Scarlet 35

Scarlet 35

…

Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

…

Kiba was a very difficult opponent.

Knight Pieces granted Devils with increased speed. Much like the chess piece, it was meant to be mobile and attack from the flanks, which translated into a warrior meant to tie down the enemy. Bishops were supposed to be long-range damage dealers, while Rooks were indomitable melee fighters, and Queens were a combination of the two.

I wasn’t much of a chess player, but the composition of the Chess Pieces made sense to me in terms of team composition. Rias didn’t have any pawns, which apparently could Promote when certain conditions were met and receive the power of other pieces, but she didn’t need them.

Kiba was special as a Knight, thanks to his Sacred Gear.

It allowed him to create Demonic Swords with various effects.

And, apparently after defeating Vladi, he gained another important advantage: the ability to make Holy Swords with various effects, too.

Therefore, he was the fastest of Rias’ retinue and was guaranteed to be effective against any foe that he faced.

Kiba was a terrifying foe, because he was mobile and had an answer to almost every problem, and he wasn’t a slouch in terms of skill and trained often.

However, still, everyone had a weakness.

“I have you!”

Kiba fought too honestly and was week to more underhanded tactics.

Boost.

I surged forward as he sent his sword forward in a piercing blow, but instead of meeting his sword with my armored fist and arm like in the rest of the battle, I spear-tackled him and brought him to the ground. Kiba’s body stiffened with surprise, but I felt his arm move to try and turn his blade against me, but it was too late. I took hold of his descending wrist and held his hand fast, he was strong and resisted my arm, but that didn’t matter.

I raised my spare arm and raised it up, just as he was summoning another sword in his own spare hand, and brought it down.

Dust billowed while the ground cracked beside his head.

A sigh left his lips and a smile formed on his face that would’ve made my heart flutter a little in my past life.

“It’s my loss, Issei-san.”

“Once you get used to people not playing fair, you’ll win every fight we have.” I helped him up while giving advice. He brushed the dust off his uniform and I did the same, while a smattering of applause came from the sides. Behind the “club room” that was a mansion next to the school, was a secured area that was good for training. “The difference between winning and losing is incredibly small.”

Kiba gave me a wry grin.

“As if you couldn’t have covered yourself in armor, before I gutted you.”

That was surprisingly graphic for him, but I nodded.

“I can take hits and dish them out. Overpowering people outright just isn’t possible for me.” Rias and everyone else could do it with the right conditions, but I was heading into slugfest no matter what. I was lucky to find Asia and get her help. In fact, Asia was rushing over to help us both, and without even asking she was casting a healing aura over the two of us. “Thanks, Asia.”

“Y-you’re welcome, Ise-kun!”

Kiba gave her a nod, but nothing besides that.

I had a feeling that his hatred for the Church hadn’t faded that much, despite managing to kill the man he wanted to kill.

Or, maybe, I was just projecting.

I really don’t get how killing someone doesn’t end problems with humans, Devils, and Angels. It doesn’t make any sense. Dead is dead.

I briefly recalled killing Alexandria by choking her to death with insects, before shaking the thought away.

It’s just complicated.

Rias arrived and crossed her arms when she stood still, beside her was Koneko.

“Ready for the next fight, Ise-kun?” Rias eyed Asia as she fussed over me, before taking a step or two forward and moving just-so. My thoughts were obliterated as the side of her blouse-covered chest pressed against my arm. Whoever designed the uniforms of Kuoh Academy deserved all the praise I could offer. “Or, maybe, you need a bit of encouragement?”

I wanted to agree, especially as Asia let off a cute sound and latched onto my right side, and Akeno’s smile widened in a way that made me very aware of my pants.

But all of that faded with a single, destructive word from my upcoming opponent.

“Pervert.” Koneko sent the Japanese language to war and properly had it skewer me through the heart. The white-haired, golden-eyed young woman threw a pair of gloves at me. I caught them both and Rias and Asia retreated. “Hands up.”

