Chapter 97: Game of Mayhems

Chapter 97: Game of Mayhems

Far in the wilderness away from the two school buildings, on a tree branch with his back against the bole, he looked at the direction where the main battles were taking place while chewing on a twig.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

"So Is there a reason why I am out this far from the center?"

Noud asked Reya, talking to the floating masks near him, knowing that she could hear him.

"I" Reya, from the old school building, had to come up with some answer quickly so she could return to her duty, "I'm afraid you will have to ask President Sona for an explanation after the game. For now, I suggest you do as you were instructed."

"Uh-huh" Noud then glanced down, spotting Bennia and Loup who apparently had been tasked to watch over him as well, "And what are those two doing here? Why are they not out there?"

"They are our secret weapon, so to say - Rias and her group have yet to witness Bennia and Loup's capabilities."

"I can see that they're more useful out there, they're not that special. Still, an interesting selection. Where did Sona find a half-breed werewolf and grim reaper?"

Bennia and Loup perked.

They did not remember introducing their origin to this person yet he discerned their roots at first glance.

"I'm sorry. I do not have that answer."

"Did Sona ever consider how the commoners can find an interesting Peerage like this?" Noud asked.

Reya sighed - surprised that her own patience could last longer than she thought, "...Yes, yes, those things will be taught later in the senior school year."

"How dreadfully inefficient." Noud rolled his eyes. "Especially if The Chief is making you spend more of your focus on me than the battle. Are you even trying to win?"

This time, Reya simply shushed him so she could focus on her surveillance - I'm not paid enough for this job.

Even though she signed to be Sona's servant for Devil powers, managing this troublemaker was not in her contract.

"How's Lelez?" Noud asked.

Reya switched to the Mask overseeing Tsubasa's group. She saw Lelez.

As Sona predicted, Lelez demonstrated skills that a beginner should not have.

OxO

Ravel gritted her teeth through the pain as she chopped her lassoed leg to free to herself from the Absorption Line, but when she looked up, a baton smashed her into a tree as Ravel bounced off the bark before Lelez pinned her throat back to the tree with the tip of her baton while her hand grabbed her nose and pinched it close.

Lelez's judgment was too swift. If she could not damage Ravel, she went to choke her out.

Ravel tried to move her arms, but her strength left her like water leaving a broken pipe, the strength to lift her arms falling.

Eyelids were heavy, like iron suddenly glued to them, muscles slack as if ready to sleep, throat unable to utter a sound as her eyes slowly closed.

Koneko - who was facing Tsubasa, could sense Ravel's Ki flow slowing down.

"Nya!" The Nekoshou punched the ground, erupting dust to Tsubasa's surprise.

Koneko broke away from Tsubasa and pounced at Lelez, emerging from the dust to see a baton flying at her face.

It caught her off guard as it bounced off her nose, before it went to the air again and caught back by the owner.

Then Koneko's face landed into Lelez's roundhouse kick as she kicked her back to her previous position.

The dust blew away, Tsubasa seeing Koneko down on her sides.

Koneko coughed and rubbed her cheek as she picked herself to her feet. She glanced around to see Ravel was hacking and gasping for air - good, the flaming chicken made it.

"...Where'd you learn how to fight?" Koneko asked the girl.

"Mom taught me." Lelez answered.

"You have a good mom."

"She's terrible at teaching me how to hold back, though." Lelez twirled the baton around her fingers seamlessly, the rod gravitating between her fingers every second. "Dad's magic is too unique. You want to see?"

Koneko could see the negative Ki inside the girl building, the color darkening to a pitch black she had never seen before.

Koneko went silent for a moment before replying, "I don't think I want to find out - gut feeling speaking."

"Not bad for a Kiqira." Lelez nodded in approval.

Koneko quirked a brow.

"Excuse-?!"

Koneko stopped when Lelez's eyes flashed, sigils on each eye - prompting her to react.

"...Too late."

Lelez was already standing close to Koneko before her baton smacked into Koneko's jaw.

Koneko responded with a right hook, ten bruises appeared over her body before Lelez hit her knee and struck her jaw.

Koneko flipped in the air from the impact, coughing before she landed, her balance faltering into a stumble.

"W-What did you do to me?" Koneko demanded.

"I slowed your brain."

Koneko blinked, "What?"

"I won't explain further." Her eyes flashed with the same sigils again.

Tsubasa and Saji stopped to see Lelez beating up Koneko.

Sona was seeing it through the masks. By wearing one of Reya's masks, she could see through the eyes of another mask, a versatile camera.

Koneko attempted the water stream, but bruises painfully colored her body, blue turning purple, swellings brutally blooming from her skin as blood trickled out her pores.

"W- -r- - -ing?!"

She couldn't hear the words reaching her ears, unable to parse some of it.

Koneko suddenly felt a bottle smashed into her body, covering her in a red glistening liquid. However, before she could have questioned anything, the liquid covering her suddenly caught fire.

"Nyah-!?"

Koneko cried out while Lelez stared at the chaos.

"...Huh?" Lelez watched Koneko flail around, then the flaming cat ran around before she crashed into a tree and fell on the floor.

"What the hell!?"

"Holy shit!"

Saji and Tsubasa turned to Ravel, the culprit nervously watching Koneko rolling left and right to put the fires out.

Even Lelez was left speechless as Koneko rolled around on the ground to put the flames out.

Noud's laughter echoed throughout the trees, holding his stomach from the sight. Another echo of laughter erupted in the gym, surprising the students watching the chaos.

Once the fire was gone, Koneko's clothes were ruined, but her wounds were gone, replaced by soot when she was flailing around earlier.

"...It worked!" Ravel cheered.

Koneko on the other hand, was not amused as she glared at Ravel while covering her exposed skin with her arms, "You crazy bitch! What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"That was the mark eleven! Phew. I was afraid that I might've concentrated too much of the Phenex essence, but the fires healed you up!"

Lelez stared at the cheerful girl, "...Are you testing experimental potions in the middle of a practice match?" She summarized everything in a single question.

"Uh yes?" Ravel smiled awkwardly.

Tsubasa and Saji stepped back from Ravel, out of a newfound fear for the girl - for her to use untested magic potions on her teammate in the middle of a match.

