Chapter 13

Issei took the chance offered and started hacking at the stuck arm with his swords, finally cutting it off in a geyser of black blood and a roar of pain and fury from Boneripper.

You have cut off one of Boneripper's limbs! You have increased the [Bleeding] Status to [Heavy Bleeding]!

Issei backed off so he could give Boneripper a once over. The monster's tail and left arm were severed, disgorging gouts of blood that was pooling around its clawed feet. The Rat Ogre was breathing heavily and was probably going into shock due to the damage Issei had inflicted and the amount of blood it had lost.

[Boost!]

You have been affected by the status effect [Boost!]! Your power has been doubled!

[Boost!] Limit Reached! Starting Countdown.

3:00...

2:59...

2:58...

"Farsqueaker! It's time to finish this!" Issei yelled once he saw the timer. He charged at Boneripper, who raiser its only remaining hand sluggishly to strike at the pesky enemy that was killing him.

The Sekiryūtei dodged the clumsy and slow attack, spinning around to drive both of his blades into the gut of the Rat Ogre, dragging them through its body before ripping them out, and disembowelling the monster in an explosion of blood.

You have fatally wounded Boneripper! He will die in 5:00!

With a choking growl, its clawed paw futilely trying to keep its guts from spilling out, Boneripper collapsed onto its knees before it slammed face first onto the arena floor with a thump, spilling Farsqueaker from his perch and sending him sprawling to the floor.

"NO! Boneripper!" the fat ratman yelled in disbelief.

Issei didn't waste any more time with Boneripper and charged at Farsqueaker. The ratman came to his senses when he spotted Issei and he lashed out with what remained of his whips, but to no avail as the Sekiryūtei cut through them.

"NO! This cannot happen!" Farsqueaker shrieked in terror as he cast away his whips and drew out a steel dagger with each of his arms before attacking rabidly with them, forcing Issei onto the defensive from the ferocity of the ratman's attack.

"What's wrong? I thought you were better than Byral?" Issei taunted him as the Sekiryūtei dodged another frantic swipe of a blade, "You don't look so good by the way. Not been getting enough exercise?"

It was true. Farsqueaker was panting like a steam engine at full tilt after just a minute or so of combat. Even Issei had been better than that at first.

"SILENCE!" the ratman shrieked, "Die-die-die-die-die-die-die-die-die!"

"You first!" Issei grunted as he kicked Farsqueaker in his rotund belly, making him stagger back, then stuck his swords into the rat's body, one in the chest and one through the stomach.

"Gah…no…how…could this…" the rat rasped, "I…am a…genius! How could I…lose…to a Man-Thing?!"

With that, Farsqueaker slumped, Issei drawing his swords out to allow the body of the Grand Packmaster to fall to the floor completely. He then went over and gave Boneripper a mercy stroke, severing its head. He then dismissed the [Boosted Gear], with only seconds to spare on the timer.

You have slain Boneripper! You gain 600 EXP!

You have slain Farsqueaker, the Grand Packmaster! You gain 700 EXP!

You have acquired X4 Steel Knives!

You have acquired X2 Skill books (Unknown Skills)!

You have acquired the [Dissimulator Necklace]!

You have acquired ¥6000!

[Boost!] has levelled up! LV1-LV2!

As a result of repeated actions, the skill [Observe] has been created.

[Observe] (Active) [LV1, 00.00]

A skill that allows the user to view information about people, animals and objects that this skill is directed upon. The higher this skills level is, the more information is gathered. Five MP per use.

As a result of repeated actions, the skill [Ambidextrous] has been created.

[Ambidextrous] (Passive) [LV1, 00.00]

A skill that permit's the user to use the off-hand for tasks. The higher the level of this skill, the more skilled the user will become with all manner of tasks.

- Passively reduces the Off-Hand penalty from 95% to 80%.

As a result of repeated actions, the skill [Knife Throwing] has been created.

[Knife Throwing] (Active/Passive) [LV1, 00.00]

Although called 'knife throwing', this skill is actually for the throwing of any handheld bladed weapon. The higher the skill level, the more damage each thrown weapon will deal and the longer range you will be able to throw.

- Passively grants +5 DEX.

- Actively grants the user the ability to throw knives, with damage calculated as STR {Plus} Weapon Damage {Divided} by 2.

- Range: 8 Feet.

- Bonus Damage: 0.

"OK…that's cool." Issei said with a grin. He was curious about the necklace so he equipped it and was taken aback by the loud trumpeting that came out of nowhere.

[Congratulations!]

You have gathered the three pieces of the [Unknown] set of equipment! You gain ¥1000!

Acquiring all pieces of the [Unknown] set grants you one random lesser skill!

You gain [Lesser HP Regeneration]!

[Lesser HP Regeneration] (Passive) [LV1, 00.00]

The regeneration rate of half-devils and lesser demons.

- Regeneration Rate of 1HP every 15 Minutes.

Issei nodded happily. He'd needed something like that, since HP potions didn't seem to be forthcoming for whatever reason. He then checked out the [Dissimulator Necklace].

[Dissimulator Necklace]

Part of the Unknown set. This necklace alters the voice of the user to be utterly gender neutral and inflectionless. As a result, however, you suffer a 25% penalty to any attempt to any [Persuade] or [Seduce] actions taken while wearing this necklace.

"Really?" he said, and then paused in surprise. He really sounded different!

"Now to get outta here…" he said, only for the door to slam shut behind him. Again.

Issei shook his head in exasperation. He really should have expected that, but no, he had to open his mouth.

"Well then, if I were a way out, where would I be?" Issei muttered, his eyes locked onto the box where Farsqueaker had stood when he had initially entered the arena. Resolved, Issei jogged over to the box and used his new daggers to climb up to the box. Just as he hopped over the edge, however, the arena door cracked, crumbled and collapsed. Issei put his hood up rather hastily. Then his jaw dropped as he saw who was striding through the shattered doorway.

Rias Gremory LV40

[Heiress of the House of Gremory/Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess]

Akeno Himejima LV38

[Queen of Gremory/Priestess of Lightning]

Kiba Yuuto LV 35

[Knight of Gremory/Holy Sword Project Sole Survivor]

Tōjō Koneko LV33

[Rook of Gremory/Shirone]

"What the hell?!"

"Let's go!" - Regular Speech

'Oppai!' - Thoughts

[BOOST!] - Sacred Gear/Ddraig Speech

Issei was having trouble adjusting to this situation.

Being targeted by a weird secret society that hated paranormals and supernaturals was one thing. Having four of the most popular members of my school glare him down was quite another.

[Gamer's Mind] Activated!

Whew. That was a relief. Now he could plan things out properly.

Rias Gremory was one of the 'Two Great Onee-sama' of Kuō Academy. Her western beauty was highly attractive, just as her mysterious air lent the allure of the unknown to her. President of the Occult Research Club, it was completely unknown what they got up to in their Clubhouse in the old school building.

Similarly, Himejima Akeno was the other Great Onee-sama of the Academy and was the Yamato Nadeshiko to Rias' Western Beauty. Rumours had it she was the keeper of a Shinto Shrine somewhere in Kuō. Also a member of the ORC.

Yuuto Kiba was the so-called 'Prince' of the Academy and was disliked by almost all the males, but especially by Issei, Motohama and Matsuda. Aside from being kind and considerate to all females, nobody really knew much about him. Also a part of the ORC.

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