Chapter 6-10 - Preview of In DxD with Sign-In System!

This may be the last preview for [In DxD with Sign-in System], as my next Preview will feature five chapters of another fanfic.

Still, If it’s well-received, it might become official. Please share your honest review in the comments!

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Chapter 6: Preparing to Challenge the Kendo Club

Early the next morning, I woke up and practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard. After familiarizing myself with Zangetsu, I rushed to the academy, arriving in my classroom just minutes before the first bell.

Now, through practicing basic swordsmanship, the techniques were already deeply ingrained in my memory.

What I needed to do now was to constantly engage in combat to further Improve and familiarize myself with the swordsmanship I had mastered.

This way, when I used Zangetsu's Bankai, I was confident that my combat power would increase significantly!

However, just as I was about to sit down, the red-haired girl in front of me politely greeted me.

"Good morning, Kyoya-kun."

"Good morning, Rias, Akeno."

"Ara ara! Even though you confessed to me yesterday, making me your girlfriend, you greeted Rias before me this morning! It's really quite hurtful..."

Akeno covered her face and pretended to cry, but her eyes were constantly, secretly observing my reaction.

Having already familiarized myself with Akeno's personality, I knew her tricks all too well. So I simply ignored her theatrics.

"Alright, that's enough, Akeno. Your attempt at acting pitiful is making me feel sorry for you, but it's completely useless. I won't be fooled so easily. I know you like the back of my hand."

"Oh? Does that mean you have some deep, dark secret, Kyoya-kun? Or did you secretly investigate me? Why else would you say you know everything about me?"

Akeno lowered her hands, her pretty face full of confusion and surprise. Rias, beside her, also stared at me with wide, astonished eyes.

However, I calmly sat down and took out the textbook for the upcoming class, all while looking tenderly at Akeno.

"If you want to know the truth, Akeno, as I said yesterday, you need to become a member of my family. So, are you considering becoming my family? Will you be my girlfriend?"

Hearing my bold and ambiguous confession again, Akeno fell into a rare silence.

Rias, observing this strange scene, watched the two of us with great interest.

"Geez, really, we've only just met, and you're already asking me to be your girlfriend, Kyoya-kun. You're so forward, but I don't mind if we start dating first, you know!" Akeno teased playfully.

Akeno made a show of looking regretful, which made me sigh helplessly in my heart. But I didn't get discouraged.

She hadn't explicitly rejected me, which was a good start. It meant she had some positive feelings towards me.

Seeing my calm expression, Akeno seemed to have thought of something, and she instantly dropped her playful act.

"Oh, that's right, Kyoya-kun. Be sure to come to the Occult Research Club after school today! You promised yesterday, so you can't refuse us today."

"......"

Being invited again, I stopped what I was doing, looked at the smiling Akeno and the serious Rias, and nodded slowly.

"Alright, I'll ask Koneko-chan to take me there after school."

I spent the entire day spacing out and sleeping in class. For a genius student who always got the top scores on exams, the teachers were already used to it. And so, the school day ended quickly.

"Looks like I'll need to ask Koneko-chan about this later," I muttered to myself.

"Hm? Is there something you need Koneko's help with? If possible, we can help too." Rias said, her gaze fixed on me as she organized her textbooks.

Meanwhile, Akeno added with a hint of dissatisfaction, "That's right. I'm already Kyoya-kun's 'potential' girlfriend. If you have any questions, why don't you just ask me? Why go to Koneko-chan? Do you perhaps prefer petite girls like her? It makes me sad..."

"......."

Catching the faint smile at the corner of Akeno's mouth, I let out a soft sigh and calmly ignored her teasing.

After the system awakened yesterday, I had gotten into the habit of constantly checking it for new tasks.

And just this morning, while I was practicing my swordsmanship, I received a new task from the system.

[Ding! Task issued: Go to the Kendo Club and defeat Sona Sitri's Knight, Tomoe Meguri.]

The corners of my mouth twitched as I read the system's task. This damn system, this task is clearly telling me to go and challenge them, to make enemies. But I have to do it. I'm still too weak.

"Could you wait a moment, I..."

