Arc 1 - Chapter 22: I'll Be Watching
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Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.
The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.
"Speech"
Time*
Arc 1 - Chapter 22: I'll Be Watching
"Okay, let's get things started. Rias. Send your servant away and we can start our first training." Chikao rather not fall under one of the routes, that just bring in more drama than it should, even if it's part of the many main routes he wanted to take. But, Chikao has many other different options to still reach the main routes without any problems; therefore, if he can avoid dealing with headaches. He will take it, even if it means Chikao has to take extra effort into doing the task.
Without waiting for others to react. Chikao heads to the backyard while already have many ways to train Rias to make her become strong enough to beat Riser and his peerage alone in the shortest among of time before the Rating Game.
A few minutes later*
"Now, unlike the others. I'm someone that cheated my way of removing the main number one common weakness that many Magicians have, which is being weak in close-ranged combat." Chikao said to Rias, who nods in agreement with that and curious about how one would cheat into removing this weakness. "Now, most Magicians would go for the route of fighting long-distance attacks and trying to keep this distance away from their targets; however, there are some rare few cases of Magicians going into a specialized path due to not being able to fully use the [Human Magic] without some kind of restriction like bad talent or something. While including training one's body to become a Martial Artist, [Magic] is used as a support. With me so far?"
"Yeah." Rias knew there are Martial Artists who would use [Magic] to buff themselves together with the use of [Ki], but those are very rare and not the best path for others to take. Due to the fact that 99% of all those that tried to take this path would be very weak compared to the full version.
"Instead of training you something that's beyond impossible to use my method to be someone who could fight in close-ranged combat and still have the ability to use [Magic] to the fullest with both." Chikao suppresses the urge to smirk at the look of annoyance on Rias' face. "I'm going to teach you how to fight as a Magician, who used modern firearms made by humans." Chikao pulls out his [Modified Handgun]. "This is something I've created with [Human Magic]." Chikao can see the skeptic on Rias' face. Then, just shoot at one of the nearby trees and it instantly turned into ashes before Rias' shocked eyes. "Now, I'm going to help you pick out a gun and modify it, so you can use your [Power of Destruction] with it."
Yup, Chikao is planning to turn Rias into a Devil Gunslinger, where 75% of the routes of Rias being able to take down Riser and his peerage. Chikao didn't care if this is just opening a new path for many Devils to use firearms together with their [Devil Magic]. It won't do them any goods, because Chikao is among the many rare few that can make it possible to use [Magic] together with firearms. If that wasn't enough, most Devils would rather just rely on their [Devil Magic] and inborn Devil ability than using something like firearms made by humans. Even Reincarnated Devils would look down on guns due to them being about to use [Devil Magic] that can do much more. Making it even harder for Devils to want to use guns.
Therefore, Chikao really didn't care if Rias become the center of attention due to using firearms in the Underworld.
"Uh, I don't know how to fire a gun?" Rias continue to stare at the pile of ashes and a chill went down her spine, for that is the very same gun that was pointed at her 2 weeks ago and wonder if she can do anything before the bullet hit her. Just the thought alone made Rias fear Chikao even more than before. Yet, at the same time, made her very excited that she might be able to overcome all odds and beat Riser in the Rating Game!
"Don't worry. I'll teach you how to fire a gun once we pick one out for you." Chikao said to Rias. After all, with [Numerical Precision] and [Flawless Action] together make it a lot easier for Chikao to be a master marksman and wouldn't take that long to help Rias learn how to shoot, aim, and be on the move in time before she faces the challenge to either successfully escape the arranged marriage or failing to and accept her cruel fate. "Now, I've told you what training you will go through. It's time for your end of the deal. Just blast your [Power of Destruction] to those trees."
"Alright." Rias did as she was told to, such a simple task wasn't that much trouble for her. So, creating the custom [Magic Circle] and use the [Power of Destruction] in the form of softball-sized bullets flying straight towards the trees, erasing them from existence. Then, Rias look at Chikao as she wonders why he wanted to see her use her [Power of Destruction].
"Oh, here it comes." Momoyo knew exactly what's about to happen, with Nyx letting out a sigh as she too figured it out too. On why Chikao wanted to see Rias' [Power of Destruction].
Chikao tried his very best not to show the shock on his face, for he discovered it wasn't the [Destruction Element] he found in Rias' [Power of Destruction], but the [Erasure Element] instead. Making this a completely different field of power. Nonetheless, the moment he found the perfect equation for [Erasure Element]. A massive amount of routes for Chikao to survive increased, but with the downside of also increasing the number of dangers he has to face.
"Let's see if this works." Chikao knew he should stop creating more [Magic], but he really does need all the advantages he could get in this crazy world. A crimson [Magic Circle] appear, but completely different in symbols and style compared to Rias' [Magic Circle]. Not to mention, everyone can feel how dangerous this crimson [Magic Circle]. Even someone like Asia is hiding behind Momoyo in fear, for this trigger a deep primal fear from within.
Replacing the [17th Period Math Time Magic Circle] on his [Modified Handgun] that give the gun the ability to cause all projectiles with the passive effects of causing all targets and anything touched by it to decay and break apart. To the newly made [Magic Circle] of [Erasure Element].
