Gaming Badly in DxD

Somewhere in Kuoh, one Rias Gremory was seated in the living room of a mansion—Specifically, the one of her lover—While trying to handle her territory’s daytime and nighttime affairs thanks to the absence of her fellow leader.

On that same couch was Koneko, curled up around herself while resting her head on the crimson devil’s lap. Lately, she has been experiencing some bouts of sleepiness and hunger. Apparently, it was somewhat normal. Yet, she was still bound to a medical check with a Sitri house nurse in a few days.

Lastly, there was Aika Kiryuu, who sat on the other side of Rias with a bored expression. The girl, along with the other two, had decided to skip school today. And instead, the ‘Lewd Craftman’ was helping Rias scrunch up numbers, taking some of the load off the girl’s back.

And at the same time, a foreboding amusement struck the three of them.

‘’Huh…’’ Aika frowned, turning to Rias. ‘’What’s that about?’’

Rias simply giggled while shaking her head. Putting the reports down for a few minutes and stretching her back, unintentionally making Koneko wake up from her 11 AM nap.

‘’Welcome to the club, that’s the feeling a woman gets when her lover is about to do something… unrequited.’’ Rias shrugged, having already experienced this plenty of times.

Turning for a second opinion, Aika raised an eyebrow in Koneko’s direction. Who, while snuggling her King’s thighs, whispered in longing while her tail swished from side to side. ‘’Schizo-senpai is doing something stupid…’’

‘’And you guys aren’t worried?’’ Aika asked, confused.

‘’Eh, the feeling is usually very telling of what he got himself involved in.’’ Rias smiled while patting Koneko’s head. ‘’He’s probably fine, I believe.’’

With that reassurance, Aika calmed down a bit, taking a look at the math she was doing just before.

Then, with a sagely nod, she spoke. ‘’Ah… We have a Himbo radar then, got it.’’

Rias giggled, and Koneko snorted while her shoulders shook. Yet, none stood to defend her man’s… particular lack of forethought.

-X-x-X-

-Zatren Fumigami-

‘’Hit me like you mean it, White Dragon Emperor! I barely felt a thing!’’ I shouted excitedly.

I was then punched across the air and slammed directly into the street below. Thankfully, the barrier around the area prevented any civilians from stumbling into the scene, and it was quite fortunate that this ‘’base’’ was far away from regular civilization as it is.

Because the sudden trench carved into the street with the force of my body carried by Vali’s punch alone would have been quite the inconvenience for passage otherwise.

I chuckled, channeling Healing Touch all over my body as bones snapped back together in place.

It was a good thing that I had killed that Ghost Leviathan the other day. Besides giving me another two Gacha Tokens, its body was perfect for me to harvest for materials.

Materials I then used to experiment with my Blacksmithing. And… a few other, fun things.

Ghost Leviathan Chestplate.

[CON Up (Medium)] [Thorns]

Damage dealt by water-related abilities is empowered.

Ghost Leviathan Gauntlets.

[STR Up (Medium)] [DEX Up (Small)]

Physical attacks may leave a target stunned.

Bonus Ghost Leviathan Set 2/4:

Magic now only does half the damage it should.

Definitely not the worst for my first, properly crafted set of items.

‘’If you’re not coming at me, then I’ll just come at you!’’ Vali shouted, and I looked upwards, seeing him now covered in a bright blue aura, and falling down from the sky like a meteor.

I didn’t even bother with a barrier. Instead, I met his charge head-on with an attack of my own. Water surged from everywhere around me as it coalesced into a massive, serpentine shape that shot at the incoming dragon.

And, as if it were butter, the construct was caved in by Vali’s charge, making me smirk as my gauntlet-covered fist met his. The shockwave of the blow made a small crater at our feet and displaced the air entirely.

Yet, it was a stalemate. Our fists trembled together, knuckles popped by the pressure of the blow. Both of us had an eager smile on our faces.

But the stalemate broke with a single word. ‘’[Divide]!’’

