Location: The Spectator Dimension (VIP Box)
Event: The Rias Gremory vs. Riser Phenex Rating Game
Status: Eating High-Class Catering
The Rating Game was a spectator sport for the Devil nobility. The venue was a pocket dimension replicating Kuoh Academy, but the viewing area was a luxurious floating lounge in the Dimensional Gap.
Raiden sat in the center of the Gremory VIP box. He took up a lot of space.
To his right sat Runeas Gremory, sipping vintage demon wine and looking pleased with herself.
To his left sat Serafall Leviathan, who had inexplicably decided to sit on the armrest of Raiden's chair rather than her own seat.
"Ne, ne, Raiden-chan!" Serafall poked his cheek. "Pass the popcorn! The caramel kind!"
"Get your own, Magical Girl," Raiden grunted, though he passed the bucket anyway. "And stop vibrating. You're shaking the chair."
"I'm excited!" Serafall giggled, swinging her legs. "It's rare to see Rias-chan so confident! Usually, she's all mopey about marriage."
"She's confident because I threatened to eat her hair if she lost," Raiden stated calmly, biting into a turkey leg.
Across the room, Lord and Lady Phenex (Riser's parents) and Sirzechs Lucifer (Rias's brother) were watching Raiden with intense curiosity.
"Who is that man?" Lord Phenex whispered to Sirzechs. "He sits between a Satan and your eldest sister like he owns the place."
"That," Sirzechs smiled nervously, "is the 'X-Factor'."
Down in the arena, the game started.
Usually, Rias Gremory played defensively. She was a "King" who protected her servants.
Not today.
BOOM.
As soon as the announcer shouted "BEGIN," the Gremory peerage exploded out of the Old School Building.
Issei Hyoudou didn't wait.
[BOOST] [BOOST] [BOOST] [BOOST] [BOOST]
He launched himself into the sky like a green missile.
"DRAGON SHOT!" Issei roared.
Instead of a beam, he fired a condensed sphere of red energy - a technique Raiden forced him to learn by throwing rocks at him until he got it right.
The sphere hit the gymnasium where Riser's Pawns were hiding.
KA-BOOM.
The gymnasium was vaporized. Three of Riser's Pawns were instantly retired.
In the VIP box, Riser's jaw dropped. "What?! A Pawn with that firepower?!"
"Efficiency," Raiden commented from the box, his voice projected via magic. "Why play chess when you can just flip the board?"
Location: Riser's Base (New School Building)
Ravel Phenex was pacing in the strategy room. She was Riser's Bishop and the brain of his team.
"This makes no sense," Ravel bit her thumb nail. "Rias usually sets traps. Why are they charging? It's suicide against Riser-sama's regeneration!"
She looked at the magical screens.
Kiba Yuuto (Knight) was fighting Riser's Knight. But Kiba wasn't dancing around. He was using a massive, two-handed demon sword Raiden had synthesized for him.
CRUNCH.
Kiba smashed the opponent's defense, shattering the armor and retiring him in one blow.
Koneko Toujou (Rook) was ignoring Riser's Rook's punches. She simply walked through the attacks, grabbed the enemy by the face, and slammed him into the pavement.
"Too light," Koneko muttered, echoing her master's complaints.
Ravel felt a chill.
"They aren't fighting like Devils," Ravel realized. "They are fighting like... wild beasts. Who taught them this?"
She remembered the man in the trench coat. The one who called her "dessert."
"Him," Ravel whispered, blushing despite the situation. "He corrupted their noble style into pure violence."
The game progressed quickly. Riser's peerage was dismantled. Finally, it was just Riser standing on the roof of the school, facing Rias.
"You think this changes anything?!" Riser shouted, his body wreathed in flames. "I am Immortal! I am a Phoenix! You cannot defeat me!"
Rias stood opposite him. She looked tired but focused. Her red hair flowed in the wind.
"My teacher told me something," Rias said, raising her hand. Her Power of Destruction gathered, turning from crimson to a deep, dark blood-red.
"Immortality is just a battery," Rias quoted. "Drain it faster than it recharges, and you die like everyone else."
"Preposterous!" Riser charged.
Rias didn't fire a beam. She snapped her fingers.
[Extinction Star] (A budget version of Raiden's Void technique).
