The current generation of Maou were indeed experts at technological innovation, inventing entirely new things. The "Evil Pieces," capable of reincarnating other races as devils, was one example. Recently, with Azazel's assistance, the Angels had similarly created the "Brave Saints," modeled after Evil Pieces, capable of transforming humans into angels—taking the form of playing cards.
Moreover, the current Maou had even established a special dimension within the dimensional gap to host Rating Games. But now, one of these dimensions had first been sealed by the Khaos Brigade, and then further reinforced by Loki's spells. Even Odin, the Chief God of Norse mythology, was trapped inside, along with Rias and her group.
Norse magic surpassed even Biblical systems, so Loki's seal, strong enough to trap the mighty Odin, was too tough even for powerhouses like Sirzechs and Azazel to break.
"So, you're just standing here helplessly watching from outside, like ants panicking after their nest is flooded with boiling water?" Jeanne Alter mocked coldly upon arriving, her voice dripping with contempt. "What have you people even been doing all these years?"
Present were several powerful figures—including Sirzechs, Rias's older brother, Azazel, her mentor, and other prominent devils—since this was Rias's first official Rating Game. Though Jeanne's words carried a mocking tone, they all understood it as her frustration and worry. After all, they were equally anxious; not only were Rias and her friends in danger, but Odin himself was trapped. If the Chief God of Norse mythology perished here, relations between the two factions would deteriorate drastically, severely hindering their recent peace negotiations.
"Oh, come on," Azazel sighed, raising his hands helplessly. "We've been doing our best, you know?"
"Hmph," Jeanne scoffed coldly. "Results matter more than effort. Efforts from winners are praised; efforts from losers are merely excuses and admissions of incompetence."
"Then do you have a better solution?"
"I finished it while talking to you."
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Jeanne Alter casually ripped open an entrance in the dimensional seal.
They had spent all this time struggling to break Loki's seal, and yet she solved it effortlessly in mere moments?
You're seriously making us look incompetent here…
Jeanne gently placed Koneko down and looked directly at Sirzechs. "This entrance can only allow one person through at a time. Opening it wider would take longer, so I'll go in alone first. Protecting Koneko should at least be within your capabilities, right? Or is guarding a single person also too difficult for you?"
It's not like I'm asking you to protect Tama, she mentally quipped, knowing no one would get the reference anyway.
"Wait," Sirzechs suddenly interrupted just as Jeanne was about to leap inside, causing her to halt. She turned around, waiting to hear what he had to say.
Sirzechs stared at Jeanne gravely—his seriousness itself was rare enough to catch her attention.
"The enemy is the Norse trickster god Loki. While I don't doubt you could handle Loki himself, this time he's brought Fenrir, the God-Slaying Wolf. Even among the world's top ten strongest beings, Fenrir's fangs are greatly feared. Judging from the strength you've shown so far, you won't stand a chance against it."
"If this opening can only let one person in, I believe the best option would be for me to go…unless you have some hidden ace."
Sirzechs's words even surprised Azazel slightly.
Fenrir, the monstrous wolf of Norse mythology, son of the trickster god Loki.
According to legend, Fenrir's jaws could stretch from heaven to earth.
Legend said he was so dangerous the dwarves imprisoned him.
Legend claimed he broke free during Ragnarök and devoured the sun and even Odin himself.
In this world, Fenrir ranked among the top ten strongest existences. Its fangs and claws could effortlessly slay gods. Even Azazel and Michael, veteran beings at Maou-class or Dragon King-level, barely ranked in the top hundred. In a one-on-one fight against Fenrir, neither was confident of victory.
Yet Sirzechs's comment implied he believed himself capable of defeating Fenrir.
This revelation surprised Azazel immensely.
Jeanne paused momentarily, not expecting such words from Sirzechs, before quickly recovering with a confident—even arrogant—smile.
"My chances of winning are probably higher than yours."
"...Is that so?"
After a brief hesitation, Sirzechs stepped back. "Then, I'll entrust everything to you, Jeanne-san... please bring Rias and the others back safely."
"Hmph. I was going to do that anyway."
Before entering, Jeanne gently patted Koneko's head, smiling warmly. "Wait here for me. I'll return soon... with your President and all your friends."
Feeling the warmth from Jeanne's hand, Koneko's cat ears twitched slightly. Instead of resisting, she leaned into Jeanne's touch affectionately.
"Mm... I believe in you, Jeanne-senpai."
