Part 2
[Akeno is drawing the attention of their Queen. Their remaining Rook and Pawn have also last been sighted at the town center, although we can't confirm their next steps due to losing Gasper.]
Gasper. While Buchou gives us an update on the current situation, I clench my fist. That half-vampire has always been afraid of other people. But he did well. He may have been defeated, but his ability to scout was invaluable for us today.
[That's as much as we can do from this side. It's up to you three now, Asia, Xenovia, Ise. Make me proud.]
“Yes, Buchou!” all three of us respond.
I look over at Xenovia and give her a nod. Immediately she starts to move ahead silently through the wood to lead the way. After relocating our base, the three of us have crossed the river and made a beeline for the Everfree Forest. Covered by the dense vegetation, we've taken a path parallel to the river. It's a stealth approach towards the enemy base.
“Let's go, Asia-chan,” I say, reaching my hand out to her.
“Yes, Ise-san.” She grabs onto my hand with her delicate fingers.
“Stay close to me. I'll protect you.” I have mixed feelings as I follow Xenovia. Bringing Asia wasn't my idea, but I can see why having a healer with us will be useful, seeing that we'll be cut off from support, even if our attack is a success.
At any rate, I can't let anything happen to Asia. There's gotta be something that can take my mind off the grim situation. Then Xenovia squats down and signals us to halt. Woah! That skin-tight leather combat outfit is really something. Not only is it great to blend into the shadows, it also shows off her curves perfectly.
“There they are,” she whispers.
“Eh?” Turning my head, I can see past the treeline. We've really made it all the way here to the enemy base undetected.
Let's see. I can see two of the ponies. A yellow pegasus and a blue one. That would be Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Looks like they're having a conversation.
“Are you really alright with this?” Rainbow asks.
Fluttershy nods. “Yes, this is the best way. I'm no longer allowed to heal and you've lost your weapon and armor in the fight. This way at least, we can still be useful.”
I see. They must have gotten stuck with defending the base, because they would no longer be helpful at the front lines. But I wonder where Luna, where their [King] is. I had expected her to be here.
“Hm, that's true. As much as I hate to admit it, we're not gonna be able to fight normally. At least we get to go out with a bang.” Rainbow looks at her friend with a mixture of compassion and sadness. It's a side of the brash flyer that's all new to me. “It's okay to be scared, you know.”
Fluttershy holds one hoof up to her chest. “You know, that's the strange thing about all this. I'm not really afraid. I was terrified, going into this Game. But seeing Spike today, doing everything he can and more, it somehow gave me confidence.”
“I know what you mean. He was so worried about not being helpful. But now it looks like he's turned out to be our most dependable player. Well, he's still not as awesome as me, but he's certainly going up on the radicalness and coolness scales.”
“What's our plan?” I ask.
Xenovia readies Ascalon and looks straight ahead. Looks like she's still not able to fully control Durandal, so she's using the holy sword I lent her. “Our primary goal is to get you that [Promotion]. I'll draw their attention. Then you can go and …”
“Eh?” All of a sudden we find ourselves face to face with a golden and red bird, that seemingly came out of nowhere on silent wings, and landed on a branch in front of us.
“What is that thing?” Xenovia asks.
My eyes go wide as it cocks its head to look at me. Wait, I recognize that bird! I saw it at their base. “Crap!”
Suddenly Philomena spreads her wings and a flash of light blinds me. It's so bright that it actually hurts. I can hear her wings flap as she flies off, squawking loudly as she goes.
“We've been discovered. Charge!”
“Wait, Xenovia!” Dammit, I can hear her crashing through the bushes towards the enemy. If I don't back her up, she's gonna be in trouble. So I also stand up and charge forward.
“Ise-san!” I'd have preferred it, if Asia stayed hidden. But she's not letting go of my hand and blindly stumbles after me.
We make a mad dash across the clearing towards the enemy base. My eyesight is slowly returning. Good. Now I can make out vague shapes. Xenovia seems to be a few steps ahead of me. Surprisingly she's spot on.
“Ahh!” Swinging Ascalon high over her head, she then brings it down towards Fluttershy. “Guh!?”
Suddenly something weird happens. Xenovia's hand is brought up short, the blade hovering inches in front of the pony.
“Ah?” When my eyes meet hers, I can suddenly feel it. My whole body stops cold, and Asia behind me has also stopped running. What is this?
“Good girl, Philomena,” Fluttershy compliments the bird that has perched itself on top of her head. “Thanks for the warning.”
What is this weird ability? I can't stop looking into her eyes. This pony, who has always looked so frightened when around us, suddenly meets us with a steely gaze that has sealed all of our movements. Does she have a Sacred Gear? Is this the same as Gasper's [Forbidden Balor View]?
“Kuh!” Xenovia grunts, trying with all her might to take that final step. Her whole body is shivering under the strain. So it's not like Fluttershy has stopped time. This has to be something different.
