"Use your Boosted Gear, Ise."
Those were the first words Rias said to me the next morning as we gathered outside the mansion for training.
She stood with her arms crossed, her red jersey fitting snugly over her curves, eyes serious yet calm.
I blinked. "Seriously?"
It wasn't that I didn't want to, but up until now, she'd made it a point not to let me use it unless necessary. Said I needed to build up my base power before relying on it.
But maybe she wanted to see it now. See how far I'd come.
"It's time to see how much you've grown—and how much farther you need to go," she said. "It should be okay to have Yuuto as your opponent."
"Yes, Buchou," Kiba responded as he stepped forward, already wearing a training jersey and gripping a wooden sword casually over his shoulder.
He smiled at me, his expression friendly… but there was a glint of seriousness in his eyes. He wasn't going to hold back.
Rias turned to me again. "Ise, activate your Sacred Gear before the mock battle. We'll give you two minutes to power up. Begin after that."
I nodded.
"Boost!"
With a flash of red, the familiar gauntlet formed over my left arm, its emerald jewel glowing faintly. I could feel the pressure settle on my arm—both literal and symbolic. This wasn't just for training. This was to show that I belonged in her team. That I wasn't just dead weight.
'Hey, Ddraig,' I called out through our mental link. 'Do you think I can take him?'
{If he doesn't use his Sacred Gear, possible. But if he does, then no. Not yet.}
Yeah. That tracks.
Kiba's fast. Crazy fast. And graceful like a damn ballet dancer with a sword.
But this time… I wasn't completely the same.
"Boost!"
{Power Up!}
One down.
"Boost!"
{Power Up!}
Two. I could already feel the flow of energy doubling inside me. A tingle ran across my skin. The sacred energy was making my muscles feel like they were expanding from the inside. I clenched my fist, stabilizing my stance.
Kiba watched from the opposite side of the field, calm and focused, his sword resting in his hands now.
"Three—" I whispered.
"Begin!" Rias called out.
Kiba moved.
He dashed at me like a flash of wind, his foot barely making a sound against the ground. But I'd seen it before. His opening rush.
I activated my aura and leapt to the side, the sword grazing past where I'd just been standing.
"Nice dodge," Kiba said casually, already spinning to strike again.
Clang!
His wooden blade collided with my gauntlet.
He raised an eyebrow. "Stronger than before, huh?"
"Thanks," I muttered, pushing off him and taking a few steps back to get room.
"Boost!"
{Power Up!}
Fourth.
I could feel it. The explosive strength building in my limbs. Kiba came again—this time faking left, then coming at me from the right with a low sweep.
I jumped.
He raised his sword to meet me in the air, but this time I brought my left gauntlet down hard.
CRACK!
The sword split.
He landed with a slide and tossed the broken piece away. "You're really pushing it."
"Boost!"
{Power Up!}
Fifth.
I wasn't done yet.
I charged, pushing all the enhanced strength into my legs. My body blurred forward in a sudden burst, not fast enough to match him in raw speed, but enough to surprise.
I threw a punch—he barely dodged.
But I caught the edge of his jersey and yanked him toward me.
He swung with his second blade—clang!—but this time I tanked it and delivered a gut punch that sent him staggering back.
"Nice," he coughed, holding his stomach with a smile. "That actually hurt."
"Boost!"
{Power Up!}
Six.
I could feel it now. I was faster. Stronger. Not Kiba-level, but getting close.
Kiba took a deep breath. "Then I guess I'll use a bit more."
He summoned his Sacred Gear—the Sword Birth.
Blades of light erupted from the ground, forming around him like a forest of death.
"Crap."
{You won't win now.} Ddraig confirmed bluntly.
I grinned. "I know."
The swords darted toward me—faster than I could dodge. I boosted one more time and raised a barrier of demonic power to deflect the ones I could, my gauntlet absorbing a few hits.
But the difference was still clear.
Slash—!
A blade clipped my side, tearing my jersey.
Another one struck my leg and sent me to the ground.
He stood over me, smiling, not mockingly—but proud.
"You've come a long way, Ise."
"Yeah," I wheezed, trying to catch my breath. "Still got a long way to go, huh?"
Kiba offered his hand, and I took it.
Rias called out, walking toward us. "That's enough for now. Good job, both of you."
She smiled softly, her eyes lingering on me just a second longer than necessary.
"Impressive progress," she said.
I managed a tired grin. "Still not good enough to beat a Knight, huh?"
"No," Rias said honestly. "But give it time, and you might surprise all of us."
That was enough for now.
Because I could feel it.
I was getting stronger. One step at a time.
~~~
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