Disclaimer: Except for original ideas, everything else belongs to their original owners.

A Hunter's Chronicle – Chapter 2

It was another school day at Kuoh Academy and Gael was waiting outside the gate for Rias as usual. However, he knows that she isn't coming here alone since she was with Issei last night as she was treating his injuries.

Thanks to the incident with the Fallen Angel last night, it was clear that today was the day that Issei learns the full truth from Rias that he is no longer human.

After waiting for a few minutes, he was soon greeted by an approaching Rias and as expected, Issei was with her and was holding onto her bag.

"Morning Gael."

"Morning Rias."

Gael greeted the former before doing the same to latter, who was no shaking in his shoes upon seeing the last person he wanted to meet early in the morning.

"Oh, morning Issei."

"Ah! M-M-Morning G-Gael-sempai!"

Issei paled as he greeted back his sempai anxiously. With Gael's reputation as the Hunter of Kuoh Academy, he and his friends feared him just as much as they hated him.

"So, did anything happen this morning?"

"N-nothing that concerns you!"

Despite his attempts to keep a calm façade, Issei was deep-down horrified of what Gael would do to him if he ever discovers what really happened.

'If Gael-sempai learns that I seen Rias-sempai's naked body, he's going to kill me!'

Issei had an interesting morning for when he woke up from bed, Rias was laying next to him nude. It was an amazing sight for a pervert like him, but he recalled that she claimed to him that she was a Devil and also his master.

As strange and disturbing as that was, Issei was more focused on something he viewed more pressing and that was the possibility of running for his dear life from a vengeful Gael.

"Is that so..."

Unknown to Issei, Gael already had a good idea what happened this morning and that Rias told him last night she was going to treat his wound.

As her childhood friend, he knows very well of her quirks and for one, Rias isn't shy with her body like most girls. Not only that, she also have a habit of sleeping time-to-time without a stich of clothing.

With that said, he isn't very comfortable of Rias sleeping next to a pervert, especially if her habit ended up kicking in.

"Easy now Gael." Rias said to him. "Issei didn't do anything wrong this morning."

Issei couldn't help but shed tears of relief at his beautiful sempai's words. If only Rias could talk Gael into at least go easy on him and his friends during their future perverted escapades.

"If you say so Rias. Let's get to class." Gael sighed as he, Rias and Issei then walk through the school gate, where they caught the attention of the students still outside.

While they were happy to see Gael and Rias, the students found the sight of Issei walking alongside the school idols to be beyond their wildest expectations.

"Oh my god, why someone like him walking alongside Rias-sempai and Gael-sempai..."

"Why is Gael-sempai letting that pervert walk with Rias-sempai?!"

"Maybe he is toying with Hyoudou or something?"

"Don't worry! Gael-kun will not let him lay a finger on Rias-oneesama!"

Gael only sighed at the students' comments and he couldn't blame them due to Issei's poor reputation as a pervert.

It was only when the three reached the entrance of the building that they parted ways. Before they did, Rias told Issei that she will stand someone to get him after school.

While unsure what his sempai meant, Issei kept it in mind as he went to his classroom.

It was now the end of school and the students were either preparing to go home or staying behind to do their after-school activities.

Issei and his friends, Matsuda and Motohama were still in their classroom along with most of their classmates when two students went up to them.

"Hi there. How are you doing?"

The three perverted students turned to see it was Kiba, who they deeply dislike for his good looks and popularity with the girls. They were about to respond when they saw that he wasn't alone.

"Yeah. How are you three perverts doing?"

"Ga-Gael-sempai!"

Issei, Matsuda and Motohama fearfully cried out at the same time upon seeing him, who chuckled lightly at their reaction.

As for the girls that were in the classroom, they were squealing in joy at the sight of the two most popular boys in Kuoh Academy; the Prince and the Hunter respectively.

"What are you doing here? We didn't do anything wrong today." Issei hastily said to Gael while his friends nodded in agreement.

"Oh, don't worry about him." Kiba assured him. "He saw me when I was coming here and decided to accompany me."

"For what?"

"I been sent here by Rias Gremory-senpai."

Upon hearing that, Issei soon remembered what Rias said to him before; she would send someone to get him.

"Ok... What do you want with me?" Issei asked.

"I want you to follow me." Kiba replied, which didn't go well with the girls in the classroom.

