After school the next day, Genichi came to the Occult Research Club as usual.
The instant he pushed open the door, he sensed that something was off.
The atmosphere in the clubroom was different from usual.
Rias sat on the sofa with a book in her hands. She looked as if she were reading, but those green eyes of hers kept drifting toward him from time to time, and the corners of her mouth carried a meaningful smile.
Koneko sat in the corner, silent as always, but those golden eyes were also studying him.
And the one who put Genichi most on guard was Himejima Akeno.
The Queen who usually smiled and called him "Genichi-kun" in that gentle voice was now standing by the window. Sunlight spilled in from outside, gilding her in a layer of gold.
Her face still carried that signature smile, but her eyes gleamed with something Genichi knew all too well.
It was the look of a hunter seeing prey.
"Ara, Genichi-kun is here."
Akeno's voice was as gentle as ever, but Genichi keenly sensed something unusual beneath it.
He stopped walking, swept his gaze across the three girls, and finally let it settle on Akeno.
"Akeno-senpai, is something wrong?"
His voice was calm, neither servile nor arrogant.
Akeno smiled and walked toward him with elegant steps.
"I heard from Rias that you've already advanced to Mid-Class Devil, Genichi-kun."
Her voice was soft, as if she were chatting about everyday matters.
Genichi nodded.
"I got lucky."
He said it lightly, as if it were some trivial little thing.
When Akeno heard that, the smile on her face became even more radiant.
"Hehe."
She merely laughed softly and said nothing more.
But that expression, that look in her eyes, clearly said—
Like I'd believe that.
Lucky?
In just a few short days, he had advanced from a newly reincarnated Low-Class Devil to a Mid-Class Devil?
Could that be explained with luck?
Who was he trying to fool?
As Rias's earliest peerage member, Akeno knew perfectly well how much hardship she had gone through just to advance to Mid-Class Devil.
Even now, she was only a Mid-Class Devil, still some distance from High-Class Devil.
And how long had Genichi been reincarnated as a devil?
Yet he had already advanced to Mid-Class Devil.
So there was no way Genichi's advancement had relied on simple "luck."
There was only one answer—
He was hiding something.
Akeno's smile remained gentle, but she had already made up her mind.
This boy had brushed Rias off yesterday, and now he was brushing her off today.
Did he really think they were that easy to fool?
"Speaking of which, Genichi-kun."
Akeno spoke, her voice still gentle.
"Now that you've advanced to Mid-Class Devil, would you like to spar a little? It might help you better control your increased strength."
She paused, a gleam flashing through her eyes.
"Onee-san can practice with you."
Genichi looked at her and laughed inwardly.
Did she really think he could not see through her intentions?
She was clearly annoyed because he had brushed her off and wanted to use this chance to teach him a lesson.
He had seen plenty of little schemes like this.
However, Genichi did not refuse.
This was a good opportunity for him to test his actual combat power and see just how large the gap between himself and Akeno truly was.
As the strongest member of Rias's peerage, Akeno's strength was beyond doubt.
She was the Thunder Priestess, wielding powerful lightning, and only a few steps away from High-Class Devil.
If he could spar with her, it would definitely benefit him.
"Sure."
Genichi nodded, his tone calm.
"But this place clearly isn't suitable for fighting, is it?"
He glanced around. This clubroom was not small, but if they really fought here, it would definitely be leveled.
Akeno smiled.
"Of course we're not doing it here."
She looked at Rias.
Rias closed the grimoire in her hands, stood up, and walked to the center of the clubroom.
There, a large magic circle was emitting a faint red glow.
"We'll go to an alternate dimension."
She looked at Genichi and explained.
"After advancing to Mid-Class Devil, fighting will inevitably cause a lot of damage. An alternate dimension is the most suitable place."
Genichi looked at the magic circle, a trace of curiosity flashing through his eyes.
An alternate dimension?
Rias raised her hand, and red magic power flowed into the magic circle.
In an instant, the magic circle erupted with brilliant light, dyeing the entire clubroom crimson.
"This is an alternate dimension specially created for holding Rating Games."
Rias's voice rang out from within the light.
"Though I don't have much use for it yet. For your sparring match, it's perfect."
The moment she finished speaking, Genichi's vision blurred.
The next second, he was standing in a completely unfamiliar space.
It was a vast, boundless plain. The ground was made of grayish-white stone, and the sky was deep purple. There was no sun, no clouds, only endless empty space.
Genichi took a deep breath, sensing the unusual nature of this place.
"So this is an alternate dimension..."
He murmured.
Behind him, light flickered, and Rias, Akeno, and Koneko appeared one after another.
Rias walked to his side and pointed at the space around them.
"This is an alternate-dimensional space made specifically for battles between devils. It was created by major figures in the Underworld. Fighting here won't affect the real world, and there's no need to worry about destroying the environment."
She paused, then looked at Akeno.
"So you two can fight freely."
Akeno stepped forward and stood face-to-face with Genichi.
Her face still carried that gentle smile, but her eyes shone with a hunger for battle.
"Genichi-kun, are you ready?"
Her voice remained soft, but the fighting spirit contained within it was clear.
Genichi looked at her and nodded.
"I'm ready."
Akeno smiled.
That smile carried a trace of anticipation, a trace of excitement, and one other thing—Genichi could see it very clearly.
The desire to teach someone a lesson.
"Then let's begin."
She raised her hand, and golden lightning danced at her fingertips.
"Let Onee-san see just how strong you've become after advancing."
Genichi took a deep breath, and his magic power began to surge.
He was looking forward to this sparring match.
Behind him, Rias and Koneko retreated into the distance to watch.
A red magic circle unfolded beneath their feet, forming a protective barrier.
"Begin."
Rias's voice echoed through the space.
The instant her words fell—
Two figures vanished from where they stood at the same time.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]