In the meeting room of the Occult Research Club, everyone was gathered: Rias sat at her mahogany desk, Akeno and Judai shared the couch, while Kiba and Koneko sat facing them. The atmosphere was tense but focused.
Rias took a deep breath and conjured a small, intricate magic circle near her ear, connecting to her brother.
"Why is my cute little sister calling me?" The voice of Sirzechs Lucifer came through, warm and affectionate.
Rias hesitated for a second, then gathered her courage. "Sirzechs-nii-sama, I need your help."
"Of course, Ria. What is it?"
"I want to change my fiancé. I've found a better candidate, and he's already agreed."
"Hmm." Sirzechs's tone shifted from loving to serious. "What makes him better than the Phenex heir? And who is he?"
"Yuki Judai. A human friend of mine. He possesses an unrecorded Longinus Sacred Gear with the ability to summon beings… and indirectly create a new magic system."
Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko all shot startled looks at Judai. They had assumed his Gear was Annihilation Maker. Judai himself remained still, listening intently.
"Is he with you right now?" Sirzechs asked, his voice calm but probing.
"Yes. Why?"
Suddenly, the communication circle flickered and died. "Sirzechs-nii-sama?" Rias called out, but the connection was gone.
Before anyone could react, a hand came to rest lightly on Judai's shoulder. No one had seen or sensed the arrival.
"Let's talk somewhere else, shall we?" said a man with long crimson hair and regal armor, Sirzechs Lucifer himself, one of the Four Great Satans and Rias's older brother.
An overwhelming pressure radiated from him, dense and suffocating. Judai instinctively pushed back, manipulating his Maryoku to form a thin, invisible shield around himself just to breathe.
Sirzechs's eyes gleamed with interest. Then, in the blink of an eye, he and Judai vanished.
"Wait—!" Rias cried out, but they were already gone.
Panic flashed across the faces of everyone left in the room. This had escalated far beyond their control. All they could do now was trust in Judai.
A moment later, another magic circle, deep blue, marked with the Gremory crest, materialized in the center of the room. From it emerged a stunning woman with silver hair, dressed in an impeccable maid's uniform.
Grayfia Lucifuge, Sirzechs's wife and his Queen, offered a formal bow.
"Please remain calm. Sirzechs has instructed me to ensure no complications arise in the meantime."
Her presence was both a relief and a confirmation of how serious the situation had become. They had expected a reaction but not an immediate intervention.
. . . .
Somewhere in the Underworld, a barren expanse stretched out, cracked earth, dusty plains, and a sky the color of tarnished copper. Sirzechs stood casually, while Judai had taken several steps back, his left hand tensed, ready to summon his Duel Disk at a moment's notice.
The crushing pressure Sirzechs had initially emanated eased just enough for Judai to breathe and speak.
"You could've given me a heads up," Judai said, steadying his breathing but keeping his guard up.
"My apologies," Sirzechs replied with an easy smile, though his eyes were sharp, analyzing. "Now, let's talk business."
Judai gave a tight nod.
"What is your motive, Yuki Judai?" Sirzechs asked, his tone neutral but penetrating.
"To survive."
"Then why agree to a plan I assume my sister devised?"
"She believes it's the safest way to protect me, to secure Gremory's protection."
"And you trust her?"
"Yes. She's my friend."
Sirzechs watched him closely. Judai's responses were straightforward, without guile. His intentions toward Rias seemed genuine, aligning with what she'd said.
"Then tell me: why does she feel you need the Gremory name to survive?"
"I was attacked by Fallen Angels. They want me dead because of my Sacred Gear."
'The Grigori are targeting him?' Sirzechs felt a flicker of surprise, followed by a hint of satisfaction. 'If Azazel's faction sees him as a threat, then he truly is significant. And Rias is trying to secure him politically… She's learning.'
He withdrew the remaining pressure entirely, letting the oppressive atmosphere dissolve.
"That makes sense. Now… show me this 'new magic' I've heard about."
Judai took a deep breath, focused, and began drawing in the ambient life energy. He cycled it within himself, converting it into Maryoku. As he did, his clothes shimmered and transformed into the regal red robes, black-and-gold armor, and greaves of his enhanced state.
Sirzechs's eyes widened slightly. "Transmuting life energy directly into usable magic… That alone could redefine magical theory." He chuckled softly. "If a certain friend of mine had found you first, he'd have insisted on taking you as a student."
His gaze sharpened again. "Where did you learn this?"
"From one of my summons."
Sirzechs nodded slowly. Now he understood why Rias had called it an unrecorded Longinus. No known Sacred Gear enabled this level of independent magical instruction.
"Can you demonstrate a summon?"
Judai's Duel Disk materialized on his arm. Sirzechs observed it with keen interest, the design was unfamiliar, unlike any recorded Sacred Gear manifestation.
Judai drew a card and placed it on the Disk.
A small, cheerful witch with a staff popped into existence. Performapal Trump Witch smiled and gave Sirzechs a playful wave.
"A fully sentient being…" Sirzechs murmured, impressed. 'Even Annihilation Maker can't create beings with this level of awareness and will.'
"Remarkable. Rias is fortunate to have found you." His tone shifted, growing serious. "But tell me, do you have a way to defeat Riser Phenex?"
"Yes. I do."
"How much time do you believe you have?"
"I thought until Rias graduated."
"The Phenex family is pushing to move the engagement forward. They want the alliance secured sooner."
Judai's expression tightened. "Then what do I do?"
"I can buy you one week to prepare. I'll speak with my father and arrange a formal challenge before the date is moved." Sirzechs studied him. "Is that enough?"
"It'll have to be," Judai replied, determination hardening his voice.
"Then it's settled."