The cold bit into my skin like a thousand tiny needles, and my breath came out in a visible puff of frost. Haaah… Ice stretched out in every direction, jagged spikes towering into the sky like nature's own fortress. I stood there, my hands stuffed into the pockets of my hoodie, trying to look as casual as possible despite the fact that I was basically standing in the middle of a frozen wastend.

  This is what I get for agreeing to train with Grayfia, I thought, shivering slightly. Who knew the Queen of the Underworld had a thing for turning people into popsicles?

  Speaking of the devil—well, demon—Grayfia appeared out of nowhere, her silver hair glinting under the pale light of the ice. She walked toward me with that calm, regal stride of hers, like she owned the pce. Which, honestly, she probably did.

  "Kazuya," she said, her voice as cool and composed as ever. "The Rating Game is about to begin. We must leave."

  I nodded, trying to py it cool. "Yeah, sure. Just let me grab my—" I gestured vaguely at the ice spikes around me. "—uh, frozen pride and we'll get going."

  Grayfia didn't even crack a smile. Tough crowd. She extended a hand, and before I could even blink, the world around us shifted with a soft whoosh. One moment, we were in the middle of an icy tundra, and the next, we were standing in the Occult Research Club room.

  The sudden warmth was almost jarring. Almost. What was really jarring was the way everyone in the room turned to stare at me like I'd just walked in wearing a clown suit.

  Rias, Sona, Tsubaki, and the rest of Rias's peerage were all there, and their eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets. I couldn't bme them, though. Last time they'd seen me, I was just some guy who hung around the club eating snacks and cracking jokes. Now, here I was, my hair tied up in a manbun, wearing a bck hoodie and jeans, and looking like I'd just stepped out of an action movie.

  Okay, maybe I did look a little cooler than usual. Sue me.

  "Kazuya?" Rias was the first to speak, her voice tinged with disbelief. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to process what she was seeing. "Is that… you?"

  I smirked, leaning against the doorframe and crossing my arms. "In the flesh. Miss me?"

  Akeno raised an eyebrow, her usual pyful smile tugging at her lips. She tilted her head slightly, her long hair cascading over her shoulder. "You look… different."

  "Different good or different bad?" I asked, tilting my head in return.

  "Different like you actually combed your hair for once," Koneko deadpanned, her expression as bnk as ever. She was perched on the edge of the couch, nibbling on a piece of bread like she hadn't just roasted me in front of everyone.

  I clutched my chest in mock offense. "Ouch, Koneko. And here I thought we were friends."

  Grayfia cleared her throat, effectively cutting through the banter. "The Rating Game will begin shortly. Be prepared."

  With that, she raised her hand, and in an instant, the room was engulfed in a fsh of light. Whoosh! When it faded, we were standing in what looked like a perfect replica of Kuoh Academy. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of what was about to happen settling over us.

  Rias turned to me, her expression serious but grateful. She pced a hand on my shoulder, her crimson eyes locking onto mine. "Thank you for participating in this, Kazuya. I know it's not exactly your fight."

  I shrugged, trying to py it off like it was no big deal. "Hey, what are friends for? Besides, I've got my own reasons for being here."

  She nodded, though I could tell she was curious about what those reasons were. Good luck figuring that out, I thought. Even I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing half the time.

  Rias quickly gathered her peerage, unching into a detailed expnation of her pn. I half-listened, my attention drifting as I focused on the part where I'd be assisting Koneko.

  Assisting Koneko, huh? I gnced over at the petite white-haired girl, who was already cracking her knuckles like she was ready to take on the world. This should be fun.

  When Rias finally finished her speech, I gave her a thumbs-up. "Got it. Koneko and I will handle the gym. Easy peasy."

  Koneko shot me a look, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't get in my way."

  I grinned, ruffling her hair despite her immediate gre. "Wouldn't dream of it."

  The gym was exactly how I remembered it, except for the fact that it was currently occupied by one of Riser's Rooks and three of his Pawns. They were already smirking like they'd won before the fight had even started.

  Crunch. Koneko stepped forward, her boots echoing softly against the polished floor. The Rook, a tall woman with fiery red hair, sneered at us. "Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "If it isn't the little kitten and her human pet. You really think you stand a chance against us?"

  Koneko didn't even flinch. She simply cracked her knuckles again, the sound sharp and deliberate. Snap. Snap. "I'll take care of the Rook," she said, her tone as calm as ever.

  I nodded, cracking my neck. Pop. "Guess that leaves the Pawns for me. Try not to have too much fun without me."

  The three Pawns—all girls, by the way—immediately turned their attention to me. One of them sneered, her hands glowing with energy. "You think you can take us on? You're just a human."

  I smirked, summoning an ice sword into my hand with a soft shing. "Yeah, but I'm a human with style."

  The fight was over almost before it began. I dodged their attacks with ease, my movements fluid and precise thanks to Grayfia's training. Whoosh! I sidestepped a bst of energy, countering with a swipe of my ice sword that sent one of the Pawns stumbling back.

  "You're not even taking this seriously!" one of the Pawns shouted, her face red with frustration.

  I shrugged, twirling my sword zily. "What can I say? You're not exactly on my level."

  With a flick of my wrist, I sent a wave of ice crashing toward them. Crash! The Pawns were frozen in pce, their expressions stuck in comical masks of shock. One by one, they were eliminated from the game.

  I turned my attention to the Rook, who was currently locked in combat with Koneko. The two were trading blows, the sound of their fists colliding echoing through the gym. Thud! Thud!

  "Need a hand?" I called out, leaning on my sword like it was a cane.

  Koneko didn't even look at me. "I've got this."

  "Suit yourself." I formed an ice spear and hurled it toward the Rook. Whoosh! It hit her square in the chest, and she let out a surprised gasp before she, too, was eliminated.

  Koneko gave me a thumbs-up, her expression as stoic as ever. "Not bad."

  I grinned, giving her a pyful bow. "Thanks. Now, let's go find the others. I'm just getting warmed up."

  As we left the gym, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

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