Your Notions of Peace Are Foolish

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

"Well, I must admit." Odin began to speak while stroking his long beard. "Those youngsters are rather impressive. But..."

"But they don't take this seriously enough." Scathach finished Odin's thought.

"Would you care to elaborate?" Michael asked, curious about the opinions of the two most decorated combatants in the room.

Instead of answering directly, Scathach looked over to James and spoke.

"My disciple, why don't you tell us your opinion, first." Scathach said.

"Yes, Master." James replied. Then, he took a moment to structure his thoughts. After that, he continued. "First, the winner, Sona. Her strategy was good. Almost perfect considering her experience."

Everyone, especially Serafall, nodded in agreement with James' statement. Then, they waited for him to continue. And he did not make them wait for long.

"But she lacks something to be a champion." James continued. "And that's the drive to win."

"What do you mean?" Serafall asked with a slight frown. "She clearly did everything she could to win."

"No, Sera-Tan." James replied with a shake of his head. "She did everything she could not to lose."

Once again, Scathach and Odin nodded in agreement. At the same time, Sirzechs, Ajuka, Michael, Grayfia, and Rossweisse waited to hear the continuation of Jams analysis.

"Instead of ending the battle, she waited for it to end." James continued. "Although she did not lose by waiting out the time, she had all that she needed to make Ri Ri retire at the end. Unfortunately, Tsubaki made a wrong decision in the end and Sona did not correct it because she was too caught up in her battle with Ri Ri."

"I suppose you are referring to Tsubaki's decision to handle Xenovia, correct?" Ajuka asked.

"That's right." James replied with a nod. "If Tsubaki had joined the attack on Ri Ri, and left Yura to deal with Xenovia while receiving support from Reya, the combination of Sona and Tsubaki would have been able to defeat Ri Ri."

To James' analysis of the situation, everyone nodded. Though, Sirzechs did it with a frown on his face. Even though he knew what James said was true, he did not like the thought of Rias being defeated.

"Other than that, her strategy was very good." James said with a smile. "Even when her ambush on the seventh floor failed, it was due more to bad luck and not figuring in Ri Ri's desperation rather than a bad plan."

"Good." Scathach said with a nod. "Your analysis is correct. Now, what about the other team?"

"Well, let me think..." James said as he began to stroke his chin.

'He looks like Lord Odin when he does that.' Rossweisse thought to herself as she observed James.

"Well, I want to say Ri Ri was too cautious." James said with a bit of uncertainty in his tone. "But unfortunately, that's not the case considering the rules that were in place for this [Rating Game]."

James then took a little more time to think and analyze Rias' team's movements during the [Game].

"No, she was overly cautious." James said, retracting his previous statement. "She was too concerned with causing collateral damage. So, she split her team into two, spreading out the firepower evenly. Instead of that, she should have, or rather, would have been more effective if she split her team into a scout team and a fighting force."

"Explain." Scathach ordered, clearly intrigued by James' line of thought.

"By allowing Kiba to lead a smaller team of scouts, Gasper would have more than likely never been captured. Because, if he had been ambushed like that, with Kiba's speed he would have been able to bring him back, even if he were frozen."

To that, Odin and Scathach nodded in agreement. The others found themselves impressed with James' ability to analyze the battle at his age.

'He's looking more like a great candidate for a husband.' Rossweisse thought to herself. 'He's handsome, talented, and has a good analytical mind. I wonder how he is when it comes to magic? If he's good at that too, maybe we could have some pretty good magical discussions.'

"Then, with Ri Ri and Akeno's firepower concentrated in one place, most of the ambushes would have failed." James concluded.

"Then, how to you explain Akeno's elimination by Tsubaki's hands?" Sirzechs asked curiously.

"that's because they split up>" James replied calmly. "If they were together, Ri Ri would have stopped Akeno's reflected attack. Unfortunately, there would have been nothing they could do to save Kiba."

Scathach and Odin nodded in agreement. At the same time, everyone else simulated the situation in their heads. Then, they all looked at James with appreciation.

"Unfortunately, I'm not good at strategizing on the fly." James said with a wry smile. "I'm more of a tactics guy. I can come up with plans while fighting but strategizing beforehand is not my strong suit."

At the same time in the infirmary designated for the retired members of the Gremory peerage, the atmosphere was solemn.

"Damn." Issei said quietly while lying in one of the infirmary beds. "I didn't even get to do anything. Why was I targeted so early?"

"Don't worry about it Issei-Kun." Akeno said from another bed in the infirmary. "You, Gasper, and Asia were the highest priority targets on our team. Asia doesn't need to be mentioned with her ability to heal. Then, there's Gasper who is the best scout with his usual mobility. And then, there's you."

At that moment, Rias entered the infirmary with the rest of the surviving members.

"Who can travel through shadows and eliminate opponents silently with your shadow manipulation ability." Akeno continued.

"How is everyone feeling?" Rias asked as she neared the bedridden members of her peerage.

"We're fine, Rias." Akeno replied with a frustrated expression. "We let you down, though."

Shaking her head in response, Rias neared Akeno and wrapped her in a hug.

"No, you did everything you could and followed my orders." Rias said with a solemn expression. "It was I who let all of you down. I took things too lightly. I knew that Sona was a great strategist and played right into her plans."

"But..." Akeno said, trying to defend rias efforts.

"No buts." Rias said sternly. "Sona knew what her weaknesses were before the Meeting of Young Devils. That's why she asked to train with James under Master Scathach in the Land of Shadows during summer break."

Rias then released Akeno from her hug before continuing.

