High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Rias

Diodora’s arrogant voice echoed through the room.

We took ready stances as we faced the ten robed figures. 

They stood there casually, watching us. 

Isse looked around the room as if trying to locate Diodora after hearing his voice.

[Hahahaha, you really are a fool, Sekiryuutei. You won’t be able to find me there. I’m waiting for you at the deepest part of this shrine with my Asia. But I have a great idea. Let’s play a game to make up for the Rating Game that’s been canceled.] Diodora said, sounding pleased with himself.

He was using his demonic power to send his voice here.

I had no idea why he wanted to play some sort of game with us.

Either he was just that arrogant and thought his borrowed power was enough, or he was trying to buy time.

Either way, I’d likely have to go along with whatever he asked as long as it gave me a way to rescue Asia.

[Rias, let’s have a match between our pieces.] Diodora continued. [The only rule will be that you cannot use the same piece in a fight until you reach me. Other than that one rule, anything goes. For the first match, I will be sending out all eight of my [Pawns] and both of my [Rooks]. And to make it more interesting, all eight of my [Pawns] have already been promoted to [Queens].] Diodora chuckled to himself. [Eight [Queens] from the beginning will be fine, right? After all, you’re quite famous for possessing rather powerful servants. Right Rias?]

I looked at his peerage as they stood across from us.

It would be difficult to face off against so many promoted [Pawns], but they were each only worth a single [Pawn] piece before promoting.

That meant their individual strength wasn’t very great.

Plus, all of Diodora’s pawns were female, which meant that Ise would have an advantage against them.

Though the two [Rooks] would still be an issue.

But until we were in the same room as him, we had to play by his rules.

“Fine. I will participate in your game,” I said after a moment. “Even if it is nonsense, I will make you understand the power of my peerage. And when we reach you, you will pay.”

[Good! Then decide who you’ll be sending from your side.]

Diodora sounded far too pleased with himself.

Ise looked at me with shock.

“Should we really go along with his idea?”

“We don’t have a choice with Asia held hostage. We will play along until we can rescue Asia,” I replied, looking at him.

I turned back to our robed opponents.

Eight [Queen] promoted [Pawns] and two [Rooks].

If the enemy [Pawns] weren’t promoted, I could send a few of my decants to defeat them.

Instead, I would have to use half of my peerage here.

It was unfortunate, but it was necessary.

Diodora had a full peerage, so we would still need to face two [Bishops], two [Knights], and his [Queen]. 

To face our current enemies, Koneko would be a good choice to take on the [Pawns]. 

She had been improving her Senjutsu more and more since she embraced her Nekomata powers.

So her Nekomata abilities, plus her immense strength and durability as my [Rook], made her a good fit to take on the [Pawns]. 

Ise and Gasper would be good choices as support for her.

Ise had an inherent advantage against women thanks to his perverse abilities.

And Gasper’s Sacred Gear would allow Koneko and Issei to deal with the [Pawns] easily.

I wasn’t sure who to send against the [Rooks].

My first thought was Xenovia due to her raw power likely being enough to overcome the [Rooks] defenses.

But if I used her in this fight, then I would only have Yuuto as a front-line combatant to use in future fights.

Because of that, I was leaning towards using Yuki in this fight instead.

She could deal serious damage with her curses, and with her increased strength from her seal release, she should be able to handle both of them. 

My only worry was that we didn’t have a dedicated healer for her with Asia absent.

Koneko could do some healing, but it was minor compared to Asia’s ability. 

I nodded to myself as I came to a decision. 

“I’ve decided on the members for the first match. Ise, Koneko, Gasper, and Yuki, you will be fighting together.”

“Understood,” Yuki said with a nod.

“... We will handle it,” Koneko murmured, cracking her knuckles.

“J-J-Just the four of us?” Gasper stuttered out nervously. 

“Don’t worry, Gasper. We will be able to handle it. R-Right, Buchou?” Ise asked, sounding a bit uncertain. 

I smiled confidently.

“Don’t worry, I have a plan. The four of you, come over here.”