The moment I had them on, I was rushed by the Rook.

And, unlike my fight against Kiba, I had no chance.

Barring outside advantages, a prepared area, and a lot of distance, I had no chance in a close-quarters battle against the likes of Koneko. I wasn’t fast enough to dodge all her hits, and lightest of her jabs could send me flying. Even in full Scale Mail, her punches could hurt me significantly.

Therefore, I paid attention to the fight and committed myself to winning it as much as I could.

I couldn’t ask for a better lesson nor better training in how to survive against supernatural creatures than against Koneko.

The white-haired young woman rushed me and I committed myself to defense in an instant.

Dodging, turning direct blows into indirect blows, and using my armor to its limit. Everything that I could conceivably call upon in combat, if I was cornered and forced to fight against someone stronger than me and couldn’t escape, could all be trained against Koneko. Her impressive physical attributes, beyond that of a human, was harnessed by skill and talent, which made her an incredible fighter.

I got punched.

I got kicked.

I doubled over.

I was sent flying around the arena.

But, as terrible it all felt, I took it all in stride.

It was better to get better at learning how to fight against people like her here, while training, than against other people who wanted me dead.

There!

I caught myself in one of my flights with my hand, and swung my leg around towards Koneko. She’d rushed forward to try and continue to beat me down, but lowered her guard in the process. That allowed me to swing an armored foot at her.

Only for her to catch it.

Well, it was a good try.

I would’ve agreed with Ddraig, but my mood soured when I was swung into the ground like an oversized club.

…

I recovered quickly after my beatdown from Koneko, and the pseudo-sexual bout Akeno forced on me after that, thanks to Asia.

Akeno was a pretty nice young woman outside of combat, if a bit lewd, but in combat she was just a sadist.

I’m surprised that didn’t get you excited, honestly.

Too many bad memories about fighting in my past life. I don’t think I’ll ever be aroused by fighting.

Excited? Probably.

Bloodthirsty? Highly likely, too.

Aroused? No way.

No complaints here. I don’t get why females are so eager to fuck after fighting, honestly.

And, that was information about Dragons I didn’t know and didn’t want to know, so I ignored Ddraig in favor of talking to Rias.

“So, what do you think I need to know?” After spending some time with Rias, I found her to be an excellent leader and commander. Her peerage was well-developed and capable in a fight. She didn’t just have an eye for talent, but she was also good at guiding that talent and making sure it got the job done. If she had a few more decades, and used her entire set of Demonic Pieces, then I was sure that she’d easily inherit her family’s legacy. “How do I get better?”

“Hm, I think that you’re right. What you’re lacking in the short-term is equipment and power. Everything else can be gained over time with more training.” Rias mused while sitting next to me on the bench. I was shoveling food down my throat. The demands of my body in terms of food were high. I’d have eaten myself out of house and home, if I had the same powers in my old world. I’d have also have died, because I wouldn’t have had the power necessary to fight Scion. “Sona-chan contacted me about your request for a cannon of sorts, and I’ve lent her my aid in procuring such a weapon for you. It will be for the best that you train with it as soon as possible.”

I nodded.

My assessment of the situation was pretty much the same.

Everything I was lacking in could be overcome with firepower.

“However, Koneko-chan has a point. You need to learn martial arts.” Rias pointed my way and nodded at her words. I couldn’t help but agree. Not only because she was being cute, either. “Koneko-chan is busy, but she can teach you the basics. After that, you’ll need to learn on your own, until I can find you both a good teacher.”

“I’ll do that then.” As far as I was concerned, there weren’t any negatives to the proposal. Work hard, learn more, and gain advantages. That was how I operated before I made contact with the Devils and it worked just fine. “I’ll do my best.”

Rias was about to reply to my words when, suddenly, a strange sensation flowed over the school.

Then, a spear of light came from above to the sound of glass shattering.

