"Finally awake, nii-sama?"
Riser Phenex opened his eyes, and immediately saw a beautiful young girl leaning over him.
Seeing him awake, the girl leaned back and crossed her arms over her modest chest, "Today's your wedding ceremony with Lady Rias. Please prepare yourself to act proper this time. Everyone who will attend are nobles."
"...I see. I'll be there in a moment."
The girl nodded and left the room.
Riser rubbed his forehead, "...that girl...is Ravel Phenex...and she's my sister."
He sat up, looking around, as if searching for something. When he spotted a mirror, he stood up and went to it to look at himself.
"...So I really am Riser Phenex." He sighed, "Highschool DxD this time? I hope I don't die quickly."
He, the one now known as Riser Phenex, is actually someone who had transmigrated several times already.
The first time, he took over the body of a young boy from Demon Slayer and became an apprentice of Tanjiro's father. But he was killed by Muzan.
Then, he reincarnated as a baby in the Fairy Tail World 400 years in the past and was adopted by Igneel and learned Fire Dragon Slayer Magic before Natsu was resurrected by Zeref.
But he was killed by Igneel's son out of jealousy for taking the attention of his father.
His soul then traveled to One Piece World, where he took over the body of a Rocks Pirate crew member. He found the Phoenix Fruit there and ate it, but he was smashed to death by Garp's fist during the Valley of Gods.
Then, he reincarnated as a member of the Patch Tribe in Shaman King Universe, where he successfully stole the Spirit of Fire, before he was killed.
And now, here he is, in his fifth life— sixth if you count his first life on Earth— as Riser Phenex in the DxD universe.
He doesn't know much about this universe, actually. He watched until Riser Phenex introduction before he dropped the series.
And some of his knowledge came from fandoms and discussions, and even power scalings.
"Hmm..." Riser frowned, feeling someone calling out to him from the depths of his soul. His eyes widened, "...This feeling..."
Without a second of hesitation, Riser called out the one from his soul. And, much to his shock and joy, a small red figure appeared in front of him.
"Ember!" He exclaimed. "You're here with me!"
Ember, the name he gave to the Spirit of Fire.
Currently, Ember is in its infant stage, cutely floating around him, as if expressing its joy seeing him alive and well.
After all, although he stole Spirit of Fire, the two of them did went on an adventure to try and get away from the pursuits of the Patch Tribe, and they have gotten very close.
Ember landed on his head, the place it likes to rest on. In his previous life, even though Ember has already grown to its most powerful stage, it liked to stay on its infant stage just so it can continue to stay on his head.
"...if Ember's here, then..." Riser then clenched his fist, and a fire bursts into life. But this was no ordinary flame. If a dragon was here, it'd probably shiver in fear.
Because this is a flame used specifically to kill dragons.
"As expected, my Dragon Slaying Magic is with me too. I could probably also use the Sun Breathing and the Phoenix Fruit as well."
With Ember, Dragon Slaying Magic, and Hinokami Kagura, along with Phenex Immortality, if he, Riser Phenex, still end up as miserable as he was in the canon, then he'd better off dying on a ditch.
He smirked, already feeling confident.
*
*
*
"Ladies, Gentlemen, renowned nobles of the underworld, on behalf of the house of Phenex allow me to thank you for coming."
Riser Phenex bowed to the guests, presenting himself as elegantly as possible.
After all, everyone here comes from noble households. It would bring shame to his family if he acted as a douchebag to this day.
"You have all been invited here to share in this wonderful moment as I am to be married to Rias Gremory, the next head of the distinguished House of Gremory."
He gestured to the door, where Rias Gremory, a beautiful young woman with crimson hair, wearing a white wedding dress walks in.
Her eyes hollow, as if appearing at this hall took the life out of her.
Everyone clapped, as Riser grabbed Rias by the waist and pulled her closer to him.
Her reluctant expression was a sight to behold. When he was still pirate, he had enjoyed this look from women countless of times.