"No! For Kiba-kun to walk alongside with that vulgar Hyoudou! Protect him Gael-kun!"

"Please Gael-Kun! Stay close to Kiba-kun and don't let him get corrupted by that pervert!"

"I will not to agree with a Kiba-kun x Hyoudou pair! A Kiba-kun x Gael-kun pair however..."

"They're spouting nonsense." Issei muttered in annoyance as he got up from his seat while his friends were too dumbfounded to do anything.

'That I can agree. Especially that last statement...' Gael thought as he accompanied him and Kiba out of the classroom and onwards to the old schoolhouse.

Navigating the interior of building, they then arrived at the door which leads to Occult Research Club.

"Buchou, I have brought him. I also have Gael-sempai with me."

Kiba said through the door as he waits for approval, which was soon granted.

"Come in."

Upon entering the room with Kiba and Gael behind him, Issei looked around in awe for he never seen a room like this before. It was then he saw Koneko sitting on one of the sofas and was focused on her plate of youkan.

"Enjoying your sweets Koneko?"

Hearing Gael's voice, she switched her attention from her youkan to him, Kiba and Issei.

"Oh, this is Issei-kun." Kiba introduced Issei to the petit girl, who bowed her head in response.

"Ah, nice to meet you." Issei greeted her as well, but notice that she was now paying attention to Gael.

"Hello Nii-chan." She greeted him with a small smile before returning back to her youkan.

"Nii-chan?"

Issei was flabbergasted since he heard around school that Koneko was usually quiet and emotionless. Then again, he recalled rumors that despite that, Gael managed to form a sibling-like bond with her.

Just as Issei turned his head towards Gael with envy in his eyes, he then heard the noise of a running shower in the room.

'A shower?!'

"Really Rias? At a time like this..."

Gael muttered quietly as he shook his head, which Issei failed to notice for he was more focused on the shower itself, which was then turned off.

"Buchou, here are your clothes."

"Thank you, Akeno."

Behind the curtain was the silhouette of a girl with an impressive figure and she was in the process of changing into her clothes. It was very clear to Issei that it was Rias behind the curtain and he couldn't help but stare at her with a lecherous face.

Unfortunately for Issei, Gael quickly caught on to what he was doing and glared at him. He then expressed his displeasure by walking up to him and pitching his nose tightly.

"Control yourself while I am here, Issei."

Gael scolded the pervert, who immediately stopped staring at Rias's silhouette and was now struggling to free himself from the Hunter's grip.

"G-Gael-sempai... Please..."

"Best to behave yourself when near Nii-Chan." Koneko coldly said to Issei as she continues to snack on her youkan.

"Gael, would you please let go of Issei's nose?"

Rias told him just as she open the curtains and revealed herself; wearing her uniform while her hair has yet to fully dry from the shower.

"Very well." He complied and let go of the pervert's nose. "By the way, you should have taken a shower early in the morning instead of doing it here."

"I'm sorry, but I stayed the night at Issei's place." Rias said. "I haven't gotten a chance to take a shower, so I did it here."

"Stayed the night at Issei's place?"

Gael repeated her words as he turned his gaze towards Issei, who paled at the fact that his sempai dropped what was in his eyes a bombshell and it was right in front of Gael himself.

Even though Gael knows what happened last night and that his master wouldn't approve of him hurting her second Pawn, he can at least play around with the now-scared pervert for a bit.

"You are sure nothing that concerns me happened this morning? Especially in bed?"

"Please Gael-sempai, hear me out! I swear that I didn't know Rias-sempai was in my room when I woke up!"

Issei pleaded as he hastily waved his hands in front of him, who was looking at him like predator toying with his prey.

"He's right." Rias said in full support of his claim. "You should have seen the look on his face at the time."

"I can only imagine..."

Gael muttered out when he felt someone's arms wrap around his neck, which was followed up by a soft sensation on his back.

"Ara ara. Don't be such a bully to our junior Gael-kun. Then again, you were always protective of Buchou."

Turning his head, he saw with the corner of his eyes that it was Akeno, whose face was very close to his own, which made him blush a little. Upon seeing what the Queen was doing him, Rias and Koneko twitched their eyes a few times in annoyance.

'Of all the boys that enrolled here, it had to be someone like him!'

