As Roy charged at the Stray Devil, Rias's face lit up with a sly smile.
"President, that's a sneaky grin."
Koneko caught a rare expression on Rias's face.
"Koneko, what's that supposed to mean?" Rias froze before snapping back to her usual confident elegance.
Rias's plan tonight hinged on pitting Roy against the Stray Devil, a Middle-Class in strength.
Its massive size posed a challenge for Roy.
The Stray Devil lacked speed but boasted brute force and a tough exoskeleton, especially its beastly lower body—a nightmare for a melee fighter like Roy.
In Rias's eyes, Roy's fighting skills, while exceptional enough to outmatch Kiba, wouldn't bridge the gap in raw might or size.
The Stray Devil's lower body far outclassed Kiba's defenses, nullifying Roy's prior tactic of trading blows.
She aimed to expose Roy's human limits, nudging him toward accepting her Knight Piece.
To ensure safety, Rias had Akeno on standby.
If Roy faltered, Akeno would strike.
"Arrogant brats, toying with me!" the Stray Devil roared, furious at facing another foe.
First Kiba's blade, then a petite girl like Koneko, and now a human?
"You're looking down on me!"
"Puny human, you look tasty. I'll chew you up slowly in front of them!" Its human face twisted into a grotesque snarl.
Roy could read Rias's game: overwhelm him with a foe his "Low-Class" strength couldn't handle easily.
A tough fight? Nothing more.
"Underestimating me?" the Stray Devil bellowed, slamming an attack at Roy.
Roy didn't block or parry.
He sidestepped, dodging cleanly.
From watching Kiba and Koneko, he'd mapped the Stray Devil's attack patterns, strength, and defenses.
Its lower body was a fortress, but its human upper body?
Kiba might struggle against the exoskeleton, but he could pierce the upper body.
Roy maneuvered toward a nearby pillar, using the terrain.
Here, the building's walls, pillars, and debris were his tools.
The Stray Devil's size demanded a height advantage for a clean strike, and its rage-clouded mind made it predictable—perfect for manipulation.
"Pretty rough," Koneko watched Roy dodge the Stray Devil's onslaught.
As a Rook, Koneko fought head-on, crushing foes with raw power.
Roy's evasive style, forced back without countering, looked like a losing battle to her.
"No surprise," Rias sighed.
"This Stray Devil's a bad match for Roy."
Her plan was working—Roy seemed outclassed, a lesson in human limits.
Only by becoming a devil could he transcend them.
"But Roy's dodging is sharp," Kiba said, catching the nuance.
"The Stray Devil hasn't touched him."
Despite its ferocious attacks, the creature's strikes were wild, missing Roy's calculated movements.
"Akeno, keep Roy safe," Rias reminded.
"Of course, Rias," Akeno had a serene smile masking the lightning in her hand, ready to obliterate the Stray Devil if Roy slipped.
The Stray Devil, lured by Roy, smashed a pillar.
Its attacks, missing Roy, shattered walls and columns, sending stone and dust flying.
Seizing the chaos, Roy leaped onto a collapsing pillar, launching toward its upper body.
The creature grinned viciously, spewing a web of spider silk to ensnare him.
Akeno's demonic power surged, arcing toward the Stray Devil.
But Roy, as if anticipating the trap, kicked off a nearby wall, shifting half a meter to dodge the silk.
His sword slashed upward, cutting the Stray Devil's throat.
Lightning and sword struck together.
The Stray Devil collapsed.
"Grrk—!" Its screams faded as it twitched on the ground.
"Guess I overstepped."
"But how to punish you?" Akeno added, her sadistic grin flashing as another bolt scorched the Stray Devil, draining its life.
It stilled, twitching faintly.
"You predicted that counterattack?" Rias
Most wouldn't foresee that attack, yet Roy dodged it flawlessly.
Roy shrugged casually.
"It's a monster, so I figured it might spin something."
"I'd already clocked its patterns, so I tested it. Worst case, I'd still cut its throat."
Rias blinked, then gave a wry smile.
Roy's logic—simple yet effective—had outmaneuvered her plan.
His control, anticipating the attack and striking decisively, was enviable.
Her scheme to humble him flopped.
'Oh well, more chances,' she thought.
"Ara ara~, Roy-kun, your composure is something else," Akeno giggled.
"Most gag at blood, but you're unbothered."
"Maybe I'm built for this," Roy handed the Demonic Sword back to Kiba.
"Thanks, Kiba. Solid weapon."
Yuto took the sword, dissolving it with Sword Birth.
"Roy-kun's perfect for our side," Akeno replied before gazing back to Roy.
"This Stray Devil's just the start. Join us, and you'll see wilder things."
"Still not tempted to change races?"
"Not planning to change yet," Roy gave out a firm answer.
"Such a dodge," Akeno said, shaking her head.
"Let's clean up," Rias said, stepping forward.
She used Power of Destruction, engulfing the Stray Devil's body.
It vanished, leaving only a bloodstain.
[Congratulations, host. Random task: Assist in defeating the Stray Devil completed.]
[5,000 Dimension Points awarded.]
Rias summoned a teleportation circle, and the group returned to the Occult Research Club.
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