Riser's grip on Rias' hips stayed light, just enough to look intimate for the crowd. His smile never faltered as he led her toward the front row where the families sat.
He bowed first to his own parents.
"Mother. Father. Thank you for preparing everything so perfectly."
His mother, Lady Regina's eyes softened. "Just do not embarrass the Phenex name, Riser."
"I will not." His tone was calm, but absolute.
Hia father, Lord Rowell gave him a single nod of approval.
Then he turned to the Gremory family. He dipped his head just enough to be polite, not groveling.
"Lord Zeoticus. Lady Venelana. I promise to treat your daughter with respect."
Zeoticus Gremory, Rias' father, raised a brow, surprised by Riser's seriousness, unlike his usual arrogant self. "I will hold you to that, young man."
Venelana Gremory, Rias' mother, smiled faintly, clearly amused by this change in demeanor. "I'm glad to see you speaking like a proper gentleman for once, Lord Riser."
Riser gave a short, respectful chuckle. "I should be, today is my wedding, Lady Venelana."
The murmurs in the hall shifted. Nobles exchanged glances, whispering about how much calmer, more refined Riser seemed compared to his usual reputation.
He guided Rias forward again, now greeting several high-ranking nobles. Each received the same treatment—short, polished words, a perfect bow, and just enough charm to make them feel acknowledged.
When a few made veiled comments about Rias' expression or hinted at the infamous Rating Game, Riser let a small flare of fire spark around his shoulders.
It was subtle, harmless, but the message was clear: he was not the man they could mock.
By the time they finished the round of greetings, Rias' posture had shifted slightly. She was still tense, but her eyes had a glimmer of curiosity, maybe even confusion.
Riser noticed. He smirked and whispered so only she could hear, "Surprised? You must be. In your mind, I must be an arrogant, self-centred, lustful scum, right? Well, I am, but I can be refined and composed as well."
Her lips parted slightly, as if to respond, but she stayed quiet.
Riser poured the deep red wine into two crystal glasses, his movements calm and elegant. He handed one to Rias, who took it with a blank expression.
"To our future," he said softly, holding his glass out.
Rias hesitated, her fingers tightening around the stem. She raised the glass halfway—
The doors to the hall slammed open.
"Buchou!"
The shout echoed through the grand hall, shattering the moment. Everyone turned toward the noise.
A young man with brown hair and an utterly average face stood there, chest heaving, eyes burning with emotion.
Riser clicked his tongue in annoyance, lowering his glass. 'Are our guards mere decorations? How could they not stop him?'
The boy took a step forward, voice loud enough to reach every corner of the room. "My name is Issei Hyoudou! I'm here to take Rias Gremory back!"
Gasps spread through the guests. Some nobles murmured angrily, others watched with interest, sensing drama.
The guards finally rushed in, moving to restrain him.
But before they could, three figures appeared between them and Issei.
They are members of Rias Gremory's peerage.
Yuuto Kiba's sword was already drawn, deflecting the first guard's weapon with a flash of steel.
Akeno Himejima spread her devil wings, her polite smile at odds with the crackling electricity dancing across her fingertips.
Koneko Toujou moved silently, her small fist striking with enough force to send another guard sliding across the marble floor.
The hall erupted in noise as the Phenex guards regrouped.
The nobles frowned, some whispering that this was an open insult to the Phenex name.
Then Issei pointed straight at Riser, shouting over the chaos.
"Riser Phenex! I won't let you have her! Rias Gremory's virginity belongs to me!"
The entire room froze. The words hung in the air like a curse.
Rias' eyes widened, her pale cheeks flushing scarlet from shame.
A wave of anger and shock rippled through the nobles, some standing from their seats in outrage.
Riser set his glass down on the nearest table with deliberate calm, orange flames briefly sparking at his fingertips.
His expression was unreadable, but the temperature of the room seemed to rise.