James Vs. Sairaorg I

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

The evening after the sentences for the treasonous Council members was decided, the last [Rating Game] between this year's young devils was to be held. Team Alaverus, who had won all four of its previous [Games] was to face off against Team Bael, who had also won all four of its previous [Games].

The other teams had already participated against the other five teams. Team Gremory finished the league at 2 –3, Taking losses against Team Alaverus, Team Bael, and Team Sitri. Team Sitri finished at 3 – 2, losing against Team Alaverus and Team Bael. Team Agares finished with a record of 1 –4 with their only victory coming against Team Glasya-Labolas, who lost all five of their [Games]

This final [Rating Game] would create a clear-cut winner among the young devils of this year. Also, it would decisively end the discussion about whom between James and Sairaorg was the strongest young devil. Although more of the spectators were expecting James to win, everyone was looking forward to the spectacle.

"{Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to welcome you once again to the Young Devils League [Rating Game]!}" The announcer shouted. "{This will be the last [Rating Game] our young devils will participate in until they debut against the older, more experienced peerages.}"

Hearing the announcer's voice over the P.A. system, the crowd knew that the fun was about to start. The crowd began to boil over with excitement. Then, finally, the announcer began to introduce the two teams.

"{Entering first, from the north entrance, the next head of the Bael House, Sairaorg Bael and his peerage!}"

After the announcer's voice fell, walking in front of his peerage, Sairaorg's tall, bulky frame was visible to everyone watching. They quickly made their way to the platform designated for their team and waited for their opponents to be introduced.

"{And entering from the south entrance, Team Alaverus, led by their [King], James Alaverus.}"

Once again, the crowd went wild with their cheering. Neither team received anything less than the audience's full support. Then, like Sairaorg, James led his team to his team's designated platform. Once both teams were situated on their platforms, both platforms rose simultaneously. Once they were at their apex, the bridge was extended from both platforms, meeting in the middle. A pedestal then rose from the center of the bridge. Once all this was done, James and Sairaorg made their way toward the pedestal.

"I've been looking forward to this." Sairaorg said when both youths reached the center. Then, he extended a hand toward James.

"I've been looking forward to it, too." James said, accepting Sairaorg's handshake. "But don't get too disappointed when you lose, my guys are strong, ya know."

"Haha! My team are no pushovers, either."

After exchanging handshakes and a bit of friendly banter, James and Sairaorg took their places on either side of the pedestal. Then, simultaneously, they placed their hands on the pedestal and a large roulette appeared above the pedestal. The crowd held their breath in anticipation, waiting for the game to be chosen.

"{Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we'll be having a repeat of the first [Game] of young devils.}" The announcer stated. "{Like Team Gremory and Team Sitri, this will be a [Point Defense Game].}"

Even though the crowd was a bit disappointed that there would not be anything new, they were still excited to see the [Game] between the strongest young devils of this generation. At the same time, James and Sairaorg both placed their hands on the pedestal to see who would be on offense and who would be on defense.

"{And it looks like the roles have been decided!}" The announcer shouted excitedly. "{Team Alaverus will be defending, while Team Bael will be attacking the [Points].}"

Once again, the excitement in the crowd rose. Shortly after that, James and Sairaorg returned to their respective platforms and both teams were teleported onto the [Game Board].

Underworld, Gremory Territory, Gremory Estate.

"I wonder what strategies both teams will use?" Akeno asked curiously.

"I'm not sure." Rias said while tapping her chin with one of her index fingers. "But something tells me that James is going to show off a bit in this [Game]."

"What makes you say that?" Mio asked curiously.

"Because he has more or less just sat back in the other five [Games], if you count the one against Diodora Astaroth." Rias replied.

"But in that [Game] against Team Astaroth, James-Senpai did act." Maria said with her head tilted in confusion.

"That's only because he was provoked." Xenovia said in response to Maria's confusion.

"Oh, yeah... Now that you mention it." Maria said as she thought back to that particular [Rating Game].

"Either way, it will be nice to see Senpai beat up someone other than me, for once." Issei chimed in.

Everyone could only smile wryly at Issei's comment. Even Issei knew that most of his beatings from James were his own fault. Even still, they could understand what Issei was feeling. It was not often that they got to see James fight.

Underworld, Sitri Territory, Sitri Estate.

Like Rias, Sona was also watching the [Rating Game] between James and Sairaorg with her peerage. Unlike Rias, however, Sona's older sister was also watching with them.

"Big Sister, could you let go of me?" Sona said as Serafall wrapped herself around Sona while they sat together on the couch.

"But I need to recharge my vitamin ST (So-Tan)." Serafall said as she nuzzled her face into Sona's chest.

"*Sigh* So, how do you think this [Game] will go?" Sona asked everyone in the room, trying her best to ignore her sister.

"You mean other than James-Senpai winning?" Tsubasa asked. "I would imagine it will go much like the others. James and Master Scathach will sit back while the rest of the peerage deals with the opposing team."

Momo and Tomoe nodded in agreement. Genshirou on the other hand, felt that things would be different.

"I think either James-Senpai or Master Scathach will take the field this time." Genshirou said, sounding a bit unsure.

"Oh?" Sona exclaimed in surprise. Then, she turned her attention to Genshirou and continued. "And what makes you think that, Saji?"

Genshirou was a bit flustered when Sona looked at him with such rapt attention. However, after a moment, he calmed down and began to structure his sentence in his head.

