The Rating Game arena awaited, a pocket dimension conjured by devil magic, accessible via a teleport circle in the ORC room. Rias stood at its center, her crimson hair a banner of defiance, her stats radiating authority. Akeno's lightning crackled subtly, laced with teasing respect. Kiba's sword gleamed, reflecting growing camaraderie. Koneko munched a final sweet, warming to grudging trust. Gasper peeked from his box, his time-stop ready.
Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt stood behind me, disguised as "human mercenaries" named Yuuma, Kara, and Mimi—only Rias's peerage knew their fallen angel truth. Their eyes burned with devotion , locked on me.
Rias addressed us, her voice steady. "The rules are clear: defeat Riser & his queen to end the game. Allies are permitted, so Issei, Yuuma, Kara, and Mimi are our edge. Akeno, Kiba, Koneko—split off, draw his peerage. Issei, your team, and I target Riser and Yubelluna. Gasper, hold the base, use your Sacred Gear if overwhelmed. We win, or I'm bound to that bastard."
Akeno giggled, her lightning flaring. "Ara, let's clip his wings."
Kiba nodded, gripping his sword. "We'll carve through his knights."
Koneko cracked her knuckles. "I'll crush his rooks."
Raynare smirked under her disguise. "Let's burn the chicken."
The teleport circle glowed, and we stepped through, reality warping into the arena—a sprawling Underworld cityscape of crumbling spires, molten rivers, and ash-choked skies, mimicking Phenex territory.
Two figures watched from a floating platform, their auras overwhelming: Sirzechs Lucifer, Rias's elder brother, his crimson hair and regal bearing marking him as a king among devils; and Azazel, leader of the fallen angels, his black wings folded, a sly grin on his face. Their presence was a formality—overseers ensuring fair play—but their gazes felt like spotlights. I used Observe:
Name: Sirzechs Lucifer
Level: 80(Suppressed)
HP: 40,000/40,000(Suppressed)
MP: 20,000/20,000(Suppressed)
Strength: 200(Suppressed)
Endurance: 200(Suppressed)
Agility: 180(Suppressed)
Intelligence: 250(Suppressed)
Luck: 100(Suppressed)
Thoughts About You: "Issei Hyoudou… Rias's ally has power beyond his years. A dragon's aura, and something else. If he saves her, he's worth watching."
Relationship: Neutral (10/100)
Name: Azazel
Level: 75(Suppressed)
HP: 35,000/35,000(Suppressed)
MP: 18,000/18,000(Suppressed)
Strength: 180(Suppressed)
Endurance: 170(Suppressed)
Agility: 190(Suppressed)
Intelligence: 240(Suppressed)
Luck: 120(Suppressed)
Thoughts About You: "Kid's got Raynare's scent—interesting. A Sacred Gear user shaking up devil games? I like him already."
Relationship: Neutral (15/100)
(A/N: Issei doesn't notice the suppressed part)
Their power dwarfed ours, a reminder of the stakes. Sirzechs's gaze softened on Rias, while Azazel's lingered on my "mercenaries," unaware of their true nature. The game began with a resonant chime, the arena's magic locking us in.
Riser's forces materialized across the city—15 peerage members, all Level 42, 126 stats, led by Riser himself at Level 45, 135 stats, his flames blazing. His queen, Yubelluna, a sultry woman with violet hair, wielded explosive magic at his side. I Observed them:
Name: Riser Phenex (Burger Chicken)
Level: 45
HP: 13,500/13,500
MP: 6,750/6,750
Strength: 135
Endurance: 135 (Phenex regeneration: full recovery in 5 seconds)
Agility: 135
Intelligence: 135
Luck: 135
Thoughts About You: "This human thinks he can challenge me? I'll burn him and claim Rias."
Relationship: Enemy (0/100)
Name: Yubelluna (Riser's Queen)
Level: 42
HP: 12,600/12,600
MP: 6,300/6,300
Strength: 126
Endurance: 126
Agility: 126
Intelligence: 126
Luck: 126
Thoughts About You: "Riser's rival? A nuisance. My bombs will end him."
Relationship: Enemy (0/100)
Name: Ravel Phenex (Representative Peerage Member)
Level: 42
HP: 12,600/12,600
MP: 6,300/6,300
Strength: 126
Endurance: 126
Agility: 126
Intelligence: 126
Luck: 126
Thoughts About You: "Issei's strong… maybe not just a pest. But I serve Riser."
Relationship: Neutral (5/100)
The battlefield split. Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko peeled off, targeting Riser's peerage. Akeno's lightning arced, scattering pawns (HP dropping to 10,000/12,600 each); Kiba's Sword Birth conjured flaming blades, countering knights' speed; Koneko's Rook strength smashed rooks, their 126 Endurance buckling under her 119 Strength. Gasper held the base, his time-stop ready.
