It had been a few days since I helped Issei save Rias from that Raiser's crispy ass.
I was currently chilling, leaning against the window in history class. The sun was out, the clouds were lazy, and the breeze was basically singing a lullaby.
MC: "Ahhh... perfect weather for a nap."
Unfortunately, we were learning about some rich old Asian dude from 1862 or something. Honestly, I didn't catch the full name because halfway through, I mentally clocked out.
Two and a half hours later...
I looked at the clock, my soul barely hanging onto life.
MC: "Finally. Sweet nap time... here I come."
I smiled, ready to slam my face onto the desk and snooze like a champion. But just as my eyelids began their beautiful descent into dreamland-
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned to look, and there he was: Kiba.
And goddamn, the sun must've been hitting him just right because he had that stupidly handsome face glowing like he was about to sell me car insurance or something.
I swear I saw flowers blooming around this dude.
Kiba: (smiling warmly) "We're needed for a meeting today."
MC: (narrowing my eyes) "No. Nope. I reject this reality."
I immediately tried to run for it.
I almost made it too, but Kiba's other hand grabbed my other shoulder, locking me down like a damn pro-wrestler.
Kiba: (grinning) "Nope."
Kiba then proceed to drag me down the stairs.
MC: "NOOOOOO! I DON'T WANNA GOOOO!"
I think I even produced actual tears from my eyes at that point.
Some girls passing by giggled. I felt my dignity float away like a balloon.
Five minutes later...
We arrived at the Occult Research Club.
And there they were, standing and sitting like they were posing for a freakin' fashion magazine:
Akeno, Asia, Tsubaki, Ruruko, Momo, Sona, and Rias.
Meanwhile
Issei and Saji were there too...
Looking as average as a stale loaf of bread compared to the models surrounding them.
MC: (sighing dramatically) "This better be good."
Sona looked up and smiled at me like a cat who just trapped a mouse.
Sona: "Good, you arrived."
MC: "Yeah, but not out of my own will."
Kiba stood next to me, still smiling like the traitor he was.
Sona(grinning): "Good work, Kiba."
I slumped into a chair while the room chuckled.
Sona clapped her hands together.
Sona: "Now, to the main point. We'll be holding a mock battle."
MC:( already zoning out) "Maybe if I fake fainting they'll let me nap..."
Apparently, from what little I managed to pick up between my daydreams about sleeping under a tree, it was going to be a 1v1 battle type deal.
MC: (thinking)"So... basically a fighting game setup. Like Street Fighter or something? Cool."
I tuned in just in time to hear the matchups:
Sona: "The matches will be as follows:
Me vs Issei
Kiba vs Saji
Tsubaki vs Akeno
Ruruko vs Koneko
Asia vs Momo
And finally, Sona vs Rias."
I blinked a few times.
MC: "Wait hold up... Asia vs Momo? THAT'S ILLEGAL. I REFUSE."
I stood up like a lawyer defending my client. Issei agreed with me.
Issei:"Ya she not a fighter but a heal so why is she fighting!"
MC:"YA, SHE MENT FOR LOVE NOT WAR!"
Rias:"She is also one of my peerage, have faith in her."
Me and issei looked at Asia, she was blushing, she then spoke.
Asia:"Ya guys, I can do this."
She raised her two hands with such an adorable face it could melt your heart.
MC:" Fine but the second shit goes bad I'm stepping in."
Everyone ignored my and issei very reasonable protest.
Sona clapped her hands again.
Sona: "Alright, let's move to the arena!"
She snapped her fingers dramatically, and suddenly we were in a giant training hall with a massive, shiny arena in the middle.
Pretty sick, not gonna lie.
Before I could even stretch properly, she snapped her fingers again.
Boom.
Me and Issei were teleported right onto the arena platform.
I looked at Issei, who was already doing some awkward warm-ups like he was about to run a marathon in jeans.
I cracked my neck casually.
MC: (grinning) "Yo, you ready dude?"
Issei: (nervous smile) "Yeah! Just uh, don't forget to pull your punches, dude."
I smiled back at him.
A big, devilish grin spreading across my face.
Issei: (sweating instantly) "Y-yo dude... you do know this is just a sparring match, right? We don't gotta go full death match!"
MC: (widening grin)"Oh, I know."
Issei: panic setting in "I-it's p-possible to forfeit, right?"
I titled my head creepily and grinned.
MC(Grinning)"Nope."
Suddenly, Rias raised her hand.
Rias: "Begin!"
Issei: "WAIT WAIT WAIT-!"
Bell rings
I stood there, cracking my knuckles, a huge grin spreading across my face as I tilted my head.
Steam escaped lazily from my mouth.
I could already feel the excitement buzzing in my veins.
MC:"Come on, Issei, show me what you got!"
