Just barely!

Koneko initially bristled as Issei dashed at her and Raynare, angry that he disregarded her demand to stay a good distance away from her. However, when he grabbed their wrists, and not for a second stopped running, she immediately shelved that reaction, and instead of asking questions, ran with Issei. Raynare gave a brief moment of resistance, because she was mentally asking instead of running as her first impulse, before the flight response came in, and she got moving.

All of this happened in the span of a second. And Issei's fast action was what saved them. The ground where Koneko had just been standing outright exploded. The shockwave hit the three of them, and they were sent sprawling, their backs slightly scorched. "Ouch! What the hell!?" Raynare growled, sitting up, before seeing Riser's Queen flying in the air, Devil wings out.

"...Tch. Seems one of you has decent instincts and reflexes," she sneered, already preparing another blast to send at them. "I was hoping to take the Rook in one go." She would have too, if not for all the training. Had they had much less of it, Issei would not have been able to realize the threat and acted in time, and Koneko would have taken the direct hit.

"...talk about ironic," Issei grunted as he got to his feet, staring up at the woman, who fired again, but Raynare threw a Light Javelin, inetercepting the blast, and making it detonate in the air prematurely.

"...what is?" Koneko asked, looking for something to throw at their opponent.

"The fact that you're the one who used my evasion training to **** me the most, and yet, I used it to save your ass," Issei chuckled dryly. "...now, what to do about her?"

"I've got it covered!" Akeno declared as Riser's Queen was about to launch a barrage. She was flying with her own Devil Wings to meet her opposing piece. "Queen Yubelluna-san. I'll be your opponent," she told Yubelluna. "...is it alright if I call you the Bomb Queen?"

Yubelluna turned to face her. "...I don't like that nickname, "Lightning Princess,"" she replied.

"Issei, Raynare, Koneko, meet up with Kiba at the track and field! I'll take her on!" Akeno shouted.

"But-" Issei started to protest, not liking the idea of leaving Akeno to fight the more experienced Queen alone.

"You have your own role, and so does Raynare. Koneko, get them both to Riser's territory!" Akeno ordered, gathering lightning.

"...understood," Koneko nodded, before she, Issei and Raynare got moving to rendezvous with Kiba.

"...will she actually be fine? Akeno's lightning is powerful, but that woman was throwing around explosive magic like some kind of terrorist!" Issei asked Koneko as they moved. Only for Koneko to stop.

"That's what I'm afraid of too..." she admitted as Issei and Raynare also skidded to a halt. "...you two go on ahead. I'm going back to help Akeno. Maybe we can get the upper hand on that bitch if I can get the drop on her. If you can make it to Kiba, he should be able to see you both to enemy territory in my place."

Issei hesitated, before nodding. "Just be careful, okay? I know you're tough, but I'm pretty sure she can one shot you..."

"She'll have to hit me first, and I won't let her catch me unawares again," Koneko assured him. With an exchanged nod, the three got going, Koneko back to the fight they had just left, and Issei and Raynare moving forward.