According to Leon's original plan, he had intended to give the "Rook" piece to Ravel.
The "Rook" and "Bishop" pieces were the most suitable for Ravel, but Leon had already used up all his "Bishop" pieces. Therefore, the remaining "Rook" piece naturally became the best choice. However, now that the "Queen" piece had reacted as well, he was feeling somewhat conflicted.
After all, his "Queen" position had remained vacant, which was a highly unstable situation for any peerage.
The "Queen" was different from other peerage members; she was not only the strongest Evil Piece but also the most capable assistant by the "King's" side. Every "King" would bring their "Queen" to any formal occasion they attended. Consequently, high-class devils who received Evil Pieces generally used the "Queen" piece immediately, granting it to their most trusted person.
For instance, Rias Gremory's first peerage member was Akeno Himejima as her "Queen," and Sona Sitri's first was Tsubaki Shinra. On a daily basis, they might attend various functions without their other members, but the "Queen" was always by their side. This illustrated the vital importance of the "Queen."
Leon already had a considerable number of peerage members. If he could settle on a "Queen," it would be greatly beneficial for managing the team and the group. Unfortunately, he had never found a suitable candidate. Even a Longinus wielder like Yukino Yukinoshita only elicited a very weak reaction from the "Queen" piece, proving she was not a perfect fit. Thus, Leon's "Queen" seat remained empty.
The same applied to the others; they either had no reaction or a very weak one. The only exception was the "Chaos Karma Dragon," Tiamat. But she was the strongest Dragon King, her strength at the very top of the Satan-class, or perhaps even a Super Devil-class like Serafall and Grayfia. Even Ajuka Beelzebub, a Transcendent, could only treat her as an ally. What right did Leon have to take her as a servant?
Now, although Ravel's reaction toward the "Queen" piece was not as strong as Tiamat's, it was the next strongest. This made it impossible for Leon not to hesitate.
In terms of strength, Ravel might not seem particularly brilliant in Leon's current eyes, but she was a genuine pure-blooded High-class Devil. Even Akeno Himejima and Tsubaki Shinra were merely peerage devils of this level. For a new generation devil, having a High-class Devil as a "Queen" was already excellent.
In terms of ability, Ravel could produce Phoenix Tears and possessed an immortal body. Even against an opponent much stronger than herself, she could stall them or even wear them down. There were no flaws to speak of.
In terms of intellect, Ravel was a strategist. Judging from her performance in the original story, although her strategies were sometimes flawed, her tactical calculation was perhaps not far behind Sona Sitri. She could easily become the core of the team. While Yukino Yukinoshita was also intelligent, her strengths lay more in learning and application; in terms of pure strategic planning, she was still inferior to Ravel.
Thinking this way, Leon suddenly understood why the "Queen" piece reacted so strongly to Ravel. She was truly suited for the role of a "Queen" to help him oversee the overall situation.
However—
"I'm still a bit reluctant to give away the 'Queen' just like this," Leon thought silently.
The "Queen" was not only the strongest of all Evil Pieces but also unique, making its value incredibly high. There were two pieces each for "Rook," "Bishop," and "Knight," and a total of eight "Pawn" pieces. Only the "Queen" was singular, with a value equivalent to nine "Pawns." Unless one used two "Rooks" simultaneously, no other piece could exceed its value. It granted the peerage member the characteristics of all other pieces, giving them attack power, defense, speed, and magic—a comprehensive buff designed to create the most perfect and powerful subordinate.
If Leon had not awakened the "Peerage Transformation" trait and the Longinus "Zenith Tempest," he certainly would have given the "Queen" piece to Ravel. But now, as an Eight-Winged Devil whose magic power had reached the Ultimate-class and whose combat strength could rival a Ten-Winged Devil, Ravel's High-class Devil strength—which wasn't even the most outstanding among peerage members—was a bit insufficient.
Under such circumstances, Leon was truly unwilling to use up his most precious Evil Piece.
"If the 'Queen' piece had shown the strongest reaction, I might have steeled my heart and tried it..."
However, although Ravel caused a significant reaction from the "Queen" piece, the piece that reacted most strongly to her remained the "Rook."
"Whew—"
In the silence where the air had grown heavy, Leon, lost in thought, let out a soft breath. In the next second, an Evil Piece appeared in his hand. It was the "Rook." Ultimately, he decided to follow the reaction of the Evil Pieces themselves and grant Ravel the most suitable piece.
"In the name of Leon Eligos, I command you, Ravel Phenex. To become my servant, be born anew."
Leon sent the Evil Piece toward Ravel. Seeing this, Ravel reached out without hesitation and touched the piece.
"I swear in the name of Phenex to follow my Master unto death."
As the words fell, the touched Evil Piece shattered into countless particles of light and merged into Ravel's body. A scorching torrent of flames immediately swirled around her, releasing a crimson aura. Because she was already a devil—and a pure-blooded one at that—Ravel naturally did not need to be "reincarnated" into a devil. Thus, unlike Yukino and the others, she did not uncontrollably spread her wings or need time to adapt to her own power or the daylight.
However, the "Rook" characteristics were indeed taking effect. Her attack and defense were undeniably strengthened, making her Phoenix flames—capable of scorching dragon scales—even hotter, and her immortality even more potent.
Looking at Ravel, Sirzechs and Lady Phenex immediately turned their gazes to Leon, their eyes full of inquiry. Under their watchful eyes, Leon himself was undergoing a significant change.
[Trait: Peerage Transformation is in effect—]
[Obtained Basic Feedback Magic (Medium Amount).]
