"The match is over!"
Serafall's cheerful voice boomed through the stadium speakers.
"Lord Riser has surrendered! The winner is the brave challenger, Elias Thorne!"
Down in the arena, Riser's eyes rolled into the back of his head. The absolute terror of feeling true Death was too much for his mind to handle.
He completely lost consciousness and collapsed into the wet puddle on the floor.
A magic circle quickly appeared. Riser's peerage girls ran out, looking humiliated and scared.
They carefully picked up their fainted master and carried him away.
Elias let his dark dragon claw fade away. His wings disappeared, and he looked like a normal boy again.
He turned around and walked back into the dark tunnel.
When Elias walked into the private waiting room, Rias didn't even say hello.
She just ran across the room and jumped at him, throwing her arms around his neck in a huge, happy hug.
"You did it!"
Rias cheered, her blue eyes shining with tears of joy.
"Thank you, Elias! Thank you so much! And seeing him cry and wet his pants... I don't feel bad for him at all!"
Yuki smiled warmly, and Koneko gave Elias a small, respectful thumbs-up. Seiko was just staring at his arms again, her face bright red.
Elias gently patted Rias's back and set her down.
"I told you I would handle it,"
Elias smiled.
But before they could celebrate any more, Grayfia stepped into the room. Her face was very serious.
"Elias-sama, Rias-sama,"
Grayfia said, bowing slightly.
"Please come with me. Lord Zeoticus and Lord Phenex have requested to see you in the main VIP room. Lord Sirzechs is also there. There seems to be a problem."
Rias's happy smile faded.
"A problem?"
Grayfia just nodded and created a silver magic circle. Elias and Rias stepped inside.
The main VIP room was huge and luxurious, but the mood inside was incredibly tense.
Zeoticus Gremory looked worried.
Next to him stood a very handsome man with long crimson hair and a kind, but powerful face.
This was Sirzechs Lucifer, Rias's older brother and the Crimson Satan.
Standing across from them was Lord Phenex. He looked absolutely furious. His face was red, and he was pointing a shaking finger at Elias.
"This boy is a cheater!"
Lord Phenex yelled the moment Elias walked in.
"My son did not lose fairly! I demand that the results be canceled!"
Elias stood calmly next to Rias. He didn't look scared of the angry Devil Lord.
"How did I cheat?"
Elias asked simply.
"I felt it!"
Lord Phenex barked, stepping closer.
"When you released your full magic, I felt the aura of an Evil Piece inside your body! You are not a pureblood, but you have the power of a King! It is illegal for a King to interfere! You broke the sacred rules!"
Rias gasped. She looked at Elias in shock.
She had given him an old Evil Piece from her family's treasury.
She didn't know what kind of piece it was because it was so ancient. Had she accidentally given him a King Piece?
"Is this true?"
Zeoticus asked softly.
Elias shrugged.
"I don't know. Rias gave me an old piece. I just ate it."
Lord Phenex's jaw dropped.
"You... you ate an Evil Piece?!"
Sirzechs Lucifer finally stepped forward.
He raised his hand, and the room went quiet. He looked at Elias with deep, fascinated eyes.
"Lord Phenex is right about one thing,"
Sirzechs said smoothly. His voice was calm and polite.
"The piece inside of Elias is indeed a King Piece. It was an ancient prototype locked away in our treasury for centuries because it was too wild and dangerous to use."
Sirzechs smiled slightly, looking right into Elias's eyes.
"However,"
Sirzechs continued,
"It is no longer a normal King Piece. When Elias consumed it, his body did something impossible. He didn't just absorb the piece; he broke it down and completely changed it. The power inside him is not bound by the rules of our Rating Games. It is an entirely new, different kind of power."
Lord Phenex frowned deeply.
"What are you saying, Sirzechs?"
"I am saying that he did not break the rules,"
Sirzechs declared firmly.
"He is not a registered Devil King. He fought using his own unique body and magic. The duel was completely fair, and the result stands. Riser lost."
Lord Phenex looked like he wanted to scream, but he couldn't argue with the Crimson Satan.
He glared at Elias with pure hatred, turned around, and stormed out of the VIP room.
Once the door slammed shut,
Sirzechs let out a soft sigh and smiled warmly at Rias.
"You found a very interesting boy, my little sister,"
Sirzechs chuckled. Then he turned to Elias and held out his hand.
"Thank you for protecting her, Elias. Welcome to the family."
Elias looked at Sirzechs's hand.
He then looked at Rias. He wanted to say something.
He wanted to talk about the rule Grayfia had mentioned before the fight.
The rule said he had to marry Rias if he won. He opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped.
