This place—an entire academy sealed within a massive barrier—was a special battleground designed by none other than Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Maou.
A genius mad scientist even among devils, Ajuka had produced countless technological miracles for the Underworld.
His battlefields were no exception.
When Izumi was transported inside, he looked around with mild curiosity.
The setting resembled Kuoh Academy's old school building almost perfectly—
only the sky above was wrapped in a dull, misty grey, as if the world itself had been placed under a heavy lid.
Since there was still a little time before the match officially started, Izumi and the others found places to sit.
As he glanced at Rias, Koneko, and Akeno beside her, he suddenly asked:
"By the way, Rias—you mentioned you had a 'reserve peerage member,' right?
She's not here?"
Rias had indeed said that before.
And Izumi already knew who she meant.
One of the two unfortunate Holy Sword wielders: Xenovia Quarta.
After Izumi wiped out the Fallen Angels and the girls learned that the Biblical God was already dead, the two ex-exorcists' faith shattered.
Irina Shidou still clung to her beliefs and decided to return to headquarters for answers.
She left Kuoh quietly with the Church's retrieval unit.
Xenovia, however, completely broke.
She isolated herself in the ruins of that destroyed church, refusing food for days.
If Rias hadn't gone there personally and dragged her out, the girl would have likely died alone.
Rias invited Xenovia to join her peerage afterward, but Xenovia did not give an immediate answer.
She said she needed time to think.
That "time" had already stretched into more than half a month.
Hearing Izumi's question, Rias sighed helplessly.
"She's still… struggling.
Her entire worldview collapsed. I think she needs a bit longer before she can stand again."
There was nothing more she could say; even comforting the girl had become difficult.
For someone raised from childhood on absolute faith, that kind of collapse was nothing short of despair.
The fact Xenovia hadn't taken her own life was already admirable.
Izumi nodded lightly.
Ever since he crossed into this world, the timeline had already shifted.
Events were still happening, but never exactly as they should.
Nothing to do but accept it.
As for Xenovia—Izumi felt no particular connection.
They had never even spoken a full sentence to each other.
She would probably join Rias eventually; after what happened, she had no place in the Church anymore.
He stopped thinking about it.
Whatever happens, happens.
It wasn't his problem anyway.
Meanwhile — the Phoenix camp
Inside the student council room that had been remodeled into Riser Phoenix's base, a magic circle lit up.
Riser stepped out with his peerage—
a full entourage of women, as always.
But the once-arrogant Phoenix heir was no longer the elegant noble he had been during his intrusion into the Occult Research Club.
His suit remained gaudy, but fresh bandages wrapped around his torso, stained red with blood.
The cursed wounds inflicted by Izumi's Yellow Rose still tormented him; even the Phoenix family's healing arts could not undo the curse.
And the right eye Izumi had stabbed?
Completely gone.
Irreversible.
The Underworld had erupted in an uproar when Riser returned in this miserable state.
No one expected the Phoenix heir to come back from the Human World half-dead and permanently maimed.
Naturally, rumors spread like wildfire:
Who on earth did this to a Phoenix?
The Rating Game between him and Rias became a spectacle the entire Underworld wanted to watch.
Now, standing in the student council room, Riser glared toward the old school building with twisted hatred.
"Today, I'll make you pay…
All of you, listen well!
If that man appears, attack immediately! Capture him—alive.
I'll personally make him regret ever crossing me."
"As for Rias? Ignore her.
She can't do anything."
His peerage bowed fiercely.
"We will fulfill your commands, Lord Riser!"
To them, a mere human injuring their master to this degree was unforgivable.
They burned with the desire for revenge.
Only one girl—with golden drill curls—tilted her head, full of curiosity rather than bloodlust.
Ravel Phoenix.
Riser's younger sister.
She too was angry, of course.
But more than that… she wondered what kind of monster had pushed her powerful brother to such humiliation.
She wanted to see him—this mysterious man.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a cool, dignified voice echoing through the entire barrier:
"Now that both sides have assembled,"
Grayfia Lucifuge declared,
"The Rating's Game will begin.
Victors may demand any condition from the defeated."
"This match—between Rias Gremory and Riser Phoenix—shall now commence."
Simple, straightforward.
And it clarified the purpose of the Rating's Game.
Rias intended to use her victory to dissolve her engagement.
Riser, of course, intended to demand Rias hand over Izumi—even if he had to forgo the marriage itself.
He wanted Izumi dead.
Torn apart piece by piece.
Too bad for him—Izumi wasn't Rias's peerage member, only an external participant.
Even if Riser did win, no one would care about his demand.
Izumi would probably just smack him and call him a moron.
But a rage-blinded Riser knew nothing of this.
As Grayfia's announcement ended, both sides began their preparations.