Flesh is Weak

Be prepared for the fights to come.

Day 1

Katase was extremely happy playing with her new wings in the library the day after she was reincarnated. Her sin was not a surprise. Pride because she had admitted to me that she was top dog with no one to challenge her in the club meetings and all the schools in the city until I beat her down. However, despite that, she had, as I expected taken one pawn. Murayama was sad still and wept at Kuroka to have pity on her. When that didn't work, she begged Kiryuu to convince me to be kind to her. Kiryuu yawned and rubbed it in with a smile that said she enjoyed this.

"Horny gets you into trouble, Murayama-chan. Your punishment isn't that bad. Training someone and then helping build something while having no tails. You got off easy."

Murayama wept because she couldn't see the tails from her wanted waifu. That amused everyone else but Hetvia as the knight trying and failing to convince someone to help her. Issari was also amused at Murayama's presence in the room with us, but she still had a slightly shaking body from yesterday's enhancements. I quickly filled Katase in on the current situation while Murayama looked at me with doe eyes, begging for pity.

"I have been challenged by a shit-stain person over a stupid dispute. As the newest piece of the peerage, you will be helping me beat down an ass hat that thinks he is hot shit for beating people in a lesser situation than him. We are going to rip him apart and make an example of him to other shit-stain nobles who let people like him get away with that. Katase-chan, you will learn many new things, and I will hold you to an extremely high standard. Is that understood?"

Katase, who was sitting next to Thoron, nodded her head.

"As you will. I was told some by Murayama yesterday before you got home. I'm eager to learn everything you and the rest can teach me. I don't slack and my king will see a fellow samurai."

I look at Issari, and she whispers in a very soft voice that is loud enough for me to hear.

"I am ready to be your contracted magician. Gecko thinks it's ironic. However, he has shared more with me, and we will be ready to go by next week. How long will the shakes last?"

Katase looked at Issari curiously, as did everyone else, not Kuroka. I feel bad for my stupid best friend.

"They should be gone in a day. For those who don't know, Issari enhanced her body to the level of a Tempestus Scion. She will be faster than before. The enhancements only work on humans and half-devils so far, so you're not expected to do them. Mittelt, you and I will eventually find a way to change that and reduce the pain. What are your doctorates?"

Mittelt listed her doctorates while everyone else looked at Issari with amazement.

"Engineering, medical, biochemistry, and a basic understanding of robotics. That was to be my next one. I will need help understanding the tech before I can make modifications. Can she help there?"

I asked Koriel silently while everyone waited. Katase was curious about this and the gecko comment from before. Murayama was now big sad in her chair while Kuroka started the next half.

"Thoron, you, Kiryuu, and I will be doing several mock fights, nya. Your weakness is magic users, and ours is melee. We will work on that for two days nya. Raynare, you will practice your sneaking more. Mittelt will be with Hetvia and Sexy, doing drills on the machine for hypno indoctrination nya. Horse girl, when not helping build the robot machine, you will be training Pinky on our tactics and gear. Then you and Kiryuu will be working on your gear more nya. Sexy will be here as needed. Running will be mandatory for everyone as we need to build up endurance for several of you nya. The lifting machine will be used by those of you who need it, and we will buy more workout equipment to get you up to standard. As he said to our new person, there will be no slacking on this because each of you represents him and us on the game stage nya. This being our first game, we need to show that we are not rookies and weak. Sexy, you and I will review the rules once we get them, but I don't think we will get too many. Honor games are usually very open-ended, nya."

Everyone nodded their heads in acceptance of Kuroka's orders. I finally answered Mittelt after discussing with Koriel long and hard.

"I will make a computer with the science behind most of what I can make now. That is yours, and I will encode it so that no one can break into it. I will make a Noosphere connection here so I know immediately when someone besides you accesses it. I'll also make a cogitator to help with Jeanne and her work reports for us. When you are not training Mittelt, I want to be looking at ways to help with bone density and more effective and efficient ways to improve organs. When I'm not getting the Kastalan robot made for Hetvia, you and she will practice with me to learn swords. Throughout the week, I will also make new weapons so that we don't immediately kill the opposite team. Wound not kill here. Same with the bird. I can't kill him. As such, guns will be issued to everyone who uses those that are designed to incapacitate. For sword and spear people, you will be expected to maim, not kill. Hetvia you and Mittelt in the fight will either be directing in your case the kastalan while in Mittelt's case, shooting her hot shot long las. I will teach everyone how to commune with machine spirits. Everyone will have weapons blessed by me in preparation for the game. If that changes because of rules, I'll let you know."

Hetvia grew excited for robots. She bounced like Raynare usually does. Murayama looked sad for no tails, and I rolled my eyes and said to her in an unimpressed tone.

