"Indeed. Thanks to him, our plan went off without a hitch. Even your own blood abandons you, proof that you false Satans are unworthy of your title! Watch, Sirzechs! Watch helplessly as your dear little sister is brutalized... assuming you live long enough to see it!"
With that, the devils of the Old Satan Faction launched a barrage of magical blasts toward the venue.
I swept Ravel up in a princess carry and dashed for cover, she hadn't reacted in time to the sudden attack.
Thanks to the guards deploying barriers and the dignitaries reinforcing them with their own, the first wave caused no casualties.
"Ah... Thank you, Ikki-sama. Wait, why do you look so deeply moved?"
"Ah, sorry. Just... this is how a princess carry is supposed to feel, y'know? I've had guys do it to me. Girls too... It's been a rough ride."
Even Koneko and Yuuto tilted their heads in confusion. Koneko was probably teasing, but Yuuto? He was just naturally dense.
"Th-That sounds... like a complicated life indeed."
Ravel gave me a look that mixed pity and disbelief.
Sure, if I asked, Kuroka, Koneko, or even Kunou would probably agree to carry me, but it just wouldn't feel right...
Anyway, enough chit-chat.
"Kuroka, let's head to Sirzechs."
"Right, we'll have him force us into the field if we have to, nya!"
Ducking through the barrage of magical fire, the three of us reached Sirzechs' barrier and got inside.
"I'm glad you're safe."
"Sirzechs-sama, more importantly, can we do anything about Rias and the others? Is the barrier impenetrable?"
I made sure to call him '-sama' with all these dignitaries around. Ideally, we'd find a way into the field without brute force.
"Ajuka is working on decoding the barrier... Ajuka?"
Sirzechs turned to a green-haired man in a green cloak.
"Hm. It'll take a bit more time. As expected of Longinus, the God-Slaying Gear that governs teleportation and barriers. I've mapped the entrance point, but the destination algorithm keeps shifting. We can't predict where it'll send you unless we reverse-engineer the whole thing."
Sirzechs grimaced.
On the screen, Diodora was taunting Rias' team one last time before teleporting away with Asia. A fight would likely break out in less than a minute.
"Hmm... if that's the case, I'll go. I came here to enjoy the game, not watch these kids get crushed by injustice. Alone, I should be able to slip through the barrier's cracks."
The one-eyed, bearded old man who said that—Odin, the Norse Allfather, was stopped by a silver-haired beauty beside him.
"You can't be serious, Lord Odin! Entering enemy territory alone is unacceptable!"
"Fwahahaha! Then, Rossweisse, why don't you go blast some of those devils instead?"
"Wha—Lord Odin!? You're really going!? I'll get fired for this! No, worse, executed!!"
As Odin laughed and vanished via teleportation, poor Rossweisse collapsed in despair. Rough job, being a Valkyrie...
But Odin's appearance had caused the enemy to deploy even more reinforcements.
[Well, don't just stand there, go save that girl. This aura will shield you. Move fast. If I come along, I'll drag all those bats with me. I'll stay here and raise hell.]
...Got it. Then we'll join the rescue effort too.
"Sirzechs-sama, may Kuroka and I go assist as well? Odin may draw most of them away, but they'll likely send a second force in."
"I appreciate it, but as I said, the transfer is random. The field is vast. Will you be okay?"
"Yes. Between Kuroka and me, we'll find them quickly."
(Though in truth, I'm tracking Izuna's presence, she's with Koneko.)
"Understood. Ajuka, please."
"Got it."
A complex teleportation magic circle formed beneath Kuroka and me, probably loaded with calculations to bypass the Dimension Lost barrier.
"Ikki. Kuroka. Take care of Rias and the others."
"Of course!"
"Well, we'll help Shiroone and the rest as a bonus, nya."
And with that, we were teleported into the battlefield.
=====================
[Sirzechs' POV]
Ikki and Kuroka disappeared into the field.
I always feel guilty relying on him so much.
"Don't look so grim, Sirzechs. With Odin clearing the way and those two in there, I doubt anything serious will go wrong. And your sister's team isn't exactly weaklings."
Azazel's confidence helped. As Rias' older brother and a Maou, I needed to believe in them.
Just then, a man in a loose shirt and sunglasses, one of today's VIPs, spoke up.
"Well well, a kind Maou and a righteous fallen angel. Devil parties sure get wild these days. Gotta admit, it's got flavor."
"Lord Indra, I deeply apologize for this. We'll make it up to you."
This laid-back tone belonged to the god of Mount Sumeru, also known as the Heavenly Emperor, Indra, one of the strongest deities in the world.
"No need. Actually, if you want to repay me, I'd like it now. Guys like me, with too much power and too many responsibilities, rarely get to cut loose. I bet some of the others being 'protected' feel the same."
His notorious battle lust hadn't changed. Still, it was our failure that let this happen.
"Very well. However, as you're requesting this, we cannot be held liable for any injuries."
"Ha! Like I'd get hurt fighting that rabble!"
With a grin, he raised his right arm, and the whole venue, or rather, the building, shifted.
"Huh?"
"It seems the entire structure was forcefully teleported to the Rating Game field. The seal still blocks our teleportation, and we're far from Rias' group. Not that they intend to explain why..."
Ajuka quickly deployed a barrier as the building exploded, and we descended into a battlefield swarming with Old Satan devils.
So they've prepared everything. They plan to crush us with sheer numbers.
"Bastards picked the wrong fight. Hey, everyone! Sirzechs says you're free to fight, just don't whine later! I'm going first!!"
Indra pumped up the other VIPs and pulled back his right arm.
"Vajra, BLAST!"
A massive bolt of lightning annihilated the devils in its path.
"Hahaha! What, that's all!? Give me something with spine!!"
Inspired, the battle-ready guests launched powerful attacks of their own.
Even Rossweisse, Odin's aide, was firing magic blasts while screaming, "Why meeeee!?"
"Time for us Maou to move too. I said 'at your own risk,' but not all here are fighters. Serafall, Falbium, defend this space. Ajuka, continue analyzing the barrier. I'll lead the assault."
"Mmkay… Falbium's defense and my ice magic are perfect for protecting everyone!"
"Yeah, things are popping off out there. Holding the fort sounds like the chill option."
"I'll go with you, Sirzechs. They messed with my students' match, I'm gonna crush them."
"Haha! You've really gotten used to the 'teacher' role, Azazel."
He's right. They ruined my sister's match, and I am angry.
"Then everyone, let's give them hell."
And with that, we all headed to our respective battlegrounds.
[Sirzechs POV End]
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