It was clearly known in school that the Hunter was already close to both the Great Ladies of Kuoh Academy. There were even rumors circulating around that from was dating Rias or Akeno in secret.

Issei already know that Gael is very close to Rias, but to see Akeno interact with him in such affectionate manner made the young boy fume with envy.

"Okay, I get it Akeno."

Gael told her as he gently patted her arms that is around his neck. Getting the message, Akeno releases him from her hug and then walked up to Issei to introduce herself.

"Hello, my name is Akeno Himejima. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." She greeted him politely, which he then nervously greeted her back.

Seeing that Issei was now introduced to everyone in the clubroom, Rias saw it was now time to explain the real reason why she brought him to the clubroom.

"Issei, welcome to the Occult Research Club."

As Rias started the meeting, everyone took a seat on the sofas as Akeno gave Issei a cup of tea before sitting down as well.

"I will get straight to the point." Rias stated. "We are all Devils."

As expected for someone who lived an otherwise ordinary life, Issei's expression became one of disbelief.

"I can see that you find all this hard to believe. That's understandable." Gael said. "However, you recall that were attacked by man with black wings last night."

Issei was startled for he first assumed that was nothing more than a dream.

It was then Rias gave him a brief history about the Fallen Angels, Devils and Angels. She also stated that the Occult Research Club a merely a front for her activities when dealing with the supernatural.

Even so, Issei still found trouble grasping the fact and was trying to find a reasonable explanation about all this.

"Yuuma Amano."

Upon saying that name, Rias has gotten Issei's full attention especially when she provided him with a photo of his so-called girlfriend. It was shocking for him for what photos he had of her vanished without a trace and his friends told him they never heard of her before.

Every bit of detail that Rias was telling him was more difficult to comprehend than the last. It was shocking for Issei to learn that Yuuma was actually an Fallen Angel who killed him during their date at the park because he possessed a Sacred Gear; a power which he was apparently born with.

When Rias provide some help to Issei in unleashing his Sacred Gear, it appeared as a red scale-like gauntlet with a green jewel.

'Strange... There is was more to the Sacred Gear than meets the eye.'

Gael mentally noted as he gazes upon the gauntlet that covers much of Issei's left hand and forearm.

When it came to Issei asking how he survived Yuuma's attempt on his life, Rias finally revealed the truth. When he was mortally wounded by the Fallen Angel back then, he was unaware that the leaflet he had with him was the very key to his survival.

Reacting to his last thoughts, the leaflet then allowed Rias to be summoned to the park and next to Issei. Upon seeing that he was possessor of a Sacred Gear and that he was on the verge of death, she decided to save his life.

While Issei died as a human in the park, he was reborn by Rias as a Devil; more actually her newest servant.

He quickly realized that he was indeed no longer human when everyone in the clubroom revealed their Devil wings, which in turn caused his own to appear as well.

As shocking as it was for him, Issei soon learned that it isn't all that bad being a Devil.

"Are you serious!?" He cried out. "I can build my own harem!?"

Moments ago, Rias was providing additional information about Devil when she begun to talk about peerages, where a high-ranking Devil can have their own servants who obey his or her every whim.

"Uoooooooooooooooooh! Being a Devil rocks!" Issei yelled in a fit of excitement.

'I knew this was going to happen.' Gael could only shake his head while crossing his arms. 'Still, he is taking this much better than I could have imagined...'

He watched Issei accept his new life as a Devil and Ria's servant with utmost enthusiasm before her openly declared his cherished goal to everyone in the clubroom,

"I am going to become a Harem King!"

Upon saying that without hesitation, he heard someone cough and everyone turned to see it came from Gael.

"To think I have to see you like a perverted idiotic brother..."

"Hey!"

Issei obliviously didn't like his sempai's comment of him one bit, but the others couldn't help find it amusing and laughed for a bit at his expense.

Several days has now passed since Issei joined the Occult Research Club and embraced his new life as a Devil, but his debut was rough at best.

After handing out summoning leaflets for the past few nights, he finally had the opportunity of doing actual work; signing contracts with humans. However, it was apparent that his demonic energy was so low that the magic circle in the clubroom failed to teleport him to the client's home.

At the time, Issei felt himself being jabbed by Gael when he explained to him that even a Devil child could activate a magic circle and that this was the first time that something like this happen.