"The asshole has broken two catgirls, Murayama-chan. Get vengeance on him for that. You will be free to have tails in a few days, you nob."

Murayama got a tic mark that rivaled that of Riser yesterday. I shook my head, saying to Alex that he has a mood kindred in Murayama. He says that he would have liked her. Murayama barks out, pissed, getting amusement from everyone.

"I'll break his bones! No one hurts catgirls! Let me at him!"

Kuroka belly laughed, and everyone else joined in. Issari gave weak laughs before she got up and shook a bit. She almost fell and was only stopped by Kiryuu catching her fellow chestnut with a levitation spell. Issari was relieved not to feel pressure on her limbs. She sighed, and I helped by giving her a tip.

"Try a bath with warm water. Also, fuck you for yesterday I didn't need to see that. Should I get your nurse?"

Issari weakly nodded, and I broke up the meeting. An extremely excited Hetvia pulls Thoron out of the room. Raynare disappeared from sight, shocking Katase as she had been looking directly at Raynare. Mittelt got up and sighed but confirmed that she would be ready before leaving herself. Kuroka started to calm a still pissed-off Murayama.

"The bird has a weak group, nya. His strongest piece is his queen, but I could see clearly that the rest are just decorative pieces. "

I nodded my head.

"They were all broken, and we can't help the others easily. We could demand that Ravel gets them all but Yunabella. However, she's not an attuned king, and I have a feeling that she will want to be with us. I have a plan to make their lives easier after the game."

Katase was saddened, but she was a bit happier for these people. She gets ready to train. Murayama was still pissed about the catgirls being broken.

"How can you do that? The purrs and the tails holding you are the essence of perfection! I will destroy him!"

Katase looked at me to explain why her best friend was like this.

"The Bad Cat set this up, and Murayama-chan has a sin that is something else. Don't ask let them share. Sword or axe, Katase-chan?"

Murayama was in her blood rage over her catgirls being broken. Katase shrugged at my question.

"Axe. Murayama told me you can eventually make Gundam. Really?"

Oh, Murayama, you cause too many problems right now.

"I can eventually, but it will take a vast amount of time. Two-hand or single?"

Katase smiles with a smile that promises pain.

"Two hand. The fight with you was a wake-up call, pushing me to learn new stuff. Just show me what to do and use."

I will get her a two-handed great axe. Kiryuu slowly levitates Issari out of the room while I lead Katase towards the basement. Murayama kept ranting about how catgirls are the only thing keeping the world sane. Kuroka started getting our knight working out that rage.

Murayama kept grumbling as I directed her to slowly build the castallan robot maker with the parts already made before it began to hurt. Hetvia was bouncing up and down in extreme happiness for her soon to be made robot. She had already done a session in the hypno machine, and her feet were leaning towards the Iron Hands. Katase looked at her new chain greataxe and was curiously watching the spinning teeth. She was shocked to learn that this came from another reality. Murayama surprised me with how decent she is at assembling. When I asked her about that, she grumbled that her dad was big into cars and made her help him. I snort and watch as Murayama uses her new mechadendrites to screw several different screws into the bottom half of the assembly platform.

The new design for the maker was not an assembly line but a single platform that would assemble the robot in a slow, detailed manner. Hetvia already has a name for her robot Mr. Cuddles. That got a snort of amusement from me, but it wasn't the worst name since it was a melee robot. Thoron, Kiryuu, and Kuroka were out buying more workout equipment from my share of the loot from Kokabiel's base yesterday. Murayama finally got done screwing in the last screw and turned back to me with a pleased grin. The first of three sessions shows a single tube-like object halfway made. I warn Hetvia.

"We will be using substandard materials for Mr. Cuddles. He might get destroyed easily. Once we have won the game, we will get better materials and build him a new body. Have you found a spirit that will be his guidance matrix?"

Hetvia nodded immediately while Katase looked at us in confusion. Hetvia said with a grin.

"I have they said that they would pilot Mr. Cuddles. Teach me the faith entirely. I wish to be like the Omnissiah. I long for the red planet and the forges we will build there. After hearing a bit from your cousin this morning, the world finally made sense to me. I want to build reality."

Hetvia wanted this as desperately as robots to matter, like the analogy of being a cog in a machine. I smile at my pawn.

"I will teach you it. We won't be like the first ones. Improve yourself, but don't abandon flesh entirely. We each play our part, Hetvia, and you with the robots is yours. Eventually, you will be the one teaching new tech-priests."

Hetvia smiled wider than ever before, imagining a legion of robots and new people to teach. This reveals her sin to me in pride, and her pure happiness tells me she doesn't get to feed it much. Katase listens to that, and something seems to resonate with her. Murayama looked at me in question, and I nodded my head to her.

