As the final student collapsed unconscious onto the forest floor, Luna only tilted her head curiously at me, wide silvery-blue eyes blinking slowly. "Well done, Harry," she'd complimented me softly, her voice as gentle and calm as ever. "You certainly are good at this game."
I flashed her a quick, amused smile. "Thanks, Luna. And thank you especially for not fighting back. I appreciate the easy victory."
Her delicate lips curled upward into a sweet, enigmatic smile of her own. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to fight you, Harry. My job was simply to watch the flag. And I did. I watched it quite closely!"
She nodded towards the brightly colored piece of fabric that fluttered gently in the evening breeze-Sona's flag, secured neatly to a wooden pole.
I snatched it.
With a friendly farewell wave to Luna, I sprinted swiftly through the darkened forest. If I was quick enough-if I could reach my team's territory before anyone noticed-I might actually pull off an upset victory against all odds!
But of course, without warning, I skidded abruptly to a halt as a wall of cold ice suddenly sprang up directly in my path, nearly causing me to crash into it headfirst.
"Damn it," I cursed silently, immediately knowing I'd jinxed myself.
Sure enough, a short distance away was Sona herself, pointing her fake wooden wand directly at me. Her other hand adjusted the thin glasses resting comfortably on the bridge of her nose, her pink eyes sparkling with undisguised amusement at my predicament. "You didn't really think I'd allow you to just sneak away with our flag so easily, did you, Harry?" she asked smoothly. A confident, satisfied look crossed her beautiful face-a look that made it abundantly clear she had every intention of winning both this task and the little wager we'd made earlier.
Immediately, I knew I'd walked straight into a trap.
Sona was good-very good, in fact-but lately during our sparring sessions, I'd been making her work much harder to claim victory. The only reason she'd seem so openly confident now was if she wasn't alone.
My instincts flared sharply, warning me of impending danger. I reacted instantly, ducking low just as a blazing fireball suddenly went over my head!
Spinning rapidly around, I spotted Rias Gremory stepping towards us holding her own fake wand. "Well," Rias purred softly with her blue eyes shining mischievously as she pointed the tip of her wand toward me, "it seems we've caught ourselves a handsome little flag thief!"
Damn-this was exactly the scenario I'd hoped desperately to avoid. Facing Sona or Rias alone would have been difficult enough. But fighting both of these incredibly beautiful, brilliant, and powerful devils simultaneously?
Now I was officially screwed.
Sona's eyes narrowed slightly, noticing the flag still clutched tightly in my left hand. "Hmph," she huffed with adorable indignation, placing a delicate hand on her slender hip. "Attempting to steal the victory without even engaging me directly, Harry? That wasn't exactly sporting of you."
I gave her a helpless shrug and an apologetic smile. "I was fully expecting us to battle eventually, Sona, but when I saw you weren't guarding your flag... well, I figured it would be rude of me to leave without taking it."
A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she hastily adjusted her glasses again, a rare flash of embarrassment crossing her lovely face. "Yes, well-I had an emergency that needed my attention. Rias and I were forced to intervene before Akeno could cause a scandal in front of the entire school audience watching through those cursed mirrors."
"What exactly did Akeno do?" I asked curiously.
"That isn't important!" Rias interrupted immediately, her own face reddening noticeably beneath her long crimson locks. "And no matter what those friends of yours-Fred and George-might tell you later, just know they're absolute liars. Akeno was perfectly behaved!" Her voice shook slightly with embarrassment, clearly lying through her teeth.
"Uh-huh," I responded dryly, struggling to suppress an amused smirk. "Whatever you say, Rias."
Both girls were now focused fully upon me.
"Now then," Sona declared firmly, her playful tone shifting into one of serious determination, "let's finish this little competition. I believe we've already disposed of most of your teammates-though none quite as pleasurably as Miss Granger. At least, that's what Rias will tell you..."
At that, Rias's cheeks flushed even brighter red. "I had my reasons!" she protested defensively, looking flustered. "I merely used the most efficient method available to incapacitate Hermione quickly!"
Sona rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Yes, by passionately kissing her unconscious on a live magical broadcast."
I blinked slowly, taking a moment to fully process that particular revelation. So that's why I'd felt Hermione's presence slip away so strangely earlier! She hadn't been hurt-she'd been seduced by my fiancee...?
