---
The first thing Ravian ever *felt* was **hunger**.
Not the polite, growling stomach of a human baby—this was a **void**, a black hole gnawing from the inside out, demanding *more* than milk. It demanded **power**.
He couldn't speak.
Couldn't cry.
Could only **open three mismatched eyes** and **stare** at the crimson canopy above his crib, carved from devil-oak and inlaid with phoenix feathers that glowed like dying embers.
> *Leech (whispering in his gut, voice like a rusty knife):*
> "Morning, princess. Day 3 in Hell's daycare. Still no words? Shocker."
Ravian's tiny clawed fist twitched. A faint **red pulse** flared in his left eye—Erasure, weak as a candle, but enough to **snuff** the phoenix feather's glow. The canopy went dark. Somewhere in the estate, a ward **popped** like a soap bubble.
> *Leech:*
> "Nice. Property damage before breakfast. Mom and Dad will be *so* proud."
The nursery door creaked open. **Rias Gremory**, age eight, crimson hair in twin tails, peeked in wearing a frilly nightgown that screamed *noble devil heiress*. Her sapphire eyes widened at the darkened canopy.
> **Rias (whispering):**
> "Ravian? Did you do that again?"
She tiptoed in, bare feet silent on the obsidian floor. The room smelled of brimstone roses and warm milk. A **silver rattle** shaped like a tiny Power of Destruction orb floated above the crib—Venelana's gift. Rias poked it. It **spun**, then **flickered** under Ravian's gaze.
> **Rias (pouting):**
> "Stop breaking my toys, baby brother! Mama said you're *special*, not *destructive*."
Ravian's middle eye—the **Tenseigan**—glowed faintly. A **chakra pulse** rippled out, invisible to devil senses. The rattle **froze mid-spin**, suspended in a sphere of gentle pressure. Rias gasped, delighted.
> **Rias:**
> "Ooh! You *are* listening! Here—catch!"
She flicked the rattle. It **phased** through Ravian's right eye—**Kamui**, infantile and draining, but enough to swallow the toy into a pocket void. A second later, it **reappeared** in his webbed claw, dripping with spatial distortion.
> *Leech (dryly):*
> "Show-off. That took 10 % of your chakra. You've got, what, 12 % total? Genius."
Ravian gurgled—his version of a laugh. The sound was wet, guttural, like a drowning cat. Rias squealed and scooped him up, wings fluttering.
> **Rias:**
> "You're so *weird*! Sirzechs-nii says you're gonna be in my peerage when we're older. I'll make you my *knight*! Or maybe my *rook*—you're already heavy."
She bounced him. His scales **rasped** against her nightgown. A faint **cursed energy spike** made her sneeze—black sparks dancing from her nose.
> **Rias (sniffing):**
> "Ugh, you smell like ozone and bad decisions."
---
**Meanwhile, in the estate's war room…**
Zeoticus stood over a **holographic map** of the Underworld, crimson hair tied back, apron swapped for a tailored suit that screamed *devil lord*. A **Rating Game alert** pulsed: **Phenex Clan – Practice Match, 3 days.**
> **Zeoticus (grinning):**
> "Riser's getting cocky. Thinks his regeneration makes him untouchable. Venelana, darling—remind me to bring popcorn."
Venelana leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, violet eyes sharp. Her gown today was **black lace over crimson silk**, the kind that made lesser devils kneel.
> **Venelana:**
> "Focus. The child's erasure eye nullified three wards last night. *Three*. Grayfia's furious—she had to rewrite the barrier sigils at 3 a.m."
Zeoticus waved a hand. A **miniature Power of Destruction orb** spun lazily above his palm.
> **Zeoticus:**
> "He's a Gremory. Chaos is in the blood. Besides—" His grin softened. "—he smiled at me this morning. Well, gurgled. Close enough."
Venelana's lips twitched. She stepped closer, fingers brushing his beard.
