Part I:
The colosseum was packed to absolute capacity.
Fifty thousand devils. Every noble house represented. Political factions watching with calculating eyes. And the betting pools—oh, the betting pools were insane.
The semifinal match between Rias Gremory and Lucien Gremory had captured the Underworld's imagination.
Family versus family.
Aunt versus Nephew.
The Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess who had just defeated Sairaorg Bael versus the Golden Prodigy who had dismantled Sona Sitri in under twenty minutes.
It was perfect drama.
In the VIP box, tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Sirzechs Lucifer stood with his arms crossed, his usual playful demeanor completely absent. His crimson hair seemed to glow with barely suppressed power. "This is going to be difficult to watch."
"They're both our children," Grayfia said quietly, standing beside him in her maid uniform. "No matter who wins, we should be proud."
"I know. But—" Sirzechs shook his head. "Rias just fought her hardest battle. She's exhausted. And Lucien is fresh."
"Unfair matchup," Azazel observed from his corner, swirling expensive wine. "Kid should've gotten at least a day to recover."
"Tournament rules," Serafall said, though she looked unhappy about it. "Semifinals happen next day. It's always been that way."
Lord Zeoticus sat with his hands clasped, looking older than usual. Lady Venelana beside him was worrying at her sleeve—a nervous tell she rarely showed.
Gabriel looked genuinely concerned. "Will Rias-chan be alright? She used so much power in the last match."
"She's a Gremory," Venelana said firmly. "She'll endure."
Freya leaned forward with interest. "The question is not endurance. The question is: can she surprise him?"
Kino sat on her elevated cushion beside Caelan, swinging her legs nervously. "Papa, Auntie Rias is tired. That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair," Caelan said flatly. "But she knew the rules going in."
"Will she lose?"
"Probably. Lucien is low Ultimate-class with a fresh peerage. Rias is exhausted, down several key pieces from the last fight, and running on willpower alone." He paused. "But she has one advantage."
"What's that?"
"Lucien doesn't know what I taught her."
Kino tilted her head. "What did you teach her?"
"How to be unpredictable."
Part II:
The battlefield manifested—this time, an urban environment. Ruined buildings, narrow streets, plenty of cover. Tactical terrain.
Rias Gremory materialized with her remaining peerage. She'd lost Xenovia, Koneko, and Rossweisse in the last match. What remained was:
Akeno Himejima (Queen) - recovered but not at full strengthYuuto Kiba (Knight) - fully healedIssei Hyoudou (Pawn) - energized and readyAsia Argento (Bishop) - healing supportGasper Vladi (Bishop) - time-stop aceRavel Phenex (Pawn) - tactical support
Six pieces versus Lucien's full fifteen.
Lucien Gremory stood calmly, the Power of Destruction already crackling around his hands. His peerage formed up behind him:
Seekvaira Agares (Queen) - tactical geniusTannin (Rook) - Dragon King in humanoid formKuroka (Bishop) - SS-class nekomataMira (Bishop) - human Sacred Gear specialistRuval Phenex (Knight) - Riser's older brotherFive Pawns - all specialists in their own right
The power gap was obvious.
But Rias's eyes were hard. Determined.
"I'm not backing down," she said quietly.
Across the field, Lucien nodded with respect. "I wouldn't expect you to."
Grayfia's voice echoed across the colosseum. "This is a Rating Game between Rias Gremory and Lucien Gremory. Standard rules apply. The match begins... NOW!"
Lucien moved first.
Not with overwhelming force—with precision.
"Seekvaira. Tactical analysis."
His Queen's eyes glowed. "Scanning... She's positioned Gasper as bait. Time-stop trap expected if we engage directly."
"Kuroka. Disrupt."
"Nya~"
The nekomata vanished into Senjutsu-cloaked invisibility.
But this time, Rias was ready.
"NOW, AKENO!"
"ARA ARA~"
Lightning erupted across the entire battlefield—not targeted, just everywhere. A blanket of electrical energy that forced Kuroka to reveal her position or get fried.
She reappeared, hissing. "That's cheating~"
"That's tactics," Rias countered.
Then Issei exploded forward.
"BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"
His Scale Mail Balance Breaker activated instantly, the red dragon armor gleaming. He'd been charging his power since the match started, and now—
"WELSH SONIC BOOST KNIGHT!"
His armor transformed into the Knight variation—pure speed.
He was across the battlefield in a heartbeat, heading straight for Seekvaira.
Tannin intercepted. "Not today, Red Dragon Emperor."
The Dragon King's massive form blocked Issei's path, draconic power radiating from him like a physical force.
"DRAGON SHOT!"
"DRAGON BLAST!"
The two dragon-based attacks collided, creating an explosion that shattered three nearby buildings.
But Issei wasn't alone.
Kiba appeared from Tannin's blind spot, his Blade Blacksmith creating dozens of holy-demonic hybrid swords. "Blade of the Holy Eraser!"
"PROMOTION: QUEEN!"
Issei's power surged again, his armor glowing brighter.
Ravel added her phoenix flames to the assault.
Asia provided healing support from the rear, keeping everyone topped off.
And Rias unleashed the Power of Destruction from range, her crimson-black energy carving through Lucien's defensive formations.
For three solid minutes, they pushed.
Hard.
In the VIP box, Zeoticus stood up. "They're doing it! They're actually pushing him back!"
"Don't celebrate yet," Caelan warned.
Because Lucien hadn't used his full power.
Not even close.
"Seekvaira," Lucien said calmly. "Formation Delta."
"Understood."
His peerage shifted into a complex formation—overlapping fields of fire, mutual support, no weak points.
"Tannin. Show them why you're called a Dragon King."
The massive Rook's power exploded.
His humanoid form cracked, scales emerging, draconic energy overwhelming everything in a fifty-meter radius.
"BLAZING INFERNO OF SCORCHING FLAMES!"
A literal firestorm erupted.
Issei's armor protected him. Barely.
Kiba was blown backward. "One Knight retired."
Ravel's phoenix flames allowed her to survive.
But Asia—
"ASIA!" Issei screamed.
The blonde Bishop was caught in the flames' edge. Teleported away before serious injury.
"One Bishop retired."
And then Kuroka struck.
She appeared behind Ravel, Senjutsu energy gathered. "Sorry, little phoenix~"
"One Pawn retired."
Now it was down to four.
Rias. Akeno. Issei. Gasper.
Against fifteen.
"This is over," Seekvaira said, not cruelly. Just factually.
"Like hell it is!" Issei roared.
[PARTNER,] Ddraig's voice rumbled. [IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING STUPID, NOW'S THE TIME.]
"I was thinking the same thing!"
Issei planted his feet.
And started boosting.
Not carefully. Not conservatively.
Everything.
"BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"
His power multiplied exponentially.
The armor began to crack from the pressure.
"Issei, stop!" Rias called out. "You'll burn yourself out!"
"I DON'T CARE!"
His power reached critical levels.
Then beyond.
"LONGINUS SMASHER!"
He unleashed everything.
Every boost. Every ounce of draconic power. Every bit of determination.
A beam of pure crimson energy that made the previous Dragon Shots look like sparklers.
It carved through the battlefield like the wrath of god.
Lucien's eyes widened.
For the first time in the match, he looked genuinely threatened.
"Everyone, defensive formation! NOW!"
His peerage scrambled.
Seekvaira created magical barriers.
Kuroka used Senjutsu to redirect energy.
Tannin tanked the hit directly, his Dragon King durability the only thing keeping him standing.
Mira activated every defensive Sacred Gear technique she knew.
The beam hit.
The explosion was enormous.
When the smoke cleared—
Three of Lucien's Pawns were down. "Three Pawns retired."
Kuroka was injured. "One Bishop retired."
Mira was unconscious. "One Bishop retired."
Even Seekvaira looked shaken. "One Queen... barely standing."
Tannin had taken the brunt of it and was bleeding from multiple wounds. "One Rook... compromised."
The crowd went INSANE.
"THE RED DRAGON EMPEROR!"
"HE TOOK OUT HALF THE PEERAGE!"
"THIS IS INSANE!"
In the VIP box, Sirzechs was gripping the railing so hard it cracked. "He did it. The mad bastard actually did it."
