Kuoh Academy – Occult Research Club Field
Ayaka leaned back just as a silver blur whistled past her nose, the edge of the blade close enough to part the fine hairs on her skin. The air behind the sword's wake hummed with a sharp, metallic ring.
She didn't panic, though instead, she used the momentum of her dodge to drop low, sweeping her leg in a flaming arc that scorched the grass and sent a wave of heat rippling across the field.
Kiba Yuuto leaped over the fire with the grace of a gazelle, his eyes focused and analytical. The Knight of Rias Gremory was a blur as he moved. Ayaka lunged forward, her fists erupting in concentrated bursts of heat that turned the air into a shimmering haze of distorted light.
Kiba raised a newly forged blade, a product of his Sword Birth. The flaming punch connected with a dull thump, the orange fire being sucked into the sword's edge like water down a drain. Ayaka jumped back, frustrated by the counter, and waved both hands. Dozens of fireballs, each the size of a grapefruit, shot toward Kiba like a storm of falling stars.
But the devil knight was too fast. He blurred, weaving through the gaps in the barrage, his body appearing as little more than a flicker of light between explosions. He appeared behind her in a heartbeat. Ayaka sensed the shift of air, a lesson her father had drilled into her during their "hell-training," and reinforced her forearms with a dense layer of flame, bracing for the impact as she turned to face him.
Kiba's kick connected, the force sending her skidding thirty feet across the training ground, her boots carving deep ruts in the dirt.
She raised her head, ready to light him up with her flames to force him back, only to find the cold tip of a blade resting precisely against her throat.
"Yield," Kiba said, his voice calm and steady, not even slightly out of breath.
Ayaka stared at the steel, the reflection of the afternoon sun glinting off the edge. Her palms sparked for a second before she let out a long, defeated sigh, her mana receding. "I yield. Urg, you're too damn fast, Kiba."
Kiba let the sword dissolve into shards of light and offered his hand, giving her a smile. "Hey, don't look so down. You actually managed to track my movements three times out of five. For someone who just started training not too long ago, it's actually pretty good."
As she took his hand and stood up, the rest of the Gremory peerage approached. Issei was grinning, his hands tucked behind his head. "Yeah, Kiba's right! You were awesome, Ayaka! That firestorm move was like something out of a high-budget anime! Seriously, that was awesome!"
"You were amazing," Asia added softly, clutching her hands to her chest with a bright, supportive smile. "I was so worried for a second when the fire got so big, but you looked so brave out there."
"Thank you," Ayaka said politely, though she rubbed her sore arm where the impact had left a dull ache. "But I still feel like I'm hitting a wall."
Rias walked toward the girl, her crimson hair flowing behind her like a silk cape. She was observing Ayaka. Rias wasn't lying when she said she was impressed. Ayaka had only been training seriously for a short time, yet her mana capacity was already impressive, and she was learning how to fight well.
It was easy to know why. Rias knew why.
It was Kenji Takahashi.
The man was a monster, and Rias didn't even need to think hard about how his daughter was becoming strong, too. It felt like the man was treating the laws of reality like mere suggestions at this point and just doing what he wanted.
Rias felt her fingers twitch, thinking about her set of Evil Pieces. She wanted Ayaka in her peerage badly. The girl was a diamond in the rough, and with the Gremory resources and training, she could become a powerhouse.
But the thought of Kenji's golden eyes staring her down made her blood run cold. Recruiting his daughter was effectively a suicide mission.
"Did your father teach you that mana-shaping technique?" Xenovia asked bluntly, leaning on her wrapped Durandal, asking about how Ayaka could use magic like that. "It's different from the structure of magic I was taught about in the church."
"Yep," Ayaka said, her mood brightening as she thought of home. "He's been pushing my sister and me to grow quickly. He says the world is getting 'noisy' and we need to be able to protect ourselves." She sulked slightly, rubbing the back of her head. "Though it wouldn't kill the old man to go a little easier on us."
Rias watched her closely. The girl really didn't understand what she was doing. Her use of her magic was different from what humans did, she was freely using her mana like that. Humans weren't supposed to do that.
They needed equations to bridge the gap between their souls and the world's energy. Even with the Valkyrie blood Grayfia had reported, it shouldn't have allowed her to do that. Humans fundamentally couldn't command mana like that unless they had another race lineage in them or a sacred gear or something.
It was a little scary, to be honest, if he could teach his kids like this, what else could he do.
"Let's go again," Ayaka said, her competitive streak flaring up as she shook off the fatigue.
"Alright," Rias replied, a small smirk playing on her lips. "How about sparring with Issei this time? It'll be a good change of pace from Kiba's speed."
Ayaka's face immediately twisted into a mask of pure disgust. "Ugh. Why the pervert? I'd rather fight a brick wall. At least the wall wouldn't try to undress me with its eyes."
"Hey! What's wrong with fighting me?!" Issei yelled, looking genuinely offended. "I'm the Red Dragon Emperor! I've got power!"
"Well, given that your first move in every fight against a girl is to figure out a way to strip her with that 'Dress Break' move," Ayaka said, glaring at him with narrowed eyes, "I think I'll pass. I like my clothes right where they are, thanks. And I've seen your training spars with the others, it's honestly pathetic how much you drool."