Just as I was about to say something, Akeno shot me a fierce glare.

"Kyoya-kun! You promised just now, didn't you? Are you going to try and make up some excuse to get out of it now? You can't go back on your word."

Hearing this, I immediately waved my hands weakly and said, "No, no, of course, I won't go back on my word."

Because if I didn't explain myself now, not only Akeno but probably even Rias would be very displeased with me, which would significantly lower their opinion of me. So, I naturally wouldn't do something so foolish.

Rias and Akeno exchanged glances, completely confused about what I was playing at.

Then Rias asked hesitantly, "Then what do you mean?"

"It's a personal matter. I have something I need to take care of today, and I'd like Koneko-chan to take me to the Kendo Club. After I'm done, I'll go straight to the Occult Research Club with her. Don't worry. Why else would I pass up two such beautiful ladies...?"

"In that case, Akeno and I will head back to the clubroom first and wait for you."

Rias nodded with a faint smile. Then, the two of them left the classroom, disappearing from my sight.

I let out a sigh of relief. Then, I found Koneko-chan and explained my intentions.

Although Koneko was a little confused as to why I was interested in the Kendo Club, she still agreed to my request.

Then, under Koneko's guidance, I headed towards the Kendo Club.

............

Chapter 7: Hibari Kyoya VS Meguri Tomoe

When we arrived at the Kendo Club, we were met with intense stares. As the academy's "mascot," Koneko was used to the attention.

And as a bit of a campus celebrity myself, I wasn't fazed either. Though, the jealous glares from the male kendo club members were hard to miss.

First, I had managed to get close to Rias and Akeno, and now I was with Koneko. If they could, they probably would have executed me on the spot!

But I'd endured this kind of scrutiny countless times before. So, I ignored the murderous looks from the guys.

Just as I was lost in thought, a girl with reddish-brown hair in twin-tails, wearing a kendo uniform, interrupted my musings.

"Hibari-san, is there something you need from the Kendo Club? Are you perhaps thinking of joining?"

I looked at the girl's face, but instead of answering her question immediately, I searched my memories for information about her.

Her name was Tomoe Meguri, from a family of exorcists in Kyoto, and she was Student Council President Sona Sitri's Knight.

After observing her for a few seconds, I calmly stated, "Tomoe-san, I apologize for the intrusion. I'm here today to challenge the Kendo Club."

"Challenge?"

Tomoe's smile slowly faded, and her expression turned sour. Anger flared in her eyes.

Challenging the Kendo Club was basically the same as picking a fight with them!

Even Koneko was shocked, not knowing what to say...

"Hibari-san, do you have any idea what you're saying?" Tomoe's voice was no longer as cheerful as before. Her anger was barely contained.

Even though I had expected this kind of reaction, I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

I suppressed the bitterness welling up inside me, sighed helplessly, and explained, "I do. But I have my reasons... and my target is you..."

"What? You've got some nerve! I don't care what your reasons are, but as a shut-in, you're challenging me right off the bat? Just how much do you look down on our Kendo Club?!"

Tomoe was practically laughing with anger at my words. She had heard some rumors about me around the academy and thought I was a polite and modest person. But now, it seemed that arrogance was my true nature.

"I know my actions are rude, but I really have no other choice... I hope you can understand, Tomoe-san." A bitter feeling welled up inside me.

After this, Student Council President Sona Sitri would probably come looking for me to lecture me. She might even try to make me her peerage member, just like Rias...

"Fine! Since you insist, I'll grant your wish!" Tomoe said with a cold expression. clearly planning to put me in my place.

"Hibari-san, I'll accept your challenge. But you'll have to defeat the other members of the Kendo Club first before you can face me."

Hearing Tomoe's words, I replied, "No problem."

"Did you all hear that? I don't need to say anything more." Tomoe said to the surrounding Kendo Club members, her face stern.

Hearing their captain's words, the other members felt a surge of uncontrollable anger. Someone had come to challenge them, which was a huge insult to every member!

I calmly walked over to a rack of wooden swords and picked one up.

"Can we start now?"

