High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 18: Chapter 17: Leveling Up and the Captain’s Resolve

Day two of training. Everyone’s sharpening their skills based on my feedback from yesterday. To streamline things, Miu, Tia, and I split duties. I’m guiding Kiba and Koneko-chan, the frontline fighters. Miu’s teaching Akeno-san and Asia magic. Tia’s coaching the captain one-on-one, then me afterward.

Kiba’s blindfolded, dodging my attacks to sense presence and airflow. It’ll make him faster than sight, even against blind-spot strikes. His defense is weak. One big hit could end him. This training boosts his evasion, perfect for him.

”Not easy, this training...” Kiba mutters.

”Obviously. Next one!” I swing a rolled-up newspaper. It smacks his head, probably the hundredth time.

I tap the stick on my shoulder. ”Another hit. In a real fight, you’d be done, Kiba.”

”Haha... still haven’t got the knack,” he chuckles.

Knack, huh? Expecting him to nail it first try is unfair. I struggled too. I cross my arms, thinking. ”You can sense an enemy’s presence, right?”

”Yeah, that much I can do.”

”Sharpen it. Clear your mind, calm as still water. Picture a sphere around you. React to anything entering it.”

”A sphere...” Kiba murmurs, breathing deeply.

His aura shifts, subtle but sharp. Seconds later, he says, ”Issei-kun, I’m ready.”

”Here goes.” I swing. The stick cuts air. Kiba dodges, leaning back smoothly.

So quick, even with just a hint. Talent? Experience? Impressive either way.

”Not bad,” I say.

”Finally,” he grins.

”Keep it up. We’re going harder.”

”Bring it, Issei-kun.”

Kiba starts dodging single strikes, then chains evasions blindfolded. He’s getting it.

Koneko-chan’s training is about cloaking her fists and feet in magic. As a Rook, her strength is already high. We’re making it devastating. She’s pummeling a mountain boulder.

”Koneko-chan, focus your magic into one point,” I call.

”Focus... Hah!” Her fist lands, blasting a deep crater, bigger than yesterday’s.

She’s soaring with just a nudge. She’ll be a beast post-training.

”Good! Hold that and go again.”

”Understood.” She hammers the rock, strikes thundering. Her control’s shaky, but better than yesterday. Each hit steadies her magic.

I stop her after a bit. ”Feeling it?”

”Somewhat,” she says softly.

”Then let’s try combat. Power’s useless if you can’t hit a moving target.”

”Yes, Issei-senpai.”

In sparring, Koneko struggles at first, balancing movement and magic. By the end, her power stabilizes.

”Pure bliss...” I sigh, soaking in the bath after dinner. Kiba finished earlier, leaving it nearly to myself. Spacious, relaxing, perfect.

Miu and Tia updated me earlier. Akeno-san and Asia mastered basic spells. The captain’s getting magic condensation. She teared up over Tia’s tough coaching, but... hang in there, Captain. It’s for you.

Everyone’s grasping the basics on day two. Their talent’s unreal, quick to learn, quick to grow. Even we trainers agree. Me? I’m nowhere near them.

”True, partner,” Ddraig rumbles. ”Your talent was near zero. But effort got you here. I’m proud.”

”Thanks, man. How do we look?”

”Talented, fast-growing. But beating Phoenix in ten days? Tough. His immortality’s a problem.”

Yeah. Raiser regenerates instantly, limbs gone, then back in a blaze. Can the captain outpace that? Training’s just started.

”Worst case, you take him down,” Ddraig says.

Without Balance Breaker? Rough.

Muttering, I step from the bath, then the door slides open. Tia, blue hair flowing, steps in, radiant.

”You’re here, Issei,” she says smoothly.

”Tia!? This is the men’s bath!”

”I know. Thought I’d join you. I’ll wash your back, familiar bonding.” She smirks.

What!? Tia, saying that? Erotic familiar bonding? Dragon King boldness! Her human form’s stunning, where do I look? Brain, save this! Perfect curves, perfect everything!

She chuckles. ”My body’s that interesting?”

”I’m a guy, so...”

”Fine if you look. Want to touch?”

Touch? Dragon King assets, up for grabs? She grabs my hand, guiding it to her chest.

Squish.

Soft, plush perfection floods my senses.

”How’s it feel? Curious about women, right?” Tia teases.

Is this her personality? Adult confidence? My virgin brain’s overwhelmed! My hands move on instinct, male urges before a divine form!

”Ah...” A sultry sound escapes Tia.

Nosebleed. I pass out.

”Those were... incredible...” I mumble later, reeling. Dragon King boldness. That sensation’s burned into me.

I hit the terrace to cool off, can’t sleep like this. Training’s tomorrow; I need rest. Someone’s there.

”Oh, Issei. What’re you doing up?” The captain, on a bench with a book, wearing rare glasses.

”Cooling off. Glasses, huh? Unusual.”

She removes them. ”They help me focus. Do they look odd?”

”Nah! Sharp, gorgeous scholar vibe. Totally works!”

Different, but stunning.

”Studying for the Rating Game?” I ask, noting her tactical book.

She sighs. ”Just for peace of mind. Nothing serious.”

”No confidence in winning?”

”Confidence... What do you think of this game, Issei?”

”Your family and the Phoenixes are putting you in an impossible spot.”

”Exactly. It’s rigged for me to lose. A chess swindle.”

Set up for Raiser, an immature devil against an immortal pro.

”Their miscalculation was you being here,” Ddraig says.

”True,” she says. ”But I won’t let you fight alone. We’ll win as a team. I’ll become a king worthy of you. That’s my goal.”

”Bold resolve, Rias Gremory. Hold it. Strivers grow endlessly, like my partner,” Ddraig says.

”Absolutely,” she replies.

A king worthy of me, huh? I’ve got to step up.

”Why refuse the engagement? Just dislike Raiser?”

His personality’s rough, but for a Gremory, rejecting a noble match seems tough.

She sighs. ”I’m a Gremory.”

”Yeah, and?”

”That name follows me everywhere.”

”You hate it?”

”No, I’m proud. But everyone sees me as Rias of Gremory, not Rias. I want someone who loves me, not my family. Selfish, I know, but I won’t budge.”

She gazes far off. Just a girl, devil or noble aside, wanting love for herself. A normal wish.

”You’re just a girl too, huh?”

”Hm?”

”To your family or the Phoenixes, it’s selfish. Nobles marry for status. But your feelings? They’re normal.”

I continue, ”I became your servant because of you. I trusted you to become a devil. If you weren’t my master, I wouldn’t have.”

”Issei...”

”The game’s scary. But relax. We’ve got you.”

It’s not just her. Akeno-san, Kiba, Koneko-chan, Asia, we’re all in. If she calls us family, she’s ours too. I’ll fight for her.

”Captain?” Her cheeks flush faintly.

”Thanks, Issei. I feel lighter. A younger guy saying this... I’m heading to bed. You?”

”I’ll stay a bit.”

”Rest well. We’re counting on you tomorrow.”

”Got it, Captain.”

Days pass. Training ends. Everyone’s tackled my regimen, not perfect, but vastly improved. We’ve done all we can.

Now, we face Raiser in the Rating Game.