I faltered as my body felt heavier all of a sudden. And as my energy got sapped away, I saw Vali’s wings shine brighter as a green glow was expelled from the back of his Sacred Gear.

‘So, this is what it feels like to get struck with Divine Dividing…’ I wondered as Vali took advantage of my sluggishness to strike me in the chest. I felt my torso practically cave in as I was pushed back. ‘’If you think that’s enough to keep me down, think again, bozo!’’

As I coursed through the air, Vali had jumped upwards, ready to slam an axe kick and stop my inertia entirely. Yet, at that same moment, I chanted. ‘’Foolish Dragon, who lusts for a fight. Open your eyes, for you’re past your prime!’’

Vali’s smirk suddenly vanished as his eyes widened, a purple, almost black miasma erupted from his body, as my voice did its work in weakening the power he had taken from me.

Which made him slow to dodge my next strike. ‘’Lacerate!’’

Multiple blades of water erupted around Vali. His entire body suffered from multiple cuts, tearing away at his clothes, skin, and flesh. Yet, instead of recoiling or getting out of the way, the silver-haired devil laughed before his wings shone once more.

‘’[Divide]!’’ And just like that, the cuts that gouged deep wounds on his flesh became measly cuts that he blasted away in a burst of Demonic Power. ‘’Yes! That’s what I’m searching for! Now show me more, I know that’s not your full power!’’

I laughed along with the crazy dragon before putting my hands together. ‘’Boosted Gear: Wheel!’’ I shouted while crouching and leaping in Vali’s direction.

The dharma wheel appeared on top of my head, and as I met Vali in the air once more, I made sure to swing my spear in an arc. Keeping my distance from his debilitating touch. Yet, he dodged by a hair’s breadth, as his gaze focused intently on the Sacred Gear on top of my head.

‘’Cat got your tongue?’’ I chuckled, only for a sudden shiver to go down my spine.

‘’You really are…’’ He started, his eyes gaining a manic glint as his demonic power suddenly burst forward in waves that pushed me far back. ‘’I knew it! My rival couldn’t possibly be gone! Even if not the same thing… I’ll have to settle for second best!’’

With his excited shout and laughter, the voice of Albion cut through the whipping winds. ‘’[VANISHING DRAGON: BALANCE BREAKER]!’’

But, as the white Kamen-Rider armor covered Vali’s body entirely, and his stats shot through the roof, well above and beyond my current state, I couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect.

Just like Mittelt needed something hard but beatable to progress, I, too, only got stronger the more of a challenge I faced. And this? This was something that I had been waiting for a while.

As if responding to my eagerness, the wheel on top of my head shone brighter than ever. And, if I could stare at it right now, I would have noticed some of the cracks that covered it mending back together.

But the only thing I heard right now was the whirring of power compressing and channeling on Vali’s armored hands. A small ball of power that suddenly grew to the size of a house.

‘’[Boost]!’’ My own Sacred Gear made a full spin, and I relished in the feeling of Vali’s first Divide falling apart. Then, I pointed my spear directly at him as the tip was covered in a potent, forest-green light.

‘’Get ready, Rival!’’ Vali shouted as he threw the massive ball of energy that shot at speeds deceiving its size.

‘’[Dragon Buster III]!’’ I answered in kind, as the Red Dragon Emperor’s Spear glowed brighter and a beam of powerful dragon-slaying energy met Vali’s attack right in the middle.

The following explosion shook not only the entire street, but what felt like miles surrounding us.

-X-x-X-

-Mittelt-

‘’That idiot…!’’ I shouted through the billowing, harsh winds as I felt the building starting to fall apart at the seams.

Cracks opened on the earth below as the two devils clashed against each other in the air. Each punch just managed to make the air ripple, and demonic energy to be thrown around in quantities that made my mind reel in shock.

‘’He’s really getting into it… But, Boosted Gear, huh?’’ Azazel chuckled, hands inside his pockets like he was staring at two children playing instead of two maniacs ripping the entire street apart. ‘’I’ll need to ask how he got it.’’

