Rias smiled watching Kiba take down those three pawns.
But she wasn't celebrating yet. They were just pawns. Weak pieces sent to scout.
Riser still had twelve pieces left.
The plan was working though. They knew Riser would send scouts first. Find out where they were. Then he'd know exactly what to do next.
Send everyone. All at once. One big battle to crush them with numbers.
Four versus thirteen.
The numbers sucked. They'd each have to fight three or four people at the same time. Maybe more if that bastard joined in himself.
But that's what they trained for. Fighting outnumbered. Using the building to their advantage. Making Riser's group get in each other's way.
"Nice job, Kiba," Rias said through the magic comm. "Get back here. They're all coming soon."
"Yes, Rias-sama."
Akeno walked up next to her, looking out at the campus. "Ara ara, I bet he's furious. Three pawns down that fast?"
"He'll be pissed," Rias said. "And he'll throw everything at us next. No more games."
Koneko stood by the door, ready to move. "...All of them?"
"All of them," Rias confirmed. "He's done testing us. Next time it's the real fight."
"Understood," Kiba said through the comm. His voice was calm. Steady.
Rias breathed in deep. Centered herself. This was just the warm-up. The real battle was about to start.
"Everyone get ready," she said. "They're coming with everything they've got."
Rias looked around the ORC room. Her base. Their home turf.
Every corner memorized. Every hallway mapped out. Every possible ambush point planned weeks ago.
That was their edge. Riser's group might have the numbers, but this was her territory.
"Akeno, you're on the second floor," Rias said. "Lightning from above. Make them scatter."
"Ara ara, with pleasure." Akeno's smile was dangerous. She loved this part.
"Koneko, ground floor. Hit anyone who gets past Kiba."
"...Okay." Koneko cracked her knuckles. Small but deadly.
"Kiba, you're our front line. Slow them down. Don't let them rush us all at once."
"Understood, Rias-sama."
Rias positioned herself in the center. Her Power of Destruction charged and ready. From here she could support anyone who needed it.
She wasn't that helpless girl anymore. The one who couldn't do anything but accept her fate. The one who cried in this room knowing she'd have to marry a man she hated.
Leon changed that. Her peerage changed that. She changed that.
Looking at them now ass she watched them take their positions., Rias felt something she hadn't felt in months.
Pride.
Her peerage. Her family. Her strength.
Seeing them only strengthens her resolve, to protect this life. This family.
Crimson energy danced around her fingers as if it responded to his emotions.
The silence stretched. Seconds felt like hours.
Then Kiba's voice cut through it.
"Movement. Multiple signatures. They're coming."
Rias's eyes burned red. Power flooded through her body, responding to her resolve, her determination, god she was so ready for this.
"We're ready."
The first attacker came through fast. A rook, built for close combat, wreathed in flames. She targeted Kiba immediately.
Big mistake.
Kiba sidestepped. His sword flashed. The rook stumbled, a cut across her side. Not deep enough to retire her, but enough to slow her down.
Then Koneko capitalized on the opening. Her senjutsu-enhanced punch connected with the rook's midsection, launching her back through the doorway into her allies.
The rook went flying back through the doorway, crashing into the people behind her.
"One down the stairs," Koneko said quietly.
"Good," Rias said. "Keep them distracted."
The strategy was working. Narrow corridors negated their numerical advantage. Each enemy had to come through the same choke point where her peerage waited.
Exactly as planned.
More came. Two knights this time. Fast
They split up, trying to flank Kiba from both sides.
Akeno's lightning struck from above. Both knights screamed, their muscles locking up from the electricity.
Kiba didn't waste the opening. Two quick strikes. Both knights dropped.
"Riser Phenex's Knights, Karlamine and Siris, have been eliminated."
Sona's voice echoed through the battlefield.
They kept coming. A bishop next.
Rias raised her hand without thinking, just instinct now, just power. Her Power of Destruction met the flames head-on, crimson energy consuming the fire like it was nothing.
The bishop's eyes widened as she tried to dodge.
Too slow. Too late.
Rias's destruction sphere hit her square in the chest. The bishop vanished in red light.
For a moment, Rias felt it. That raw satisfaction. That proof that she wasn't weak, wasn't helpless, that all that training, all that pain, all those times in that virtual hell meant something.
With the bishop eliminated, the attacking group fell back. Regrouping. Finally giving them space to breathe.
The attacking group fell back, regrouping.
Rias used the moment to breathe. Check on her peerage.