"You're free for now. Teach Katase our tactics. I'll get you when I need you for the next stage. There are dueling swords in both places."

Murayama nods immediately, and she goes to her best friend to start dueling. Hetvia is brought a sword, and we are joined by Mittelt, who was gathered for training for this. Her stance was a surprise being an Imperial Fist stance. I raised my sword and told my two new students.

"I will be as slow as possible on the first two days. Know that you can promote yourself on day three. I know you both don't want to fight up close and personal, but it's better to know this than not have it. Now, let's begin."

The two assumed stances.

Maéva handed me a stack of letters at the lunch break. I took them and raised a questioning eyebrow. My maid was professional, as always.

"They are from other pillars and nobles, mostly young master. Geros and I removed the ones trying to harm you. These are the non-hostile ones."

I thanked my maid before starting with the most important one: from Seekvaria. She wrote to me thanking me for getting rid of her pawn. She understood now why I could not contact her before and that I had her support for helping her and for helping Rias. She was eager to meet me and begin actual conversations with me because she had been slipped. I was like my father by, my grandfather. She wanted to pick my brain on her own projects.

The following letter was from Ravel, known by the symbol of House Phenex on the envelope. I opened it hesitantly, expecting the worst as I started to read. I was surprised by what it said.

She wants to meet me properly after the game. She said that she was sorry that she caused this issue for both of us. I get that she meant it because there were a few tear marks on that section of the letter. She told me she doesn't care; I'm a halfbreed. Her caring about that was a non-issue. I kept reading, and I think I will like Ravel. She finished the letter with a small promise that she was truly interested in this. That makes me lose a bit of worry that had built up last night about our meeting yesterday.

The other letters were not as important as the first two. Just people who were curious about me from the vassal houses. They will get letters back tonight from me, assuring them I will not be like my uncle. The second to last letter was written incredibly badly from a surprising group of people. It was the family of the kid whom the Dryad bishop had maimed. The letter sang praise on me for avenging their son's injury. The writing from the parents is very bad, showing the illiterate nature of the commoners. Along with the letter was a very poorly drawn picture of me and the kid from said kid. I asked Maéva where the letter had come from.

Maéva told me the letter came from one of my house's villages. These were my subjects. I tell her something that I will do for this family.

"I want you to tell my grandfather that I will make something for the boy to walk again. He deserves that for my failure to protect him properly."

Maéva smiles at this and promises to do so. I will make a bionic leg for this boy because he had drawn in his picture of himself with crutches and a stump where his left leg should have been. The family wept in their letter, saying they loved me for giving the money back to them. They needed it for their problems, and vengeance clouded their judgment when they offered it up. They couldn't get it back after it left their village. I make an oath to show them that I deserve their love. My red eyes look at the picture, and I will never forget this. My mind was so busy remembering my cousin's kids that I barely paid attention to the last letter, which was my acceptance into Kuoh Academy, with a small note from Sona in congratulations for my scores.

The run during the evening was a regular run for the majority of us. Katase and everyone else except Hetvia and Mittelt were in good shape. They were lagging behind the group, huffing from exhaustion. I was with them, and Kuroka was at the front with everyone else. Raynare was trying to make Mittelt feel better.

"You are not as bad as before, Mitt. You are catching up!"

Mittelt barks out in frustration to Raynare.

"You try being raised in a lab, Ray! My legs hurt!"

Hetvia was silent and huffing out shallow breathing at her own lack of stamina. I tell my blue-haired pawn with a smile.

"I had that at one point, Hetvia. You will get there. The same with you, Mittelt you're both doing fine."

Hetvia blushed, and I raised her spirits more with my next move.

"Hetvia, Hetvia hero of Mars! Hetvia, Hetvia hero of Mars!"

Mittelt and Hetvia snort with laughter. The blue-haired young woman wants to be like Cain utterly. Kuroka, having heard Cain's stupid song, picks it up, and everyone, including Katase, joins in, making the run better for our two stragglers.

That night before bed, the door to my room was knocked on, and I let Kuroka know I'd be back to bed fast. She was pretty drowsy and half asleep. I opened the door, and it was Rias. She looked down at the floor, and she was sad because of this. She was in the habit of being here now. I gently raised her face to look at mine.

"Six more days, Ria. I know it hurts, and I feel it, too. I don't want you to get more backlash from them."

Rias let a single tear down her face and closed her eyes.

"I know. It just hurts because we were finally getting to know each other. Then he ruined it like he ruined everything else I had. I want to be with you and her forever."