"Yes! I won't have everyone gang up on you. You can choose your opponents. If you win, you can challenge me. If you lose, you'll leave the Kendo Club immediately! And for Rias-senpai and the others' sake, I'll pretend this never happened. But the Kendo Club will no longer welcome you."

Although Tomoe thought I was arrogant, she saw that I had come with Koneko, so she assumed I was friends with Rias and Akeno. She didn't want to make things too difficult for me, fearing that Rias might complain to the Student Council President later, which would be a hassle.

However, I shook my head and said something that enraged the entire Kendo Club, "There's no need for that. You can all come at me at once."

"......"

Koneko: Hibari-senpai....

....

The room fell silent. The other Kendo Club members saw the icy expression on their captain's face.

On the other hand, I seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I had just said something incredibly arrogant. I stared at Tomoe, waiting for her answer.

"In that case, I have nothing more to say. Everyone, attack together!" Hearing their captain's cold command, all the members exchanged glances, gripped their wooden swords, and charged at me!

But despite this, I remained exceptionally calm.

...

I stood with my left hand behind my back, my feet shoulder-width apart, and my right hand gripping the wooden sword.

Seeing my stance, Tomoe couldn't help but sneer inwardly. It looked like I had never learned swordsmanship. Fighting like that was practically suicide. But the next moment, she was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.

...

I coated my wooden sword with black Armament Haki and, without moving from my spot, swung it forward. With several cracks, the wooden swords of the charging Kendo Club members were all sliced in half, and they were sent flying backward.

However, I held back against two of the girls. The rest of the members were now lying on the ground, groaning in pain.

I glanced at the two girls, and familiar images flashed through my mind.

If my memory served me right, these two girls should be members of Sona Sitri's peerage: Tsubasa Yura, the Rook, and Reya Kusaka, the Bishop. I couldn't bring myself to hurt such pretty girls. After all, cuteness is justice!

"You two lovely ladies, how about surrendering? You're both so cute; I really can't bring myself to hurt you."

"I... I surrender..." Yura stammered, looking at the scene in shock. Kusaka, standing beside her, quickly followed suit.

"I didn't know Hibari-senpai was so skilled in swordsmanship! I'd never heard of it before! But it's really cool!"

"That's right, that's right! Why was Hibari-senpai pretending to be weak?"

Looking over, I saw the two girls staring at me with hearts in their eyes. Great, two more girls had fallen head over heels.

"......."

Tomoe stared blankly at the scene before her. If my earlier actions had made her furious, and she wanted to use all her strength.

Now, her face was undoubtedly filled with a burning fighting spirit!

Based on my performance, she could tell that my swordsmanship was exceptionally strong!

It seemed that the rumors about me being a shut-in were completely unfounded. I must have been undergoing rigorous training all along. That was the only explanation for my strength.

Tomoe's mind was racing, imagining all sorts of fantastical scenarios. And as she thought about it, the fighting spirit on her pretty face intensified.

I had no idea what she was thinking.

If I did, I would have definitely retorted her wild imagination. I had just come to challenge the club, but she had somehow managed to come up with such an elaborate backstory for me. It was truly ridiculous.

............

Chapter 8: Tomoe Meguri's Defeat, Kiba Yuuto's Astonishment

"Well then, Tomoe-san, I guess it's our turn now." I completely ignored the two girls on the sidelines, my attention now fully focused on Tomoe.

Since obtaining Zangetsu, aside from practicing this morning, this was my first real sword fight against another person.

And now, my opponent was Tomoe Meguri, who possessed the power of a Mid-Class Devil. I was genuinely excited!

Hearing my words, a faint blush crept onto Tomoe's cheeks, like the first bloom of a peach blossom. She avoided looking directly at me. But she quickly recovered and regained her composure.

"Hibari-san, I apologize for my earlier behavior. Your swordsmanship is truly impressive. Although I don't know your reasons for challenging me, I cannot back down from a challenge from such a skilled opponent!" As she spoke, Tomoe walked over to the weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword.

"Then, let's begin!"

I smiled faintly and tightened my grip on my wooden sword, quickly advancing towards Tomoe.

Meaningless verbal sparring was pointless. It was better to let our swordsmanship decide the victor!

Tomoe also raised her wooden sword and met my advance!