Damn, that was hot. I wish I could have been there for that. So far, Hermione has been very hesitant about joining Lyra and Lyna with me in bed for more than just sleep.
But now wasn't the time for amusing distractions. My adversaries were waiting expectantly, clearly anticipating my imminent defeat.
"Alright," I told the two of them. "If we're really doing this, let's do it properly. Though fair warning, ladies-even outnumbered, I won't go down easily."
Rias giggled softly with her blue eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, Harry-we wouldn't have it any other way."
I quickly drew my own fake wand, gripping it tightly as I spun around to face Rias. Without hesitation, I conjured a powerful jet of water, aiming it directly toward the crimson-haired beauty in hopes of catching her off-guard.
Rias let out an adorable yelp, her vivid blue eyes widening in surprise as she hastily flicked her wand upward in defense. Just before my spell reached her, she managed to summon a roaring wall of crimson flames, evaporating the torrent of water instantly into a dense, billowing cloud of hot steam that engulfed the entire clearing.
"Damn it, Rias!" I heard Sona snap irritably from somewhere within the hot fog. "Blocking water with fire? Really?"
"I panicked, alright?" Rias protested defensively, sounding uncharacteristically flustered. "You try getting blasted unexpectedly by Harry's strong, very thick stream of water without reacting!"
Even amidst this heated battle, I felt my lips twitch slightly into a smirk at her choice of words, especially given the circumstances. Really, Rias? Thick and strong? If she was deliberately trying to distract me with suggestive innuendo, she was doing an annoyingly good job of it.
I shook my head, refocusing my attention. Now was not the time for that sort of distraction. I moved carefully and quietly, attempting to use the thick steam cover as a screen to slip away unnoticed.
I had barely begun moving when Sona's calm, clear voice echoed confidently through the fog. "You do realize that steam is still primarily water, don't you, Harry?" Her soft voice was tinged with subtle amusement. "I can sense your movements through it as easily as I can see you."
Darn my beautiful yet infuriating aunt and her annoyingly honed combat senses. She always was several steps ahead of me, a trait that made sparring with her as frustrating as it was enticing.
There was a moment of tense silence-and then the ground directly beneath my feet crackled ominously.
Acting purely on instinct, I leapt quickly upward, just in time to avoid the sudden icy wave of magic that rushed across the earth, freezing dirt, grass, and leaves solid in an instant. Without access to my devil wings-thanks to the countless human spectators gawking at us through the tournament's enchanted scrying mirrors-I couldn't fly. I landed roughly on the slick, icy surface, with boots slipping dangerously as I struggled to regain my footing.
"Son of a-!" I hissed in embarrassment, scrambling awkwardly to stay upright.
I raised my wand in front of myself. Sona was good with AOE attacks, that meant me not being able to see put me at a bigger disadvantage than her. Drawing upon imagination-based casting for non-water magic required more from my demonic reserves-but I had no choice. A fierce gust of wind erupted from the wand tip, roaring loudly and instantly clearing away the lingering steam.
The two devil princesses stood clearly revealed before me once again. Sona's black hair was slightly damp from the steam, with strands clinging attractively to her flushed face and neck. Her chest rose and fell noticeably beneath her tight Hogwarts robes, betraying the slight exertion she was feeling as well. Beside her, Rias looked similarly enticing.
Why did my opponents have to look so distractingly seductive even in the midst of combat?
Rias flashed me another sultry, amused smile, clearly sensing exactly where my gaze had lingered. Yet she didn't hesitate to continue her fiery assault, launching blazing spheres of red-hot flame toward me one after another, each spell roaring toward me with deadly accuracy.
I twisted my body sharply, narrowly dodging a fireball that seared past my left shoulder. The intense heat radiated harshly against my cheek, reminding me just how close that had been.
"Stay focused, Harry," Rias teased warmly, licking her lips with sensual amusement. "I'd hate to leave burn marks on your handsome body."
"You could always stop throwing fire at me," I retorted dryly, ducking beneath another volley.
"And miss the fun? Never," she chuckled softly, blue eyes gleaming playfully.
"It seems my nephew doesn't want to give up yet. Let's correct that." Sona raised her wand, flicking her wrist in a smooth, fluid motion. From its tip emerged a long, shimmering whip of conjured water.
