Hello everyone, Author here.
So up until here, it was mostly me writing, and the story being directed by him. However, from this point till the end of the next chapter, i.e., the battle, it's all my co-writer, piano2099 .
If you are interested in MHA and Naruto, go check him out. After all, this book is also mostly him.
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The day of the duel was here.
Right now, everyone was in a large arena in the underworld, with Rias and Sona's peerage sitting in the section reserved for Satans and their close associates.
"Ano, I'm worried for Issei," Kiba said nervously, feeling knots in his stomach.
"Ara, let's not think of it now, it's anyways too late, now we can just place our trust in him," Akeno said as Koneko nodded.
"Y-yeah, I-Issei san will definitely win," Asia said, even though she herself was nervous.
"But to think that the pervert would go that for Rias, he must be either really stupid or care a lot for you Rias," Sona said while Saji shrugged.
"I don't know, he seems the type of guy to do that. I mean if it was about Kaichou, I'd do something similar," Saji said while thinking.
"Oh? Would you now, Saji?"
"Hai Kaichou!"
"Ara, he seems to really like you Sona Kaichou," Akeno said as Saji blushed.
"SO TAN!" came a loud yell as Sona was engulfed in a hug from behind.
"O-onee sama, I would prefer you to not embarrass me. Also, I thought that only Sirzechs sama was supposed to be with us today," Sona said trying to maintain her poker face.
"Aah, about that, since a big discovery was made, I and Ajuka will also be here. But you could greet us with more excitement you know," said Serafall adding the last part with a pout.
"It seems pretty lively doesn't it," said Ajuka as he walked in with a wine glass in his hand, followed by Sirzechs and Steve.
"Gomen gomen, we were a little late," Steve said in an unapologetic tone while casually walking alongside Sirzechs and Artoria.
"It's good to meet my sister's peerage after a long time. Hello, Rias," Sirzechs greeted.
"Hello everyone," Artoria said with a smile as Steve went ahead and pet Koneko, who blushed slightly.
"STEVE! LONG TIME NO SEE!" Serafall said while putting him in a deadlock, and surprising everyone, she was able to do that.
"E-eh? But the barrier?" asked a confused Kiba.
"Well, it doesn't really exist for people EXTREMELY close to me, like my family, Art and Koneko, Issei, Sirzechs, Ajuka, Grayfia, a few other customers, and her," Steve nonchalantly explained, unaffected.
"Ano, where is Gil Chan?" Serafall asked, as Steve jerked his head towards the door.
"Come on Gil sama, what are you doing?" came Grayfia's voice.
"J-just a moment okay!"
"Come on, you're too shy when it comes to this," she chided as Steve giggled.
The next moment, Grayfia walked in with a blushing Gil as Serafall literally jumped onto him and kissed him.
"MMMMH!"
"Don't talk while kissing, Gil," Steve said while shaking his head as others except for the two Satans just looked at the scene shocked.
"Lone time no see Gil," Serafall cheerfully said as Gil turned away mumbling a nearly silent 'yeah',
"Aww, look who's acting all shy," she said with a devilish smirk as Sona tried to digest this, with fail.
"H-how?" she muttered.
"Well, a few years ago we met at an Anime convention and Gil blurted out compliments. Then, when the Four called us for the first time to give us a commission, we met again and Serafall remembered us, and then stuff happened, if you know what I mean," Steve narrated with his grin getting wider.
"G-GET OFF ME WOMAN!" Gil yelled trying to push Serafall off of him, failing miserably as Sona burst into laughter.
"YES! KNOW PAIN GILGAMESH!" Sona said as her peerage sweatdropped.
"Alright, let's now get seated. After all, a very important duel needs to be commenced," Sirzechs said looking serious as Rias felt her heart sink.
Over the course of time, Rias had become hopeful of Issei's victory, but now, she was just nervous. To her, it mattered less whether Issei would win or lose, but what she wanted the most was for him to come out unscathed. She didn't want her precious pawn to suffer.
"Alright, everyone. Now the duel for the Engagement with Rias Gremory will begin. The duel is between her current Fiance, Riser Phenex, and Issei Hyoudou, Rias' pawn. Both participants, please proceed to the arena," an automated voice announced as both the said people walked out to the ground.
"Issei Hyoudou, Riser will crush you today," Riser said as Issei just walked to the center of the ground without a word.
'Ddraig, as soon as they start the match, boost me. For now, stop at 4,' Issei mentally commanded Ddraig, who agreed.
"BEGIN!"
"DIE YOU HALFBREED!" yelled Riser while shooting a ball of fire at him.
'BOOST'
Issei jumped back, dodging it before circling around it to attempt to hit Riser, though Riser just flew upwards.
"What do you plan to do with your weak powers, huh?"
Issei jumped up as he heard the third boost, hitting Riser in his chest. They both landed on the ground as Riser smirked.
"Hm... not bad, I felt that. But is that the limit of your powers?"