With all the members of the Kendo Club as witnesses, we began our fierce duel.

Clang!

Our wooden swords collided with a sharp sound, and then we both quickly retreated, creating distance between us, only to clash again and again!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

As the sounds of our swords clashing echoed, our movements became faster and faster!

After blocking another one of my attacks, Tomoe spoke excitedly.

"Hibari-san, could it be that you're also....? My power and speed have increased significantly, yet you can still keep up with me, fighting evenly while wielding your sword with only one hand."

"Well..."

Hearing Tomoe's praise, I simply shook my head and smiled without explaining further. It seemed she had mistaken me for one of Rias's peerage. If I revealed that I was just a human, she probably wouldn't use her full Devil powers against me.

This was a rare opportunity to fight against a skilled swordsman of similar strength. I had to cherish it. In fact, I was incredibly excited.

From our exchanges so far, I could tell that Tomoe's swordsmanship was superior to mine, and her fundamentals were much stronger.

But because of my Observation Haki's precognitive ability, I could easily evade her attacks and counterattack.

So, for the time being, neither of us could gain an advantage. However, through this sparring, I was becoming more and more proficient in combat.

Her eyes flickered constantly, and finally, Tomoe made her declaration.

"Hibari-san, I'm going all out now!"

"That's exactly what I want. To be honest, I'm very happy that you're willing to fight me with your full strength." I responded with a slight smile, my eyes sharpening.

Tomoe was now planning to use her full Mid-Class Devil strength. Naturally, I had to go all out as well.

I couldn't afford to be careless anymore, or playing the role of a sheep to lure the wolf would only make me the real fool in the end. It would also be disrespectful to her.

Our wooden swords clashed again, but compared to the previous exchanges, our speed and power were now on a completely different level.

We both seemed to treat each other as mortal enemies, our minds filled with thoughts of how to defeat the other. Tomoe, as an heir to an ancient family of exorcists, used her family's secret exorcism swordsmanship, relentlessly attacking me!

But despite Tomoe's fierce onslaught, I remained calm and composed. My breathing was steady. I easily blocked Tomoe's attacks with my precognitive ability and even found opportunities to counterattack!

Standing to the side, Yura Tsubasa and Reya Kusaka watched our fight with astonishment.

"I-is this an illusion? Hibari-senpai can actually fight on par with the captain?!"

"It's unbelievable... Honestly, I'm shocked too! He sleeps in class and still gets good grades, he's handsome, and now he's this good at kendo. If word gets out, I bet tons of girls will see him as their ideal man..."

"Yeah, you're right..."

The two girls whispered to each other, unaware that as they watched me, their faces had turned as red as roses under the setting sun. Their shy expressions were endearingly cute.

Koneko, observing the two girls' infatuated expressions from the side, couldn't help but think to herself, That pervert is such a lady-killer. But I didn't expect him to be this strong, almost as strong as Kiba.

I was completely oblivious to the girls' little side conversation. Even if I had heard their discussion, I wouldn't have had time to explain.

Because at this moment, I was completely immersed in the joy of battle. I was thrilled to have met such a well-matched opponent in Tomoe.

As our wooden swords collided again with a loud bang, I retreated a few steps, a wider smile spreading across my face.

"This is amazing! But it's time to end this. Tomoe-san, prepare yourself for my strongest attack!"

Tomoe didn't respond verbally, but the serious expression on her face was answer enough.

In the next instant, I dashed towards her with lightning speed! My right hand, gripping the wooden sword, was now coated with powerful Armament Haki. I swung the sword down from above in a single, vertical slash.

Faced with this sudden attack, Tomoe had no time to react. She could only raise her sword horizontally in front of her to block. A clear, crisp sound rang out.

Crack!

Tomoe's wooden sword was split in two, and I followed through, placing my wooden sword against her neck. Defeated. She was utterly defeated.

"I lost."

"Your swordsmanship is truly impressive, Hibari-san! Among the people I've met, only Kiba Yuuto's swordsmanship is comparable to yours. I doubt even he could defeat you." Tomoe lowered her broken sword. She didn't seem dejected at all. Instead, her eyes sparkled.