Rias gasped theatrically beside her, stifling a giggle behind her hand. "Oh my, Sona-using a whip?" she purred playfully. "Are you channeling your inner Akeno now?"
Sona shot Rias a sharp, irritated glare over the rims of her thin glasses. "Don't be ridiculous," she snapped indignantly, her voice edged with adorable embarrassment. "I have absolutely nothing in common with your perverted Queen!"
"Sure, Sona," Rias teased mercilessly, her tone dripping with sweet innocence. "I'm certain you're only whipping Harry for purely tactical reasons... not because you secretly enjoy the idea of punishing him."
Despite myself, I had to grin at their banter, even if the playful teasing was at my expense.
My amusement was short-lived, though, as Sona quickly snapped her wrist, sending the water whip cracking through the air toward me. I ducked swiftly beneath it, hearing the sharp whistle as it sliced dangerously close to my ear.
"Come now, Harry," Sona chided teasingly, a faint smirk still lingering on her flushed lips. "Don't make this harder on yourself."
"Funny," I retorted dryly, dodging another swift strike. "I was just about to tell you the same thing."
My mind raced desperately for a strategy-any strategy-that would allow me to gain the upper hand against these two powerful, alluring devils. It frustrated me immensely that so many students and professors were watching this match live through those cursed scrying mirrors. With so many prying human eyes, I couldn't risk using my Sacred Gear abilities-particularly the powerful Veela fire.
Without those powers, facing both Sona and Rias simultaneously felt like a losing battle from the start. But I refused to surrender so easily.
I wasn't going to lose that bet I had going with her!
I had a crazy plan-probably reckless, certainly draining-but at this point, it was my only shot at turning the tables against the two powerful, seductive devils confronting me. Or the only thing I could think of at the moment.
Sona's eyes narrowed in determination, with her fingers tightening around the handle of her wand as she whipped her conjured lash of water toward me again.
I aimed my own fake wand directly at her rapidly approaching whip of liquid. Sona's spell was infused with her demonic energy, hijacking it meant I would directly challenge her control, initiating an intense battle of willpower and magical strength.
The instant I connected my own demonic energy to her magic, a forceful jolt of pressure surged through me, making every nerve ending flare with strain. My muscles tensed, my teeth gritted together, as I felt the harsh pull of our opposing magical energies battling for dominance. My demonic reserves began to plummet alarmingly, the energy rapidly draining from my body as sweat dripped down my temples. I knew Sona held a deeper reservoir of power than me, but how much would she really devote to one single spell?
I gambled everything on her hesitation, hoping she wouldn't anticipate my desperation.
For a brief, tension-filled moment, we stood locked in our silent duel, eyes locked in an intense gaze. Sona's glasses slipped ever so slightly down the bridge of her perfect nose as her breathing quickened and her porcelain cheeks flushed from exertion. Her plush lips parted slightly in surprise and disbelief as she felt the spell slipping from her grasp.
I grinned fiercely, putting every ounce of strength into one final push. The instant I felt her hold slacken, I seized total control over the whip of shimmering water. Quickly pivoting my aim, I flicked my wrist and sent the captured spell hurtling straight at Rias, catching her completely off-guard.
The whip lashed out, its tip making sharp, perfect contact with the plump, juicy curve of her ass hidden beneath her snug Hogwarts robes. The loud, satisfying smack echoed sharply through the clearing, and Rias let out an adorably startled yelp, stumbling forward slightly as both her hands instinctively flew back to rub the stinging spot.
"Dammit, Sona!" she cried indignantly, eyes wide in shock and cheeks flaming bright crimson with embarrassment. She whipped around toward Sona, oblivious to the fact that it was actually me behind the unexpected spanking. "What the hell was that for!?"
Sona's eyes widened in alarm as she hastily raised both hands defensively. "That wasn't me, Rias! I swear!"
"Like hell it wasn't!" Rias shot back heatedly, still furiously rubbing her tender backside through her robes. "I know you have a thing for asses! If you wanted to spank mine, the least you could do is ask first!"
Sona sputtered indignantly. "D-don't be ridiculous, Rias! I told you, that wasn't me!"
Perfect-the two gorgeous devils had completely forgotten about me, their attention now entirely occupied by their flustered argument.
This was exactly the distraction I needed to make my escape.
Holding tightly to Sona's captured flag, I cautiously took several steps backward, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