"It's just a hunch, actually." Genshirou said while scratching the back of his head. "But since James has yet to do much of anything in these [Rating Games], he's probably itching to jump into the action."

Sona and Tsubaki, having known James the longest of all Sona's peerage, nodded their heads to Genshirou's statement. On top of wanting to have a fight with Sairaorg, they know he also wants to show off a bit in front of the entire Underworld.

"I'm surprised you were able to come up with that, Saji-Kun." Serafall said while still wrapped around Sona.

Genshirou could only smile sheepishly. Since understanding that Sona was James' fiancée, Genshirou began to pay more attention to James, just to see why Sona was so interested in him. Eventually, he started to notice quite a few of James' personality traits, wondering if Sona may change her mind if he could adopt some of those traits. He would never mention this to anyone, though.

"They are announcing the rules." Reya said, drawing everyone's attention to the TV.

[Rating Game Board].

"{Today's [Point Defense Game] will be held in this 6.2 square mile (10 km2), square arena.}" As the announcer spoke, a map of the [Game Board] was shown on all monitoring devices that were broadcasting the [Game].

As the announcer said, the [Board] was a large square with thirteen large plazas spread over the square. One in each corner, one in each of the four cardinal directions, one in the center, and one in the center of each of the four quadrants. Each plaza is connected by wide pathways that connect to other plazas. One plaza could have as many as eight entrances that connect to other plazas. And at the least, they could have three.

"{Team Bael will start the [Game] at the plaza to the south-most plaza on the [Game Board] while Team Alaverus will begin the [Game] in the center most plaza.}" The announcer continued. "{The [Defense Points will be located in the east, west, and north most plazas of the [Game Board]. Attacking [Pawns] may promote after reaching any of the three plazas housing [Defense Points], while defending [Pawns] may promote after reaching any of the plazas or cooridors on the south-most side of the [Game Board].}"

After explaining the layout of the [Game Board], the announcer then moved on to explaining the rules.

"{The time limit for this [Game] is four hours. The defending team can win if they have at least one [Defense Point] still in their possession when time expires, or by defeating the opposing [King].}" The announcer said, pausing briefly for dramatic effect, before continuing. "{The attacking team can claim victory by holding each [Defense Point] for one minute or defeating the opposing [King].}"

After seeing the map, both teams were expecting the rules to be something like this. So, there were no members of either team that needed any further explanation.

"{Now, each team will have twenty minutes to strategize.}" The announcer declared. "{Once the time is up, the [Game] will begin. And the timer starts... Now!}"

With that, both teams began to discuss how they would advance during the [Game]. The first thing both [Kings] did was distribute [Rating Game] approved communication devices. While Sairaorg was carefully dividing the roles for his peerage, James spoke leisurely with a smile on his face.

"So, here's what we're gonna do." James said calmly. "I'm going to roam the battlefield, looking to retire as many of Sairaorg's [Pieces] as possible. Ayame will do the same."

Ayame nodded silently, accepting the role she was given.

"Master, I want you to coordinate the rest of the team into groups of three to defend each [Defense Point]." James continued.

"Understood." Scathach replied. Then, she turned the remaining eight members of the peerage. "Setanta, Flora, Shuna, you will defend the west. Mizore, Dante, Shion, you will defend the north. Moka and Lady, you are with me. We will defend the east."

"Why am I the furthest away from the action?" Dante asked in a disgruntled tone.

"Yeah, seriously." Mizore added. "We're the least likely to have a chance to fight."

"Yeah, I wanna fight, too." Shion complained as well.

"The answer to that question is quite simple." Scathach replied. "Because you three are the most likely to lose sight of the goal while you fight."

Mizore, Dante, and Shion grumbled in annoyance when they heard Scathach's reason. However, they knew what she said was true and they no longer voiced their complaints aloud. Meanwhile, James began to talk casually with his team. He wanted to make sure that they were as relaxed as they could possibly be without losing their tension.

Underworld, Sitri Territory, Sitri Estate.

"Sometimes I wish they would let us hear the teams' strategies." Sona said in a tired tone, having completely given up on separating herself from Serafall by now.

"I know what you mean, Kaichou." reya said in response. "No matter how I look at it, it doesn't look like James put too much thought into his strategy."

"More than likely, Jay-Kun and Scatti-Chan have devised basic strategies for every type of [Game]." Serafall said with a smile. "Then, after getting a look at the [Game Board], they only have to adjust their base strategies and don't have much to plan. So, their time to strategize is reduced significantly."

"I guess that makes sense." Sona replied. "Even so, I'd like to know what James and Master Scathach's roles in all of this are."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Sona's statement.

"Well, you won't have to wait too long to see the plans being put into action." Serafall said. Then, she tightened her hug on Sona slightly. "Now, let's just enjoy our bonding time until the [Game] starts."

"Does that mean you plan on letting go of me when the [Game] starts?" Sona asked with hope burning in her eyes.

"No, of course not. Hahaha!" Serafall said while laughing as if Sona had told the funniest joke in all the realms. "We'll just be paying more attention to the [Game] than each other is what I meant."

"Of course." Sona said in a dry tone. "Why would I have expected you to mean anything else?"

"I don't know." Serafall replied. "But you really were being kinda silly, So-Tan."

Sona's peerage decided it would be best to look away from the siblings, and pretended as if they had never seen any of this.