Author's Notes
Marry Christmas everyone
"Finally we are home!" Atreus shouted as he and his father stepped out of the taxi that was very pleased to see the two leave. The cab then sped off the moment it got paid, the driver knowing that there was some sort of damage to the frame of the car for lugging the massive pale man around.
The flight back to Japan was quiet and the ride back to Kuoh was relaxed for all but the driver. Kratos personally always felt uneasy flying, bad memories and knowing it was domain of Zeus did not help things. If he needed to he just tried to sleep all the way through. But now he and his son were back at their home, and if by Nex's absence it would be for a good long while. That was fine by him, as Kratos felt the need to take a bit more active role in watching over his son these days. He knew his wife could handle any parental issue and Mimir could drag her worst tendencies back if needed. He just wasn't cut out to be a present father, life had beaten that possibility out of him. But he would be there for his son and new daughter, even if he had to go against his nature.
"Atreus." Kratos started as his son began his way down the path to the front door. Atreus turned back around and held a questioning look on his face. And the old Spartan could not help but so much of himself and Fay in him. "I know that… this trip wasn't the same as our last. It wasn't supposed to be. I needed to know if this… change… in you was something to be concerned about."
"And how could you know that, we barely spent any time together on the trip." Atreus pointed out but Kratos just grunted in dismissal.
"I do not need to always be around you like some circling hawk boy. I see plenty." The ghost of Sparta was not a fool and was not some brainless brute. He may not grasp many things or be able to articulate or understand complex emotional concepts, but he knew people. He knew the inner natures of them. Kratos' judge of character was built upon the experiences of several life times worth of war, suffering, and the drama of the gods. With very little he could figure out a person. "This change in you, the loss of your godhood and becoming a Devil of this world. It has not changed you. You are still the man I am proud to call my own."
"Father." Atreus muttered softly, never before had his father expressed his feelings so directly. However then moment was about to brought back to expectations rather quickly.
"But understand boy, you are young and so is this change. I will be watching you, should your Curse remain and reveal itself or this Devil blood in you turns you down the wrong path, I will not hold back." Kratos said as he nearly comically loomed over Atreus and spoke in the most deadpan serious tone anyone could ever hear. Atreus on the other hand just sighed at the loss of the touching father and son moment.
"And will say thank you once you have knocked some sense into me." He waved off his father, assured that if these events play out that his father will set him straight. Atreus turned back and continued his way toward his own bed, eager to sleep in his room for a change. "But for now let's just see the welcome party. I bet they are ju-"
"Atreus!" Before the Pawn could speak more, he was tackled by two feminine forms. He fell on to his back with both Raynare and Asia smothering him with their welcome back hugs. Eventually this evolved with Raynare shoving Asia off and turning things a bit more heated with a long French kiss. Kratos for his part closed his eyes and took several breaths, and then stepped around the scene to greet his wife at the door.
"Oh don't be like that, let them have the fun of youth." Freya chuckled as her husband approached her and gave her a more reserved kiss on the cheek. The Vanir goddess however that for her stoic husband, that was his equivalent of exactly what the girls were doing to Atreus. And after the many years of the mood swings of Odin where one day he could be gushing and affectionate and the next cold and belittling, Kratos was exactly what she wanted in terms of temperament. Predictable, genuine, and steadfast. "Where's the leech?"
"He did not return with us instead he booked a flight to the UK, and did not give a date for when he would return." Kratos answered as he thought on the parting words Nex had gave. That he had something to look into and only he could do it. To Kratos that meant further business with his own kind.
"All the better than, something's brewing and I have a feeling you could be a help." Freya gave a meaningful look to her husband, promising to explain further later. During the time he and Atreus had been away, she had hosted Rias and her group several times. In that time she had gotten to know them but also observed a growing anxiety in the Gremory. She didn't pry into the business directly but did ask Mimir. The Satyr told her that there was something and it was coming soon but that like many things it wasn't his to tell. "But for now you are back, and looking like for a extend period. I think we'll have to expand your wardrobe a bit in that case."
"I enjoy my clothes."
"Dear, you look like a lumberjack half the time and the other half like a TV dad from the nineties."
"I also enjoy those shows."
"I will drag you to the mall if I have to."
"You can try."
"Oh, it's going to be one of those games? Are you sure about this?"
"…"
"Dear?"
"(Kratos Grumbling.)"
Atreus and Raynare were in the middle of devouring each other as they closed the door to his room behind them. Hands roamed each other's body as they began to discard clothing while making their way to his bed. A quick glowing hand sign later and the room was sealed as far as sound was concerned.
"Nine days… nine days you made me go without sex." Raynare growled after nipped his lower lip and then shoved him back onto the bed. The lustful gleam in her eyes shined bright as she kneeled down in front of him and began to undo his pants. "I have needs, and toys just don't cut it." With that she freed the object of her desire, smiling as it sprung free already semi hard.
Wasting no time the self-titled Fallen Angel bitch grabbed ahold of the tool in front her and began stroking, feeling a sense of pride in her chest at the small grunt of pleasure from Atreus. The absence of sex in her life and the icon of manliness that her boyfriend possessed made her a bit impatient and so without further encouragement leaned forward and took his cock in to her mouth. One hand still jerking him off while the other was rubbing her moistening snatch.