I do, too. That was plain to see for Rias when her eyes opened again, and she looked at mine. Rias softened her face there, and I promised her with a voice filled with emotion.

"I will make this the last thing he ruins for both of us. Tomorrow, you're welcome to spar with us. I'm teaching two people swords and want my Lady of Iron to join me. They can't say I'm improper there if you're practicing your skills. Just go easy on them."

Rias beams and nods enthusiastically. She is now happier than before. Rias smiles, and I return the smile. That makes the night better for both of us. I miss my redhead, and her absence lets some of my nightmares back in.

Day 2

Maéva was extremely weirded out when I asked her to buy steel and several other things. Before she shrugged and then went to obey. Murayama was building the robot maker's next section with Mittelt's help. Katase watched as Hetvia practiced her swordsmanship with Rias while the building was being done. Hetvia was never going to be the strongest swordswoman. That was clear enough to see. However, she had spirit and was determined to show she was not weak, especially because her crush was there.

Kiba happily talks to Issari while Akeno smothers her iguana, still shaking slightly. My best friend was slowly winning Kiba over, it seemed, by Kiba looking at Issari with genuine respect. That set Hetvia aflame with burning passion to get the swordsman to pay attention to her. Issari, being the rat she was, growled at Hetvia to stay away from her swordsman. That pissed off Hetvia, who growled back at the dragon being braver than ever before. The growl off was extremely loud, breaking Murayama's attention long enough for an almost bad mistake to happen. I stopped her with a whistle.

"Gecko, no more growling at my pawn. Hetvia, the same with you. Murayama, Mittelt, back away for a second."

The growling stopped, and I let the two back away before carefully unscrewing the bolt that had almost hit an electrical point. After doing that, I moved to Issari and slapped her on the head, getting a whine. I looked at Akeno with a very pointed look. She sighed and said to Issari in support.

"Do not growl at the blue-haired one. Kiba is not yours. Continue doing so, and you will be punished."

Issari whimpered, and Hetvia looked pleased with her victory over the dragon. I told her this in an equally unamused tone.

"No robots if you growl at the dragon. Kiba is not yours either, so no smugness or no Mr. Cuddles. You both almost hurt Murayama by this."

That shuts down the smugness. Hetvia joins in whimpering because no Mr. Cuddles and hurting someone in the peerage. Murayama's sweat drops from this. She says now that she gets it.

"Horny bad. I'm sorry, Gregor-kun."

I sighed and let Murayama back in.

"Be horny but pick your battles better. No tails for one more day then you can have them. Now let's try this again."

Murayama began to insert the screw again. There were, thankfully, no further incidents.

Raynare was teaching her fellow pawns the tactics of being a pawn that she was starting to develop. Her promotion skills were clicking with Hetvia, Katase, and Mittelt. The three pawns promoted simultaneously to a different piece each time to get used to their advantages. For when we slam through Riser's people and are inside his base, they are all allowed to promote freely given the chance.

Raynare was also training her speed with weights to be the fastest sneaker ever. The others were going to start doing that tomorrow. Not to the extent of Thoron or anyone else, but to allow her to dodge attacks faster. Kuroka was in her section of the room here in the basement, teaching Kiryuu and Murayama more effective ways to use magic while I do gear tips. Murayama was testing her gear on a Macabian sword, trying to get plasma to coat the blade in preparation for a combo of electric shock and plasma on her power sword. Kiryuu was excited learning that mechadendrites could help form more spells. She was working to form more magic reserves to go for shock and awe to keep up the pressure.

Thoron was testing his power spear for the game and working on a new set of moves for this weapon. He wanted to make Riser scream for his prior actions with Hetvia. He was prepared for this and was testing his abilities with the rook. His spear cracked, showing off his battle-fanatic smile.

Day 3

Maéva led Heniya Gremory into the house with her professional face. Heniya looked me up and down in an instant. Before she pulled out of a pocket spell a set of papers and handed them to me. I took them and immediately began reading the rules. The Crimson Lady of Ruin explained.

"The rules are loose because of the nature of the game. I included the contract magician part. The Phenex representative did not oppose that however, their counter was that Riser gets to choose the map stage."

I shrugged while looking for specific rules.

"As long as the map is vetted for cheats, I don't care about that concession."

Heniya smiled at me."

"I will personally ensure that. I'm not judging the game. The one found for the honor is an unbiased announcer that I selected. She will be good because she likes our parties and wants to see this game."

I kept reading the rules and haven't seen any problems with them so far. Kuroka asked for me.

"Who is the announcer?"

Heniya smiles before answering.

"Roygun Belphegor. She is eager to see you in action. I can't say more because of the circumstances of the game."