"Issei-kun is amazing!" Serafall cheered.
Caelan leaned forward. "This just got interesting."
But on the battlefield, Issei collapsed.
Completely exhausted. Unable to move.
"One Pawn retired."
Now it was three versus seven.
Rias. Akeno. Gasper.
Versus Lucien, Seekvaira (injured), Tannin (injured), Ruval, and two Pawns.
"Rias," Lucien said quietly. "That was incredible. Your Pawn is a monster."
"I know." She smiled despite the situation. "He's the best."
"But this is where it ends."
"Not yet."
Because Gasper had been charging his own power.
"FORBIDDEN BALOR VIEW!"
Time stopped.
But not just for a few seconds this time.
Gasper had learned. Trained. Pushed himself.
Five seconds. Then eight. Then ten.
Long enough for Rias to close the distance.
Long enough for Akeno to prepare her most powerful attack.
Long enough—
"EXTINCTION STAR!"
Akeno's fallen angel + devil hybrid lightning crashed down like divine judgment.
"EXTINGUISHED STAR!"
Rias's Power of Destruction, compressed into a single point, detonated.
The combined attack hit Lucien's defensive formation at full power while they were frozen in time.
When time resumed—
"Two Pawns retired."
"One Knight retired."
But Lucien was still standing.
Wounded. Bleeding. His armor cracked.
But standing.
"Impressive," he said. "Truly. But—"
He raised his hand.
The Power of Destruction manifested.
Not wild. Not explosive.
Precise. Surgical. Perfect.
"I'm sorry, Rias."
He unleashed it.
Akeno tried to defend. Was overwhelmed. "One Queen retired."
Gasper tried to stop time again. Couldn't. Too exhausted. "One Bishop retired."
Rias stood alone.
Exhausted. Wounded. Out of pieces.
Against Lucien, Seekvaira, and Tannin.
She could surrender.
Should surrender.
Instead, she smiled.
"You know what? I'm proud of how far we got."
"You should be."
"But I'm still not giving up."
She charged.
Power of Destruction blazing.
Lucien met her head-on.
For thirty glorious seconds, they clashed.
Crimson versus crimson.
Destruction versus destruction.
Family versus family.
Then Lucien's superior reserves and experience won out.
His Power of Destruction broke through her defenses.
Gentle. Controlled. Not to hurt—just to end it.
"Rias Gremory has been retired. Lucien Gremory wins."
The crowd erupted.
But the cheers weren't just for Lucien.
"RIAS GREMORY!"
"THE CRIMSON PRINCESS!"
"SHE TOOK OUT HALF HIS PEERAGE!"
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
Because she'd lost.
But she'd made the Crimson Prodigy bleed.
Part III:
In the medical bay, Rias sat with her peerage, all of them exhausted but smiling.
"We lost," she said.
"We took out half his team!" Issei countered. "That's not losing, that's being AWESOME!"
"Issei-san was amazing!" Asia hugged him.
"That Longinus Smasher was insane," Kiba agreed.
"Ara ara~ We made him work for it~" Akeno smiled.
The door opened.
Lucien entered, still in his damaged armor, looking respectful.
"Rias-sama. That was... I have no words. You were incredible."
"We still lost."
"You pushed me harder than Sairaorg did. Harder than I've been pushed in any match." He bowed—actually bowed. "You have my utmost respect."
Rias felt tears forming. "Thank you."
"Your tactician—Caelan—he trained you well."
"He did."
"I'd like to meet him properly. After the tournament."
"He'd probably refuse."
"Probably. But I'll try anyway." Lucien smiled. "You're going to be a great leader someday, Rias-sama. Today proved it."
He left.
Rias sat in silence for a moment.
Then smiled through her tears.
"We did good, right?"
"We did AMAZING!" her peerage chorused.
Part IV:
After a brief intermission, the second semifinal match was announced.
"RISER PHENEX VERSUS ZEPHYRDOR GLASYA-LABOLAS!"
This match was... expected to be one-sided.
Zephyrdor was talented. Young. Enthusiastic.
But Riser had immortality.