However, Ravel's body was slowly engulfed with a bright light.

"Hey, what's hap-?!"

Ravel's body disappeared, followed by Baraqiel's voice echoing - he sounded irritated for some reason.

[...Due to a violation of rules for bringing unregistered concoctions, Ravel Phenex - Bishop of Rias Gremory, is disqualified.]

"...What?" From different locations - Sona and Rias shared the same dumbfounded face of disbelief. Out of everything, Ravel being ejected from the game due to her own alchemical concoctions was not one of them.

"W-Wait wait, since when was that a rule?!" Rias shouted with panic that their only healer was out.

They might have some of her healing items, but they might not be able to use them anymore.

[The rule states that items brought into Rating Games have to be registered - Phoenix Tears and Sacred Gears or Enchanted Artifacts if participants happen to possess them. However, Lady Phenex's prototype concoctions that have been used so far are not registered into the system yet. Thus she is removed from the match by default.]

"Urk" Rias could not argue against that rule. "So we can't use the healing items anymore?"

[You cannot, although Phoenix Tears are still allowed. However, I recommend that you use them wisely for the sake of your relationship with the students.]

OxO

Back in the auditorium, some of the students were jeering and whispering among each other.

"So they are allowed to use those expensive Phoenix Tears? Talk about cheating."

"But I heard you are only allowed to take around one or two for each team, so they can't use them carelessly, right?"

"But that Rias Gremory got someone from the Phenex clan - doesn't this mean that she can have her producing those tears on the fly?"

"How expensive are Phoenix Tears again?" Omeri asked.

"I heard one vial can eat away five years of the average man's salary. Twenty for minimum wage."

"That's bullshit!"

"How do we win against that?!"

[Students.]

Baraqiel's voice then echoed across the hall, his commanding and dignified tone ceased the noises as everyone gave him undivided attention.

[I suggest you consider this small incident as a lesson for your future Rating Games. Your ability to allocate and manage the resources given to you, will be one of the important factors that can determine whether you will come out on top or not. On a related note, while pureblood devils of Phenex Household are capable of producing Phoenix Tears; make no mistake - those are not easy to manufacture. Producing a single vial of Phoenix Tears requires an elaborate ritual and care where even the slightest exposure of impurity will render the tears powerless.]

Everyone who was jeering and criticizing earlier, became silent as they held their face down in embarrassment.

[Take heart, children. Instead of lamenting what other people have over you, focus on what you plan to do in future. This mock Rating Game serves more than just a mere entertainment, this is a demonstration meant for you to know what you are going to involve yourselves in. Have a very careful look and learn of everything that occurs in this match; every mistake, every feat and every decision done by participants; that experience will serve you well, depending on how you take it in your eyes.]

The students muttered amongst each other as they debated Baraqiel's lecture.

OxO

Listening to Baraqiel who masterfully turned the whole show into a lesson, Rias and Sona started to understand that they might be too out of touch with the commoners, to resort to their higher standing, their access to resources no commoner could achieve, too easily on instinct.

While everyone was focused on the lecture, Akeno sneakily waded through the cover of nature, trees and leaves hiding her from the distracted flying masks surveilling the battlefield. Honestly, Ravel's exile took everyone by surprise, especially seeing one of Ravel's prototypes setting Koneko on fire.

Her swift wit screamed at her to take the chance to destroy Sona's eyes and ears. She shot from the foliage like an arrow and burst through the windows, seeing the surprised miens of Momo and Reya, the reflection of Akeno's holy lightning seen from their eyes.

"Reya, get behind me!" Momo shouted as she activated her own Sacred Gear, "Applause Wall!"

Blinding flash followed by the roar of thunder alerted everyone's attention back to the Old School building.

"Reya!" Sona cursed under her breath, wasting her Knight and Rook to keep Noud in check.

Ruruko ran as fast as she could towards Reya and Momo's location, however

[Reya Kusaka - Bishop of Sona Sitri, retired.]

Baraqiel's voice echoed throughout the field, causing Sona to click her tongue and Ruruko's face to pale in worry. However, at the same time - Momo's retirement was not announced.

Back at ground zero, Momo was on her knees, clutching at her burns caused by Akeno's holy lightning.

Akeno stood before Momo and smiled.

"...I will apologize in advance for what I'm going to do next."

"Eh?"

Momo blinked as the Queen clenched her fist. Copying video game's most iconic move, the one that took out Diodora in the video, Akeno uppercutted Momo's chin with lightning in her knuckles, jumping for extra force as she twirled in full revolution.

Momo's body crashed into the ceiling, then slowly vanished in motes of light before gravity could pull her down.

[...Momo Hanakai - Bishop of Sona Sitri, retired.]

"Sorry, but I've been training my close-combat skills to impress Ise, ufufu~!"

Back in the auditorium, the majority of male audiences had blushes on their faces as they swallowed a small lump at the live footage of Akeno's sheepish yet bewitching smile. The female audiences, on the other hand, were mixed between jealousy and admiration.

Back to the game - Akeno looked around as she talked to her comms, "Rias, I've taken care of Sona's eyes and ears, now I'm heading to-!"

The window glass shattered, broken shards scattering in her direction followed by the flying foot of a familiar face.

Akeno moved, her hair was barely scraped as Ruruko landed on the wall, breaking it down before she wall-jumped and flipped to the floor, striking a fighting stance.

"My, my, took you long enough, Ruruko-chan." Akeno greeted as electricity crackled between her fingers.

"Yeah, looks like you've taken care of my friends, Akeno-senpai." Ruruko smirked.

"I had to. Your Noud is becoming a menace and I have to save my King's face." Akeno returned with her own smirk.

Ruruko's cybernetic legs hummed to life, fibers tensing as energy whirred in those limbs, and exploded with strength beyond what a Pawn should possess.

Confined in a small space, Akeno could not use her spells at this distance.

Ruruko struck with the intent to end a squishy mage as Issei liked to say, trying to smash her face with her flying kneecap.

But she failed to feel the sensation of Akeno's skull, looking down to see Akeno's crossed palms blocking her attack. However, the force behind her charge was still able to push Akeno to skidding back a distance, as the Queen's feet dug into the wooden floor.

A split second later, Ruruko followed with a swing of her other leg.