I smiled at that before I finished reading the last of the rules. I pocketed them, and Heniya studied me hard.

"Your grandfather claims you have a Longinus. I asked my brother, and he confirmed it again. Which one?"

I smile smirk now.

"That's a secret. It's a very unique one."

Heniya shrugged at my nonanswer.

"I figured you would not say anything about it, but you're making my parents more interested. They and the underworld are desperate to know what this Longinus is. My sister deserves a strong husband so prove that to them."

That said, Heniya turned and left the house via portal. We are golden as there are no rules against blessed weapons.

Murayama slapped on the final piece of the machine, and she stepped backward from it. A proud look on her face. Maéva had brought me the steel and other things, and now it's time to build Mr. Cuddles. I inserted the first bar into the modded platform, and the machine immediately began to hum to life. It will take two more days to build the first robot. Hetvia was excited and bouncing around knowing she gets a familiar.

Day 4

Inside the chapel of the Machine God, I pray softly for my own sake. I need to settle the last of my problems, especially with my family. I was alone, having asked for this from everyone. So, feeling someone behind me, I prepared for this as this was also for Alex and eventually for him.

It's Nomie Himejima. She was dressed in a pair of blood-stained shirt and jeans. Her hair was a short black, and her red eyes looked at me with sadness and sorrow. She was only two inches taller than me. Her face has a sad expression of her despair. I looked at her in sympathy before she said in a voice that stings only slightly.

"You're not my son. You wear his face and use his body, but you're not him."

I feel the shame I had from that. Nomie continues her sadness.

"I know why you did this. I know that you're there, Alex. I didn't want to see you because it destroyed my last hope that my baby survived them. He didn't."

Her voice was pure sadness. I finally found some courage for her.

"I'm not him and I didn't want this. I wish he were here for you."

Nomie sighed softly. She was sad beyond measure with this.

"You honored my son by respecting what he wants. You have given him vengeance against them. I know that you mean those words. It doesn't change the pain of knowing you're not him. Yet you're trying for us. Please help my husband. He's so destroyed by our deaths that he wants the end. He stays because of his duty to his system. He knows that if he dies, then its inner workings are lost forever because of his secrecy and that they would die out. I was trying to help him with my invention, which would have made it easier for us and bought Alex total acceptance."

The plea for her husband also saddened Nomie. The desperation was evident.

"He's my dad now, so I will help him. I understand that I am not your Alex just another version of him. I will never not try for this family because I'm here forever now, and this is my reality."

Nomie nods her head sadly.

"Shuri has told me you have done good things for Keno. She says, however, I need to have faith in you totally. I will start doing so. Finish my legacy. Make it and show them that we humans have never been worthless. I accept you as my new son. Help my husband return to the world."

Nomie comes close and whispers into my ear her legacy. Before she disappears, she goes to the afterlife of the Machine God despite her atheism. Having apparently needed this badly, too, I'm told by him. Alex said thank you to me for helping his mom. I correct him vocally.

"Our mom like how he's our dad. I accept I'm you fully. I'll make my middle name Alex so you have equal rights to who we are. It's better than Oscar. Fair?"

Alex replied that was fair. Then pointed and laughed at me being called Oscar. He called me a fucking nerd. I sighed.

Hetvia and Mittelt are both swinging their swords at one another while practicing. Katase was giving them tips, and so was I. Murayama was busy watching Kuroka's tails. Before getting slapped by said tails and focusing on her true purpose, which was helping Kiryuu with her gear as, Murayama had made a gain before the other. Thoron was getting his next pair of weights ready to go while Raynare planned out the next part of her new training session. She was scaring the mailman consistently and several other people in the neighborhood without using her cloak or her psyker abilities.

Her new access to battle mantras further enhanced that skill, thanks to a tablet with them. Along with more meditation techniques developed by the Emperor to help the weakest ones a bit better, that had really helped Raynare with her ability to sneak with it on, as even Kuroka had trouble now sensing Raynare.

Mittelt was better with the sword than Hetvia. However, she had discovered something that had pleased her immensely. She was now several inches taller than before, and I had asked her about that. Her response was funny.

"I imagined myself bigger, and it's working! I'll be normal height soon enough! Fuck you, Penemue I'll be there faster than you!"

That pleased her immensely, and she got snickers from everyone else except Shirone, who was here watching us. She grew wide-eyed at the revelation. Before, she got extremely excited and charged out of the basement. I sighed there. Kuroka smiled wide.

"You're getting a reward for that, Mittelt nya. My poor Shirone has learned an excellent thing thanks to you. There is less reason for you to deny her Sexy nya."

Mittelt looked at me in horror at the revelation that she had shared before she hugged my lower chest, weeping.

