Morning.
In a wide and simple training field, Kuroka and I stood facing each other.
As I rushed in, cloaked in dense battle aura and closing the distance in a blink, Kuroka retreated, creating over a hundred clones. Each one launched a barrage of bullets infused with deadly senjutsu, youjutsu, and magic from multiple magic circles, like a mystical gatling gun.
Including illusions, the rate of fire likely exceeded a thousand rounds per second. Dodging them all was beyond brutal; to make matters worse, each bullet and clone carried a presence nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
She could manipulate time and accelerate herself, so it was no surprise she could launch so many attacks at once.
Realizing it was impossible to track every incoming bullet with my eyes, I chose to close them and abandon visual input entirely.
Instead, I focused on the subtlest disturbance in the air to guess where the real Kuroka was, pushing all other sensations from my mind. With my Sacred Gear, I deflected only the real bullets as I steadily closed the gap.
To be honest, it was terrifying. I couldn't fully see through her clone and aura interference techniques. I had to rely on vague instincts to identify and shoot down what I hoped were the real projectiles.
I had just closed about half the distance between us when I sensed something behind me, an off feeling, and raised my guard on instinct.
Good thing I did. One hit landed, but it could've been worse.
Ideally, I wanted to deflect it with my left Sacred Fang, Tawrich, but managing to guard with my arm was still a win.
Apparently, Kuroka had looped the bullet around from outside my sensing range to hit me from behind... I'd focused too much in one direction.
"Mmm... you've gotten tougher, nya."
"I focused mainly on defense while I was training in Kyoto."
The moment I realized I failed to deflect her attack with my Sacred Gear, I concentrated my battle aura into my left arm to increase its defense.
"But just being able to shrug off raw power doesn't mean you've conquered me, nya!"
With those words, I began to feel numbness spreading through my left arm.
Of Kuroka's threefold attacks, senjutsu, youjutsu, and magic, I could cancel out her senjutsu thanks to being a fellow user. Over summer training, I also learned to neutralize the destructive force behind her magic.
But the youjutsu remained a problem.
Since I was more physically adept than Kuroka, I tried to use leftover mental resources from countering her senjutsu to also resist her youjutsu. But she unleashed a merciless bullet storm from my weakened left side.
Whenever I turned left, the bullet stream itself would shift, intensifying the assault from that direction.
If this kept up, I'd be overwhelmed. So I released my brain's limiter to handle the barrage while briefly letting go of my Sacred Gear. With my right hand, I quickly formed a hand seal.
"Bhai!"
A mantra invoking the power of the Medicine Buddha, instantly clearing the numbness. I snatched my right Sacred Fang, Zarich, back out of the air.
At the same time, I stomped hard on the ground with my right foot, kicking up a cloud of dust around me. It would normally block my own vision too, but that didn't matter to me.
"Nya? There's still distance between us, so what's the point of that?"
Indeed, if we were already in striking range, that move might make sense. But there was still space between us... assuming Kuroka didn't get distracted, even for a moment.
Poof!
Out of the smoke, two of me leapt forth, one from the left, one from the right.
"You think I can't tell apart that level of illusion, nya?!"
With a hint of irritation, Kuroka fired at the version of me on her right. But the moment her attack hit, my image distorted and vanished.
"No way, an illusion!?"
Confusing opponents was typically the specialty of youjutsu. While senjutsu could theoretically do it too, creating an illusion that could deceive Kuroka's senses was beyond my current capabilities.
Which is why she was shocked. After all, the illusion she struck had emitted a presence indistinguishable from the real me.
The instant her focus wavered, I, hiding my presence in the smoke, deactivated my muscular limiters and rushed her from the front, at full speed.
"...This time, I win."
"Haa... I lost, nya."
I held Zarich just in front of her, and with Kuroka's surrender, our spar came to an end.
=====================
"Ahhh~ Finally, a win!"
Feeling a rare sense of superiority, the two of us headed toward the spectators.
"Muu... Ikki, what was that at the end? How did you trick me using senjutsu? That's cheating, nya!"
"I'll let you figure it out... Ow ow ow! Stop pinching my cheek! Fine! I hid my Sacred Gear inside the illusion."
"You hid your Sacred Gear?"
"Yeah. A Sacred Gear is fused with its wielder's soul, the very source of their life. I wondered if I could use it to mimic my own presence. So I synchronized it with a superficial illusion and threw it."
In short, a sneak attack.
Now that I've explained it, the trick won't work on her again. But let's be honest, she probably would've figured it out next time anyway.
=====================
When we returned to the group, everyone except Koneko-chan was still staring blankly.
"...No way I can win right now."
Issei was the first to speak. With his current Balance Breaker form, he had decent speed and power, but against people like Kuroka or me, who use illusion-based feints, he'd still get overwhelmed.
Both I and Koneko-chan use close-range illusions in combat. It wasn't necessary during the Cerberus battle, but,
"Haa... I'm pathetic. Just last night I lost five matches in a row to Kiba. I still can't fully handle Ddraig's power…"
"If that makes you feel bad, then I should feel worse, Issei. Even though I'm the wielder of Durandal, I've already lost in output power."
