Chapter 24: The Challenge
For the next few minutes, everyone, save for Riser, was on edge. Riser sat on one couch with Rias under his arm, while the rest of the ORC either sat on or stood behind the opposite couch. Adrian on next to the arm of the couch, nails turning into talons as he dug into the arm. But amidst the rage, Adrian found understanding.
Now I finally know what's been bothering Rias as of late, he thought to himself. Being forced into marriage with anyone can distress anybody. Being forced into marriage with this cocky bastard is even worse. Riser tried to rest his hand on Rias' thigh, but she stood up, getting away from him almost instantly.
"That's enough Riser," she stated, refusing to make eye contact with her fiancé. "Let it go! Why won't you understand! I have no intention of ever marrying you!" Riser reclined in his seat,
"But my darling, Riser believes that your familys' circumstances are still such that you cannot afford to be so selfish," he said smoothly. Rias turned to him, showing absolute defiance,
"I will not bring my family to ruin! I have no intention to deny you your right to our name, however, let me be clear that my husband will be my choice!"
"Assuming she wants a husband and not a wife," Damon chipped in quietly. Adrian, not skipping a beat, turned around and landed a straight jab to Damons' face, making him stumble backwards.
"Shut the fuck up Damon!" Hissed Adrian under his breath, and turned back around, continueing to witness the back and forth conversation between Rias and Riser.
"Remember," said Riser, a low threat in his tone, "it is imperative for devils to remain pureblood. We're still recovering our numbers from the last war. Both your father and Sirzechs have decided on this arrangement with the future of devils in mind." Rias turned her back to Riser,
"My father, my brother, and my whole clan made this decision because they were in too great a rush. For the final time, Riser..." She turned towards him, "I will not marry you!" In less than a second, Riser was on his feet, face barely an inch away from Rias', hooking her chin to make her look up at him,
"For the final time, Rias, Riser bears a reputation with the House of Phoenix," his eyes turned deathly serious, as Rias' held their defiance, "besmirching our good name is unacceptable."
"Hey!" Several members of the ORC shouted, with all of them but Asia going on the offensive, with either blades being withdrawn or fists being raised. Riser simply casted a glance at the club members,
"Riser doesn't care if he has to incinerate everyone in this room," he turned his gaze back to Rias, "You WILL return to the underworld with me!"
"There's no need for incineration," said Grayfia, reminding everyone that she was still in the room. "My Lady Rias, Lord Riser, as you know I am here by order of Sirzechs, which means there will be no disruption of peace." Riser took a step back from Rias, holding his hands up in defense,
"When told such an ominous thing from one who is known as the ultimate queen, even Riser can become somewhat fearful."
"My master anticipated there would conflict of some sort," said Grayfia, "as such he has assigned me a last resort should communication break down."
"Yes of course he did," said Rias, growing impatient, "would you care to be more specific?"
"If my lady insists on putting her personal preferances above those of her family, she is to settle this via a rating game with Lord Riser." Rias gasped, as did half of the ORC.
"What's a rating game again?" Asked Calvin, "I think I remember Sona mentioning something about it the other night when all of us were playing dodgeball against the Sitris."
"Think of it similar to a chess game between noble devils," said Wesker, "and we are the chess pieces. Hence why all our evil piece powers are inspired after them."
"Riser has played through numerous rating games, and scored several wins for himself," Riser boasted, "unfortunately, my inexperienced bride has never even qualified for an official game." Rias scowled at his comment, and Akeno spoke up next,
"He knows only mature devils are allowed to participate, so it's not as if she's had much oppourtunity."
"You mean, we're at a disadvantage?!" Issei briefly panicked.
"Hell, I like me a challenge!" Said Damon, cracking his knuckles.
"And the Goddes of War would never back down from one!" Said Katrina, retrieving Soul Reaver off her back, the eye sockets in the hilt holding a faint glow.
"We've got bigger things to worry about," said Koneko, keeping a glare on Riser.
"Rias, I have to ask," began Riser, "is this adorable group the extent of your servants? They're all you have?"
"So what if they are?" Asked Rias, unsure of what point Riser was trying to make. Riser gave a mocking laugh at her response, and snapped his fingers, summoning a larger magic circle, but like before, it was orange and spouting flames. This time, however, several women and girls appeared in the flames,
"Riser has fifteen pieces," he said, "in other words, I have a complete set!" The flames died down, and the new women and girls remained in the clubhouse.