Issei took a deep breath in... then out...
He looked serious now - way more serious than usual.
Issei:"Okay... let's do this!"
A flash of red light exploded around him, and the Boosted Gear appeared on his arm, roaring like an angry beast.
The ground beneath us rumbled slightly as he screamed, his armor materializing across his body.
Issei:"Promotion!! Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!"
Full dragon armor, shining red with emerald green jewels.
Honestly? He looked badass.
I couldn't help but grin wider.
MC:"Heh... nice cosplay, bro."
Issei's eye twitched.
Issei:"Tch! You won't be saying that when I'm done with you!"
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!
The gear kept chanting as his power started rising fast.
I just crossed my arms and waited.
With a loud roar, Issei boosted toward me, cocking his fist back like a cannonball.
At the last second, I infused my arms with Haki - they turned pitch black like polished iron.
CRACK!
His punch slammed into my crossed arms, unleashing a shockwave that cracked the stone floor under us.
Dust flew up around us.
I didn't move an inch.
Not even a millimeter.
When the dust cleared, I tilted my head and smiled.
MC:"Ooooh, nice punch. Felt like getting slapped with a wet sock."
Issei:"WHAT?!"
His eyes bulged.
It was like he punched a freaking building.
Before he could even blink, I reached out and grabbed him - one hand around his face.
MC:"Yeet."
I casually threw him across the arena like a frisbee.
BOOM!
He bounced across the floor, arms and legs flailing.
Issei:"GAAAHHH!"
I wiped my hands dramatically, like tossing away a tissue.
MC:"Hehe, nice try though."
Alright, got it!
I licked my lips, stretching my body and looking at issei.
MC:"Let's make this one to remember, partner."
Issei slammed his fists together, his armor gleaming crimson under the sun, the Boosted Gear roaring louder and louder.
Issei:"Yeah!! LET'S GO!!"
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!
The chant echoed in my ears as he shot forward like a bullet, fist cocked back.
I grinned and countered.
MC:"GUM GUM PISTOL!!"
My arm stretched back and snapped forward like a whip, slamming into his incoming punch.
BOOOM!
The impact created a shockwave that shattered the tiles beneath us.
Both of us slid back, digging trenches with our feet.
Issei:"Heh... Not bad!"
MC:"Same to you!"
Without missing a beat, I slammed my hands into the ground, launched myself into the air like a slingshot.
MC:"GUM GUM ROCKET!!"
I blasted toward him like a human missile.
Issei boosted again, flaming aura exploding around him, his gauntlet surging with energy.
CLAAAAASH!
We collided midair, fists meeting like crashing meteors.
The sky above us split with the force, clouds spiraling away.
We both flipped back, landing heavily.
Issei boosted forward once again, his wings flaring.
Issei:"DRAGON SHOT!"
A massive beam of crimson energy erupted from his hand, spiraling toward me like a dragon's breath.
I grinned wildly.
I then armed myself haki and took that blast head on-
BOOM!
-as the smock cleard it could be seen thst i was unharmed.
Issei's jaw dropped.
Issei:"WHAT THE HELL!?"
I didn't give him time to breathe.
I spun, my foot stretching high above me.
MC:"GUM GUM STAMP!"
My foot slammed down toward him like a hammer.
He barely managed to dodge, air exploding beneath my strike, the ground cratering.
Issei boosted sideways, circling me like a red comet, charging energy into his gauntlet.
Issei:"DRAGON BLASTER!!"
He fired another massive blast, this time wider and more ferocious.
I launched upward, rubberizing my body mid-spin.
MC:"GUM GUM BAZOOKA!!"
My palms stretched back, then hammered forward into the blast-
KA-THOOOOOM!
-the explosion broke apart, scattering harmlessly around me.
Issei was already behind me, his gear moving fast.
Issei:"BOOSTED STRIKE!"
He slammed into me shoulder-first, sending me flying across the arena like a ragdoll.
I flipped midair, bounced off the ground once, twice - then landed on my feet.
MC:"Not bad, dragon boy!"
Issei:"You're insane!"
He charged again, this time faster than before -
I met him head-on, stretching my arms wide.
MC:"GUM GUM BALLOON!!"
I inflated my body massively, and his punch sank into me like a trampoline.
Issei:"HUH?!"
BOING!!
The force rebounded, slingshotting him backward through the air.
MC:"You're wide open!"
I compressed both fists back, twisting my body like a spring.
MC:"GUM GUM ROCKET!!"
My fists hit his face making his nose bleed.
Issei roared, he then summoned a bug red energy blast that sent me flying.
MC:"!!"
I went back but instantly ran back out him and swing my fist back
MC:"GUM GUM PISTOL."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Our fist kept connecting, as I smiled. I then was able to punch him in the chest making him step back a bit, I took that chance and then.