‘’That’s what worries you?!’’ Was my father an idiot? I could deal with my boyfriend being an idiot, but please, I needed some normalcy in my life. ‘’The street would be a damn trench if they keep going!’’

My father chuckled again and ruffled my hair without taking his gaze away from the fight. ‘’It won’t.’’

‘’What do you mean they won’t?! I’m literally staring at cracks forming on the earth.’’ And as if on cue, the space of the air rippled as hundreds of golden spears rained from the sky. I heard a manic laugh before a blast of blue energy was shot into the sky. Trying to stop the incoming projectiles with some success. ‘’Look, LOOK!’’

‘’Little crow…’’ I shivered at the nickname, turning with a glare to the green-haired moth-girl who only gave a knowing smile in response before pointing at the sky. ‘’Look above.’’

I was looking above, just what— Why was the sky green?

For a moment, I thought that it was some sort of attack. Something that would fall on our heads and outright vaporize the entire street along with our long-dead bodies. However, the green sky didn’t move.

Instead, it just rippled each time the two fighters collided, and it especially moved like disturbed water when a concentrated beam of green energy was shot in the face of the White Dragon Emperor, forcing him to dodge to the side as part of his armor crumbled apart at just being grazed by the attack.

‘’That’s Benemune’s barrier,’’ Azazel explained with an amused twinkle in his eyes. ‘’Vali has been in so many fights that I had to design a pocket dimension for him to go all out in.’’

I blinked, turning from my father to the fight with a shocked expression.

‘’Eh, don’t think too much about it. It’s nothing in the realm of Dimension Lost or something like that. Just a neat little trinket.’’

So, making a pocket dimension big enough to cover the block was a ‘neat little trinket’ to my father, I see.

‘’I’m surrounded by madmen.’’ I nodded sagely.

‘’’’[BOOST/DIVIDE]!’’’’ And as if on cue, the two Longinus shouted in tandem as their users collided once more. Only that this time, Zatren got slammed through a set of houses as the White Dragon Emperor held onto his neck.

‘’Nyahahaha~! Who should I cheer for, meow? My dear leader, or my brother-in-law? Decisions, meowsicions~!’’ I raised an eyebrow at the horrible pun before noticing the cat ears on top of the black-haired girl’s head and the tail swishing from side to side.

‘’Ah, you’re Koneko’s sister?’’ I realized. To which the woman stilled and turned with a dangerous glint in her eye.

‘’Hm, of course, nyahh~’’ Her tone was friendly, but her eyes were anything but. ‘’I assume you’re also lil’ Zatren’s mate~? You certainly smell like him~’’

Smell? I didn’t stink, did I? I did shower before coming here! Divert, divert, divert!

‘’Yeah, but unlike her, I’m not expecting little birds any time soon.’’ I shrugged, trying not to let her intense gaze affect me.

‘’…She’s what, meow?’’ She replied, tail stilling and ears twitching while giving me a wide, cheery grin.

…Hm, what did Zatren call this again? Ah…

Foot, meet mouth.

-X-x-X-

-Vali Lucifer-

In between exhaustion, pain, and dodging bolts of lightning being thrown my way, I finally felt it. That thrill of battle, that pain in my muscles, just telling me how costly this battle would be to win.

‘’You’re not getting tired on me, are you, White Dragon Emperor?’’ The ponytailed man shouted while swinging his spear around like a staff ‘’Lightning Storm!’’

I raised my arms as the spinning weapon became engulfed in roaring thunder. And, as if I were a direct conductor, it flew across the air and struck me faster than I could move. Especially since that spell the man had chanted at the start of the battle.

‘A dragon-weakening spell, and a dragon-slaying attack…’ Albion mused as I felt every muscle suddenly lock up as they were discharged with electricity. However, that didn’t stop me from Dividing the lightning attack in half. Though I was constantly expelling energy at this point. ‘Makes me wonder if he was already expecting our confrontation?’

I chuckled. If that was, or wasn’t, the case, it didn’t matter. If anything, it proved that Zatren Fumigami was a very powerful opponent. One that deserves the name of ‘rival’.

