Chapter 205 — Sparring and [Kings]

Yuuto

Xenovia immediately swung Durandal, releasing a violent crescent of holy energy.

At the same time, Yuki-san’s fur darkened before she disappeared from where she had been standing. 

She reappeared in the air above Xenovia.

She grinned as she formed a spell in each hand and began to fire cursed lightning bolts at Xenovia one after the other.

Xenovia jumped back and then swung Durandal upwards, sending holy energy upwards to blot the attacks.

Yuki-san landed and immediately created illusions of herself while sending shadowy tendrils at Xenovia from her shadow.

Xenovia swung Durandal in a sideways arc again, the crescent of holy energy cutting through the Shadow Briars and illusions. 

Yuki-san dodged again by Misstepping away. 

She bared her teeth at Xenovia as she realized that distractions and attacks from range likely wouldn’t work against the overwhelming power of Durandal.

Yuki-san rushed forward at Xenovia-san and began placing Stillmarks while firing more bolts at her.

Xenovia moved to close the distance and dodged and weaved between the attacks and cursed marks. 

She blocked what she couldn’t dodge by slashing through it with Durandal.

She was limiting her output now so that she wouldn’t wear herself out too quickly.

The two of them went and swung attacks at each other.

But as Xenovia’s blade closed in on Yuki-san, she disappeared again, only to reappear behind Xenovia. 

Xenovia’s blade continued through the space Yuki-san had been at and into a cursed mark she had left behind.

Xenovia’s stance became unsteady, and Yuki-san moved to fire a Baleful Bolt at her unguarded back.

Before she could, one of Xenovia’s legs shot backwards and kicked Yuki-san’s hand up as she fired her attack.

Yuki-san’s attack went wide and missed, and Xenovia fell to the ground as that kick plus her unsteady posture caused her to fall.

Yuki-san immediately capitalized on it while grinning.

Xenovia quickly tried to push herself up off the ground, but Yuki-san crashed into her, throwing her back to the ground.

Yuki-san pinned Xenovia’s wrist to the ground to prevent her from swinging Durandal and aimed a prepared spell at Xenovia’s face with the other.

Xenovia stopped struggling as she saw Yuki-san’s hand aimed at her.

The two of them were still for a moment.

Yuki-san was panting and looked more worn out than Xenovia despite being the one to pin her.

“I concede. You win this time,” Xenovia announced.

Gasper-kun rang the bell.

“The s-spar is over! Yuki-senpai wins!”

Yuki-san let the spell in her hand fade, but didn’t move to get off of Xenovia.

She kept her grip on one of Xenovia’s wrists and planted her other hand next to her head as she hovered over her.

“Uhh, Yuki-san, the spar is over,” Ise-kun called out.

She didn’t seem to hear him.

She had been getting better at controlling herself on her state ability, but she would still struggle occasionally.

Xenovia was looking up at Yuki-san with curiosity and didn’t seem worried in the slightest.

“If you want to make babies, we can. You just have to tell me when you're back to normal first,” Xenovia-san casually said.

Yuki-san tilted her head at her.

Xenovia frowned slightly.

“You can change back now. If you don’t, I can still move enough to headbutt you.”

Yuki-san closed her eyes, and after taking a shuddering breath, her fur returned to its normal color.

She quickly let go of Xenovia and stood.

She then reached out to help Xenovia up.

“Sorry about that. It took me a moment to pull myself out of my ability,” she said.

“It’s fine,” Xenovia said as she dusted herself off. “Do you still want to make babies?”

“…No, I don’t,” Yuki-san said with an exasperated look.

Xenovia nodded.

“How’d you know that threatening to hit her would help her get out of it?” Ise-kun asked.

Xenovia blinked.

“I didn’t. I was just going to try it if she didn’t let go of me.”

Ise-kun, Gasper-kun, and I stared at her.

Yuki-san didn’t seem bothered by it. 

“…Anyway, what was it that the two of you were wagering in your spar?” I asked.

“Just something small to keep it more interesting. Since I won, Xenovia has to help me brush my tails today while we bathe,” Yuki-san said.

“And if I had won, Yuki-san would have to make me something for dessert. I was going to ask for dorayaki,” Xenovia added.

“T-That does sound pretty good…” Gasper-kun murmured.

“Exactly,” Xenovia replied. “I heard Koneko and Yuki talking about desserts while they were cooking together in the morning and wanted to try something she made.”

“And I told you I wouldn’t mind making something for you. You’d just have to share it with everyone else,” Yuki-san said.

“Yes, but I could have you make one just for me. And it would taste better if I won it,” Xenovia replied seriously.

“Well, you lost. So for now, if you want something made, you’ll have to share.”

Ise-kun clapped his hands. 

“We can convince Yuki-san to make dessert for us as we keep training. Now that we are done with spars, let’s start individual training.”

“Alright.”

“O-Okai-senpai!”

Yuki-san and Gasper-kun replied and followed Ise-kun towards some benches and water bottles.

I kept back slightly and walked behind the three of them with Xenovia.

I glanced at Xenovia as we walked together.

“So, you made that wager so that you could win a dessert that Yuki-san would have already made you if you had just asked?” I questioned her. 