Kiba was fine. A few scratches but nothing serious. Koneko looked untouched. Akeno was smiling, enjoying herself.
It was amazing how a single year of training in virtual reality had improved their strength, save for Koneko, who trained with her sister instead. The difference was night and day.
Speaking of which, Rias was glad that Koneko managed to overcome her fear and trauma. Watching her little Rook grow stronger, seeing her smile more often, it filled Rias with pride. She was also glad she made up with her sister. The reunion had been tense at first, but now they were inseparable.
Learning the true story about what happened made her angry at the devil who tormented both sisters. The lies, the manipulation, the cruelty. It made her blood boil. But that was a problem for another day.
"As expected, they retreated," Rias said, scanning the battlefield. "But now is the perfect time to strike back. They won't be expecting it, and that gives us a chance to finish this."
Akeno's smile widened. "My, my. How aggressive, Rias. I like it."
"Koneko?" Rias glanced at her Rook.
"I'm ready," Koneko said simply.
Rias nodded. "Good. Kiba, you and Koneko take the front. Break through their line. Akeno, support from above. I'll handle any surprises."
"Understood," Kiba said, already moving into position.
Koneko cracked her knuckles, her eyes sharp.
Akeno floated up, lightning crackling around her fingertips. "This should be fun."
Rias raised her hand, crimson energy swirling around her fingers. The Power of Destruction hummed, eager to be unleashed.
"Let's finish this," she said.
=====
Riser POV
The wine glass shattered against the wall as Riser stood there, chest heaving, fists clenched.
His peerage. Half of them. Defeated. By Rias and her pathetic little group of misfits.
Impossible.
But it had happened. He'd watched it. Seen them fall one by one. That damned Gremory and her servants were stronger than he'd anticipated.
He took a breath. Then another.
Slowly, the rage subsided. The fire in his chest cooled.
Riser straightened his collar, smoothed back his hair. Getting angry wouldn't change anything. He was better than that. Better than her. Better than all of them.
So what if they'd beaten half his peerage? They were expendable. Useful, yes, but replaceable. He'd seen their abilities now. Studied their movements, their techniques, their weaknesses. He knew exactly how they fought.
And more importantly, he knew something they didn't seem to understand.
It didn't matter.
Even if they defeated every single one of his servants, even if they somehow made it past all of them, they still had to face him.
And he was a Phenex.
Immortal. Untouchable. Unbeatable.
"Yubelluna," he called out.
His Queen appeared at his side, bowing. "Yes, Riser-sama."
"Gather everyone who's left."
"As you command."
She nodded and vanished.
A few seconds after, Riser stepped out into the courtyard, flames roaring to life around him. His remaining peerage members stood at attention, waiting.
In the distance, he saw them.
Rias and her peerage.
"Rias!" Riser called out, his voice booming. "Enough of this charade!"
They stopped. All of them. Their eyes locked on him.
Riser spread his arms wide, flames erupting from his back like wings. The courtyard blazed with golden light.
"You've done well," he continued, his tone almost mocking. "Better than I expected, I'll admit. You've beaten half my peerage. Quite the accomplishment."
He lowered his arms, his smile cold and sharp.
"But now you face me. And I am not like them."
The flames intensified, roaring higher.
"I am Riser Phenex.
He took another step forward.
"So come, my dear Rias. Show me this strength you've gained. Let's see if it's enough."
Rias stepped forward, her crimson hair flowing behind her. Her eyes burned with determination, the Power of Destruction swirling around her hands.
"You talk too much, Riser," she said, her voice steady. "You always have."
Riser laughed, the sound echoing across the courtyard. "Still defiant. That's what I've always loved about you, Rias. That fire."
"I'm not yours," Rias shot back. "I never was. And I never will be."
"We'll see about that."
Rias glanced back at her peerage. "Kiba, Koneko, Akeno. Handle the rest of them. Riser is mine."
"Buchou—"
"Trust me," Rias said firmly. "I can do this."
Akeno smiled. "As you wish, Rias. Don't keep us waiting too long."
Koneko nodded. "Be careful."
"I will."
Riser's peerage stepped forward, forming a line behind him. Ready to fight.
"How touching," Riser said, amused. "You think you can face me alone? How arrogant."
"I don't think," Rias said, crimson energy flaring around her. "I know."
Riser's smile faded slightly. Then he shrugged. "Very well. Yubelluna, deal with the rest. Rias is mine."
The battlefield split.
Rias faced Riser.
And the war began.
====
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