As the lightning died down, I immediately charged forward, jabbing directly at the man’s head. Who, instead of dodging, took the impacts that made the air ripple head-on, deviating the energy outwards as the wheel on top of his head shone brightly.

‘’Now who looks like he’s running out of steam?!’’ I laughed as once more, Divide took away part of his power, only for another, distinctly feminine-sounding Boost to renew him once more. ‘’I could do this all day—‘’

I coughed as the spear tip grazed the side of my armor. That was another thing. Not only had that strange spear been quite the formidable weapon, but every strike that Zatren managed to land felt debilitating. Was that Sacred Gear a dragon-slaying one, or was his cast spell truly this formidable?

Before he could strike again, I grabbed hold of his right arm, much to his surprise, before slamming him against the ground.

The ground, which had already become nothing more than a messy, carved, and partially melted crater, rumbled with the impact and the groan coming from the man below.

At point-blank range, I raised one of my gauntlets. Yet, just before the excess energy-turned laser beam hit the man, he disappeared into thin air– No, in reality, he was above me!

‘’Dragon Buster III!’’ He called out again, and I immediately dodged out of the way. Yet, I suddenly recoiled as a fist met my chest. The glowing fist breaking apart my chestplate, almost feeling like a Heavenly Dragon was roaring the meaning of Force in my face. ‘’Ha! Just because I called out the name, doesn’t mean I’ll use it, edgelord!’’

‘’Bastard…’’ I couldn’t help it, I just laughed.

Blood rose and escaped my mouth as I had to re-summon the Scale Mail. Then, before Zatren could keep his barrage of fists going, I tackled him into the air, holding tightly onto him as Divide restored my lost strength.

‘’Yeah?! Well, let’s see about this!’’ I shouted cockily as I started charging the stolen energy directly into my chestplate. I felt the man trying to break free as his eyes widened in realization. ‘’Explosion!’’

Explosion had a primary function of making the Divine Dividing go above and beyond its usual capacity. Using the energy I had taken, and then making it explode in a burst of power.

And I was planning to use it all to generate a detonation from this range. It was way too late for him to get away, as my ScaleMail was packed to the brim with power.

Or so I thought.

‘’Gotcha.’’ My own eyes shot open as powerful magic washed over my entire body. Looking at the man, I saw his cocky smirk, with one hand in a two-fingered sigil, while the other waved, holding one of Albion’s blue sapphires, cracked and probably taken from when he broke my Balance Breaker’s chestplate. ‘’Domain Expansion: Mockery of the Dead Sea.’’

Already knowing this move from the many times I replayed that Rating Game, I shot far into the sky, away from the ocean that suddenly replaced the ground, and into the stormy clouds above.

‘’Now, where are you going? Let me introduce you to my friends!’’ Zatren suddenly appeared above me, with his injuries healed and looking fresher than ever, but I could see the exhaustion in his form. The toll that his fight took on him.

What I also could see was a glowing white trident, with an equally, slightly darker white leather on the handle. The red gem in the middle now accentuated by a sapphire blue color. And instinctively, almost spiritually, I knew.

That trident felt just like my Divine Dividing.

‘’Albion!’’ I shouted, recovering my grin as I extended one clawed gauntlet at the man.

The man whose spear began to glow powerfully. Maybe even more so than when he used that Dragon-Slaying attack.

Even as not one, but two sounds of something large exiting the ocean echoed behind me. Followed up by two immense roars packed full of power.

‘’[VANISHING DRAGON: HALF DIMENSION]!’’ Divine Dividing roared as the fake world started to shake. The reason being: The barrier, the chains, and the size and power were all getting divided by half.

This was the power of Half Dimension. To literally Divideeverything.

And just as I felt chains surrounding my body, and danger greatly approaching from below, I released Explosion in a concentrated beam of pure draconic energy, aimed straight above.

Yet, that didn’t stop the man above from throwing down his trident, blood spurting from his nose as he roared. ‘’[TRIAINA]!’’

The gargantuan beam of draconic power was met by a similarly sized beam of pure blue light. Attacks that, if they weren’t facing each other, would have certainly torn the city block apart.

