Highschool DxD.
Underworld.
The day for the Rating Game had finally arrived
The Gremory mansion — the venue used by the nobles of the Underworld to watch the game — was filled with the clanking of glass cups, the chatter of the nobles, and laughs intertwining in the air.
Among the nobles was Zeoticus, a man who bore an 80% resemblance to Rias. He had a small goatee, wore a pristine black suit, and held a glass cup filled with wine.
"Zeoticus, your daughter is really shocking," a noble with the sigil of the Amon family approached Zeoticus. "She actually proposed a Rating Game against Riser, who has only lost once."
Zeoticus' eyes flickered. He could naturally hear the sarcasm beneath those words.
"Hmm. The younger generation are filled with vigor and passion, but you shouldn't worry. My daughter's confidence has substance," Zeoticus said calmly.
"Oh? I can't wait to see—"
"Don't worry, you'll see soon enough," a light voice came from behind the noble, causing the man to stiffen. Whether from fear or shock was unknown.
Turning back, the man adopted a flattering smile toward Sirzechs who approached them.
"Lucifer-sama, I didn't expect someone of your stature to grace this game with your presence," the noble said.
"Rias is my little sister. Of course I have to attend," Sirzechs said, leaving the man stunned. But he didn't have the interest to deal with the man. Instead, he turned his gaze to the multiple small screens that formed one big screen created by magic, a smile adorning his lips.
_'Rias, this is your chance... your chance to be free.'_
...
Inside a pocket dimension, on top of a destroyed building, the teleportation magic circle of the Gremory family materialized, and with a flash of red, Rias, her peerage, and Satoru appeared on the building.
"Welcome, all participants, to the Rating Game!" a booming voice echoed through the dimension. "The rules are simple — Defeat your enemy's King and you win! The usage of all powers — Light magic, Devil magic, Mana, and Sacred Gear is allowed! Now, start the game!"
After the commentator's voice faded, Rias turned to her peerage members, her expression serious.
"We'll go with full force," she said seriously. "I, Akeno, and Kiba will lead the attack. Koneko, you and Asia will cover our backs. Is that clear?"
The four looked at each other, then turned to Rias and nodded.
"Then I'll attack only when Riser appears," Satoru said, and then vanished.
"Let's go," Rias said, and her pitch-black wings unfurled behind her, her peerage members following her lead.
Then they took to the sky.
Flying through the sky, their bodies were tense, eyes down, looking for foes.
Suddenly, from a bush, dense fiery projectiles rushed upward toward the group.
"Akeno!" Rias shouted.
"Ara~ Ara~ Ambushing someone isn't good, you know." Before Akeno finished her words, magic circles blossomed around her, and white lightning descended upon the ground like divine punishment. The shrill screams of females spread through the air, and three girls in revealing outfits fell forward before they dispersed into motes of light.
Just as the three girls disappeared, water attacks, wind attacks, and a spear erupted from another corner.
"Buchou, leave it to me!" Kiba shouted and descended. With a flash of light, his sword manifested in his hand, and he struck the attacks, his movement smooth and seamless.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he erupted forward. The girls in hiding fired another attack and turned to run. Unfortunately, they underestimated Kiba.
Moving like a dancer, his sword light flashed as he cut through the attacks. With a flash in his second hand, a sword with a sharp, pointed blade appeared in his hand, and he threw it at one of the fleeing girls.
The sword moved swiftly, and shockingly, mid-attack it separated into three, each of them stabbing through the girls.
The swords dispersed, and Kiba's wings unfolded once more. Shooting upward, he looked at Rias.
"Buchou, I've dealt with them," he said, and Rias nodded.
"Good job, Kiba," her smile turned serious as she looked into the distance. "But we still have many foes to face."
...
Back at the Gremory Mansion,
The entire room was silent.
"Such powerful servants..." a noble suddenly muttered, voicing out the thoughts in the nobles' minds.
Zeoticus sipped his wine hiding the smile that threatened to stretch too far.
' It seems that Rias peerage members...became incredibly strong in this few days.' Sizrech smiled, ' That boy is truly not simple.'
" Look!" Suddenly a noble shouted, pointing at a mini screen which showed Riser but there was a new addition, a white hair, blondfolded boy with both hands in his pocket.
" Isn't that Rias Gremory servant?"
" Yes. It's truly him"
" They defeated a few people and they got arrogant to try to fight Riser with one man?"
" Tsk. Tsk. And here I thought Rias Gremory had a chance"
The nobles conversed among themselves, their eyes filled with confusion and schadenfreude.
Sizrech stared at the screen for a while then turned to the other screen, showing Rias and her peerage members; The core of Riser Peerage Members had already surrounded them.
The battle deciding the winner of the rating game was about to start!