The Seraphic System
The Rating Game – part 2

The Seraphic System

Chapter: 78

Disclaimer: I don’t own High School Dxd or any other universe used in this story. 

Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.

(The Rating Game)

-{Taje}- 

He slipped through the window unnoticed, landing without any sound in what identified as the gym building. Galadriel was wrapped around his upper torso, peeking out from his clothing. 

Riser's Rook, Xuelan, and Bishop, Mira along with his two Pawns, Ile, and Nel, were stationed inside, oblivious to the silent Assassin watching them. 

Their voices echoed softly through the empty space.

"I still don't get it," Xuelan muttered, stretching her arms behind her head. 

"Why is Lord Riser acting so... cautious? He’s never been like this before."

Mira frowned. "It’s weird. He’s usually so confident. Trading Ravel out for a different piece seemed unlike him. He’s been acting weird ever since he came back from the Familia Forest.”

"You think he's scared?" Ile asked, bouncing lightly on her heels. "I mean, it is the Gremory girl. Her brother is Lucifer."

Nel scoffed. "Please. Like Riser-sama would ever be afraid of some spoiled princess. He probably has a plan we don’t know about. Especially with that man he supposedly found, we all know was given to him by his Father.”

They all nodded, reassured by their own words. Then, the temperature dropped.

A low hiss escaped Galadriel as she released a potent steam, the air instantly growing thick and heavy. A dense mist unfurled across the gym, curling along the floor and swallowing the light.

He sent a raised eyebrow to the serpent, it almost seemed like she had her own grudge against the Phenex group. 

"The hell?" Xuelan snapped to attention, her eyes darting around. "Who's there?!"

A soft whisper of movement answered her.

"Stay close!" Mira called, summoning a small magic circle in her palm, casting faint light into the fog. "We’re not alone!"

Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed as Nel stumbled forward, clutching at her arm or rather, the stump where it used to be. Blood sprayed across the gym floor. She collapsed, writhing in pain.

"Nel!" Ile screamed, rushing to her sister’s side. 

Galadriel’s mouth opened and mist gathered into a bolt of energy, it shot out and sent Ile flying through multiple walls. In an instant the Lucifuge woman’s voice rang out with a hint of surprise.

“Riser’s Pawn Nel, had been eliminated.”

“Riser’s Pawn Ile has been eliminated.”

Taje emerged from the mist, eyes glinting coldly in the dim light.

"You bastard!" Xuelan roared, her fists glowing as she lunged forward, aiming a strike at his head.

He side-stepped effortlessly, catching her wrist mid-swing. With a sharp twist, a sickening crack echoed through the air, and Xuelan cried out as her arm bent unnaturally. 

He flung her aside, her body skidding across the floor.

He knew he may be going a bit harsh, and this hadn’t been explicitly ordered by his Lord but it was the quickest way in his opinion. 

By the way Galadriel hissed in approval anyway. 

Mira raised her hands, a complex magic circle forming. "Fireball!" she shouted, launching a blast of flames that instantly consumed half the room. 

The ethereal smoke around her hardened and dozens of tendrils bound her, only for Taje to appear. Mira could react, his palm slammed into her chest, sending her crashing into the wall. 

“Riser’s Phenex’ Bishop Mira, has been eliminated.”

Only Xuelan remained conscious, trembling as she pushed herself onto her knees. "W-what… what are you?" she whispered.

Taje tilted his head, watching her struggle. "Irrelevant."

With a flick of his wrist, she collapsed, unconscious. 

The gym grew silent.

“Riser Phenex’ Rook Xeulan, has been eliminated.” 

He raised his eyebrow and in a burst of speed excited the gym just as a massive explosion consumed it. 

Riser’s queen glared furiously, swishing her staff and a massive explosion erupted. Heading directly to the Assassin only to disappear in a strange fragmented space in front of him. She could only scream as she was consumed by her own explosion. 

She scowled and tried to stabilise herself wobbly within the air, only for a blast of energy that erupted out of Galadriel’s mouth to strike her, sending her exploding through multiple walls. 

“Riser Phenex’ Queen Yuebelluna, has been eliminated.”

“That’s …”

“That’s 5 out of the twelve of them.” He calmly said, swirling his sword. 

