Location: The Gremory Private Training Mountain (Pocket Dimension)
Time: Dawn, Day 1 of Training
Status: Torture
"Is this... training?" Issei gasped, lying face down in the mud. "Or is he just trying to kill us?"
"Get up, Red Dragon," a voice boomed from above.
Raiden hovered in the air, sitting cross-legged on nothingness. He was munching on an apple that looked suspiciously like a crystallized sphere of magical energy.
Below him, the Gremory Peerage was in shambles.
1. Kiba was covered in bruises, his swords shattered.
2. Koneko was panting heavily, her hands trembling.
3. Akeno looked disheveled, her shrine maiden outfit torn.
4. Rias was on one knee, her Power of Destruction flaring weakly.
"Your attacks," Raiden criticized, swallowing the apple core and all. "They have no weight. You fight like you're playing a game. The Rating Game isn't a game; it's a war for your freedom."
He pointed at Rias.
"Princess. You rely too much on raw power. Your 'Destruction' is messy. It's like trying to cut a steak with a sledgehammer. Focus it. Compress it."
He pointed at Akeno.
"Sadist. You enjoy the pain of others, but you hesitate to use your Fallen Angel heritage. That hesitation is why my Electro tastes better than your lightning. Use the Holy Lightning, or I'll eat your lunch."
He looked at Issei.
"And you... Pervert. You have a dragon in your arm that could burn the world, and you're using it to play dress-up? BOOST until your veins pop. Then Boost again."
"I... I can't move..." Issei groaned.
"Correction," Raiden descended, landing softly. "You don't want to move."
Raiden raised his hand. A sphere of purple Void energy—condensed from the [Sustainer's Authority]—formed in his palm.
"I'm going to fire this in three seconds. If it hits you, it won't kill you, but it will delete your clothes and shave your eyebrows."
Issei's eyes bulged. "NOT THE BROWS!"
[BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!]
Issei scrambled up, green aura exploding around him, and sprinted faster than Kiba.
Raiden smirked. "Motivation. It works wonders."
From the bushes at the edge of the clearing, a pair of binoculars poked out.
Ravel Phenex was watching.
"He's a brute," Ravel whispered to herself, blushing as Raiden's shirt tightened around his muscles when he threw a boulder at Koneko. "A barbaric, gluttonous brute. But... his understanding of energy economy is flawless."
Suddenly, Raiden turned his head 180 degrees—snap—directly facing the bush.
"If you're going to watch, little bird," Raiden's voice echoed in her ear, "bring me a drink. I'm thirsty."
Ravel squeaked and dropped the binoculars. "H-He knew?!"
Location: Kuoh Town, Shopping District
Time: Afternoon (Lunch Break)
Raiden had given the devils a one-hour break to "heal and reflect" (mostly so he could go buy crepes).
He was walking down the street, holding three strawberry crepes in one hand and a skewer of grilled squid in the other. He was wearing his black trench coat, drawing attention due to his height and the subtle "I am the apex predator" aura he couldn't fully turn off.
He sensed them before he saw them.
"System Alert. Holy Energy detected. Source: Excalibur Fragments."
Raiden took a bite of the crepe. "Excalibur, huh? I wonder if it tastes metallic or holy."
Two figures in cloaks blocked his path.
"Halt," spoke the blue-haired one, Xenovia Quarta. She held a long object wrapped in cloth. "You emit a dangerous aura. Are you a Devil? Or a Stray?"
Beside her, Irina Shidou peered out from her hood. Her chestnut pigtails bounced as she tilted her head.
"He doesn't feel like a Devil, Xenovia," Irina said cheerfully. "He feels... vast! Like the ocean! But also kinda dark. Maybe a Fallen Angel?"
Raiden swallowed his bite of crepe.
"I am Raiden," he said. "And you are blocking the path to the vending machine. Move, Church Girls."
Xenovia narrowed her eyes. "He knows who we are. Suspicious."
She unwrapped her weapon. Excalibur Destruction.
"We are exorcists from the Vatican," Xenovia declared. "We are hunting those who stole the Holy Swords. If you are not an enemy, identify yourself."
"I told you. I'm Raiden."
