Chapter 16 - Rating Game
Kazumi POV
It has been a few days since I gave Rias the list. I want her to think of a plan and a way utilize the items to their fullest potential.
I can help in making strategies myself but it'll be best for Rias to come up with her own plan.
Right now, we're all waiting at the Occult Research Club room.
Itsuki, Yuuma and Asia are also here but they won't be joining and will only watch.
"Hey, Itsuki we'll finally see Kazumi in action."
"Don't we always see him in action?"
"Not that type of action! I meant in battle."
"Yeah, what I said, battle."
"Now you're just messing with me."
*KNOCK KNOCK!*
*KACHAK!*
"Excuse us."
"Good evening, Sona."
"Welcome!"
"Thank you."
"Have you met my Pawn?" Rias gestured towards me.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kazumi Hyoudou, Rias' pawn." I introduced myself even though we already did way before this happened.
"Rias, you intend to win with this?" I assume she's talking about the peerage. I mean there's only 5 of us, 6 if you count Gasper but right now, 5.
"Don't underestimate us Sona and I'll show you a fight that won't insult our rivalry."
"You better, it's your first game, after all."
Then, a bright light came from the floor as a white magic circle appeared.
"Everyone, are you prepared?" Grayfia asked.
"Yes, anytime."
"When it's about to start, you will be teleported to the battlefield."
"Yes, thank you."
"I will be going back to the student council to manage the broadcast. I wish you the best of luck, Rias."
"Thank you, could you please add a screen here too? And make the broadcast fair?"
"Of course. But I don't expect an even match against him." Then the student president and vice president left.
"By the way, Satan Lucifer-sama will be watching this fight as well."
"I see. My brother is also..."
"The Satan is your brother?" Rias looked at me funny. I think she knows I'm acting.
"Buchou's brother is Sirzechs Lucifer, known as the Crimson Satan. That's her brother. Sirzechs-sama succeeded the previous Satan Lucifer-sama who passed away in the war."
"Thanks Kiba. I learn something new everyday." I already knew but...
"Oh! So that's why Rias is the Gremory House's Heir!" Itsuki concluded.
Then, a red magic circle appeared, "It is about time."
"Let's go!"
We all stepped on the magic circle. Rias first disappeared, next is Akeno, then Kiba, followed by Koneko and lastly, me.
When I reappeared, the room still looked the same. I think this place is the Dimensional Gap, where the Dragon of Dreams reside. This is actually quite interesting.
[ Main Quest :
Defeat and Humble the arrogant Phenex.
- Defeat - Incomplete
- Humble - Incomplete
Reward : Fire Magic and 7500 SP
Penalty : Loss of Rias and Akeno.]
Main quest? I haven't had that in a while.
-Everyone, I am Grayfia, servant of the Gremory family, appointed judge between the Gremory and Phenex families.Taking Rias-sama and Riser-sama's opinions into consideration, we prepared a replica of Kuoh Academy, the school Rias-sama attends in the human world as the battlefield.- Grayfia announced.
Cool.
- lBoth parties have been teleported to their main base. Rias-sama's main base is the Occult Research Club room in the old schoolhouse. Riser-sama's main base is the principal's office in the new schoolhouse. Thus, pawn can be promoted when they manage to invade the enemy's schoolhouse.-
"Oh it's that place. So, what's the plan?"
"Here, put this in your ear first." Rias handed me a red orb which is the size of a marble.
"This is?"
"A way for us to communicate on the battlefield."
-The game begins now!-
"So what's the plan, Rias?"
Rias took out a map of the school and then placed it on the table.
"If this is chess, we need to control the center. But, if this was truly chess, making the pieces equal is our best action right now. And we also don't want any pawns promoting."
"Yuuto, your items are focused on speed and attack speed right? Take out as many enemies you can. Especially if they're a pawn."
"Understood!"
"Koneko, your mission is the same but your priority targets are rooks and bishop. Your Items are suited against them."
"Yes, Buchou!"
"Akeno, support them but if you spot the knights or the queen, they're your targets. They may be fast but I know you can think of a way."
"Okay!"
"Once you've done your mission, head straight back here. If there's an enemy who is not your target comes, look for a way to exchange enemies with the others, otherwise, flee."
"Set up traps as well. Kazumi can you deploy the same barrier you have to protect your home?"
"Yes, I can. How many times do you want it to regenerate?"
Rias raised her index finger, "Just one, I highly doubt they be able break it."
"Got it." Fair point.
"Lastly, if, even though the chances of it happening is low, Riser comes out, return back here immediately," Rias added, "Kazumi, do you need to promote?"
"I don't think I will need to."
"Okay, so you stay here with me. Everyone ready? Let's win this game!"
For some reason... I have this bad feeling. I don't know how to fully explain it but we might lose... Hopefully we don't.
~°~°~°~
3rd Person POV
Yuuto Kiba, the Knight of Rias' peerage, is patrolling the area.