But to the viewers' suspense, the beauty ducked at the last second as Ruruko's momentum swung her out of balance, rolling across the floor in her failed landing before she rolled back to her feet.

"Since when were you this tough?! You're a mage!" Ruruko cried out.

Akeno kept smirking, "Have you forgotten what position I have in Rias' peerage?"

"Yeah, but you've never fought with your hands! I refuse to lose to you in a close fight, even if you're a Queen!" Ruruko hopped up and down, left and right as she raised her hands.

"Fufufufu. Don't forget that I have close access to the best mentors. And let me dare to assume Kickboxing? Or Tae Kwon Do?" Akeno replied as her mind recalled the days she was under Black's tor- tutelage.

Yes, tutelage.

She asked for this, even though she sensed evil in that thing's smile.

There was no way an army of alien black teletubbies would abuse their multiplying numbers and gang upon her, all magic and powers sealed, for pure entertainment. Black would not relish her screams for breaks and mercy and kick her while she was down just for fun.

"My original recipe!" Ruruko jabbed and kicked the air, finishing with a high reverse roundhouse kick, gusts blown and tersely lifted Akeno's hair. "My goal is to become a one-kick girl! Same as Issei-senpai and Saitama!" Ruruko declared.

Akeno snorted, "My, what a bold declaration! Let's see if you are worthy of such a title!"

"En garde!" Ruruko goofily responded as she and Akeno clashed, lightning-infused fists fending off her heavy metal legs.

[Woooooooooo!]

Back in the auditorium - The students were cheering at the intense fight as the old school building cracked piece by piece from every strike Ruruko threw at Akeno.

Holy lightning danced across the breaking floor, dispersed by fists and legs.

Akeno's Holy Lightning was difficult to fend against, but anti-angel techniques refined during the Great War were hammered into Ruruko and her friends to deal with Akeno.

Ruruko's legs were fast and struck with the force of a missile; each impact could force Akeno's legs to skid against the floor, and the Queen could feel the vibration throughout her arms when she had to block the Pawn's attacks.

Everytime her foot graced the ground, it cracked, every step leaving imprints on the hard floor, splints scattering everywhere.

Akeno could feel her bones cracking from blocking each attack.

"This is my first time facing off against you Those legs are more powerful than what I saw during your sparring match with Ise." Akeno remarked as she managed to gain some distance.

Keeping up her pressure on Akeno, Ruruko replied, "Thanks! After all, these legs have been implanted with Azazel-sensei's artificial Sacred Gear - Procellarum Phantom!"

With a leap, Ruruko slammed her heel down on Akeno's raised forearms.

The floor beneath shattered with crumbling stone as Akeno punched through the floors below like a nail struck by a giant's hammer.

Her spine landed first on the ground floor, her arms slack as Ruruko's broke through her guard and slammed her heel into her ribs.

Her ribs nearly caved in from the landing and the impact on her center, yet she saved enough strength to retaliate as she aimed her hands at Ruruko.

But Ruruko jumped back, backflipped once and landed in a crouch, fingers touching the ground as the toes of her shoes scraped the plaster. She looked like a cat ready to pounce again.

"Kuhuhuhu My my, did Koneko or Kuroka tutor you behind my back?" Akeno asked regarding Ruruko's feline grace.

Ruruko paused as her expression shifted a tad awkwardly, "Err. Your father, actually."

Akeno blinked, "I beg your pardon?"

"Ummmmmmm Yeah. Azazel left me under his guidance, so while you were busy with your training? I think?" Ruruko explained sheepishly.

"I see" Akeno nodded before she pouted at the space above her.

Meanwhile, under his usual stoic expression, Baraqiel inwardly prayed to whatever deities out there that his daughter was not too upset with him.

But Ruruko charged in with a flying kick spearing her stomach in her momentary distraction.

The Queen coughed drops of blood and spittles before she was sent crashing through a couple of walls until she landed on the dented wall of the next room.

Coughing spittles of blood, spittle, and gasps, an ache in her gut, she barely jumped back to lessen the damage, but it was still enough to put her in a critical condition.

Supporting herself against the wall with her other hand on her gut, Akeno managed to get back on her feet with one hand caressing her throbbing gut, barely with enough wind within when Ruruko suddenly flew from the hole on the wall which Akeno crashed through.

Ruruko's devil wings were spread as she flew, running on the ceiling until she was above Akeno, then catapulted down perfectly vertical as she flipped, ready to crush the goomba under her.

Ruruko missed as she struck the ground.

Akeno barely leapt away in time to see the ground beneath them cratering, replicated furniture and splinters of expensive wooden floors scattered. Ruruko turned to Akeno, ready to move with accelerating momentum and claim her first victory against an enemy Queen.

But Akeno tackled her when she should have jumped away.

The two thrashed and wrestled on the ground, with Akeno quickly mounted on top of Ruruko's smaller frame.

Ruruko thrashed, but Akeno grabbed her wrists and smiled fiercely.

"See ya~"

Akeno channeled her divine lightning directly into her palm, a critical shocking grasp electrocuting the girl with holy lightning.

"A-BA-BA-BA-BA-AARGH!" Ruruko screamed as the electric shock coursed through her body - normal lightning would have been fatal, but holy lightning?

Ruruko could feel her bones boiling within her blood while her blood vaporized out of her skin, her skeleton shown in intermittent flashes in her spasmic final throes.

Akeno smirked, knowing that no Devil had the power to resist this finisher technique, but her smile faltered when two thick thighs clamped her head.

It felt like she was pressed under a blunt guillotine as Ruruko countered by shifting her legs and followed with a triangle leg chokehold and rolled to the side, trying to throw Akeno off her while her legs tightened around her neck.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The male students cheered at the sight of Ruruko burying Akeno's head into her crotch, their devil instincts appealed by the catfight bordering on yuri. Akeno struggled to fight back, refusing to let go of Ruruko's wrists as she gagged, feeling blue, her face turning blue as Ruruko tightened her legs even more against Akeno, a war to see which one would fall first to the other.

And Ruruko gave in first.

If she held on for a few seconds longer, Akeno would have been the one leaving in defeat.

[Ruruko Nimura - Pawn of Sona Sitri, retired.]