“I do think that it would be better if I won it, but that’s not the only reason,” Xenovia said as she watched the three ahead of us. “Yuki has been pushing herself a bit too hard. And if she spends time baking or relaxing in a bath with me, then she’ll spend time away from her training. I don’t want her to stop. I understand wanting to become stronger and pushing yourself, but she needs to rest occasionally.”

I nodded.

“I think we are all a bit worried about her at this point. It’s one thing to train. It’s another to push yourself to your breaking point every night and get Asia to heal you. It’s not healthy.”

“Yuki-san took our loss to Shalba hard. Even with both of us, he managed to defeat us with one attack.”

Shalba Beelzebub had been someone that we normally had no chance of beating.

If it hadn’t been for Ise-kun using his Juggernaut drive, we would’ve been helpless against him. 

I think all of us were shaken by facing an enemy so far above us, but Yuki-san was affected the most by far.

We caught up to Ise-kun and the others as we grabbed water and began to prepare for our individual training routines.

“Alright! Let’s get to it, guys!” Ise-kun shouted with his fist raised in the air.

I smiled at his enthusiasm as I moved to practice my sword forms on my own.

—

Yuki

I was holding Xenovia’s legs as she did sit-ups.

We were all finishing up our individual training.

I had been focusing on using multiple abilities at once while casting spells.

I had been creating illusions while creating shadow tendrils with Shadow Briar and also alternating casting Baleful Bolt and Stillmark.

I had to stop earlier than I would have liked due to my spell’s backlash and the headache that was building.

Xenovia had noticed and asked for my help while she finished her workout. 

Yuuto was already relaxing and drinking water.

Issei was practicing his punches on a large metal dummy while in his Scale Mail Armor.

And Gaper-kun was practicing with his Sacred Gear.

Azazel-sensei had made a small drone that would fly about randomly for Gasper-kun to practice stopping with his Sacred Gear. 

“You, Ise-kun, we train together a lot, and there are times I can’t keep up with your routine,” Yuuto-san said as she wiped sweat from her neck with a towel.

I glanced at Issei.

He hadn’t taken a break since we had first started training on our own.

He turned towards us and deactivated his armor.

But instead of stopping to rest, he dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups. 

“I just want to do as much as I can. I know Yuki-san has gotten really intense in her training, but she isn’t the only one who’s stepped up their training,” Issei said.

I nodded.

“That’s a good thing. We are likely to end up in another fight with the Khaos Brigade that we won’t be fully ready for. We need to do everything we can to grow.”

Issei paused his pushups.

“I have Juggernaut Drive, but I can’t use it again, or it will kill me. But I can’t accept Asia or one of you being in danger. So I’ll need to get stronger without relying on that power,” Issei said as he resumed his push-ups. “I lack demonic power or real fighting techniques, so I’ll make up for that with hard work. If Sairaorg-san could do it, I should be able to as well.”

I was trying to accomplish something somewhat similar with my own training.

With my seals restricting my demonic power and overall strength, I was trying to compensate with skill and technique in my abilities and spells.

“But even so,” Issei continued. “I can’t beat you on speed, Yuuto-san, and I can’t catch Yuki-san in a fight. Your technique types are my biggest hurdle.”

Yuuto shook her head. 

“That dash you did at the start of the fight allowed you to move as fast as me.”

“And it would likely allow you to reach me shortly after I teleported. Plus, I don’t think I could injure you through your armor, Issei-san. I would have to use Dream’s Voice to beat you. And if you or Xenovia land a single clean hit on me, I will be out of the fight,” I added. 

“I can only reach that speed in a straight line, so I can’t deal with Yuuto-san when she dodges or follow Yuki-san as she moves,” Issei said. “I still need to master my booster in order to be able to properly fight you.”

“You’ll get used to it, Ise-kun,” Yuuto said with a soft smile. “But even though I should be able to withstand a blow from you or Xenovia better than Yuki-san, it’s still hard to deal with the overwhelming power you have. Every time you swing your fist at me, I feel chills.”

“But I still have to be careful that you don’t counter my attacks.”

Yuuto-san chuckled.

“Issei is right. Even if you have overwhelming power, you have to be careful, as an opponent could have a counter to your abilities. There are many Sacred Gears that are useful against overwhelming power, or even could target a weakness,” Xenovia said.

“Especially if your abilities are well known by your enemies,” I added. “Xenovia, Issei-san, and I have all shown our abilities during Rating Games that anyone in the Khaos Brigade could see. I’ve gained another, so I have a card up my sleeve, and Yuuto-san hasn’t shown off everything she can do, so besides knowing that she is powerful, not much else is known.”

Yuuto-san frowned faintly.

“While I would have liked to show off what I can do, it is useful that I am an unknown to our opponents.”

“W-What about me? W-W-Will I be of any use in our fights?” Gasper-kun asked. 

“Yeah, of course, Gasper! But your powers are more focused on supporting. So you can show your true strength when you work with someone else during a fight,” Issei said.

