Sobu High – Class 2-B
Lala walked into the classroom. "Good morning, Alya, Masachika."
"Good morning, Lala," Alya replied with her usual calm and graceful tone, while Masachika simply raised a hand casually in greeting.
Masachika looked around and realized that Ace hadn't arrived yet. "Lala-san, where's Ace? Usually, you two arrive together," he asked.
Lala's expression turned slightly serious. "Ace won't be coming to school, at least for the next two weeks," she answered.
"Two weeks?!" Masachika raised his eyebrows, looking shocked. "That's a long time. What is he doing? Is he so sick that he has to be absent for that long?"
Alya also felt curious and a bit worried that Ace might have suddenly fallen ill.
Lala didn't answer immediately. She looked left and right, making sure no other students were paying attention to their conversation.
She then gestured for Alya and Masachika to lean in. In a very low voice, almost like a hiss between them, Lala whispered.
"Actually... Ace is dealing with a devil."
Alya's eyes widened, and she unconsciously gripped the hem of her school skirt. "A-A devil?!" she whispered back with a strained but emphasized tone. "Lala, this is no time for jokes. What do you mean Ace is dealing with a creature like that?"
Masachika showed a serious expression, leaning in closer. "Two weeks, Lala-san... that's not a short amount of time if the opponent is something dangerous. Will Ace be okay?"
Seeing her two friends' near-panic reaction, Lala actually blinked playfully. "Calm down, you two. Ace will be just fine," Lala said casually.
"This particular devil isn't evil. He has no ill intentions at all."
Alya frowned, feeling something was off with Lala's logic. "Not evil? How is that possible? Isn't the very definition of a devil—"
"And besides," Lala interrupted with a thin smile, "the reason Ace has to be gone for two weeks is because that devil asked to be trained by him."
Masachika furrowed his brow. "Wait, wait..." He massaged his temples. "Let me get this straight. First, there's a 'good' devil. And second, instead of spreading terror or demanding sacrifices, this devil asked for... personal training from Ace? Is Ace running a private tutoring service now?"
Alya could only blink, lost for words. "A devil... asking to be trained? What could Ace possibly teach?"
Lala just chuckled softly at their confused expressions, which stood in stark contrast to their usual composure. For Alya and Masachika, the world they knew had just become much stranger.
---
Gremory Mansion.
Ten days had passed since they began training. Kiba stood in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by piles of swords thrust into the ground.
Following Ace's advice, Kiba began using Sword Birth tactically. When pressed, he would erupt swords from the ground to disrupt his opponent's footing or throw his old swords as distractions before creating new ones mid-attack.
Tomoe also joined the training with Ace and Kiba. Ace taught Tomoe the Total Concentration Breathing technique. Initially, she struggled with the oxygen rhythm, but now she was getting used to it. Her reaction speed had increased significantly, perhaps because she was a devil, she learned faster.
In a corner of the forest near the mansion, Koneko was moving with inhuman agility. Under Master Sha-Fu's guidance, she no longer relied solely on raw strength. Her movements now flowed like water yet were as lethal as a predator's pounce.
"Focus your Ki into your fingertips, Koneko-chan," Sha-Fu instructed calmly. Koneko jumped, twisted her body in mid-air, and struck a large boulder with her palm. The rock shattered not from a hard impact, but from the internal energy vibrations channeled through the Felis-Fist technique.
Ace walked around, observing each training area. In the magic area, Rias and Akeno were deeply concentrated. Thanks to training from Sona, their magic manipulation had become much more precise. They were no longer just firing large explosions, but focused attacks that were difficult to evade.
Ace stopped in front of the archery training room. The door opened, and Issei stepped out, panting heavily. His white shirt... this time only had about 10 red marks.
"Hah... hah... Ace! Look! Only ten hits!" Issei shouted proudly despite his exhaustion. "Keep it up, partner!" Ddraig encouraged him.
During these 10 days, Ace had also helped Issei communicate better with Ddraig.
"Yes, you've developed a lot in these 10 days," Ace replied while taking out his phone to check Tohru's report. Before leaving, he had told Tohru to watch over Lala and report if there were any problems.
Ace turned toward Rias and Sona, who had just finished their magic meditation. "You've all worked hard. But remember, Riser Phoenix possesses immortality. Do not let your guard down."
Rias stepped forward, sweat beading on her forehead but her eyes glittering with confidence. "We know. Don't worry."
"Since there are only 4 days left, Koneko, come here." Koneko walked over to Ace. He pulled out a pair of gloved arm-guards for her.
"These are called Gekigauntlets. I noticed you were having a bit of trouble with the Fierce Technique, so I made these for you. They will make it easier to control your Ki."
Koneko accepted and put them on. She punched the air slightly, testing her control. "Hm, thank you, Ace-senpai," she said with a bow.
Issei raised his hand. "Yes! Issei?" Ace points at Issei.
"I want a gift too!" Issei said.
"Didn't I already give you one?" Ace replied.
Issei scratched his head in confusion. "When?"
Ace pointed to the weighted bracelets on Issei's wrists and ankles. "Those weights are the gift."
"What?! You call these a gift?!" Issei yelled.
Ace chuckled. "Just kidding. This is for all of you." Ace pulled out and distributed bags of candy.
"This? Candy?" Sona asked.
"Yes, but not just ordinary candy. If you eat it, it restores all your energy and stamina. But don't eat five at once, or there will be consequences," Ace explained.
