This time, it wasn't just the Eligos servants and the Gremory servants sparring with each other. The Sitri servants would be joining in as well, instead of being sidelined as spectators like last time.
Since this was purely for sparring and exchange, there were no rules about order or priority. Teams would be formed freely.
If you wanted to fight someone, you just went up and invited them.
There was plenty of time. This definitely wasn't going to be a one-match-and-done affair for everyone today. Some people might fight several times, maybe even ten or twenty bouts in total.
After finishing one match, you could immediately challenge someone else, or pause to rest, reflect on your performance, and think about what needed improvement.
As for getting injured and being unable to fight again?
That wasn't a concern at all.
"I'll be in charge of healing everyone, so please don't worry about injuries."
Asia said this with a smile as gentle as an angel's, instantly captivating everyone who saw it.
Honestly, the former saint of the Church really was so kind and warm that she felt angelic in the truest sense of the word, making even Shiina Mahiru sigh in admiration.
"This is what a real angel is like."
Compared to Asia, even someone publicly acknowledged as an angel like herself had to admit she fell short.
Of course, Mahiru could heal as well. And with Yuuki Asuna, Akeno Himejima, Shinra Tsubaki, and others who had some recovery abilities, everyone could fight freely without worrying about holding back.
With that settled, the newcomer Xenovia was the first to step forward.
"I hear you're also a Holy Sword user?"
She directed the question at Yuuki Asuna.
"To be precise, I'm a Sacred Gear user," Asuna replied calmly. "It's just that my Sacred Gear is related to Holy Swords."
She had no intention of labeling herself strictly as a Holy Sword wielder.
"Then let's exchange techniques as fellow Holy Sword users," Xenovia said seriously. "President Rias has told us more than once that every member of the Eligos servants is exceptional. I want to test myself against you, as a fellow swordsman."
"All right." Seeing Xenovia's earnestness, Asuna smiled gently. "It would be an honor to cross blades with the wielder of Durandal."
The two of them headed down the hill together to find a place to fight.
"Then I'll challenge Yuuto-kun," Yukino said as she stepped forward, inviting Kiba. "Facing a Sacred Gear user who's mastered Balance Breaker should be very enlightening."
Among the Eligos servants, Yukino had been the first to join and had followed Leo the longest.
Now that Leo had already reached the realm of Balance Breaker, she felt that, as his earliest follower, she should strive toward that level as well. At the very least, she couldn't let herself be overtaken by others.
That was why she chose to challenge Kiba, someone Leo held in high regard, to see his Sword of Betrayer for herself.
"I'd be happy to fight a Longinus holder," Kiba replied readily.
Back when the Eligos servants and the Gremory servants had clashed as full teams, Yukino's performance had been outstanding.
Even though she wasn't the Eligos Queen, she had fought evenly with the Gremory Queen. At the time, Kiba had already thought she was incredibly strong, stronger than himself.
And that was when she had only been Leo's servant for a few months, without undergoing especially harsh training. After special training, she was clearly even stronger now. She might have already surpassed the Gremory servants' former number two, Queen Akeno.
Because of that, Kiba also wanted to fight her, to test his own strength and reclaim some pride for the Gremory servants.
At the same time, Koneko seemed eager to make up for her previous loss and actually challenged Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Is it a Rook showdown again?" Tsubasa Yura stepped up, full of energy. "Then count me in too!"
The three of them had once fought side by side during the Old Maou Faction incident. Back then, they'd survived thanks to Utaha's barrier.
After sharing that experience, their relationship had improved quite a bit. As another Rook, Tsubasa didn't want to be left behind.
Similarly, Reya Kusaka and Momo Hanakai, two Sitri Bishops, challenged Shiina Mahiru together, teaming up against her alone.
There was no helping it. Mahiru was a Longinus holder, the host of the Holy Cross, one of the Three Holy Relics. A casual strike from her could deal fatal damage to a High-Class Devil. Even the highest-ranking devils wouldn't necessarily dare to take that violet-flamed cross head-on.
If Reya and Momo didn't team up, they had no confidence they could even last three exchanges against her.
Mahiru didn't refuse. She smiled and nodded in agreement.
The remaining people quickly formed their own matches as well.
Ravel wanted guidance from Shinra Tsubaki, who was both a Queen and a friend of her master, so the two decided to spar.
Rem was reminded by Leo not to use her Oni transformation in this setting, so she teamed up with Tomoe Meguri and Ruruko Nimura, who were close to her in strength, rotating through matches.
As for Ram, she had been standing there the whole time with no intention of fighting anyone, until Akeno set her sights on her.
"I've heard a bit about the divine child of the Oni clan," Akeno said with a cheerful smile, her eyes unusually serious. "I'd like to see what you can do."
It was clear she wanted to push her own limits. She'd chosen someone whose presence was understated, yet who was actually the strongest person there besides Leo.
Just how strong was Ram?
Aside from the Eligos servants, probably no one truly knew.
But Akeno had heard rumors of the "One-Horned Oni God." Given her own extraordinary background, and the fact that Ram had risen to prominence ten years ago, during Akeno's most turbulent period. That was why she'd taken interest.
"…Sure."
Ram had originally planned to throw out a few sharp remarks, but seeing the smile on Akeno's face paired with such seriousness, she nodded instead.