Akeno allowed herself to lay on the ground, heaving and breathing heavily to soothe her aching body. Ruruko had done more damage to her than she anticipated. It was going to be some time later until Akeno could rejoin the fight, then again she would not be at tip top shape anymore.

OxO

"Ruruko!" Sona grit her teeth - she was currently stationed somewhere near the gym building.

She had lost three crucial members of her Peerage. She had been trying to teach the students a lesson, but her spirit as King, her pride, beckoned her to do whatever it takes to win against her rival.

"Um"

Sona then remembered that she was not alone. The student who volunteered voiced her concern, as well as Tsubaki.

"Lady Sitri? Are we going to be alright like this? What do we do now?" Tahari asked with a worried expression.

Sona quickly took a deep breath to recollect herself. The last thing she could do was to look pathetic in front of a student.

"Yes Yes, we can still do this, Ms. Tahari." Sona then turned to her Queen, "Tsubaki, go back to the old building. Whoever fought Ruruko might still be around and recovering, we can't afford to waste Ruruko's effort."

"Understood." Tsubaki nodded, she sent one last glance at Tahari before taking off with her training halberd.

Sona considered her options. Her eyes twitched when she recalled the problem student.

Her pride was also stabbing her in the heart. She did not want to let that thing get the spotlight. There were many things about him that screamed abnormal, he was too skilled to be here as far as she knew.

And his magic was inherently alien

Sona closed her eyes, considering the rest of her options, until she opened them.

"...Tsk. Alright I am probably going to regret this." Sona bit down her pride well, the pride she wanted to reclaim from Noud as a teacher.

She would handle whatever comes next. She summoned the comm magic circle on her palm and placed it on her ear.

[Noud It's your turn now.]

Hearing Sona's voice from his comm - Noud perked from the tree, along with Bennia and Loup.

"...Really? Right now?" Noud asked.

[Yes, now. Loup, go check on Tomoe. Bennia, you will go with Noud to take out Rias' Knights.]

Noud grinned, then he pointed his finger at the distance.

"So I can finally do whatever it takes to give our team victory?" Noud asked as magic gathered in his finger, his smile widening.

[...Yes.]

Sona sounded hesitant on that end.

Loup's ears twitched as he looked up, seeing a thin magical beam drawing a line across his vision.

Meanwhile, Rias was inwardly cheering Akeno on while Tosca was in the background, Rias talking with Akeno with the same communication magic circle.

"Great job, Akeno! Keep going like this! Yuuto is escorting Millicas to Sona's base. While Lint is busy searching for Sona's position, I need you to go find that damn sniper before-"

A sharp shrilling pitch sliced through her ear and cheek.

Rias froze. She slowly reached for her wound, feeling the blood slightly trickle down her cheek.

"Ah. Missed." Noud frowned in disappointment. "Maybe if I adjust my angle"

Noud fired again while Rias was stunned from the sudden pain. Maybe he could hit her head this time.

"...Hm?" Noud tilted his head.

His second shot was blocked by something. He fired five more rapid beams at the King in the distance.

The barrier cracked and shattered, but the redhead forelocks had enough time to flee screaming with her hands holding her head.

Noud smiled and snorted. So the soul accompanying Rias decided to act this time and defend her Chief.

Time to have some fun as he continued firing.

OxO

Meanwhile...

"AKENO! YUUTO! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Rias shrieked as another projectile just missed her head by a hair's breadth. Despite the onslaught on herself, Rias still made sure that Tosca was not in the line of fire.

Sona - or at least the apparent wild cards in her team was intending to end the game as soon as possible.

Her feet stomped on the ground as she barreled through the thickets, weaving between the cluster of trees to hide from the sniper.

She panted as she pressed her back against the brown bark of a large tree - with Tosca next to her; her chest expanding and contracting for heavy intakes of air to calm her nerves as anxiety chewed her from the inside out.

She needed help. She could try to block the attacks with magic, but that would be temporary.

Yuuto might be the best for this, but he'll have to abandon Millicas to take out the sniper.

Either way, she could not deal with this. She hadn't seen any videos of ANY Peerage having this level of accuracy and firepower over such long distances without resorting to explosive magical attacks that covered much of the terrain.

She needed to sense the magic power instead of relying on her sight. She closed her eyes and focused on the direction the sniper fired from, but the distance was too far-

Three more beams flew, none aimed at her.

She opened her eyes to see the beams hitting the trees around her And ricocheting from the barks until the three beams flew at her from three different directions, all aimed for her head.

Rias' eyes widened before closing, her arms raised up for a desperate defense against the inevitable impact.

..Only for the said impact to never land. When Rias opened her eyes, she watched the light projectiles to be suspended in mid-air a meter away from her.

"Hah. hah R-Rias D-Did I make it?"

She turned to Tosca, the girl was panting with exertion but she had her hands aimed at her.

Around Rias, a thin film of golden light surrounded her, holding back the projectiles at bay.

"T-Tosca?" Rias was not sure how to react, but her heart leapt for joy that there was someone to stop the sniper's rampage.

"Interesting" Noud rubbed his chin. He aimed his hand at Rias direction, this time using four of his five fingers, all charged with magic as each finger fired as he experimented with the trajectories and angles of the ricochets.

His fingers moved as if puppeteering a marionette, firing more beams while Loup and Benniia stared at Noud, confused by his actions. They heard Rias' screams from the forest

Bennia was not sure but

"Um President Sona." Bennia decided to call Sona for assistance using the magic circle. "Are snipers common in the Rating Games or something?"

Bennia did not know how to word her question currently, especially with the fading echoes of Rias' screams crying in the distance every time Noud fired in that direction.

Tahari slightly jumped at the sudden voice in her head, but she managed to regain her composure as she stared at the back of Sona's head with a small nod

The slight gesture did not escape Rias' eyes as the Gremory heiress suspected that Sona was preparing something.

Sona calculated Rias' choice of response and a solution to

"...Your new hairstyle looks superb. Where did you find your barber?" Sona smiled when she finally registered Rias' new 'haircut.'

Trimmed down to match Tsubasa's tomboy hairstyle, only far messier and with black singe marks staining the crimson.