Literal, phoenix-based, instant-regeneration immortality.
In the VIP box, Caelan watched with clinical interest. "This should be instructive."
"How so?" Kino asked.
"Because it will demonstrate why some abilities are fundamentally unfair."
The match began.
Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas came out swinging.
His peerage was well-coordinated. They had tactics. Strategy. Good teamwork.
They hit Riser with everything.
Magical bombardments. Physical strikes. Elemental attacks. Coordinated assaults.
Riser's peerage fell—his Bishops retired, his Rooks eliminated, even his Queen Yubelluna eventually went down.
But Riser himself?
He just... kept coming.
Burned alive? Regenerated in seconds.
Cut to pieces? Reassembled instantly.
Crushed by overwhelming force? Stood back up.
Exhausted to the point of collapse? Phoenix flames restored his stamina.
"This is insane," Azazel muttered. "The kid is literally unkillable."
"That's the Phenex bloodline," Sirzechs said. "The most frustrating ability in Rating Games."
"It's not fair," Serafall complained.
"It's genetics," Caelan corrected. "Phenex traded raw power for immortality. It's a valid evolutionary strategy."
On the battlefield, Zephyrdor was getting desperate.
He'd eliminated most of Riser's peerage. He should be winning.
But Riser just wouldn't stay down.
"PHOENIX FLAMES: PURGING INFERNO!"
Riser unleashed a massive wave of fire that consumed the entire battlefield.
Zephyrdor tried to defend. His barriers cracked. His peerage fell.
When the flames cleared, only the two Kings remained.
Both exhausted.
But Riser's wounds were already healing.
Zephyrdor's weren't.
"I can do this all day," Riser said with that infuriating smirk. "Can you?"
Zephyrdor gritted his teeth. Charged one more time.
Hit Riser with everything he had left.
Riser went down.
For five seconds.
Then stood back up, fully healed.
"My turn."
One strike.
"Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas has been retired. Riser Phenex wins."
The crowd's reaction was... mixed.
Cheers for the victory.
But also frustration at the sheer unfairness of fighting someone who couldn't die.
"Well," Azazel said, "that was anticlimactic."
"That was inevitable," Caelan corrected. "You can't beat immortality through attrition. You need a one-shot kill method."
"Does such a thing exist?"
"For Phenex regeneration? Yes. But it requires either overwhelming power that destroys the body faster than it can regenerate, or a sealing technique that prevents regeneration entirely."
"Good luck finding either of those."
"Indeed."
Part V:
The arena screens lit up with the finals bracket:
FINALS:LUCIEN GREMORY VS. RISER PHENEX
The Crimson Prodigy versus the Immortal Phoenix.
Power and precision versus raw endurance.
The crowd was already buzzing with anticipation.
"This should be interesting," Sirzechs observed. "Lucien's Power of Destruction can actually counter Riser's regeneration."
"Can it?" Grayfia asked.
"If it's concentrated enough, yes. Power of Destruction erases matter completely. No regeneration works if there's nothing left to regenerate from."
"Will Lucien actually do that?" Venelana looked concerned. "That's... that's basically murder in a Rating Game."
"It won't come to that," Zeoticus assured her. "Lucien will find another way."
Caelan said nothing.
But he was calculating.
Lucien was injured from the fight with Rias. His peerage was diminished.
Riser was fresh. And unkillable.
This was going to be closer than people thought.
Part VI:
As the crowd filed out for the evening recess before tomorrow's finals, Caelan noticed something.
A familiar face in the crowd.
Diodora Astaroth.
The man who'd forfeited.
He was moving through the crowd with purpose. Heading somewhere specific.
"Papa?" Kino noticed his attention shift. "What's wrong?"
"Stay with Grandmother," Caelan said quietly.
"But—"
"Now."
His tone left no room for argument.
He stood, catching Azazel's eye. The Fallen Angel Governor noticed immediately.
"Astaroth?"
"Moving with purpose. Lower levels."
"I'll get security."
"Do it quietly. If he's planning something, we don't want to spook him."
Caelan slipped out of the VIP box.
Whatever Diodora was planning, it was about to come to light.
And somehow, Caelan knew it was going to be bad.