"Oh fuck I missed this." Atreus moaned as his hands gripped the sheets of his bed, the feeling of Raynare's hot mouth straining his near godly endurance. Both of them had plenty of pent up sexual frustration but there was also a unspoken contest to see who cracked first. Raynare smirked as she knew she had gotten the upper hand and decided to gloat a bit. So with a wet pop she released Atreus' member but continued to slowly stroke the shaft while giving the occlusal kisses to the tip.
"Does that feel good babe, do my cocksucker lips make you wanna cum?" Raynare teased as she reached below and started massaging her boyfriend's balls. But as opened her mouth to continue her teasing, she felt Atreus grab her head and push her back down onto him. Her mouth filled his cock and her body went on fire with the forceful move on his part. Fluids dripped down her legs as she was face fucked, the sheer thrill of being used like a toy by someone with real power over her. For her twisted and black heart it was sexual nirvana.
And she couldn't control herself, she needed to cum after all this time and she needed to feel the highest rush of pleasure as she was being used like this. So as her devil boyfriend held her head and pumped it on his shaft, she was free to grope herself, play with herself, fuck herself, anything to push herself over the edge. And moments before she felt a twitch in her mouth to signal what was coming, she was about to have her second climax. It came as she felt the taste of Atreus' cum hit her tongue and down her throat. She shallowed every drop, thanking Satan for a change that one of the many things that Devil bodies had over normal humans was taste.
"Fuck did miss that." Atreus breathed in deeply as Raynare continued and finished him off, licking every bit of as seed and cleaning her lips of any residue. Then he smiled as she climbed up on top of them as they moved back onto the bed proper. Her voluptuous body clung him, curves and soft skin pressed into him as she slowly rocked her hips so that her wet slit rubbed along his only slightly softened shaft.
"So did I babe. I spent every night thinking about when you come back." Raynare spoke softly as she ran her hands over his chest. But then her smile turned a little more twisted. "Fresh off the battlefield. Made some dumbass human crazies regret ever having the balls to defy you. Coming back home covered in the gore of your enemies. Oh fuck it got me so drenched when you called and told me you killed an entire pantheon of gods!" As Raynare spoke her voice got more and more lost in the fog of arousal, halfway through she had reached up and started squeezing her right breast and had started quickening the pace of her hips.
"Uh…" Atreus knew that Raynare was attracted to power and dominating shows of it, but even he was getting a little concerned here. But before he could say more, his face was buried between Raynare's bountiful breasts.
"It just proved that you are the only man I can love. Your strength and power is only matched by how much you actually give a shit about a worthless bitch like me." The Fallen Angel then pulled back, both impaling herself on his hardened dick and lowered herself onto him so she could show all her love for him in a searing kiss. They both moaned into the kiss as Atreus grabbed ahold of her ample rear and started moving along to an enjoyable rhythm. "I… I love you, I don't ever want you to leave me again okay." There was a crack in her persona, in those words there was the insecure need to be wanted and loved that shone through.
"It's like what you said before, your mine and nothing's changing that." Raynare nearly had tears in her eyes at, but she pressed those feelings back as she sat back up and filled her insides up with Atreus. A loud pleased gasp escaped her lips as she rode the former god, her hips guided by his hands which squeezed her flesh. Her chest swayed and bounced with every rock of her waist and her face was slowly twisting into a perfect image of carnal ecstasy. Atreus meanwhile was equally in sex heaven, the warm tightness of the Fallen Angel's pussy felt incredible around his cock as with every thrust it dove deeper into her. Both were still sensitive from their foreplay earlier and so they felt their next orgasm approach.
"Take me, I want it all inside me. I want you to mark me as yours!" Raynare shouted as their pace quickened, her mind was on the edges with a blissful sex high, a little bit of drool off of her lips. She felt Atreus get bigger inside her just moments before he unloaded his spunk, setting off a wonderful climax that had her seeing stars. He groaned deeply as he emptied inside of her and she gave out a shrill squeal of pleasure as he filled her up. Their bodies went ridged until finally she flopped onto him as they rode down off their orgasmic highs. "Oh fucking a… that's a welcome home party to remember."
"Who said we're done?" Atreus responded but got a small wiggle of denial out of her.
"Ten minutes of cuddling then more fucking." Raynare cooed as she snuggled into her man's muscled chest. Sure she missed the raw dicking he could give but also she missed the smile feeling of being held by him.
"Fine, tell me what happened while I was gone." He wrapped his arms around her body, his hands resting on the small of her back. Her bare breasts pressed into his chest like massive soft marshmallows and her long legs intertwined with his own, he would certainly be ready to go once she got in her required cuddle time.
"The kendo girls got their asses handed to them by red. They came at her like they were all hot shit and got a lesson on why untrained and unaugmented humans are children compared to supernatural beings." Raynare chuckled at the memory of her coming home from her dinner shift to find Asia fixing up the battered and bruised, in way than one, Katase and Murayama. Mimir had told her what had happened and the results of it. "Pretty sure red had them tested for magical aptitude and affinity, and the pink one has something scary… she was all pale and freaked out for a good few days."