Having said everything she needed, Jeanne confidently leapt through the gap into the battlefield.
This wasn't Jeanne's first Rating Game dimension. The previous time she'd fought Riser, it was inside a similar alternate space—a perfect replica of Kuoh Academy, minus the people. But this time, the space was far more barren, a desolate crimson wasteland dotted with Greek-styled ruined temples.
Fenrir's location wasn't hard to find… Jeanne had barely stepped into the dimension before the enormous wolf's maw lunged at her, exuding a blood-curdling aura.
A sharp sense of impending death radiated from those fangs.
Getting bitten was definitely a fatal mistake, Jeanne instantly understood.
Before the wolf's jaws snapped shut, Jeanne kicked off the air violently, instantly transitioning from complete stillness to incredible speed, evading the attack.
As Fenrir's bite missed, Jeanne didn't hesitate to retaliate—revenge for the ambush was immediate. She landed gracefully, and with explosive fire wrapped around her fist, delivered a powerful blow directly into Fenrir's side. An intense explosion erupted on impact, sending the massive wolf flying.
"Although those fangs can slay gods, Fenrir's overall strength isn't absurd… at least manageable for me," Jeanne murmured thoughtfully.
Fenrir, the God-Slaying Wolf. She'd heard its name many times before.
She first encountered Fenrir's name through a childhood anime called "Danball Senki" (LBX), a relatively obscure series she'd watched long ago. Not just Fenrir, but Achilles and Odin—these mythological figures had first entered her awareness through that show.
Then came Fate/Grand Order's Fenrir—who was betrayed and devoured by the Fire Giant Surtr after swallowing the sun. That Fenrir was embarrassingly weak by comparison.
In the world of "Problem Children are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?", Fenrir was apparently one of humanity's final trials—a being of terrifying renown.
But the Fenrir before her, though impressive enough to rank among this world's top ten, seemed heavily reliant on its god-slaying fangs and claws. Without those, its overall strength might not surpass Maou-level.
Having been punched back, Fenrir shook off the attack and glared at Jeanne with rage-filled green eyes—it was clearly furious now.
"Jeanne-san?!"
Several voices cried out simultaneously, though Jeanne still identified each clearly enough. She turned around, confirming Rias and her peerage's safety. Though disheveled, none appeared fatally hurt. Well, almost none—
Jeanne did a double-take when she saw Hyoudou Issei.
His abdomen had been pierced completely through, leaving a gruesome, bloody hole.
"How are you still alive with a hole like that?!"
"I... think I can still be saved... " Issei weakly joked, managing a shaky grin before violently coughing up blood.
A deep voice echoed from the jewel on Issei's gauntlet. "It's thanks to you, Jeanne. Your presence boosted Partner's dragon aura drastically. Without that, he'd already be dead."
This was an unexpected development, Jeanne realized.
A woman Jeanne didn't recognize was desperately healing Issei, casting complex spells continuously. Despite her clearly advanced magical expertise, the progress was agonizingly slow—the residue of Fenrir's god-slaying power was incredibly difficult to remove.
Suddenly, Loki, who had been busy fighting Odin alongside three mass-produced Jormungandr serpents, paused his attacks, turning a hateful gaze toward Jeanne.
"Tsk, a devil reinforcement? Troublesome pests. I'll annihilate you all after I complete Ragnarök."
Loki was furious that his barrier had been breached. He'd posted Fenrir at the entryway to ambush reinforcements, yet this new arrival had effortlessly survived Fenrir's initial attack.
Odin, also curious, glanced at Jeanne with his lone eye, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Not Azazel, nor Sirzechs... Who's this woman... ?" After a brief, stern examination, Odin muttered quietly, "Nice figure, though…"
Instantly, Jeanne's gaze turned ice-cold.
"[La Grondement Du Haine]!!"
Devastating flames surged down from the heavens, enveloping both Loki and Odin—but Jeanne clearly directed extra malice toward Odin.
"Die, you filthy old pervert!"
Only her Master could look at her that way—an old pervert deserved death by fire!
At that moment, Fenrir lunged again, its terrifying fangs aimed directly at Jeanne.
"Tch!"
Jeanne clicked her tongue, unleashing a barrage of black spears and fireballs. However, Fenrir effortlessly crushed them with its fangs, chewing through her magic like biscuits.
She barely managed to dodge again, her expression growing grim.
Those god-slaying fangs…were far more troublesome than she'd anticipated.