Standing at the altar in an elegant white wedding gown, Rias looked more like a prisoner than a bride. Her teal eyes, usually brimming with defiance and warmth, were distant, hollow. She clutched the bouquet in her hands, not out of joy, but restraint. All she could think of was one person—Ryusei.
Behind her, her loyal peerage—Akeno, Yuuto Kiba, and Koneko—stood in stony silence. Helpless. Defeated. The loss of the Rating Game had shattered their hopes. Akeno's fists trembled, Kiba looked down solemnly, and Koneko… Koneko refused to look at the altar at all.
BOOM!
The entire hall trembled as a massive explosion ripped through the sky above the ceremonial grounds, sending nobles scattering in panic.
Smoke clouded the red-tinted air.
From within the haze emerged a figure. Her presence alone drew the eyes of every devil in attendance.
It was Okkotsu Ryusei.
She descended onto the platform dressed in a loose white uniform jacket, the front left open, sleeves rolled to her forearms, black baggy combat pants, and white sneakers that crunched against the shattered stone floor.
Behind her, faint shadows stirred, and the aura of Silverine energy pulsed off her body.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the bride's sorrowful face lit with shocked hope.
"Ryusei…?" Rias whispered.
The groom-to-be, Riser Phenex, smirked arrogantly. "You again? This ceremony is above the interference of insects like you."
But before Ryusei could speak, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough," said Sirzechs Lucifer, Rias's older brother, as he stepped forward from the balcony. His presence silenced the crowd. With a calm smile hiding intense scrutiny, he looked between Riser and Ryusei.
"This conflict has already brought enough chaos to both families. So, in the interest of fairness—and our traditions—" he declared, "Let this matter be resolved by battle. A one-on-one duel between Riser Phenex and Okkotsu Ryusei."
Gasps from various noble class devils echoed through the hall.
"The stakes: Rias's engagement. If Ryusei wins, the marriage is annulled. If she loses... Rias remains bound to the Phenex family."
Without warning, Riser roared into action.
A barrage of hellfire surged from his outstretched palm, scorching the ground in a torrent of violent flames.
She raised her hand and shouted:
"[Water Magic: Aqua Wall!]"
A massive surge of pressurized water exploded from her palm, slamming into the firestorm. Steam hissed and sizzled in the air, cloaking the battlefield in a thick fog.
Through the mist, Ryusei's Silverine sword materialized in her hand. With her other hand raised, she conjured five pink-light spears, each humming with arcane force.
"Try dodging this!"
She launched the spears directly at Riser. They weren't meant to pierce—just distract. As they drew his focus, Ryusei activated [Quicksilver], her body vanishing in a blink of silver-blue light.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared behind him.
"What—"
Slash!
Blood splattered across the pristine white stone as Riser's right arm hit the ground, severed cleanly at the shoulder.
Ryusei caught it mid-air, smirking.
"Your magic is mine now."
She turned to the silver ring on her finger.
"Rika—come!"
With a screech that rattled the very bones of the onlookers, Rika burst forth from the ring.
Sirzechs watched Ryusei, impressed. "So...this is the girl my sister likes..."
Ryusei tossed Riser's severed arm toward Rika like a scrap of meat. Rika devoured it in one bite.
Riser, however, had already regrown his lost arm his immortality and regenerative power having kicked in immediately.
"You...!" He growled. "NO ONE makes a fool of Riser Phenex! Especially not some pathetic human!" He exploded with fire, sending a sea of flames surging outward in every direction.
"FUCK!" Ryusei cursed, caught mid-movement as the inferno surged toward her.
But before the fire could consume her, Rika lunged forward, wrapping her massive arms around Ryusei.
Akeno stepped forward. Rias gripped her chest in horror.
Inside the sea of flames, Ryusei stood unmoving, her hand clenched over her heart.
Silverine Aura erupted around her in a radiant surge, pulsing outward like a second skin. The shimmering aura wrapped around Rika as well, intertwining like protective wings, nullifying the intense heat of Riser's hellfire completely.