"You're too kind... To be honest, I haven't actually fought Kiba Yuuto yet. So, if we were to fight, it's hard to say who would win."

Just as we were talking, a voice called out from the doorway, filled with surprise.

"That's true. There's no need to be so modest, Hibari-san. Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable. Even I'm not confident I could defeat you."

"Kiba-san? Why are you here at the Kendo Club?" Tomoe asked, puzzled by the newcomer's arrival.

"Hello, Hibari-san! I'm Kiba Yuuto. Rias asked me to come and invite you to the Occult Research Club. But I didn't expect you to be so powerful..."

Rias had gotten worried since I hadn't shown up yet, so she sent Kiba to check on me. He hadn't seen the beginning of the fight, but he had watched our duel from the moment we got serious.

Seeing Tomoe, a skilled swordswoman, defeated so easily by me left him stunned and filled with disbelief.

Although Rias had told him that I had instantly killed a Stray Devil, seeing me defeat Tomoe with such ease still shocked him to his core.

Just as I was wondering why Kiba had suddenly appeared, the system notified me that the challenge against Tomoe was complete, along with a new system task.

............

Chapter 9: Challenging Kiba Yuuto

[Ding! Task completed. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Flying Thunder God Technique!]

[Ding! Task issued: Defeat Kiba Yuuto.]

Just as I was still pondering over the implications, the familiar, emotionless mechanical voice sounded, instantly making my eyes light up.

The Flying Thunder God Technique? The powerful space-time ninjutsu? Once a target is marked, it's like placing a permanent curse on them. The user can teleport to the marked target at any time, making it perfect for surprise attacks.

In this world, aside from those with extremely high power levels who might be able to remove the mark, I'd have a huge advantage in any fight. And if things got tough, I could just teleport away!

After receiving the system's reward, I glanced at the new, brightly glowing green task: Defeat Kiba Yuuto. Hmm… it shouldn't be too difficult, for now.

"Hibari-san? Hibari-san, are you alright?"

Seeing that I had seemingly spaced out after Kiba greeted me, Tomoe called out to me.

"Ah, sorry, Kiba-san. I just remembered something."

"Ah, no need to be so formal. After all, I did interrupt your conversation. I apologize."

"Huh? Kiba? Why are you here?" Koneko suddenly asked, confused. Usually, he'd be at the Occult Research Club by now.

I, however, already knew the answer.

Kiba smiled slightly and explained, "Rias asked me to come over. She was worried because you hadn't shown up yet. I didn't expect you to have defeated Tomoe-san, Hibari-san. Even I had to go through a lot of trouble to barely win against her in the past."

"......"

I inwardly rolled my eyes at him. Kiba was always so humble. Tomoe was likely around the level of a Peak Low-Class Devil, maybe just entering Mid-Class.

But Kiba was a solid Mid-Class Devil, at his Peak! They were practically a whole realm apart! And he said he barely won? This former Holy Sword user candidate, now a Mid-Class Devil at his peak, was being way too modest.

"Kiba-san, I heard from Tomoe-san that your swordsmanship is superb. So, I was hoping to have a match with you!"

My eyes burned with fighting spirit as I looked at Kiba.

I craved battle. Soon, all sorts of supernatural beings would appear, and I was still too weak. To get stronger, I needed to fight constantly and Complete Tasks.

Most of the rewards I had gotten so far were White Grade. This was a rare opportunity to get a Green Grade reward. I couldn't let it slip away.

"Of course, I'd be happy to have a match with you, Hibari-san. How about we head over to the Occult Research Club to start?" Kiba suggested.

"Sounds good."

I quickly realized that a match between Kiba and me wasn't suitable for a public place with so many Kendo Club members around. Our powers could cause significant damage to the surroundings and potentially injure bystanders.

"In that case, let's go!"

"Okay."

...

After agreeing, Kiba, Koneko, and I headed towards the exit.

"Wait a moment!"

Just then, Tomoe called out to us. We stopped and turned around, looking at her questioningly.

"Tomoe-san, is there something else?"

"It might be a bit presumptuous of me, but… I'm very interested in seeing your match... May I watch...?"

