NGJ Chapter 68: Rating Game

As Rias lay on his lap Akira was doing something else, well something other than being a horny psychopath at least. Leaning back onto the soft couch he cast both View Air and View Earth. Although they both were basic level they should still work.

Once both were activated Akira had a crude map of the entire rating game dimension in his mind. This included rough positions of everyone inside, thanks to his cursed eyes the view got clearer and he took a look at the current situation.

Normally, Rias should have detected the casting of his spell from the proximity but she did not. Due to his Magic Resistant Physique, it was rather difficult to measure his magical energy and detect his spellcasting without at least equal or higher Int.

Focusing on his spell he saw Koneko and Kiba setting up some basic magic traps around the clubhouse, they did not have the leisure to attack upfront with their numbers. While above them Akeno got to work on casting illusions around the base and obscuring the traps. If anyone got caught by the trap while they were away Rias could easily finish them off.

On the other hand Riser's peerage did not really have a plan just like the original anime. He simply spread his pieces out to cover the entrances to the main building. One rook and 3 Pawns guarded the gym 3 pawns were in the forest as an ambush. The rest of the peerage were on school grounds while Yubelluna was in the main building.

It's a decent strategy if not a bit unneeded. If he were in Riser's shoes he would have brute-forced it, there was no need to dance around win when you outnumbered them 4 to 1. You can simply focus everyone on taking Akeno out as the biggest threat before defeating the rest of the peerage. It wasn't like Riser's rooks and knights were actually weaker than Rias' ones.

But on the other hand, Akira knew what Riser wanted to do here. Although waiting like this gave Rias a chance at guerilla warfare Riser did not care. Riser's goal wasn't winning, that was an inevitability from his perspective.

No, his goal was to absolutely crush any hope Rias had.

By giving her all the chance to fight back and giving her hope before crushing her completely here he would have completely crushed Rias' hopes and resistance while also teaching her a lesson by showing what happens when she disobeys him. 

Also, his plan also had the side effect of scoping out Akira's strength. He did not know how strong Akira was so he planned to draw him out to see his capabilities instead of charging in and losing peerage members for nothing.

Akira's eyes narrowed in thought, Riser was not hard to predict, it was easier to predict someone of average intellect than an invalid. His arrogance and cockyness as well as his seemingly absolute advantage over them he was assured of his victory so it made sense that his goal was instead to utterly crush them.

Being thought of like that really pissed off Akira. His pride really disliked being looked down upon like this.

Briefly, he entertained the thought of just releasing Alpha to demolish Riser's peerage. And then revel in the sight of his shocked expression. But he decided against it. Rias' peerage needed this lesson, being pushed to your limits always helped in making you grow.

He knew that from experience.

Besides, pitting Alpha against Riser peerage is like calling in Mike Tyson to fight a bunch of toddlers. Even Akira himself wouldn't want to face Alpha who had a source of cursed energy, and Alpha was still in the process of adapting to his new cursed energy.

Akira continued to watch as they finished setting up traps and started over to the gymnasium, Koneko splitting off from Kiba to go in while Kiba went to the forest to circle around, Akeno was watching from the back in case she needed to provide support.

Koneko encountered the Gymnasium group and the sight of their fight nearly made Akira feel proud of someone else. With the iron fists, he thought her she did not need more than 3 hits for a pawn to knock them out. Even still she faced some challenge against Riser's rook, trading blow after blow while trying to dodge the pawns and trying to land hits on them.

On the other hand, Kiba was easily stomping the 3 pawns in the forest, especially after using his sacred gear actually effectively, restricting their movement and giving himself swords that counter them. 

Honestly, they were doing rather impressively, well that was until Yubelluna attacked Akeno, and while she wasn't able to hit Akeno with the ambush due to her training she was still keeping Akeno occupied. While this was going on Rias got up, relaying order after order on the comms.

