Everyone naturally saw Utaha step forward.
"The next one is their Rook, huh?"
All eyes turned to Rias again.
"In that case, Koneko, give it a try."
Rias didn't hesitate and immediately sent out Koneko.
Yukino's prediction had been correct. If she were the one entering the field—as a Longinus holder—Rias would absolutely have sent out Akeno, her Queen piece. Anything less would have been disrespectful toward the term "Longinus."
Even though Yukino had only been a devil for a few months, a Longinus didn't care about logic. It was a power capable of breaking the balance altogether. Against that, caution was always justified.
Rias also knew Yukino's talent was extremely high. From the moment she reincarnated, her demonic power was already on par with pureblood devils. After a few months of learning, her strength was surely impressive by now.
And with Absolute Demise being a Sacred Gear specializing in overwhelming offense and battlefield control, sending a Knight or Rook against it would be a terrible matchup. Rias would have no choice but to use her ace—Akeno.
But now that it wasn't Yukino stepping forward, Rias didn't hesitate.
"…Okay."
Koneko nodded expressionlessly and walked to stand opposite Utaha.
"So this will be a Rook vs Rook battle?"
"Kind of excited for that."
"Then the next one should be Yukino vs Himejima-senpai, right?"
"I heard she's a Sacred Gear user too."
"I wonder what Eligos's Rook is capable of."
The Sitri servants began whispering among themselves.
"…Please take care of me," Koneko said.
Koneko slipped on her gauntlets calmly.
"I should be the one saying that. Please give me your guidance, senpai," Utaha replied teasingly, seeing the cute little girl before her.
Koneko frowned slightly, didn't answer, and simply shifted into a serious stance.
Seeing that her teasing fell flat, Utaha lost interest and readied herself as well.
The battle began quickly.
Boom!
Koneko kicked off the ground with explosive force, shaking the floor as she shot toward Utaha.
Her speed wasn't on the level of Asuna or Kiba, but the momentum she generated was massive—her small frame carried the impact of a charging war chariot as she drove straight toward her opponent.
Despite her petite size, the raw power inside Koneko's body was immense. No one would doubt that if her fist landed, someone would go flying like a kicked rubber ball.
A Rook's trait was overwhelming attack and defense. Even with her size, no one questioned Koneko's strength.
Unfortunately… her luck was terrible.
This opponent was her natural counter.
Buzz—
Utaha suddenly raised her hand. A transparent barrier materialized before her, shielding her completely.
Boom!
Koneko's devastating punch slammed against the barrier without touching Utaha at all, sending a heavy thud echoing through the arena.
"A barrier?"
The Sitri group instantly recognized what they were seeing.
But before they could analyze further, Utaha's demonic power erupted. Several more translucent barriers formed around Koneko.
Barriers appeared on all sides, joining with the first and with one descending from above—forming a perfect cube.
Koneko was trapped inside.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Realizing the danger, Koneko immediately began punching the barriers repeatedly.
But all she achieved was a string of dull, useless impacts.
Not even a single crack appeared.
"Brace yourself." Utaha, standing outside the barrier and watching Koneko struggle, firmed her expression. "This is probably going to hurt."
And she attacked.
BOOOOM!!!
A massive burst of lightning exploded inside the barrier, illuminating the entire gymnasium.
"AaaaAAAAHHHH!!!"
Koneko screamed as several bolts of lightning struck her simultaneously, engulfing her in blinding light.
"Koneko!"
"Koneko!"
Rias, Akeno, and Kiba all cried out at once.
Koneko's entire body smoked. Burnt scent filled the air. Despite the Rook trait giving her tremendous defense, she collapsed almost immediately, unconscious.
"Victory: Eligos servant!"
Sona declared the match over as Utaha dispelled the barrier.
Utaha obviously wasn't going to torture someone two years younger—someone who even looked younger than that. She stopped the moment Koneko fell and released her.
"Koneko!"
Rias and the others rushed over, lifting her up carefully.
"It's okay. Superficial damage. She'll heal quickly."
Akeno checked her and sighed in relief.
"Good."
Hearing that, Rias and Yuuto finally relaxed.
"…I'm sorry, President."
Koneko's injuries were mostly superficial; she regained consciousness quickly. Seeing Rias holding her, she lowered her eyes.
"I… I lost."
She could accept losing—she just hadn't expected to lose so badly, or so fast.
"It isn't your fault." Rias comforted her gently, then looked to Utaha with a slightly wry expression. "Being able to create barriers at will and attack from within… if I'm not mistaken, your Sacred Gear is Create World?"
"Yes." Utaha nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "That's my Sacred Gear."
"It's an extremely powerful one." Rias didn't seem angry. In fact, she sighed in admiration. "In terms of rarity, it's even above Blade Blacksmith and Sword Birth. And it fits perfectly with the Rook trait."
By the time Rias understood Utaha's Sacred Gear, she already knew—her own Rook never stood a chance.
Among non-Longinus Sacred Gears, Create World was practically top-tier. A barrier-type Sacred Gear with both offense and defense, enhanced further by the Rook trait, produced overwhelming power.
Just Utaha's barriers alone—once strengthened by her Rook trait—would require at least a High-Class Devil level attack to break.
And if you couldn't break the barrier, then once trapped inside, the result was obvious: you would be blasted repeatedly by attacks empowered by the same Rook trait until you collapsed.
Koneko also had the Rook trait and tremendous strength. She could easily lift a boulder bigger than herself and crush it. But her attack power still hadn't reached a level that could break a barrier of that caliber.
Given that, her defeat was inevitable.
Rias's gaze drifted toward Leo, a soft exhale leaving her lips.
Blade Blacksmith… Create World… both incredibly rare and powerful Sacred Gears. If not counting Longinus, they were arguably top-class. Their wielders had limitless potential.
That guy's luck was simply too good.
Just a few months and he'd already gathered two exceptional servants—and even a Longinus holder. His luck surpassed even her own.
Rias had always believed her own peerage's potential was extremely high. But compared to Leo's…
It suddenly didn't feel like a sure thing.
Even Kiba—though Sword Birth was on the same level as Blade Blacksmith—Holy Sword users possessed a natural advantage against devils. Someone like Asuna would likely achieve far better results in future Rating Games than Kiba.
Sword Birth simply couldn't match that kind of advantage.
And that wasn't even counting talent. Utaha had been a devil for only a couple of weeks, yet she could already overpower a seasoned Rook instantly. Her control over her Sacred Gear wasn't something a newly awakened user should have.
Thinking this, Rias once again glanced at the one who had been quietly blending into the background beside Leo—Mahiru.
So what about her?
If all of Leo's servants were this gifted, then Mahiru… there was no way she was ordinary.
A Bishop?
How did she compare to Rias's own sealed Bishop?
Unfortunately, they wouldn't find out today.
"Akeno."
Rias set Koneko down gently and looked at her Queen.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
Akeno smiled warmly.
"Yes, President."
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Another one!
Also merry christmas guys
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You can read up to chapter 140 on patreon.com/NiaXD.