Chapter 53 – Riser Phenex
A crimson magic circle flared to life, followed by a surge of flames that filled the room with blistering heat. From within the swirling fire, two figures slowly emerged.
The first was a blond man clad in a flamboyant red suit, wearing a smug and self-satisfied expression that reeked of arrogance.
Beside him stood a strikingly beautiful woman in a maid outfit, her tall figure and flawless curves making her allure impossible to ignore—even at a glance, her presence was dangerously captivating.
"Riser…!"
Rias Gremory's voice cut through the heat like ice. The moment she laid eyes on him, she slammed her hands on the table and rose from her seat. Her calm demeanor shattered, replaced with a stormy glare.
"It's been a while since I visited the Human World," Riser said casually, eyes scanning the room. "I forgot how… charming it can be. I've come to take you home, Rias—my bride-to-be."
He stepped forward, reaching a hand out as if to touch her cheek.
But Rias recoiled, her face etched with disgust. The tension in the room spiked instantly. Everyone could feel it.
Rias knew exactly who Riser Phenex was. Not just the third son of the prestigious Phenex family or the undefeated warrior of the Rating Game. No, beyond the fame, he was a lecherous Devil—a walking embodiment of lust and entitlement.
Where most High-Class Devils selected their peerage members based on talent or combat capability to strengthen their lineage, Riser chose differently.
His entire peerage was made up of women—each handpicked to fulfill a particular fantasy. Some were elegant, others cute, some tomboyish, some sultry. He even went as far as to make his own younger sister one of his Bishops to complete his twisted "little sister" ideal.
Among female Devils, he was a reviled figure. Disgusting. Obsessive. Dangerous.
Of all his peerage, only one held genuine combat value: Yubelluna, the infamous Bomb Queen. The rest were little more than glorified trophies.
Riser's victories in the Rating Game had less to do with teamwork and everything to do with his absurd regenerative power and overwhelming fire-based abilities.
"Keep dreaming, Riser. I'm not marrying you," Rias said coldly.
"Rias, stop being so stubborn. You know what this marriage means for both our families."
"That has nothing to do with me. I'll only marry someone I truly love. And that's not you."
"After the Great War between the Three Factions, many pure-blood Devils died. This isn't just about our families—it's about preserving our bloodlines."
"That's your problem. A decision forced on me by my father and brother? No thanks. Give up already."
"…I see. Then even if I have to burn your entire peerage to ashes, I will bring you back to the Underworld."
"You dare—!"
Rias exploded with rage. For her, her peerage wasn't just a group of servants. They were her family. Threatening them was the same as threatening her very heart.
Everyone around her braced themselves—Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Asia. Each of them knew the kind of opponent Riser was. His aura alone marked him as a dangerous High-Class.
And truth be told, he was slightly stronger than Rias in raw power.
Then suddenly, the sharp sound of metal slicing through air echoed in the room.
A long chain shot forward, passing inches from Riser's forehead—just barely grazing his golden locks.
"A Sacred Gear… chain-type, huh? So you're the human Rias has taken a liking to?"
Riser turned his gaze toward the green-haired young man standing calmly on the far side of the room.
With his refined features and composed aura, Shin Akira carried a presence that was… threatening, even to someone like Riser.
And that made Riser furious.
He was a noble of House Phenex—born into privilege and strength. How could someone like him be overshadowed by a mere human?
But not only had Rias chosen Akira over him—she had protected him, stood by him, and even declared it openly.
"Riser Phenex. I've been looking forward to meeting you," Akira said with a faint smile.
To Akira, the man before him wasn't a threat. No, he was more like a living treasure chest—a walking trove of rare experiences and power waiting to be claimed.
A High-Class Devil with elite abilities and a decorated peerage? For someone like Akira, who saw the world through the lens of strategy and opportunity, Riser wasn't dangerous—he was valuable.
"Then let's see what kind of power Rias has chosen."
Riser's eyes narrowed. His killing intent flared like a tidal wave.
He didn't want to just defeat Akira. He wanted to humiliate him, grind him down until there was nothing left.
But Akira's gaze didn't waver. There was no fear in his expression—only cold detachment.
Would you pity your prey before the hunt?
Of course not.
All that mattered was how much you could gain from its defeat.
Flames erupted at Riser's feet, rising like a geyser. The fire wrapped around his body, flaring wildly before shooting toward Akira in the shape of a coiling phoenix serpent.
It was the fire of the Phenex Clan—immortal flame, passed down through generations.
This sacred fire didn't only grant extreme regeneration and resilience—it could also neutralize most forms of magic and physical damage. Within the rules of the Rating Game, it was practically unbeatable.
But just as the serpent of flame neared Akira—
A streak of white lightning crackled across the air. A thunderous roar shook the walls as a dragon formed from divine electricity tore through the flames.
In an instant, the Phoenix fire was shredded and dispersed.
Heavenly Lightning—Akira's Blue Lightning Light. A divine electrical force that surpassed even the regenerative flames of Phenex. And when it came to energy control, Akira was leagues above Riser.
"Oh? White lightning, is it? Not bad," Riser scoffed. "But if that's all you've got, it won't be enough."
His flames surged again, wilder and more chaotic. They burst from his back like wings of a raging phoenix, filling the room with a suffocating heat.
But across from him, Akira's own aura flared. The white lightning coiled around him like a colossal dragon, snarling and crackling in anticipation.
Fire and lightning—the two forces clashed in the air, turning the clubroom into a battlefield of gods.
But before either side could make the next move—
Another crimson magic circle flared to life. This time, the symbols bore the mark of the House of Gremory.
From the magic circle stepped a woman with silver hair and a presence that immediately crushed the atmosphere in the room.
"That's enough."
Her voice was cold and commanding. Instantly, an oppressive pressure filled the space, forcing even seasoned Devils to freeze where they stood.
Riser stumbled back a half step, his flames flickering out. His face twisted—not in arrogance, but in fear.
Akira narrowed his eyes and allowed his lightning to fade. He knew that aura. He knew exactly who had arrived.
"Grayfia…? Why are you here?" Rias asked, visibly surprised.
Grayfia Lucifuge.
Wife of Sirzechs Lucifer. Personal maid to the Gremory household. Queen of Sirzechs' peerage.
And a being feared throughout the Underworld as The Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation.
Though her official title was "maid," every Devil knew—crossing Grayfia was the same as declaring war on a Maou.
Even Riser Phenex, with all his pride and bloodline, dared not act rashly in her presence.
Because in the Underworld… power is everything.
And Grayfia—was absolute power.
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