"What? You want to climb the ranks?"
"Yeah, I do. For now, I just want to climb from Alef to Bet. So I was hoping you could show me how to." You ask causeing Asmodeus to suddenly stand up from the bench and cry. He turns his back towards you, 'I almost thought that (Y/N)-sama had no interest in ranks, but I knew it must've been getting to her deep down... And she have every right to be upset! (Y/N)-sama did something as unprecedented as making the Guardian of Cutthroat Valley her pet, yet her rank was immeasurable! She obviously can't be ranked on the same scale as the rest of us demons, but that's no reason to place her at the lowest rank of Alef!' Asmodeus thought ready to help, turning back to face you. Asmodeus grabs your hands in his, "I was displeased when you were ranked as an Alef, as well! I was becoming numb from all of our foolish classmates who lack ambition, but moving up the ranks is a demon's pride! Let us move up the ranks! Now, let us prepare!" Asmodeus proclaims with a determination in his voice that makes you sweatdrop. "S-Sure." You agree nervously, wounder if this was a good idea or not.
"Prepare for what?" Clara asked tilting her head. Asmodeus answered with any hesitation. "What else? To prepare (Y/N)-sama to rise up to the highest rank of Yodh and then...reign over...all of Babyls!"
"What!?" Out of all the things Asmodeus had said this one takes the cake. And it's just your luck, that other students were around to hear your plan of school domination.
"Holy crap!"
"He just said something crazy!"
"Another legend's about to be born!"
"I'm sure (Y/N)-san could do it!" Eiko said admiring you.
"Azz-kun, I'm fine with just being a Bet!" You said worried that his little speech was gonna do more bad than good. "Huh? B-But" Asmodeus gasps, as if he just realized something. 'No, this is (Y/N)-sama we're talking about. I'm sure she has some profound reason that I could never even fathom.'
He gets down on one knee, "I apologize for my presumtuousness."
"Hey, don't worry about it! But Azz-kun could we stop standing ou-"
Asmodeus ignores your words and outstretches his arms to face the other students, who have been watching. "Now, (Y/N)-sama are going to prepare to rise up to the rank of Bet. Make way!"
"Why Bet?"
"Dang, he suddenly brought my expectations down."
"Ths is still gonna be crazy."
"I'm devi looking forward to it!"
Eiko fears, that you rise up to Bet, you and her won't be the same rank anymore. Her demon dragon friend, though, said that she can just move up too.
"Now, let us go, (Y/N)-sama." Asmodeus said with a gleam in his eyes as he took your hand in his. "Wait, wait!" You both stopped, looking back at Come-Come, the school store's owner, approaches you both. He carries his bamboo spear with Clara sitting on top."Take her away." He demanded, most likely she got into trouble messing with his stuff again. "Yeah! Take me away!" Clara roared, sighing you out stretched you're arms signaling for a hug that Clara was more than happy to give.
A little later as your group was walking down an underground path.n"Where are we?" You questioned, "This is Babyls' underground gym." Asmodeus explained "Wow, we never knew a place like this existed under our classrooms."
"It's so big! Connor! Murf! You can run around all you want down here! Roll...ing-g-g-g-g-g-g-g!" Clara rolls down the path, directly to the gym field. "Um Clara i don't think that's running..." You said sweatdropping
"Honestly, she's such a nuisance." Once you reached the field, Asmodeus explains how to raise a rank. "There is currently one way for you to go up a rank, (Y/N)-sama. And that's to get good marks on the periodic rank promotion exams we have in class." "Promotion exams?" You questioned titling your head a little. "The next promotion exam is in a week. The thing we'll be tested on is execution cannonball."
"Execution cannonball, like a pirate cannonball?" You whispered,
"Execution cannonball was once used as a test to quell a sudden outbreak of demons fighting over their territories. It is a bloody massacre! They use weapons called caimans and once they bite down, they will not let go of their prey until they're torn to shreds. The one who enters their enemy's castle and eliminates everyone inside first is the winner." Asmodeus explanation as your face went pale, "T-That's horrifying!" You yelled "Indeed. But due to the number of casualties...we just use this ball now instead of caimans." He shows you a light green ball.
"And to conserve time and money, we are now using these territories marked by lines instead of castles! Those who are hit by the ball must go to the outfield! Even if you are in the outfield, you can come back onto the court as soon as you hit an enemy with the ball." After explaining the rules, Asmodeus orders Clara to bring out cursed puppets, so your group has enough players. "Alright! Let us start practicing!" Once the unique game began, with Asmodeus, Clara and the cursed puppets. It became very clear in your eyes, it wasn't unique at all. 'This is just dodgeball!', you thought. 'I mean, I figured it out gradually during the explanation, but... I'm really not letting my guard down anymore! Then again, the netherworld really is laid-back every once in a while. If we're just going to play dodgeball, then even i can-' You're thoughts were interrupted but a ball flying past you at great speed and crashes into the stone wall. "S-Sabnock-kun!" You yelled,
"A battle to the death to climb the ranks... I'd expect nothing less from my one and onl-" Before Sabnock could finish his sentence, the ball he just thrown, hits his face at full force. "How dare you try to hit (Y/N)-sama! I'll end you!" Asmodeus said angry with another ball in hand. "Ohoh we shall we have a duel of eachothers might!" Both demons we're fired up as sparks flew between them. You gulped nervously as to what may happen next, the two demons stared at each other almost as if they were out for blood. Soon after, the rest of your classmates arrive at the underground gym and wanted to play too. Sabnock then recovered quicker than Asmodeus from their little spat and throws a ball. "Such merriment!" Goemon unsheathes his katana, the blade was made out of wind itself. "Secret Technique... Wind-Sword Kill!" He splits the ball into half. One half is flying towards Keroli and the other towards Picero.
