Kiba sheathed his primary sword with a blank stare. Koneko tightened the fingers gloves on her hands, and glanced over at Amano. Akeno took a long sip of her tea, before glancing at him as well.

Asia and Rias gave looks of disbelief on top of that.

"Why are you wearing your uniforms?" Amano asked, wearing his long, wool pajama pants, and a white t-shirt.

"Change. Now." Rias ordered with a glare.

"What? Why? I can't be comfortable as I kick ass?" Amano asked as she stormed over. "Not like that. We didn't train all this time for you to embarrass me anyway." Rias scoffed, grabbing his collar and dragging him to the shower.

"Woah! You can't be serious! I didn't bring anything else!" Amano complained, trying to keep Rias from taking off his shirt.

Before Rias could protest further, a teleportation circle brought Grayfia into the room, just before Sona and Tsubaki, the latter being Vice President of the Student Council, into the room.

They all saw Amano struggling not to get his shirt taken off, and stared in silence.

"I would ask if you were ready, my lady, but the answer seems clear." Grayfia commented.

"More than ready!" Amano shouted, muffled by the shirt over his face and arms.

"...I see. In a few moments, we'll use this same magic circle to transport you and your servants to the battlefield." Grayfia said professionally, despite being unamused by Amano's antics. Lowborns will be Lowborns.

"I'll be in the Student Council broadcast booth calling the game. We'll be cheering you and your interesting pawn on." Sona announced. "Good luck." She parted, taking her leave with Tsubaki beside her.

"I must inform you, Rias, the Great Devil Lucifer will be watching the game. So... keeping that Pawn in check seems best." Grayfia continued.

"The workings of my pawn don't concern him." Rias sighed. "Yeah! I'm gonna make her and her momma proud!" Amano shouted, still forgetting to put his shirt down.

Rias clocked him in the head, regretting ever agreeing to Rating Game in such a short time span. She stared at the dazed teen with grimace, before seeing Grayfia shake her head.

"It's time." Grayfia announced, the teleportation circle activating once again.

•

The House of Gremory all appeared in a room identical to the club room. Immediately, Grayfia's voice came from the space all around them, like a PA system.

"Your attention, please." She began. "My name is Grayfia. I am a servant of the House of Gremory. I will be the designated referee during today's Rating Game."

"As you know, Pawns can be promoted by reaching the assigned home-bases of each peerage. Rias, the Occult Research Club room of the old school building, Riser, the Principal's Office of the new school building. Good luck to all. You may begin." Grayfia finished.

Rias immediately handed out pink earrings to her peerage. They were communication devices that would disappear upon equipping them.

"The enemy base is just across the way. Cutting through the school grounds might be quick, but it's not an option. Riser will want to leave us the worst options. He'll station his Knights or Rooks behind the athletic clubhouse, taking that route off of our table." Rias began.

"Then we should be sure to secure the Gymnasium. It's adjacent to their home base and not too far from us. It's a vantage point, and can even serve as a diversion for the other side." Kiba explained.

"It's in the center of the battlefield. Whoever gets to it first is going to have a leg up for sure." Akeno commented.

"Good call. That's our best chance with our numbers," Rias turned to Koneko. "Do you think you can handle getting to the gym and locking it down?"

Koneko nodded, and Amano tapped his feet in boredom.

"Alright, before that we need a defensive perimeter. Koneko, Kiba, spread traps throughout the forest." Rias ordered. "Got it." The two replied.

Koneko summoned her familiar, a white kitten with a bell on its collar, she and Kiba walking to the door.

"Wish us luck, you guys." Kiba parted.

Rias turned to Akeno, "We'll need your expertise, Akeno. When they're done setting the traps, you illusion magic is going to come in handy, so be prepared."

"I'll wait for it's completion." Akeno said with a bow, leaving after them.

"Asia, you're my healing support, so in order to keep you safe you need to stay close to base. If we lose you, we're going to be in big trouble out there." Rias continued, making Asia nod with determination.

"Finally... the laughing stock..." Rias muttered, but Amano ignored her.