Instead, the shockwave produced by the beam collision made the world crack apart. And I chuckled, as I felt my armor be torn to shreds, just as the black-haired man’s wheel shattered into pieces at the same time.

-X-x-X-

-Zatren Fumigami-

’Damn, this bastard is tough…’ I mused from my place on the ground. With my Sacred Gear temporarily broken, my MP and SP bars empty, and my body being one big bruise.

I stared at the green sky. Watching as the barrier rippled and shimmered. Its surface was layered with cracks and dents.

And, as if it saw the battle come to an end. It cracked hard. The sound of shattering glass rang in my ears as the sky was replaced, switching to its regular, natural blue.

“We sure showed that barrier who’s boss…” I croaked out a dry chuckle.

“Ha…” The dude besides me snickered, also splayed like a sea star in the middle of an impeccable street. As if our entire fight had never happened in the first place.

Which made me think that, considering our torn clothing and disheveled appearance, we probably look like two very high or hangover teenagers just looking at the sky for any regular human passing by.

In a sense, it was beautiful.

…

You know, I’ve been repeating that shit for a while now. I couldn’t possibly find beauty in everything now, could I? What was next, a potted plant?

‘Imagine one of my minor domains is beauty, though…’ I chuckled to myself, which only made Vali side-glance at me oddly. ‘How stupid would that–’

Through good observation and making a random guess, you have learned something about yourself.

Domain: [Abundance].

Minor Domains: [Beauty]. [?].

You’re fucking with me.

How, what… What would that even do in my situation?! Do I get more divine energy from… I don’t know, getting worshiped by beautiful women or–

‘Now, hold up… I’ll let you cook.’ I nodded sagely.

Which, from my position on the ground, was barely lifting my head a bit before slamming it back into the hard concrete. “Oww…”

“You’re a weird one,” Vali said as he got up with a small struggle. Yet, that only seemed to improve his mood. “But apparently, weird people are some of the strongest around here.”

“Well met, rival.” I blinked as he offered me a hand while grinning like a lunatic.

I raised an amused eyebrow before taking his hand and getting up myself, shaking his hand, with a funny idea in mind. “Now, who said you get to decide if we are rivals? Let me ask you a question, Vali…”

The mood took a sudden turn even as Vali shook my arm while looking at me curiously. “Which is…?” He asked in confusion.

And I chuckled.

“Vali… What’s your type of woman?” I questioned with utmost seriousness.

…

And now he was staring at me like I was some sort of exotic bug.

Yet, considering my serious tone, he looked to the ground for a bit before replying awkwardly. “I guess… a witty woman with a big ass? I don’t know, dude. I'm more interested in fighting—‘’

I couldn’t cry like Todo Aoi does once he gets the answer to this question, or have the schizophrenic flashbacks, but what I could do was hug Vali tightly in a Reinforcement-packed hug while shouting like a madman.

“I knew it! You truly are… MY BESTO FRIENDO!”

“...I take it back. I don’t want to be rivals anymore.” He wheezed out as I squeezed him like a plushie.

“No take-backsies!” I laughed. And, once I released him, Vali also chuckled along. Though, if in awkwardness or actual amusement, I was unsure.

“Have you guys finally finished messing around?” A dry, flat tone cut through our laughter, and I turned to the source with a smile.

“Mitteeeelt~” I sang her name, taking the opportunity to Shadow Step in front of her and sweep the girl into my arms, much to her protesting. “Did you see? Your boyfriend sure showed off, didn’t he, didn’t he~?”

‘Teasing the girls I love would never get old.’ I mused internally as the petite Fallen blushed like mad while struggling weakly to get out of my embrace.

“You did… You did! So put me down now!” She complained as I spun her around. “You’re going to make me dizzy, you idiooooot…! Awawawawa…”

I’ll never get tired of that sound. So cute!

“Nyahh~ That sure was a show, leader, brother-in-law.”

A shiver went down my spine as I settled Mittelt down. Who, for some reason, hurriedly hid behind my back while clinging to my partly destroyed coat.