At that moment, two figures blurred in. Looking around seriously and warily. 

Karlamine’s eyes burned with fury, her sword drawn and ready. "I don’t know who you are, but you’re done."

Siris flicked her wrist, summoning her blade with a sharp clang of steel. "All this damage… and you’re alone?" She scoffed. "You’ll regret not running."

Taje tilted his head, eyes cold and unreadable.

They moved as one, Siris darting low while Karlamine went high, their blades whistling through the air. Taje slipped between their strikes with fluid grace, the steel passing harmlessly by. 

Karlamine spun, sword flashing towards his neck. He ducked, sliding beneath her swing, and delivered a sharp kick to her ribs. 

She grunted, skidding back.

Siris lunged, her blade thrusting forward. 

Taje twisted, catching her wrist mid-thrust. Their eyes met for a split second before he wrenched her arm sideways, the sword clattering to the ground. 

Siris gasped, swinging her other arm in a desperate punch only for him to catch that too.

He swept her legs out from under her, slamming her into the ground with a sickening thud. Siris groaned, trying to push herself up, but a sharp boot to the stomach knocked the wind from her lungs.

Karlamine roared, flames erupting around her blade as she charged again. "I’ll cut you down! I won’t allow you to interfere with Riser-Sama’s victory. That little slut will marry him if it’s the last thing I make happen as his knight.”

Taje sidestepped, his movements so smooth they felt almost lazy. Her sword carved through empty space, and in the same motion, he delivered a brutal elbow to her face. Blood sprayed from her nose as she stumbled back.

"You fight well," Taje remarked, sidestepping another thrust. "For middle-class devils."

Karlamine growled. "Shut up!"

She feinted left, then pivoted, her blade slicing through the air in a deadly arc. For a moment, it almost looked like she’d landed the hit until Taje caught her sword with two fingers.

Karlamine’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What…?"

He twisted her wrist, forcing her to drop the blade. It clattered to the floor as he spun behind her, wrapping an arm around her neck and pulling her close. 

With his other hand, he pressed a small glowing rune against her back.

"What did you—?" Karlamine struggled.

Taje aimed, he knew where the other team’s starting point was and where Riser Phenex most probably was. He launched her, and watched as she flew through the air. Landing through the building.

A large explosion was let off. 

She wouldn’t die. That would be against the rules. He had studied for this task extensively. It was his chance to prove he was useful. The rune exploded outwards, meaning she would be eliminated from the impact of being thrown into the building more than anything else. 

A deafening boom shook the air, flames and debris erupting skyward. 

The shockwave rippled through the battlefield,

“Riser Phenex’s Knight Karlamine, has been eliminated.” The voice rang out, still composed but the undertone of shock was much more noticeable.  

Taje turned back to Siris, who was still gasping for air. 

She tried to push herself up, trembling, but he crouched beside her, tilting his head. 

Before she could move, Galadriel slithered out from his clothing, her scales glimmering faintly in the low light. 

She reared back, releasing a plume of steam that enveloped Siris.

For a moment, Siris gasped, eyes darting wildly as the steam clouded her vision. 

Galadriel’s body turned massive and she flicked her tail, sending the knight flying through the air.

“Riser Phenex’s Knight Siris, has been eliminated.”

“Eight out of twelve.” He mused.

There was silence as none came to him. 

He thought about it logically. Losing so many pieces so quickly was making them panic and retreat. 

They were with their king. 

That was the conclusion he came to.

It didn’t take long to find the Devil Heir. 

There, at the center, stood Riser Phenex. 

His golden hair shimmered in the flickering light, a smug expression plastered on his face as he stood flanked by two of his remaining pawns: Marion and Burent.

But it wasn’t just them.

A fourth figure stood at Riser’s side, a man Taje didn’t recognize. 

Tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding a quiet power that marked him as high-class. 

His gaze was almost bored, as if none of this mattered to him.

“So, you’re the one causing all this trouble.” Riser’s voice echoed through the courtyard, arrogance laced with a hint of something else. 

Something… uncertain. His eyes flicked over Taje, brow furrowing. "My pieces aren’t weak, you know. You must be quite skilled."

Taje said nothing, stepping forward.

Burent growled, flames sparking to life around her fists. "Let’s just kill him!"