"Amano... Show them the fruits of your efforts. You've come along way from the boy who lost his life as a spectator. I know I've said some harsh things, but I hope you can forgive me, and help me see to putting Riser in his place." Rias said with a smile, turning to him with her hand out.

Amano rolled his eyes, and asked her a question.

"When this is all said and done... I want to know just exactly you missed out on when I died. And why you decided to revive me regardless... Deal?" Amano asked.

"Deal." Rias said with a nod.

"Then, hell yeah. Lets show them that me, and the House of Gremory, are Devils you don't fuck with!" Amano cheered, making Rias grin and clasp his hand.

•

Amano and Koneko were hiding behind the curtains to the stage in the back of the gym, scouting whether Riser would have caught on to their plan.

"Smells like Gremory filth!" A woman shouted, making the two shake their head at the bravado of Riser's peerage.

Amano and Koneko walked out, and eyed their four opponents. A small duo of twins, Ile and Nel, the same girl, Amano had a run in with last time, Mira, and a woman in a cheongsam, Xuelan.

Ile, Nel, and Mira were pawns, while Xuelan was a Rook. While outnumbered, the two didn't waver under this factor.

"The Pawns are all you. I'll handle the Rook. She's got the power of a Queen." Koneko exclaimed.

"Tch. I'll be done in under a minute." Amano smirked, staring at the three Pawns with pure anger.

With a wild roar Amano summoned his swords and leapt off the stage with a trail of lightning. He need to build up his Voltage for a Cyclone Eruption.

Summoning his wings and bursting forward, he clashed his short swords with the twins' chainsaws, flipping over the two and using them as a vault to leap again for the incoming Mira.

Koneko rushed at Xuelan, and the two began their close quarters combat with swift, heavy blows, trading hits with violent attacks. Koneko sent a combo of jabs and feints, staggering Xuelan into a moment of panic as Koneko tightened the gap between them.

Koneko shoulder bumped her, before using the momentum to send a haymaker at her stomach, making her fly into the bleachers unconscious.

Amano was dancing with swiftness as he avoided the weapons of the three Pawns, proving to be untouchable for them. They grew furious at his acrobatics and speed and lost their composure quickly.

Amano stayed true to his world and began to create yellow afterimages as his Voltage increased, and became content with seeing about four of them.

"I'll show you all just what you're messing with," Amano whispered, suddenly parrying away both chainsaws and breaking Mira's staff with one spinning slash. The three gasped, before seeing Amano act like he sheathed his swords.

Placing both by his hips, Amano leaned over, before suddenly disappearing.

Translucent, white slashes appeared all across their bodies, making them scream as they became overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught.

Amano used his magic to manifest his cuts into existence, manipulating air and creating vacuums that released the same technique as his Cyclone Eruption, just on a less powerful scale.

Amano appeared by the exit of the gym, leaning against the doorway with a smirk as he looked at their handiwork. Koneko walked over and gave him a nod from staying true to his word.

"Is the gym handled?" Rias asked through their ear pieces.

"Taken care of." Amano answered.

"Then get out of their. Akeno will finish the job." Rias informed.

The two rushed out of the gym, and not even two seconds later the entire complex was blown up by the strike of lightning, a shockwave sending the two sliding a bit further than anticipated.

"3 of Lord Riser's Pawns, and 1 of Lord Riser's Rooks are retired." Grayfia announced, meaning Rias had taken first blood.

Amano waved at Akeno, who was in her priestess attire up above, lightning dancing around her.

"She lives up to the Priestess of Thunder..." Koneko commented as Akeno waved back.

•

"Don't lose focus. We are still outnumbered. We need you two to bide Akeno time for her to be ready for a second attack of that scale. Once she is replenished, we'll start to make preparations for our next move." Rias exclaimed.

"Wait, question?" Amano asked.

Rias crossed her legs and sighed.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Can't I help charge her up? Does she work like a battery?" Amano asked. Rias wanted to yell at him for such a childish question, but Akeno answered instead.

"While it would speed up the process of taking power, it would be like draining you. Your mana isn't endless, Amano." Akeno replied.