The pony grits her teeth, and there's a bead of sweat standing on her forehead. So she must be straining to keep this up as well.
“Ise, promote yourself to [Rook].”
Looking at Xenovia from the corner of my eye, I ask: “Why [Rook]?” My instinct is always to promote myself to [Queen] in a situation like this.
“Maybe the increased offense will allow you to break through this technique, whatever it is. We also don't know what that other one is up to, so more defense won't hurt.”
I get it, but that makes me even more worried somehow. I can't see Rainbow Dash anywhere. She's right though. A balanced upgrade won't do me any good, since I'm no good at magic to begin with. But I can bring the increased offense and defense to bear in a fight.
“[Promotion!] [Rook!]” It's the first time I'm taking on the powers of a [Rook] in an actual Rating Game. Such incredible strength is welling up inside me. Is this how much Koneko-chan feels all the time? “Nnnnnggghhh!!!” It's doing something, but despite the immense strength I'm using, I only manage to take a single step forward. “No good. It won't make a difference.”
“You won't break through my Stare so easily,” Fluttershy says with determination in her quiet voice and redoubles her efforts. Feels like I'm being crushed by gravity itself. “I can't hold you forever, but I can hold you long enough to make sure she has enough time to pick up speed.” Then she smiles grimly. “Two pieces for three. That's a good trade.”
I'm getting a really bad feeling. They are planning something after all. The girls must have noticed it, too.
“I see,” Xenovia says. Then Ascalon suddenly vanishes from her hand, and I can feel the dragon-slayer sword return to my Boosted Gear. “If that's the case, I have no choice.” With a superhuman effort, she holds her hand out to the side. “Saint Peter. Saint Basil the Great. Saint Denis. Holy-mother Mary. Please hear my voice.”
Wait, I've heard that chant before. Space is becoming distorted next to her and the hilt of a large sword, bound by chains, is sticking out of it. Xenovia is straining to lay a hand on it.
“I … won't … let you.” Fluttershy. I'm starting to think that this demure and kind mare has the strongest will of them all, if she can compete with that of a holy-sword user like Xenovia.
“In the names of the saints whom reside within this blade, I will release it. Durandal!” Screaming the name of her holy sword, she manages to touch it with one finger and the chains instantly break.
Xenovia pulls the sword from the other dimension and instantly gets into a stance in front of Fluttershy, panting heavily. I see! Durandal's holy aura protected her once from the effects of Gasper's time barrier. The same must be true here. Even if she can't wield it at full power, the aura itself will be useful.
She must be aware that she's been beaten, but Fluttershy nonetheless smiles in the face of certain doom.
“I see.” Xenovia seems to have realized something. “I wasn't fast enough and I can only protect one.” Holding the sword in front of her, the golden aura swirls and condenses around it. Then it suddenly detaches and latches on to me, covering my whole body. “Ise, you'll have to go on without us.”
Go on without you? What do you mean, Xenovia? Then something crashes down from the heavens between us. It's so fast that all I can see is a blue streak.
The earth shakes violently upon impact and all of us are hit by an immense force. It's like we've suddenly been stuck in the middle of a tornado. The sound is, as if the earth itself is roaring at us with a deep voice and continuing to reverberate through the air.
BOOOOOMMMM!!!
“Ise-san!” Asia screams, and despite my best efforts, I can't hold on to her hand. Then a second shockwave hits me and sweeps me off my feet. My trait as a [Rook] and Durandal's holy aura protect me from major damage, but I can still feel the impact in my chest. It's as if someone pushed all the air out of my body.
Flying through the air like a ragdoll, I can only see dust and utter destruction in front of my eyes. I can't see her anymore. I don't even know where up and down are. “Asia! ASIA!!!”
The golden aura evaporates and I'm flung against a tree trunk with my back first, giving me a huge jolt. How fast was I going? The pain is mind-numbing, and it seems even worse, when I hit the water of the nearby stream. Feels like every bone in my body is broken. As the current turns me around and carries me off while I'm trying to hang on to consciousness, I can see what used to be Fluttershy's cottage, the enemy base.
All that's there now, is a rainbow-colored mushroom cloud and utter destruction all around the impact zone. No! Asia! Xenovia!
[Princess Luna's Knight and Bishop retire. Rias Gremory's Knight and Bishop retire.]
Team Luna (members still active): 4
Princess Luna [King]
Twilight Sparkle [Queen]Rainbow Dash [Knight]Fluttershy [Bishop]Rarity [Bishop]
Applejack [Rook]Pinkie Pie [Rook]
Spike [Pawn]
Team Gremory (members still active): 3
Rias Gremory [King]
Himejima Akeno [Queen]Kiba Yuuto [Knight]Xenovia [Knight]Asia Argento [Bishop]Gasper Vladi [Bishop]Toujou Koneko [Rook]
Hyoudou Issei [Pawn]
Holy shit~ Uh I mean, nice chapter. Waiting eagerly for the next one.