Keroli protects herself by enclosing it in an ice crystal and Picero by creating rock stalagmites and blocks the half of the ball that way. Soon the game of dodgeball had turned into a game of Sabnock destruction as he throws a dozen or more at lightning speed all over the place. No one really seems to be scared by it, Clarawas even offering candy to the other students. As everything was going on you stood there nervously watching from a distance, 'I take it back. This isn't laid-back at all!' You thought, just as Ameri's words pop into your head about her waiting for you to stand by her side.
"I'm sorry, Ameri-san. I don't think, I'll be able to climb the ranks like this... Training's not exactly going to help me out here if I'm going against them." You sighed feeling a little depressed
"Training, (Y/N)-sama?" Asmodeus asked, "Huh?!" You flinched at the sound of his voice so close, you hadn't even noticed him walking towards you. "You must want to train!" The excitement in his eyes caused you to have a lost for words. "There is a possibility that your rank will be immeasurable again. (Y/N)-sama We need to be extra careful. But I fear that I will not be a substantial opponent for your training. Why don't you discuss this matter with someone of a much higher rank?"
"A high-ranking demon?" You asked not sure who that would be exactly. "Yes. It's someone you know as well." Asmodeus stated. "Who's that?" You asked tilting your head when suddenly you knew who he was talking about, the high-ranking demon, was no other then your grandfather, Sullivan. You decide to go visit him in his office straight away.
Inside the Chair-Demon's office, you stood in front of his desk as lightning flashed form beside Sullivan. "I see... Please... Tell me more about this training." He said in a deep and serious voice.
Meanwhile, Kalego is standing in your classroom annoyed because he wants to start his lesson, but his students are gone. "Where the hell did they all go?!" Kalego yells, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Honestly, those no-good students. I knew something was gonna happen today and I was looking forward to seeing-!" Kalego stopped himself just as you're face flashed in his mind. "What the hell?!"
Some time later, you are currently completely surrounded by demons. The difference in strength between you and the others is beyond evident.
However, even if demons are seemingly stronger than humans, you were still able to keep up with them but just barely. This was still proving it to be difficult for you. "Thank you for training me, Chair-Demon." You breathed out "Oh, (Y/N)-chan, You're supposed to call me Grandpa outside of school! Why did we bother coming back home?" He pouted in his chibi form with a cute huff. You couldn't help but giggle a little. "Sorry! Apparently, it wasn't for training?"
"Okay, first, let's give it a light throw." Sullivan hands you a ball. He points at a large boulder. "Throw it at that." Sullivan said smiling. "Um..grandpa, I have something to tell you. I'm really bad at throwing, I've always been super clumsy and my aiming is usually off." Your shoulders slumped. Sullivan simply smiled and patted your head. "You'll be fine as long as you do just as I say. Now, spread your legs just a little to great some space apart."
"L-Like this?"
"Yes, perfect! Don't put too much strength into your right arm, either."
"Okay."
"Now you try throwing it." You paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Okay, I'll give it a shot!"
"Oh, when you throw, make sure you yell, Libera!." Sullivan instructed you. ".......Wait, what?" You had a look of uncertainty, but did what Sullivan instructed you. Taking a deep breath once more you throwthe balling yelling, "Libera!" Once the words leave your mouth, your ring glowed blue, as a blue dragon engulf the ball and was flying towards the boulder, effectively destroying it. Your mouth hangs open in shock. "Woo! Well done. You'll annihilate them, without a doubt. Training over." Sullivan said satisfied "What! No using magic!" You said "Aw, why not? It's so easy." Sullivan asked, "Because!" Sullivan tilts his head, listening what you have to say now. "This power is your power, Grandpa, and I feel like it's cheating. I want to be able to do this with on my own. Using your power would mean nothing to me if I cant do it with my own power." You explained to the older demon. "But it's going to be really hard not using magic." After a moment Sullivan takes your hands. "So..." His hands emits a soft, yellow light. "I just strengthened your hands so you can at least throw the ball. And you can have a fair match, right?" You couldn't help but smile brightly "Thank you, Grandpa!"
"Wholesome..." Sullivan hugs himself and trembles a little bit, worrying you. "W-What's wrong?" You asked worried that something may have happened with the magic he used.
"I'm currently saving these images into my heart's memory. I need to make sure I put a file lock on them." "Memo...file lock? Pfff hahahaha! Grampa you're so silly." Laughing you knew that he was being sincere and there was noting but love beside his words, it made you feel incredibly happy. "Devi, devi, devi! Okay, I'll be going now. Don't worry. If you want to train without using magic, I know of a better teacher." Right on cue, Opera appears pushing a cart, loaded with the green balls. "I shall now take over as your mentor."
"Okay, I'm leaving the rest to you!" Sullivan leaves and waves goodbye. "Do your best!" He momentarily stops walking as he remembers your bright smile. He won't ever forget your smiles and the love he could feel form it, that's for sure.