"I don't care. If we can get you doing that again, I'll give you all my mana. I know my worth." Amano replied back.

"I forbid it. It seems you don't know your worth, or how far you've come. We need you in top condition Amano. You'll change the tides." Rias said with irritation.

"I guess." Amano shrugged.

•

"Definitely think that's stronger than my move. But whatever the boss says." Amano commented.

Amano didn't even notice that Koneko began heading for Kiba's location, and was about to sprint after her, but before either of them could react, an explosion burst from beneath her and sent Amano flying into the railing of the gym's stairs.

Amano coughed and looked around in distress, and only saw Koneko's body crash into the ground right in front of him.

"Koneko!" Amano shouted in shock, the sudden attack throwing him off his cool demeanor.

"Amano?! What happened to Koneko?!" Rias shouted. Amano tried to respond, but was only left to a coughing fit from his yell. "Talk to me!" She shouted.

"Koneko... is down." Amano answered, picking himself up and rushing to her unconscious body.

Before he could make it however, her body was enveloped in a blue light, before she faded away. Amano stopped in his tracks, shocked at seeing she was taken out in one fell swoop.

"1 of Lady Rias' Rooks has retired." Grayfia announced.

"You get down here so I can kick your ass!" Amano shouted, and was about to summon his wings, but Akeno appeared to fight in his stead.

"Well this is exciting." Akeno commented. "I'll take care of this trash, Amano, you rendezvous with Kiba."

"Tch. Just when I wanted to put the brat in his place." Yubelluna sighed.

Amano regretted leaving that fight to Akeno, but knew that with their AoE attacks, he'd only get in the way. Amano used his wings to fly low to the ground and towards Kiba.

"I've been wanting to fight you for ages, Priestess of Thunder," Yubelluna exclaimed. "Oh, have you? That's sweet but the pleasure is truly mine... Bomb Queen." Akeno smirked, licking her lips.

•

"3 of Lord Riser's Pawns have retired." Grayfia announced, just as Amano arrived to see Kiba sheath his sword.

"There you are." Kiba said with a smile.

"Nice job. That's almost all the foot soldiers down." Amano praised.

"Right back at you. I heard that all 3 pawns before were you. Let's bring 'em hell." Kiba said with his fist out.

The two fist bumped and began their front towards Riser's base, sticking to Rias' plan of drawing out as many pieces as possible, so she could launch her sneak attack, now that Riser's Queen was in play.

"You can handle the taunt," Kiba said with a laugh as they arrived at the track field.

"Alright you brainless, cock-sucking, bitch-ass whores! You bring your sorry asses out right now so I can send you all back to that infirmary making you wish you never fucked with the House of Gremory! You hear me?! Or are you chicken like your shit King?!" Amano yelled at the top of his lungs.

The rest of the peerage wasted no time rushing to assault him after hearing this.

"We've gotta handle this quick so we can help Rias— Let's go!" Amano shouted as he heard the ladies' battle cries of anger.

Amano hopped up and summoned his wings before engaging in an airborne battle with Riser's last Rook, Isabela, and last two pawns, Catgirls Ni and Li.

Riser's Knights, Karlamine and Siris quickly engaged Kiba and raced after him.

Amano could barely keep up with the barrage of magic from the Bishop in hiding, Mihae, and the swift and heavy blows of Isabel and the two Pawns assisting her, even with Voltage he had no openings of attack.

Amano spun upside down and swiped his hands on the floor, in a last ditch effort switching to his Blizzard state. His speed meant nothing if it was only to dodge.

"You wanna throw down?! Let's throw down!" Amano yelled, ice erupting from his fists and creating a small layer of ice over his swords.

Slashing at Isabela, he froze her hand with speed neither she nor he expected— but he was quick to follow up. Slamming his foot into her chin, he spun around her and slashed her back before leaping for the airborne Ni and Li.

Blocking a kick aimed at his head, the frigid winds graced his blade with a parry that sent shivers down Li's spine, stunning her. Ni tried to assist her sister, but Amano leaned away from a right hook and sent a violent slash down vertically.