It was also apparent that Issei became the first Devil to bike his way to a client, which didn't make him feel good for he cried as he left the clubroom. Despite having positive feedback in the end, Issei failed have his contract signed and the same thing happened with his second attempt.

Things then got more complicated when he and the others then learned this morning that Issei ended up meeting a young nun in the park and went as far to guide her to the town's church.

'She's really going at it.' Gael thought as he waited patiently outside the clubroom.

It was now after school and Rias was in the process of scolding Issei for his actions regarding the nun. While it was kind gesture, Devils are vulnerable to anything holy or related to light and the fact that there is still bad blood between them and the Church.

Gael couldn't blame that Rias was being strict with Issei since the former cares dearly for her servants and that the latter is still relatively new to being a Devil.

"Buchou is still lecturing Issei-kun?"

He turned to his right and saw it was Akeno speaking to him in a whisper, so she doesn't interrupt Rias.

Despite his senses, Gael always wondered how she was able sneak up on him so easily.

"That she is." He whispered. "Is there something you need to report to her?"

"Yes. We received orders from the Archduke to..."

"Hunt." He quietly finished Akeno's sentence as his eyes narrowed. "Strays..."

"Gael, I don't wish for you to go alone like last time." The Queen placed her hand on the Pawn's right shoulder. "I hope that we all could hunt together like we always should."

"I would like that as well." Gael nodded his head just as the voices from the clubroom started to quiet down; meaning Rias finished her lecture.

Slowly opening the door, he and Akeno then entered the clubroom as Rias and Issei turned their attention on them.

"Akeno, Gael, what is it?" Rias asked as she notice the serious expression on their faces.

"We received an order from the Archduke."

"We are to hunt."

Akeno and Gael said respectively to their King, whose expression soon turned serious. When everyone has gathered, the Queen explained that there are two Stray Devils running lose at the outskirts of town and were luring humans into an abandoned building so they could eat them.

After giving Issei a brief lesson regarding Stray Devils, the danger they pose and how it is the duty of Devils to eliminate them, everyone in the clubroom then entered the magic circle and teleported to begin their hunt.

"This is the place..."

Gael told everyone as they all approached the abandoned building where the two Stray Devils are said to be in.

"Stench of blood."

Koneko muttered out as she covered her nose with her hand. Gael in the other hand took a deep breath before he made a sigh of pleasure.

Issei however found his sempai's action to be a bit disturbing. Hearing what Koneko said, it almost appears to him that Gael enjoyed such a smell.

"What's with him?"

"It's his Sacred Gear."

Kiba stated, which surprised him since he never expected his sempai to be also a possessor of a Sacred Gear.

"You're alight?"

"I'm fine Rias... Just recomposing myself." Gael replied before he raised his right hand as the symbol of Paleblood Echoes appeared on it. "Better dress myself for the hunt."

Issei was startled to see that Gael's dark brown eyes begun to turn blood-red as an aura of the same color slowly covered his body. When it was over, he speechless as gazes upon the intimidating outfit that his sempai was now wearing.

To suit the occasion of hunting down Stray Devils, Gael adorned his Hunter outfit.

"Ara Ara, you always look dashing wearing that outfit of yours." Akeno commented with light blush on her cheeks.

"Is that really necessary Nii-chan?" Koneko asked since she always viewed the outfit to be both strange and out of place appearance-wise.

"Force of habit Koneko." Gael replied. "Besides, it will keep the blood out of my school uniform."

"Your attire aside Gael, are you able to pinpoint where the Strays are?"

"Just a moment Rias." His eyes begun to glow as he slowly scanned the front of the building.

One of many abilities that come with Paleblood Echoes is that he is able to hone his senses to detect negative emotions within others around him.

However, the emotions are limited only to those related to violence such as anger, hatred and killing intent. Even so, it is easy for him to track Strays regardless how good they hide themselves since they would always have the sensation of bloodlust within them.

Issei didn't know anything about the Sacred Gear however and couldn't help but be curious about it. "Buchou, what is Gael-sempai's Sacred Gear?"

"It is called Paleblood Echoes and is something of a mystery to even us Devils."

"Paleblood Echoes? It's related to blood or something?"

To Issei, it would explain why Gael initial behavior when Koneko commented before about the stench of blood. However, his gut feeling is telling him that it is more dangerous than it sounds.

