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"Aaaggghh... Finally, some time to relax..."

Issei’s groan echoed through the cozy living room of the mountain mansion they were using as their training base.

After a massive dinner and a long, hot bath, he had changed into a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of shorts, now sprawled out lazily across the plush couch.

"Today’s training was no joke... but man, we’re definitely getting stronger," he muttered, stretching his limbs as if trying to shake off the lingering aches.

Sitting nearby on a single-seater sofa was Kiba, dressed casually in a t-shirt and long pants. He glanced down at his hand, sensing the power coursing through it—stronger and sharper than ever.

Not only had his physical strength improved, but his mastery over his Sacred Gear, Sword Birth, had grown dramatically.

Every sparring match with Erika and Aria pushed him beyond his limits.

Though he had yet to win even once, and was regularly left bruised and battered, the pressure and desperation to overcome them had unlocked new depths of power within him.

His swordsmanship had evolved as well. Gone were the days of relying solely on speed and finesse. He had learned how to imbue every strike he delivered with the weight of his own body and strength.

"Yes! I’m healing way faster now too! And my magic... I can feel it getting stronger!" Asia chimed in, pumping her small fists in front of her in excitement. The long sleeves of her pajamas fluttering.

"Mm," Koneko murmured softly, nodding in agreement.

She was in the middle of finishing off a sakura cookie from the tray on the table, her cheeks adorably puffed out like a chipmunk. And the moment no cookie was present in her hands, she reached for a chocolate one next from the pile on the plate that rested on the table before them.

To accompany their snacks, Yuuji had thoughtfully brewed them jasmine tea, its calming scent filling the room and relaxing both body and mind after a grueling day of training.

This gesture painted him in a new light for the members of Rias’s peerage.

At first, Yuuji’s presence had been intimidating. His overwhelming power, mysterious background, and striking appearance made him seem distant and unapproachable.

But now, they saw the other side of him.

He was kind. Considerate. Attentive in ways that mattered.

Asia, Koneko, and Kiba had all come to deeply admire and respect him—not just for his strength, but for the way he guided and cared for them. Even Issei, though still a bit jealous of Yuuji’s good looks and the attention he received from both Aika and Erika, couldn’t help but acknowledge him.

Issei raised his arm, wincing slightly from the soreness in his muscles, and stared at the back of his hand.

Like the others, he could feel how far he’d come since their training began. His body was tougher, his endurance greater. He’d even learned some hand-to-hand combat from the relentless beatdowns delivered by Erika and the fierce, tan-skinned Aria.

And this foundational growth? It would only multiply with the power of his Boosted Gear.

He had also started dabbling in magic, joining Asia in her meditations to grow his meager magical reserves. He wasn’t there yet, but something inside told him he was close... just a little more, and he’d hit a breakthrough.

No. He would reach it. Tomorrow, for sure.

The Rating Game was drawing closer. There was no time left to slack off.

Lowering his arm back down, Issei stared at the ceiling, his eyes distant—focused on something beyond it.

"Speaking of which... Where are the president, Akeno-senpai, Yuuji-san, Aika-san, and Erika-san?" Asia asked, placing a thoughtful finger to her lips as she glanced around.

"Ah, the president and Akeno-senpai are currently in the study. Yuuji-san seemed to be teaching them strategies and tactics to be used for Rating Games." Kiba answered, pointing up to the second floor.

"Aika-san and Erika-san said they’ll be gone for a bit... I don’t know where they went." Koneko added before stuffing herself with the most delicious cookies she had ever tasted.

"Oh, I see. Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai are working hard... I need to work hard too!"

Asia stood up and made her way back to her room to meditate, using the chance to further improve her control over her magic and sacred gear.

Issei watched Asia’s receding back as she left with a bit of a jog in silence for a moment, before pushing himself up to his feet and rubbing the back of his head.

"I’ll be heading back to my room now to rest. Good night, everyone."

"Good night, Issei-kun. Don’t stay up too late and get plenty of rest. We still have to wake up early tomorrow." Kiba nodded with a knowing smile.

"Yes yes." He waved at Kiba and Koneko, and left for his room.

"I hope he gets some rest..." Kiba muttered, a helpless smile adorning his face as he watched the stairs leading up to the second floor where Asia and Issei disappeared.

"...I bet he’ll fall asleep before he knew it after just a bit of meditating." Koneko quipped, snorting softly from her nose.

"Hahaha, that might actually happen. But he’s trying his best... That alone would bring about some results and improvement. At this point, any slight improvement we make will make a difference."

Kiba’s smile slowly disappeared as his expression turned into one of melancholy.

And at his words, Koneko also began to munch slower, her stoic face now reflecting a thoughtful expression.

"Well, I’ll be retreating to my room as well. See you tomorrow, Koneko-chan."

"Mm... Good night."

Kiba raised to his feet and picked up all of the glass cups aside from the pot of tea and Koneko’s cup to place in the kitchen sink before going back to his room to meditate for a bit before going to sleep and rest in preparation for another day of intense training.

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Meanwhile, in the study enchanted with soundproofing, anti-divinity barriers, and anti-teleportation magic, Yuuji took out his MGCX Supercomputer before projecting a glowing, three-dimensional tactical projection of the Rating Game field rendered by Ai at Yuuji’s request—the Kuoh Academy.