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough." He was interested in just what types of magic that they were attuned toward. As far as he was aware, human magic in this world centered around using a deep understanding of naturally occurring mana as fuel, and then using precise magical calculations to create an effect. Humans also had differing innate skill in gathering and/or using mana in magic. They also tended to naturally drift toward one school of magic over others however this didn't mean they could use other forms of magic, just that one tended to be easier overall. "Anything else?"
"Rias has been… off." Atreus looked down at Raynare who's tone changed completely, now completely serious. "Akeno knows too, and I think Kiba and Koneko also know but I still don't have a good read on them yet. He's way too good at putting on a good face and she just a emotional mute so… you already know." He nodded at that, both of the original members of the peerage in question were hard to get a good grasp of even for Atreus. He assumed that it had to be some sort of trauma as that always created people who differed from the norm. It made it harder for his powers to pin them down and with them being Devil all he had was his skill in figuring people out. Not that he had tried that much with them in a effort to respect their privacy. "I also asked the goat and he's being tight lipped about it."
"Not sure he would tell you given how you two are." He chuckled as she pouted. "Thank you for telling me, I'll be on the lookout but Rias needs to tell me on her own." As he finished speaking Raynare slowly pulled herself out from his grasp and sat up. With a snap of her fingers he felt his body cleaned of sweat and the musk of sex was removed from the room, she also looked to be completely cleaned up and ready for another round. Then with a smirk she used leaned over and pulled out from under the bed a set of handcuffs and began spinning them.
"Enough about them and their problems, I'm feeling empty and needy." Her smirk was wide as she cuffed one of her hands and pushed out her chest as to give her girls a little bounce. Think you can fix that lover boy?"
"Oh I know I-"
"No!" Both Atreus and Raynare looked back and saw Asia bursting into his room, wearing only a nightgown. She ran over and dove onto his bed, knocking Raynare to the side. "I'm not falling behind anymore!"
"What the hell you little shit?! This is a private moment!" Raynare growled as she got right up into Asia's face, their bodies pressed into each other as neither backed away. Atreus bit his lip into a straight line as he decided internally to let this play out. He then noticed that Asia left the door open and thus broke the silencing spell he had placed on his room.
"And you told me I needed to be more bold so that's what I'm doing." Asia said as she awkwardly began taking off her nightgown only to get tangled up in it due to nerves and lack of practice. "I can be naked too if that's what you… Atreus?" Both the former nun and Fallen Angel looked down to see Atreus was missing from the bed. Then both girls felt a chill run down their spine as they heard a very unamused grunt come from the open doorframe. Slowly they turned their heads to see the darkened form of Kratos, later both would claim that his eyes were only thing they could see and were glowing red.
"And now both Asia and Raynare are under house arrest and that is why she wasn't here today." Atreus explained to Katase, Murayama, and Akeno as the four of them sat and ate lunch together. Akeno, the odd one out of the group, had seemingly invited herself and neither the kendo captains felt brave enough to tell her to go away. Atreus meanwhile was bribed easily by Akeno's cooking in the form of a very delicious bento box.
"Lucky bitch… getting first crack at him." Katase muttered to her best friend who nodded in agreement. The two were happy to have Atreus back but knew they were still at a disadvantage when it came to the other girls vying for his, annoyingly oblivious, attention. One of whom sat serenely with them at that very moment. For one thing they still were a little PO'ed that all the new women seemed to have insane chest sizes.
"So Atreus, Rias said that you got your own Familiar while out on your trip." Akeno asked as she tried to change the subject if for no other reason than to move away from Raynare altogether. The very mention of the Fallen Angel that got to spend nights with her crush was enough to set Akeno on edge.
"Oh yeah, It's a Feathered Serpent…" At that he held out his hand and a Devil Summoning circle formed in it. With a small glow of red light, the winged snake that had become Atreus' Familiar was summoned. It floated in the air a bit before slithering through the air and coiling around its master's arm with its head resting on his shoulder. "… still haven't given her a name yet."
"Her?" Murayama asked as the girls were in awe of the beautiful winged snake. Its scales glimmered slightly, most were a bright green but some were arranged in a geometric pattern of red and yellow. Meanwhile the feathers on its wings and around its neck were a deep crimson with yellow tips. It truly was a stunning creature.
"Yes, it's a female snake. Male snakes have longer and thicker tails to accommodate their sex organs." The girls blinked in surprise at the fact that Atreus knew about snakes. It only made sense if one knew about his origins and connection to the World Serpent but otherwise it would appear a very out of place hobby for the young man. "She's also been really lazy, just takes naps all the time and then goes out to hunt in my family's garden."
"Wait, so your Familiar lives with you?" Akeno asked because it was very rare for a Familiar to live anywhere other than a special designated place like the Familiar Forest or their native home.
"Yeah, I can't exactly send her back to the Amazon." All three of the girls present stared at snake coiled around their shared crush's arm. They didn't know why, but the felt threatened by this snake. Sensing a rising new tension in the air, Atreus decided change the subject once again. "So Katase, Murayama, I was told that you took magical aptitude tests."
"No! Don't remind me." Katase cried as she buried her face in her hands.
"Come on, it's not that bad." Murayama tried to consul her friend while Akeno just had a mischievous grin on her lips.
