"Begin!"
As soon as Grayfia spoke, Rias gave the command for her peerage to spread out and start fighting.
As soon as the game began, both groups scattered across the field.
Rias quickly took command.
"Kiba, support Koneko! Akeno, hold the rear! Asia, stay hidden and heal us when necessary!"
"Yes!"
On the other side, Riser's peerage advanced without hesitation.
The first clash happened only a few minutes later.
Kiba vs. Riser's Knight
The swords collided.
CLANG!
Kiba was more skilled, faster, but his opponent had years of experience.
The two exchanged dozens of blows.
Finally, Kiba found an opening.
"Sorry."
His sword struck the knight's chest.
"Riser's Knight has been eliminated."
But at that very moment, a blast of fire struck him from behind.
BOOOOM!
One of Riser's Queens had attacked.
Kiba fell to his knees.
Before he could stand up again, another explosion hit him.
Grayfia raised her hand.
"Rias's Knight has been eliminated."
"Kiba!" Rias shouted.
Koneko vs. Riser's Rook
Koneko charged like a projectile.
Her fist struck the Rook's stomach.
BAM!
The Devil was sent flying dozens of meters away.
He stood up with difficulty.
"You little monster..."
Koneko did not answer.
She appeared in front of him once again.
BOOOOM!
The Rook collapsed unconscious.
"Riser's Rook has been eliminated."
However, shortly afterward, two enemy pieces appeared..
Flames exploded all around Koneko.
She dodged one, then another...
But the third one hit her.
BOOM!
She was thrown away.
Even so, she stood up.
She charged once more.
And struck the Pawn.
Both of them fell at the same time.
Grayfia spoke.
"Riser's Pawn has been eliminated."
A few seconds later:
"Rias's Rook has been eliminated."
Koneko had taken an enemy with her.
Akeno vs. Riser's Queen
Lightning and fire illuminated the battlefield.
Akeno was smiling, but she was being pressured.
Her opponent was older and far more experienced.
"You're strong for such a young girl."
"Oh my, thank you."
CRAAACK!
A bolt of lightning struck the Queen.
But she came through the smoke and kicked Akeno.
BOOOOM!
Akeno fell.
Even so, she stood up.
Her smile disappeared.
Black lightning began to appear.
For an instant, her opponent hesitated.
Akeno took advantage of that moment.
"Sorry... but I'm not going down alone."
A gigantic electrical discharge exploded.
BOOOOOOOM!
Both of them were swallowed by the explosion.
When the smoke cleared, both were unconscious.
Grayfia announced:
"Riser's Queen has been eliminated."
A few seconds later:
"Rias's Queen has been eliminated."
Asia
Asia spent the entire battle hidden, healing the injured whenever she could.
However, one of Riser's remaining pieces found her.
The girl froze.
She was not a combatant.
There was no way she could fight.
A sphere of fire flew toward her.
But a figure appeared in front of her.
Rias.
BOOOOM!
The explosion struck the heiress of the Gremory family.
"President!" Asia screamed.
Rias smiled.
"It's alright... I am your King."
Then she raised her hand.
The Power of Destruction exploded.
Riser's last subordinate fell.
"Riser's Bishop has been eliminated."
However, Rias was breathing heavily.
She was injured.
Very injured.
The battlefield fell silent.
Grayfia looked at the situation.
Then she announced:
"All pieces from both teams have been eliminated."
A pause.
"Only the Kings... and the Hyoudou Issei remain on the battlefield."
Everyone looked toward the center of the field.
On one side:
Rias, panting and covered in dust.
Beside her:
Issei, completely unharmed, with his hands in his pockets.
On the other side:
Riser, also alone, but still full of energy.
The heir of the Phenex family smiled.
"So we've reached the end."
He looked at Rias.
"Your peerage fought well."
Then he looked at Issei.
His smile disappeared.
"And now, I can finally crush the real problem."
Issei yawned.
"Wow, you really hate me."
"Yes."
"Fair enough."
Rias took a step forward.
"Issei..."
He raised his hand, stopping her.
"I know."
Then he looked at Riser.
The entire stadium fell silent.
Even Zelretch smiled in anticipation.
Arcueid stopped eating.
Shiki crossed his arms.
Issei took a few steps forward.
He stopped in front of Riser.
And smiled.
"So... now it's just the two of us, fire pigeon."
A vein bulged on Riser's forehead.
The flames around him intensified.
And the final confrontation was about to begin.
--++--
Issei looked up at Riser because Riser was standing on top of a building, and Issei made a face.
"I don't like this," Issei muttered while looking at Riser.
"What? You don't like seeing how things really are?" Riser laughed while pointing at Issei. "Get used to it, commoner."
"..."
Issei moved his hand and hundreds of stakes struck the building, causing it to collapse.
"Aaahhh!"
Riser had no time to spread his wings of flame and fell to his knees in front of Issei.
"That's better." Issei smiled while looking down and meeting Riser's eyes, which were now staring up at him from a kneeling position.
"You son of a bitch!"
Riser's fury reached its limit. He burst into flames and launched them toward Issei.
"I'm going to kill you!"
"Whoa..."
Issei jumped backward and made stakes rise from the ground to defend him.
"That's hot. That was dangerous, pigeon. If you keep this up, I'm going to turn you into barbecue."
Issei laughed loudly and, with a finger, made stakes rise from the ground and attack Riser, who remained standing.
When the spears hit him, to his surprise, he felt intense pain as the stakes pierced his stomach, making him cough blood.
"How?" Riser was completely shocked by the pain and the blood pouring from his abdomen.
"You really thought my stakes were just ordinary stakes?" Issei teased and moved his hand again, making the stakes disappear. "You should take this fight seriously, pigeon, because if you don't, instead of killing me, you're going to be the one who dies."
"You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch!"
Riser shouted in shock and anger. How could this vampire hurt him? How could he, damn it? Riser was a Phenex. He couldn't lose. He couldn't be hurt.
"I'll destroy you, you bastard!"
"Come on, little pigeon."
Issei simply smiled as he watched Riser's fury.