"SHUT UP AND FIGHT YOU BURNT CHICKEN!" Issei yelled as Riser's expression turned into a scowl and he shot a torrent of flames at him, only for Issei to dodge and close the gap, engaging in a quick hand-to-hand with Riser.
Issei quickly blocked Riser's left hook as he uppercut him throwing him in the air and then grabbing his leg and slamming him to the ground.
He followed it by stomping his head, crushing the skull as gasps were heard in the audience.
Issei then jumped back as flames shot out of the wound before it recovered.
"YOU BASTARD!" an angry Riser yelled as he shot towards Issei, only for him to dodge and deliver a punch laced with Cursed energy.
Issei then followed it with another punch sending Riser back into the wall of the stadium.
"ARG! THAT'S IT! RISER WILL NOW DESTROY YOU!" Ri- damn it, it's irritating to constantly type his name. Well, Burnt Chicken yelled.
With that, Issei was hit with a powerful blast of flames singing his clothes.
"Bump it up to 8 now!" Issei muttered as a 'BOOST' was heard.
"Alright, be ready for it partner," Ddraig told him as Issei rushed towards Riser, who shot a big fireball at him.
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE PEST!"
Issei ignored it as he dove headfirst into the fireball, as the audience gasped.
A moment later, Issei appeared from the other end, just slightly singed as he delivered a devastating blow to Riser, his fist going through both of Riser's lungs and heart.
"Explode," Issei y said as a small Green ball that was in Issei's hand exploded almost severing Riser completely apart.
Riser's scream of pain could be heard throughout the stadium, leaving the audience stunned.
"THAT'S IT!"
With that, Riser started releasing immense heat and his flame wings became bigger.
"So Onii-sama has decided to go all out against him. Well, he is strong, but this is where it ends for your pawn, Rias Gremory," said Ravel, who was sitting in the opposite corner of the room.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Ravel. After all, your brother will lose," Steve calmly stated causing Ravel to glare at him.
"I see you're stupid, but then not much can be expected from humans," Ravel said tauntingly as Sirzechs tensed.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Ravel. He's very protective of his identity as a human, and you don't want him as your enemy. There's a saying in the Mercenary world, the biggest mistake of Steve's enemies is that they're Steve's enemy," Ajuka calmly stated, but Ravel could feel that he meant it.
"B-but he's just a human, he can't be t-that powerful!" Ravel stubbornly said.
"Eh, I don't know about that, even I would struggle against him. He is the personification of cheat skills," Serafall said as Gil nodded.
As for Issei, he kept on attacking and dodging, baiting Riser, and exploiting his openings.
"DAMN YOU CRETIN!"
"Is that all there is to you? I thought you were supposed to be strong, I guess it was all just rumors," Issei taunted with a smirk as Riser rushed at him.
"YOU FUCKING LOW LIFE!"
"You this you that, you're not even trying to insult at this point. I could come up with better ones before I even started speaking," Issei muttered while dodging Riser who was throwing magic around in rage.
"RISE-"
Riser was cut off as Issei hit him with a devastating punch.
By now, Issei was panting as he had been using a lot of Demonic power and was almost depleted.
While his reserves had become much bigger in the past 10 days, he was still nowhere near the level of a High-Class Devil. Though after research they found that regeneration took a decent amount of Demonic power, RIser's reserves were very big, to begin with. Though this wouldn't be the problem for long.
Riser was looking at Issei with a serious look on his face.
'His eyes... even if he's tired, he's not giving up. His spirit is commendable. However, if he wants Rias... he must match the spirit with his strength. Riser must admit, he's a splendid pawn...'
"Impressive Hyoudou, you are indeed strong, even Riser must admit. However... this ends NOW!" Riser yelled as he shot a large torrent of flames at Issei, who was unable to dodge.
Issei got hit by the flames and was thrown back into the wall, bruised, battered, and burnt.
The whole arena gasped at this, as for the first time Issei took a serious hit.
Issei stood up but was punched in the stomach by Riser before being thrown away and kicked in the face.
Issei stood up to only to be kicked once more in the stomach as his Boosted gear vanished.
"I-Issei..." muttered Rias tearfully, as her peerage and Sona's peerage grew tense.
Ravel was about to say something smug, but she stopped when she heard her next words.
"Stop him... it doesn't matter anymore, I don't care about the marriage, just don't let him get hurt..." Rias muttered crying.
'She's willing to go through with the marriage, something she was completely against...' Ravel was confused and somehow sad on learning this.
But when she looked at Steve, she saw him smirking, getting further confused.
"Now now, let's not spit on his efforts, that would be just cruel. The match isn't over, Rias," Steve said as she looked at him.
"Let's just watch," Steve softly said patting her head.
"This is the end, Hyoudou," Riser said holding him by his collar, only to find him smirking.
"This battle is just begun... CURSED TECHNIQUE: TOTAL SWAP!" yelled Issei as Riser all of a sudden felt searing pain all across his body.