High School Dxd: Word of Creation

Rating Game Grounds –

POV: Shiori Oreki –

The battlefield was chaos. Explosions echoed through the air as Rias' strategy unfolded. Kiba and Koneko had set traps throughout the area, Akeno controlled the skies with devastating thunder, and Issei was busy disrupting Riser's forces.

For now, Rias and I remained inside our headquarters, watching over the battlefield through a scrying magic circle. The academy setting of the Rating Game had given us the advantage of familiarity, but Riser's sheer numbers still made this fight difficult.

Rias tapped her fingers on the wooden desk, her expression tense. "So far, everything is going according to plan."

I crossed my arms, my new silver armor gleaming under the dim light of the room. "It won't last. Riser still has his strongest pieces in play."

A loud explosion suddenly rocked the building. Dust shook loose from the ceiling, and my eyes narrowed. That blast was close—too close.

Rias' eyes widened as she turned toward the doorway. "That came from inside the school."

Before I could respond, the door burst open.

Three figures strode in.

Yubelluna, Riser's Queen, hovered slightly above the floor, her violet hair flowing behind her. A smug smirk curved her lips. Flanking her were Karlamine, Riser's Knight, her claymore resting on her shoulder, and Isabela, his Rook, cracking her knuckles in anticipation.

They had somehow managed to sneak past our frontlines...

"You really thought we'd waste time fighting your pitiful servants?" Yubelluna sneered. "Please, we aren't that incompetent."

Karlamine's sharp blue eyes locked onto me. "You're the human Riser insisted be part of this game. Let's see if you're worth his concern."

Isabela rolled her shoulders, stepping forward. "I'll take either one of you on. Doesn't matter to me."

Rias scoffed, unfurling her devil wings. "You're wasting your breath."

I clenched my fists, my armored fingers tightening around the hilt of Clarent. "If you think you can take us, try it."

Yubelluna's eyes gleamed as she rose higher into the air. "With pleasure."

The moment she spoke, the room erupted into combat.

Karlamine lunged toward me, her claymore a silver blur. I barely had time to raise Clarent to parry before the impact sent a jarring shock up my arms. She was fast. Faster than I expected.

I twisted my wrist, redirecting her blade before pivoting and slashing toward her exposed side. She dodged at the last second but still got grazed, stepping back just as Isabela charged toward me, throwing a powerful punch.

I blocked it with my armored forearm, the sheer force of it sending me skidding back across the wooden floor and out of the balcony.

"You're strong," I admitted, rolling my shoulders as I landed softly on the ground outside the building. "But not that strong."

Karlamine and Isabela exchanged glances before attacking in unison, jumping from the balcony. Karlamine's blade slashed downward, aiming for my head, while Isabela moved to strike from the side.

I activated my magic, my red lightning crackling across my armor as I surged forward. Rather than retreat, I closed the distance between us.

Karlamine's sword barely missed my shoulder as I ducked beneath her strike, twisting to slam my gauntleted fist into Isabela's ribs. The force of the impact sent her crashing through one of the nearby trees.

Karlamine didn't let up, spinning around to slash at my exposed back. I twisted, blocking her attack just in time before forcing her weapon away.

"You're better than I expected," she admitted, adjusting her stance with a heavy breathe.

I smirked beneath my helmet.

Meanwhile, above us, Rias was engaged in a deadly aerial battle against Yubelluna.

The sky was ablaze with magic as Rias and Yubelluna exchanged explosive attacks. Rias' destruction orbs carved through the air, forcing Yubelluna to dodge while launching her own explosive spells.

"You can't win, Gremory," Yubelluna taunted, her voice laced with amusement. "You've already lost!"

Rias didn't respond. Instead, she raised both hands, summoning a massive sphere of destruction before hurling it toward Yubelluna.

The Queen of Riser's peerage barely managed to escape the blast, but the resulting shockwave sent her tumbling backward.

Below them, I could see Isabela recovering, shaking off the debris before launching herself back into the fight.

Damn it. They weren't going down easily.

I braced myself. It is time to eliminate them.

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POV: Issei Hyoudou –

I ran alongside Koneko through the shattered halls of the simulated Kuoh Academy battlefield, heading toward the west wing. The sounds of combat echoed all around us—explosions, battle cries, and the distant crackling of magic.

Kiba had been engaging Riser's remaining forces near the student council building, holding off a group of enemies by himself. We had to back him up before he got overwhelmed.

"Boost!"

The familiar surge of power flooded my body as the green jewel on my gauntlet pulsed. My legs pushed faster, the ground blurring beneath me. Koneko kept pace beside me, her expression cool and unreadable as always.

We turned the corner and saw Kiba locked in combat with three opponents.

