"DXD: Infinite Loot System"Chapter 295: The Duel Begins
In the competitors' lounge, Tenra lounged on the sofa, eyes closed, letting his mind settle into the calm before battle.
"Lord Tenra, it's time," Yubelluna said softly, her voice gentle but resolute.
His peerage had gathered behind him, tension and anticipation in the air. Tenra opened his eyes, a faint smile curving his lips.
"So, it's finally starting…"
He rose, stretching out the stiffness. "Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
Yubelluna tapped her staff. Magic flared, a circle blossoming beneath their feet. Light enveloped them—and in the next instant, they vanished.
—
The roar of the crowd hit like a tidal wave.
"Let's welcome our next contenders—Team Tenra Kamiyo!"
The arena exploded. Nearly a million spectators filled the colosseum-like stadium, their cheers rolling in thunderous waves. Tenra and his peerage materialized atop a floating, conical platform high above the ground, the air thick with excitement.
There were only two such platforms—one for each team. Across the gap, Sairaorg and his own peerage stood ready, eyes locked on Tenra's group. Even at this distance, Tenra could see the fire in Sairaorg's gaze—a promise of the fight to come.
They'd both waited for this day: a clash with no reservations, no holding back.
A massive screen flickered into existence above the crowd, and a flamboyantly dressed man with a headset appeared, voice booming through the arena.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm Naud Camigin of the Camigin House, one of the 72 Pillars. I'll be your host and commentator tonight!"
As the cheers subsided, Naud continued, "First, let me introduce tonight's referee—Diehauser Belial!"
A magic circle shimmered in the air, and a silver-haired man appeared, seated on a throne. He raised a hand in greeting, and the stadium erupted in shrieks—mostly from the female fans.
Yubelluna leaned in, whispering, "Lord Tenra, Diehauser Belial is a reincarnated Devil—originally human. He holds the rank of Ultimate-class Devil, and is seventh in the Rating Game's upper-class rankings."
Tenra nodded, a little surprised. In the Underworld, pure-blood Devils ruled; reincarnated Devils were usually just servants or peerage members. Unless you had exceptional talent, reaching even mid-tier was rare. For Diehauser to rise so high, he was clearly someone extraordinary.
Naud pressed on, "Next, our special guest—Governor Azazel of the Fallen Angels!"
Azazel materialized with his trademark lazy wave. "Yo…"
"Governor Azazel is well-connected with all the major factions, and an expert on Sacred Gears," Naud explained. "Azazel, any predictions for tonight?"
Azazel grinned. "That's tough. Both Sairaorg and Tenra Kamiyo are monsters in their own right. If I had to pick, though, I'm leaning toward Tenra."
He winked at the camera. "That kid's got more Sacred Gears than I can count, including Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing—multiple Longinus. If anyone deserves to be called the Underworld's biggest freak in history, it's him. Sairaorg's got his work cut out for him."
Even those who knew Tenra's reputation couldn't help but gasp. Multiple Longinus? That was beyond rare—even among legends.
Naud chuckled. "Looks like the Governor's betting on the Red Dragon Emperor. But let's see how it plays out in the arena."
"Finally, our last guest—the current Rating Game champion, Diehauser Belial!"
A man with steel-gray hair and eyes stepped forward, dazzlingly handsome.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Diehauser Belial. Glad to be here."
The stadium went wild. Screams, swoons, and more than a few fainting spells rippled through the crowd—especially among the young Devils.
Tenra didn't need Yubelluna's introduction this time. Diehauser Belial was the Emperor of the Rating Game—the pinnacle, the legend everyone aspired to surpass. Even Rias, proud as she was, saw him as her lifelong rival.
Tenra studied Diehauser floating above the arena. No doubt about it—he was Maou-class, and not just any Maou, but the very top. If Tenra remembered right, Diehauser was the only one in the rankings who hadn't used a Mutation Piece; he'd climbed to the summit on pure talent alone.
Few people could make Tenra wary these days. Diehauser was one of them.
Naud clapped his hands, drawing the crowd's attention. "With our judges and guests in place, let's go over tonight's special rules!"
He waited for the cheers to settle, then continued,
"For this match, we've set up four rounds: Knight Battle, Rook Battle, Queen Battle, and King Battle.
Knight Battle—each team's two Knights face off.
Rook Battle—two Rooks from each side.
Queen Battle—the Queens and two Bishops.
And finally, King Battle—the Kings and their Pawns.
Victory in each round is determined by which side's peerage members remain standing—and their total chess piece value. Knights and Bishops are worth 3 points, Rooks 5, Queens 9, and Kings 12.
For fairness, Phoenix Tears are banned—but recovery magic and healing-type Sacred Gears are allowed."
The crowd murmured approval. The varied rules were part of the Rating Game's appeal. Four distinct battles—each a chance to showcase the teams' strengths.
That Phoenix Tears ban was clearly aimed at Tenra's side. As a Phoenix, he'd never lack them. Without the restriction, Sairaorg's team wouldn't stand a chance.
Naud looked to both platforms. "Any questions?"
Tenra and Sairaorg answered in unison, voices ringing with resolve: "None."
Naud smiled. "Then let the match between Lord Sairaorg of House Bael and Lord Tenra Kamiyo of House Phoenix begin!"
The crowd erupted, a tidal wave of cheers crashing over the arena.
"Now, for our first round—the Knight Battle!
Knights, please step into the teleportation circles at the front of your platforms. The duel will take place in a specialized alternate space."
Kalamaina and Siris stepped forward, determination in their eyes. On Sairaorg's side, two armored men did the same.
Tenra nodded at his Knights. "Kalamaina, Siris—I'll be watching. Fight with everything you've got."
"Yes, Lord Tenra!"
Taking a steadying breath, the two entered the magic circle. Light flared—and in the gaze of millions, both teams' Knights vanished, transported to the battlefield beyond…
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