Rias' smirk became tighter with her eyes twitched, "...My, if you'd like, I can personally show you how to get this haircut."

"I'll have to decline. My hair is too short for that kind of haircut," Sona replied with a snort and a flick of her combed, black unburned hair. "But I think yours needs improvement."

Sona raised her hand in the air.

"...You wouldn't dare." Rias hissed at Sona as the Sitri exposed her wry smile to her friend.

Tosca meeped as she summoned the barrier immediately to block incoming sniper fire.

"Perhaps I should let Tsubasa show you to her barber. But maybe I should give yours another chance to redeem himself," Sona continued as she felt her inner evil bloom from bullying Rias. She couldn't recall the last time she had fun at her expense.

Rias pouted, but her eyes then caught Sona slowly raising her arm, as if giving cue to someone. When Sona swung her arm down, Rias immediately grabbed Tosca by her wrist and pulled her along.

"Quick, to the building!" Rias sprinted towards the new school building.

Sona smirked as Rias took her bluff.

Rias ran towards the new school building, panting hard while constantly looking back at the direction of the sniper. Akeno's holy lightning flashed in the distance, Rias worried that she might not be enough to keep the sniper occupied as she threw a sphere of erasure at the building wall and punched a clean hole for her to jump into a classroom.

She needed to get as far in the back of the school as possible, as much cover between her and that damn sniper, oh how she wished to unleash all of her fury upon that bastard when the chance presented itself.

Rias continued shooting down the walls in front of her, running through wall by wall as a surge of demonic power swelled behind her.

"R-Rias!" Tosca saw a flood of water chasing after them through the holes Rias left behind.

"Take cover!"

The torrent of water hit Rias as she was washed away until she was out of the classroom, leaving Tosca to hide behind a teacher's desk.

Rias was slammed against the wall in the hallway, coughing out bits of water and air as she was drenched in water. She got up while keeping herself low and away from windows, as she took refuge to the nearby room - Home & Co Ed class.

The redhead crouched next to a kitchen top when something crashed in through the window - revealed to be Sona Sitri herself with a torrent of water floating around her frame.

"There you are, Rias. It's kind of unlike you to sneak around like this." Sona taunted with a confident smirk.

"I will let myself say this once: Fuck you and your sniper." Rias cursed at Sona.

"What makes you think I would use Noud for this? It is honestly a pleasant sight to see you squirm under me like this, however." Sona remarked.

"Gee, glad that you are having a good time." Rias snarked in return.

"Well, I suppose it's enough for the pleasantries." Sona closed her eyes and her expression became more determined, "Our official Rating Game might have been canceled due to the recent terrorist attack, but I believe both of us agree that this is the perfect time to settle our scores, don't you think?"

Crimson power crackled between Rias' fingertips as she smiled with determination.

"I suppose I'll win if I manage to 'ring you out'. I wonder what kind of face Noud would make if he lost because of a default?"

"It seems that you finally fell to my level to want something this petty." Sona quipped, "...However, I'm afraid that's not the only thing that you've fallen into."

Rias blinked, and before she could have asked her own question, her surroundings - tables, pipes and sinks began to shake and rattle, as if something was struggling to burst out.

Then, more water burst out from the appliances, hoses and pipes - dousing the entire room in a miniature rain with the water appearing to be following Sona's whims.

"...You are in my domain, Rias."

Rias could only curse her luck and conjured as many Power of Destruction spheres she could conjure as torrents of water shot towards her.

OxO

Meanwhile, Koneko, Yuuto, Lint and Millicas finally made their way inside the gymnasium building.

However, they stopped on their tracks at the sight of a familiar enemy Knight standing in the middle of the large room.

"Ah, there you are." Tomoe Meguri greeted as she brandished her bamboo sword. "I think we should just cut to the chase, don't you think?"

"...Sorry, but who are you?" Lint asked, pointing at Tomoe.

Tomoe blanched. The girl with shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair tied into twintails and brown eyes quivered as she brushed aside her bangs.

"I am Tomoe Meguri! Knight of Sona Sitri!" Tomoe introduced herself with her cheeks puffed.

"Oh kay. So, what can you do? Wait, isn't your weapon confiscated like ours?" Lint asked Tomoe.

"...Yes I wanted to look good. But that stupid rookie took it away" Tomoe pouted before she pointed her practice sword at them, "...But worry not! This might not be my usual katana, but this baby still packs a wallop! You're still gonna be in for a world of pain if you underestimate me!"

"I don't even know what you can do, but alright!" Lint presented her 'katana' and aimed it at Tomoe. "You and me then! New girl versus backdrop girl!"

"You I'm not a backdrop! You are on!"

Faster than either side expected, the two knights already moved in and engaged while the others simply watched their banter. Lint and Tomoe exchanged blows with equal fervor, twangs of their mock weapons reverberating the air piecemeal.

"...You know, I think we should help her, Yuuto-senpai." Koneko remarked.

"Maybe, yes." Yuuto found himself smiling as Lint and Tomoe clashed and locked blades, "But do you really expect me to interfere in a duel between knights?"

Koneko only replied with a small snort of understanding.

However, they then heard the doors of the gym open, revealing Tsubasa, Saji and Loup entering the building.

"Aha, there you are!" Saji exclaimed, then he caught the sight of Tomoe fighting Lint, "Shit, they're already at it! Let's get 'em, guys!"

"So much for watching an honorable duel in peace" Koneko commented as she prepared her combat stance.

"Took the words out of my mouth, Koneko-chan." Yuuto followed suit.

The match grew more chaotic by the second at this point. Everyone felt like they were playing more than training, but that was enough for the students watching the show.

To be Continued.

Christmas Special

A street snack stall was operating in the late winter night, serving walk-in customers light meals and hard drinks to warm themselves - where the next customers arrived and took seats at the counter.

One customer was a bald man wearing a hoodie and jersey trousers; and the other customer was a rotund elderly man with a thick and bushy white beard and mustache that covered the lower half of his face, clad in a red thick jacket, matching pants, black boots and his white hair was covered with red hat.

The middle-aged barkeep noticed that there was also a sleigh with several reindeers being parked next to his shop, but he decided to ignore the peculiar spectacle for some reason.

