Everyone was gathered in a cabin that served as the starting point for the Rating Game; this was the home base for Rias's group.
"The plan wi—" (Rias)
Rias tried to present a plan to win the Rating Game with what she knew, but a finger was placed on her lips, making her blush. The individual was Hyoudou Issei, smiling behind his blindfold.
"Don't worry about plans and just follow me, for I have mapped out the route to victory." (Issei)
Rias and the others wanted to contradict him, but they felt so reassured by it; it was enough to simply follow that blindfolded young man and victory would be the final destination.
"What do you suggest??" (Rias)
Rias and all the others looked at Issei as he smiled as if he already held the advantage in his hands; this confidence affected even them, and the lingering nervousness vanished.
"Just follow me. No complicated plans or anything of the sort will be necessary; that idiot is going to lose." (Issei)
Everyone smiled, thinking Issei was going to do something stupid, but they were willing to commit the greatest of follies by his side because such was the power of the charisma he emanated.
"Are you sure about this course??" (Qin)
"Would you do it differently??" (Issei)
"Not in the slightest." (Qin)
Issei walked out smiling with everyone following behind him; the entire group moved as one upon seeing that blindfolded man lead.
...
"Isn't she doing something stupid??" (Sona)
Sona was following Rias's Rating Game through devil channels and other sources; she was together with Tsubaki and her group of evil pieces.
"It seems they've gone mad or desperate." (Tsubaki)
One person behind them was laughing while watching that blindfolded boy; that blonde young man looked at Issei with admiration while holding an absolute certainty.
"They're going to win." (Saji)
Sona and Tsubaki were incredulous. Saji had returned in a strange way after that church event; he admired Issei as his idol and bragged about him constantly.
"Why do you think that??" (Sona)
"Because that's the same kind of smile Issei made when he annihilated the fallen ones—a smile that says victory is in his hands." (Saji)
Sona and Tsubaki were confused seeing Saji like this; the rest of Sona's group also looked at Saji, even more confused by him contradicting the presidents.
...
Issei continued walking with all the members of the group behind him. The members of the group seemed to march like an army led by their King, but the king should have been Rias and not Issei.
"Akeno..." (Issei)
Akeno understood what Issei meant and simply smiled as her hands created a magic circle upwards; a high-level magic soon followed and was intercepted by this circle.
"That must be Riser's Queen." (Rias)
"Take care of her and return to us when you've finished with it." (Issei)
"Are you so sure I'll win like that??" (Akeno)
"I will give you my body for you to play sadomasochism all night long if you return victorious." (Issei)
Issei continued walking with the rest of the group while Akeno opened her eyes and emanated a very powerful thunder element aura; she licked her lips thinking about her reward.
"I'm going to regret that later." (Issei)
"I know you will." (Qin)
"Will he give me a date when he commands me??" (Rias/Asia)
"Issei-kun knows how to motivate people." (Kiba)
"She is just as perverted as senpai." (Koneko)
The group walked calmly as sounds of magic and explosions from Akeno's battle with Riser's queen echoed; they seemed a bit worried, but all of that was broken when they saw Issei walking as if it were nothing.
"Koneko, can you handle his pawns??" (Issei)
"I think I can." (Koneko)
"Then that will be your function. I will buy you the best sweets if you win." (Issei)
Koneko didn't show it, but she was very happy when Issei made that promise to her; the loli knew the boy would keep it no matter what.
"Kiba, I want you to use your speed to circle the map. There should be no one faster than the Knight of Rias Gremory on this battlefield, so if Koneko needs help or anyone else, I know you will be able to arrive to assist. Use your speed also to rescue the wounded and take them to Asia." (Issei)
Kiba gave a nod as he began to move as ordered by Issei. Asia and Koneko looked at the boy in front of them, asking for commands on what to do.
"Rias and Asia should deal with the magic types—deal with Bishops, Rooks, and any other kind of wild card. You two are more than capable at your current level." (Issei)
"And you??" (Rias)
Rias was worried about her pawn; she knew the boy wouldn't just stand by watching while his companions fought. Issei had a plan.
"I'm going to ensure that the Emperor's Route to victory isn't ruined." (Issei)
Issei said goodbye to Rias as she and Asia were already locating the group to be combated. Hyoudou already had his eye on one person and even removed his blindfold, unable to contain the excitement for what was to come.
"Your plan is crazy and ingenious." (Qin)
"I know it is." (Issei)
"Do you think we'll win??" (Qin)
"The Emperor's Route has already been traced; there is no way we can lose." (Issei)
"HAHAHAHA" (Qin)
"HAHAHAHA" (Issei)
...
Issei went to the place where a certain person was—a man in a red suit with very hot flames. He seemed not to expect the young man without the blindfold to arrive.