Tomoe's face was flushed as she spoke, knowing that it was inappropriate for an outsider to observe such a match, which would likely reveal some of their trump cards.

But she was just too curious. Both of them were clearly skilled swordsmen, surpassing her own abilities. She'd regret it forever if she missed this chance.

Kiba and I exchanged a glance and smiled.

"Sure, come along. But it's probably best if you come alone. Rias might get upset if too many people show up."

"Alright! Thank you so much!"

...

So, the four of us headed back to the Occult Research Club. When we arrived, Rias and Akeno saw me looking a bit worn out, with Tomoe beside me, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at me.

Rias immediately asked Koneko, the only other person present, for an explanation.

"Koneko, what's going on? Why does Hibari-san look like that? And why is Tomoe-san here?"

"Here's what happened. Hibari-senpai defeated all the members of the Kendo Club and then challenged Tomoe-senpai to a duel, which he won. Then, when Kiba-san arrived, Hibari-senpai challenged him to a match. Tomoe-senpai heard about it and asked to come and watch." Koneko explained calmly.

Kiba smiled at Rias and the others, confirming Koneko's account.

"I can't believe this happened. To think he could defeat Tomoe-san with just his swordsmanship... It seems my judgment was correct. I didn't misjudge you, Kyoya-kun!"

Hearing that I had defeated Tomoe, Rias's eyes lit up with surprise. After all, she knew that Tomoe was one of Sona's most prized peerage members! The fact that I could defeat her so easily was beyond Rias's expectations.

Meanwhile, Akeno wore a teasing smile.

"Ara ara, Kyoya-kun, you're such a bad boy! You could have told us if you were going to do something like this. As your 'potential' girlfriends, Rias and I would have definitely come to cheer you on!"

"!!!"

"Akeno!!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop!"

Rias's eyebrows twitched, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She didn't dare to look at me. Akeno, seeing Rias's reaction, decided to stop teasing her best friend for now. It was fine when they were alone, but Sona's peerage member was also here.

Akeno glanced at me, looking slightly exhausted, and asked Koneko with a hint of confusion.

"So, what's the deal with Kyoya-kun looking like this?"

"About that..."

"I can explain that!"

Just as Koneko was about to explain, Tomoe interrupted her.

Then, she explained that she now greatly admired me and insisted that I wasn't a shut-in like the rumors suggested, but that I must have been undergoing rigorous training. She went on and on about how solid my fundamentals were, and so forth...

Hearing Tomoe's exaggerated praise, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

This gossip-loving Tomoe was a bit too much to handle!

............

Chapter 10: Hibari Kyoya vs Kiba Yuuto, the Crowd's Astonishment

After we arrived at a clearing near the Occult Research Club, Kiba and I walked a short distance apart and faced each other, our eyes locked in a focused gaze.

The four girls stood a little ways off, silently observing us.

"Kiba-san, shall we begin?"

Instead of answering directly, Kiba gripped his demonic sword, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's begin, Hibari-san."

Seeing the demonic sword in Kiba's hand, I didn't waste any time summoning Tensa Zangetsu, gripping it firmly with both hands as I faced him.

Kiba Yuuto, as Rias's Knight, possessed the Sacred Gear: Sword Birth, which allowed him to create an numerous demonic swords.

He was known for his incredible speed and swordsmanship. He also had a dark past.

He and a group of children around his age were taken by the Church and subjected to a year of Holy Sword aptitude training.

In the end, none of them were compatible with the Holy Swords, and they were all poisoned. Later, he was turned into a Reincarnated Devil by Rias, which led to his deep hatred for Holy Swords.

"Ara ara, is that your weapon, Kyoya-kun? It looks like an ordinary katana, but there's something… different about it. Could it be an unrecorded Sacred Gear?"

Akeno smiled as she studied me. Right now, I exuded an aura of danger.

Rias focused on Zangetsu in my hands, then lowered her head slightly, smiling in agreement with Akeno's speculation.

"That sword radiates a dangerous aura. Even I feel a sense of pressure from it." Koneko commented, her eyes narrowed.

Tomoe, standing beside her, also examined my Zanpakuto.