"Oh they did, and to our surprise they are quite the hidden witches." Akeno teased as Katase glared daggers at her, warning to not spill the goods on her. "If you don't tell him then I certainly will." The Queen was not however in the slightest intimidated by either of the two girls. They might have known Atreus longer than her but Akeno was confident that she could breeze past them on her unrivaled sex appeal and feminine skills. She would not be third place in the heart of the boy that had accepted her to a pair of humans who would have lost out on him had they not been magically addicted to him.
"Fine!" Katase threw her hands up and took several breaths before confronting the facts. "We took the aptitude test and both came back as magically adept, as for what kind of magic we are attuned to…" She trailed off and looked to her best friend to go first.
"Enhancement magic, Rias said it was like reinforcing my body and other objects with magic." Murayama explained and was quite pleased by this. It meant that she could power up her Kendo skills with magic very easily. Plus she was told that she could experiment with all kinds of elements and effects.
"And you?" Atreus said making sure to put Katase on the spot so she could squirm out of it. The girl gave a embarrassed and dreadful sigh as she prepared for what was to come next.
"It's… Necromancy." Both of the human girls glared hard at the small muffled giggles from Akeno. "It's not funny! I don't want to be some shriveled evil lich thing surrounded by dead bodies or whatever." Katase cried as she could feel herself be doomed to ugly future where she was alone with nothing but undead slaves to keep her company. She looked up and hoped that Atreus would say something to give her comfort but instead he just had this unreadable frown on his face like he was thinking really hard on this.
"It's not as bad as your making it out to be." Both the human girls were surprised to hear it was Akeno coming to save her. "Firstly, becoming a Lich is something that only the cowardly or mad aspire to. Those that are afraid of death due to what they have learned. You aren't and Atreus has said once he gets his own set of Evil Pieces he will reincarnate you into Devil, effetely making you immortal. Second, zombies and undead monsters are not the only uses of Necromancy."
"It's not?" Katase asked now a little hopeful.
"No, Necromancy is the magic of Death, that encompasses a lot of different spells. Ectopy and Spirit magic fall under this school along with Undeath. The former is more suited for battle while the latter is decent in a fight but also useful outside of one." Akeno had to stop herself as the possibilities of knowing a knowledgeable spirit mage came to her. She clenched her fists and breathed for a moment, and set aside those thoughts. It wouldn't be right to force Katase to make such an important choice in her magical development just to fulfill her own selfish desires. That being said… there's no harm in nudging.
"Dräger… it's always Dräger." Atreus muttered to himself as he looked down to the ground, but still caught the attention of the girls.
"That's a kind of undead found in Scandinavia right?" Akeno wasn't too familiar with the creatures of Atreus birthland but she had looked up that specific term as that's what he had called the minions of the first Devil Stray they fought together. "I read that they usually haunt burial sites, but are otherwise pretty rare."
"I've dealt them before. they are sad things. Also annoying at times." Atreus frowned at the memories of the time he accidently awakened a whole horde of Dräger and he and his father had to kill them all. Plus his overall experience of the horrible situation with Helheim and his homeworld had left a cautious attitude when it came to the dead. With these facts in mind he looked to Katase with a serious look in his eye. "The dead should stay dead, nothing goods from messing with that."
"Completely agree, yup… I want nothing to do with creep dead things or bringing back angry spirits that will just haunt me." Katase immediately shook her head in agreement and Akeno felt a little deflated but sighed and understood that it was probably for the best. It wouldn't have been as simple as she wished it would be either. "I'll just have to work harder on something I'm not attuned for. Maybe we could ask-" Before Katase could finish the four heard the school bell signaling the end of lunch period. The topic would be tabled for another day as the still high school students packed up and went back to their normal day of normal life… for now.
"Boy, have you disposed of the trash yet?"
"Mimir does that, he does everything around the house." Atreus explained as he was getting ready with Asia as they were going to be meeting up at the ORC despite it being a Saturday. They still had their work and training as Devils so that meant going to the school campus on the weekend. "Father, I know that you're not used to being a stay at home dad but please don't use TV sitcom dads as a frame of reference." Both Atreus and Asia closed the door behind them as they left. The day was pleasant and the two weeks since he had returned things had been easy going… except for one thing.
"Your father is really having a difficult time, isn't he?" Asia asked as they walked down the side alleys toward the school.
"Yeah, he's never really adjusted to the idea that survival isn't a challenge in the modern world. He doesn't like the idea of just sitting around doing nothing, and he doesn't exactly have the skills to find a job in a town like this one." It really put into perspective as to why his father wanted to created his own world for his family, one that likely would be a bit more like the one he had back in Midgard. The only problem with that was that his stepmother was very acclimated to the modern world. Atreus was still debating on whether or not to tell Freya about Kratos' plan. "He just works out and takes break to enjoy some of the few things he likes. Bad TV seems to be one of them."
"Well I hope that he finds something to occupy his time." Atreus just gave a knowing look to Asia. He was fully aware that both her and Raynare were now very weary of his father and the fact he was watching them like a hawk. Raynare was something he had been expecting but not Asia, the Fallen Angel had said she had been trying to teach Asia a bit but Atreus hadn't expected her to have as much success as she had. But even just looking at what Asia was wearing; shorts that were a little shorter than what one might expect from a former nun, a top that defiantly was one size too small under a trendy jacket, and all being worn with perfectly well with only a small of hint of doubt and self-consciousness was astonishing. Atreus for his part was also wearing more causal clothes, jeans, boots, t-shirt, and a brown leather bomber jacket that his father picked up in the US for him.