Back to the customers - the elderly man in red took a long exhale, reveling in the warmth provided by the heater set up in the stall; while the bald man gave their orders.

"A bottle for two, pops And some Oden and skewers if you still have 'em."

"Comin' right up." The barkeep took the drinks out and began working on the other treats.

The customers then began to talk while waiting.

"...Thanks again for the help, Saitama." The elderly man said with a warm smile as his companion. "Work has become more demanding of these old bones as the time goes on."

"What work, though? I mean, I've never seen someone at your age carrying a big bag like yours," Saitama asked as the barkeep placed two bottles of sake for them. He took the bottle and uncorked it with his thumb, pouring a cup for the other man.

Saitama was referring to the large pile of sacks lying in the old man's sleigh. Saitama helped the poor man back to his feet and carried them to his sleigh, then brought the man here to relax.

Still, Saitama hoped to lead him to a hospital, but the old man insisted on working himself to the bone to finish his deadline.

"Well, you see" the old man glanced at the bag, "The children are waiting for the goods I'm carrying."

Saitama blinked as he took a sip of his drink, "...What children?"

"All children." the man replied without missing a beat as he also took a sip of his sake, "All of them have been very good lads this year. Such good behavior deserves a reward, don't you think?"

Saitama blinked some more, "Are you. A preschool teacher or something?"

"What? No, no. I'm well I mean," the white-bearded men gestured to the sleigh and the reindeers.

"...Where'd you get the deers from, anyway?" Saitama asked as the reindeers stared at the bald man, each bearing faces of scrutiny and judgmental criticism if Saitama wasn't wrong, like the teachers back in his school years giving him the annual report card.

Or Haruka giving him the lecturing gaze when he did something stupid.

"...I mean um well, I guess it'll come to you soon, but first hear an old man out on his woes. Honestly, I wish my workers were half as physically fit as you are."

"Wait, you're an employer? I thought you're a delivery man or something?" Saitama gestured to the massive bag on the sleigh.

"Oh, you can say that I 'hand out the paychecks' as the young ones like to say, but due to the misfit antics of one particular child with deer horns and fairy wings, who looks like a child but isn't, who is definitely averse to acting his actual age, all of my employees are women. Very young and sometimes hot blooded women." the old man sighed.

"Right" Saitama digested the information he heard so far, "So you basically have to do the heavy-lifting since all of your employees are girls?"

"Well, not that I have to do all of the heavy-lifting myself - the lasses are actually very helpful. It's just" The old man fidgeted bashfully, "...Bringing them to deliver these goods to children can. inspire the wrong message."

"Oookay?" Saitama tilted his head, "So. Who are you, again? Sorry, I guess I should've asked you this question the first time."

The old man turned to Saitama.

"...Do you really not recognize who I am?"

"No?"

"The beard, the red outfit, theThe most important person at every end of the year?"

Saitama stared at the old man. He could not think of anyone that important at the end of every year, or anyone that important annually.

Well, there was Haruka, Genos and the folks at home - but Saitama thought the old man before him was talking about some actual big shot who he never heard of.

"...Uhhhhh"

"...His popular name among the masses starts with 'Sa' if you need assistance." the old man probed on.

"...Sa Sa Sa" Saitama's mind went a mile until he ended up saying the first thing he arrived with, "...Satan?"

The deers gawked at the bald man's ridiculous answer.

The old man nearly face-vaulted, "Urk, okay, close, but so far off at the same time."

Saitama did not get it.

"But alas, you are a good person deep down. I will make sure to send you something that can help with your poor memory next year."

"Okay so, what seems to be troubling you?" Saitama asked as the stranger sipped the sake.

"Oh, my, the taste of rice wine will take some getting used to." He shuddered as he smacked his lips at the astringent taste of the sake, "Well, where to start there is this particular house of a promising boy I've been trying to deliver presents to. But for some blasted reason, there's this hellish dog that kept trying to sink his teeth into my rear whenever I try to get in through the chimney."

Saitama blinked, "Why'd you even get in through the chimney in the first place?"

The old man blinked in return, "That is my gimmick of sorts. Walking through the front door would be too conspicuous, no?"

Saitama started to feel confused, "You're not a burglar, are you?"

The old man blanched, "Dear me, no. Though. Perhaps my answers have been messing with your head, aye?"

"What kind of crazy person goes into houses through chimneys?"

"Someone with tradition! And want to surprise the kids! But these days, we have apartments, so I have to go through the roof entrance! I even have to learn how to pick locks just to get inside my goodness."

Saitama was now looking incredulous, "Right, right. And nobody ever caught ya in the act, ever?"

The old man shrugged, "Eh, sometimes some youngsters or drunkards caught my shadows but they got no real proof about who I am, so it's all good."

"Right" Saitama nodded slowly.

"I'm not sure if I can keep going like this for another few decades. I might have to either pass on my job or start hiring But this job of mine isn't meant for many people. Someone has to bring the children the joy and the spirit of giving, after all." He grabbed the bottle and downed a few gulps of rice wine.

Seeing the old man's melancholic look, Saitama pondered for a moment until he spoke up, "Do you want me to help tonight?"

The old man stopped his drinking, "What say now?"

"This gimmick of yours tonight, I can help you if you want." Saitama offered.

"...This job of mine ain't for regular good folks. Even if you are fit, Saitama well" the old man looked contemplative, "I can't just hire anyone for this duty."

"I'm offering, really. I've been doing my fair share of errands too. You can count on me." Saitama insisted with a confident smirk.

OxO

"How many houses does this make now? I feel like we've spent hours hopping from house to house already." Saitama whined.

"It's the last house for tonight, lad! Keep at it a bit longer!" Santa Claus retorted without much care, "Besides, you said you want to help."

Saitama rolled his eyes in resignation as they stepped into the front yard of another house in the neighborhood. Both he and Santa were carrying piles of wrapped boxes in each hand.

"Please hold my share for a moment," Santa handed his pile on top of Saitama's own before he proceeded to walk to the front door and procured a small bell from his pocket. Chiming the bell for a couple of times, the door unlocked itself with a small, audible click - allowing both men to step inside the domicile.

"Seriously, man. Who are you? You an Esper or something?" Saitama asked as he followed Santa towards the living room where there was a miniature Christmas Tree and decorations around.