Issei giggled awkwardly, his wiggling fingers betraying his wandering thoughts. "Come on, it's all for the glory of the Oppai! It's a sacred art form!" He began to stare unashamedly at Ayaka's chest. She wasn't as busty as Rias or Akeno, but she was comfortably in the top tier of the school's hierarchy.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes turning cold. "Keep staring, and my dad will be the one you're sparring with tomorrow. I'm sure he'd love to discuss your 'sacred art' while he's peeling you off the pavement."
Issei's face went pale. The memory of Kenji looking at the White Dragon Emperor, Vali, as if he were a particularly annoying insect flashed through his mind. He violently shook his head. "Nope! No staring! I'm looking at the clouds! Very nice, wholesome clouds today! Wow, look at that one, it looks like a... a tractor!"
Ayaka snorted, satisfied with the threat. "Well, if no one else wants to fight, I'm heading home." She waved goodbye and started to walk away toward the gates.
"Ayaka, wait," Rias called out. The girl stopped and turned. Rias hesitated internally. This was dangerous territory. "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about. It won't take long."
Ayaka tilted her head, confused, while the rest of the peerage watched.
Kenji's Faction Hall – Shizuoka
Merpha was in a state of perpetual shock, though she was trying her best to look professional and composed. She had been assigned the task of teaching the youngest daughter, Aoi, the intricacies of traditional human magic. Merpha had been incredibly smug when Kenji chose her over the others in the hall, she took it as a mark of trust, and she intended to make herself very useful.
Aoi, thankfully, was a prodigy, which made the job both easy. Unlike Ayaka, who found the math of magic boring and just wanted to "make things go boom," Aoi had an analytical mind. She could see the difference between the "magic" Kenji taught and the "Calculated magic" of the human world, and she wanted to master both to see where they intersected.
However, Merpha's focus was constantly being pulled to the corner of the room. There, sitting on a velvet chair that Kenji had materialized out of thin air, was Ophis.
The Infinite Dragon God was currently munching on a double-chocolate chip cookie, her small legs swinging back and forth in a slow, rhythmic motion. Next to her was a glass of chocolate milk.
When Kenji had walked in earlier, holding her hand like she was a preschooler he'd picked up from a very powerful daycare, Merpha 's mind had entered critical error.
"Wait here, Ophis. I have to finish a project," Kenji had said casually, as if he were talking to a little child and not a god damn dragon god.
Ophis had just nodded, her void-like eyes fixed on the cookie box. Merpha still felt like she was dreaming. Her former boss, well, sort of boss, was currently being babysat with snacks and TV.
The door to Kenji's private workshop opened, drawing Merpha's attention away from the tiny world ender. He stepped out. In his hand, he carried a staff that looked like it had been carved by an artist. It was made of a dark, obsidian-like wood, inlaid with golden lines. At the top, a large, cubic mana stone floated within a crescent-shaped bracket made of some bronze like metal.
Kenji walked over to Merpha. "Good, you're still here. Aoi, how's the lesson progressing?"
"Great, Dad! Merpha showed me how to summon a basic circle," Aoi said, beaming with pride.
Kenji nodded and then turned to Merpha. "Try this for me." He handed her the staff without any warning.
The second Merpha's fingers closed around the dark wood, her world exploded in a kaleidoscope of power. A violent surge of mana flooded her body, and her back ached as she felt heat flood her body.
Her power level, usually a solid Mid-Class, began to climb. She felt her mana expand.
She gasped, her eyes wide as the mana settled. She had officially crossed the threshold into High-Class.
"So? What do you think of the staff?" Kenji asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"It's... " It's amazing," Merpha whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at her glowing hands. "My lord, where did you find this? Is it a scared gear or something? A special artifact?"
'Was this something from another world? ' she thought as she examined the staff.
"I made it," Kenji said with a shrug.
Merpha stared at the staff in horror and awe. He had made this? He had created a weapon that could bridge the gap of an entire rank of evolution just like that? She gripped the staff tightly, knowing that the moment she let go, she would be "normal" again, and that thought was becoming unbearable.
"Do you like it?" Kenji asked, his eyes dancing with amusement at her reaction.
"Yes! It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said quickly. "But... surely you should keep it for the little ladies? It's too valuable to just... have."
Kenji waved his hand dismissively. "Nah. It's too weak for me, and I'm making something better for the girls later. This one is for you. A reward for being a good teacher and keeping Aoi's head on straight."
Merpha's brain short-circuited. "I... I... thank you, my lord! I shall guard it with my life!"
Kenji just laughed and patted Aoi on the head. "Alright, kid, let's go. Time for dinner. Aoi, grab your books. Ophis, we're leaving."
The Dragon God hopped off her chair, finishing her milk in one long gulp. She reached out and grabbed Kenji's hand, looking up at him expectantly. Merpha stood there, frozen in place, clutching her new staff to her chest as she watched the most powerful being in existence walk away like a daughter following her father home from the park.
Once the door closed, Merpha let out a high-pitched, muffled squeal of joy. She was going to spend the rest of the evening making everyone else in the hall turn green with envy.
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