As night fell, darkness enveloped Kuoh Town.
The clubroom glowed with candles arranged like a medieval ritual, casting an eerie ambiance.
"Almost time," Rias glanced at her phone.
Kuoh Academy lay silent.
From the window, the streets outside were pitch-black, empty save for the distant bustle of the commercial district.
Elsewhere, the town was a ghost.
"Let's move," Rias said, rising from the sofa and stepping to the room's center.
A two-meter-wide magic circle, etched with faintly on the floor.
Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba joined her within it.
"So… this is…" Roy pretended to be confused.
"Not just a pretty design," Rias smiled, seeing his confusion.
"This is a Gremory-exclusive magic circle. You follow, Roy?"
No need to play clueless about magic circles—myths were common knowledge, even in his original world.
"This one's for positioning and teleportation."
"A teleportation magic?" Roy asked, keeping his tone curious.
He'd replicated Kiba's magic before.
Kiba focused on kendo and his Sacred Gear, Sword Birth.
His talent for magic was middling at best.
"Exactly," Rias said.
"Our target's ten kilometers from Kuoh Academy."
"Walking or biking would take ages, but this circle gets us there in seconds."
"Convenient," Roy said.
"Normally, only Gremorys can activate it freely," Rias said.
"Outsiders need me to 'drive' them along."
"Roy-kun, wanna become a devil?" Akeno teased, her smile sly.
"Join us, and you can zip anywhere with a thought."
She leaned closer, her gaze suggestive.
"Though, teleportation has quirks. You might accidentally land in Rias's bedroom… or her bathroom."
"Don't listen to Akeno's nonsense," Rias cut her off.
Roy nodded, stepping into the circle.
A bright crimson glow flared, engulfing the five.
In a flash, they vanished from the clubroom.
"We're here," Rias said.
The scenery shifted from the candlelit room to a dark, overgrown field.
No lights, just moonlight casting faint shadows over tangled weeds and trees.
The air felt heavy, ominous.
Ahead stood a dilapidated building, its peeling walls and missing doors and windows exuding decay.
"Akeno, light it up."
Devils saw clearly in darkness, but Roy, still human, needed help.
"Roy-kun, check this out—basic magic, super handy!" Akeno conjured a radiant white orb that illuminated the surroundings.
Roy suppressed a smirk.
'Always showing off, huh? Trying to charm me?'
"Honestly, a phone flashlight would've worked," he said dryly.
"Flashlights are boring!" Akeno giggled playfully.
"Let's go," Rias lead them toward the building.
Inside, an eerie chill and disgusting smell hit them.
The air reeked of blood.
"Smells gross," Koneko covered her nose with her sleeve.
[Congratulations, host. Random task triggered.]
[Random task generated…]
[Task: Assist in defeating the Stray Devil.]
[Reward: 5,000 Dimension Points.]
Roy checked the system panel in his mind.
*Five thousand points? Still, the task is simple—just join the fight."
"Roy, feel that aura?" Rias asked. "It's not even hiding."
"Yeah, like I'm being watched by something dangerous."
"Sharp instincts," Rias said.
"We're hunting a Stray Devil—the worst kind of devil, lost to their own desires."
She explained Stray Devils: rogue reincarnated devils who betrayed their masters, driven by greed or madness.
The Occult Research Club's job was to eliminate them.
"Sounds like a solid policy," Roy played along.
"I told you, no lies," Rias added confidently.
A rustling sound broke the silence, growing closer.
"Smells foul… but tasty. Sweet? Bitter?" a guttural voice rasped, chillingly inhuman.
A grotesque laugh echoed, far from human.
A massive shadow loomed into view—upper body human, lower body a beast, wielding a spear in both hands.
"Roy-kun, you're awfully calm for facing that," Akeno smiled teasingly.
"Had some mental prep," Roy said lightly.
Rias gave him a curious glance.
His demeanor was exactly her type for a Knight.
"Stray Devil, we're here to end you," Rias declared.
"Arrogant brats! I'll bathe in your blood and mount your heads!" the Stray Devil roared.
"Roy, I've got you," Kiba summoned a demonic sword.
"Yuuto, Roy's fine with me and Akeno," Rias said.
"Show him your real strength. Take it down."
Kiba drew a Demonic Sword.
He charged, clashing with the Stray Devil.
"Yuuto's Sacred Gear at full power boosts his attack and speed," Rias explained to Roy.
Kiba dodged the Stray Devil's spear with ease.
The creature couldn't keep up, its attacks slashing air.
"Yuuto, disarm it!" Rias called.
His sword hacked the spear into fragments, rendering it useless.
"Roy, want a shot at the Stray Devil?" Rias asked, a glint in her eyes.
"Sure," Roy said, nodding.
'Perfect—she's handing me the chance.'
He'd been plotting an excuse to jump in.
"What kind of sword do you use?" Kiba asked.
"Hmm?" Kiba looked a bit surprised, but conjured a sleek Demonic Sword and handed it over.
Roy tested it with two swings.
"Koneko, step back," Rias said, eyeing Roy's readiness.
She glanced at Akeno, who nodded, priming a spell to vaporize the Stray Devil if Roy faltered.
"Go for it," Koneko leapt back to the sidelines.
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