They moved to me and huddled together. 

“Yuki, I want you to handle the two [Rooks]. Can you handle them on your own?” I spoke quietly.

She turned to the two [Rooks], her eyes faintly glowing for a moment as she observed them. 

“I’ll be able to deal with them,” she responded as she turned back to me.

“If you need to, just distract them long enough for the others to defeat the [Pawns].”

I looked at Koneko, Gasper, and Ise. 

“The three of you will deal with the [Pawns]. Ise and Gasper, you will support Koneko, as she will be your main offense. Koneko, use your Senjutsu to disable them by injecting Ki into their bodies, as you did with Sona’s [Pawn] in our last match. Ise, please let Gasper drink some of your blood to power up.”

The three of them nodded. 

“…Roger.”

“G-Got it, B-B-Buchou!”

“Sure thing, Buchou!”

The four of them turned to leave, but I stopped Ise.

“What is it, Buchou?” He asked as he turned back to me.

“Ise, I don’t want you to use your Balance Breaker here. The cooldown on it is too long for us to use it this early. So… So I’ll allow you to use your Pailingual ability against the [Pawns],” I said with regret.

I didn’t want him to use that ridiculous ability again, but we couldn’t hold ourselves back now.

We needed to get to Asia as quickly as possible, and Isse’s perverse abilities would help him defeat the female [Pawns] quickly.

“Really?! I can use my special technique?!” He asked, trembling in excitement. 

I sighed at his unashamed enthusiasm at the chance to use his perverted technique.

I nodded.

“Yes, and using your Dress Break would probably be a good idea as well.”

He nodded rapidly before rushing to join the others.

He stopped to talk to Yuuto and took a small blade she created before continuing.

As I watched him go, I recalled how Yuki had blamed me for his perverted abilities and actions.

It’s true that I had encouraged him to indulge in and pursue his desires when he first became a Devil.

Devils are selfish beings based on their desires.

The stronger their desires, the more easily they can shape and control demonic power.

Sacred Gear also responds to their hosts' desires.

So I had encouraged him to follow his lustful desires in order to grow strong.

I hadn’t expected things to go this far, though…

Ise, Koneko, Yuki, and Gasper lined up facing their ten opponents.

Diodora’s voice spread across the room again.

[So you’re then? Good. Let’s start the first match.]

As he spoke, his servants got into ready stances.

Ise but his finger with the blade Yuuto had made him.

He held out his hand to Gasper, who drank the drops of blood. 

Gasper shuddered as he drank the blood. 

His red eyes began to glow, and his aura changed, becoming deeper and more malicious.

Yuki took a few steps forward towards the two [Rooks].

She paused for a moment before her fur darkened and her aura changed as well.

The pressure coming off her felt heavier and more ferocious. 

She flexed her clawed hands at her side as her five tails swayed behind her.

“I’ll be playing with the two of you, it seems,” her voice sounded low and dangerous. “I want to face your master, but you’ll have to do it. It’ll be a good warm-up.”

The two [Rooks] rushed towards Yuki.

They moved very quickly for [Rooks], who usually struggle with movement. 

“Yuki raised a hand towards them. 

“Promotion, [Bishop],” she called out. 

I felt the pressure she was emitting expand as a dark purple aura formed around her.

“Your master has taken someone rather precious from me,” Yuki continued as she cast multiple Stilmarks. “Asia is someone far too kind for this world, and if he's harmed her, I will end him.” Her voice was low with anger. “And since you're getting in my way, I won't hold back against you.”

The [Rooks] weaved through the multiple Stillmarks that Yuki placed, but when they got close, she Misstepped away and reappeared in the midst of the Stillmarks.

The [Rooks] turned around and rushed towards Yuki again, this time fanning out to try and make her teleportation less useful.

Yuki’s face lit up with a cruel grin as she lifted her hands and started firing Baleful belts at the Rooks as they approached her.

Shadowy tendrils formed from the shadows cast by the columns and lashed out towards the [Rooks] as well, trying to ensnare them.