"Where is Rias??" (Riser)
"She is walking the route I traced: The Emperor's Route." (Issei)
Issei put himself in a battle stance while Riser found that man strange; he seemed much more powerful than before, but he was just a low-class being; he shouldn't take him seriously.
"It seems you've arrived with a pathetic strategy." (Riser)
Riser thought the battle was already won as he summoned his powerful flames to burn Issei to ash; the fire he summoned was enough to burn down the entire building they were on top of.
"Disappear!" (Riser)
Issei continued smiling as both his hands gained more muscle mass; his Ki and demonic power were strengthening his entire body.
"Ox Style: Wall of Flesh." (Issei)
Issei's two hands attacked Riser's flames; a massive shockwave was generated, one that could be seen throughout the Rating Game location as his flames were forced open, creating an opening.
"My turn." (Issei)
Issei jumped into the opening made by his defensive style. The opening had Riser in the middle of those parted flames; the blonde man was very surprised—too surprised.
"Monkey Style: Right Arm of the Gorilla." (Issei)
Issei concentrated his muscular strength into his right arm; his arm became extremely strong after that, and Riser was even more terrified to see this strange type of martial art punch him in the face.
"Fly." (Issei)
Riser was caught off guard as he was sent flying down from the building where they were; the high-class devil was very hurt and shocked to be sent plummeting.
"What a terrifying fellow." (Riser)
Issei was already in front of him with the same smile as always; that smile irritated Riser to the maximum, and the man summoned his flames once more to burn everything in the building.
"Insolent!!" (Riser)
Issei escaped this by jumping out of what remained of the building after it was destroyed by Riser and him in just two blows.
"Come." (Issei)
"You bet I will." (Riser)
Riser used his flames and flaming wings to fly at high speed and engage in close-quarters combat with Issei.
The short, brown-haired boy smiled at Riser's fury and waited for his attack—a fist wrapped in his demonic fire magic and strengthened by the Phoenix clan bloodline.
Issei dodged Riser's blow with ease and didn't dare touch his fist because of the flames; his instincts warned him not to be burned by them.
"Take this one too!" (Riser)
Riser delivered a kick with his left leg at Issei; the young man jumped over the blonde-haired man as he saw the flames on his leg being launched forward.
Issei moved his hand to deliver a powerful punch to Riser's face; the blonde-haired man did the same. Neither was willing to back down, and they ended up trading punches and kicks.
A right punch hit Riser again, and a left kick hit Issei's stomach; the blow made both groan, but they still continued the exchange with a punch to the brown-haired man's face and a thunderous slap to Riser's.
"This bastard!!" (Riser)
"This is fun!!" (Issei)
Issei pulled back as Riser became more and more enraged by taking hits; the man propelled himself with his flames to use his flames concentrated in his fist once more.
"Take this!!" (Riser)
"I don't want it." (Issei)
Issei gave a quick spin to avoid the punch and the explosion that would be generated by Riser's high-level power and grabbed the same arm he used to attack, returning the force exerted.
"Monkey Style: Branch Breaker." (Issei)
Issei broke Riser's arm the moment he grabbed his hand and gave a powerful headbutt to the man screaming in pain.
"I'm feeling the same pain as him, but I'm not screaming, hahahaha." (Issei)
Issei was laughing mentally as he watched Riser screaming in pain from his arm and the headbutt; the man could regenerate and yet he still did that.
"We are reaching our limit; we are using too much of our body to withstand the blows you are causing him and also to stay on his level." (Qin)
"Yes, I've been fighting for a very short time and I'm already very tired. This guy is incredible!!" (Issei)
"Praising an enemy who hates you is a bit terrible." (Qin)
"I can recognize capable people; a pity I can't say the same about him." (Issei)
Riser was in a massive fury as he summoned the most powerful flames he could due to his thunderous wrath; his fire was all concentrated in his hands as he looked at his opponent ahead.
"You will turn to ash and die!!" (Riser)
"Already lost your composure??" (Issei)
Issei concentrated his Ki and demonic power throughout his body; he felt that Riser's blow would be much more powerful than the previous one and would be the most powerful his adversary could give.
"I'll use my most powerful move too." (Issei)
The energy of the two reached its peak at that moment; the environment around them was divided between a very powerful fire and an overwhelming aura.
"Feel honored for taking me to this point." (Riser)
"I am truly honored." (Issei)
The two advanced at the same time as they looked into each other's eyes; Issei was preparing both his hands for the coming blow, Riser was preparing his flames energized by his wrath in his fist.
"Turn to Ash!" (Riser)
"Tiger Style: Fangs of the King." (Issei)
The two blows collided. Issei's blow was his two fists imitating a fang to attack; Riser's blow was his flames. The two met and destroyed all the asphalt and buildings nearby; the shockwave hit the entire Rating Game field.