Rias was looking right at him. She didn't say a single word about being engaged to him.
She just smiled. It was a very sweet, soft smile.
But her bright blue eyes were speaking for her. They looked at him with a silent, gentle plea.
They clearly said,
Please don't cancel it. Please stay with me.
Elias felt his heart soften. He cared about Rias.
She was a good person, and she had trusted him enough to give him her family's ancient treasures.
He definitely didn't want to hurt her feelings or make her sad right after she had just been saved from a nightmare.
So, Elias smiled back at her. He reached out and firmly shook Sirzechs's hand.
"Thank you,"
Elias said simply. He could not refuse.
Later that evening, the Gremory family threw a massive, beautiful banquet in their castle to celebrate the victory and welcome Elias.
The grand dining hall was filled with delicious food, bright lights, and happy music.
While Elias was taking a break from the loud music, a beautiful woman with brown hair walked over to him.
She had the same kind, gentle face as Rias.
This was Venelana Gremory, Rias's mother.
Elias thought she might be strict and scary like a high-class noble lady.
But instead, Venelana gave him a very warm, comforting smile.
"You must be Elias,"
Venelana said softly.
She reached out and held his hands gently. Her touch felt just like Shuri's. It was full of pure, unconditional motherly warmth.
Elias instantly felt completely safe and welcomed. He could tell right away that she was a truly good mother.
"I am so happy to finally meet you,"
Venelana told him, her voice filled with deep emotion.
"As a mother, it broke my heart to see my precious daughter forced into that terrible marriage. I was so worried for her happiness."
She looked at Elias, and a single tear of true gratitude slipped down her cheek.
"Thank you, Elias,"
She whispered gently.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my little girl."
Elias smiled warmly, gently squeezing her hands back.
"You don't need to thank me, Venelana-sama,"
Elias replied kindly.
"She is very important to me, too."
Venelana wiped her tears and gave him one last, bright smile.
Just then, a tall figure walked over to them. It was Zeoticus.
He had a glass of wine in his hand, but his face looked very serious.
"My dear,"
Zeoticus said softly to his wife.
"Could you give Elias and me a moment alone? We have some important things to discuss."
Venelana nodded understandingly. She patted Elias's arm and walked back to the party.
Zeoticus motioned for Elias to follow him.
They walked out onto a quiet stone balcony, far away from the loud music and the crowded hall.
The dark, purple sky of the Underworld stretched out above them.
Zeoticus took a slow sip of his wine. He looked out at the glowing city lights below.
"Elias,"
Zeoticus started, his voice deep and calm.
"I want to thank you again. But I also need to warn you."
Elias stood next to him, leaning on the cool stone railing.
"Warn me about Lord Phenex?"
"Yes,"
Zeoticus nodded heavily.
"He is a very proud man. Losing this duel is a huge insult to his family name. But what makes him truly dangerous right now is the King Piece inside of you."
Zeoticus turned to look Elias right in the eyes.
"He will not let this go easily. He cannot attack you directly because Sirzechs made your victory official. But Lord Phenex has old, dark connections."
Elias frowned slightly.
"What kind of connections?"
"There is a hidden group,"
Zeoticus explained slowly, making sure Elias understood perfectly.
"They are called the Old Satan Faction. You see, Elias, the Underworld used to be a terrible place. The old Devil Kings were cruel. They loved war and wanted to destroy everything. Sirzechs and the other new Kings fought a massive civil war to stop them and bring peace."
Zeoticus gripped his wine glass tightly.
"We won the war. But we didn't catch everyone. Many Devils who loved the old, violent ways ran away. They are still hiding in the shadows. They hate our peaceful rules, and they want to take their power back."
Elias understood now. It was dirty, dangerous politics.
"And you think Lord Phenex will ask them for help?"
"He might,"
Zeoticus warned.
"If he tells them about a boy who ate a King Piece and completely crushed an immortal Phenex, they will see you as a huge threat. Or worse, they might try to capture you to use your wild power for their own army."
Zeoticus placed a heavy, fatherly hand on Elias's shoulder.
"You are incredibly strong, Elias. I saw what you did in the arena. But the Old Satan Faction plays dirty. They do not fight fair. They use curses, traps, and they will hurt innocent people just to get to you. You must be very careful from now on. I also fall victim without knowing. Otherwise I won't let that trash near my daughter."
Elias looked at the serious face of Rias's father.
He felt a deep respect for Zeoticus.
The man wasn't just a powerful lord; he was a father trying to protect his family and his new in-law.
"I understand,"
Elias said firmly, his eyes showing no fear.
"Thank you for telling me the truth, Zeoticus-sama. I will keep my guard up."
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