Most of Saitama's view was obstructed by a pile of towering gifts and boxes in his hands, but at the first glance from the corner of his eyes, the place looked familiar for some reason.

.Eh, probably the Shidous - Saitama chose not to think too much; he just wanted for the night to be over and done with.

"Oh ho ho ho, that would spoil the surprise. Come, we don't have all night." Santa's simple reply snapped Saitama out of his musing.

Saitama then proceeded to drop the gift boxes and lightly kicked them around until the boxes were scattered across the floor.

"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing, lad?" Santa admonished, "Put the smaller ones on front and the bigger ones on the back!"

He corrected as he rearranged Saitama's handiwork.

"And show some care for goodness's sake. These aren't some socks or underwear donated by the fire department to a battered women's shelter or back-alley orphanage - these are Christmas gifts!"

Once Santa finished rearranging the presents, he turned and saw Saitama had just finished eating a cookie while holding a glass of milk.

"Did you just finish the cookie meant for me?"

Saitama chugged down the milk before asking, "What do you mean the cookie is for you? I just found them on the table over there. Besides, you've taken a bite or two of all the cookies from the previous houses, which I gotta say was irresponsible of you. You don't just eat people's food and leave left-overs - that's just rude."

"It's a part of my gimmick! I take a bite of the cookie and a sip of milk! That's how people know that I was here!" Santa retorted.

"That sounds half-assed. How is it different from just finishing all of them?"

"It's out of courtesy and restraint, Saitama! Tradition!" The bearded man shouted at the clueless baldy.

"Ehh Alright So you said that this is the last one? You mind dropping me back home, then?"

"Indeed this is the last one, also-!"

However, his companion was suddenly interrupted by immense pain and shock coursing through his body.

"ABABABABABABABABAAAGH~!"

Santa's body spasmed before falling to the floor, much to Saitama's surprise. Smoke rose from his body and he was not moving.

"...Dear?"

Saitama heard a familiar voice. Haruka was staring at him. She had a taser in hand.

"...Why did you have to do that to Satan?" Saitama asked, sighing.

"Satan?" Haruka blinked and took a look at the prone elderly man on the floor.

"Actually, wait a sec - is this my house?" Saitama looked around to have a better look at the dimly lit room.

On cue, Haruka turned the lights on, giving Saitama the confirmation that he was indeed back at home.

"Dear, why are you dressed like Santa Claus?"

Saitama blinked and looked at his outfit, "Santa? Oh, this thing? Nah, I just ran into this Satan guy." His mind then reeled back when the so-called 'Satan' was giving him clues of his identity, "Satan Santa. Oooooooh"

He suddenly felt so bad and awkward at the twitching Santa Claus on the floor.

Haruka stared at him as her eyes darted between the unconscious stranger and his husband.

"...Dear. Who is this person really? Is he not a burglar by any chance?" Haruka asked, both sounding surprised yet not surprised, knowing how her husband functioned as an individual and his incredulous luck meeting special people.

"...I don't think so?" Saitama rubbed his head. "Met him when he was struggling to lift that big bag of presents to his ride"

Haruka sighed, "...Honey, I know helping people is your thing and all, but aren't you a bit too old to be conned by some old man pretending to be Santa?"

"Um, wait, wait, what's this about people pretending to be Santa. Him?" Saitama pointed at the old man who was still out cold on the floor. "...Also, I don't think he's a burglar? We left random wrapped boxes under trees. Never saw him steal anything other than the cookies and milk laid out for him. Kind of picky on how he eats it though Do all burglars have flying deers?"

Haruka stared at her bald husband.

"...You said this guy has flying deers?" Haruka asked skeptically.

"Yeah, they're just outside, look." Saitama guided Haruka to the window and showed a sleigh with a pack of deers tied to it.

Before Haruka could have retorted, a couple of the deers seemed to be restless and much to her shock - started to float around before they landed back.

"Oh. Oh my god." Haruka staggered back a few steps as her hand released her taser. "I just tased Santa oh shit. What have I done? My presents Santa exist? I know I wasn't a good girl back then, but Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggg."

Saitama patted Haruka to calm her mental breakdown.

"There, there." Saitama soothed, "...Look, you were alone with our son in the house in the middle of the night, and you panicked. By the way, I reckon Rover is probably in Ise's room right now, but where's Genos and Black?"

"They're leaving for some jobs They should be returning this morning." Haruka replied, "...Anyway, aren't we still leaving Santa on the floor? We gotta do something!"

"Should we call the hospital?"

"This is Santa!" Haruka shrieked. "We can't just call the hospital! Everyone will know I'm a bad person!"

Saitama hadn't seen this side of Haruka for a while.

"Alright, let's bring him to our room. I forgot where we put the med kit though"

However, when they returned to the living room, Santa's body was gone - in his place was a letter.

Thank you very much for your assistance, Saitama. Here is a little appreciation for what you've done for me; hope you will like it.

As for the woman who I assume to be your wife.. Bad girl, no presents for you and the next one.

Wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely, St. Nicholas of Myra.

Saitama and Haruka stared at the letter for a second when the sound of familiar laughter echoed.

[Ho, ho, ho, ho~!]

They went to the window quickly to see the shadow of reindeers carrying a sleigh through the skies, the shadow of Santa holding the reins as they sailed into the starry night.

"...Huh" Saitama smiled at the sight. This wasn't something he would see every day, and he saw weird things over his years.

"...But I've been a good girl this year" Haruka was dejected that she wouldn't receive presents this year and the next.

"...Eh, don't worry. I can cover it." Saitama patted Haruka's back as they turned around from the window.

At the corner of his eye, Saitama caught a glittering card on the table.

"Huh." He walked and picked it up, looking at the card

"...Huh?" Saitama stared at the card.

Haruka peeked at the card with squinted eyes.

"...What?" Haruka was stupefied.

It was a card of invitation from Santa to visit him in the North Pole. But what took them by surprise was Santa's workers.

They were elves like Santa said, and they were all female.

And they were attractive.

There were no words, he was surrounded by sexy hot women with pointy ears with somewhat skimpy holiday attire, red and green, pointy caps on their heads, some of their underwear showing through their green skirts, stockings, thigh high boots of red, many hairstyles from tomboy to hime-cut to ponytails, all of them around a jolly white-bearded smiling man dressed in red.