"Asia."
"Yes?" She looked up to him, her eyes shined with a content and innocent joy that was rare in this world.
"Raynare is not someone look up to."
"I know." With that made clear to Atreus the two continued to walk to school in comfortable silence. Once they reached the old school building, they walked in but something felt off to Atreus, there was a change in the air. Firstly it felt warmer than it should and there was a unfamiliar magic in the aura of the building. The reason became clear as both he and Asia walked into the main meeting room.
The rest of the peerage was standing off to the side behind the couch that Rias sat on. Across from her was a blond man in a fine but causal suit with an overly self assured smirk on his face, between them was a silver haired woman in a maid outfit… and neither were the focus of Atreus as he entered the room. That would be the woman standing behind the man, the same woman he had been sleeping with prior to becoming a Devil. She obviously recognized him as well but schooled her features before the man turned back to her.
"Rias, why is one of your servants staring at Riser's Queen?" The blond man spoke with one of the most arrogant and entitled voices that Atreus had ever heard. Rias blinked and looked back at Atreus, confused and now a bit concerned. But then she looked back to the man, eyes filled with hidden disdain.
"I do not know but that is not important." Rias waved the man off, but Atreus could see that wouldn't work. He knew this type, the kind of man that had to make a show of dominance when he felt even the slightest bit threatened. And a show was certainly coming, as the man signaled for his Queen to come to him. Atreus watched as she steeled herself and did as she was silently ordered and walked around the couch and approached her King, who then proceeded to grab her and place her on his lap and then began to shameless grope her.
"Riser knows why, it is because all men desire what Riser has. But they cannot, only I can have women as fine as this… and others." With that last remark he leveled his gaze at Rias who scowled even deeper. After another moment, he released the woman and refocused entirely on Rias believing he had sufficiently shown Atreus up. However all he did was make the former god wish he had pressed the matter of him offering to take care of her abusive partner more.
"Why are you here Riser, you hate the mortal world. I don't see you having any other reason to be here other to harass me." The man called Riser did not change his mood at her harsh worlds, if anything he seemed emboldened by them.
"How could seeing one's fiancé harassment?" He asked flippantly, the revelation of who this man was hitting both Atreus and Asia who did not know.
"I have and never will agree that horrid contract that your family conned mine into signing!" Rias shouted as she stood up however once she finished her statement, in the blink of eye and wave of heat to the room, Riser was looming above her and had her chin in his hand.
"My dear Rias, that is slander. Out families agreed that for the good of all Devil Kind that we must preserve the purity of our blood. As two of the very few Pure Blood Devils we have a duty." Rias slapped away Riser's hand but still he didn't look at all the least bit put off. Atreus was becoming more and more sure that this man enjoyed Rias' resistance and the reasons for that were all unpleasant to say the very least.
"Ahem." For the first time, the woman in the maid outfit spoke up. Both Riser and Rias looked a little worried and back away from each other. The Pawn did not know who this woman was but she was certainly of some authority… despite how she appeared. "Lord Phenex, Lady Gremory, need I remind you that this meeting is not to descend into violence."
"Yes Grayfia." Rias said carefully as she sat back down.
"When confronted by the deadliest Queen, even Riser must take heed." The man shrugged, but Atreus could hear the tiniest bit of hidden rage lining his words. Rias and Riser then began trading further barbs at each other but Atreus was more interested in figuring out just what was going on so he leaned over to Akeno and asked the important question of just who was this guy.
"He's Riser Phenex, the third son of the House of Phenex. They're a powerful Devil family and one of the last that has maintained their Pure Blood status. They've hated Rias' family ever since her brother passed over their eldest son for the position of Satan. They're also are one of the wealthiest families in Hell and as Pure Bloods have the support of a lot of traditionalists. The guy himself is just a spoiled perverted jackass though." Akeno whispered going by both Rias and Akeno's words he was able piece together a rough picture of what was going on.
It seemed that as payback for being snubbed, the Phenex family was forcing the Gremorys to marry off their heiress to the Phenex's third son, likely chosen specifically because he was the worst of bunch. Politically this kneecapped Rias as Devil Nobility was still male centered in law though not nearly as much as in practice. Atreus had listened to Rias complain about that subject before but hadn't realized how it was affecting her in the immediate. She had never given an indication of her situation. And in his opinion the Phenex family was just being petty shipping Rias off with this sad sack of entitled sleaze.
"Can't Rias' brother do anything?" Atreus whispered back, they were Devils and so political corruption was seen differently. Leadership was expected to meddle their families lives and favor them, it was just a perk of being the strongest and on top.
"He would if it wasn't for the Pure Blood thing. Far too many Houses still see Pure Bloods as the peak of Devil potential so if he stepped this then there would be another civil war." Atreus looked at Akeno in hidden surprise, focusing on the word another. He knew that Rias' brother was the current Devil King but he wasn't aware that that might have been gained through revolt. He was going to make sure to better check up on the current situation of Hell after this.