Since the Knight is the fastest, Yuuto can easily cover up distances.
"Buchou, the baseball field is clear. I'm heading to the football field next." He said as he scanned the surroundings.
"Alright." Rias answered, "Koneko, how's the traininghold?"
Koneko, who specializes in both offense and defense, can protect herself so she also checking the area around.
"No enemies. Going to the Ground next."
"Okay. Akeno?"
"It's the same here at the gymnasium. Something is suspicious." She replied, creasing her brows.
"Really suspicious... I'm going out as well. The barrier will protect you Rias so don't worry. I can also instantly teleport here when needed." Kazumi said while holding his sword. He hasn't transformed to his Argus form yet.
"Alright."
Back to Yuuto, he was now at the Football field. When he arrived, he suddenly had the feeling of being watched. Because of that, kept his guard up for any potential attacks or traps.
As he stepped foot into the middle of the field, magic circles started to activate all around.
With his quick judgement, he instantly fled to the tennis field. Then, explosions engulfed the football field.
Yuuto still kept his guard up and then he was ambushed by two people, Siris and Isabela. Mihae, Riser's bishop was also behind them.
"I am Isabela, Riser-sama's rook." Isabela readied her fists.
"Siris, Riser-sama's knight." Siris held her zweihänder with both hands.
"Mihae, Riser-sama's bishop."
"Yuuto Kiba, Rias Gremory's Knight." He said as he took out the Demon Hunter Sword or DHS for short.
"Then, here we come!"
Isabela then rushed to Kiba. She then threw a punch aimed at his face. He dodged to the left. She kept throwing punches which Kiba dodges or blocks with his sword.
When he blocks with his sword, Isabela felt her fists sting.
Kiba also hit her multiple times since his attack speed is faster than the opponent.
She then backed off and Siris swapped places with her. Mihae would then cast healing spells to Isabela.
With her strength, she swung her zweihänder at Kiba and with his speed, he dodged. Kiba swung his sword and hit Siris.
'Their teamwork is great. But it shouldn't be a problem, since I'm faster than them. I'll finish them off here.'
"Buchou, I won't be able to retreat." Kiba said and kept swinging and blocking.
-Do you want me to send Kazumi there?-
"No need."
-Alright.-
Kiba was dealing more damage than Mihae could heal.
DHS is a weird weapon. It's an anti-demonic weapon so that's why it deals more damage to enemies who are demonic by nature. With its passive, Devour, it devours the lifeforce of the enemy and feeds it to the user of the sword.
It was something unknown to Kiba.
Kiba wanted to ask how the swords actually work so he could use his sacred gear to replicate them yet he didn't do so.
He viewed the action as shameless but what he didn't know is that Kazumi was fine with it. If anything, that's what he would want. If Yuuto was able to copy the swords even if it was weaker, then he can show a lot of other swords such as the "Blade of Despair" or the "Blade of the Heptaseas".
Back to the fight. Kiba noticed that he was being led to a place. Rather than avoid the trap, he even blindly followed them.
So when he was at the trap, Siris and Isabela quickly jumped away. Several magic circles lit up and exploded.
"Wait, his elimination hasn't been announced yet!"
"Mihae!"
But when they turned their heads, Mihae wasn't there but a bright light which quickly disappeared was in her place instead and Kiba was standing a few inches away.
-Riser-sama's bishop, retired.-
""!?"" Isabela and Siris was in shock. How did he get there?
While a bishop may not be Kiba's main target, it's better if he took down a damage dealer, something that Kazumi has taught him.
Kiba has used the smoke created to hide himself from them and rushed to the bishop.
-Riser-sama's rook, retired.-
"Two down, 14 more to go."
~°~°~°~
3rd Person POV
It was not only Kiba who was ambushed but Koneko as well.
She's at the traininghold when Karlamine, Xuelan, and Ravel ambushed her. But Ravel was only there to spectate.
Right now, Koneko is at a disadvantage. A knight and a rook.
"Buchou, I'm facing a rook, a knight and a bishop but she's only watching."
-Do you want me to send Kazumi?-
"Please."
Koneko was continuously blocking and dodging, waiting for reinforcement.
She, being a rook, will have a hard time fighting a knight. While Sea Halberd can help against the rook because of it's hidden attributes, it will still take a while.
Take note that even if Koneko is a fighter/tank, her enemies are tank/fighter and fighter/assassin. Even in the game, a lone tank without sustain will be defeated.
Xuelan was shielding the Karlamine from taking any damage, and the knight keeps hitting Koneko, damaging her.
Lucky for Koneko, Karlamine was using her Fire Sword, which deals Magic damage instead of Physical damage. So Radiant armor was able to reduce the damage long enough to hold out and wait for reinforcement.
-Koneko, I'm here.-
"...Thanks." Koneko silently muttered.
Koneko backed off but Xuelan quickly closed the gap between them.