Saitama ended up staring at the card - mostly to make the heads and tails of what he was looking at.

However, Haruka took it as another sign entirely.

"...Sure sounds fun to go there, hun?"

Saitama shuddered when he heard Haruka's chilling voice.

"...But Should we bring Issei?" Saitama asked just in case.

"What for?" Haruka narrowed her eyes as she smiled dangerously, "So you can get me busy looking after our son while you're having 'fun' with Santa Claus?"

"But he said he wanted to see Santa"

Despite Saitama's retort, Haruka closed the distance between them until their bodies were practically pressed against one another. Grabbing the lapel of Saitama's Santa outfit, Haruka pulled her husband's face to hers.

"...Looks like I have to remind a naughty boy about his place."

Saitama smiled wryly, knowing there was no escaping this one, "...Can we bring this to the bedroom? We've promised Genos and Ise not to do it in the living room or the kitchen."

"I guess I'll be a bit merciful for this one." Haruka replied and she finally closed the distance between her lips and her husband's.

Meanwhile, five year-old Issei was woken up by the commotion he had been hearing for the past few minutes downstairs. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and saw that Rover was blinking at him from his make-shift bed.

Since Rover did not react much, it was probably not a burglar - his dad or Genos or Black, for example. Though, now that he was awake, Issei could not help but be curious of what was happening on the floor below.

With Rover following dutifully behind him, Issei carefully made his way through the staircases until he got a good view of the living room, then he muffled his gasp down.

It was his mother, in the middle of kissing and making out - much to his adolescent's disgust, with someone wearing an outfit that only Santa Claus wore.

Issei quickly retreated back upstairs while making sure that neither he nor Rover made any noise. However, his mind then came to a halt as a morbid realization dawned upon him.

Iri is so not going to believe this.

OxO

"...I don't believe you."

"I'm telling you, it's true! I saw my mom kissing Santa Claus last night!"

Issei whispered urgently to Iri as the Hyoudous and Shidous were spending the Christmas morning together - the adults were sitting together on the dining table while the kids were playing near the Christmas tree in the living room.

"Why would Santa kiss your mom? Your mum has your daddy, like my mum has my daddy!" Iri argued.

"Look, I don't know, okay?" Issei replied, "Anyway, I came up with something."

"What is it?" Iri asked with curiosity.

"Next Christmas, we'll capture Santa together and have him spilling the beans!"

Issei declared his outrageous plan with eyes full of sparkling wonder.

"EHhhh!? But it's Santa!" Irina reminded.

"Yes, Santa who kissed my mom!" Issei pressed on, "Come on, Iri! If you're to see Santa Claus kissing your mom, don't you want to find out what happened?"

Iri looked hesitant before replying, "Well. I guess?"

"There - we're doing it." Issei spoke with a tone of finality.

It was many years later where Santa Claus would find himself in a conundrum where a couple of lovebirds were hunting him down, but there was a story for another time.

Quick explanation, this chapter was originally posted in my (P) atreon during last christmas, hence the Christmas Special. Now, considering this is meant to come out in end of February, but considering the recent occasion... Here you go!

Valentine's Day Special

It was the day which people have mixed opinions on. Some of them are filled with joy, some of them are filled with hope, some with envy, even there are some with resentment.

For one Xenovia Quarta, however - it was the day for both joy and hope. For most people, Valentine's Day was the day where they found out whether they would die alone or not; but in the case of Xenovia, that day was also a celebration for her arrival in this strange yet fascinating world.

"I. I don't know what to say." Xenovia said as she stood before an open case in which the content seemed to be glowing.

"I got it since I know how much you like Christianity. And it is inspired from a bit of Western Fantasy tropes so" Issei smiled proudly at his gift. "Happy birthday, Xenovia."

The boy was standing with the content of his birthday present hidden under the lid, opened like a gator's mouth widening, all while smiling proudly of his handiwork.

"Well I'm not sure if this even has anything to do with Christianity in the first place, but I. Guess I've been looking forward to this as well." Xenovia replied with a bashful smile, running her finger through her blue locks somewhat awkwardly.

"Really?" Issei was not expecting that she wanted to use his gift so soon.

"...I mean maybe we can do it without the protection. I don't mind if we go raw Us angels don't get pregnant so easily, after all." Xenovia bashfully turned away, her cheeks rosy red.

"...What?" Issei's mind went blank at her suggestion. "What are you"

Issei opened the box completely. He did not see a holy mace he commissioned from Genos. He saw a phallus-shaped chocolate bar and a set of condoms.

His mind fried at the sight of this, trying to understand why he was holding a sex-toy set instead of the weapon.

His ears caught giggling behind him, in the doorway. His eyes caught the sight of the girls and Black peeking from the door, all of them were stifling their laughter.

"...Ise?" Xenovia began to feel confused when she realized the others were peeping from the door.

"...Okay, be honest with me - whose idea is this?" Issei asked with a mixture of amused and unamused expression as he showed the contents of the box.

"I came up with the condoms." Akeno quipped while struggling to keep her laughter down, "And for your information, those condoms are flavored."

"The phallic chocolate was my idea. I had it custom-made based on your size." Irina raised her hand up, she was also biting her lip to keep herself from bursting out with laughter, "Also, just saying, the idea itself was Black's - we just came up with the 'what'."

The evil bastard was laughing at him with his face alone. Veins bulged under Issei's skin as his hand trembled with indignant rage.

"Oh, don't look at us like that. We're just a bit miffed that you gave all of your attention to Xenovia, since her birthday is also on Valentine's Day." Tsubasa spoke this time.

Issei blinked, "...It is, isn't it? Still, couldn't you guys come up with better ideas even for a prank? Sex toys sound too on the nose, don't ya think?"

"...So we're not doing it?" Xenovia asked Issei, as clueless as ever.

Issei was about to refuse, but when he saw the look on Xenovia's face, he found himself hesitating. His face grew warm at the idea of having sex with Xenovia. He turned to see the girls were looking at him expectantly, while Black was smirking tauntingly at him.

"...I uh Oh, fuck it."

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday to Xenovia Quarta! XD