"You've really gotten so much stronger." Rias said with admiration, still taking in the world around her. "It makes me wonder just how much stronger you'll become." She laughed playfully.
"Y-yeah…" Issei replied, embarrassed, the transition from before to after leaving him slightly disoriented.
"But I still want to test something!" Rias said excitedly, standing up. "I could see your magic, but I haven't felt it on my skin yet." Issei frowned when he heard that.
"Felt it?" he asked uncertainly. "How does someone feel magic on their skin?"
"Simple. Attack me with it. If anything happens, Asia can heal us." Rias said resolutely, determined to test Issei's magical prowess.
"Are you sure?" Issei asked, standing up. "I mean, I know I'm not the greatest mage of all time, but I can still cause some real damage." Rias laughed at his remark.
"Of course, come at me with everything you've got." She then flew into the air, putting some distance between them, her two black wings stretching out from her back.
Issei swallowed hard before launching himself upward.
"I'm coming." He warned her to prepare.
"Go ahead." Rias laughed again. "I'm waiting patiently."
Issei summoned a flame above his head and willed it to expand. The fire quickly grew to the size of a basketball, then doubled, and doubled again.
"Don't blame me if you get hurt," he said with confidence. "Fire!" The fireball shot like lightning toward her, and upon sensing the power behind it, she couldn't help but dodge.
"Wow, very good." Rias praised him excitedly. "But you still have to land a hit to deal damage." She teased him with a laugh.
"What's the point of being powerful if you can't hit?" Issei gritted his teeth in frustration, magical battles weren't his strong suit.
'My first fight with magic and I already have to face a veteran?' he thought bitterly, then conjured lightning in his right hand and shaped it into a spear.
"Try laughing at this then!" He threw the spear of lightning at her. The weapon made the air collapse in its wake, breaking the sound barrier.
"How scary! How scary!" Rias laughed, dodging again, until she noticed more spears speeding toward her. "Damn… now I'll have to take this seriously." She took a deep breath; her agility was not to be underestimated.
She maneuvered quickly between the spears, each one missing her by a hair, yet still missing. But then she noticed something strange, Issei had vanished.
"Where is he summoning these spears from?" she asked herself in surprise, scanning the area. The spears were materializing mid-air, with no caster in sight.
"W-what?" She stared in shock. "How is this possible?" Then she felt an arm wrap around her neck and heard the clicking of a tongue right next to her ear.
"It's called illusion magic, Rias. You spent so much time watching my illusions and thought I wouldn't use them now?" Issei smirked behind her. He had filled the battlefield with illusions and snuck up on her.
"Well… I thought your style was more straightforward and direct." She admitted, surprised. "And now? Are you going to shock me?" she asked blankly.
"Even though you said you wanted to feel my magic on your skin, no, I won't shock you." He said, trying to sound chivalrous. "I would never hurt you."
"Unless you really wanted me to…" he added, thinking of other, more pleasurable situations. Rias only laughed at his usual behavior.
"Well, it's clear now that you're far more talented than you let on. I'm surprised your mind can visualize more than just perversions." She slowly descended to the ground.
"Very surprising indeed," she repeated, while Issei scratched the back of his neck.
"Of course, I'm a new man after all…" he said cryptically. "If I want to become a Demon King of a harem, I can't keep the same mindset."
"I need to see far beyond everything else and sacrifice some momentary pleasures to pursue greater goals in the future…" Then he corrected himself. "Not that I'm denying them now, I'm just not obsessed anymore."
"Sure, sure…" Rias said, her cheeks flushed. "Our new Issei is different, but the same. I get it completely. No need to repeat yourself."
"In any case, I'm glad to see my investment wasn't in vain, and that you're as amazing as I hoped you'd be." Rias giggled. "I expect a lot from you, my cute servant."