At Sirzechs's voice, their eyes were drawn to the screen.
"Hahahaha! Well, well, you made it, Rias and her servants!"
Diodora's voice rang out to the group, including Issei, who had arrived before the temple. Looking around, Asia's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"It's pointless, Red Dragon Emperor. I'm watching you all from the temple's central chamber. Together with Asia."
A sharp pain stabbed through Issei's chest.
"Asia is unharmed, correct?"
Rias inquired in a quiet voice. 'Oh, shit. That's the sound of her barely containing immense rage! She's about to explode!'
"Of course. Asia is being treated with the utmost care. After all, in a few hours, she will become my bride. Fufufu."
'This bastard, already acting like he's won? Who the fuck does he think he is!?'
"Is that all you wanted to say? Then, shall we begin? I've grown quite tired of your pompous speeches."
Rias spoke in a cold voice, a far cry from her usual gentle tone. Diodora was cowed by her intensity and momentarily lost his voice.
"Ghk!? ...Hmph, very well. Then, for the first round, they shall be your opponents."
Along with Diodora's voice, ten girls materialized.
"Two of my Rooks and eight Pawn soldiers. Ah, by the way, the soldiers have already undergone [Promotion] to Queens. Having to face eight Queens right off the bat might be rough, but your servants are famous for their strength, so it's fine, right, Rias?"
Ignoring Diodora's provoking words, Rias replied.
"It's fine. Then from our side, we shall deploy one Pawn soldier, two Knights, and one Queen."
'The enemy has ten members.' Issei had thought all seven of them would engage, but only four!? He was included in the team, was this really okay!?
"...Very well. The match begins in one minute."
"Gather, you four who are participating. I'll explain the strategy."
Rias gathered them and quickly explained the tactics. 'Alright, let's fucking do this!'
…
The first round began…
Diodora's two Rooks and eight soldiers closed in on Xenovia and the others.
The role entrusted to Xenovia by Rias was to stall the two Rooks. But surely it wouldn't be a problem if she just defeated them, right?
She summoned Durandal and charged to intercept the two Rooks.
To them, Asia was an irreplaceable existence.
The one who forgave Xenovia, who had once scorned her as a witch and a heretic, and enveloped her in a warmth like a sunlit spot. The one who, when Xenovia was newly reincarnated and struggling to adapt to normal life after her church upbringing, smiled and said, "I was the same," and lent a helping hand. And it was then that Xenovia finally realized that Asia was called a 'Saint' not because of the power of her [Sacred Gear], but because of the kindness born from her own compassionate heart.
Diodora Astaroth, who dared to try and steal such Asia from them! She would never forgive him!!
"Holy Sword Durandal! Answer my feelings, unleash your power!!"
Responding to her feelings, Durandal emitted a light more intense than ever before. An immense sacred aura shook the atmosphere, blasting the two Rooks away.
"Damn, what overwhelming aura!?"
"Wasn't she supposed to be unable to wield Durandal properly!?"
The Rooks stood up even as they were blown away by the sacred aura. But their footing was unsteady.
'This was my chance!' Xenovia thought.
"It's true, I cannot fully control Durandal as I am now. So for now, I will solely pursue the amplification of Durandal's inherent qualities—its sharpness and destructive power—and simply charge forward!!"
Frankly, this couldn't be called a technique. It was pure brute force, but it was a single strike imbued with her entire being.
"Durandal Burst!!"
Durandal swung down from an overhead stance, released an overwhelming aura, and attacked the Rooks.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!?"
Swallowed by the sacred aura, the figures of the Rooks vanished. In their wake, a crater roughly 30 meters in diameter formed, centered on Xenovia.
'Two of Diodora Astaroth's "Rooks," retired.'
The announcement declaring her victory echoed.
"Since this is within the game, they probably aren't dead... Now then, how is the other side doing?"
Just as she thought that, thunder roared behind her.
…
Xenovia ran to suppress the two Rooks. She'd leave that to her; suppressing these eight was Yumi's role.
"Well then, Akeno-san, Issei-kun, as planned."
"Understood."
"Are you really okay, Yumi? There are eight of them, you know?"
"I'm fine. Leave it to me."
Disregarding Issei's worried words, Yumi advanced towards the approaching soldiers.
"Sorry, but I'm just as pissed off about Asia-san being taken from us... Sword Birth───"
She created a single demonic sword, raised it to the sky, and swung it down like a conductor's baton.
"Meteor!!"
Instantly, eight demonic swords shot forth from the space behind her, flying towards the soldiers.
"Guh, what is this!?"
"Don't falter! Deal with it calmly!"
One sword, they could probably handle. But could they handle more?
From behind Yumi, a second wave, then a third wave of demonic swords shot out one after another, assaulting the soldiers.
"Eek!"
"Hey, idiot, move!? Kyaah!!"
Some, perhaps due to poor coordination, collided with each other while trying to dodge and were pierced by the swords. 'Fools. This is what happens when you [Promote] everyone to Queens without even considering our tactics...'
True, the Queen is the strongest piece, combining power, speed, and magical ability. But it also carries the weakness of being inferior to Rooks in power, to Knights in speed, and to Bishops in magical power.
In this case, for example, if some of them had [Promoted] to Rooks or Knights, the Rooks could have blocked the incoming swords, and the Knights could have assaulted Yumi during that time to stop the [Demonic Sword Meteor Shower, Sword Birth Meteor].
'Two of Diodora Astaroth's "Rooks," retired.'
Just as Yumi fired the fifth wave of demonic swords, the announcement played. Xenovia had defeated the Rooks... 'Then it's about time?'
The moment she thought that, an enormous magical power swelled behind her.