The Rating Game was created a long time ago, before the 15th century, by Ajuka Beelzebub. This chess-like game is used to measure a Devil's strength, and their ranking in Rating Games reflects their social position in the Underworld.
This is the only way a Low Class Devil can become an Ultimate Class Devil.
For example, if I, Milicas Gremory, had been born as a Low Class Devil, I would need to have some great achievement to receive my Evil Pieces board from some Devil who is at least in the Top Class. Then, through Rating Games, I could move up to the Mid-Class, where the Baronets and Knights are. Eventually, I could reach the Top Class, where the Marquises, Viscounts, Margraves, Barons, and so on, reside.
Sure, between all these titles, there's a General Ranking, and winning a Rating Game won't necessarily move you up unless you're beating someone ranked higher in the General Ranking than you are. And you can bet that the Overall Ranking is a lot more static than you might think.
For example, the Top 3 of the Overall Ranking has been static for hundreds of years, consisting of Bedeze Abaddon, the Third Rank, Roygun Belphegor, the Second, and Diehauser Belial, the Top One.
As should be clear by now, Rating Games are political games and not like Pokémon battles. You can't challenge anyone without expecting your opponents to feel offended and decide to eliminate you at any cost. Just like in real life, fights between great Clans can cause fierce battles that shake the entire Underworld and even other dimensions.
Now that it's clear how important Rating Games are, it will be easier to understand why my Rating Game against Diadora Astaroth was drawing crowds.
We were two Ultimate Class Devils, future heirs of our clans — Gremory and Astaroth, two of the most important clans in the entire Underworld. We didn't have a long history in the Rating Game, so the anticipation of seeing what we were capable of was overwhelming.
Devils from all over the Underworld traveled to Astaroth Territory, where the only available stadium at the time was located.
The stands, with hundreds of thousands of seats, were populated by a teeming crowd eager for a battle like this. Flags were waving everywhere, with the magic circles of both Clan Gremory and Clan Astaroth.
Red and green T-shirts were being sold in droves by street traders, and those who had placed their bets definitely paid for them to show how confident they were of their victory.
"DIADORA ASTAROTH! DIADORA ASTAROTH!"
"Come on, Diadora-san! Go, go! Diadora-san~!"
As expected, most of the fans weren't on my side. And the reason for that wasn't just because this match was being held in Astaroth Territory. General confidence in me was low.
I had a lot of confidence among a smaller circle of devils, particularly the nobles, because they believed that at least a portion of the vast power of my father, Sirzechs Lucifer, had been inherited by me. However, the Low Class and Mid Class Devils didn't believe in inherited power and things like that. After all, Sirzechs Lucifer himself hadn't been the direct heir of one of the Old Satans and yet was incredibly strong.
I couldn't blame them for having that view. Thinking something like that was what gave most of them a reason to exist, because then they could dream of becoming powerful even if they weren't heirs to noble devils.
Until the battle began, Makima, Asia, Gasper, and I waited in a waiting room at the Ajuka Stadium.
This place was different from other places in the Underworld. Generally, everything—from the buildings to the furniture and even the clothes — had an antiquated, old-fashioned feel, nearly obsolete compared to human technology. Devils had lived like this for thousands of years, and most did not easily accept or master technology. However, the Ajuka Stadium boasted modern features, more comfortable seats, and even camera technology and robot vacuum cleaners.
Gasper was particularly excited. He looked at every detail of the room with a twinkle in his eye.
"It's good that he's more enthusiastic than usual." I said, as I looked at Gasper.
Makima was standing next to me with her hands behind her back. "How do you think he'll do?"
"Honestly? I have no idea," I said as I smiled. "But I trust you... the three of you." I looked at Makima and then at Asia.
I was surprised when they both blushed, raised their hands at the same time, and nodded, briefly glancing at each other.
Trock! Trock! Two light knocks on the metal door rang out loud and clear.
"Come in!"
The door to the waiting room opened, and two people walked in — Akeno Himejima and Rias Gremory. Seeing them made me smile even more.