"I'm sorry I just wanted to be taller!"

I patted Mittelt in ultra comfort and support.

"I don't blame you. I blame horny cats with strength fetishes. You have earned my forgiveness for your design that improves bone density."

Mittelt knows I'm not mad at her. She was still a bit teary as she started to duel again. Hetvia continued to look every so often at her slowly being built robot. Its body is a beautiful red and halfway built. Its claws were sharp and prepared for the game.

Rias and I talked at the proper distance in the kitchen so as not to start another potential problem that had arisen this afternoon. Riser had attempted to get his position in a better place by trying a loophole he had found that would have gotten the game canceled. Rias would have to marry him instantly then. However, that loophole was closed down by Serafall Leviathan, who was the legal person for games. Her comment there had shocked the small push that had started to form to get the game canceled. The Satans had launched their second round of arrests at that moment, which diverted attention from us again to the scandal shaking the nobility.

I promised Riser an arc round for that. He had made Rias cry once again because he had said on the devil net that Rias was his multiple times before the loophole was closed, believing he had won this time. I couldn't hold her again, and it broke my heart to see her cry so badly. Alex promised to give Riser an extra strong jiggle dance for that. He was ready inside the gun, and he was eager for vengeance for us.

Day 5

I looked over the peerage as they now looked at their power armor. Katase is in love with hers, having polished her armor extremely hard, feeding her sin. Hetvia stands next to Mr. Cuddles as she pats her robot. He was almost ready with just his chrome head still needed. Issari had joined us at the station with her seraph pack wings extended. She had signed the contract drawn up for us by Kuroka at the beginning of the training with me. In the days before, she had been getting used to the magic system of a magician. She had made a spell with Kiryuu and Kuroka's help. Thank the Machine God, it wasn't dress break. It was something else that was off-field work.

Mittelt was testing her flak armor, which was remade for her new size, and ironing out last-minute kinks that had shown up in the last size fitting. She was also testing a new HUD display with several servo skulls hardwired, crewed by three extremely eager spirits who said they had always wanted to fly as regular people. Now, they can, even if it's not the right way.

Mittelt had also asked about the faith. Not to join but because of curiosity about the new field she and I planned to make in Deityolgy. I responded to her that the first tenet of the faith is that Flesh is weak. She seems to understand that more now, given her work on several theoretic things, she was considering for my future upgrades. That silence between the two of us after discussing a possible way for a less painful muscle enhancement showed more of me to her, and she started practicing with her chainsword a bit more after that session. Kuroka says to me in private after dragging me away from the others.

"I'm ready to join it now, nya. I want to be there when you upgrade your body more as does Red. We believe in you fully and will continue to do so nya. My Omnissiah."

That was said with a genuine grin from her before she kissed me, and I returned it fully. She broke it after thirty seconds. I smiled at my queen and future wife.

"I love you, Roka. This will be an easy clap. As for being there, yes just don't be mad at me when I hurt and get crabby. Neither you nor Rias have seen me when I'm fully my snarky self. I don't mean it when I get that mean. I plan for bones and muscles soon. Eventually, I want a synthetic weave above my bones"

Kuroka followed all that, and we shared this moment in the small space next to the wall of martyrs. Her tails wrapped around my waist. I was winning this time, and thankfully, no stupid anime logic ruined this for us. I promised to take her out on a date after the game, which gets me a look of seduction that promises me a great time. Especially when she whispered to me that got me a small nosebleed, and she smiled as I cleaned that up.

"You have interesting likes, nya. Was it our waifu that got that in you?"

I blushed but shook my head. It's embarrassing, and I say with that embarrassment.

"No, it was something else that led to that. There was a girl at my high school who was extremely hot, and she had that in a big way. Everyone wanted her, and my good friend asked her out. That fucker somehow got her to say yes. They eventually got married, and I cursed him for being a lucky bastard. He was always smug at our reunions, and while he didn't gloat about his victory, he and she very clearly loved one another. I was always happy for him, and she eventually liked me as a good friend. They were getting ready for their first kid before I died."

Kuroka squeezed my hand and waist, hearing the pain I still had from that. She put her head on my shoulder and purred for me, taking away that pain. She purred for me, knowing that I liked that, and I promised her with a whisper that I'd do what she wanted to. She grew extremely down bad there, and I chuckled at the sight.

"I didn't think that was your thing. I guessed it was the kittens first."

Kuroka smiled wide at the tease.

"I want the kittens first and foremost, but this is easy. You'd look good with a goatee, nya. I never could get a potential mate that was strong that way. Red agreed there, nya. I'll convince Birdy to join the bandwagon."