Timeskip
Today was the day of the Rating Game. Rias and her peerage were getting ready. Sona, Tsubaki, and Ace visited them.
"What are you guys doing here?" Issei asked.
"Checking up on you, of course. It seems you're doing well," Sona answered.
"Yes, we're ready anytime," Rias said.
"But Buchou, what is the Student Council President doing here?" Issei asked.
"They will be overseeing the match," Rias answered.
Issei still looked confused. "Since this is a Rating Game between Gremory and Phoenix, another family must oversee the match, and that family is the Sitri family," Akeno explained.
"Why is Ace coming along too?" Issei asked.
"Do you not want me here? It seems I need to train you again," Ace said.
"Ace just wanted to watch, so I think it's fine. Well then, see you later, Rias," Sona concluded.
A blue magic circle appeared, and they vanished, leaving Rias and her peerage behind before Grayfia's voice announced that the Rating Game was about to begin.
In the observation room, Ace, Sona, and Tsubaki watched the game unfold.
"The game begins," Sona murmured with sharp eyes.
On the screen, Issei moved rapidly. Thanks to Ace's physical training and the agility honed from dodging arrows, he was no longer the sluggish Issei. Upon encountering three of Riser's Pawns, Issei didn't just attack blindly.
"Boost! Boost! Boost!" Ddraig's voice echoed.
Issei dodged to the side, letting the opponent's attack miss, then countered with his Dress Break before landing a punch. One by one, the three Pawns were sent flying and eliminated instantly.
On the other side, Koneko moved with deadly silence. Using the Gekigauntlets Ace gave her, she was able to channel Ki much more stably. A Rook wearing a qipao blocked her path, but Koneko used the Felis-Fist technique, sending internal vibrations through her gloves.
They fought briefly before Riser's Rook was eliminated. It was clear that Koneko had the advantage due to her speed, despite being a Rook.
Kiba Yuuto truly showed the results of his training with Ace and Tomoe. He ran like lightning through the enemy ranks. Five Pawns tried to surround him, but Kiba thrust a sword into the ground, triggering a sudden Sword Birth explosion. As the enemies lost their balance, he slashed them all in a single rotation.
"Kiba has improved tremendously," Tsubaki commented with a tone of admiration.
Ace only gave a thin smile. "He's a fast learner."
Their gaze then shifted to the sky. Akeno Himejima, the Queen of Gremory, was now facing Yubelluna, the Queen of the Phoenix side.
"Ara, ara... it seems we meet again," Akeno said with her signature sadistic smile.
Yubelluna didn't reply with words; she immediately released a massive explosion of fire. However, Akeno, who had been trained by Sona in magical precision, didn't counter with a similar explosion. She condensed her lightning into thin spears that pierced through Yubelluna's flames with lethal accuracy.
Sona glanced at Ace, who looked calm leaning back in his chair. "You've given them a massive chance, Ace. But remember, Riser himself hasn't stepped in yet."
Ace nodded slowly. "I know. Physical training and techniques can win small battles, but to defeat 'immortality,' they need something more."
The battle in the replica of Kuoh Academy grew more intense. Riser Phoenix finally entered the fray, his face flushed with rage. Before him, Issei, Kiba, and Koneko stood ready in a battle formation.
"How dare you humiliate the Phoenix name!" Riser spread his wings of fire, creating an incredible heatwave.
Issei charged first. "Boost! Boost! Boost!" Ddraig's voice roared. With his new agility, Issei managed to land a flurry of punches to Riser's stomach, while Kiba slashed from behind with incredible speed. Koneko jumped from above, striking Riser's shoulder with Ki-reinforced Gekigauntlets.
However, Riser's wounds closed instantly. "Hahaha! Useless! The immortality of the Phoenix cannot be pierced by cheap techniques!"
Just as Riser prepared to release a large-scale fire explosion to wipe out the three of them, the sky above the arena suddenly cracked. An unnatural blackish-purple color enveloped the atmosphere, and a dimensional rift opened.
A figure in black and dark orange armor descended from the sky with a bloodthirsty aura. In his hand was a massive sword radiating an aura of destruction.
"Who are you?! How dare you interrupt my family's Rating Game!" Riser shouted arrogantly.
Without warning, the intruder moved as fast as lightning and immediately grabbed Riser by the throat. The Wonder Ride Book on his belt began to absorb Riser's Phoenix power.
In the observation room, Ace immediately told Sona to teleport him to the arena. "Sona, hurry, teleport me to the arena!"
Sona, seeing Ace's serious face, quickly complied. "Okay!"
A blue magic circle appeared and teleported Ace to the arena. Ace immediately pulled out Kurayami and Jaaku Dragon.
"JAAKU DRAGON!"
"Henshin!"
Jet-black armor enveloped Ace's body. A purple cape radiating an aura of darkness fluttered in the wind of battle.
Calibur immediately lunged at the intruder, forcing him to release his grip on Riser's throat and toss him aside like a ragdoll.
The intruder parried Calibur's strike with ease. "Why are you here, Falchion?" Calibur demanded.
He let out a low chuckle, the sound echoing hollowly from behind his armored helm.
"Interesting..." Falchion raised his blade, pointing it directly at Calibur. "So, Kurayami has found itself a new wielder? Let us see if your darkness is deep enough to swallow this eternal flame."