His blade clashed against a sleek katana, its wielder moving with precise, calculated strikes—Shuriya, Riser's Knight.

To the side, a women with a maids outfit—Bülent, one of Riser's Pawns—was swinging massive blows at him, forcing him to dodge.

The last of the group, a woman in a maid outfit—Marion, another of Riser's pawns. She was firing arcane blasts that forced Kiba to keep moving, not giving him room to breathe.

Despite being outnumbered, Kiba was still holding his own, his speed keeping him just ahead of their attacks. But I could tell—it was only a matter of time before they cornered him.

I grinned. "Looks like we got here just in time."

Koneko didn't hesitate. She sprinted forward, closing the distance with Bülent.

I rushed toward Shuriya, who was focused on Kiba.

"Oi! You forgot about me!" I shouted, throwing a heavy punch straight at her side.

Shuriya barely managed to parry my fist with her katana, the force of my strike still sending her skidding back.

I didn't stop. I boosted forward, slamming my gauntlet toward her again. She dodged, trying to reposition, but Kiba took the opening—his sword flashing as he went for her exposed side.

She barely blocked in time, gritting her teeth.

"Not bad," she muttered.

Meanwhile, Koneko and Bülent were trading blows.

Bülent swung with raw power, each attack cracking the stone walls of the hallway. But Koneko was faster, slipping through her defenses and delivering a brutal counterpunch straight into her ribs.

Bülent staggered, gasping, but recovered quickly.

Marion raised her staff, preparing another spell.

Not on my watch.

I launched forward, planting my hands on her shoulders.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Dress Break!"

A pulse of energy rippled outward, shattering her robes into nothing.

Her scream of horror echoed across the battlefield.

Grayfia's voice rang out.

"Riser's Bishop has been retired."

Shuriya's attention flickered toward Marion's elimination for a split second—just enough for Kiba to capitalize on the opening.

His blade pierced through her guard, slicing across her chestplate.

She gasped in pain before her body flashed, teleporting away.

"Riser's Knight has been retired."

That just left Bülent.

The tall, muscular Pawn let out a battle cry, attempting one last desperate attack—but Koneko was already one step ahead.

She slipped past her guard, twisting her entire body into a brutal uppercut.

The impact sent Bülent flying through the air before slamming into the far wall.

The stone cracked around her.

She groaned weakly before vanishing in a flash of light.

"Riser's Pawn has been retired."

Koneko dusted off her hands. "Done."

Kiba exhaled, standing straight as he wiped sweat from his brow. "Thanks for the backup."

I grinned. "Don't mention it."

Just as we were about to regroup with Rias—

A massive explosion erupted across the battlefield.

The force of it shook the ground beneath our feet, sending shockwaves in every direction. Flames roared in the distance, and I immediately felt my stomach drop.

Then, Grayfia's voice rang out over the battlefield.

"Rias Gremory's Queen has been retired."

Silence followed.

Akeno was gone, Riser with his massive flaming wings hovering above the fading Akeno.

Rias' strongest piece had just been eliminated in an instant.

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POV: Shiori Oreki –

The moment the explosion ripped through the sky, I knew something had gone wrong.

I skidded back, Clarent raised defensively, scanning for the source.

But the battlefield was eerily quiet.

Then Grayfia's voice confirmed it—Akeno was gone.

I tightened my grip on my sword, my armor scorched but still intact. Across from me, Karlamine and Isabela had already been retired, their bodies disappearing moments before the explosion.

"Riser's last Rook and Knight have been retired."

Above me, Rias hovered midair, her face pale as she processed the loss of her Queen.

And Yubelluna?

She was gone.

Not eliminated—just missing. She had disappeared in that moment of distraction.

I narrowed my eyes, stepping forward cautiously. "I knew this was becoming too easy," I muttered.

Rias descended slowly beside me; her hands clenched into fists. Her rage was palpable.

"She was the strongest piece I had," Rias murmured, her voice trembling with suppressed fury. "And he took her out just like that."

I exhaled sharply. "This isn't a game anymore. We need to eliminate Riser; he still has his Queen and Bishops."

The dynamics were actually pretty good for us, Riser had no pawns, rooks, or knights left. We still had Kiba, Koneko, and Issei. Losing Akeno made things difficult especially since Yubelluna is still kicking along with both of Riser's Bishops.

Rias' crimson eyes flickered with determination. She turned to me, her expression resolute. "This ends now."

I nodded, gripping Clarent's hilt tighter.

No more waiting. It was time to go straight for the enemy king.

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A/N: So what do you guys think? Any constructive criticism is welcome. Also, be sure to leave a review and power stones as that is my motivation.