"You still haven't answered my question Riser, why are you here. The issue of our engagement isn't due to settled until after I have finished my university education." Rias pointed out in a low warning tone, seemingly having enough of Riser entirely.
"Rumors have started flying around that you've started losing touch with your heritage. There are many that think that you have spent too long in the human world." He spoke as if all of this was a giant joke to him. But then his entire demeanor changed as he glared at Rias. "Among them is Riser. This world stinks, its fire and wind are dull and hold no life to them. It sickens Riser to even have to be here now. So when people speak such things it reflects poorly on the House of Phenex."
"Your entire existence reflects poorly on your house." Atreus saw it, for a split second Riser had started to move toward Rias but stopped himself with a glance to the maid. Good and bad, this meant that Riser was susceptible to being goaded but had enough sense to stop himself if the risk was great enough. "I am not your bride Riser and I never will be. If you want your family to stop being embarrassed by me then call off the engagement."
"That will never happen." Riser growled as the heat in the room started to get even worse. "You ask why Riser has come, then he will tell you. To bring you back to hell so we can begin this engagement properly, and be wed on the next full moon."
"You're insane if you think I will agree to that!" Both Devils were on the verge of once again tearing into each other. Atreus was already planning how best to deal with this fool, which was difficult given he had no idea what sort of powers he had. But then the temperature in the air plummeted and was followed by an oppressive aura that filled the room.
"It seems that this matter will not be solved diplomatically." The maid spoke and just like before both Rias and Riser stopped dead in their tracks. "If that is the case then as the representative of Sirzechs Lucifer I suggest we move on. Seeing as Lady Gremory still refuses to acknowledge her duty to her family in this matter, the only recourse is to settle this with a Ratings Game."
"That is fine by Riser, it doesn't change the outcome." He spoke with a cocky assurance that Atreus felt was disturbing earned. Unlike before, he sounded actually confident that wasn't sourced in superficial things. He sounded confident in something more grounded. "Tell me Rias, is this assembly your entire active Household?"
"Yes." Rias said as confidently as she could but there was a unmistakable hint of fear that Atreus could detect. Where this came from was soon apparent as with a snap of his fingers, Riser summoned forward his entire peerage.
"Then you are dreadfully outnumbered as well as outclassed, as Riser has a full set of experienced servants that have all taken part in Ratings Games." He gloated and Atreus was at the end of his wits for that stupid third person thing he was doing. "A demonstration, my weakest Pawn verses yours. Riser has been told you have but one. Mira!" At his one of the girls in his all-female household jumped out and stood proud and ready to prove herself. Atreus examined her, a short girl with blue hair and held a Bo staff as her primary weapon.
"Rias?" Atreus asked and she nodded. So he stepped forward and face the shorter girl. Then he snapped his fingers and at first nothing happened… then the girl called Mira started attack the air. It looked like she was fighting several foes all at once, if not for the fact she wasn't hitting anything she would like impressive with how well she moved.
"What are you doing!" Riser shouted in rage as he saw his servant make a fool of herself and him.
"She can't hear you." Atreus said lazily as he played a game on his phone. "The Illusion on her is too strong, she thinks I'm sending clones of myself at her." Atreus while slightly impressed at the girl's skill with her weapon, knew that she would be unimpressive elsewhere. To have a full set of servants meant that all of Riser's Pawn Pieces were just one piece each, meaning to an Eight Piece like him they were woefully underpowered. As Rias explained that he required all eight, as opposed her giving him a boost with extra pieces. Meaning there was no way that any of Riser's Pawns weren't close to him in terms of power.
"Is this the kind of servants you collect Rias, cowards that rely on tricks to compensate for their weakness." Riser sneered as he looked down on Atreus who could not give the least bit of care of what this man-child thought of him.
"Big rule in warfare is defeat your enemy with this least expense of your own numbers and supplies, that translates to one on one fights as well. Not only that, why would I open myself to an enemy that works best in close combat when I can stop them at range easily." With that Atreus waved his hand the Illusion was dropped. But by now the Phenex Pawn was tired out and breathing heavily. And when the Illusion dropped her eyes widened at the sight of Atreus completely unharmed and looking rather bored with the whole thing. He then held up a hand, set in the position to cast one of his spells. "Nista." A dull gray arrow of magic fired at the Phenex Pawn and knocked her down to the ground.
"I think we'll do fine Riser." It was Rias' turn to act a little smug, which only seemed to infuriate Riser.
"This nothing Rias, you still will fail and you will be my bride." That last angry tantrum like statement, Riser teleported himself and his entire household away.
"The Ratings Game will take place in ten days, is that acceptable for you Lady Gremory?" Grayfia asked as she approached Rias, who gave a simple nod as she tried to contain the headache that was coming on from having to deal with Riser. "Very well, I will inform Lord Lucifer about this development." And with that the silver haired maid also teleported out of the room, and immediately with her departure Rias sighed and fell back onto the coach. There was a pungent air of uncertainty and anxiety that filled the room and Atreus wasn't sure how to fix it.
"Atreus… just how do you know Riser's Queen?" Rias asked breaking the silence.
"Is that really what you want to start with?" Atreus said trying to deflect but knew that it wouldn't work.