Which resulted in Rias getting out of base after having her peerage eliminate all of Riser's pawns to prevent any promotions. And with Rias in the mix, the fight was somewhat fair. As with the anime Ravel refrained from interfering.

Well, they just about managed to defeat every other piece but they all got eliminated other than Akeno and Rias, the Phenex peerage really did not expect my potions. But the same was true the other way around when Yubelluna used a max restore(Phoenix Tear) to completely get rid of any damage done to her and eliminate Akeno.

One of Riser's rooks had a Pheonix tear with them too but I discreetly stole it using chameleon and steal a few meters away after teleporting behind a wall. Currently, it was the same scenario as the Anime, Rias was up against Riser.

I guess it's finally time for me to step onto the stage.

...

Rias stared at Riser defiantly. Even in this situation, there was fire in her eyes. Her uniform was torn to shreds(Sona manages the view of the rating games so they are tastefully censored) and she was exhausted while Riser stared down at her with a mocking smile. His queen standing behind her.

She would not last if they went seriously against her but frustratingly they weren't. They were just wearing her down intentionally. Just like they took out her peerage one by one. Rias had already drank her potion given to her by Akira which was why she was lasting so long in the first place.

She blasted Riser in the face with her Power of Destruction once again but he got back up again like nothing happened.

"You still can't tell? You won't be able to defeat me Rias. As much as I enjoy our pre-marital foreplay here I am starting to get bored." Riser said in his slimy tone. Rias glared back.

"Shut up!" 

"You know Rias, if you are unwilling to submit even now after your peerage was beaten then I guess I just have to treat the problem at the source and go after that human mage you like so much." At this Rias' eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth before releasing another wave of powerful destruction toward Riser. 

Riser took the attack with no resistance. Just getting back up seconds later looking annoyed. 

"Fine, if that's what you want. Yubelluna, find the human mage and bring him here, don't beat him too badly, I will do that myself." Rias was about to launch another ball of destruction but Riser attacked first with a giant ball of flame. It wouldn't put her out of the game but it would hurt. 

Just when the large ball of flame was just about to hit her she closed her eyes and braced for the blow.

*BOOOOOM!!!*

But she did not feel the spell hit her. Instead, the fireball felt like it hit something else? She warily opened her eyes before her eyes snapped wide open at the sight in front of her.

A large green forcefield was formed in front of Rias, completely blocking the fireball thrown by someone like Riser even if it was not full power.

Even more shocking was the sight of Akira standing behind Riser having come seemingly out of nowhere.

"Why search for me when I am right here?" Akira said with his usual cocky grin. Riser whose eyes were glued to the barrier suddenly snapped to Akira upon hearing his voice as he spun around to backhand him. But Akira simply leaned backwards and avoided the blow before jumping back slightly and facing Riser face to face. She could see the look of shock on Yubelluna's face.

"Quite rude to attack someone during their monologue no? Well, can't say I expected manners in that birdbrain of yours." Akira mocked while Riser glared but it quickly turned into an arrogant expression.

"So finally decided to come out of your cowardly hiding hole mage? That's good, I have been waiting to teach you some manners. Perhaps once I injure you beyond recovery and put you in your place Rias will finally learn." A chill went down Rias' spine at the notion but Akira remained unphased.

Both men glared each other down.

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-EXTRA-

[Akira has levelled up subclass Ward Crafter 20x!]

[+20 End +40Int +40Wis]

[+Sigil: Sealing (Allows the sealing of objects or people within the wards)]

[+Sigil: Curse (Activates a curse according to specified conditions)]

[+Sigil: Alarm (Notifies the user according to specified conditions and/or activates other wards)]

[+Sigil: Preservation (Prevents the decay of perishables)]

Notice: The first chapter of my new work will be released on P*treon tomorrow. It will not interfere with the release of chapters of this week so don't worry.

A/N: Riser vs Akira is inbound! 

What do you guys think about this chapter? I would love to hear your thoughts about this chapter your comments help motivate me and help me improve my writing and your suggestions are always welcome. 

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