"No." The unknown man stepped forward, raising a hand to stop her. His eyes locked onto Taje’s, his expression cold. "I’ll handle this."

Marion and Burent moved to the sides, ready to strike at a moment's notice. 

The high-class devil slowly rolled his neck, magic building around him. "I don’t know who you are, but this ends now."

Taje inclined his head. 

The man lunged.

His speed was impressive, a blur of motion as he closed the gap in an instant, fist crackling with raw magical energy. 

Taje sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike as the ground behind him exploded into rubble.

Marion and Burent attacked in sync. 

Marion’s chains lashed out, trying to ensnare him while Burent unleashed a torrent of flames. Taje moved like smoke, slipping between the attacks with ease. 

The chains snapped around empty air, and the flames washed over him, doing nothing.

"Stay still!" Burent roared, launching herself forward, fists blazing.

What a stupid thing to say. Taje thought, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. 

Taje caught her wrist mid-punch. She gasped as his grip tightened, bone grinding beneath his fingers. 

“Stay still.” He boredly reiterated. 

With a sharp twist, he wrenched her arm behind her back and slammed her face-first into the ground. 

The stone cracked beneath the impact.

"Burent!" Marion screamed, her chains shooting forward once more. 

This time, they wrapped around Taje’s arm. She pulled tight, trying to lock him down.

He simply yanked her forward, her feet leaving the ground as she flew towards him. The last thing she saw was his fist before darkness claimed her.

"Riser Phenex’s Pawn Burent, has been eliminated."

"Riser Phenex’s Pawn Marion, has been eliminated."

The high-class devil snarled, magic surging around him. 

He conjured a massive spear of dark energy, launching it forward. Taje moved, faster than the eye could track, weaving through the attacks like water. 

The devil’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible…"

In a blur, Taje was in front of him.

A single punch.

The high-class devil’s ribs shattered, the force sending him crashing into a nearby wall. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.

"Riser Phenex’s… guest, has been eliminated."

Riser stood alone.

For the first time, there was no arrogance in his eyes. Only fear.

"You…" Riser stepped back, shaking his head. "You’re not supposed to be this strong." His hands trembled, flames flickering weakly around his fingers. 

"What are you?"

Taje tilted his head. "Again, Irrelevant."

Riser’s face twisted with rage. 

"Irrelevant?!" He threw his arms wide, flames erupting from his body. "I am Riser Phenex! I am immortal! You think you can kill me?!"

The courtyard erupted into flames.

A massive wave of fire surged forward, consuming everything in its path. The ground cracked beneath the heat, stone melting into slag as the inferno roared to life.

Taje leapt, twisting through the air as the flames chased him, narrowly avoiding the deadly heat. 

He landed behind Riser, but the Phenex prince was already moving.

"Burn!" Riser roared, launching massive fireballs into the sky. They hovered for a moment before plummeting down, each one a miniature sun, screaming towards Taje.

He didn’t move.

The fireballs reached him… and passed through.

Riser blinked. "What…?"

The air shimmered.

The fireballs reappeared.

Right behind him.

They slammed into his back, explosions tearing through the courtyard. flames consumed his body as he crashed into the ground. 

For a moment, silence.

Then he rose, his body rapidly regenerating. He scowled. 

That was going to be a problem. 

Galadriel opened her mouth and a strange stream of black-white mist impacted Riser, who coughed and sputtered. A strange aura surrounded him, making his skin appear dark and an aura of pure white surrounding his frame. 

The snake then launched a blast of that strange energy it used and the Devil heir was sent flying back. A massive wound on his torso that noticeably didn’t heal.

So that’s why his lord sent Galadriel. 

Some sort of power distortion?

It looked like it was draining the snake's energy fast so he didn’t waste any time. 

Riser backed up in fear as a realisation came over him. “W-wait.” 

His face was pale. 

“I surrender.” He hurriedly called out, just before Taje could get to him and he disappeared from sight.

“Riser Phenex has been eliminated.”

Taje nodded, satisfied. 

That had gone well. 

-{Rias Gremory}-

Rias and her peerage stood still, eyes wide as they tried to process what they had just heard. 

Ten minutes. 

In that amount of time he had wiped the floor with a peerage and its master.

Just who was this guy?

-END-

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