Both crashed down, and with all nearly incapacitated from his magic, Amano smirked as he switched his element to his Blaze.

Amano roared as he combusted with fire, making a steam eruption send the three pieces flying away with burns along their body.

Amano panted as his flames died down, since utilizing the close proximity of his internal casting of the elements was taxing. Like Akeno said, all his magic was inside him, unable to be controlled outside, so it resulted in more natural effects, thus the steam eruption from the sudden shift in temperatures.

"2 of Lord Riser's Pawns, and 1 of Lord Riser's Pawns are retired." Grayfia announced.

Amano pumped his fists with a smile, but nearly got hit by a blast of energy from the only participating Bishop.

Amano up his Voltage, his four afterimages following after him as he rushed down the Bishop in the trees.

"Kiba, on the count of three unleash your Sacred Gear at maximum power! We'll show them we've got quality over quantity!" Amano shouted appearing beside Mihae, who screamed in shock.

Amano slammed his fist into her face, grabbing her arm and slinging her around before throwing her into a tree where Riser's sister and other Bishop, Ravel, was hiding, who also screamed in fear.

"I'll line them all up— Three!" Amano yelled, grabbing both by the neck and crashing them through the same tree and towards Kiba.

"Where at?!" Kiba asked, blocking a slash from Karlamine and racing around to attack the oncoming Siris.

"Directly in front of you— Two!" Amano yelled again, throwing Ravel into Karlamine, and Mihae into Siris, stunning and staggering both.

"One! Kick it into overdrive!" Amano yelled as he and Kiba closed in on the four.

"CYCLONE ERUPTION!" Amano yelled as he landed in between them all.

"SWORD BIRTH!" Kiba yelled cleaving his sword into the ground and uprooting it.

Amano dispersed both his swords with a roar and watched as the entire track field became littered with blades of all shapes, sizes and colors, piercing the four with elements of fire, ice, and lightning—

The hundreds of blades released vacuum slices of the same elements, effectively dispersing all four pieces out of the game.

"2 of Lord Riser's Bishops, and 2 of Lord Riser's Knights are retired." Grayfia announced.

"Yes! Kiba we did it—" Amano had no time to celebrate, because a loud boom produced by an explosion sounded from by the ruined gymnasium.

Amano and Kiba looked over to see Akeno slowly fall from the sky, dematerializing out of battle.

"Lady Rias' Queen has retired." Grayfia announced.

"Wha... what...?" Kiba muttered in disbelief.

Rias stared in fright seeing that her Queen was decommissioned. "Akeno..." she muttered, despite being in a stand off against Riser himself.

"How did they get to her?!" Asia asked as she healed Rias' wounds from the small bout they had on the new school building's rooftop.

"Looks like you've lost your vaunted right hand." Riser mocked.

"That might be, but I still have Kiba and Amano." Rias declared, her brave front making Riser annoyed.

"Not for long... my beloved." Riser challenged.

•

As if on cue, Kiba looked down and saw a magic circle, but there was no time to dodge.

With one massive explosion, he was taken out of battle within moments, before Amano could even make a move or warn him.

"K...Kiba..." Amano said in disbelief.

"1 of Lady Rias' Knights has retired." Grayfia announced.

Rias blocked a stream of fire from Riser, gritting her teeth as her numbers slowly diminished. "Damnit!" She shouted.

"You might as well resign. That filthy ingrate of a pawn you have... well, I think it's obvious he's next." Riser laughed.

Although, Amano was one for surprises. If he could take out a Fallen Angel within two days of being Devil... imagine giving him a month.

Amano crashed into the roof of the building with a deranged glare on his face. His feral expression and gritted teeth as he stabbed his swords into Yubelluna's neck made Asia and Rias gasp at his sudden attack on the Queen of Phoenix.

"Wh-WHAT?!" Riser screamed in shock.

"PROMOTE TO QUEEN!" Amano yelled, the blood of Yubelluna's throat making her choke as he suddenly burst her entire body in flames. Promoting to a Queen meant he now had the slight increased in all pieces' attributes, he matched her skill.