———————————————————
You have successfully copied [Hell Fire]
Would you like to use [Synthesis] to combine [Hell Fire] + [Shadow Manipulation]?
———————————————————
"Do it," Ryusei whispered.
The system buzzed as magic circuits lit across her body like glowing veins.
———————————————————
New Skill Unlocked — [Devouring Flames]
[Hell Fire] + [Shadow Manipulation] = [Devouring Flames]: Black infernal fire that consumes enemy mana and cancels out magical effects upon contact. Resistant to purification and regenerates by absorbing ambient mana.
———————————————————
Outside the barrier, Riser lowered his arm, sneering with pride.
"That's the end of that miserable human—"
The flames suddenly shifted. The air turned ice cold.
His expression twisted into confusion.
The sea of his own hellfire began to churn and spiral... in reverse.
From the center of the inferno, black flames bloomed like a deadly lotus.
"What...?" Riser muttered.
The flames began devouring his own, swallowing them with a dark hiss. His fire was being consumed.
A black wave burst outward—a sweeping wall of Devouring Flames surged across the battlefield, smothering his fire like it never existed. Murmurs and cries filled the audience.
Akeno gasped. "How is she doing that...?"
Even Sirzechs narrowed his eyes, eyebrows lifting slightly at the dark flames curling up the walls of the venue.
As the black inferno died down, Ryusei and Rika emerged untouched.
The [Devouring Flames] faded into the air like smoke. Ryusei stepped forward, standing tall.
Riser barely had a moment to breathe.
CRACK!
Ryusei dashed with explosive force, appearing in front of him in a blink. Her fist sank deep into his gut with a sickening thud, and blood erupted from Riser's mouth as his eyes bulged in disbelief.
"I wonder…" Ryusei whispered coldly, gripping his collar, her voice calm yet chilling.
"…if your mind can keep up with regenerating your body… over and over and over."
She leapt back, raising her Silverine Sword, its edge glowing with pink, volatile cursed energy.
[Cursed Energy Manipulation: Blitz Impact]
She slashed once—then twice—then a storm of hundreds of pink energy blades exploded from her blade in rapid-fire succession.
Each slash carved through the air with precision, bombarding Riser from every direction like a hurricane of cursed destruction. The sound of the slashes echoed across the field like cannon fire.
Riser howled in pain as the blades tore through his body faster than he could regenerate. Chunks of flame and flesh were ripped away, only to begin healing—and then be shredded again instantly.
The crowd was speechless.
Even Sirzechs' smile had faded into awe as he watched. Riser writhed on the ground, his body struggling—failing—to regenerate with the same ease as before. His flames sputtered around the open wounds carved into him by cursed energy and Silverine, desperately trying to stitch his broken form together.
"Why…! WHY?! My regeneration—it's not working like it should! What have you done to me!?" he shouted in disbelief, panic and fury in his voice.
Ryusei walked slowly, unflinching, her sword crackling faintly with remnants of her aura.
"My sword is forged from Silverine," she said firmly, eyes locked on his.
"A material known for slaying dragons. But when refined it can function as a holy weapon against devils and can also harm Fallen angels and regular angels alike."
Riser's eyes widened in horror. His body trembled not from fear, but the realization that his regenerative gift—his trump card was useless.
Ryusei raised her sword for the finishing blow—until—
"Please, don't kill him!"
A small figure rushed forward, standing between Ryusei and Riser. Blonde twin-tails swayed as she spread her arms protectively.
Ravel Phenex.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared up at Ryusei, voice trembling.
"Please don't kill my big brother! I beg you!"
Ryusei paused, her expression unreadable. She looked down at the girl, maybe a year younger than her, trembling but, standing against someone who could strike her down in an instant.
"…Okay." Ryusei said softly, lowering her sword.
Ravel gasped, eyes wide. Even Riser looked up in disbelief.
Ryusei exhaled and spoke calmly, but with an edge of emotion.
