This battle was no longer a dragon against a phoenix but a dragon against a lion.
Yet, even so, it couldn't stop everyone's excitement, and they all couldn't wait for this little entertainment to start, especially when they heard that Masa wouldn't use his lions.
Yes, as Masa had been so low-key, and his opponents were so weak, he had never fought by himself and just used his lions to fight, and naturally, all of them were beaten so hard, but more importantly, they thought that it might be a good chance to see Masa slightly beaten up by Issei.
As for the chance of Masa being defeated by Issei, no one thought so, and no one thought that it was possible, even if all of them wished to see Masa being beaten up, especially Ravel, Sona, Riser, Sairaorg, and many others who had seen Masa's power; no one ever thought that Issei would win.
"Issei..."
Still, strangely enough, Rias and the others, unlike in the original, were confident of his victory. This time, all they showed was a worried expression, as it was hard for them to imagine Issei winning somehow.
"If it's Riser, then your pawn might have a chance to win, Rias," Sona said with a sigh, feeling a bit worried since she could tell that Masa's relationship with the House of Phenex was quite close, and for the first time, she realized that she might need to make the first move, especially when she saw Ravel come to Masa, and helped him to take off his suit like a good wife.
"Ha? What do you mean?!"
While Riser was angry, he couldn't have a chance to ask Sona since Sirzech asked her first. "What do you mean Sona?"
As for Rias, she didn't seem to have a place in this conversation, and her eyes were staring at the screen, waiting for the duel that was about to start.
"She is right, Sirzech-sama.'
Unexpectedly, Sairaorg also joined.
"Sairaorg-kun?"
The relationship between Sairaorg and the House of Gremory was quite good, after all, since the mother of Sirzech and Rias was Sairaorg's aunt.
"Even without his lions, he isn't a weakling, and his attaintment on the physical ability is about the same as mine."
"Sairaorg-sama..."
Kuisha was a bit embarrassed since she knew well that Masa's physical ability was higher than Sairaorg's, but as Sairaorg was her master, she wouldn't say anything that would embarrass her master.
"Same as you...?"
In those words, the expressions of Sirzech and Rias turned ugly.
Yes, Sairaorg might not have the talent for the Power of Destruction, and his Demonic Energy was also low, but even so, he was powerful, and the two knew that fact.
Yet, for Lord Gremory, Zeoticus Gremory sighed in relief since he knew that the relationship between House of Phenex and House of Gremory wouldn't be stiff due to Masa coming out to fight in Riser's place.
"By the way, Sona, you are rather close to Masa-kun." Sirzech suddenly asked this question. "Are you his fiancee?"
"Ah!" Sona was startled, and all the eyes were on her, causing her to blush. However, she lowered her head before shaking it softly. "No, no. I am not. I am not his fiancee, nor is he my fiance."
"...."
Riser was speechless, but watching his little sister, who appeared sad, he couldn't help but clench his fists. Yes, even if Masa was thoughtful, he had to beat this guy up for making his little sister sad!
"Oh?"
Nevertheless, Sona's answer caused Sirzech to have a thoughtful expression.
Yet, no one cared about their conversation since everyone's eyes were on Masa, who was about to fight Issei and wondering how Masa would fight without his lions.
In the previous Rating Game between Riser and Rias, they had seen how Issei fought as a supporter by doubling the power of his comrades, but even so, his power was just like that.
So what about Masa?
Without his lions, what could he do?
However, Issei didn't care about any of that since his head was unable to think of anything complicated. Yet, there was no doubt that he believed he had the upper hand in this battle since a devil of the House of Vapula without his lions was like an animal without fangs!
They were like those old people that had lost their teeth!
"I don't know who you are, but no matter what, I will win! If you don't want to get beaten up, then hurry up and admit a loss, you bastard!"
Issei had never liked a handsome guy, and when he saw someone who was even more handsome than Kiba, he felt even more annoyed with some slight inferiority within him.
If possible, Issei wanted to beat this guy up!
'More importantly...'
As Issei saw Masa, he felt this strange feeling that made him feel tense.