The field of battle for the Rating game hasn’t been announced.

To Rias and Akeno, this was simply one of the many fields they would be using to learn strategy and prepare them for any kind of situation when the time comes.

Though Yuuji, knowing the future, intended to focus the strategy they’d be using with Kuoh Academy as their battlefield.

Rias sat with her legs neatly folded to one side on a low cushion, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulder, eyes focused and serious. Beside her, Akeno sat upright, composed as ever, but with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Yuuji tapped on a button, and figures of Rias and Riser’s peerage appeared.

"Alright," Yuuji began, his tone firm but calm. "You already know that this won’t be a fair fight in terms of endurance. Riser’s regeneration thanks to his Phoenix lineage makes him absurdly difficult to finish off. But that doesn’t mean you’re at a disadvantage."

He flicked his fingers, and Riser’s figure came to attention, his shit eating grin irking the two ladies looking at it.

"Riser’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness: his arrogance," Yuuji began, his tone calm yet calculating. "He fights like someone convinced of his own invincibility. Too prideful to rely on strategy, and too reckless to realize his flaws. He’ll likely try to overwhelm you with sheer numbers. That’s exactly what we’ll exploit. "

Akeno’s eyes narrowed, and a wicked smile curved her lips. "So we turn his pride against him."

"Exactly." Yuuji nodded approvingly. "But before we get into that, you need to understand his formation."

He rotated the battlefield projection with a flick of his wrist, tapping several of Riser’s pieces to highlight them.

"Riser’s peerage consists of fifteen members. Aside from himself, they’re all female—typical for a noble who treats his peerage like a personal harem."

Rias winced slightly at the comment but nodded without protest.

"Let’s assume his base is in the new school building," Yuuji continued, gesturing with a wave. "And yours will be here—in the old school building."

With Ai’s help, the projected pieces shifted smoothly into position on the battlefield, each icon representing a member of their respective teams.

"Now, tell me—what do you think he’ll do?"

Rias rested her chin on her hand, brows furrowed as she studied the map. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke.

"He’ll rush us. Use his numbers to launch a full-frontal assault and try to crush us with brute force."

Yuuji nodded. "And if that’s his plan... what would you do?"

"We move first," Rias said decisively. "Divide into several groups, isolate his peerage, and defeat them separately. Since Riser will likely separate from his peerage to show off, I’ll go with Asia to face him directly. My Power of Destruction counters his regeneration well."

Yuuji turned to Akeno. "Do you agree?"

Akeno tapped a finger to her lips, deep in thought. "I’d prefer we eliminate his peerage first. If we focus our entire force on one group at a time, we could overwhelm them. Once they’re out of the way, we can all attack Riser together. Even his regeneration won’t keep up."

Yuuji smiled softly. "Alright, let’s evaluate your strategies. We’ll begin with Rias’s."

He moved the icons on the map: Koneko and Issei paired together, Kiba and Akeno positioned alone, while Rias and Asia stayed at the rear.

"This plan hinges on each group winning their battle. If Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Issei can defeat Riser’s peerage, it works."

Rias frowned, her voice firm. "They can. I believe in them. They’re stronger than his peerage."

Yuuji nodded in agreement. "And I believe in them too. But if something unexpected happens—an ambush, a Phoenix Tear changing the outcome—it won’t be so simple. You might win, but at a cost. Injuries could make you vulnerable for the final confrontation, or worse... you could lose."

Rias went silent, her confident fa?ade faltering. The weight of Yuuji’s words sank in. Her unwavering faith in her peerage wasn’t wrong—but it had blinded her from seeing the flaws in her plan.

She wasn’t devising a strategy based on certainty. She was gambling on belief.

"A solid strategy," Yuuji said gently, "is one where victory is assured by logic, not just by faith."

"...I understand."

Turning to Akeno, Yuuji continued, "Your strategy is also valid. Focusing all your power on one group at a time ensures control—if executed quickly. The problem is speed. If you don’t eliminate each group fast enough, the others will regroup, and Riser could arrive with reinforcements.

Then you’re back to square one, facing a dangerous enemy with support. "

Akeno’s gaze dropped, her expression thoughtful. She understood the risk. Riser alone was already formidable—adding even a few of his peerage to the mix would tip the battle in his favor.

"Then... what do you think he would do, Yuuji-kun?" Rias asked, voice steady but curious.

Yuuji smiled and reset the battlefield once more. He moved Riser’s icons across the map—some in the courtyard, others inside the gym, and several more concealed among the treeline near the old school building.

"I believe Riser will use his numbers to surround your base. He’ll attack from all sides, picking off your team one by one. It’s not just about defeating you physically—he’ll try to break your morale and force you to surrender."

Rias clenched her jaw in frustration, while Akeno’s eyes flashed with anger.

"So if I were you," Yuuji continued, tapping several points around the old school building, "I’d lay traps."

Small symbols appeared at each marked location.

"Explosives. Snares. Ambush points. We’ll use the tactics of the outnumbered—guerrilla warfare. Strike hard, strike fast, and disappear. Make them bleed for every inch they take."

Yuuji’s voice grew more focused, resonating through the room like a commander addressing a war council.

"This won’t be a war of brute strength. It’ll be one of attrition, precision, and fear. You have fewer pieces—but that only means every move must count."

He turned to the girls, his gaze sharp.

"Let’s break it down."

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