"How are you, Milicas?" Akeno asked. Her tone surprised me; she didn't use honorifics, which reflected the progress in our relationship.
"Why do you look so tense? Of course, we're going to do well!" I said in a more relaxed tone to get a smile out of them. It worked perfectly.
Rias took a deep breath and uncrossed her arms. "I don't know why I still care so much about you. I think it's because I missed out on too much of your childhood because I was preoccupied with my own selfish reasons. But you're doing great so far, Milicas, so regardless of the outcome, you just have to keep being who you are."
"I'm going to win," I declared with a serious tone, which made Rias stop looking at the floor and look into my eyes.
"What? You can't say something like that out loud. It's bad luck and..."
"No, neesan. You still don't understand... There's no chance of losing to someone like Diadora. Losing would be a disgrace. I'm going to win."
"Okay... I trust you. You'll win," Rias smiled and affirmed, which made me smile again.
I was serious. It didn't matter how difficult Diadora was to face or whether he had a Serpent of Ophis — he couldn't beat me, and I was certain of it. I was a transmigrated, a regressor, a reincarnate, or whatever it meant to be reincarnated in the body of a character in a story like this. Losing to a third-rate character like Diadora Astaroth would be utterly shameful.
It was with this conviction that I entered the battlefield.
The arena was packed, but I couldn't hear the sounds of cheering because of the large magical barrier that surrounded the entire field.
Serafall Leviathan had volunteered to be the judge of this Rating Game, which was no surprise. Sirzechs and Ajuka were indirectly involved in this Rating Game as 'mentors' for the players, so a Maou was the perfect neutral party to enforce and judge any rule violations.
While Diadora stood on one side of the Arena and I on the other, Serafall Leviathan stood in the center in a pinky Magical Girl outfit. Even the microphone she was holding had little stars on it.
"Uhuuu! Testing, testing — Maajiikaru check!" Serafall swayed and made a 'V' over her left eye, standing on tiptoe. "Hello, my dear spectators from all over Ajuka Stadium and beyond! I'm none other than the cutest, most wonderful, and super-ultra-mighty MAGIC GIRL SERAFALL LEVIATHAN!"
The audience went wild at the sight of Serafall's adorable display, her sweet personality earning her the title of the second most popular Maou among men.
"Today we're going to have an epic showdown, worthy of going down in Rating Games history! Two teams, full of incredible magical warriors, are ready to clash in an magical battle! Who will emerge victorious? Who will prove their worth? Who will have the best special moves? KYAHHH! I'm so excited~!"
"But before we start... How about a performance? Dun dun duuunnn! Introducing the challengers and their servants. On my left is Milicas Gremory, second in the line of succession of the Gremory Duchy and also of the Gremory Clan, only the second Gremory-born to have the famous [Power of Destruction]!!! With him is Asia Argento, a healer with a Sacred Gear called Twilight Healing and also the reason for this dispute! But they're not alone, they certainly aren't!"
Throughout the stadium, and outside too, there were magical projection screens broadcasting this battle to the whole of the Underworld. It was then that Makima's face appeared on all the screens, drawing sighs of love from some men.
"The Queen of Gremory Milicas, Makima! There's not much known about her, but she was undoubtedly chosen as Queen for a reason!"
"And as the second Bishop of Milicas-kun, they have one more holder of a Sacred Gear, and his name is... Gasper Vladi, a former vampire of the Dhampir Race!!! AHHH~! Isn't he just the cutest?!"
The presentation of Serafall Leviathan and all the magical screens reflecting Gasper's image made him widen his eyes and take two steps back. But I leaned against his back and looked at him lovingly.
"It's all right if you want to put that bag on," I told him.
Gasper had his hands clasped close to his chest and nodded. He looked at me bravely and took a step forward. Despite this, his legs were shaking with shyness, and you could tell he was going against his will.
While I calmed Gasper down, Serafall Leviathan introduced Diadora and his Pieces. It was then that she raised her hands and declared:
"And now, without further ado... LET THE RATING GAME BEGIN! Three... Two... One... MAAAJIKEEERU GO~!!!"
[Main Scene Started!]
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