[Obtained Advanced Feedback Sacred Gear (Enhancement).]
A massive amount of magic power appeared on Leon, like an invisible storm, forcing the people around him to retreat involuntarily.
"This magic power—?!"
Lady Phenex was shocked, and Riser's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, his face full of horror.
"Ultimate-class!"
And it wasn't just an ordinary Ultimate-class. Under the feedback brought by Ravel becoming a peerage member, Leon's magic power—which had already reached the Ultimate-class—surged again. Although it didn't break through to a higher level, it took a giant step forward within the Eight-Winged rank.
At the same time, Leon felt "Zenith Tempest" inside him being filled by a mysterious force, making its emitted fluctuations stronger and stronger. Unlike the Sacred Gear feedback he received before, which provided memories and methods of use, this feedback directly enhanced the Sacred Gear itself. Sacred Gears grow stronger by consuming the owner's thoughts and continuously evolving. Under the feedback of the "Peerage Transformation" trait, Leon skipped the usual requirements for enhancement, making the Sacred Gear directly more powerful.
"This power—"
Leon silently felt the Sacred Gear within him, sensing the various natural forces of Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Lightning, and Ice. During this time, Leon had been deepening his understanding of "Zenith Tempest," even entering various dangerous and harsh environments for that purpose. Now, that understanding exploded along with the enhancement of the Sacred Gear itself, making him feel as if he had touched a new realm.
Subconsciously, Leon stepped into that realm.
Boom!
The magic fluctuations erupting from Leon suddenly shifted into Sacred Gear fluctuations, turning the pure white aura into a tangible storm that swept through the drawing room.
"Danger!"
Sirzechs and Grayfia reacted the fastest. Almost the instant the anomaly appeared on Leon, they both deployed magic circles, creating a barrier in front of everyone to block the incoming storm.
"What?"
The others only then realized what was happening. Without exception, everyone looked at Leon with expressions of shock. Under their gaze, the Sacred Gear fluctuations appearing on Leon disturbed the flow of the world, causing a startling change in him.
Swish!
Devil wings like those of a bat spread out behind Leon. There were eight wings, but under everyone's bewildered gaze, they gradually became ten, causing Leon's magic power to suddenly step into the Ten-Winged Devil rank!
At the same time, Leon reached out his hand, and soap bubbles suddenly floated from his palm. These soap bubbles displayed terrifying phenomena: some contained violent fire tornadoes, some whirled with fierce winds capable of tearing flesh, some blew with freezing air that could solidify everything, and some flickered with lightning as powerful as divine wrath. Various other natural phenomena brewed within them, preparing disasters and divine punishments.
Looking at this scene, everyone felt that if they were thrown into those soap bubbles to endure those countless disasters, they would instantly turn to ash, leaving not even a bone behind.
"Wh-What kind of power is this?!"
Riser's previous arrogance had vanished completely. He looked as if he had been scared witless, retreating uncontrollably while shouting in shock.
"Lord Sirzechs."
Grayfia was also surprised, but as if she had guessed something, she called out to her master.
"I know, Grayfia."
Sirzechs knew what Grayfia wanted to say. His eyes were full of joy and satisfaction as he looked at Leon.
"That is a Balance Breaker."
Yes. The power Leon was currently using was the Balance Breaker of "Zenith Tempest," and also the sub-species Balance Breaker developed by the strongest exorcist of the Church in the original story, the Ten-Winged Reincarnated Angel, Dulio Gesualdo—"Inevitable Punishment of the Holy Angel's Rainbow, Shining Star of the End (Flagello di Colori del Arcobaleno, Speranza di Briscola)"
This Balance Breaker could turn Dulio's halo into four layers and his wings from five pairs into six. Upon activation, the user would not only jump in rank but could also release countless soap bubbles to trap opponents, forcing them to endure various divine punishments until they were completely destroyed.
Leon had actually completed this Balance Breaker after recruiting Mahiru Shiina. At that time, the extra feedback he received from Mahiru allowed him to reach the Balance Breaker realm of the Sacred Gear. By experiencing the trials of past wielders of "Zenith Tempest," he completed a mental transformation and successfully defied the flow of the world, allowing the Sacred Gear to reach Balance Breaker.
However, perhaps because he had taken a shortcut, the Balance Breaker Leon completed was unstable. Not only was it difficult to activate and extremely taxing, but it also had other restrictions; it couldn't truly be called a finished Balance Breaker. In other words, Leon previously only possessed an incomplete version.
Until this moment. The Sacred Gear itself had been enhanced, and all the previous insights gained while striving for the true Balance Breaker exploded at once. Finally, it allowed Leon to truly complete the transformation, recreating the Balance Breaker of the host from the original story.
Although this was not a unique Balance Breaker created based on his own needs, reaching this realm vastly increased his strength. After activating it, Leon's devil wings increased by one pair, and his magic power rose by a level. He could deploy soap bubbles of varying sizes to imprison enemies and recreate disasters within them. Such power was enough to destroy a nation.
Currently, Leon was only allowing the soap bubbles to float within this drawing room, making each one appear no larger than a palm. But if he wished, he could expand them enough to envelop the entire Gremory mansion, or even larger. If he sent countless bubbles to various parts of the Gremory territory, he could envelop cities and towns. At that point, this territory, which was roughly the size of Honshu, would face a devastating blow, eventually falling into a state even worse than the Eligos territory.
"This is the true power of 'Zenith Tempest'."
Leon, bearing ten devil wings, smiled. From this point on, he truly possessed the qualifications to be a powerhouse.