I chuckled at the fact that she had wanted facial hair first over kittens. It was funny that Rias wanted that, too. Kuroka wrapped her tails around me again, completely believing in me and our peerage.

Day 6

Hetvia prepared for the happiest moment of her life. The castallan was nearly ready. Rias's people watched in amazement, as did Maéva, who was here with my peerage. Mr. Cuddles was silent for ten minutes after the head plate was applied. Before it whined and whirled. The head plate was dark in color before it turned silver. Then, Mr. Cuddles takes his first step off the pad. The feet clanked onto the carpet, and Hetvia slowly approached the robot with me. Mr. Cuddles made a noise that was a mix between a piston hiss and a tweet like a bird, and I, knowing Binary, answered back to the robot.

"Welcome back. I will let you and your tech priest talk. She has been extremely eager to meet you."

Hetvia babbles to her robot, saying she would never hurt her familiar! Mr. Cuddles tweets and immediately gets a hug from Hetvia around the robot's midsection. I see the spirit inside the robot, and I freeze. Mr. Cuddles smiles bashfully. Mr. Cuddles is a fucking sis con. The spirit tells me softly that he had always wanted a sister to spoil. Now he has one, thanks to me. I eyed Hetvia, who told Mr. Cuddles she would always love her big metal brother. The name makes sense now. I sighed but let the two bond. Rias looks at the robot in awe, and she gives me a look that I immediately answer.

"Yes, Rias, I'll make you one too. You don't have a familiar either?"

Rias blushed and shook her head in a yes. Akeno was looking at Mr. Cuddles, and she licked her lips, seeing the claws. Kiba understands more than ever my title. Shirone had her tail and ears out and breathed out the title.

"Omnissiah nya."

Maéva looked at the robot in awe, and then she looked at Akeno, and she said to my cousin.

"I wish to hear the faith, young priestess. I have heard things in passing, and now this makes me curious. Why is Flesh weak?"

Akeno smiled and immediately began to describe the reason to Maéva and Shirone. They were joined by Issari, who had done many theology sessions with Akeno because she made several very deep references to the Cult Mechcanicum. Katase listens with half an ear, along with Mittelt. Kiba joined the group because he made his own reference to his friends in his sword. Shirone looked at me more, and she was extremely down bad now.

Rias looked ready to hug me and call me Omnissiah only for my ear. She, however, knows that she can't yet. Rias got determined and rushed off up the stairs at a fast speed. I don't know her plan, and I will watch my door closer tonight.

Maéva was deep in thought that night when we returned from running and enjoyed a delicious meal of steak and potatoes. I teased Kuroka about how she scarfed down her country's favorite food and got a potato thrown at me. I dodged it, and Maéva silently cleaned up the potato while the table settled in to tease one another. Mr. Cuddles was next to Hetvia, tweeting and hissing at the various questions Hetvia asked him. Hetvia quickly learned Binary and refined the skill further by asking questions in 0s and 1s. Thoron was weirded by that but shrugged and dug into his food. Issari was next to Akeno, and the two were talking about something. There was the occasional purr coming from the iguana.

The meal was great, and we were all ready for the game. I have a basic plan of what we will do, and with how brutal we will be, it should send a message to the GKF. Heniya will be here tomorrow afternoon when the deadline ends to take us to the stage. Maéva approached me and whispered something in my ear. I frowned and went to deal with this.

I opened the door and walked down the path to the gate to the grounds to see my unexpected guests. It was Siris and Yunabella. Siris is completely broken staring at the ground. Yunabella's lip curled into a disgusted frown at the sight of me. I raised an eyebrow at her with an equally disgusted expression crossing my face. The purple-haired woman stared at me with the disgust not hidden before she said with a sneer.

"Halfbreed my king has sent me to parley with you."

I sneer back at this bitch.

"Say the offer quickly before I make my own for him."

Yunabella snorted, unimpressed with me, before saying in a voice of condescension.

"The great Riser Phenex offers you several properties he owns and money to renounce your claim to the weakling. He will also provide you with several female commoners of your choice from his personal villages. He will even consider giving you his support for his sister. Just renounce the weakling."

I snorted at that. Before I spit at her feet, getting wide eyes from Yunabella.

"I want none of that. Your king is a coward, thinking he could intimidate me. He tried to ruin my contract with Ravel Phenex in spite. His was being broken legally at that moment. Here's my offer for him. He forfeits the game to me, and I get Rias Gremory. In exchange, I won't beat you and him into the ground. He gets nothing else from me. Take it or leave it."

Yunabella grew pissed.

"Halfbreed filth has absolutely no right to dictate anything! You should accept the generous offer a noble like Riser Phenex offers you, vermin! Offer denied!"

I smiled cruelly at Yunabella.