It flew straight into the mansion, while we were outside, and without a second’s hesitation, I armored myself up and put myself between the mansion and Rias.

It was a good choice.

A moment later the entire building exploded.

…

Sitri sighed, while the whine of sirens and water echoed just outside.

“It seems that we’ve received an answer to the attack that we launched.” No one got hurt by the attack, but the “club room” was effectively hit by a bomb that exploded inside it. It was a caved in ruin. Nothing of value was lost, since the Occult Research Club really only used it as a club room. “We’re going to be attacked in the next few days. It will be too dangerous to split up, so we need to gather our strength here.”

I nodded at the idea, even though Ddraig didn’t approve. Dragons preferred confronting their foes alone, but they were giant monsters with immense power that could burn down valleys with a single pass. Devils and humans had to be more cautious.

Not if you get stronger!

That wasn’t happening in a few days, so I just ignored Ddraig’s discontent and listened.

“Leviathan is busy. There appears to be multiple problems arising that is ensuring that they cannot respond in time.

“My brother is busy as well. Stray Devils of great power are somehow popping up and requiring his attention.”

Rias and Sitri shared frowns at that and Quarta grimaced as she spoke as well.

“The Church is dealing with an outbreak of Fallen in Europe. Those who aren’t here are distracting the Church.”

“This operation has been planned for a long time.” Sitri muttered and glanced my way. “They appeared in Kuoh knowing that we were here, included a traitor to the Church and its stolen treasures, and sent in agents capable of stealing Sacred Gears.”

I put the clues together.

It was easy, since we’d had the idea floating around, but now it was completely confirmed. I nodded and broke the silence that was coming before it could form. It was the same silence that came when impossible odds became real.

I had a lot of experience with it.

It was a waste of time.

“This is it. Their honest attempt at making all three Factions go to war with each other.” I spoke and the two Devils nodded, while the Exorcist grimaced. They were more aware of the past war between their factions, but it was easy to guess that it couldn’t be good. “Then, there’s nothing to do besides get ourselves ready for a fight. How defensible can we make this place?”

I looked over at the school grounds from the rooftop and evaluated our choices, before suddenly finding myself distracted by Rias giggling.

“What?”

“Hm, I suppose that I’m just happy to know that I have someone so reliable helping me.” Rias laughed and shook her head, before coming over to my side. She gazed over the school grounds and placed her cheek in her palm. “How about in that tree-line? Like in your Japanese history, we’ll hide our troops and send forth a charge at a critical moment.”

That earned Rias a raised eyebrow from me and a sigh from Sitri.

“Enough of your jokes, Rias. You know that this idiot has more cruel tactics in his head that that.” Sona had a light blush on her face while standing to my free side. She pushed up her glasses and looked at the school grounds, before figuring out what I was looking at. She pinched the bridge of her nose a moment later. “Are you serious? You want to turn our school track into a minefield?”

“You can just dispel it later, since you have magic, and it’s an obvious landing zone for people flying over.” I defended my plan and Rias giggled again, as I begged Sitri to listen. “Heck, you can control water, right? Let’s flood the place and give you the advantage.”

“But the damage to the school!”

“We can’t use the school if we’re dead.”

“Grr!”

Sona growled at me, but sighed a moment later.

“…Fine.”

I nodded and moved forward in the planning phase.

“Then, anyone who survives your attack can be shocked to death by Akeno. Rias, can she channel electricity from the school generators?”

“Akeno-chan most certainly can, especially if you ask her very nicely.”

“You’re going to steal power from the city, too!? You might blow up the generators!”

“The generators won’t be able to help us if we’re dead.”

“But the costs!”

Sitri hung her head, while I planned to turn the school into a massive deathtrap, and Rias latched onto my arm with glittering eyes.

Still, something felt missing about the whole situation.

Where were the idio—

“Why don’t we just fight them head-on and win?” Quarta asked.

Nevermind, even the idiots who just charge in recklessly were represented here.