Just as Rias felt a chill of premonition run through her, a thunderous boom rolled in from the distance — sharp and heavy like a detonation ripping through the battlefield.
Ryuichi and the others turned toward the source in unison, only to see Akeno Himejima plummeting out of the sky. A moment later her entire form dissolved into white light, forcibly removed from the pocket dimension — she was out.
"One of Lady Rias Gremory's Queens has been retired."
Grayfia's voice confirmed what everyone had just witnessed, and the announcement made both Ryuichi and Rias tense inwardly. By all rights, Akeno should have held an advantage over Yubeluna; even if she couldn't win outright, she should have at least been able to stall her.
Another flare of danger cut across the field before anyone could fully process the loss. Koneko Toujou was suddenly targeted again — an ambush from nowhere.
Ryuichi moved — or rather, tried to — but the Knight facing him abruptly threw aside all restraint and charged headlong at him through the anti-magic field, body first, pride discarded. That one desperate obstruction was enough to cost him the chance to cover Koneko.
A blast went off.
A surge of enormous demonic power struck Koneko squarely, the impact erupting in a violent explosion. Koneko screamed as the blast swallowed her whole, grievously wounding her in an instant — and before Ryuichi's eyes she was erased in a bloom of white light and vanished from the board.
"Koneko!" Rias cried out, voice cracking.
Ryuichi lifted his gaze skyward. Suspended above them now was a girl in a magical cloak — Yubeluna.
She had already eliminated Akeno by unknown means, and now she had crossed the field to remove Koneko as well.
"Well done, Yubeluna," Ravel Phoenix said with a calm, pleased smile. "As expected of my brother's Queen."
"I am ashamed, Lady Ravel. In the end I had to use this."
Yubeluna produced a small bottle. Even at this distance, everyone present could sense the thick, condensed vitality still clinging to whatever had been inside.
Ryuichi narrowed his eyes, gaze fixed on the vial. He didn't know how, but his instincts told him that bottle was the reason Akeno had fallen.
"Curious, are you?"
Ravel caught his look and let a quietly proud smile surface.
"This is a Phoenix Tear — the secret treasure of our immortal bloodline. It restores all injuries instantly. Extremely precious."
…So such a thing existed.
If the Phoenix clan could use those in a Rating Game, then Phoenix pieces were effectively unkillable.
"They're only allowed to use up to two per match," Rias cut in, stating the rule.
"Heh. And what of it?" Raiser answered with open amusement. "Used at the right moment, two are more than enough to decide a game."
He was already wearing the expression of someone who believed the outcome sealed.
Raiser's gaze shifted to Ryuichi with a sharper, uglier glint. Whatever composure he had left was colored by the resentment he'd been holding in ever since Ryuichi's earlier performance had humiliated him.
"Now then… I think it's time someone taught you a lesson."
He snapped his fingers. A pulse of violent demonic power roared forth, surging straight for Ryuichi. Raiser may have been only on par with Rias as a pure-blood Devil, but that still made him a force capable of overwhelming most opponents head-on.
Ryuichi braced and summoned the Shield of Lamentation, meeting the attack without flinching.
Above, Yubeluna seemed ready to strike again, but Rias immediately intercepted her.
Fortunately, the enemy Knights and Soldiers were still sealed. The sealing arrays had been forced to bind far more people than planned — and all of them were top-class mid-tier Devils — so the duration of the seal had been drastically shortened. Still, it bought them the one thing they needed most: breathing room.
Another impact thundered across the ground as Raiser blasted the area where Ryuichi stood, carving out a crater.
"Is that really all you can do?" Raiser's voice was cold. "For a Knight serving Rias Gremory, your performance is pathetic."
He wasn't wrong in one regard — from the start of this game, Ryuichi had shown nothing extravagant. Beyond eliminating a few Soldiers, there had been no display of overwhelming power.
And defeating Soldiers was nothing worth praising for a Knight piece. The stat boost alone made that the bare minimum.
"If this is the extent of your ability, then Rias truly backed the wrong man."
Raiser's tone held genuine disdain — but also a kind of frustrated sincerity. For Devils, exceptional pieces were a necessity for the growth of their bloodline. Weak servants were a stain on their masters.
Ryuichi blocked another of Raiser's strikes, posture tight but eyes calm — his shield held firm, his breathing even, not a hint of panic bleeding through.
"You worry for nothing, Lord Raiser," he answered evenly. "Perhaps you should be the one more cautious. The game isn't decided until the end."
He made no move to counter. He didn't even draw the Sword of Kings.
That only made Raiser laugh — not out of amusement, but from fury edged with disbelief.
"You really have no idea what you're standing against."
He looked toward the old school building.
"Shuriya. You're finished, aren't you?"
The answer came not in words but in the shockwave of a magic surge bursting from that direction.
"That's… our base…" Asia whispered, her voice trembling.
Rias's eyes narrowed faintly.
"A Soldier has ascended."
And just like that, Raiser's roster gained a second Queen.
A young girl — Shuriya — flew into view, a bright, confident smile on her face.
"Master, I completed the promotion."
"Excellent. That makes this simple," Raiser said with a quiet, satisfied smile. In a Rating Game, holding two Queens was effectively standing on victory itself.
"Rias, what are you still struggling for? Just stop resisting and come back to the Underworld with me."
With the wind at his back, he began to taunt openly.
Rias and Asia both felt their hearts sink. At this point, their only remaining hope was Ryuichi.
"Save your breath. I will never yield."
Rias moved — and in a flash of crimson power she severed one of Raiser's arms cleanly.
It grew back immediately.
Phoenix resurrection — flawless.
"Still so stubborn… What a waste. I've run out of patience. This boy is your last hope, isn't he? Fine. I'll burn that hope into ash right here. Accidental deaths are permitted in the game."
Murderous intent flared — Raiser meant it.
His magic lunged toward Ryuichi like a blade.
Rias tried to intervene, but both Queens entangled her in an instant, locking her down completely.
"No!!" Rias screamed.
And in that same breath, Ryuichi lifted his head, eyes steady as steel, watching the attack close in.
His lips parted — voice low, certain, unhurried:
"—Promotion."