> **Venelana:**
> "He's *mute*, Zeo. And that thing in his stomach… it's not a devil curse. It's *alien*. I felt it whisper when I changed him. Like it *knows* us."
Zeoticus's orb **pulsed**, cracking the air. For a moment, the laid-back lord vanished—replaced by the war hero who'd crushed rebel clans.
> **Zeoticus (low):**
> "Then we love him harder. If it's a threat, we burn it out. If it's a gift…" He glanced at the nursery feed—a crystal orb showing Rias tickling Ravian's scales. "We sharpen it."
---
**Back in the nursery…**
Rias had smuggled in **Akeno Himejima**, age nine, half-fallen angel, already radiating sadistic curiosity. She poked Ravian's third eye with a **holy lightning finger**.
> **Akeno (giggling):**
> "It's like a little star! Does it shoot lasers?"
The **Tenseigan** flared. A **chakra repulsion wave** sent Akeno tumbling into a pile of plush demons. Rias laughed so hard she snorted.
> **Rias:**
> "Told you he's strong! When he's older, he'll beat up Riser for me."
> *Leech (to Ravian):*
> "Kid, you've got a harem before you can walk. Peak devil life."
Ravian's **system panel** flickered—visible only to him:
```
[Quest: Survive the Cradle – Day 3/30]
[Objective: Do not erase the estate's core ward.]
[Reward: +1 Level, Unlock Wood Style (Seedling)]
[Failure: Venelana's "Discipline" (Power of Destruction – Low Yield)]
```
His red eye **pulsed**. The core ward—a **crimson rune** etched into the crib's headboard—**flickered**. One more glance and it'd be gone.
> *Leech (urgent):*
> "Eyes front, idiot! That's the *house* shield. You nuke it, Mommy Dearest nukes *you*."
Ravian **forced** his gaze down. The rune stabilized. The panel dinged:
```
[Objective Updated: Resist Instinct – Success]
[+50 EXP]
[Level Up! → Level 2]
[Wood Style (Seedling) Unlocked – 1 use/day]
```
A **tiny green sprout** poked from his claw, wilting instantly. Pathetic. But *alive*.
---
**Lunchtime.**
Venelana entered, carrying a **bottle of demonic milk** infused with low-grade cursed energy. She wore a **simple dress** today—still elegant, but maternal. Her violet eyes softened as she lifted Ravian.
> **Venelana (softly):**
> "You're growing too fast, little star. Scales already hardening. Soon you'll need armor, not diapers."
She pressed the bottle to his lips. He drank greedily. The milk **burned**—cursed energy clashing with his coils. His **Ten Shadows** stirred—a **faint silhouette** of a tiny divine dog flickered in the shadows, then vanished.
> *Leech:*
> "Tastes like battery acid and regret. Five stars."
Venelana noticed the sprout on the crib. Her fingers brushed it. It **crumbled to ash**.
> **Venelana (frowning):**
> "Wood release? Not devil magic. Not yokai. *What are you, Ravian?*"
She didn't sound afraid. She sounded **hungry**.
---
**Nightfall.**
The estate quieted. Rias snuck in again, curling up beside the crib with a **story scroll** about the original Gremory who'd seduced a dragon. Ravian listened, mute, as her voice lulled him.
> **Rias (whispering):**
> "When you're big, we'll fight together. I'll be the king, and you'll be my sword. Promise."
His clawed hand **closed** around her finger. The **system pinged**:
```
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: Bond with the Crimson Heiress]
[Objective: Protect Rias in the upcoming Phenex Match]
[Reward: ???]
```
> *Leech (dryly):*
> "Great. Babysitting duty. At least she's cute."
Outside, the crimson moon hung low. In the distance, **Phoenix flames** flickered—Riser's scouts, watching the estate. The game was already beginning.
Ravian closed his eyes. For the first time since rebirth, he **dreamed**—not of parking lots and gunshots, but of **crimson wings** and a sister's laugh.
> *Leech (softly, almost kind):*
> "Sleep, boss. Tomorrow, we level up."
---