"I see… I trust your judgment, Koneko." Rias gently stroked Koneko's head, accepting her assessment.

After all, before becoming a Devil, Koneko was a Nekomata, a youkai with heightened senses. It wasn't surprising that she could sense something unusual about my weapon, and Rias trusted her peerage member's instincts.

"Ara, the match is about to start!" Akeno's voice brought everyone's attention back to Kiba and me.

<Getsuga Tenshou!>

Without any wasted movements, I gripped Zangetsu tightly and unleashed my ultimate technique right from the start. Black energy erupted around me, accompanied by crackling blue lightning!

The lightning struck the ground around us, blasting out craters and leaving the onlooking girls speechless.

This was an enhanced version of Getsuga Tenshou. I had infused it with the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, creating a lightning-enhanced slash.

This was to counter the possibility of an opponent predicting and dodging the attack, which would leave me vulnerable.

By using lightning to restrict the enemy's movements, I could ensure that Getsuga Tenshou hit its mark. The result was a black slash surrounded by a torrent of blue lightning.

"No way to dodge!"

Kiba's pupils constricted. The lightning was too fast. His body was already feeling numb. Even more troublesome was that the blue lightning surrounded him, leaving no room to escape.

Kiba couldn't help but curse inwardly. Who starts a fight with their strongest attack?!

The black slash reached him in an instant. With no other choice, he swung his magic-infused demonic sword to block.

However, Kiba had underestimated the power of the attack. The moment his sword made contact, he was pushed back several meters before managing to regain his footing.

Seeing that my attack had been blocked, I didn't give Kiba any time to recover. I immediately followed up, my body surging with lightning as I charged at him, slashing. My speed was so great that all they could see were afterimages.

Reacting quickly, Kiba turned and swung his sword to meet my attack.

Clang!

Our weapons collided, sparks flying from the point of impact. We were locked in a contest of strength, each pushing against the other.

But in this brief exchange, beads of sweat quickly formed on Kiba's forehead. It was clear that my sudden attack had put him at a disadvantage.

As Kiba struggled to catch his breath, I swiftly brought my left fist forward, striking him in the chest. With a dull thud, Kiba was sent sliding backward until he crashed into a wall.

Despite his disheveled state, Kiba had managed to block all of my attacks.

"You're really strong, Hibari-san! To force me into this state with just your swordsmanship."

Kiba looked at me with admiration.

However, none of the girls, including Kiba himself, noticed the subtle detail: during our brief exchange, I had secretly marked Kiba with the Flying Thunder God seal.

I placed Zangetsu on the ground in front of me and sighed.

"You're too modest. You reacted quickly and countered my sudden attacks. You're very strong."

Sigh!

As expected of a Mid-Class Devil at his peak, Kiba wasn't so easy to deal with! My surprise attack only managed to make him a little disheveled.

He hadn't suffered any real damage. It seemed my plan to win with a quick strike had failed, but that was to be expected...

Seeing the black slash and the potent lightning I had used, Rias and the others were speechless. They had never heard of such a style of swordsmanship!

Koneko stared at me in disbelief. The image of me as a shut-in was deeply ingrained in her mind. She knew I was stronger than her, but she hadn't expected me to be this strong!

I was proficient in close combat, swordsmanship, and even ranged energy attacks, even pushing Kiba to this extent.

"Hibari-senpai... is such a perverted bad boy."

The white-haired, emotionless girl stared at me with a complicated expression, then mumbled under her breath.

I was clearly this strong, yet I had pretended to be Average all this time. If Rias and the others hadn't witnessed me killing the Stray Devil, I probably would have continued to hide my abilities.

Rias was desperately trying to contain her excitement!

She felt an overwhelming urge!

She wanted to invite me to become her peerage member again, no matter the cost! She knew I had defeated Tomoe in kendo, but she hadn't expected me to be this powerful!

This was the first time she had seen Kiba in such a disadvantaged state.

If I became her peerage member, then perhaps her engagement… Rias bit her lip, her fair cheeks flushing red!

Akeno, seeing Rias's expression, seemed to have guessed what she was thinking.

She smiled but didn't say anything. She was looking forward to seeing how this boy she had her eye on would grow in the future.