Her two opponents were quick and managed to evade most of her attacks, but one of the [Rooks] was clipped by a bolt and stepped into a Stillmark, causing her to stumble, and one of the shadow tendrils wrapped around her leg.

Yuki began to focus on ensnaring that [Rook], but while she was distracted, the other quickly approached her and wound up to strike her from behind.

Before any of us could call out to her in worry.

She turned with a wide smile on her face, and a spell formed in her hand.

The [Rook] looked surprised as she realized that she had been tricked.

Then I noticed the Stillmark directly between the two of them. 

Yuki fired her spell, and it passed through the mark before hitting the [Rook].

The [Rook] was launched backwards before hitting the ground and tumbling to a stop.

She didn’t move from where she lay as smoke poured from the wound on her chest.

Yuki turned to the other [Rook] who had broken free of her endearment while flexing her hand.

“That's one,” Yuki announced. “Now make sure you keep things interesting for me. I want to know how much more I can do.”

Her eyes curved as she grinned widely with her sharpened teeth.

Her ringed irises only made her visage eerier.

Yuki seems to have already recovered from casting her spells and didn’t seem very affected by casting multiple Baleful Bolts and a lot of Still Marks.

As the [Rook] rushed towards Yuki more carefully, Ise, Gasper, and Koneko began to fight the enemy [Pawns].

“Koneko-chan, Gasper, let’s go!” Ise shouted. 

The three of them moved forward as the [Pawns started to move. 

“I’ll promote too!” Issei called out. “Promotion: [Queen]!”

His power increased, and he summoned his gauntlet.

[Boost!]

Then he took a stance.

[Explosion!]

I could feel the demonic power he was gathering seeping into himself.

He reached out a hand towards the [Pawns].

“Go! Spread my field of lustful dreams! Reveal to me the secrets of my enemies!”

A field of energy expanded from him towards the [Pawns], who stopped and braced for what they probably expected to be an attack.

“Buchou! I am a hentai and a pervert!” He loudly declared. “But even so, I will use this power for your sake! No! I will also use it for my own!”

I put a hand over my face as Akeno laughed beside me.

Yuuto sighed and shook her head.

“I know I told him to do it, but did he need to shout that out?” I muttered.

“Ara, Buchou. Ise-kun is just very passionate and excited to be allowed to use his special technique,” Akeno said with a chuckle. “You should be happy to have such an energetic servant.”

I sighed and uncovered my face.

I might as well watch the spectacle I had allowed to happen.

“Go, my special technique, Pailingual!” Ise shouted.

Then he pointed at the [Pawns].

“Oppai of the [Pawns]! Tell me what they are going to do! Oppai to my right! You first!”

Ise closed his eyes and focused. 

After a moment, he opened his eyes and turned to Koneko and Gasper. 

“Gasper! Those three are aiming to attack you! Use your powers to stop them!” Ise said, pointing out three of the [Pawns]. 

“Ye-Yes!” Gasper quickly replied.

Gasper’s eyes flashed as he looked to the [Pawns] Ise identified.

Those pawns froze under the effect of Gasper’s Sacred Gear.

The remaining [Pawns] realized they needed to act as they rushed forward.

Koneko stepped forward and prepared to meet them. 

“You! Other Oppai! What are you planning to do?!” Ise quickly asked, closing his eyes again. 

He opened them with a smirk.

“Ha! Even if you’re aware of my special technique, such countermeasures are worthless against it! Gasper! Stop those three next! They have a plan to take Koneko-chan down! Freeze them!” Ise shouted while pointing.

“Yes, s-senpai!” Gasper replied.

Gasper’s eyes shone again, and another three of the [Pawns] froze before they could reach them. 

The remaining two [Pawns] halted their approach. 

“Uhahahaha! Our power is overwhelming!” Ise said with an evil laugh. “Even if they were all promoted to [Queen], no enemy can stand up to Gasper and my super-combo! We can’t be defeated!”

“Uhahahahahahahahahahaha! We are overwhelming! The eight Pawns who promoted to Queen are now crumpled on the ground because of our super combo!”

