The secluded forest clearing felt different today. Sunlight dappled through the dense canopy. Alex, clad in athletic wear, stretched, his heart thumping with nerves and exhilaration. He was about to spar with Akeno Himejima, the Queen of the Gremory peerage.
He heard her before he saw her—a soft rustle of leaves, a gentle breeze carrying her faint scent. Akeno emerged, dressed in a sleek, dark training outfit. Her hair was tied back, but her violet eyes held that familiar mischievous glint.
"Good afternoon, Alex-kun," she purred. "Ready for our little secret session?"
Alex managed a confident nod. "As I'll ever be, Akeno-san. Though I'm not sure 'spar' is the right word. More like 'human trying not to get completely obliterated by a devil.'"
Akeno chuckled. "Oh my, such modesty. But rest assured, I'll go easy on you. At first." She circled him slowly, her gaze assessing. "So, tell me about these 'unconventional' abilities of yours. What can you truly do?"
Alex took a deep breath. He had to impress her, but not reveal the System. "Well," he began, pressing his foot firmly into the earth, "I can… manipulate the ground." A small, jagged rock near his foot trembled, then lifted a few centimeters before dropping. "It's still a work in progress. And then there's this." He extended his hand, and a single, impossibly thin thread of Cross Tail shot out, almost invisible in the dappled light. He made it shimmer, then vanish.
Akeno's eyes widened, a genuine surprise crossing her features. "Fascinating. Truly unique. I've never seen anything quite like it. It's a Sacred Gear, that i never heard of, controlling ground and those threads… quite remarkable." She clapped her hands. "Alright. Let's begin. Show me what you've got."
She didn't wait. With a graceful movement, she raised a hand, and a small, crackling orb of lightning magic materialized. "Come at me. Or should I come to you?"
Alex's instincts screamed. He immediately stomped his foot, sending a jarring tremor through the ground. A small, crude earthen wall erupted between them. Akeno merely chuckled, flicking her wrist. The lightning orb struck the wall with a sharp CRACKLE, dissipating harmlessly, but the force sent vibrations up Alex's arm.
He didn't wait. He slammed his foot down again, focusing on the ground beneath Akeno. The earth rippled, turning into an unstable, shifting quicksand-like soil. Akeno cried out, her balance momentarily thrown off as she sank slightly. She flapped her wings to pull free, a flicker of amusing smile crossing her face.
She fired another volley of lightning blasts, faster this time. Alex rolled, ducked, and weaved, raising small, temporary earth barriers. He was barely keeping up, his stamina draining despite the Cloranthy Ring. He used Cross Tail, sending out invisible threads to trip her, to snag her clothes. Akeno dodged, spun, and cut through the threads with effortless grace.
She's holding back, but even her 'holding back' is terrifying, Alex thought, panting. He needed a breakthrough.
. . .
As Alex desperately dodged another lightning bolt, the familiar blue panel of the Gacha System shimmered into existence.
[QUEST COMPLETE: SPAR WITH A DEVIL (AKENO HIMEJIMA)][REWARD RECEIVED: 1x RANK 2 GACHA TICKET ]
His heart leaped. Now! He mentally willed the ticket to activate. The panel whirred, and then, with a soft ding, a notification appeared:
[NEW ITEM ACQUIRED: RING OF SWIFTNESS][DESCRIPTION: A magical silver ornate ring that improves agility, reflexes, and balance.]
Almost instantly, a cool, smooth silver ring materialized on the index finger of his left hand. It felt light, but as it settled, a subtle, profound shift rippled through his body. His senses sharpened. The rustle of leaves, distant chirping, the very air currents—everything became clearer. His muscles felt lighter, more responsive, his joints looser. His balance was suddenly impeccable.
Akeno launched herself forward, a blur of motion, aiming a swift strike at his chest. Alex, reacting on pure instinct, a new, almost effortless grace guiding his movements, swayed. It wasn't a clumsy dodge, but a fluid, almost dance-like shift of his body, just enough to let her hand pass harmlessly. He felt the wind of her movement, and his body simply knew how to move with it.