Kuroka, who was dressed in her usual, skimpy Kimono—which I was pretty sure she wore nothing underneath of—had suddenly jumped from the building where Vali and I’s fight had started.

Yet, even through that sweetly veiled tone of hers, I could see that her golden eyes were staring daggers at me.

“Ah, Kuroka…” I started with a smile. “Long time no see! You promised me you’ll teach me Senjutsu after I found out how to use spiritual energy, you know?”

Kuroka faltered a step, yet her smile got even wider as she approached and looked up at me. Behind me, I felt Mittelt clinging to my coat while muttering something about a ‘crazy cat’.

“Of course, of course, meow.” She nodded before putting a hand on my shoulders. “Sorry, I’ve been busy, but you have been, too, nyaight? Way too busy…”

“…Making kittens with my little sister, meow~?” Her tone was filled with hunger and anger as my shoulder started to hurt from her grip.

Ah, that was why she was looking at me like a snack. And now, I didn’t know if she wanted some of her own or to tear my throat out. Possibly both.

I’ll have to use a secret technique. One born out of teasing Koneko each time she made fun of me…

I raised a hand, and Kuroka’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Before I placed it squarely on top of her head, and started scratching just between the ears.

Immediately, Kuroka’s body locked up, even as her fluffy cat ears twitched at the attention, while her tails suddenly poofed straight.

“N-nya?! Wait…! Brother-in-law, that’s unfaiiirrr~” Kuroka complained as I fluffed her ears. And, almost involuntarily, she started to purr like an engine. “...but it feels so nyace… hmmm~”

Black Cat Tamed!

-X-x-X-

Bonus Scene: Two Done. One more to go.

Inside a Protestant church, bowing her knees in front of a statue of their lord and savior was a habit-covered nun. Her luscious red hair cascaded down her back, while she held a rosary tightly in a praying gesture.

Then, all of a sudden, the door leading to the resting quarters burst open. From it, a younger, brown-haired, and scared nun appeared. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her voice was shaky. “M-Mother Felicia!”

Immediately, the first nun frowned and got up with an air of calm and authority. “Dear child? What panics you so?” Felicia asked as she approached, taking the hands of the younger nun in her own.

“It’s… It’s terrible! The high-Reverend… he’s dead!” The terrible notice made Felicia stop in shock. Yet, her stomach only sank further at the nun’s next words. “And, and… Excalibur Nightmare… It was stolen!”

With wide eyes, Felicia held the nun close. Yet, the outburst she had caused made a few nuns, and even some exorcists who were also praying in the house of the lord, approach and take a look.

“Sister Maria.” Felicia turned, staring at a shocked, blonde nun with narrowed eyes. “Please, take care of this young one here. I need to make a call.”

“O-of course, Mother Felicia.” The newly identified Maria pushed through the shock of the news to try to calm down the inconsolable, younger nun.

…

Sadly, the sudden event seemed to have distracted Mother Felicia from her senses. As she didn’t notice the smaller nun’s sudden smirk as she was hugged close by Sister Maria.

…

Meanwhile, Mother Felicia had exited the room, heading directly to her office.

“Both the Orthodox and the Vatican, I need to warn them at once, lest another thievery comes to pass, and another innocent is taken from their first right,” Felicia muttered as she walked, holding her rosary tightly to her chest. “Please, lord above. Do not let this conflict escalate… For all your children know, how much death and misery it will bring. Amen.”

…

Oftentimes, it was better to check the allies surrounding you than only the enemy ahead. After all…

…Betrayal never comes from an enemy, now does it?

-X-x-X-

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For some reason, I always feel I have something important to say in these, and then I forget completely when it's time to actually fill in the after note. Weird.

OH RIGHT!

HAPPY (LATE) 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GAMING BADLY! ZUZU HAS ART NOW! I put them up in my discord! Thank all of you for your support!

Rival and (One) Minor Domain get! Yippie!

If you want to read 8 chapters ahead, I have a ~

Discord Link: .gg/92Yt5wxeWN