"Lord Riser's Queen has retired." Grayfia announced as Yubelluna was sent away from the battlefield after such a vital blow.

Amano nearly fell off the building after she disappeared as his foothold, but he flew in front of Rias and held out his swords.

"Damn you, Dog of Gremory! You've sealed your suffering in stone! After our wedding Rias'll be visiting your tombstone!" Riser yelled, summoning flaming wings as he rushed at Amano.

Amano screamed in anger and thrust down his arms, completely engulfed in a blazing aura, his rabid state making Asia cry in confusion and fear.

Amano and Riser began the final battle, clashing with each other throwing attacks of intense heat both figuratively and literally. Orange flames and sparks danced across the sky as their acrobatic display spelt the end of the Rating Game.

"Amano... please! PLEASE WIN!" Rias yelled, hoping that the one she thought so low of, would rise above her expectations and free her from her arranged marriage.

Amano slashed Riser's arms and circled around to kick his back, but his leg was grabbed and thrown back towards the roof.

Amano stopped himself with a gust from his wings and narrowly evaded a stream of fire, spiraling around it to get right back in the fray with Riser. With flaming swipes and blazing slashes, the two's brutal and gory fight was filled with blood and ash, the unrelenting attacks never ceased.

Amano stabbed Riser in his eye with a yell, cleaving upward to take an entire chunk of his head off as Riser thrust his entire hand into Amano's stomach, piercing his body completely.

Being thrown back to Rias and Asia, Amano was quick to his feet where Asia swiftly steeled herself and healed his wound, pouring all her mana into her Twilight Healing.

'He can't do it...' Rias thought, seeing the two's almost never ending battle continue further. It only ended in Amano's wounds getting worse, and only increasing, while Riser would only get more and more angry from the pain and exhaustion of regeneration.

Amano sliced Riser's head clean off with the sudden use of both Blaze and Voltage, but even then it wasn't enough— Riser threw his fist upward, breaking Amano's left arm, before grabbing that same arm and slamming him into the roof, where Amano's screams of horror and agony rung throughout the alternate dimension, and the broadcast.

'No... it's not over!' Rias suddenly held seven pawn pieces in her hand. With her hands outstretched she poured the last of her mana into giving Amano the strength of all Pawns.

"Wait! Is that legal?!" Sona asked as she watched the broadcast with the Student Council.

Amano's sudden screaming turned more and more into the loudest yell of anger they'd ever heard.

Amano clamped his teeth down on Riser's foot, before Riser was incased in an entire eruption of ice. Amano flew upward and caught his left hand's sword in his mouth, a muffled scream of determination signaling his last ditch effort.

"I'M SENDING YOUR COCKY ASS BACK TO THE COOP! DON'T FUCK..." Amano disappeared with a yellow spark, and dozens in dozens of afterimages of red, yellow, and blue, all appeared in poses of slashes with just the right sword.

Riser had no time to react as slashes appeared in space around him, through him, and in him appeared, making him scream in pain.

"WITH THE HOUSE OF GREMORY!" Amano yelled, flipping up his sword with his mouth, and catching it with his left hand.

He stabbed Riser directly in his chest with both swords, before screaming his last attack.

"FREEZERBURN!" Amano yelled as if his life depended on it.

A massive eruption of a misty blue flame exploded into the distorted sky, nearly sending Rias and Asia off the roof.

After moments of mist and frost leaving the roof, Rias began to tear up, alongside Asia... but it was not in joy nor relief.

Amano laid half dead on the roof, a whole in his left pectoral after Riser had regenerated enough of his body to send a pure beam of fire through him.

Riser's body consisted of his legs, lower torso, and just enough of his upper torso to have his right arm punch through Amano.

"This... fucking... trash." Riser muttered with hatred, venom seeping through his words with murderous intent.

Amano was luckily transported away before Riser could unleash his own rage, but the image of Amano's nearly dead corpse was ingrained in Rias' head. She fell to her knees in defeat, holding her hands over her eyes as she weeped.

"I... resign."