"You don't have to worry. I will give my all, so give your all, or you will lose."
Masa replied calmly as he put his hands in his pockets. Yes, unlike the others who looked down on Issei, he had never looked down on Issei.
This guy might be a pervert, an idiot, but even so, Issei was strong.
Issei's strength was undoubted, especially when he had the power of the Welsh Dragon along with all of the previous users of the Boosted Gear combined.
Yet, it didn't mean that Issei was invincible, at least for now, unless Issei gained the power of the "Infinity Dragon," Ophis, then his limit would be, at best, about the Welsh Dragon, the legendary dragon of Celtic Myth.
'Partner, be careful.'
'Ddraig?'
'This guy is serious. He's going all out.'
'So, are we going to lose?'
Issei was dumbfounded and asked nervously, but Ddraig, who talked to him within his soul, snorted.
'Just a mere lion? I am the Welsh Dragon! Use everything you've got and win!'
Yes, if there was a reason why Issei was uneasy, it was because he couldn't see that Masa was looking down on him. Instead, he could tell that Masa was ready to go all out!
However, so what?
He was going to win!
Definitely!
"BUCHOU, WAIT FOR ME!"
Still, before the duel started, Sirzech asked, "All right, dragon user boy, what do you want for your reward?"
"Sirzech-sama!"
"There is no need to reward such a low-ranking devil at all!"
"We can't do that." However, Sirzech insisted and said, "He is a devil nonetheless, and his status doesn't matter. We're asking him for a favor, so we must reward him with fair compensation. What do you desire? Nobility? Maybe a beautiful woman? You may choose anything."
"Please give back Rias Gremory-sama!" Issei shouted, but then he thought about the beautiful girl by Masa's side, and somehow, his expression became slightly lewd, but then he shook his head since he knew that there was something that he had to do first and by winning against Masa, he should be able to get the attention of that girl!
"That's good, then begin."
Sirzech quickly agreed with Issei's request, and Masa only glanced at Sirzech as this guy didn't intend to give him a reward, which made him shake his head, thinking that Lucifer was such a cheapskate.
"BUCHOU, I WILL END EVERYTHING IN TEN SECONDS AND ALLOW ME TO HAVE A PROMOTION POWER!"
Issei was confident, especially with the power he had gained and the promotion's power/
He was as good as invincible!
Raising his hand high, his gauntlet shone brightly in a green color!
"For Buchou, I will do anything even if I have to throw god! Glow, Overboost!"
[Welsh Dragon Overbooster!]
Then, all of a sudden, his body was illuminated by a crimson light, and as the light disappeared, his body was covered in the crimson dragon armor!
At this moment, Issei was filled with power and felt a confidence that he had never felt before.
"Let me remind you once again! I don't know who you are, but admit defeat, or else I will beat you up!"
Masa didn't say anything and just stared at Issei blankly.
"Damn, then don't blame me!"
Watching Masa, who was in silence for a long time, Issei grew anxious since his power could only be maintained for ten seconds, and more than that, he was as good as gone.
'Don't blame me!'
As he thought so, he shot a crimson blast to Masa!
"Take this!"
BOOOOOOM!
Yet, somehow, Masa was able to dodge smoothly and calmly with his hands in his pocket.
"Eh?"
Issei was dumbfounded, but as he kept shooting those crimson blasts, none of them hit Masa!
"Dammit!"
Issei grew anxious; the ten-second limit grew closer, so he knew that he had to defeat Masa as soon as possible!
"If I can't hit you with a long-distance attack, then I will hit you directly!"
His movement was impossible to follow by eyes, and his fist was filled with all of his power, and he was about to smash Masa's face directly!
Issei was going to beat this handsome face!
After all, he would be lying if he wasn't annoyed by Masa's calm attitude, which appeared so composed, which made him want to teach a lesson to this rich boy!
Yet, as his fist grew closer, Issei saw Masa's head titled slightly, dodging his fist, before—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!
Masa stood up completely unharmed, his hands still in his pockets, but Issei was blasted away, buried under the ruins, and defeated in one hit.
However, Masa had to say, this was his longest ten seconds ever.