"And I, proud of the fact that I would reach the ultimate-rank before the Meeting of Young Devils, allowed myself to grow complacent." Rias said as she clinched her fist in frustration. "And for that, I can only apologize to all of you."

Then, to her peerage's surprise, Rias bowed her head in apology to all of them.

"But I promise all of you." Rias said, raising her head with the light of resolution glowing in her eyes. "Something like this will never happen again. Alongside all of you, I will push myself to my limits. Then, together with all of you we will exceed them."

With the end of Rias' speech, the light of determination began to burn brightly in the eyes of Rias' peerage. And like Rias, they all swore that they would never be satisfied with their current power again.

Meanwhile, in the Sitri Peerage's infirmary room, Sona entered to see all her eliminated members smiling due to their victory. Unfortunately, she was going to pour cold water on their elated mood.

"Do you think we did well during this [Rating Game]?" Sona asked bluntly and suddenly.

Unsure of why Sona took on that tone, everyone looked at each other in confusion.

"First, let me tell you what we did right in the [Rating Game]." Sona continued.

Then, like James, she shared the results of her analysis on the [Rating Game]. And Sona's analysis was remarkably similar to the analysis James gave in front of the faction leaders. The difference was that she did not comment on the mistakes that Rias made by splitting her team into two. Instead, she focused more on her own team's performance.

"But we won." Tomoe said in a confused tone. "What's the problem?"

"Yes, we gained victory." Sona said, explaining patiently for those who did not understand. "But we did not win. We merely kept Rias from winning. We stopped ourselves from losing, but we did not win."

"I don't understand." Tomoe replied.

It was clear that other than Tsubaki, no one else understood either.

"*Sigh* We fought to defensively at the end." Sona said, explaining what she meant. "We did not fight to win, to retire Rias. Instead, we fought to not lose. To just defend the points. Honestly, that should have been the last option. Instead, I chose it as the first option. And for that, I apologize."

No one knew what to say when Sona lowered her head toward them. But they all felt as if they let her down somehow. Before they could speak, however, Sona raised her head with the flames of determination burning in her eyes.

"We have to cultivate a killer instinct." Sona said resolutely. "We have to strive to win. Not to just keep ourselves from losing. And we will."

Hearing Sona's declaration, the entirety of her peerage felt their blood boiling and were ready to prove themselves to the world. And more importantly, to Sona.

Back I the Satans' meeting room, after discussing the finer points of the [Rating Game] between Rias and Sona, the faction leaders began to discuss details of a more significant matter.

"Uh... Should we go?" James asked while raising a hand like a student.

"Usually, we would ask you to leave." Sirzechs replied with a nod. "However, because you are the closest to Lady Yasaka, we would like you to deliver our invitation for an alliance to her."

James only nodded in reply. After that, he fell silent. Instead of listening to these political discussions, he would rather be congratulating and consoling his fiancées, Sona and Rias, respectively. Scathach was also clearly uninterested in this conversation. However, as James [Queen], it would not look good for her to leave on her own.

And for the next hour and a half, Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, Michael, and Azazel negotiated with Odin over the terms of their alliance.

"Good." Odin said with a smile. "Everything sounds good. This alliance looks like it will be good for all involved."

"That's good to hear." Sirzechs replied with a smile.

"If everything is fine with you, Odin, we can get the paperwork ready." Azazel said with his usual grin on his face. "Then, in... Let's say a week, we can sign the documents and make this alliance official."

As the negotiations were coming to an end, a crack opened in the space above the meeting table. And when it did, Scathach was the first to move. Materializing a spear in her right hand, she sprung forward to the crack in space. When she stopped moving, her spear tip was resting on the throat of the intruder.

Recognizing the intruder, a handsome man with long light blue hair, eyes that resemble a delinquent's, and three blue jewels on his forehead who wore a pure white robe, Odin frowned.

"Loki, what are you doing here?" Odin asked with discontent clear in his tone.

However, instead of replying to Odin, Loki stared in shock at the woman holding a spear to his throat.

"Scathach?" Loki asked in disbelief. "How are you here? You're supposed to be bound to the land of Shadows."

"Things have changed, Trickster God." Scathach replied without a change in her expression. "I would suggest you answer the All-Father's question. Then, based on your answer I will decide if my spear will once again taste the blood of a god or not."

Involuntarily shivering at the bloodlust Scathach was releasing, Loki turned his attention toward Odin.

"I will not allow you to taint the Norse pantheon any further with your notions of peace, old man." Loki said angrily. "I will usher in Ragnarok, and there is nothing you can do about it."

"*Sigh* Foolish." Odin replied tiredly. "The only thing your Ragnarok will bring is destruction. Unnecessary destruction. No matter what you say, Loki, this alliance will happen."

"Very well." Loki said angrily. "I'll show you the folly of your ways."

Then, before anyone coud react, Loki disappeared. However, his last sentence echoed through the air.

"I will make sure that this alliance is never completed. You will see how foolish your wish for peace is." Loki's voice rang through the meeting room.

After Loki disappeared, the room fell silent. The one to break that silence, however, was the person everyone in the room thought to be the least likely to do so.

"Master, let's go home." James said as he stood to his feet. "I know that they're going to ask us to protect the venue... like always. So, we need to prepare."

"Very well." Scathach replied as she dematerialized her spear.

As James and Scathach made their way toward the room's exit, Azazel stood to his feet and followed them.

"Wait a moment, James." Azazel said as he caught up to James. "When you go back, tell Rias and Sona that I need Issei and Saji for something. That includes you as well."

"Alright." James replied. Then with a wave, he left the room as he continued. "Just hit me up when you need us."