"That it is." Kiba answered before making a slight frown. "It is a double-edged sword however."

"Huh?"

Issei didn't know what meant and before he could ask, Gael then turned his head and gazed his blood-red eyes at the others as he spoke.

"I've found the Strays. I'll take point."

"Brave as always Gael-kun."

Akeno said as she along with the others then followed him into the abandoned building. There was no need to search the building for Gael already know where the Strays were located.

On the way, Rias begun to explain to Issei about Evil Pieces and its properties. Issei didn't quite understand though since he knows little about chess, which is what the Evil Pieces were based on.

They consist of Pawns, Rooks, Knights, Bishops and a Queen. As the leader of there peerage, it is obvious that Rias would be considered the King.

Just as Issei was about to ask what kind of Piece he was, Gael gestured everyone to stop as they stood before a double door.

"Ready yourselves."

Gael told them before he slowly opened both doors. It was that very moment that everyone could smell the pungent scent of blood that flowed out of the room. Like before, Gael deeply inhaled the stench before exhaling in a relieved manner.

While Issei still found the behavior to be disturbing, the others understand it was his Sacred Gear's doing and while worried, they know in their hearts that he never submit to its curse.

As everyone walked into the room, they felt the presence of two beings approaching them. Despite the darkness in the room, they could feel the killing intent that is being directed at them.

"I smell something disgusting, yet there is there is something delicious as well." A feminine voice is heard from the shadows.

"I do too. It could be sweet or it could be sour? One way to find out." A masculine voice soon followed.

"Stray Devils Viser and Aios! For abandoning your master and rampaging without consequence, we are here to eliminate you two!"

Rias declared out loud to the Strays as she walked in front of her peerage, only to hear the two Stray laughed at her in an abnormal manner.

Soon enough, two figures slowly emerged from the shadows.

Viser appeared to be a beautiful topless woman wielding a pair of lances in her hands. Issei would definitely ogle at such a sight if not the fact that her lower half was both gigantic and monstrous; having four beast-like legs and a snake for a tail.

Aios was only half the height to his companion, but his appearance was akin to a werewolf. Despite that, his posture was just like a normal human and not of wild beast for he stood on his legs while holding a battle axe with its right hand.

"Bold words for a little girl like yourself!" Viser said in a mocking manner.

"Allow me to rip your body and paint this room red like your hair!" Aios wielded his battle axe with both hands before he then charged at Rias.

"Buchou!" Issei cried out, but she wasn't fazed by the Stray's charge and stay where she stood.

"Gael!" Rias confidently called out.

"Promotion, Knight." Gaek whispered out just before he moved in front of Rias at such a speed that it almost appeared to the naked eye that he teleported.

"How did he do that?" Issei said in awe.

Just as Aios got close enough to deliver an overhead strike, Gael quickly materialized into his right hand a worn-looking large axe with a spiked top; his Hunter Axe.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her..."

"Woah!" Issei looked in awe as he watches Gael swing his axe against the Aio's own and forcibly knocked it out of the latter's hands.

The Stray tried to get some distance between him and his foe by jumping back to Viser, but Gael already anticipated such move and grabbed the handle of his weapon with both hands. Pulling on it from both sides, he activated the handle's telescopic mechanism and expended it until it was twice its original length.

Issei was very surprised to see that Gael has just turned his axe into a poleaxe.

"Don't be surprised." Kiba told him. "It just one of Gael-sempai's Trick Weapons."

"Trick Weapons?"

"Paleblood Echoes allow Gael-sempai bring forth such weapons into his hands. He usually called them Trick Weapons since they always come with a secondary function."

Just as Kiba finished, Gael has already intercepted Aios before he could get back to Viser. Unable to counter in anyway, the Stray found himself taking a powerful thrust to the chest from the poleaxe.

Taking advantage of his momentum, Gael then slammed the Stray straight down into the floorboards while splintering some in the process. However, Aios was tougher than Gael anticipated since the poleaxe failed to go deep enough to inflict a mortal wound.

Determined to finish Aios off before he recovers, Gael pulled his weapon out of the Stray's chest and revert it back to its axe form. Everyone watched as he materialized in his left hand his breech-loading pistol; his Hunter Pistol.

"Wha?! Gael-sempai can bring out firearms as well?!" Issei yelled.

