The Battle Begins! Gremory vs Phenex

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The glowing light of the magic seal had disappeared revealing that the location of the battle was....

The Occult Research Clubroom?

"What the...?" Issei looked around in confusion. "We're still in the clubroom. Did the spell not work?"

"Greetings everyone." The familiar voice of a certain maid sounded from the speakers. "I am Grayfia, a servant of the Gremory Family. I have been charged with the honor of refereeing the match between Riser Phenex and Rias Gremory. Please note that my master, Sirzechs Lucifer-Sama, will also be observing this match. After taking in the opinions of both Riser-Sama and Rias-Sama, we have decided to use a replica of Kouh Academy, the school that Rias-Sama attends in the human world, as the battlefield."

"What does she mean by replica?" asked Issei.

"Take a look outside."

Issei looked at Rias oddly for a moment, but soon followed her advice, opening one of the shutters that kept the window closed.

What he saw would forever be engraved in his mind. The grounds of Kouh Academy looked the same as always. The beautifully crafted Western style building sat in the middle of a grassy field surrounded by a fence, lush trees, and more buildings. Everything looked exactly as it always had.

Except for one difference...

The sky was completely white. As far as the eye could see, stretching across for miles, was a pure white sky. It did not even look like a sky, just a blank canvas that God had forgotten to paint on when he made the world.

"That sky shows that we are in an alternate dimension created by Devils to host the Rating Game."

Natsuki whistled as she looked outside. "The fact that Devils can make another dimension so easily and make it look so realistic is pretty damn amazing."

"Both parties have now been transferred to their respective strongholds," Came Grayfia's voice once more. "Rias-Sama's team is in the Occult Research clubroom. Riser-Sama's team is in the Student Council room. To promote your Pawns, you will have to proceed to the opponent's stronghold."

"Natsuki," Rias grabbed the dark-haired Pawn's attention. She held out her hand, showing a small ear bud resting on her palm. "This is a communicator. It will allow everyone to always stay connected.

"Thanks." Natsuki said as she put her hand in hers. It lingered for a moment longer than necessary before she grabbed the communicator and put it in her ear.

"So, all I need to do in order to get promoted to Queen is enter the school," Issei pounded a fist into his open palm. "Then I can become the strongest piece in the game!" He was ready for this. After all the training he had been through, there was no way he could lose now. This was my moment! My time to shine! Just you wait, harem, Hyoudou Issei is coming!

"Ara, ara, you make it sound so simple." Akeno said.

Natsuki responded to Issei's words much more bluntly than Akeno. She smacked the boy in the back of the head, causing the poor pervert to nearly fall flat on his face as he stumbled forwards.

"Ouch!"

"Don't think it will be that easy, Ise," Nasuki chided. "You have to remember that in order to get to the school, we will more than likely have to go through at least several of the douchebag's servants, each of which will most likely be a Bishop, Knight, or Rook and they'll be guarding against any intrusion."

"You also have to remember that Riser's Pawns will also be trying to enter our territory," Kiba added. "And seeing that Riser's got a full set, it means we'll have to deal with eight Pawns as opposed to our two, that is something he'll take advantage of."

"Ugh," a cloud of depression formed around Issei. Asia took a weary step back as the darkness seemed to grow. "I see your point."

"Don't worry too much, Rias-Buchou has a plan for dealing with the douche's harem." Natsuki said, ignoring the way Issei began crying at the mention of Riser's harem. "Have a little faith in her just like she does in you, alright?"

At the mention of their leader, everyone turned to Rias, who had taken to sitting behind the desk.

"Our first task will be to take out Riser's Pawns," she told them. "He has eight of them, and it will be problematic if he manages to promote one of them, much less all eight of them, into Queens."

"You seem awfully calm about all this..." Issei mumbled, obviously not seeing how someone could stay so calm when they were on the cusp of a battle that would determine more than just who won and who lost. Rias was fighting with her hand in marriage on the line. How could anyone be calm with that kind of pressure on them?