Akeno's eyes widened, her playful smile faltering. "Oh my?" she murmured, a genuine note of surprise. "You've gotten faster all of a sudden. Much faster"
Alex grinned, a newfound confidence surging through him. This is it! The Ring of Swiftness! It's incredible! He stomped his foot, not to attack, but to create a small, almost imperceptible tremor that disrupted the ground around Akeno, forcing her to adjust her footing. As she did, he used his enhanced agility, darting forward with a speed he hadn't possessed moments ago. He wasn't trying to hit her, but to test his limits, to dance around her. He wove Cross Tail threads around her legs, not to bind, but to create fleeting tripwires that forced her to leap and spin.
Akeno, now genuinely challenged, laughed, a clear, bell-like sound. "This is getting exciting, You're full of surprises!" She unleashed a barrage of faster, more precise lightning bolts. But now, with the Ring of Swiftness, Alex found himself not just reacting, but anticipating. He could feel the slight shift in her mana, predicting her next move. He flowed with her attacks, a blur of motion, raising fleeting earthen shields, creating sudden dips in the ground, and using Cross Tail to deflect or redirect her strikes.
The spar became a mesmerizing dance of power and precision. Akeno pushed him, her attacks growing stronger, faster. Alex, fueled by the Ring of Swiftness and the Cloranthy Ring's stamina regeneration, met her challenge, his movements becoming more fluid, his Earthbending and Cross Tail more refined. He wasn't just defending; he was actively creating openings, forcing her to react. He even managed to briefly bind her leg with a thick Earthbending pillar, though she shattered it with a burst of demonic power.
Finally, Akeno called a halt, her chest rising and falling with slightly heavier breaths. She looked at him, her violet eyes sparkling with awe and genuine admiration. "Remarkable, Alex-kun," she breathed. "Truly remarkable. You've adapted incredibly fast. And that sudden burst of speed… you're full of surprises."
"Told you, I'd Adapt"
Alex stood, panting, sweat dripping, but a triumphant grin was plastered across his face. He felt invigorated, alive. He had faced a devil, pushed his limits, and gained a powerful new ability. "You're not so bad yourself, Akeno-san," he managed, his voice hoarse. "That lightning… it's brutal. I stood no chance from the beginning"
. . .
The adrenaline slowly faded, leaving Alex with a pleasant ache and a profound sense of accomplishment. Akeno walked over to him, her movements still graceful, but with a new softness. She reached out, her fingers gently brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead, her touch surprisingly tender.
"Are you hurt, Alex-kun?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
"Just a few scrapes," Alex replied, a warmth spreading through him at her touch. He felt a comfortable intimacy settling between them, a bond forged in the heat of their spar.
Akeno's smile was soft, almost wistful "You truly are unique. I've never met a human quite like you. So determined, so adaptable… so brave."
Alex felt a blush creep up his neck. "You're not so bad yourself, Akeno-san," he mumbled, trying to deflect the compliment. "That lightning magic, your agility… you're incredibly strong."
Akeno chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent a shiver down his spine. She took a step closer, her hand still resting lightly on his arm. "Perhaps we are both quite strong, in our own ways" Her voice dropped to a soft whisper, her eyes locking with his. "And perhaps… we understand each other a little better now, don't we?"
Alex nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yeah. We do." The words felt profound, a quiet acknowledgment of the growing intimacy between them. He felt a powerful pull towards her, a connection that went beyond their alliance.
"This is important, Alex-kun," Akeno said, her voice serious now. "What we do here, what you are… it must remain a secret. Especially from your school friends. They wouldn't understand. It would only cause complications." Her eyes held a hint of warning.
"I understand," Alex affirmed. "My life outside of this… it's still of a normal human. And my abilities, our alliance… that's just for us. No one else needs to know." He looked at her, a silent promise in his eyes. "Secret"
Akeno's smile returned, softer, more genuine. "Good. I knew you would understand" She squeezed his arm gently, then slowly withdrew her hand. "I should go. Rias will be expecting a report on your… progress." Her eyes twinkled. "And perhaps, we can have another 'training session' soon?"
"I'd like that," Alex said, a sincere smile on his face.
Akeno gave him a final, lingering look, then turned, gracefully disappearing back into the dappled shadows of the forest. Alex watched her go, the warmth of her touch still lingering on his arm.