"I have more nobility in my pinky toe than Riser has in his entire body. Get off my property and get ready for tomorrow. You and he will need the time. I definitely will enjoy what I have ready for him. Because unlike him, I have been playing to win rather than being a bitch and trying ways to weasel out of the consequences of his actions. Now leave and dread the day you and him pissed off the Gorgan."

Yunabella gets ready to attack me. I feel the magic building in her gear and dare her to try.

"Attacking me before the game is grounds for an instant forfeit. I read the rules, and maybe you and he should start doing that. That must be simply too hard for you both why else would you both cheat."

I was goading her to do it. Break the rules and spare your fellow peers from getting limbs lost temporarily. Yunabella almost does it. A squawk from an owl stopped her. We both looked up into the tree close by, and we both saw it. It's a familiar and its yellow eyes watch us both in warning. It's Heniya's who told me that it would be there to watch for cheating by Riser. I want to shoot the bird as does Yunabella. She stopped her buildup of magic, snapped her fingers, and marched off with Siris following behind obediently.

The owl settled back into watching the retreating two. I hate my possible sister-in-law there. However, I get why she did that. I returned up the pathway and closed the door again to finish eating.

Day 7

Everyone is nervous about the game except Kuroka and me. We were gathered in the basement doing some final touches on our checklist of preparations. I want this and more done when school starts in mid September. I'm ready to be bored again with it but I have a vague idea of how to be with the ORC and the student council enough for our cover in the school. I learned from Murayama and Katase that the school did not have a running club. They also told me that you can be a member of three clubs at the school. I will join the ORC, and Rias will join my running club. Murayama and Katase can also use that as a valid excuse to be in the club, given it helps them in their primary club.

This way, I have an excuse to interact with Sona. Mittelt is not attending school, and Raynare wants to be with her stuffed animals. Kuroka rolled her eyes before saying she was not attending school either. She would be running Legio Solar as one of its bosses while I was suffering school education again. I joined in, rolling my eyes.

"You just want to play Halo while they do things don't deny it. What's the latest on them anyway?"

Kuroka smiled, not denying it at all, getting snickers from us and a tweet from Mr. Cuddles, who said he likes Halo, too. My queen smirked.

"Need to stay MLG nya. Based on your information, they have found five of the bases for him and are closing in on the last two. They also found our first three recruits and are working on getting them here, nya."

I frowned. Three already? I'll have to look into that after the game. I was about to ask who they were, but Rias coughed behind me. I turned, and it was not just Rias there. Shirone is with her, and they both are nervous. I raised an eyebrow at them before Rias pulled a small parchment with a symbol of the Cult Mechcanicum out from behind her back. The skull split down the middle; only the regular side has her hair, and the machine side has mine in green wires.

I'm amused, but take the parchment. I smiled at Rias, and I asked her.

"Where do you want it, Ria?"

Rias blushed and answered with a smile of her own.

"Your heart. I have one for Kitty, too. Please win, my Lord of Iron. My parents have told me Riser is prepared to marry me as soon as he wins the game. I only want you and her."

Riser being an idiot is expected. Kuroka is amused, too, and takes her favor from Rias. I smiled at my redhead.

"When I win, we can properly plan it, and you're welcome to have it however you want. Riser is just trying to posture himself as winning against a filthy halfbreed. Now I'm guessing that you also have one Shirone."

The cat blushes deep red, nodding her head violently and in a bit of panic.

"I want my brave prince to win nya. I know I have a small chance with you nya. Please accept it nya. I will always strive to prove to you I'm not the person I was nya. I want the strength and certainty you have nya."

Shirone was extremely nervous about that and had poured her heart into this favor. A white ribbon with a cat's paws on it. Kuroka tells me with her eyes I don't have to take this. Rias watched me and said nothing. Shirone was ready to run, fearing the silence. Just as she is about to run, I extend my right hand and softly take the favor.

"I have accepted I will have this. I didn't want a harem but that's been beaten like a dead horse. I will give you a real chance Shirone. I accept this now because I can see you mean what you said in the apology. If you fall back into it the chance is immediately gone. Where do you want this?"

Shirone smiles incredibly wide and says with her yellow eyes, looking at my red.

"The right hand of the prince who made me realize I was wrong, nya. The strongest man who will win this game and more to come, nya."

The favor is placed on my right gauntlet. Melted onto it by wax. Rias's favor near the heart also by wax. Shirone gets picked up by Kuroka, and the white cat embraces the black cat. Rias smiled there at her rook getting this. She wants to kiss me. I give her a smile, showing her that after, she can do as much as she wants. Both of us wanted that promise. Riser has made his last mistake in the game here.