"I won!" (Riser)
Riser emerged from those flames and waves of destruction with his body heavily damaged but being regenerated by the flames; he was looking in the direction his opponent was, wanting very much to see Issei's face.
"Not yet." (Issei)
Issei revealed himself before those flames; his body was burned by Riser's flames, he was very wounded by the blonde.
"You're going to die in that state." (Riser)
Issei smiled when Riser said that to him; Hyoudou was certainly very hurt for an ordinary person, but Qin Shi Huang's pupil would find these wounds still very light.
"This is nothing!" (Issei)
Issei surged forward toward Riser, and his left leg kicked the man in the region of the stomach and ribs; the blonde was surprised by the speed that still remained in his enemy—admirable.
"Horse Style: Swift Kick." (Issei)
Riser intercepted Issei's kick and delivered a headbutt to the heavily wounded boy; Hyoudou refused to back down and did the same as Riser to advance with a headbutt.
"How persistent!!" (Riser)
Issei's hands didn't stop and made a movement similar to monkeys clashing cymbals, but they were clashing against Riser's head.
"Monkey Style: Jolly Chimp." (Issei)
Riser temporarily lost his hearing when he took this blow and was then kicked once more into the distance by Issei; he didn't get furious this time, he felt pity.
"Do you really think you can defeat me??" (Riser)
Issei didn't drop his smile as he continued fighting Riser; the two exchanged punches and kicks fiercely at every instant.
Rias Gremory's pawn received punches a few times and staggered toward fainting, and Riser received some blows that made him reel back and even bleed; his regeneration healed all the punches, kicks, and any broken bones.
"Did you really think you could beat me??" (Riser)
Riser threw Issei away with a punch to his face; the man who wore a blindfold before didn't stand up anymore; he settled himself to sit on the ground.
"No." (Issei)
Riser was frightened by that simple "no"; a thunderbolt hit him full force when he heard that word from that serious, smile-less face.
"Wh—" (Riser)
Riser had no time to breathe when he was thrown away with a punch from a small but very powerful hand.
"What the—" (Riser)
A very painful blade passed through his entire body as he flew because of the punch; that blade seemed to be of the water element.
"Time to settle the score." (Rias)
The crimson-haired woman stole Issei's line as she summoned her powerful demonic power with her innate talent for the power of destruction; this power hit Riser full on and left him on the brink of death.
"Attack him up to a certain point of regeneration so as not to kill him." (Issei)
Asia was behind Issei, healing his wounds, and it seemed it would take a very long time to leave him as good as new.
"What the hell is this??" (Riser)
"The Emperor's Route!!" (Issei/Asia/Rias/Kiba/Koneko/Akeno)
Riser continued to be suppressed by Kiba with his water element swords, Akeno's powerful and fast lightning, Koneko's strong fists, and Rias's power of destruction.
"I cannot defeat him; I cannot bypass his regeneration with my current power, but I can exhaust him and I can stop him for a certain time." (Issei)
Hearing this, Riser became more furious for having been caught in a trap by that boy in an extremely fragile state.
"How??" (Riser)
"You were always dancing in the palm of my hand; you didn't win this Rating Game for even a moment. The pieces you had were already eliminated. My eyes don't just have the annoyance of feeling the same pain as whoever I see, but they can also see Ki points, and that enabled me to see your strength through Ki and that of your comrades." (Issei)
Issei was a bit more normal as he spoke, but still very wounded, and Riser continued looking at him while being beaten by the Gremory group.
"You overestimate yourself too much and cannot see the real capacity of your opponents or your own; I can see the real capacity of my enemies and my own." (Issei)
Issei was very disgusted to admit that he was weaker than Riser and needed plans to beat him—that he needed special methods beyond a fair one-on-one combat.
"I am weaker than you, I'm even weaker than my mistress Rias if she trains seriously and sets aside the tactical side. I'm not ashamed to admit that." (Issei)
Issei was still very wounded when he approached a furious Riser; the blonde glared at him very angrily as he used all his strength to regenerate from the group's blows and couldn't focus on attacking, only defending.
"I lost in our one-on-one; I lost the battle, but I will win the war." (Issei)
Issei staggered as he reached Riser, who was burning intensely because of his anger; the rest of the group retreated when this happened, but the brown-haired boy only smiled at those flames as he stood in front of him.
"ISSEI!!!!!!" (Riser)
"As a King, I cannot lose to a spoiled idiot like you who only does well because of status and lineage." (Issei)
Issei was being burned by the flames of Riser's fury; his body was returning to its previous state, but he didn't back down as his open right hand struck Riser's neck to leave him unconscious.
"Pawn Hyoudou Issei of Rias Gremory has left the battlefield." (Voice)
"King Riser Phoenix has left the battlefield. Victory for the Gremory Group." (Voice)