"Yes, for now it's the easiest thing to address and doesn't directly involve Riser… I hope." The former god could tell that Rias was emotionally drained right now and wanted to talk about anything but that man even though an explanation to both him and Asia was desperately needed. So with all eyes on him, he knew that he wasn't talking his way out of this.
"So a few years ago I started really working on my supernatural affinity with words, spoken and written language. First I started by joining my middle school's debate team but that got painfully easy really fast. Then by the time I got in to high school I had moved onto adults. Problem was finding willing adults to seriously debate with a teenager that wasn't over the internet." Atreus didn't feel like going into the specifics of the lengths he had tried to hone his godly skills. The worst of which was at times he would find homeless people with mental disabilities and try to convince them they were sane, it had wildly sporadic results. "Eventually however I settled into a form of word skills that put me in the good graces of a certain type of women."
"You used your supernatural powers to seduce lonely women?" Rias asked point blank with a disapproving look that was shared by pretty much the whole room.
"I always made sure they were single." Atreus tried to defend himself but what he did was still morally questionable. "At first it was just to experiment and to train my skills… eventually as I grew up it become more of a hobby. I even was offered a few jobs as a host, which I turned down because I was sure my parents would kill me."
"And that is how you met Riser's Queen? She was one of your experiments?" Rias finished with an accusatory tone that made Atreus flinch.
"Luna was more like the last, out of all of them she was the one I got the closest to and the one that got me to stop." Atreus admitted and the regret and feint longing on his face softened his judges a bit. "It was only for a little over a month but… if it had gone longer I think I would have made her tell me about Riser. Irony is I would have likely had a better shot at him then than now." He would have been armed with his mother's axe and it's Jötunn holy aura. It wouldn't matter what powers Risers had if Atreus came at him with a weapon that was aligned against his very nature. "She ended things right before Raynare approached me so it's very likely that she had been spying on you during that time."
"That is something that he would do. Yubelluna the Bomb Queen, she's gained a bit of fame herself and rumor has it she would already be a High Class Devil if it wasn't for Riser blocking her." Rias sighed as she dispensed with the judgement of Atreus' prior antics. Instead focusing on the daunting task of the next ten days. She would have that time to prepare for the fight of her life, to determine if she would live as she chose or if it would be chosen for her. "I had hoped that this would happen in a few years when I had more on my side and more of an idea how to actually win it."
"Are we really at that much of a disadvantage?" Atreus asked not feeling too impressed by either Riser or his servants. "I beat that Pawn of his easily, and none of us are even close to as weak as her."
"She was his weakest, but you're right. Riser gathered his peerage more for the types of women to have in his little harem than actual combat skill. But that doesn't mean none of them are slouches, I know that both his Rooks and Knights are experts in their fields and as I said… his Queen is at High Class strength." Rias had seen footage of one of Riser's Ratings Games, and while tactically he was a mess his servants were still not something to be underestimated. She knew that he wouldn't be taking the coming match seriously and give barely any thought to strategy, that was simply the kind of man he was. But the moment that things looked like they wouldn't go his way, he would step in personally. "The real threat is Riser himself."
"The Phenex family is named after the Phoenix, for more than just one reason. They all possess regeneration abilities that allow them to heal any wound almost immediately and have control over fire and wind that is unrivaled in Hell." Akeno explained and this seemed to be the main source of the deafest tone that Rias had when speaking about the upcoming match. Atreus had to admit that it was a major hurdle to overcome but there had to be a way. He still lacked too much information to figure it out.
"Exactly what is a Ratings Game?" Asia asked before Atreus had the chance.
"It is the evolution of duels, which is still practiced in Hell but to a lesser extent now. Ratings Games are simulated battle where either to settle disputes or for fame Devils face each other with their households. The match ends with either one of the Kings being eliminated or all their servants being removed from the match." Rias laid out the rules and Atreus suspected he had found their chance.
"Then why not take out all of the servants? Riser will get involved before we are close but if we could distract him then-"
"His sister is currently one of his Bishops." Rias interrupted and completely deflated Atreus' plan. "Riser has only ever lost when he did so on purpose for one reason or another, and that is not happening now."
"Well that just sounds unfair." Atreus crossed his arms as it this felt like a major flaw in the rules of the Ratings Game. If one side could simply ensure that they couldn't possibly lose than what was the point of even having the game at all. The room once again fell silent as the depressed could of the inevitable seemed all but certain. But then, the son of a God of War began to think, scheme, and strategize. This was a battle between two forces, and he had the major points of the framework of the battle. The terms of victory were clear, but impossible under conventual means which meant they needed to achieved unconventionally. "His regeneration powers… are the limitless?"
"Yes, as far as anyone knows." Rias answered with a depressed sigh.
"But he still feels pain, right?" That caught people's attention and caused Rias to think back on the times she had seen either Riser or his brothers in action. They still showed signs that they felt the attacks on their bodies just to a lesser extent.
"Yes."
"And, do they get tired?" Rias thought on this more. And then remembered seeing Riser's eldest brother's score card when he was in a professional Ratings Game tournament, which included how much magical energy he was capable of holding in his body. Meaning that there was a limit to how much magic he was able to expend before running out.
"Yes, but the regeneration is a natural power of their family. It doesn't require much power to use."
