has a numeric advantage over us, so the first thing we need to do is to block all their paths of using promotion. The first way is through the football ground/Gymnasium. And the second is through the training halls..."

She lifted her head to look at Kiba and Koneko "I need you two to set up traps in the woods. If Riser's servants did try to invade through this path, Use the woods to your benefit...Despite their numerical advantage, We will have an advantage over them in terms of field advantage"

Both the people in question gave a resolute nod. Rias looked at Akeno "Akeno. Your Job is to stay on standby and assist Kiba and Koneko in case they are overwhelmed by numbers"

" Ara Ara, I can do anything with them right?" Akeno licked her lips as an excited blush crept up her face. Rias shook her head slightly and replied with a slight smile "Yeah, Do whatever you want. But...I also want you to deal with Riser's queen- Yubelluna. can you do it?"

"Ufufufu, The 'bomb queen' is it? Leave it to me Rias" 

"And What is my role in this, Buchou" Ken asked pointing at himself.

"You, my dear Kenny, will be a decoy..." She confidently declared

"Huh...But, I can fight, You know?" She chortled, looking at the funny face Ken made "I didn't mean it that way...What I meant was, just like me, Riser will also be prepared to prevent you from using the Promotion function of [pawn] piece. However arrogant he may act, I have little doubt that he will make such a bold mistake as to let you promote into the queen piece, so his servants will be here to intercept you in case you decide to rush into their base..." She tapped at the farthest location in the football ground on the map, from their base of operation. 

A look of realization spread across Ken's face as he murmured "I see. So my job is to just directly rush into the Trap, engage whatever many servants waiting to ambush, and delay the fight as long as possible. This way, they will get a false sense of superiority that everything is going according to their plan and they will let their guard down. You will capitalize on that...But that begs a question..." Ken narrated everything from the plan "...Are you going to face Riser yourself Buchou?"

Let your enemies bathe in their luminous brilliance, And when the time comes, strike them from the shadow cast by their own light. 

Having a numeric disadvantage meant that they could not win a battle of attrition. If Rias decided to play a slow game, then their side would constantly get tired, and despite being stronger than the opposition, they would eventually lose. She wanted to sweep the field as fast as possible, For that to happen she had to strike her enemy fast... and hard. 

In this case, Rias will invade Riser's castle herself from the farthest left through the Assembly hall. Riser, being a veteran would certainly not expect a fellow 'King' to move before even the pawns fell and would be caught completely off-guard. 

She nodded "Of course, I have also trained with you, and am much stronger than previously. I will show the devil society and my father that Riser isn't worthy of marrying me. I will fight him and blast him and this...this stupid arrangement with my own might"

It was a simple strategy...A good one, especially where the terrain does not allow for guerilla warfare to slowly chip away the enemy's number. 

However, this tactic has a simple flaw... It was based on the assumption that he would send every one of his pieces into the fight and sit alone in the student council. Which means...

Ken stared at her face for a few moments and sighed in defeat, He knew better not to butt heads with Stubborn people like the redhead "...Whatever...I will just push them enough that he would be forced to dispatch everyone...Just be careful when fighting him..."

"Fufufu, Don't Worry Kenny, I will make sure that stupid, blond chicken doesn't wake up today again" All chuckled at her use of the adjective of describing riser.

With that everyone went back to relaxing, Koneko Went back to eating her sweets, and Kiba started polishing his swords.

And Ken went back to studying the artistic technology and Decoding information contained in this artificial space.

***

Ken was leisurely walking down the path of the gymnasium, His steps dragging against the hard, concrete floor, constantly producing an unpleasant grinding noise that echoed within the halls of the gymnasium.

"Are you guys even trying to hide properly? I can see your staff peeking through the walls" He questioned, Despite the nonchalant tone, his voice was carried evenly through the halls. It was also clearly heard by his 'opponents' as they came out of hiding.

A total of eight people came out, Each with varying shades of emotions coloring their face, all ranging from steadfast determination to downright rage. 'Wow...It seems I won't have to draw them out huh...guess what, Luck's on my side today...'

"Oh....! Aren't you the one that I accidentally knocked out in our previous meeting? What was your name again...? Mir-...Mar...Mie...Mur-..." 

The blue-haired girl wearing a white haori with a red obi under a red happi coat gritted her teeth in anger and humiliation, Her face mirroring her coat as she looked at the black-haired bastard who had humiliated her in front of her master previously, and was constantly getting her name incorrect... intentionally!!

"Mira!! It's Mira, you stupid man!" It wasn't she who corrected him, instead, It came from above. Ken tilted his head to the top of the Gymnasium building and looked directly at the twin-tailed, blonde girl who had her hair styled in large, drilled curls. "Who the hell are you? No wait...Why are you wearing a gown dress in a freaking rating game?!"

"S-Sh-Shut up! What I wear has nothing to do with you!" She turned away from him, Her face as red as the other girl. Ken shrugged his shoulder, ignored her not-so-subtle sneaking glances, and turned towards the others who were eagerly ready to welcome him "Why is every one of you after my blood? Surely it wasn't only for the little skirmish after that day, right?"

"Who are you ignoring, nyaa~!" 

"She is Riser sama's little sister, nyaa~!" 

Vroom

Vroom

It was the twins with turquoise hair who spoke, both carrying an oversized blue chainsaw in their hands. 

"That's right! How dare you ignore me, I am a pure-blooded devil from the prestigious Phenix clan. I am the first daughter of the current head of the Phenix family, My name is Ravel Phenix!" the drill-haired girl answered with the smugness expected of a pompous noble as she stuck out her modest chest. 

If Ken were to be honest, she looked quite cute wearing a white off-the-shoulder dress with blue accents and flounce sleeves as she stuck a pose, like a kitten asking for attention and praise. Normally he would've complimented her, throwing some flowery comments about her beauty, etc. But...

Clap Clap

"Wow...Who could have guessed that, given the flaming wings protruding from your back?" Right now, he had a mission to keep them engaged as long as possible.

"Everyone attack!!" Seemingly fed up with Ken, the blonde- Ravel ordered everyone. The others hollered at the top of their lungs and simultaneously charged at Ken"Hoh...So the peanut gallery also has some use except spectating from the sidelines..."