"It's about time. Everyone, please head to the magic circle."
Grayfia's voice carried with authority, and we didn't waste a second. We moved.
The entire Gremory peerage gathered around the glowing summoning circle in the center of the clubroom, the hum of demonic energy growing stronger by the second.
"Also," she added calmly, "once you get transported, you cannot use the magic circle until the game ends."
So no retreat. It was win or nothing.
The circle's symbol began to change — warping, bending, morphing into something entirely unfamiliar. It wasn't the Gremory crest, nor was it the Phoenix sigil. This must be the custom design used specifically for the Rating Game.
The light swallowed us whole.
When I opened my eyes, I blinked in mild confusion.
"…Huh?"
We were still in the clubroom.
Or, more accurately, an exact replica of the clubroom. I looked around, squinting to notice any inconsistencies, but from the slightly tilted ceiling fan to the cracked corner of the wooden floorboards, everything was the same.
Asia looked surprised but relieved. Everyone else? Calm. Almost too calm. It was like they expected this.
Good. If this battlefield had been something crazy like floating islands or a molten volcano arena, I might've had to abandon a few of my strategies. This familiar setting gave us an edge. My edge.
Kiba stretched his arm and glanced out the window. "Everything looks identical. Amazing work."
I stepped up beside him, placing a hand on the frame. "Yeah… but fake or not, this is where we fight now."
I noticed something else — Grayfia was gone. Teleported away? Likely.
Then the room's speaker system crackled.
[Hello everyone. I am Grayfia, a maid from the House of Gremory, and today I will be the arbiter of the Rating Match between the House of Gremory and the House of Phoenix.]
Her cool voice echoed through every speaker in the room. Even knowing it was coming, it still sent a chill through me.
[In the name of my master, Sirzechs Lucifer, I will be keeping my eye on this match. By using both Rias-sama's and Raiser-sama's input, we created this battlefield, which is a replica of Kuoh Academy, the human world school Rias-sama attends.]
Makes sense. It gives Rias a home-ground advantage, but considering Riser's arrogant nature, he probably thought it wouldn't matter. Typical.
[The location where both teams were transported is their "base." Rias-sama's base is the Occult Research Clubroom in the old school building. Raiser-sama's base is the Student Council room in the new building. For any [Pawn] wishing to "promote", you must reach the enemy's base.]
So promotion worked like in chess. Just like the original. That was good. Familiar rules meant fewer surprises.
I turned to Rias. She stood near the desk, hands folded under her chest, deep in thought. Her crimson hair swayed slightly as if reacting to the magical tension in the air. She looked calm, but I knew better now.
This game was more than just a formal engagement battle for her. It was pride, freedom, and a declaration of who she was.
"Everyone," she said, her voice level and composed, "stay alert. We don't know what team composition Riser will use to attack us, but we can assume he will be aggressive."
Kiba nodded. "He'll likely split his forces into groups. Strike teams, possibly with teleportation. His [Queen] is very strong, from what I've heard."
"I doubt he'll underestimate us," Akeno added, her tone still playful but underlined with steel. "But he might overestimate himself."
I stepped forward. "I'll move out first."
Everyone turned to look at me.
Asia looked nervous. "I-Issei-san…"
"I'm a [Pawn]. If I want to promote, I have to reach their base," I said, grinning. "Let me scout the area between our buildings. I can use Boosted Gear for short bursts of power and fall back if I spot any threats."
Kiba narrowed his eyes. "It's risky."
"I'm not planning to take on their entire team alone. Just test the waters."
Rias thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Kiba, shadow him. Don't engage unless he needs help. Koneko will defend the clubroom alongside Akeno and Asia."
"Understood," they all said in unison.
I felt the familiar red light crawl across my left arm. My Boosted Gear manifested with a mechanical hiss and a solid clunk.
"Boost!"
The emerald jewel on the gauntlet pulsed once.
Rias looked at me. "Be careful, Issei."
I offered her a smirk. "Careful's my middle name."
Then I opened the door, and Kiba followed behind me.
We entered the fake school hallway, which looked exactly like the real one. Even the bulletin boards had the same posters. The silence was eerie. It was like the school had been frozen in time, waiting for a battle to erupt.
Kiba whispered behind me, "You've changed."
"Yeah," I replied, not turning around. "Got no time to be a clueless perv anymore."
He didn't reply, but I heard the smile in his breath.
This was it. Game on.
~~~
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