"But still does. And that's not the only way to wear him down." A plan was forming in Atreus' mind. One that was risky and required all of them to exceed all expectations during the match. "What if I did the same thing I did to Riser's Pawn, to Riser?"
"Catch him in an illusion and tire him out? Do you think you can out last him?" Rias felt a knot form in her chest, the very idea of a possible counter to Riser's ultimate trump card was too much to bear. It signaled hope, however slim.
"My job will only be keeping him locked down, he'll fight it but if he's consistently taking hits from all sides then his resistance will be severally damaged. It will be everyone else's job actually whittle him down." The plan relied on them taking out most of his servants and still having at least one of their heavy magical hitters to take on Riser while Atreus performed his illusions. Then there was his sister who needed to needed to be dealt with. But it was a plan, which was more than they had before. "It's a slim chance, and one that can only be done if we do the impossible."
"Then that's exactly what we will do." Rias smiled brightly, this hope that Atreus had given her wouldn't be in vein.
"Get moving! If you are to overcome the challenge set before you, you must ensure that your body is at the peak of its potential!" Rias was seriously regretting accepting Atreus offer to have his father be her household's trainer. But considering the strength and power of Kratos, his obvious ability in battle, as well as his heritage all made for a compelling argument. She just hadn't realized that that very same Spartan heritage meant he would not be phased by hers nor would give her any slack.
"Rias, I just want you to know I hate you soo much right now." Her best friend grumbled as the two struggled to walk up the trail to her family's manor up in the hills of Kuoh. On their wrists and ankles were bracers with magical ruins designed to increase in weight proportional to the strength of the wearer. Just so enough so that they would also just be in that sweet spot of heavy enough to work out the user but not enough for it to be damaging. Such training equipment was common in the supernatural world minus the extra sensory feature these had.
"Feeling the same right about now." The Gremory Heiress wasn't used to physical training, as she was more focused on her magical abilities. But Kratos had dismissed this reasoning when she tried to explain it at the base of the trail. He claimed that a weak vessel for powerful contents was a dangerous and foolish. In theory she agreed… didn't mean she liked it.
The rest of her peerage was in the same boat, however much to the two older girls humiliation… they were only second to last with only Asia behind them as they struggled to get to the top. In the lead was Koneko who even if the bracers adjusted for her strength as a Rook, she was still much more used to this sort of training. Behind her was Atreus and Kiba who likewise had more experience in this than either Rias or Akeno. Even Raynare, Katase, and Murayama, the first of whom Kratos had forced to join them while the latter two did so at the request of Rias were in front of them… but only by a little.
"At least we were able to talk him out of rolling rocks down the trail." Unbeknownst to them, Kratos was fully intending on repeating this excurse with the falling rocks tomorrow. But eventually they all made it up to the top where Kratos and Mimir were both waiting. The moment the bracers came off the teens all collapsed to the ground exhausted. "My legs feel like they're on fire."
"Wow… I could make so many… snide jokes at… at that thunder tits but… fuck it I'm too beat." Raynare breathed heavily as she leaned on her luggage.
"Hpmh… get settled in, we begin training in two hours." Kratos grunted then turned toward the Gremory Manor, which stood in the middle of a grassy field surrounded by forest. A small island of luxury in the middle of the outskirts of the town.
"Well congratulations kids on your first successful excurse in Kratos' Spartan Boot Camp." Mimir commended the Devils and Fallen Angel. Over the next nine days the Gremory peerage would be working on their own skills and fighting styles, Kratos and Mimir had both pooled their collective knowledge to create a training regime that would maximize their time.
"Why am I even here goat! It's not like I care about if the Gremory gets hitched or not!" Raynare shouted once she regained her breath, though she earned several glares for her lack of tact.
"Because if Riser wins this game, then it's very likely that he'll move Rias out of Kuoh, takin' Atreus with her. You'd also lose that safe harbor Rias as so mercifully given you." Mimir answered with a wide grin knowing that would motivate Raynare. And true to his expectation, there was a look of panic and horror on the Fallen Angel's face at this information. The two human girls also panicked at the news that Atreus could be taken away. "Now that everyone is properly motivated, we can begin. Now, the first few days we will be doing overall improvement training. Strength, endurance, stamina, precision, and magical control and stores. We will be doing these fundamentals in order to improve your overall abilities. Raise these and everything you can do will be improved. Later we'll move on to more specific training but first me and Kratos need a better understand of where each of you are at." With that the horned man turned and started walking back to the manor after Kratos, leaving the teens to themselves.
"You know Raynare, you could think about someone other than yourself." Akeno said as she picked herself off the ground as the rest of the household did much the same. The only reason why Rias agreed for Raynare to be here was that she would make for a good sparring partner but the Fallen Angel's attitude was grating to everyone to say the least.
"I think about others a lot, it's just that they don't tend to like my thoughts on them."
"Enough." Rias said ending the brewing argument before it really began. "For the next nine days I don't want any fighting amongst us. This is too important to be disrupted by childishness." Raynare and Akeno glared at each other for a moment but kept their mouths shut. Rias sighed, knowing that this wouldn't be the last time she would have to break up a fight but what she said was true. This training period was her last chance to prepare for the Ratings Game that would decide her life and she was not going to waste it.