"Fifteen, and they're all hot as hell! Dammit!" Shouted Issei, earning a glare from Adrian, who had been quiet since he learned of Rias' and Risers' engagement. "Issei hates him so much!" He said, mimicing Risers' habit of speaking in third person. "Why can't I be this guy?!" He cried, until Calvin, Katrina and Damon shouted at him in unison,
"SHUT UP!!" Adrian then grabbed Issei by the collar of his shirt, and yanked him up to himself,
"Because Adrian would have to beat your ass, that's why!!" He shouted angrily.
"My dear, why are your other servants picking on that sole one with the brown hair?" Asked Riser half curious.
"Because Isseis' dream is to have a harem," answered Rias, "and the others are sick of hearing about it."
"Ew, what a barbarian!" Said one of the newer girls. She was clad in a pink dress with white trim, a red sash in her hair, and like Riser, had blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Not going to defend Issei in this scenario," began Wesker, taking a step forward, "but which sounds more barbaric? The one who dreams of a harem, or the one who keeps his younger sister in his harem?" All eyes turned to Wesker, and then to the pink dressed girl,
"You're Risers' sister??" Asked Issei.
"Dude, you fuck your sister?" Damon Asked Riser. "Hey man, I know you may look like Jamie from Game of Thrones, but that doesn't mean you have to pick up the same habits!" Riser rolled his eyes,
"I keep my sister in my harem, yes, but I don't have feelings for my sister!"
"The fact you had to make that clear, says otherwise," said Damon, folding his arms.
"She's still hot though, so I can't really blame him for doing so," said Issei, earning several disgusted looks from his classmates. "But this asshole is living my dream!" Issei began to break down crying again, and Riser simply laughed.
"Yubelluna," he called out, and the tallest of his peerage, with long flowing purple hair, equally purple lipstick, and dressed in an extremely low cut white and blue dress approached him. He hooked her chin, and kissed her firmly on the lips, making her blush, and shocking most of the ORC, leaving Adrian to become more enraged. Riser then broke the kiss, turned Yubelluna towards Issei and the rest of the ORC, and began to grope her, making her breasts pop out into view, "No matter how long you live, you'll never have what I do," he gloated. "You're just a lower class devil."
"And this ninja wonders why Rias won't marry him," muttered Damon, pinching the bridge of his nose. ALL eyes turned towards him, ALL ears mishearing him, and he took notice, "I said NINJA!" He emphasized, and everyone relaxed, except for Adrian, who had finally had enough.
"Damon, you open your mouth again, and I will SPLIT your SKULL!" After hearing Adrians tone, Damon made a zipping gesture over his mouth, silencing himself. "As for you, Big Bird," continued Adrian, turning his attention to Riser, "why don't you and your Sesame Streetwalkers go back to whatever toilet you crawled out of," he pointed to Risers sister, "and take Cersei Lannister with you!" Riser stopped his grope on Yubelluna, and glared at Adrian,
"How dare you! It would be best if you remember your place when you speak to me!"
"'Remember my place?!' You, a member of a noble devil family, have disrespected the woman you're engaged to the second you appear in the room, you're STILL disrespecting her by doing what your doing right now, and you are trying to tell me to remember MY place?!"
"Calm down Adrian!" Began Rias, but Adrian kept going,
"The only noble devil I care about right this second is Rias!" Her eyes widened at that statement, "And I don't give a damn what kind of devil you are, you keep treating Rias like that, and the only game we will play is the 'my blade in your gullet' game!" Adrian morphed his blade and unleashed his Sacred Gear, and dashed for Riser.
"Mira!" Riser called out, and a girl with a white kimona, red shawl and black sash belt dashed out between them, carrying a bo staff. Adrian stopped and allowed her to make the first move, which she did, driving her staff into his abdomen, and out his back. Most of the ORC gasped, while Adrian simply smiled, and used his free hand to pull the staff deeper into himself, forcing a surprised "Mira" closer to himself,
"I'm curious," said Adrian, "what were you planning on doing after..." he paused, letting a cough exit his throat, "...after you..." he coughed again, harder this time, and realized something was horribly wrong. He kicked back Mira, pulling the staff out of himself, and used his blade as a crutch to keep himself standing as his coughing got worse. Riser laughed as he let go of Yubelluna,
"Like the perfume my peerage possesses? It was a gift from our mutual friend in Mercer." Adrians' eyes widened, as did the ORCs. "A perfect blend of rose oil...lavender...and Bloodtox!"