"The battle has just started," Rias said, sipping at a cup of tea that Akeno had prepared for her. "Rating Games like these tend to take a long time. There is no point in worrying right now when we have only just begun."

As she spoke, Natsuki walked up to the desk and placed a sheet of paper, which displayed a map of the school, on it. It was an overly simplistic map, using different colored blocks to represent sections of the academy.

"The enemy base is the school building," Rias began, pointing out the large block that represented the building in question. She then began moving her finger across the board until it was pointing at a patch of yellow. "Going through the quad is the fastest route to get there, however..."

"It's in clear view of the school." Koneko pointed out.

"Yes," Rias nodded. "And because of that, the risks are far too great to go through there."

"Then maybe we should go through the track and field grounds behind the building?" Issei suggested.

"A good idea, but one our enemy is likely expecting." Natsuki said. "I wouldn't be all that surprised if they stationed both Knights and Rooks at that clubhouse right there." She pointed towards the orange block with the word clubhouse written on it.

"Natsuki-chan brings up a good point," Akeno sounded a lot more serious than usual. "That's a very obvious first move. We would be walking into a trap."

"Buchou," Kiba got everyone's attention. "Could we get closer to the school by going through the Gymnasium. Perhaps we should head there first?" His index finger landed on the two purple squares that had the word Gymnasium written inside of them. "It's close to our base, and at the same time, we can gather more information on our enemy."

"Information is something we'll need if we want to have any hope of fleshing out a plan." Natsuki spoke.

Rias considered all the thoughts being given to her. "In chess terms, the Gym is at the center of the board. The first side who takes control of it will certainly have an advantage." She leaned over the desk. "It's decided then. However, I think a powerful Rook, rather than an agile Knight, would be best suited for this task."

"In an enclosed space, a heavy hitter will have an advantage." Natsuki agreed.

"Right, Koneko and one other Pawn should go to the gym. I think you should go with Koneko, Nats-"

"I'll go to the gym." Issei said, cutting off Rias.

Rias herself blinked, staring at Issei for a few seconds, "Are you sure Ise?"

"Yes, Buchou, I'm sure. I'll be the one to handle the servants in the gym."

Natsuki raised an eyebrow; she had no problem with Issei going instead of her, but she was confused as to why the boy was so adamant about it.

It is because he feels inferior to you. Lux's voice rang out in her head.

Inferior? Natsuki asked.

Yes, inferior. Issei believes that he is falling behind as you both became Devils and Pawns at the same time, but you are showing more improvement. He wants to prove that he is not a burden to you and the others.

Natsuki thought about this before speaking, "It's fine Rias-buchou, the plan still works even if Issei goes instead of me. I'll go with Kiba."

Natsuki's agreement went unheard as when she turned around, Issei was crying tears of joy as his head rested on Rias' lap while Asia watched on in jealousy from the side.

"What the fuck..." Natsuki said, confused by the scene in front of her.

"I'm removing the seal I place on Issei the night I turned you both into Devils." Rias said, as if that was an answer.

"What seal?" Natsuki and Issei asked.

"When I first revived you Issei, your body wasn't able to handle the power of your Scared Gear and the four Pawn pieces at the same time. So, I broke down your power into multiple tiers and sealed them off. I'm unlocking one of them now."

"So, this is why I feel stronger." Issei said, before his expression became perverted once more. "I'm going to win this for you Buchou!... I wonder what other ways my power can be unlocked."

"You're not going to do that to me right?" Natsuki asked, the idea of resting her head on Rias' thighs to unlock her power made her uncomfortable.

I think I would rather maintain the power I have now if that's the case.

Rias locked eyes with Natsuki, "No, I won't be doing this for you, Natsuki. I don't know why but for some reason sealing your power wasn't necessary when I revived you."

Rias didn't need to seal my power. But why? Do you know, Lux?

Natsuki's head was silent as she was given no response from the dragon. She was about to try again when Rias said they needed to head to their locations as they were making their move.

So, this is it, the battle is finally beginning...

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