"That is a name, not a species!"
Xenovia lunged. She didn't intend to kill, just to intimidate. She swung the massive sword flat-side at Raiden's shoulder.
CLANG.
The sword hit Raiden's shoulder.
Raiden didn't budge. The ground beneath his feet cracked, but he didn't even drop his crepe.
"That," Raiden looked at the sword resting on his shoulder, "was rude."
He grabbed the blade of Excalibur Destruction with his bare hand.
HISSSSSS.
Holy energy sizzled against his skin. Normally, this would burn a Devil or a Dragon to ash. But Raiden had Uriel (Absolute Defense) and Beelzebuth.
"It tingles," Raiden noted.
"Impossible!" Xenovia gasped, trying to pull the sword back. It wouldn't move. "He's touching a Holy Sword with his bare skin?!"
Irina gasped. "No way! Only those with God's blessing can touch a Holy Sword! Are you a believer?!"
Irina jumped forward, getting way too close to Raiden's face. Her eyes sparkled with religious fervor.
"Do you love the Lord?! Is that why you are so strong?!"
Raiden looked down at Irina. She was bright. Annoyingly bright. But she smelled like... marshmallows and light.
"I don't love the Lord," Raiden deadpanned. "I actually ate the god of my last world."
Irina froze. "E-Eh?"
"But," Raiden let go of Xenovia's sword (sending Xenovia stumbling back), "I don't mind Angels. You have a nice flavor."
He leaned in, sniffing Irina's hair.
"Pure light. High quality. Better than that flashy Fallen Angel I zapped yesterday."
Irina's face turned bright red. She hopped back, clutching her chest. "D-Did you just sniff me?!"
"You smell like strawberries and righteousness," Raiden concluded. "I approve. You're not food. You're a potential snack partner."
He tossed the last bite of his crepe into his mouth.
"Listen, Exorcists. The sword thieves you're looking for are in the abandoned church on the west side. There's a Fallen Angel named Kokabiel lurking around. He tastes like expired milk, so I haven't bothered eating him yet."
Xenovia straightened up, wary. "Why tell us this?"
"Because," Raiden turned to leave, his trench coat flaring, "if you go there, you'll cause chaos. Chaos brings out strong opponents. And I want to see if this 'Kokabiel' has anything worth eating."
He looked back at Irina and winked.
"Try not to die, Angel-chan. It would be a waste of good ingredients."
Irina stood there, flustered and confused.
"He... he called me Angel-chan! Xenovia, did you hear that? But he said he ate a god! Is he a heretic? Or a super-fan?"
Xenovia sheathed her sword, frowning. "He is dangerous, Irina. We must be careful. But... we should check the church."
Location: Gremory Mansion, Living Room
Time: Evening
Raiden returned to find Runeas Gremory sitting on the couch, drinking wine.
"You're late," Runeas noted. "And you smell like Exorcists."
"I ran into the Church duo," Raiden flopped onto the adjacent sofa. "Feisty kids. The blue one is stiff. The orange one is cute."
"Irina Shidou and Xenovia Quarta," Runeas identified them instantly. "Wielders of Excalibur Mimic and Destruction. Troublesome elements."
Runeas set her glass down. Her sharp eyes bored into Raiden.
"My sister is exhausted. She can barely lift a spoon. Is your training working?"
"Muscle fibers tear before they grow," Raiden said. "Her pride needed to be torn first. She was fighting like a noble. I'm teaching her to fight like a survivor."
"Good," Runeas smiled. It was a terrifyingly beautiful smile. "I have placed a large bet on Rias winning against Riser. If she loses, I lose money. And if I lose money, Raiden... I might have to tax your food supply."
Raiden sat up straight. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me," Runeas swirled her wine. "Win the Rating Game for us, Dragon Lord. And perhaps I will reward you with something better than food."
"Oh?" Raiden raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Authority," Runeas said softly. "And perhaps... a place in the High Council. Or a private dinner with me. Your choice."
Raiden grinned.
"I'll take both."
"System Alert. Quest Updated: Win the Rating Game. Reward: Rias's Freedom, Runeas's Favor, and a feast of Phoenix tears."