Now even Xenovia looked downcast.
Apparently, Yuuto had absorbed four Holy Sword fragments. That alone gave him more power than Xenovia, a natural-born Holy Sword user.
Even in a straight line dash, Issei couldn't beat Yuuto right now, even in Balance Breaker form.
"We'll make them our goals moving forward," Rias declared, clapping her hands sharply
"Everyone, go freshen up. You can't go on a media appearance looking like this. Afterward, we'll have breakfast and then teleport to the Underworld."
With that, we all headed for the showers.
=====================
After eating breakfast back at our respective homes, we regrouped and teleported to the Underworld's TV station.
Azazel-sensei would meet us later at the venue. Kuroka stayed behind, there's not much for her to do at a TV station anyway.
As we walked through the station with a staff escort, a familiar face approached from the opposite direction.
"Sairaorg! Are you here for the interview too?"
With a wild yet refined demeanor and a muscular frame, the man exuded confidence, none other than the Underworld's top young devil, Sairaorg Bael, and his retainers.
"Rias, you're here too? We just wrapped up our interview. Yours is next?"
"Yes. I watched your match, by the way, completely dominant, as expected from the number one young devil."
"I saw yours too. Your peerage is formidable. I can't afford to underestimate anyone in this game... Though both of us behaved like amateurs as Kings, didn't we? You got some criticism too, I imagine?"
"Yes, Azazel teased me about it afterward."
"A reminder from the Governor of the Fallen Angels, only possible because of the peace treaty."
Despite the banter, the aura between them was one of mutual combat readiness. They clearly wanted to clash again.
Then Sairaorg turned his gaze toward me.
"You must be Arima Ikki. A pleasure. I'm Sairaorg, heir to the Bael family. It's not widely reported, but I've heard you repelled the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history, and even defeated the legendary Cerberus and Kokabiel of the Bible. We won't get to fight in the Rating Game... but someday, I'd like to test my fists against yours."
With the same fierce will he showed Rias, he looked me in the eyes.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Arima Ikki. If you'll have me, I'd be honored."
I'm not exactly the passionate type, but when someone shows that much pure fighting spirit, it's hard not to want to respond in kind.
"I'll look forward to that day... By the way, what brings you here? Are you just accompanying Rias and her team?"
"No, Azazel-sensei called me, but I wasn't told why. Since I arrived with Rias and the others, I've got a little time to kill before my scheduled slot."
Just then, a staff member called out to Rias.
"Rias-sama, everyone, the recording will begin shortly. Please follow me to the waiting room."
"Understood. Let's go, everyone. See you again, Sairaorg."
"Likewise, Rias."
And with that, the Gremory group headed off.
=====================
"Now then, Arima Ikki. Since you mentioned having free time, how about some tea? I've no other appointments today. I was going to train with my team later, but I'd love to hear about your battles with such powerful foes."
...Did Sairaorg Bael just invite me out for tea? Well, no reason to refuse.
"Ah! But I don't have any Underworld currency with me, so I'd be mooching off you."
"Don't worry about it. I invited you, remember?"
He said, giving me a hearty SMACK on the back.
...That hurt more than it should, Sairaorg-san.
=====================
Later, at the first-floor café in the station, I sat with Sairaorg and his "Queen," Kuisha Abaddon.
The rest of his team had returned to Bael territory for training. Kuisha-san, it seemed, acted more like a personal attendant.
It was late for breakfast, and the café was nearly empty. I ordered coffee, Kuisha had tea, and we each got a large cream puff to go with it, rich and delicious, as expected from something served to nobles.
Only in the Underworld would a public café have a noble-exclusive menu like that.
"Now then," Sairaorg began, "where to start... You've achieved incredible strength as a human. When did your training begin?"
A simple question to open with.
"Since I was old enough to think, basically since birth. I manifested my Sacred Gear early, and I realized the world wasn't just what it seemed. I thought, 'If I don't train, I'll die!' That fear became a driving force... Looking back, it wasn't a normal child's mindset."
It helped that I had memories from a past life. In a world like this, even Maou-level strength isn't always enough.
"I see. And is that still your reason today?"
"Yes... If I hadn't trained, I'd have died to beings like the White Dragon Emperor and Cerberus. That fear's still there... but now, I have another reason too."
"Oh? And what's that?"
"For the girls I've fallen for, and for the ones who say they love me. I know it sounds cheesy. Of course, that includes Rias-san and all my friends too."
It's embarrassing to say aloud, but in the end, that's what drives me.
"Who would laugh at that? It's more than enough reason to risk your life. Whether the situation is complicated or simple, at its core, a reason to fight should be something you truly believe in. That's what keeps a person from breaking when the time comes. In my case, it's also for a woman, though not a lover. My mother. She's the reason I started down this path."
Sairaorg took a sip of his coffee and exhaled.
"My Bael lineage carries the power of destruction... yet I inherited none of it. Not even the slightest magical talent. Not even my own father, "
=============
32+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon.com/Veltoria
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
Add to Library to support