Hey, Alex here. Quick little side note before the chapter — feel free to skip if you just want to get into it.
Life piled on me pretty hard for about a week there. I had to deal with a hospital visit and a few other things happening at the same time, so writing kind of took a backseat while I handled work, took care of myself, and dealt with everything going on.
Things should be better now, I hope. I've been focusing on writing again, and the plan is to get chapters coming out regularly this week — hopefully one a day, or maybe even a couple on some days if things go well.
Thanks for sticking around, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Day of the Rating Game…
Sam stretched. The last few days had been nothing but progress.
Everything else had been ignored. Even his "deal" with Esdeath.
A knock on his door interrupted his stretch.
A second later it opened, Akeno coming in as if she owned the room.
"Today's the day you get to punch that guy's face without consequence. You excited?~"
Sam cracked a smile. "Riser won't know what hit him."
Akeno matched Sam's smile. "Have you picked who will be part of your team?"
"Tiche, myself, Asia, and someone I used to be close to."
Akeno raised her brow at Sam's answer. "You aren't using anyone from Rias's peerage?"
Sam shook his head. "If I won like that, Riser might pull something or humiliate me for "hiding" behind a woman."
Akeno pursed her lips. "So it's for your pride…"
"Not just pride. Image. Not that I really care how people I'll never talk to see me, but I'm representing more than just myself."
Akeno nodded along at Sam's explanation. "But so would standing together, united."
"If we were officially tied together. I'm the challenger, not the challenged."
Akeno seemed to want to say more but Grayfia's voice interrupted her. "He's partially right. As a human, newcomer, and offender, using Rias's resources past this point would make him look… weaker, even if he won."
Akeno decided to let it go, instead focusing on another piece of information. "And who's this mysterious other person huh?"
"You'll find out when she arrives, they're much different than what I remember."
Sam could feel Akeno's suspicion but she didn't push.
Esdeath's introduction hopefully won't blow up in my face.
Sam left the room, following Grayfia, with Akeno hanging off his arm.
"Not bothering to play the mistress?"
"Nope~ not today."
Sam let out a sigh.
Soon enough they arrived where the rest of the ORC members and company were.
Sam coughed, drawing attention. "Before we begin, let me introduce someone."
Sam opened the system space and called on Esdeath.
The blue haired beauty appeared next to Sam.
"Hello~"
Everyone in the room froze looking between Sam and Esdeath.
"This is Esdeath, my friend, she's recently come into contact with me and offered her help in the Rating game."
Sam saw the confusion and suspicion on the faces of everyone. "She's like Tiche. Just think of her as an ally."
"Thats not all they're worried about, Sam." Esdeath took a step forward, covering the room in a layer of ice.
"Strength. I can assure you that no one here alone could beat me. Besides… that one." She said as she pointed at Grayfia.
Grayfia tilted her head, contemplating. "She might not be wrong."
Sam shook his head. "Enough ego checking, Tiche, Asia, and Esdeath will be joining me in the game."
The ORC members all showed signs of frustration.
"Do you not trust us?" Koneko asked, voice quiet.
"It's not that I don't. But I don't want problems to follow after this game."
Grayfia nodded, satisfied with Sam's response. "Sam won't lose if he uses what he was taught. Riser's only advantage is his immortality which Sam or Tiche can put into check."
"Exactly, and with Tiche and Esdeath being boosted by Asia's new buffs, I can fight Riser alone."
Rias was the next one to voice her concern. "Is that a good idea?"
"I can beat him, but honestly, the guy pisses me off so I want to show him the consequences for what he's been doing."
Rias just pursed her lips. "Okay, but will you be fine with just those three?"
Sam nodded. "Tiche can protect Asia well, and Esdeath… well, you'll see."
Esdeath looked over at Rias, sizing her up. "Hmm."
Grayfia lit up the circle beneath them. "Then let's get on our way."
***
Sam found himself in the ORC clubroom inside the Rating Game's version of Kuoh Academy alongside Asia, Esdeath, and Tiche.
Looking out the window, he took in the surroundings.
"Alright, Esdeath, you're up."
"Of course."
She stepped toward the window. When she reached it, she unleashed a massive wave of ice that encompassed the school.
"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."
"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."
"Riser Phenex's Bishop has been eliminated."
Without looking away from the window, Sam continued. "Tiche, pick off any stragglers. Asia, boost us please."
Asia nodded as she brought up her book, channeling what she learned.