MC:"GUM GUM BAZOOKA!!"
CRASH!!
The impact sent him flying straight into the arena wall, embedding him like a cartoon character.
Dust and rubble rained down.
For a moment, silence.
Everyone held their breath.
Then...
A low rumble.
The wall exploded outward, and Issei staggered forward, panting but his still standed strong.
Issei:"You... bastard... I love this!"
MC:"Heh. Same here."
I could hear the gasps from the stands.
Everyone was watching wide-eyed.
Rias:"It seems... they're evenly matched?"
Akeno's laugh sent chills down my spine.
Akeno:"Fufufu~ It appears so. How thrilling."
Kiba narrowed his eyes at me, clearly remembering what happened back when I helped Issei save Rias.
He whispered under his breath.
Kiba (whispering):"This... doesn't seem right."
Koneko just stood there, munching on a cookie like this was popcorn-worthy entertainment.
Koneko:"...He's scary."
Asia, sweet Asia, was jumping up and down in her seat, waving her arms.
Asia:"Go Issei! You can do it!"
Rias leaned closer to Sona, whispering:
Rias:"It looks like Issei has the upper hand."
Sona pushed up her glasses, smirking so hard I could almost hear it.
Sona:"You think so?"
Suddenly, Sona stood up.
My instincts screamed at me the moment she opened her mouth.
Sona:"LEVI!!!."
I instantly stopped.
I dodged Issei's next wild punch with a quick backstep, landing lightly like a feather.
I looked at Sona - her glasses were gleaming, and she had the expression of a mafia boss about to pull the trigger.
Sona:"End this."
I sighed loudly, throwing my head back.
MC:"Man... I was just starting to have fun."
Issei, poor dude, looked so confused.
Issei:"End what?! What's happening!?"
Everyone else looked just as lost.
I cracked my neck, feeling the excitement bubbling again. Well... guess it's time to stop playing around.
I dropped low, flicked the ground with my finger -
SSHHHHHH!!!
Steam exploded out from under me.
My whole body started glowing with a pinkish tint, veins bulging slightly under my skin.
MC:"Gear... Second."
BOOOM!
A shockwave erupted around me.
The dust spun into mini-tornadoes as I stood up straight, steam pouring out of my mouth and shoulders.
Dead silence.
Everyone just stared.
Rias:"WHAT THE HELL!?"
Akeno clutched her cheeks like she saw her favorite celebrity.
Akeno:"Ara ara~ He looks delicious."
Asia's eyes literally turned into glowing stars.
Asia:"So... coool..."
Koneko dropped her cookie.
Koneko:"...Impossible."
Kiba muttered, clearly traumatized.
Kiba:"I knew it..."
Even Saji and momo from my group leaned forward, jaws open.
Issei, brave dumbass that he was, pointed at me, his whole arm shaking.
Issei:"Y-Your skin's glowing! You think that'll scare me!?"
I cracked my knuckles again, steam rising off me like a train engine ready to explode.
MC:"Hope not."
I dropped into Luffy's signature low stance - loose arms, wide legs, fists trembling slightly with the force I was holding back.
Issei gritted his teeth.
Issei:"OKAY, BRING IT ON-"
In a blink, I was gone from where I stood.
Instantly, I appeared above Issei.
MC:"GUM GUM JET PISTOL!"
WHAM
My punch crashed down onto his face, slamming him into the ground hard enough to shake the entire arena.
The floor cracked, a crater exploded under him, and the shockwave blew everyone's hair back.
Issei's dragon helmet shattered, fragments flying everywhere.
Blood splattered from his mouth as he coughed and groaned.
And then... he stopped moving.
Out cold.
I stood over him, blowing the steam from my fist like a gun.
MC:"...Maybe I went too far?"
I scratched the back of my head, awkwardly laughing.
Around me?
Chaos.
Rias's whole peerage just lost their minds.
Rias:"WHAT THE ACTUAL FU-!!"
She looked at Sona like she wanted to strangle her.
Akeno was practically vibrating with excitement.
Akeno:"I think I'm in love~"
Asia ran forward, tripping over her own feet.
Asia:"Issei!! Nooo!!"
Koneko didn't move.
She just stared at me like I grew three heads.
Koneko:"...He's too strong."
Kiba shook his head.
Kiba:"I don't even think Sirzechs-sama could do that casually."
Meanwhile, Sona just sat back down, crossed her legs, and smirked smugly at Rias.
Sona:"First match... mine."
Rias's eye twitched so hard I thought she was going to break something.
She slammed her hands on the railing.
Rias:"SONA!!"
I looked around, rubbing my neck, realizing that maybe, just maybe...
I overdid it a little.
MC:"Heh... my bad."