Wasting no time, Gael pushed the barrel into Aios's forehand and pulled the trigger. He was killed instantly as there was a loud bang and the round went straight through his skull and brain.

"Why you!"

Enraged by her companion's death at his hand, Viser prepared to rush at Gael and run her lances through him. He merely rolled out of the way of the lances and as he was preparing to counterattack, Rias then gave the order for her Knight to support him.

"Yuuto!"

Moving with the same speed as Gael before, Yuuto suddenly appeared in front of Viser.

"He disappeared in the way as Gael-sempai!" Issei said as he looked at Kiba at in astonishment.

"No. He just moving so fast that you couldn't see him with your eyes." Rias stated as she begun to lecture him about the traits that each Evil Piece has.

"Yuuto's position is a Knight. His trait is enhanced speed and his greatest weapon are swords."

With that said, Yuuto drew his sword from his scabbard and cleanly severed both of Viser's arms; literally disarming the Stray of her weapons. She screams in both anger and pain as blood seeps out of her wounds.

As both Kiba and Gael return back to the others, Koneko then walked up to the Stray on her own.

"Koneko wait! Its too dangerous!" Issei tried to warn her, but the Viser quickly notice her and tried to stomp on her.

"Die!"

Viser roared as she believed that Koneko would be crushed beneath one of her gigantic legs. What she didn't anticipate that the petit girl was actually strong enough to stop her stomp before it ever hit the ground with just her arms.

"As for Koneko's position, she is a Rook and its quite straightforward." Rias explained Issei, who was awestruck of what he saw. "She has both incredible strength and defense, so she can't be crushed by something as weak as that Stray."

After pushing the leg that tried to stomp her away, Koneko positioned herself underneath Viser and jumped up to punch her.

"Fly away."

The impact from the Rook's punch was indeed powerful for Viser was thrown across the room and straight through a pillar.

As Issei made a mental note not to mess around with Koneko in the future, Rias then gave the word to her Queen that it was her turn.

"Finally, Akeno."

"Yes, Buchou." Before she moved towards the downed Stray, she turned her attention to Gael. "Gael-kun, would mind to bring out that cane of yours and join me punish that Stray"

Gael only shook his head and politely rejected Akeno's offer.

"I'm sure you can handle that Stray on your own."

"Awww, that's a shame."

"Gael..." Rias sighed in a reluctant tone, knowing what Akeno wanted. "Give her what she wants..."

"Very well." Gael made a sigh of his own as he then dematerialized his Hunter Axe in his right hand.

Replacing the weapon was a Victorian-style bladed cane made entirely out of metal. However, it doesn't give out the feeling that its an ordinary cane sword and there is more to it than meets the eyes.

This was the Threaded Cane, another of Gael's Trick Weapons.

For Akeno, she was gazes upon it with excitement in her eyes; like a child finding her favourite toy. Her excitement became more apparent she watches Gael activated the weapon's secondary function.

"Ara ara!"

"Eh!?"

Even though Kiba already told him not to be too surprised with Gael's Trick Weapons, Issei couldn't help it. He watched as Gael with the flick of his wrist, transformed his bladed cane into a bladed whip.

The shaft split itself into twenty smaller blades, which was all held together by a rigid-looking metal cord connected through their centers. Reverse gripping his Trick Weapon, Gael did a few warm-up swings and while it does function like a whip, the cord remarkably returns back to its straight form in the end.

"I'm ready now. What about you?" Gael asked Akeno.

"More than ever." She replied with a big smile on her face

Together, two walked towards Viser, who was still reeling from Koneko's punch. She glared at them with hatred in her eyes, only to be blinded when Gael swung his bladed whip across her eyes.

The Stray screams in pain as Gael begun to whip her entire body, inflicting dozens of lacerations in the process. Seeing the blood spill from her wounds gave him a feeling of excitement, but he remans in control as usual.

As he was doing this, Akeno looked on as her cheeks blushed in excitement. Seeing Gael continuously whip the Stray made her heart beat wildly.

"Ara ara, you are so vicious Gael-kun." She said to him before gazing upon the bleeding Stray. "But it seems you have some energy left in you."

As sparks of electricity begun to channel in Akeno's hands, Rias was now close to finishing her lecture to Issei.

