Toujou Koneko's serious strike had no effect.
Extreme speed, a blind spot in the vision, sufficient power—as a familiar of the High-Class Devil Lady Rias, Toujou Koneko, whose strength was not weak, was certain that she had met all the conditions.
And the result of the aforementioned conditions should have been her victory!
But in reality?
Toujou Koneko felt pain in her shoulder.
Just a moment ago, Bai Li-kun wasn't looking at her, nor did he make any moves.
Yet, in the next instant, he suddenly counterattacked.
Rias and Akeno might not have realized it, but Toujou Koneko, as the one who experienced it, wouldn't forget the fleeting image.
"What did you... just do..."
She saw a torrent born from the void.
It wasn't large, but it was enough to inspire awe!
This was also why Koneko's attack went awry and her movements became distorted.
Out of animal instinct... no, it should be said, out of biological instinct, Toujou Koneko stopped her attack.
She changed her trajectory, avoiding direct contact with Bai Li-kun.
But this action was still a beat too slow.
The torrent, which appeared and disappeared suddenly, struck Toujou Koneko's shoulder.
This blow tore open the clothing on Koneko's left shoulder, revealing her fair, slender skin and collarbone.
However, this level of exposure had no effect on her.
She could continue fighting.
The problem was... how to fight.
Just that one strike made Koneko feel a sense of danger.
It reminded her of a documentary she had watched before going to sleep.
A group of fierce wildcats, accustomed to fighting for food, wouldn't dare to bare their fangs at a large dog; they would only run away.
Koneko had that feeling now.
She had become the prey.
"Hmph—!!"
Before getting an answer, Koneko adjusted her mindset.
As Lady Rias's castle, she couldn't be timid, nor should she be!
On the other side, Bai Li-kun heard the girl's question, and while closing the distance, he responded,
"I merely used a power I possess, much like magic, concentrating it and then releasing it."
"What a strange guy..."
"But I'm a cat lover, so I can tolerate your playful antics."
Of course, Bai Li-kun's cat love was more for catgirls... "Playful antics?"
"Yes."
"I'll make you change that thought."
Toujou Koneko, feeling that Bai Li-kun wasn't taking her seriously, decided to use more power.
Rias, as a spectator, noticed this.
"Koneko is getting serious."
"Indeed, Rias, Koneko doesn't like to be underestimated; as for Bai Li-kun, he probably still wants to tease her, that expression on his face shows he's enjoying it thoroughly."
"Like teasing a cat..."
Rias couldn't help but retort when she heard Himejima Akeno say that.
Before their words had even faded, Toujou Koneko, who had decided to stop playing around, lowered her stance.
In the next instant, Koneko once again transformed into a white gust of wind!
She possessed superhuman strength and was skilled in combat arts.
Coupled with sufficient agility and keenness, a serious Koneko returned to her yokai state!
With another acceleration, Koneko charged straight at Bai Li-kun.
The two engaged in close-quarters combat.
Koneko exerted force from her left side, moving to attack from the right.
The moment her attack was parried by Bai Li-kun, she instantly retreated and circled around.
Bai Li-kun's gaze followed, catching up to the small figure.
Their eyes met at this moment.
"Let me show you power that isn't just playful antics!"
The white figure stopped, the cat was enraged!
A charged punch came directly at Bai Li-kun from the front!
The sound of rushing wind made the air shriek.
Then—!
Bai Li-kun gave up dodging, raising his right hand to meet it.
Bang!
His open hand grasped the fist that should have unleashed terrifying destructive power.
"Koneko's strength... could it be inferior to Bai Li-kun's?"
"It seems so, Rias, we really seem to have underestimated Bai Li-kun's strength..."
Just a brief exchange of blows allowed Rias and Himejima Akeno to see.
Bai Li-kun was probably not an unpolished gem.
But rather a gem that could shine on its own.
At the same time on the battlefield.
Bai Li-kun said with a smile,
"If it's rock-paper-scissors, I win."
"You...!"
"Oh my."
Koneko pulled back her right fist, spun her body, and delivered a kick.
Bai Li-kun, who dodged this time, charged forward after evading.
Facing the approaching enemy, Koneko swung her fist again.
But her attack was intercepted midway just as she initiated it.
She couldn't exert any force!
Koneko's right hand was seized by Bai Li-kun, and a powerful, inescapable force bound her.
"By the way... on the way to the hotel in the car, you were looking out the window the whole time, weren't you."
"Why bring that up!"
Koneko tried to break free again, but instead, she was pulled by Bai Li-kun's hand, like dancing, and spun half a turn, forced to turn her back to him.
The current situation had nothing to do with fighting... rather than a fight, it was more like a dance.
"Although this city isn't very big, its entertainment industry is quite good, which is probably why there are so many tourists."
"Huh?"
"There are many amusement parks and arcades here."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Koneko, facing Bai Li-kun who had locked her right arm from behind in a grappling hold, raised her left hand and delivered an elbow strike.
"Man!"
Bai Li-kun dodged sideways, his gaze still fixed on Toujou Koneko as he continued their previous conversation.
"Although I cannot become Lady Rias's peerage, I am willing to cooperate and happy to host you all."
"So you're saying…!"
"If you come again next time, I'll take you somewhere fun."
With that, Bai Li-kun released his right hand.
Toujou Koneko, now free, was about to launch an attack when she was pulled into the air by Imaginary Energy originating from a different dimension.
Just like a kitten picked up by a human… "That's enough!"
Rias intervened in the battle at this moment.
She raised her right hand.
"This duel doesn't need to continue."
Rias, the High-Class Devil who had taken the initiative to invite him, looked at Bai Li-kun.
"Please allow me to apologize for my previous actions, Bai Li-kun. With your great power, you certainly don't need my Evil Pieces."
"You flatter me. I'm still very happy to make new friends."
"Is that so? It seems the topic of our conversation just now needs to change."
Not signing a contract and becoming master and servant, but establishing cooperation.
Himejima Akeno smiled slightly upon hearing their conversation.
"Then I'll go prepare some refreshments."
After Akeno left, Toujou Koneko was placed back on the ground.
She walked up to Bai Li-kun with a solemn expression.
"Lady Rias has ended the battle, but I believe we can continue next time."
"I'd be happy to have a training battle with you."
"And also…"
Bai Li-kun looked at Toujou Koneko.
The girl said seriously, "Take me somewhere fun—I've remembered that too."
Bai Li-kun hadn't expected his teasing words to Toujou Koneko just now to be taken seriously.
Forget it, it doesn't matter.
Next time he has free time, he'll take Toujou Koneko to an arcade to play, and then listen to "haruhi shadow."