Once that's done. Chikao fired his handgun again at a nearby tree, which instead of turning into ashes. It literally disappears from existence, not even leaving ashes behind and there are even holes in the ground where the tree was is the only proof it was a tree there a moment ago.
"Well, thanks, Rias. You've helped me upgrade my gun's firepower." Chikao said to Rias in a monotone. Where he takes in delight at the disbelief and horror on Rias' face, for she must have realized that she accidentally gave away the ability to use [Power of Destruction] somehow to a Magician of all people.
"How?! You-You-You?!" Rias points at Chikao while trying to speak out her inner thoughts about what she really feels about all this. "GAH!" Rias' brain couldn't handle it anymore and shut down, causing Rias to drop to the ground, with an unknown amount of time before she wakes up from being delivered with a massive shock, that is beyond finding out about Momoyo, Nyx, and Chikao's method of stopping others from using their powers.
"Huh, I guess we found someone who couldn't handle your surprise and finally snap." Momoyo whistles at the twitching Rias on the ground. "I had expected it would be either Nyx or me before one of us would crack first. Didn't think it would a Devil, who we barely know."
"Speak for yourself. I have seen many shocking things, that would easily cause you to cry out in disbelief and end with killing yourself when you can't handle the knowledge about it anymore." Nyx snort at Momoyo, for thinking she would be the first one to crack due to Chikao's shocking actions. Though, secretly, Nyx starting to think that maybe Chikao had been holding back on her during the first meeting and only now revealing it because he got Momoyo on his side. If so, things are becoming very complicated for the plans she had made to get Chikao under her control.
"What's wrong with Rias?" Asia asks both Momoyo and Nyx while looking at Chikao in awe, for he is making multiple different sizes of crimson [Magic Circles] floating around him. Looking so beautiful in Asia's eyes.
"She is just having a bit hard time and finally couldn't handle the stress, leading to her to faint. How about you check on her, Asia, to see if she needs any healing?" Chikao said to Asia, while he using the [Erasure Magic Circles] to help him find the key points in the [Numeromancy] to avoid touching the bad routes that lead to a cruel fate worse than death. And damn, there were a few hidden ones if Chikao didn't search for it with the equation of [Erasure Element] part of his calculation for predicting the futures.
"Oh! Right away!" Asia quickly moves over to Rias' unconscious body and uses her [Sacred Gear], hopefully, to do some help for Rias, not realizing she is literally doing the exact same thing that banished her from the church. Proving everyone in the area, that Asia's past of growing has been engraved into her mindset to always help others whenever they need it.
"Now, let's see if this works." Chikao warns both Momoyo and Nyx enough, that he is about to do something unbelievable soon.
Both Momoyo and Nyx understood this and quickly focus on what Chikao is about to do.
Chikao put the handgun back in the holster, then create the [Darkness Magic Circle] and merge it together with one of the crimson [Magic Circle], where it is now producing a black fog at the edge of the circle. Afterward, Chikao creates the [Magic Circle] for the [Arcane Science] to overlay the crimson [Magic Circle] that has already been overlayed by the [Darkness Magic Circle]. Making a triple layer [Magic Circle] from three different branches of [Magic].
With a snap of his finger, the triple-layer [Magic Circle] spins around rapidly before forming a crimson ice katana, with the blade covered in a layer of black thick mist.
This is the result of using [Arcane Science] to halt the movement of molecules and in a certain shape, to create ice. While the [Erasure Element] merged into the ice katana to turn it crimson in color while containing the full effect of the [Erasure Element], that's just at the thin line of releasing the effects everywhere. Lastly, the [Darkness Element] will generate the black mist, which can produce a flying slash projection that carries the [Erasure Element]'s effects, and even if not used for flying slash attack. It can still be used in a similar way of spreading infection via the black mist spreading on physical contact with the target.
"And what does that do, what exactly?" Momoyo's instinct is screaming at her not to be touched by that crimson katana floating next to Chikao.
"I call this the [Blade of Destruction]." Chikao made a brief mention of what it does, excluding the ability of the flying slash projectile. Can't have that be counter like in those routes.
"WHAT?!" Rias screamed upon finishing listening to what Chikao just explain about the [Blade of Destruction] and connect the dots, that this is another result of using her [Power of Destruction] in a way that shouldn't be possible, which leads to Rias fainting once again after just waking up for a few minutes.
"I'll have to agree with the Devil. What?" Nyx didn't scream, but her eyes are wide and almost look like they are about to pop out of their sockets. Showing that she is shocked beyond disbelief, for she has seen something that is for sure impossible to do. For thing, it shouldn't be possible to create a physical form object containing the [Darkness Element] she is very familiar with and the lesser familiar of the [Destruction Element] in that crimson katana.
Sadly, for Nyx, if Chikao doesn't explain that it's not the [Destruction Element] she is sensing, but a higher level element unless other fellow Gods or someone specialized in the [Erasure Element] explain this to Nyx. In which, this is highly unlikely to happen and Chikao wasn't going to reveal one of his biggest trump cards he had just obtained thanks to one little redhead Devil, that wasn't even considered a very high player in the dangerous world as of right now. Therefore, Nyx will never figure out that Chikao doesn't have the equation for [Destruction Element] and something much more, where the [Destruction Element] is just part of the [Erasure Element].