“And since we will typically fight as a group or at least in small teams during Rating Games and against the Khaos Brigade, you’ll almost always be able to support Simon’s in a fight,” I said to Gasper-kun, before narrowing my eyes at Yuuto and Issei. “Unless someone decides that they need to face someone alone.”

Issei chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

Yuuto gave a wry smile.

I let out a huff as the two of them likely wouldn’t change their mindset of seeking one-on-one duels.

“Both Issei and Yuki will need to focus on fighting smarter and with teams, since they are planning on becoming [Kings] of their own peerages,” Xenovia said. “Issei tends to accept duels and charge in first during fights, and Yuki tries to face enemies alone first before the rest of us can get involved. At least recently.”

I nodded.

“I’ll admit that my recent actions have been more aggressive in fights, but in a Rating Game and as a [King,] I think I have enough abilities that can be used as support to switch roles in a battle.”

“It’s good to see that you’re thinking of the future,” a voice called out from behind me.

Azazel-sensei was approaching us carrying some food.

“Here. Have some onigiri that Rias, Koneko-chan, and Asia made,” he said.

Koneko-chan did say she had other plans when I asked if she wanted to train together.

I guess she finished whatever she was up to early.

Issei quickly stood up from the ground, and he and Gasper-kun ran over to get some food.

I stood and helped Xenovia up,  and we walked with Yuuto to grab some for ourselves before Issei ate it all.

“You all seem to be training hard. And I can see that you are developing muscle well, Ise,” Azazel-sensei said.

Issei swallowed the bite he took before replying.

“It’s because I promised Buchou. I told her that I would become the ultimate [Pawn]. I need to fulfill my promise before I can become independent.”

“Right. I heard that when the time comes, you’re going to take Asia with you, right?” Azazel-sensei asked.

“Yeah. I promised Asia that we would always be together, and she agreed. Xenovia also asked if she could join my peerage once I made it too. So I might already have two members for my peerage.”

“I also asked Yuki if I could be a part of her peerage too,” Xenovia said as she took a bite of onigiri. “I haven’t decided whose I'd like to be a part of, but I’d be happy to be in either.”

“That’s interesting,” Azazel-sensei asked with a grin. “Is there anyone else who will be joining your future peerage, Yuki? Maybe Koneko-chan?”

I frowned at his playful tone.

“No. I’ve only spoken to Xenovia about it. I’d be happy to have anyone join me in the future, but I’d rather they come to me than ask them.”

“Alright, alright,” Azazel-sensei said with a chuckle. 

“What about you two, Yuuto and Gasper? Have you thought about leaving Rias’s peerage if Issei and Yuki create their own?” Xenovia asked. 

“I-I think I’m going to stay with Buchou. I like Issei-senpai and Yuki-senpai, but I’d rather stay where I am,” Gasper-kun answered.

Yuuto paused for a moment as she glanced at Issei.

“While I think that being a part of Ise-kun’s peerage sounds nice, I am Buchou’s [Knight]. I will protect and serve her as my [King]. I’m sorry, but I won’t be leaving her.”

“That’s fine! I’m kinda surprised that you’d want to be a part of my peerage, but it makes me happy that you’ll be by Buchou’s side protecting her,” Issei said with a grin.

Yuuto smiled and blushed lightly.

Then Azazel-sensei cut in.

“There is one thing both of you will need to remember if you’re going to he [Kings] in the future,” Azazel-sensei said seriously. “You’ll need to be ready to make sacrifices. There will be times when each of you will need to abandon your pieces. As a [King], you’ll be forced to face a situation where you are going to lose a comrade. And that is something I think both of you will struggle with.”

“So you’re saying that we will have to give up on saving our comrades in those situations?” Issei asked.

“I think he means that during Rating Games we will need to accept that we may need to make difficult decisions as a [King] and let our friends go in certain situations,” I said.

Azazel-sensei nodded.

“She’s right. And while it’s not normally a bad thing, the two of you have a high amount of affection for your fellow peerage members,” Azazel said before pointing to Issei.

“Would you be able to accept sacrificing Asia to win a match? Would you be able to readily accept a plan that included that as a strategy?"

Issei frowned and shook his head.

Azazel-sensei pointed to me next.

“Would you be able to comfortably order Xenovia to lie down as a distraction or sacrifice? Could you easily use her as a tool to help you win a game?”

I grimaced at his wording.

He knew exactly what my answer would be.

“No.”

“Exactly. And as a [King], the strong affection held towards a servant can be used as a weapon against you. All of you in Rias’s peerage care deeply for one another. That is a strength due to your unity and cohesion, but as I said, it’s also a weakness. The bonds in your group are known by others and will be used against you,” Azazel-sensei said. “Look at Sona Sitri. During your match against her, she displayed the resolve required to sacrifice pieces as necessary to increase her odds of winning. You need to remember that as a [King], your side only loses if you fall.”

I understood that he was right, and that to be  [King] I would need to move past my own issues with using others that way. As well as the hurdle I would face with allowing those I cared about to be sacrificed and hurt.

If anyone from Rias’s peerage eventually joins mine, it will be harder for me to use them as a [King]. 

But that was an issue to focus on in the future.

I was still a low-class Devil and would need to get promoted twice first.