A gravity well of destruction opened inside Riser's chest.
"GAAH?!" Riser halted in mid-air. His flames were being sucked inward.
"Regenerate from that," Rias said cold.
Riser screamed as his body was crushed and continuously destroyed at a cellular level. He tried to heal, but the destruction was faster.
"I YIELD! I YIELD!" Riser shrieked.
"Riser Phenex Retires! Winner: Rias Gremory!" Grayfia's voice boomed over the speakers.
Location: The Reception Hall
Status: Victory Celebration
The Gremory team returned, battered but triumphant. Issei was crying tears of joy. Akeno was hugging Rias.
Raiden walked into the hall, flanked by Runeas and Serafall.
"Not bad," Raiden nodded at Rias. "You utilized 40% of the potential I taught you. Still sloppy on the finish, though."
Rias beamed, ignoring the criticism. "We won! I'm free!"
"Wait!"
A charred and angry Riser Phenex stumbled into the room, healed by Phoenix Tears but his pride shattered. Ravel followed him, looking embarrassed.
"This doesn't count!" Riser pointed a shaking finger at Rias. "You used forbidden magic! That gravity technique... that wasn't Devil magic! It was... something else!"
He turned to Raiden.
"You! You interfered! You gave them outside power! I demand a rematch!"
Raiden stopped eating his post-game snack (a whole turkey). The room temperature dropped to absolute zero.
Raiden walked up to Riser. Riser flinched, remembering the taste of the floor from the clubroom.
"I gave them knowledge," Raiden said, his voice low. "If you are too stupid to learn, that is not my fault."
"My father will hear of this!" Riser snarled. "The House of Phenex will—"
Raiden placed a hand on Riser's shoulder.
"Gluttony: Activate."
"AAAAHHHH!" Riser screamed.
It wasn't physical pain. He felt his pride, his arrogance, and his entitlement being ripped out of his soul.
Raiden inhaled deeply, pulling a golden, smoky aura out of Riser.
Slurp.
Raiden swallowed. Riser collapsed to his knees, looking hollow and confused. He wasn't hurt, but he looked suddenly... humble. And very, very scared.
"Tastes like spoiled chicken," Raiden critiqued. "Too much ego, not enough substance."
He looked at Ravel Phenex, who was hiding behind her brother, shaking.
Raiden smirked. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of blonde drill-hair behind her ear.
"Your strategy was sound, Little Bird," Raiden said softly. "You realized we were rushing and tried to set up a crossfire at the gym. Your brother was just too dumb to listen to you."
Ravel looked up, her eyes wide. "Y-You... noticed?"
"I notice everything," Raiden leaned in, whispering in her ear. "Ditch the loser. When you're ready to learn real tactics... come find me."
Ravel's face exploded into red. Steam practically shot out of her ears.
Runeas stepped forward, clapping slowly.
"A devastating victory. And you broke the Phenex heir's spirit without drawing blood. Impressive."
Runeas handed Raiden an envelope.
"Your payment. Access codes to the Gremory private archives and... a reservation."
"Reservation?" Raiden checked the envelope.
"Dinner. Tomorrow night," Runeas smiled, her eyes predatory. "Just us. I want to discuss... investments. And perhaps how a Heavenly Dragon tastes."
Raiden laughed. " Careful, Runeas. I bite."
"I'm counting on it."
"Moooo!" Serafall puffed her cheeks, latching onto Raiden's arm. "Not fair! Runeas is stealing him! Raiden-chan is supposed to be the mascot for my new magical girl show! 'Magical Destroyer Raiden'!"
"I am not wearing a skirt, Serafall," Raiden said, trying to shake the Satan off.
"We can discuss the costume later!" Serafall winked. "But for now, you owe me! I cheered the loudest!"
Suddenly, Raiden paused. A blue screen flashed in his vision.
"Main Quest Updated."
"Objective: The Holy Sword War."
"Detected: Kokabiel has initiated the ritual."
"Location: Kuoh Academy."
"Bonus Objective: Secure the White Dragon Emperor (Vali Lucifer) as a rival."
Raiden grinned. The appetizer was done. The main course was arriving.
"Alright, party's over," Raiden announced. "Go rest, Gremory kids. Tomorrow, we hunt Fallen Angels."