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Huff!!
Crimson flames ignited around Riser, and firelight swirled within the room!
"Even if I burn all your servants, I will take you back to the Underworld!"
Faced with this powerful oppression from the high-ranking Devil, Badr narrowed his eyes and stood up fearlessly.
"Burn all of us? You have quite the mouth."
Riser's flames surged forward, but a force field belonging to the Sacred Shield automatically appeared in front of Badr, blocking the overwhelming heatwave.
Killing intent surged, and Badr and his companions felt the thick hostility.
Badr's words provoked Riser, who had long held a grudge against him.
"Shut up! You're just a lowly servant, what right do you have to speak to me? Mira, throw him out!"
"Yes!"
A girl named Mira, who belonged to Riser's [Pawns], immediately swung a stick-like weapon and charged at Badr upon receiving the order.
However, Badr's current strength was far beyond what it used to be. Among the Mid Devils, his combat power was definitely at the top!
Mira's strength was at best comparable to an ordinary Mid Devil.
Facing the charging Mira, Badr exploded with speed, reaching her side in an instant. With a whooshing sound, Badr's whip-like leg struck the girl's side waist fiercely.
Mira had no time to react as her body flew sideways, crashing into the castle wall and fainting.
"Hmm?"
This swift and decisive blow left everyone present stunned for a moment.
She was defeated too quickly.
At that moment, Grayfia and Riser's group realized that Badr's strength!
"Did You just hurt my servant? Very well... restrain him!"
Riser was furious and immediately ordered the remaining group to attack.
However, the next second, fiery red magic power suddenly surged out, dispersing Riser's magic.
Rias, with her red hair flowing wildly, coldly stared at Riser:
"You really don't see me as anything, do you?"
Hostility boiled in their expressions, and the power between Riser and Rias was nearly equal.
Badr stood in front of Himejima Akeno and the other two, surrounded by the force field of the Sacred Shield, confronting Riser's servants.
Just as the battle was about to erupt, a calm voice intervened.
"Lord Riser, Lady Rias, please calm down. If you two don't stop, I won't stand by idly. For the honor of Lord Sirzechs, I won't hold back."
Grayfia's calm words immediately caused Rias and Riser to pause.
Their magic, like being doused with a bucket of cold water, quickly extinguished.
Badr tilted his head slightly, sensing that Grayfia was very powerful but without a clear concept. However, judging by the situation, she seemed incredibly formidable.
After all, her presence was so authoritative that it seemed she could easily suppress these two high-ranking Devils, and both Rias and Riser's reactions clearly showed their fear of her.
Riser reluctantly retracted his magic and shook his head, saying:
"Hearing that from the strongest 'Queen' in the Underworld makes me scared. Haha..."
Rias said nothing, just silently withdrew from her battle stance.
Seeing that both sides had calmed down, Grayfia finally spoke:
"Your Father and Lord Sirzechs, as well as the members of the Phoenix family, anticipated that things might escalate like this, so they have made final preparations."
"What preparations?" Rias frowned slightly.
Grayfia glanced at Badr and said calmly, "It's the [Rating Game]."
Before this, she had come with the intention of mediation, aiming to resolve Rias predicament through the [Rating Game];
But she was slightly surprised that this unknown young man named Badr dared to bring it up first...
From his earlier swift defeat of the [Pawn], it seemed Rias servant was not entirely useless.
Rias couldn't help but glance at Badr;
It seemed Badr's prediction was correct...
The final result indeed pointed to the [Rating Game].
Perfectly in line with Badr's earlier suggestion, Rias was now eager for this method.
So, she immediately agreed.
"Excellent! There's no better opportunity than this! Riser, let's decide the final outcome with a match!"
Rias directly issued the challenge.
---
The Rating Game begins!
Rias expression turned fierce.
She actively challenged, even throwing down harsh words.
"Riser, I will make you disappear into ashes!"
Due to the marriage contract, she had endured too much anger and could no longer hold it back.
In principle, the Rating Game could only be conducted between Devils, but there were exceptions, such as among family members!
Clearly, Rias family had considered this situation, specifically using the marriage contract event to push Rias towards the Rating Game!
They might also want to use the Rating Game system to make Rias yield.
This showed that in the eyes of her family, Rias could not possibly win the Rating Game, which made her feel frustrated and as if her whole family was against her.
Riser wore a detestable smile, glancing at Badr and his three companions, and couldn't help but snicker.
