DxD: Emperor of Chaos

CHAPTER 9

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“Huff… Huff… Huff… Huff.”

Straining his body muscles, he clenched his core muscles as he lifted the heavy backpack behind him up the slope. His strength was powerful enough to carry everyone’s luggage and still feel fine, but inside of his backpack were all his weights and equipment in his training room, equating to almost 5,000 kilograms worth of weights.

His body could only carry up to 2,000 kilos before he had to use his demonic energy to strengthen his body. Even then, he limited the amount so that his muscles will tear from the heavy weight while training up his demonic energy control with the controlled application of strengthening Demonic Magic.

The rest of the peerage moved quickly up to the Gremory villa, he doubts that they were carrying thousands of kilos worth of weights, but he took his time and slowed down his hike, using the time to activate all his muscles, letting them burn under the intense weight that was behind his back to maximize his gains.

“Hurry, Ise. Quicker.”

Buchou signalled the other person behind him who was panting like his life depended on it. Argento, who was beside Hyoudou, simply looked at the luggage behind his back before increasing the healing with her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing.

It was Buchou’s idea actually, to increase Hyoudou’s muscle recovery by letting Asia constantly heal him while he tore his muscles with the weight. A very smart move from Buchou, she could help develop Hyoudou’s muscles along with training Argento’s demonic energy output.

Hell, he was even doing it with his healing spell, no matter how little it did to his muscle recovery. Lucky Hyoudou for having a pocket healer to increase his gains.

Ever since become a devil, the potency of his healing magic reduced by 90%. Maybe it was due to his nature changing from a human to a devil, but he had to use a lot of demonic energy just to heal a scratch, nothing less straining muscles that were pushed to their limits.

“Hyoudou, engage your core muscles more, it’ll make it easier. Clench your stomach’s muscles.”

“Haaa… Haaa… Haaaa…”

Eh, he doubts that he could hear him right now from the exaggerated panting. He yelled it out once more, to which the elder boy simply nodded.

Why was he helping out Hyoudou? Well, he’d like to try and make him stronger than his canon self. Especially with threats like Loki and the future volume enemies, he wanted a safety net for survival.

“Buchou, I gathered some herbs. Let’s use it for the meal tonight.”

Kiba suddenly said after appearing next to Hyoudou, with said herbs in his hands. Thinking about food made his stomach growl in expectance when he felt a magical signature coming close to his side.

“… Ryuuto, you glutton.”

Toujou walked alongside him with a large backpack larger than Hyoudou’s. The Rook Piece gives quite the benefit of super strength and super durability. His backpack was about the same size, though he doubts that her bag was heavier than his.

“Wow, pot meet kettle.”

He snarked back at the jab. He was not a glutton, he was a simple connoisseur of edible food. And she was one to talk, she eats meals for 2 Pax for lunch every day! The two glared at each other before she huffed, speeding up to be beside of Akeno who simply chuckled.

Heh, victory for Akira.

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Placing his backpack gently to the ground of the living room, he stretched his back before grabbing a white tank top and black shorts, along with a towel and underwear since he was going to change up before starting his training.

Looking around, he saw Kiba grabbing a pair of jersey clothing.

“Hey, Kiba-senpai, where can I change my clothes?”

“Oh, you can change in any room on the first floor, it should be unlocked.”

He then looked at the laid position of Hyoudou on the ground before smirking mischievously. Seeing that face made him grin, so Mr. Prince of Kuoh Academy had such a side, the more you know.

“Ise-kun, no peeking alright?”

Kiba said something messed up jokingly. Hyoudou gave a good annoyed expression, causing Akira to laugh.

“I will seriously punch you, bastard!”

That caused him to laugh harder before going to an empty room to change.

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They were currently out in the open field just behind the Gremory villa, with him and Kiba facing each other just a few feet from each other, while the rest of the peerage watched from afar. The reason?

“I want to see how you fair against Yuuto, who is our resident fighter, so that I know how to strategize using you during the Rating Game.”

Buchou told him to go all out, so he will do so with just his Twice Critical and Demonic Magic. Getting into a stance with his Twice Critical ready, he watched as Kiba, who was wielding a bouken, entered a relaxed stance as well.

The two stared each other down, when they both realized something.

Strong.

Every time he tried to go for an attack, Kiba will change his stance slightly to defend the opening. And the moment he shifted his weight to his other leg, Akira would counter with another change in his stance to put a stop in his attempt.