I led Rias, Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt toward Riser and Yubelluna, who stood atop a burning spire. "BOOST!" My stats doubled to 140, HP to 14,000, MP to 7,000. My Sirzechs-level Power of Destruction flared, crimson-black annihilation fields shimmering.
Raynare's spears homed, Kalawarner's exploded, Mittelt's illusions cloaked us, masking their angelic signatures. Rias's destruction blasts synced with mine, her 119 stats a perfect complement.
Sirzechs and Azazel watched, Sirzechs's voice carrying via magic: "Rias's strategy is bold. Her ally—Issei—intrigues me." Azazel chuckled: "Kid's got guts. Those 'mercenaries' move like fallen angels, though. Curious."
Combat erupted. Riser's flames roared, a 1,500-degree inferno sweeping the spire. My 140 Agility dodged, Twilight Healing countering minor burns (HP 13,800/14,000). Rias tanked with her endurance, her blasts vaporizing flames. Raynare's spears pierced Riser's shoulder (HP 12,000/13,500), his regeneration kicking in. Yubelluna's bombs exploded, forcing Mittelt's illusions to redirect—fake duplicates drawing fire. Kalawarner charged, her Strength clashing with Yubelluna's, knocking her back (HP 11,000/12,600).
Across the arena, Akeno's lightning chained through pawns, dropping two (0/12,600, retired). Kiba's swords severed a knight's arm (HP 8,000/12,600), Koneko's punches crushed a rook's ribs (HP 7,500/12,600). Gasper froze a pawn's charge, his Agility outpacing theirs.
Riser laughed, flames flaring. "Pathetic! Rias, you and your pet human can't touch me!" His HP regenerated to 13,500, but I saw strain—his MP dipped to 6,000/6,750.
My Power of Destruction unleashed an annihilation field, shredding his flames and dropping him to 10,000 HP. Rias's blast followed, synced perfectly, hitting 8,000 HP.
Raynare's spears barraged, Kalawarner's exploded, Mittelt's illusions made him strike air—HP to 5,000.
Yubelluna faltered, her bombs countered by my Twilight Healing fields, healing Rias (119 Endurance shrugging off grazes).
Kalawarner pinned her, fists hammering (Yubelluna HP 4,000/12,600). Rias shouted, "Now, Issei!" Our combined destruction blasts—mine Sirzechs-level, hers near it—engulfed Yubelluna, retiring her (0/12,600).
Riser roared, flames surging. "You think you've won? Rias, you're nothing! Your family's a joke—Sirzechs a pompous fool, your father a spineless bureaucrat, and your mother? A whore who sold her soul for power!"
The words hit like a sledgehammer. Gamer's Mind cracked, its calm rationality buckling under a tide of rage. My family—Mom's warm curry, Dad's lame jokes—flashed in my mind. Rias's face twisted, her shared fury bonded us. Raynare, Kalawarner, Mittelt snarled, their devotion fueling my fire. The arena blurred, my vision red.
A primal roar erupted from Boosted Gear. "BALANCE BREAKER!" Ddraig's voice thundered, crimson armor encasing me—Dragon Scale Mail, the Red Dragon Emperor's full power. My stats tripled from base (70 × 3 = 210 Strength, Endurance, Agility; Intelligence/Luck unchanged). HP soared to 21,000, MP 3,500. Power of Destruction became cataclysmic, a molecular-disintegrating wave.
I lunged, claws rending Riser's chest (HP 2,000/13,500). His flames flared, regenerating, but my annihilation field shredded them (HP 1,000). His eyes widened in terror. "No! I'm immortal!" Another slash—HP 500—my claws poised to rip him in half.
Sirzechs appeared, a crimson blur, his aura crushing. "Enough!" A Power of Destruction pulse—far beyond mine—slammed me, knocking me out cold (HP 100/21,000, unconscious but alive).
Darkness.
_____________
I woke in the ORC room, the game over. Rias knelt beside me, tears in her eyes, score 80/100. "You won, Issei. Riser's down—retired. The engagement's off." Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, & Gasper surrounded me, awed. Raynare, Kalawarner, Mittelt held me, their disguises intact, 99/100 burning.
Sirzechs stood by, his gaze unreadable. "You're reckless, Hyoudou. But effective." Azazel grinned. "Hell of a show, kid. Those 'mercenaries'—damn good."
The Forge of Allies quest flashed—complete.
Quest Complete: Forge of Allies
Rewards:
Bragging rights: System acknowledgment for enabling Rias's victory.
+50 Relationship:
Rias Gremory: Lover (100/100, Eternal Bond pending mutual commitment)
Akeno Himejima: Ally (95/100)
Yuuto Kiba: Ally (85/100)
Koneko Toujou: Ally (85/100)
Rias's hand squeezed mine, her new Lover status a vow. The dragon had roared, and the phoenix fell. But Sirzechs's warning lingered—my power had limits, and the Underworld was watching.