"Akeno's position is a Queen and she has all the traits of Pawn, Knight, Bishop, and Rook. Specializing in magical attacks, she is the invincible Vice-president of our club."

With that said, Akeno raised her hands into the air just moments before Gael stopped whipping Viser. Anticipating what was to come, he moved out of the way just a lightning bolt decended from above and struck the Stray, electrifying her.

"Oh, looks like you could still keep going. How about this?" Akeno said in glee as she unleashed another lightning bolt on Viser.

'She is at it again...'

Both Gael and Rias shared the same thought, watching Akeno lick her lips and laugh as she continues to rain lightning bolts upon the Stray.

Issei however was speechless at the behavior that Akeno was showing. If anything, she was enjoying the pain that she was inflicting. Then again, she acted like that when Gael was whipping Viser with his bladed whip.

"If you are wondering, Akeno is the ultimate sadist."

"Waaah, a sadist?!" He cried out at what Rias told him. "Does that mean Gael-sempai is one too?!"

His body shivered as he remembered how Gael whipped the Stray relentlessly just a few moments ago. He doesn't want to be at the end of that bladed whip anytime soon.

"Oh there is no be afraid Issei. Akeno is very kind to her comrades." She assured him. "And no, Gael isn't a sadist. It just that a few of his Trick Weapons appeal to that special side of Akeno."

The Pawn didn't know what to say as he watched Akeno continue to violently electrify the Stray for about a minute.

"That is enough Akeno." Gael said to the Queen, seeing that Viser was barely clinging to life. "Let Rias deliver the finishing blow."

"Oh alright Gael-kun."

Akeno replied in slight disappointment as she ceased her lightning bolts on the Stray. No longer having the strength and will to fight, Viser gave no resistance when Rias approached her.

"Any last words?"

"Kill me..."

"Very well..." Rias then begun to channel an sphere of red and black demonic energy in palm. "Checkmate."

She then unleashed her attack and upon hitting Viser, the sphere grew until it completely engulfed her entire body. In a matter of seconds, the Stray was completely obliterated from existence.

"It's finally over." Rias sighed in relief. "Let's go back home everyone."

As everyone begun to walk out of the room, Issei then asked Rias something that been on his mind since she lectured him about Evil Pieces.

"Buchou, I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"What is my position as your servant?"

Since Rias didn't say anything regarding Bishop and Pawn, Issei was hoping that he was the former Piece. Sadly, that expectation was shattered when she answered with a smile.

"Your position is... a Pawn."

Issei felt a dark cloud hovering over his head upon hearing the answer. He recalled that Pawns in chess are usually expendable, so he could imagine that would be case in Rias's peerage.

"Come on Issei, there is nothing wrong with being a Pawn."

Turning around, Issei saw that it was Gael, who walked up to him while dematerializing his Threaded Cane and Hunter Pistol in his hands.

"Easy for you to say..." He complained. "After seeing you fight, you must be a Knight."

"That is good guess, but incorrect." Gael shook his head. "I'm like you, a Pawn."

"Eh?"

Dumbfounded, that was all Issei could say for he wasn't expecting an answer like that.

"He's right." Rias stated. "Before you joined my peerage, Gael at the time was my only Pawn."

"Eeehhhhhhh?!"

After that, Issei was relatively quiet for the rest of the night. He had trouble comprehending the fact that Gael was actually a Pawn like him. Despite his sempai's position, it was astonishing to see him single-handedly kill a Stray.

Even though he doesn't know what traits he gained from being a Pawn, it did give Issei some hope. If Gael could be that strong despite being a Pawn, so could he.

Author Note:

Since I'm taking a break from writing Dragonborn to Vanadis, I was looking through my other stories and see which one I try to update instead. When I read through this story again, I not only made a number of tweaks to the first chapter, but also written this one as well. A Hunter's Chronicle is finally no longer a one-shot as of now.

If anyone is wondering why Gael is a Pawn despite his abilities, I intended to leave the other Pieces available when the future members of Rias's peerage make their appearance. Another reason I would like to clarify that Gael was a member of Sirzech's peerage in past before being traded willingly to Rias's peerage. Gael's past will be explained in future chapters, but I will state that when Sirzech found him, he had only a Pawn Piece in reserve; specifically a Mutation Piece as stated in the first chapter.

Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy reading the newest chapter to A Hunter's Chronicle.