Five against one was an unfair fight in every respect, but most devils did not see it that way when the group of five consisted only of servants, and their sole opponent was a noble devil.
From what I could determine by analyzing their features and weapons, those who invaded the throne room included two Rooks, two Knights, and a Bishop. At least, that's how an intelligent person would form a group against the enemy king.
Placing pieces as Pawns to attack a King would be stupid. Of course, a Pawn could be promoted to a Queen on reaching enemy territory, but the sacrifice required to make this move work was often not worth it unless the Pawn was naturally very strong.
That's why Diadora Astaroth deployed most of his Pawns to stop Makima's advances while reserving his strongest pieces to attack me.
This was a superficial analysis, made in the heat of the moment as I dodged the attacks of five devils wielding swords, knives, and spears. Still, most superficial analyses are accurate because they focus on the obvious.
'They're fast.'
The blade of the spear in my hands sliced through the air as I twisted the handle to deflect a downward strike from a sword. In the next instant, I stepped back and felt the air to my left being torn apart by the movement of a dagger that passed inches from my face.
'They're definitely very skilled too.'
But I was more. After all, Grayfia Lucifuge trained me.
During another dodge, the tip of my spear bounced off the stone floor of the throne room, and I used it as leverage to propel myself backward, out of line with the opposing Bishop. As I landed, my feet slid across the ground, and I looked at my five opponents.
Diadora's Bishop was clearly the one at the back, holding an ornate staff. She hadn't attacked yet, which meant her magic was something I had to worry about.
The two Knights were positioned aggressively, both with double-bladed swords.
And the Rooks... Well, if one of their heavy axe or mace strikes landed, my devil-may-care stamina would be the only reason I'd still be standing.
Diadora was dumb in many ways, but not to the point of assembling a weak team. If these five were against me, it was because he considered them strong enough to take me down.
My right hand clenched the spear's handle, and I smiled. 'Let's see if he's right.'
The Knight on my right was the first to charge at me. Her form blurred completely before she materialized in front of me, her silver blade slicing through the air toward my neck. She was fast. I was faster.
I spun the spear, and the tip struck the side of her sword, deflecting the blow. Her eyes widened in surprise, but I wasn't finished yet. In the same instant, my leg rose for a front kick that connected with her abdomen.
She was thrown backward, but I didn't have time to finish her off right there because I had to move from where I stood to dodge a Rook's blow.
The mace she carried smashed into the ground where I had stood, creating a crater where the mace hit. I inhaled deeply and gathered magical power in the palm of my free hand. A light blue sphere glowed between my fingers, and then I launched it high into the air.
'Water Blade Rain!'
The sphere exploded, and instantly hundreds of crystalline drops materialized in the air. Each drop was shaped like a needle, and they fell in a murderous storm around me.
The Bishop raised her staff and conjured magical barriers to protect herself and her companions, but I had expected this.
While the storm of blades distracted the group, I used Alchemy to reshape the ground beneath their feet.
The dark stone shattered, and the ground beneath the Knight I had struck earlier suddenly rose, forming a column of stone that hurled her upward. The look of shock on her face lasted only a second before I propelled myself with water magic and appeared above her.
"Power of Destruction!"
My hand glowed red, and I touched it to her back. A wave of crimson energy exploded from my palm, sending the Knight hurtling like a meteor into a distant wall.
[The entity 'The Firmament Exile' is watching your battle from a standing position.]
[100 credits have been donated.]
"Kyyyahhh~! Milicas-chan has started work too! The first Knight of Diadora-chan is out of combat!" announced Serafall Leviathan.
I landed on the ground, and at the same moment, another Rook advanced against me. This time, the blade of her axe swung in a sideways arc to cut me in half.
I spun my spear to catch the handle of her axe at the last second, stopping the attack. I then closed the distance between us, touched her metal breastplate, and a bluish glow illuminated our faces. The material of her light armor transformed into a viscous state and dripped like a wax candle under the sun.
Her eyes went wide, but I didn't give them a chance to react. I raised my knee and hit her stomach hard, sending her to the ground with a loud thud.
[The entity 'Hermit of the Golden Moon' admires your intelligence and insight during the battle.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
'Two down.'
But then came the pain.
A blade tore through my left shoulder, and a deep cut opened up. My eyes flashed, and I found the remaining knight beside me. She had hit me and was already preparing for another attack.
Out of reflex, I moved my spear, spun it in the air, and hit the lower end on her hand, disarming her. Before she could think to stoop to pick up the fallen sword, I moved my leg, and in an instant, she was already on her back with my boot pressed against her throat.
"Sorry about that," I said, driving the spear between her collarbones, making her disappear in a heap of shiny particles.
At the same time, those I knew sitting in the stands were shocked by what they were seeing.
"Oh. He's really very good," Koneko commented. "Issei-san, you should look up to him more."
A vein bulged on Hyoudou Issei's forehead. "HEY! I'm your partner. You should try to cheer me up, not the other way around!!!"
Rias Gremory was sitting a little lower. "But Koneko's right, Issei-kun. You have a lot of anger towards Milicas because of that night with Asia. You should take advantage of the fact that he likes to train and call him sometimes."
"Y-You… You're right about that... I'll apologize to him later."
Rias sighed, and Akeno smiled.
Genshirou Saji, unlike Issei, knew how to admit it when he saw someone strong. He was slack-jawed as he watched the first Rating Game of his life.
"Are all battles like this? So... brutal?" he asked aloud.
Sona Sitri nodded. "Most are. However, there are many variations of the classic Rating Game, so some are more fun and lighthearted, usually done between people who have some friendship or connection... For example, if one day I needed to fight Rias and her peerage, it wouldn't be good for us to use an aggressive method like the original Rating Game."
Rias laughed briefly at Sona's categorical answer. "That's right."
However, while the staff of the Occult Research Club and the Kuoh Academy Student Council watched it as a simple game — and for most of the viewers, that was the case — there were others who were outraged by Diadora Astaroth's pieces performance.
"How can he be so weak? He doesn't know how to choose his pieces properly!"
"Five against one and they only hurt Milicas once! Useless!"
"While they're being defeated, the spoiled brat is sitting there and just listening. What does he think he is? A Maou!"
"The difference between them was that ego went to the head of the heir to the Astaroth clan!"
"Milicas-sama obviously wouldn't be weak, but it's surprising that he can cope so well with the numerical disadvantage!"
"Besides, what kind of magic was he used to melt that Tower's armor?"
"Young Milicas had a plan formed, and Diadora went proudly with his chest showing! HAHAHA!"
[The entities are having fun with the audience's reaction.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
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