"Rias, are these four your only servants?"
"What if they are?"
Rias responded coldly, clearly displeased.
Riser looked at his full roster of fifteen servants and burst into laughter, which sounded extremely grating to Rias.
"Haha... I am High-Class Devil who has participated in multiple Rating Games. Even so, do you still want to compete?"
Riser laughed, feeling confident and rightly so.
"Of course."
Rias morale did not falter, and she constantly remembered Badr's calm and composed expression, inexplicably boosting her confidence.
"Fine, Rias, if you win, do as you please. If you lose, come back to the Underworld and marry me." Riser said.
Thus, the Rating Game was decided.
To outsiders, this might seem like a highly unequal game.
One side had sixteen people, the other only five; it appeared to be a one-sided battle.
In practice, the potential of those taken as servants could consume more chess pieces, leading to situations where the roster wasn't full.
Therefore, many high-ranking Devils didn't have a full roster of sixteen pieces, and having all fifteen pieces like Riser was quite impressive.
Moreover... all of his servants were women, making the scene even more striking.
To Badr, this seemed normal.
After all, if it were him, he would choose all women too...
Not for any other reason but to challenge his weakness...
Riser coldly glanced at Badr and said to Rias:
"Then let it be ten days later. Don't say I bullied you, you can fill up your roster in these ten days if you want. You can make your pieces transform, right?"
"Are you suggesting that I should?"
"Don't you want to? Think I'm insulting you? The Rating Game isn't as simple as you think. If your servants can't perform at their best, you'll lose quickly. I've seen many lose in their first battle because they couldn't perform at their best."
Riser, after all, was a traditional Devil noble. When it came to the Rating Game, he still maintained some combat etiquette.
He coldly looked at Badr and said: "Don't disgrace Rias. Rias [Knight], your attack represents Rias attack."
In this regard, Badr knew Riser was right. He sincerely meant to remind him.
Badr calmly said: "Rest assured, I will give my all in any battle."
"Then let's set it for three days later. I will have everyone ready." Rias mediated, believing in Badr. She knew he must have been prepared for a long time; three days would be enough.
The final time for the Rating Game was set for three days later.
During those three days, Badr temporarily put aside his commission work and devoted all his energy to training, reaching his peak state.
Previously, most of the battles were sudden, but now having ample preparation time for a fight was a first...
Time flew by, and the day of the agreed battle soon arrived.
It was eleven-twenty at night, and the location was the club room of Kuoh Academy.
Rias team was all present, and aside from Riser's team, there were two other spectators.
They were the student council president and vice-president, Sona Sitri and Tsubaki Shinra.
The light of a magic circle flashed, and Grayfia was transported over.
"The official start time is midnight. Are you all ready?" Grayfia asked softly, as calm as ever.
"No problem, everyone is here."
Rias was confident, though to Grayfia and Sona Sitri, her team's number seemed a bit thin...
"Alright, the battle will take place in a different space. Other factions can watch through broadcast domains."
Grayfia reminded: "Also, Lord Lucifer will watch this battle, so don't forget that."
"Brother?" Rias was slightly taken aback, frowning slightly, murmuring, "Brother will watch too..."
Badr didn't mind; whether the Satan watched or not made no difference to him. He felt no pressure.
"One more reminder, in the different space, self-transportation through magic circles is forbidden. Please be aware."
Grayfia reminded, mainly directing it at Rias team since this was their first Rating Game.
Then, Grayfia's voice resonated within the school, through the campus broadcast:
"Everyone, I am Grayfia, servant of the Gremory family. I will serve as the referee for this Rating Game between the Gremory family and the Phoenix family."
"In the name of my master, Sirzechs Lucifer, I will witness the battle between these two families. Please offer your guidance and support to both sides. The battle will take place at a replica of Kuoh Academy prepared by Lady Rias in the human world."
Badr and the others finally understood that they had chosen Rias side as the home field for the battle.
"Now, let the battle begin!"
As Grayfia's voice fell, she transported everyone into a different space.
Badr felt a momentary blur before sensing fluctuations of magic power. However, the scenery before him seemed unchanged.
Asia nervously grasped Badr's arm. "Haven't we arrived yet?"
"No, we're already here," Badr replied softly.
He did feel the teleportation, but he wondered why the scenery before him hadn't changed at all, as if they were still in the school. He speculated it might be some kind of illusion.
...
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