This Kiba… He was taught to handle a humanoid enemy. He could see it in his eyes, he was not focused on his hands nor legs, he was focused on Akira’s whole being. This guy seriously is strong.

Buchou then yelled the start of the spar.

“Start!”

And Kiba disappeared.

[BOOST!]

*WHIIIIIISH!*

He barely could see the wooden sword gunning for his neck, as he dodged the attack. Fast!

Kiba’s eyes widened slightly at the successful dodge before landing on both legs and disappearing into a blur. Getting into a more defensive stance, he exhaled as blurs of yellow blond rapidly ran around his body. Tensing his body, he waited for the timing before quickly raising his arm to block the sword.

It hit against his arm, causing him to wince slightly at the pain, but he deflected it. Twisting his body, he turned towards Kiba before swinging his right arm. The blond knight dodged it with his speed before attacking with a flurry of sword strikes.

Without using any moves and simply using his technique and instincts, he retaliated with his own attacks to counter Kiba, the both of them moving in blurs with sounds of wood striking iron sounding in the eyes of the peerage.

“W-Woah…”

“Ara, it seems like Akira-kun is quite skilled.”

“… Strong.”

“I-I can’t see them at all.”

A few seconds of trading back and forth, the two disengaged from combat and took a few steps back. Kiba looking well with no visible damage taken from the outside, while Akira had a few light bruises and scratch marks on his body and clothes.

Without saying anything, Akira leaped forward with his arm cocked back, dashing towards Kiba by clearing the space between them in a second. The distance between Kiba and the arm was quite far, so he did what he does best. Surprises.

Kiba’s eyes widened as he shifted his center of gravity to dodge a beam made from demonic energy that shot out from his extended fist, grazing his ash-blonde hair. Creating some distance, Kiba placed both hands on the wooden sword’s handle as his demeanor changed.

“That was smart of you, Akira-kun, I almost fell for that.”

“It may surprise you, but I’ve been more of a technique fighter even with my body.”

Clenching his fist and placing both of them near his ribs, he crouched slightly and told Kiba.

“Here I go, Kiba-senpai. Don’t blink.”

The air screams as Akira suddenly appeared in front of Kiba who already raised his sword to block the punch heading towards his head. The ground beneath them cracked at the amount of power the impact Akira put into that attack.

“Kgh!”

He could hear the strained voice of Kiba, so he backed up with the demonic energy version of Flight to give his senpai a breather, landing onto the ground a few feet away.

“That was fast, it almost looked like my technique, Shunpo.”

Kiba said before his stance changed once more with his sword raised upright, this time Akira could feel that he was getting serious. He got into his real fighting stance as well, his left arm outwards and facing his opponent while his right rested parallel to the ground near his ribs, his legs wide for stability while his body was twisted.

“Thanks, I call it Instantaneous Movement. I flood demonic energy that exceeds my legs limit to burst forwards with fast speeds. The pain is there, but bearable.”

If his legs could only hold 10 units of energy, he supercharges them with 20 units. It exceeds his current limit, causing it to hurt, but no pain no gain.

“I see. Now, here I go, Akira-kun.”

Kiba said with a serious look on his face, pressure oozing from him. Akira tensed his legs with his demonic energy leaking out in an aura, ready to burst forward with another Instantaneous Movementto match Kiba’s speed —

“And stop. Good work, you two.”

The tension gets cut by Buchou who clapped her hands together to get their attention. Kiba instantly disengages his stance, as he did the same a second slower.

“T-That was amazing! I barely could see you two!”

Hyoudou complimented the both of them as Rias looked up from her notepad.

“I’ve got a gauge of your abilities, Akira-kun, but please come by later to give me a more extensive explanation of your abilities and fighting style for my tactics.”

“Yes, Buchou.”

“And good work as always, Kiba. Looks like you have some competition for being the fastest peerage member.”

She teased Kiba who in turn gave him a competitive look.

“Then I simply need to train my speed even faster then, I feel that my speed will evolve with a rival.”

Akira retorted by cracking his knuckles, giving Kiba an excited grin as he raised a fist to Kiba.

“Bring it, I’ll grab that title of “The Fastest Peerage Member” the moment you slack off, Kiba-senpai.”

Kiba chuckled before tapping his fist against Akira’s.

“You’re on then.”