The crying girl stumbled and fell to the ground, flailing in panic. No matter how far she ran, the frost seemed to chase her like a shadow.
She was supposed to be a proud Phoenix, the child of flame, someone who stood above others—but now, she was helpless in the face of this ice.
Even though fire was burning beside her, it gave off no warmth. The biting cold clung to her, as if it were freezing her very soul.
Tears slid uncontrollably down Rebel's cheeks. Though she was proud and willful, in the end, she was just a pampered little girl who had never suffered hardship under the protection of her older brother.
Wuu… it's so scary… why is the ice so terrifying… someone, please help me…
Someone… please save Rebel…
"You're the proud little princess of the Phoenix family. Sitting on the ground and crying like this doesn't suit you at all, you know."
Just as Rebel sobbed, a gentle voice reached her ears.
"D-Don't come any closer!" she cried, wiping away her tears. Lifting her head, she immediately noticed the man standing in front of her—Yoru.
He had already put away that terrifying greatsword, but Rebel could still feel that the source of the cold was none other than the man before her.
Looking at the one responsible for this whole situation, Rebel pouted and looked like she was about to burst into tears again.
"Jeez, I told you I don't like bullying little girls."
Yoru scratched his head, looking troubled. Rebel's face twisted into an expression of frustration and unwillingness, but there was nothing she could do. Both she and the Phoenix family's flames had been utterly defeated.
"Come on now, don't cry. You're the young lady of the Phoenix family. So many people are watching. If I make you cry, I won't be able to afford the consequences."
With a wry smile, Yoru stepped forward and gently embraced Rebel.
"Uuh…"
Instinctively, she flinched a little. Rebel had expected to feel a painful chill—but strangely, the moment Yoru embraced her, the biting cold completely vanished. In its place was a comforting, soul-soothing coolness that words couldn't describe.
This feeling… it's so comfortable… so comforting…
Despite being held by a man she had just met, Rebel didn't resist at all. She wiped away her tears and looked up at Yoru's face curiously.
"Hey, you jerk… just what is your Sacred Gear? Why is it so powerful?"
"What's wrong? Trying to fish for intel to report back to your big brother?"
Yoru gently ruffled the girl's hair and laughed softly. This girl reminded him of his own two daughters—memories from his past began to stir.
"As if! My big brother isn't like me. You only won because I'm still not an adult. Your ice won't do anything against him. Big Brother has the strongest Hellfire! He'll definitely beat you!" Rebel huffed, clenching her little fists.
"Then let's see how it goes. It's time to end this little game."
As Yoru spoke, the cold, ice-coated flames around them shattered and exploded into countless crystal shards.
Glittering like snow, the sparkling fragments danced through the air. Rebel's eyes widened in wonder, completely enchanted by the sight. She really was still a little girl—so easy to please with just a little kindness.
By the time she snapped out of her awe, Rebel realized she was already being carried. They were now at the base of the new school building.
"Kyaa!" She cried out in embarrassment. She knew the entire audience had seen her being held so intimately. Flustered, she tried to wriggle out of Yoru's arms.
But it didn't work—his arms held her tightly.
When she looked up, she saw Riser standing on the rooftop, his face full of fury.
"No need to get so worked up, Young Master Riser. I just can't fly, so I asked your little sister to help carry me up." Yoru shrugged with a grin.
"Y-You could've just said that! You're so annoying!" Rebel retorted, cheeks red. Then, spreading her blazing flame wings, she carried Yoru up to the roof of the new school building.
"Now be a good girl and stay with your sister Rias. Otherwise, you might get caught in the crossfire," Yoru said gently once they landed.
"You're really going to fight my brother?" Rebel looked worried. "You only beat me because I'm not fully grown yet! Your ice definitely won't work on my brother!"
"Should I take that as a sign that you care about me?" Yoru turned back with a teasing smile.
"As if! I just don't want someone with such a powerful Sacred Gear and so much potential to be wasted by getting beaten to death by my brother, that's all!" Rebel huffed, then turned away and flew toward Rias and Asia without another word.
"Tch… that little girl." Yoru chuckled and scratched the bridge of his nose.
Then he turned his gaze toward the one now standing before him—Riser.
At the same time, Rebel landed beside Rias and Asia.
"Hi, Rias-sis!" she greeted cheerfully.
"You seem pretty confident in your brother," Rias replied with a smile.
"Hmph. I came to advise you to surrender. It'd be such a shame if a strong and promising servant like him got seriously injured." Rebel puffed up with pride. In her mind, Rias would soon be her sister-in-law, and by then, that powerful servant would become her underling too.
And when that happened, she'd make sure to bully him good! How dare he tease her like that?
Thinking back to how she cried earlier, and how he had carried her so easily in front of everyone, Rebel's face turned red again.
Hmph… Just wait, you jerk! Big Brother's going to teach you a lesson!
"Surrender, huh? That's my line." Rias responded confidently. "Right now, you're in check. So just sit back and watch my 'soldier's' performance—watch how he cuts down the 'king.'"
On the rooftop, Riser glared at Yoru.
"What did you do to my sister?!"
"Nothing much. Just comforted a spoiled little girl, that's all," Yoru replied casually.
"Hmph! Don't think you're all that just because you beat my Queen. I'll show you what the Phoenix family's true Hellfire feels like!"
Terrifying flames erupted from Riser's hands, twisting the air around him with sheer heat. The entire Kuoh Academy was engulfed in scorching pressure.
The Phoenix's ultimate flame—rumored to burn even dragon scales to ash! Riser was going to make Yoru understand just how laughable his Sacred Gear's ice was when faced with the hellfire of a true Phoenix.
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