-Riser-sama's bishop, retired.-
""!"" Karlamine, Xuelan, and Ravel was also surprised. Mihae was a support piece yet she can also be a main attacker. But based on their plans, Mihae was supposed to be at the back, farthest away from their target.
Kazumi didn't let this chance got to waste. He quickly went in front of Xuelan, swung his sword on her and eliminated her.
-Riser-sama's rook, retired.-
"Xuelan!" Ravel shouted.
Karlamine gripped her sword with both of her hands as she gritted her teeth looking at the two.
"You alright, Koneko?" Kazumi asked as he scanned her whole body.
"...Pervert." Koneko hid her face but a smile can be seen on her face.
"Leave this to me and protect Rias for me, okay?"
"...Okay." She then left the place and hurried back to the old schoolhouse.
Kazumi faced Karlamine and said, "Kazumi Hyoudou, Rias' pawn." His sword in his hands.
"Karlamine, Riser-sama's knight."
Then, Kazumi rushed to her.
~°~°~°~
3rd Person POV
-Riser-sama's bishop, retired.-
-Riser-sama's rook, retired.-
"Ara ara, everyone is having fun." Akeno watched the surroundings from a top of the tree.
"Is that Koneko?" She saw Koneko from the traininghold running towards the old schoolhouse.
-Akeno, southwest.- Kazumi informed her.
"Got it."
~°~°~°~
3rd Person POV
Southwest of the map, a group of pawns and a queen was traversing the woods towards the old schoolhouse.
With two, no, three of Rias' servants away from her, Riser's pawns and queen took the chance to invade the enemy's base, hoping to promote every pawn and possibly, defeat the enemy king.
They cautiously approached the old schoolhouse from the woods.
Ni and Li, the former nekomatas, noticed something that made them instantly jump away from the area.
"Everyone be carefu–!" Suddenly, all of the pawns and the queen were electrocuted.
The source was Akeno's electric field. It's a field that shoots lighting from the sky to the ground. Think of it as a cylinder from the sky to the ground.
The electric field Akeno set up has a radius of 50 meters. The field's radius can be increased in exchange for more energy and less damage.
This spell was made by both Yuuma and Akeno. Only Akeno was able to use it but it needed both of them to use its full potential. Yuuma can increase its radius without the need for more energy output.
In conclusion, Akeno's the generator, Yuuma's the wires.
Akeno learned from what happened to the fallen angels so she made her lightning much weaker than the ones she used against the fallen angels.
-Riser-sama's eight pawns, retired.-
"And here I thought I'd get all of the invaders..." Akeno muttered as she looked at the queen who survived her attack.
Yubelluna felt her inside burn but she thought it was just the effect of the lightning as it was infused with holy attribute. So she took a vial out and drank it, thinking that it'll make the burning sensation go away.
"I was saving it for later but you made me use it already."
She waited for her wounds to heal but it never happened.
The vial, which had the Phenex Tears that heals injuries, did not work.
"Wha... What did you do?!" Yubelluna stared at Akeno with various emotions. Angry because her plan didn't work, shocked because the Phenex Tears didn't work, terrified because Riser would be disappointed with her.
It's been over five seconds since she got hit by lightning so why did her heal got negated?
Let's go back to the Glowing Wand. One of its passive is Scorch, which is continuous damage.
"Who knows?" Akeno smiled at the enemy queen, 'This must be the effects of Glowing Wand.'
-Riser-sama's rook, retired.-
-Riser-sama's knight, retired.-
And not even a minute later.
-Riser-sama's knight, retired.-
"If I can count correctly, there should be only three of you left, right?"
"So what? Our king is strong."
"What positive attitude! Unfortunately for you, you'll fall here. Lightning Strike!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Holy lightning fell down to Yubelluna. She disappeared shortly after.
-Riser-sama's queen, retired.-
"Can't believe that it was this easy... With Kazumi's help of course. Maybe I'll ask Rias to join me in thanking Kazumi~"
-Great job Akeno, only Riser and his Sister are left.-
"Thank you. I'll be there soon."
~°~°~°~
3rd Person POV
-Riser-sama's queen, retired.-
Great job, Akeno, only Riser and his Sister are left.
-Thank you. I'll be there soon.-
-Buchou, I need help. I'm facing Riser-sama right now. I'm at the baseball field.-
"Got it. We'll be there soon."
"Everyone, to the baseball field. Riser is there fighting Yuuto."
-On my way.- Kazumi replied.
"Akeno, Koneko and I will wait for you here and we'll go together."
"No need, I'm already here." Akeno opened the door of the clubroom.
"Alright, let's go!"
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2631 Words
Sorry the chapter is a little late(by little I mean 1 week late) I had to do some revisions.
If I did the original plan of Riser, it would a little easier. But I like to challenge myself. And so I made new a plan.
I actually play Chess as a hobby. So strategizing is fun. If your opponent has more pieces than you, what do you do? Make it equal.
There's 2-3 chapters before volume 2.
And that's all. Oh yeah the side stories. I'll post them once I'm done.