"Well, I needed something in case my katana break at some point, then I will become weaponless and my handgun is meant for shooting. Even if I do end up using my gun to fight in closed-range combat. It won't last that long and break apart too." Chikao replied as he destroys the [Blade of Destruction] that barely use any of [Mana] and the rest of the [Erasure Magic Circles] disappears.
"I guess you got what you wanted." Momoyo now dreads facing Chikao if he ever goes all out, because she might not be able to fight him properly if he uses that [Blade of Destruction] of his. And fighting in closed-range was Chikao's weakest point, which just made this a bitter pill to swallow, but at the same time, Momoyo eager to fight Chikao once she fully masters the [Root Martial Art of Raging Flame Eruption] and sees if she could merge it into her family's martial arts.
"Are you planning to make any new branches of [Magic] or are you good for now?" Momoyo seriously hopes this is the last one because now she counted 12 in total. Yes, she kept count at this point, because then she can always look back on the day she first met Chikao and feel happy she took the gamble to stick with him. Anyway, she hopes this is the last one, because if this keeps on going, then she will never have a chance of winning against Chikao. Bad enough, he already has a way to counter her [Root Martial Art of Raging Flame Eruption] with ease.
"I'll be honest. I was expecting to stop at 11, but the moment Rias appears. I just had to replicate the [Power of Destruction]. The chance was too good to give up. So, I can't promise you that I may or may not gain new [Magic] in the future." Chikao said to Momoyo, then look at Rias, who just woke up again for the third time today. "Now, that you're awake. Try not to faint again. You'll just waste both of our time and before you ask. Yes, I've replicated your [Power of Destruction] and no I won't explain how I did it. Now, let's resume our training. I'll make you be able to be the best there is in using firearms with your [Power of Destruction]. You'll do it or not. There is no try." Chikao stare coldly at Rias, causing her to shiver.
A week later*
"[Gun Battle - Destruction's Edition]!" Rias shouted as she wields both her handguns to fire at Chikao rapidly in a closed range of within 5 meters. Making it very hard for her to miss, yet another handgun push Rias' left handgun's barrel just a bit to the sky as a red bullet-like projectile came out of it. Missing the target aka Chikao entirely. Then, got kicked in the stomach, causing Rias to groan as her entire body lift up from the ground a few inches before harshly crashed back onto the ground while suppressing the urge to hold her stomach and quickly got back on her feet.
This is something that happens to Rias so often, that her pain tolerance has long been improved dramatically that many who knows her would be shocked at her fast process in a single week.
"I told you the name, not for you to shout the name out. There is no point, nor are we trying to give away our attacks. Furthermore, even if you want to. Only do so if you have the strength to show off, then you'll be able to do whatever by shouting out your named attacks." Chikao said to Rias coldly as he fired a couple of shots at Rias with just ordinary bullets, which will easily be healed by Asia. While Rias is allowed to use her [Power of Destruction] through her own [Modified Handguns] he made for her. Enabling her to use these two handguns as a medium in the place of a [Magic Circle] to use her [Power of Destruction] in a limited form aka bullet form.
"Yes, Sensei." Rias replied, trying her best to not cry out in pain. For the first couple of times she did; well, Chikao didn't hold back and brutally attack her while she was defenseless as she was screaming in pain instead of focusing on the fight and just deal with the pain. Yup, Rias learned the hard way that Chikao wasn't here to slowly help her become strong in a comfortable method. No. Rias understood that Chikao is here to legit help her win against Riser 100% all the way and for sure give her the ability to do so without having to rely on her peerage, where she has long asked others to help train her peerage while she doing her personal training with Chikao.
"Now, tomorrow is the day for the Rating Game, right?" Chikao stops shooting at Rias and lets Asia rush in to heal Rias. Again.
"Yes, Sensei." Rias nods before sighing in relief of all her injuries are being healed in a matter of seconds. "Are you going to watch it?" Rias hope to show Chikao that his teaching wasn't a waste of time.
"Give me some way to do so without having to the Underworld, then sure." Chikao really wants to see his, technically, student fight against Riser and his peerage on her own. "Also, you might want to be aware that Momoyo is dying for you to grow up fast, so she can fight you."
Rias let out a nervous laugh and avoid looking behind her, where the haunted house is, and at the door is Momoyo leaning against it, with a predator gaze locked on her back. Making Rias' newly trained instinct to scream at her to run away. Yup, Rias learned a lot in this single week compared to all the years she has done. Which was barely anything in Chikao's eyes and he clearly said so to her face without holding back. And now she has the Goddess of Battle's attention on her due to finding out her potential to become very strong just from this single week alone.
Sometimes, Rias often wonder if it was a good idea or not being trained by Chikao or not. But, she will do anything to get out of this arranged marriage and now she has the ability to with her own hands.
"Sensei, watch me show the result of your training in action." Rias is determined that after she escapes her fate. She will do her absolute best to repay Chikao back, for his help.