"But know this…" she said, her voice steady.
"The only reason I'm sparing him… is because I, too, have an older sibling. And I would do anything to protect my big sister."
She turned away from them, her blade dispersing into her inventory.
Sirzechs Lucifer stepped forward, his calm demeanor tinged with a rare glint of relief.
He looked to Ryusei with a knowing smile.
"Had things turned for the worse… I was prepared to let the royal Griffin carry you and Rias away," he said quietly, so only Ryusei could hear.
"You weren't alone in this… not entirely."
Ryusei blinked in surprise, but nodded.
Before she could respond, Rias broke from the altar, wedding dress flowing behind her.
"Ryusei!"
She ran full speed, at Ryusei.
Rias threw her arms around Ryusei and kissed her, passionately and without hesitation. The gathered crowd of high-class devils gasped, but neither of them cared.
"You really came for me..." Rias whispered, her voice trembling with joy.
Ryusei smiled softly. "Of course I did. I promise to keep you safe always."
Rias hugged her tighter.
Zeoticus and Lord Phenex stood side by side, their once-proud posturing replaced by quiet introspection as they watched their children—no, young adults—take destiny into their own hands.
Zeoticus folded his arms behind his back, exhaling slowly.
"What were we thinking…? We both already have grandchildren. Setting up this arranged marriage between Rias and Riser was a mistake."
Lord Phenex nodded solemnly.
"I agree. I would like to apologize for pushing it. Riser needed a challenge, not a leash."
"And Rias needed freedom, not duty," Zeoticus replied.
"It's a different age now than when we were raised. One shaped by power, yes—but now guided by choice."
Their gazes followed Ryusei, still bruised and battle-worn, helping Rias onto the Griffin Sirzechs had summoned—a radiant beast with wings of shining silver and gold. Its feathers shimmered like a living monument to liberation.
Lord Phenex chuckled under his breath.
"Who would think there are still survivors of the Okkotsu Clan left, huh? I thought there was only one of those savages remaining. What was his name?"
Zeoticus' expression softened.
"Okkotsu Go. The current Chairman of the Hunters Association in the human world. A terrifying man, but one I've shared sake with. I owe him a favor or two. That girl down there… she might be his granddaughter."
As Ryusei mounted the Griffin and extended a hand to Rias who took it with the smile of someone finally free, Zeoticus closed his eyes.
"If that's true," he said, "then she carries more than power in her blood and perhaps... hope."
The Griffin took flight, wings tearing through the Underworld skies as nobles below murmured and gaped. Rias and Ryusei soared toward freedom with the wind behind them.
{Meanwhile, at the Hunters Association Headquarters in Japan}
A tense silence hung heavy in a dimly lit, wood-paneled office high above the city. Behind the desk, surrounded by walls lined with ancient weapons and trophies from legendary hunts, sat Okkotsu Go—Chairman of Japan's Hunters Association.
An old titan of a man, his broad frame strained against the tailored lines of his black business suit. His gray hair, brushed back, revealed the hard angles of his scarred face and a gaze like cold steel—greenish-gray eyes that had seen too many losses.
He watched in silence as a holographic projection replayed the battle between Ryusei and Riser Phenex, pausing only to scrutinize her movements—the footwork, the reflexes, the timing of her magic. With each display of power and will, his jaw tensed slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.
In his hand, he held a worn photo:
A younger version of himself, stern but proud, standing beside a tall, smiling man—his son. Beside them, a radiant woman held a small child by the hand—Haruka—while in her arms she cradled a newborn wrapped in a blanket. Ryusei.
Okkotsu Go stared at the photo for a long moment. His fingers curled around the edges as memories washed over him—some warm, many painful.
Then, in a low, gravelly voice laced with both resolve and a hint of regret, he spoke:
"…Hm. I think it's about time I see my granddaughters."
The monitor flickered as the system moved to the next recorded footage—Ryusei riding atop the summoned Griffin, Rias Gremory clinging to her.