With that, only Hyoudou Issei and Saji Genshirou were left without partners.
The two seemed to realize what was coming. They looked at each other, then immediately frowned.
"Why do I have to fight you, Saji?!" Issei practically cracked.
He wanted to team up with a cute girl too!
"That's my line, you idiot!" Saji snapped, veins bulging on his forehead.
He was the student council secretary, law-abiding and proper. And now he was being paired with one of Kuoh Academy's infamous perverts. If anything, he should be the one protesting.
Besides, he'd been unhappy with Issei for a long time.
His own Sacred Gear was only formed from part of a Dragon King's power, while Issei's was one of the Two Heavenly Dragons. The fact that a rule-breaking pervert outranked him, and constantly monopolized the president's time for "corrections", made it impossible for Saji to look at him kindly.
He really didn't want to believe that the Red Dragon Emperor was a guy whose brain was full of nothing but boobs.
And to top it off, the Heavenly Dragon ranked above a Dragon King.
That part hurt the most.
They glared at each other until the irritation boiled over.
"Let's settle this, Saji!"
"Prepare to die, Hyoudou!"
"Oooooooooh!!!"
Without any warning, both summoned their Sacred Gears and charged straight at each other, startling Rias and Sona Sitri, who had been talking with Leo.
"…What are those two doing?" Rias muttered.
"…Ignore them," Sona replied flatly.
Black lines fell over both of their foreheads as they sighed and rubbed their temples, then turned to Leo, who was watching with amusement.
Just moments ago, both of them had been inviting Leo to spar.
That's right. Rias and Sona intended to challenge Leo.
"Are you sure?" Leo asked, not refusing, just confirming.
It wasn't that he looked down on them. The gap in strength between them was simply too large.
Even without using a Sacred Gear, Leo was a genuine ten-winged devil. Rias and Sona were only High-Class Devils, two full levels below him.
That kind of gap was like a natural barrier. Even if Leo held back, it wouldn't be a great experience.
Originally, he'd thought they would team up against him, which might have been interesting.
But Rias refused.
"I want to try on my own first."
Her eyes were filled with determination as she looked at him.
She already had an unfinished match with Leo. And having always regarded him as a rival, it only made sense for her to challenge him here.
She knew full well how far behind she was.
After all, she'd seen Kokabiel's fate with her own eyes.
That fallen angel executive had looked like a child in front of Leo, defeated with ease. Meanwhile, even with her servants and the Church's Holy Sword users, she hadn't been able to defeat Kokabiel and had been completely overwhelmed.
Anyone could guess what would happen if she challenged the man who had effortlessly crushed Kokabiel.
Even so, she wanted to try, to see how long she could last against him.
"…All right." Seeing she wasn't joking, Leo thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let's do it."
It was just sparring. What was there to lose?
Besides, he'd been curious about the famous trait, Power of Destruction, for quite some time now.
"Then I'll go after you're done," Sona said with her eyes closed.
Clearly, she also wanted to challenge Leo alone and see how far she could go.
Ever rational and calm, Sona treated this as an opportunity, to understand herself, and to understand Leo. Even if she lost, it wouldn't matter. As long as she gathered enough information to formulate strategies, it wouldn't be a waste.
To her, temporary victory or defeat had never been the most important thing.
What mattered was the final outcome, and what she gained from the process.
Later, the two of them could even team up to challenge Leo for real. After all, this was just sparring. It certainly wouldn't end after a single match.
If possible, Sona even wanted to test various tactics on Leo that she'd never had the chance to use before, adjusting her approach based on the battle itself.
Once everything was decided, the three of them spread their wings and flew toward another area.
Issei and Saji, who were still brawling, saw this scene. For some reason, it made their chests feel tight, like watching the girl you like get taken away right in front of you.
"It's all your fault, Saji! Take this punch!"
"How is this my fault, damn it?!"
They quickly flew into another rage, venting their frustration on each other and rolling back into a fight.
Unfortunately, no one was watching anymore.
"Then… I'm coming."
Above a desolate stretch of land, Leo and Rias faced each other at a distance.
Sona had already moved far away, adjusting her glasses as she stared intently at the two of them, clearly preparing to gather data.
After making her declaration, Rias's eyes filled with crimson demonic power, burning bright.
"Whenever you're ready."
Leo's posture was relaxed, his expression easy, looking completely unguarded. Yet the five pairs of devil wings behind him constantly reminded his opponent just how vast the difference was.
With only a single pair of devil wings, Rias looked solemn.
The man before her was her friend, a rival she acknowledged, and someone on the same level as Kokabiel, if not far above him.
She couldn't afford to be careless.
Even seeing how relaxed Leo was didn't change her resolve.
This has to be full power from the start.
Red demonic energy flared around her body, shaking the air.
"Be reduced to ashes!"
As she spread her hands, a magic circle spun open before her, gathering an immense amount of demonic power.
"Boom!"
In the next instant, the red energy condensed into a massive sphere and roared out of the magic circle toward Leo, making the air howl and thunder.
"Impressive demonic power," Leo said, praising her even as he raised one hand.
A magic circle spun into existence, releasing an equally massive sphere of energy to meet it.
"Bang!!!"
The two spheres collided in midair, erupting with a terrifying explosion as shockwaves swept across the sky and land alike.
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You can read up to chapter 226 on patreon.com/NiaXD.