Damn! Now that was an awesome way for Fluttershy and Rainbow to go out! ...although we've actually seen in show Rainbow use the 'Rain-nuke' and come away unharmed, when she used it to take out Applejack's old barn in "Lesson Zero". How come it took her out of the game this time?
4794596
The one in the show was the mini-version. She only flew up a little and then came down with relatively low speed for localised destruction. Think of that one as the low-yield "tactical rain-nuke."
For here Rainbow flew much higher and came in with much more speed to do real damage. That's why Fluttershy had to buy her so much time with her Stare. Otherwise if she walks away unharmed, why shouldn't the enemy be able to shrug it off?
This one was the real deal, like the pony equivalent of the Tsar Bomb.
4794648
Ah.
In that case, I expect the Rainbow shockwave is going to affect everything on the field. I could imagine it giving Twilight a power boost at a critical juncture in her fight with Akeno, which could let her deliver a finishing blow with the last of her strength, leading to the fight being down to Rias and Issei vs Luna and Spike.
Actually, Issei promoted to Rook the very first time he used his promotion ability, when they were fighting Reynalle (I think that's how it's spelt.)
4794824
Damn, you're absolutely right. I totally forgot about that. It's just that he's been mostly using the [Queen] promotion since then. For the longest time the light novel really didn't take much advantage of the different types of promotions after that.
I'll change the line. Good catch, thank you.
Yep when in doubt Rainbow uses the density of her ego to become a Tactical Nuke of pure Awsomeness.
4794824
It depends on how one sees it, because her name can be spelled in different ways. But from the light novels her name is spelled R-A-Y-N-A-R-E.
But your spelling is valid as well. The anime and manga spell her name R-E-Y-N-E-L-L-E.
I like the light novel spelling better.
Should have known that RD would be the one that go straight up Kamikaze style to take out Xenovia and Asia. Fluttershy was the unfortunate property damage, but I'm sure Shy understood that if her friend is successful, neither she nor her friend would "survive" the blast, but it would be worth it to take out their healer with their own. An eye for an eye, I suppose. At least retirement means that they will be treated for their injuries and will be good as new.
I wonder how Spike's gonna react to this, he has to suffer his inspiration take a critical hit that took her out of the game, which is followed now by a fellow ally and Fluttershy, And now Issei has experienced the same thing with Asia being blown sky high.
It's a great shout out to RD's Rain-Nuke in the episode Lesson Zero.
However it also has shades of the ORC's first ever Rating Game with Riser. Where Koneko and Issei battle Riser's pawns and rooks and disabled them enough to let them escape and Akeno literally leveled the gym the enemy was hiding. BOOM!!!
It's getting to be time for Rias to unlock another level of Issei's inherent powers.
Gottta love the Rain-Nuke, though I half expected Rainbow to be ok
I think someone filed this story without your permission, Ranko.
It just showed up in my feed under "Spike's Harems/Clop". Given it's rated Teen, I think that needs to be addressed.
4954516
Looks like the same person did a number of them at the same time....however I don't see a foul or violation---well expect for this being in the Mature group of Spike's Harems---you're right, that needs to be corrected...
...and just when I write this, looks like another Spike story have been taken to Spike's Harems, but it looks likes its in its correct place.
You are right also where there should be a bit of courtesy to the author before it gets assigned, but most authors don't really mind. It's a benefit because now people that want to hear stories like this can find them in a convienient location.
4954557
Well, recently, one of the other author's I follow - The Abyss - posted a blog post specifically requesting that his stories not be filed into groups without his permission specifically because he was getting attention that resulted in several downvotes because it was misfiled and he could do nothing about it because only the one who files a story in a group or the group admins can fix a misfile, not the story author.
4954573
so in short; just ask the author, preferently in private, to see if he/she is O.K. with association of groups where the concept or summary is simlar.
Will do.
I love Highschool DxD, despite the fan service it has since it's funny.
4954573 4954666
The things you miss, when you go to bed early for once. Looks like somebody added the story to a whole bunch of Spike groups. (Which I don't mind. Spike is essentially the main character, after all.)
I don't really have a problem with people adding my story to groups without my knowledge. It just means that more people can enjoy it, when it's added to groups I'm not part of myself. Though I do agree, having it filed in the wrong category can end up hurting it.
Anyway, it's a moot point now, since it seems like it was moved to the more appropriate Teen folder. But thanks for watching out for me and letting me know. I appreciate it.
4956893
Yeah, I let Path of Cloud - the head of that group - know as well, and he took care of that.
4956913
Ah, in that case, thank you very much for taking care of it.
4956922
Welcome.