Bound by Infinity

Chapter: 25

Kiba walked toward his opponents with that calm, confident smile of his. I couldn't help but smirk. He always knew how to make an entrance.

"Apologies, but as per the command of my King, I will defeat you," Kiba said, taking his stance.

Mira sneered. "You think you can take all of us on by yourself?"

I leaned back, already predicting Kiba's response.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Kiba started, "but weren't all of you just losing to Issei?"

"That was a fluke!" Marion snapped, voice trembling with frustration. "There's no way that no-good pawn could win against us!"

"A fluke?" Kiba chuckled, his voice carrying that polite condescension he did so well. "My, how your arrogance blinds you. Very well, I'll do my best to knock you out of that delusion."

I watched him vanish, reappearing mid-air above Riser's pawns. He didn't waste a second, bringing his sword down in a powerful slash. They barely dodged, scrambling to recover before he started his assault in earnest.

The fluidity of his strikes was almost hypnotic, each movement precise and devastating. His opponents couldn't keep up, barely managing to block as Kiba sent them flying one by one.

I couldn't help but admire the show. "Look at Kiba go," I said, sipping my tea.

"The Waterfowl Dance," Rias said, tilting her head slightly. "Interesting choice. But why Malenia of all things?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I was bored, and Malenia was the first thing that came to mind."

She shrugged back, accepting my reasoning. "Fair enough."

"When do we start taking down Riser's servants?" Issei asked, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Rias and I exchanged a glance before answering in unison, "When Riser finally blows a gasket after realizing we're not taking him or his peerage seriously."

"…Alright," Issei muttered, leaning back into his chair, though he still looked eager to jump in.

"Oh, it looks like Kiba's going to show off a bit," Akeno said, her voice laced with amusement.

I turned my attention back to the fight, watching as Kiba stood before Riser's regrouping peerage. He ran his hand along the edge of his sword, and a red mist began to emanate from the blade.

"It seems like he is," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips.

Kiba didn't disappoint. Spectral blades appeared behind him, each radiating deadly energy.

"Waterfowl Dance: Dance of Hundred Scarlet Blades," Kiba announced, his tone steady and commanding.

He vanished again, reappearing mid-air as the summoned swords fired in a relentless volley. The pawns and knights didn't stand a chance. Some were struck by Kiba's blade as he flowed through his deadly dance, while others were hit by the spectral swords.

By the time he finished, Riser's peerage was sprawled out on the ground, battered and poisoned by the lingering effects of the crimson mist. Kiba flicked his sword, dismissing the spectral blades in one smooth motion.

"Do you see now?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp. "What Issei did was no fluke."

"Screw you!" Li and Ni spat, trembling as they tried and failed to get up.

"Unfortunate," Kiba replied, brushing off imaginary dust from his uniform as if the fight hadn't even phased him.

Back with Kouki and the ORC

"And he's done," I said, savoring my tea.

"Fast and efficient as always," Rias said, taking a bite of chocolate cake.

"Indeed."

"That was so cool!" Issei exclaimed, his enthusiasm earning a rare nod of agreement from Koneko as she enjoyed her strawberry shortcake.

With Sona

Sona watched the Rating Game with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. Her analytical mind was racing as she adjusted her glasses.

"How is this possible?" she murmured. "Kiba and Issei weren't this strong ten days ago."

She narrowed her eyes, her thoughts turning toward Rias and Kouki. If they're this strong, then how powerful are you two, Rias… Kouki?

With Grayfia

Grayfia's usually stoic expression was marred by surprise as she observed the battle.

Such a massive leap in strength in just ten days… she thought.

Her eyes lingered on Kiba and Issei, her sharp mind calculating the implications.

"This level of power is unheard of," she muttered to herself. "Just what did you do, Rias-sama?"

Back with Kouki

My senses flared as multiple energy signatures appeared, rapidly approaching. I glanced around the table and noted that everyone else had sensed it too.

"Good," I said. "Koneko, you're up."

Koneko frowned slightly, clearly unhappy about leaving her cake unfinished. With a resigned sigh, she snatched a lollipop, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth before vanishing in a burst of speed.

Asia gave a quick nod, her voice soft but firm. "I reject," she said, her hands glowing faintly as her magic activated.

Kiba wasn't done yet, though. I turned my attention back to him just as his instincts kicked in. He blocked a punch from one of Riser's Rooks, barely dodging another that came at him in quick succession.

A fireball followed, but before it could hit, Koneko appeared beside him, her hand raised.

"Bakudō #82: Dankū," she said, and a green barrier materialized, deflecting the fireball harmlessly.

Kiba smiled at her. "Time for me to switch out?"

Koneko gave him a nod, her lollipop shifting slightly in her mouth.

"Alright. Have fun," Kiba said, vanishing with his usual finesse.

"Will do," Koneko replied, turning her attention to Riser's reinforcements: two Rooks, a Bishop, and the newly healed pawns-turned-queens and knights.

She raised her hand, and her zanpakutō materialized.

"What's a Rook doing with a sword?" one of the enemies sneered.

Koneko's voice was cold and unwavering. "None of your business." She pointed her blade forward. "Govern the skies, Ouranos."

Her sword transformed into a shimmering weapon of clouds, crackling with faint lightning. With her Shikai activated, Koneko took her stance, ready to face the next challenge.

The fight was just getting started.

Chapter 25: End