As she spoke, light glowed for her hands and the grimoire reached out around her. "Dear Lord, please grant your servants with strength!"
The light flowed onto Sam, Esdeath, and Tiche shimmering before it disappeared.
Sam rolled his shoulders. I feel lighter. Strength boost, huh?
Tiche nodded then disappeared a moment later.
Without missing a beat, Sam continued his orders. "Esdeath, keep Asia safe."
Esdeath looked to the blonde girl, seeing the girl's obvious shyness, then to Sam. "Before you go."
Esdeath leaned over kissing his cheek. "You have many admirers, Sam~"
Ice crawled over Sam's feet, cracking and shaping into skates.
Sam could only sigh and shake his head as he saw Asia freeze at Esdeath's show of affection. "You're dramatic."
Esdeath let herself smile. "I'm keeping territory. Now go."
Sam opened the window, sliding down and away from the two women.
Ice skates made of ice. For a battlefield she flooded with ice. Smart.
He let Exoskeleton form, armoring up as he glided across the ice.
It wasn't long before coming face to face with a group of 4.
Sam slid to a stop, Lightning crackling along his gauntlets. "I suggest you surrender now. I'm not in the mood to play around."
The blonde woman in an expensive-looking dress studied Sam. "I take it you're the 'King' from the opposing side?"
Sam saw no reason to lie. "That would be correct."
"Then we can't surrender. Not without at least trying."
One of the other three women who wore armor and carried a sword threw herself forward.
Sam leaned out of the way as she slid by, carried by her momentum.
Sam spun, landing a kick to the armored woman's spine which continued to push her along the ice.
The blonde narrowed her eyes at the impatient woman. "Into the air. He's human."
Wings unfurled from all four of their backs as they ascended.
"Ooh.. bad idea."
Sam brought his hand up and closed it. Holy flames exploded in the air catching all the women off guard.
The first to come back to the ground was a pair of cat girls. They landed with a synchronized swipe on either side of Sam.
The dual attacks caught against his armor, leaving scratches but momentum carried him backwards.
Sam skidded across the ice, angling his feet to use the skates to slow himself.
Next to fall was the same woman who initially attacked, she came down from above with a sword slash.
Sam reached up and caught it between his palms, surprising the woman.
He flexed, twisting his wrists as the sword broke.
The knight woman quickly backed off as her sword was broken.
In the next moment, flames erupted around Sam. Not his own.
He looked up to see the blonde hovering just beneath his Icarus's Folly.
Staff outstretched towards him as it glowed red. "Liking the heat?"
"It's just fine, a little too cold actually."
Sam aimed the broken piece of sword he held towards the knight.
"A taunt like that is not going to work!" yelled the knight.
"Who said it was a taunt?" Lightning flashed along Sam's forearm, traveling into the broken blade before…
BOOM
The broken blade exploded forward. Sam's mostly untested new ability, Rail gun.
"Riser Phenex's Knight has been eliminated."
Where the knight once stood was a line of broken ice.
The other three women stopped, looking at where the knight once stood.
"He took her out that easily…?" said one of the cat girls.
The other gulped, looking back towards Sam.
The blonde gritted her teeth, focusing more on her flames.
Sam felt the heat rise around him, he took a breath, filling his lungs with air as lightning crawled up his throat.
The blonde's eyes widened. "WHAT KIND OF HUMAN DOES THAT?!?"
Lightning flooded the area arcing up towards the blonde, making her drop her attack to defend.
Sam took that chance to sprint forward, catching the two cat girls off guard as his Lightning Claws slammed into their abdomens.
*"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."*
*"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."*
Sam looked to the last one left, who was still in the air and had defended against his lightning breath.
"I take it you are his bishop?"
"No! I'm his sister!" The blonde looked at Sam with a face that looked like she was getting bullied.
"Ah? Isn't his Peerage also his…?" Sam looked slightly disgusted.
"You! I was told to learn from this rating game by our mother, pervert!"
Sam felt bad for the insinuation, he let his helmet disappear. "Ah, my bad. This game you aren't going to be learning much. So how about you call it and I'll owe you one… unless you turn out like your brother."
The blonde was stunned first by Sam's face, her own face heating up. "Fine! I'll take you up on the offer, but you're still a pervert!"
"Riser Phenex's Bishop has been forfeited."
"And the name Ravel Phenex, don't forget it!" the blonde, Ravel, yelled.
"Sam Barnes."
And with that, Ravel disappeared from the game.