I sighed.

“It is quite an impressive use of their abilities,” Xenovia said to my side.

“You’re not wrong. Gasper-kun is rather nervous and still needs to be directed in a fight, so having Ise-kun predict their movements and call it out to him is rather effective,” Yuuto said with a wry smile. “But Ise-kun gets a bit too… excited about using his ability. And it only works against female opponents.”

“Fufufufu, it is Ise-kun after all,” Akeno said with a chuckle. “He loves breasts and can’t control his desires when he gets so excited.”

I shook my head and looked at the two remaining [Pawns].

They looked afraid as they slowly backed away from Ise.

He continued to laugh evilly.

“…No matter how you look at this, you seem like the villain here,” Koneko muttered, narrowing her eyes at Ise.

Ise ignored her harsh words.

“Is Issei-san harassing women again?” Yuki asked as she approached Koneko.

She had exited her state and was dragging over both of the [Rooks] she had defeated.

She was dragging one by the arm, and the other by the hair.

She looked slightly dirty from her fight, but otherwise seemed fine.

I raised a brow as she let go of them and let them drop to the ground.

She noticed and glanced at the one she had been dragging by the hair. 

“… She managed to hit me once,” Yuki replied to my look.

“Ara, Yuki-chan. Maybe some of my preferences are rubbing off on you,” Akneo said.

Yuki ignored her.

“So, what exactly is going on here?” She asked.

I went to answer, but a loud ripping sound stopped me.

I looked over and saw Ise casually walking up to each of the frozen [Pawns] and using Dress Break on them while continuing to laugh to himself.

His nose was bleeding as he saw their bodies.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“I let Ise use his Pailingual ability against the [Pawns], and he got carried away.”

“…And why is he stripping them?” Yuki asked after glancing at him and looking back at me.

“…He’s a pervert,” Koneko replied.

“They will be less willing to try and attack us after recovering,” Yuuto awkwardly added.

“You know what, it doesn’t matter. We just need to get to Asia, so if it works, it works.” Yuki said, looking disappointed. 

Ise started mumbling to himself as he looked between the defeated and stripped [Pawns] and his own hands. 

Then he turned to the last two [Pawns] as they trembled.

“Now what will the two of you try and do, huh?” He asked as he reached out his hands with a groping motion.

Koneko seemed to finally have had enough.

She walked up and punched him in the side of his head.

I winced sympathetically, but didn’t try to stop her.

Ise held the side of his head and looked at Koneko with confusion.

“…Just let me defeat them quickly… Super lecher senpai.” Koneko said while shaking her head. 

Ise nodded and turned to Gasper.

“Gasper, freeze the last two [Pawns].”

“Alright, Senpai!”

After the last enemies were frozen, Koneko proceeded to hit each of them and use her Senjutsu to inject her Ki into their bodies.

She also went to the two [Rooks] and did the same.

This would prevent them from gathering demonic power for some time. 

We then proceeded to tie the [Pawns] and [Rooks] to one of the pillars with a rope Yuuto produced from a storage spell.

The rooks were in a much worse state than the [Pawns]. 

The one that had been taken down first by Yuki was breathing rather shallowly.

We didn’t have time to do anything for her, though.

We needed to continue forward to reach Diodora.

“So if we were going to tie them down, did Ise really need to remove their clothes?” Yuki asked as Koneko used her Senjutsu to heal the damage her own spells had caused her. 

“It was a necessary step in the battle,” Ise said defensively.

“…Enemy of women,” Koneko said with a scowl.

“They’re terrorists! And they’re working for the bastard who took Asia!” Ise complained. 

“Enough,” I said, cutting off their bickering. “We need to keep moving.”

Ise and Koneko nodded.

We moved together through the doorway leading deeper into the shrine.

Yuuto, Xenovia, Akeno, and I were the ones who would be able to fight against the remaining [Knights], [Bishops], and [Queen]. 

With the amount of power at our disposal, we would be able to defeat all of them quickly.

Then we would face Diodora and free Asia.

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