Chapter 17 Being Challenged

After the big rating game everyone decided to take a couple days (mostly at rias's command) to do their own thing until the big celebration that the Gremorys were Having in honour of rias's victory. They were all told to find and whare something "presentable" or whatever that means for devils. After everyone got ready they were teleported by Rias to the entrance of a ball room of sorts. I'm not really sure how to describe it all but I can definitely say it's really big and a lot more fancy the what yu, issei, or Asia have ever seen.

Issei: whoaaaa I'm not even inside and this place already looks amazing

Kiba: that's usually how Devils do it they go big or go home

Yu: I wish I could go home and change why did you put me in this it feels uncomfortable

Rias: *sighs* because i want my family and the rest of the Devils to like or at the very least respect you three

And yes that goes double for issei

Rias: and one of the ways they'll do that is by knowing how to dress right so don't complain I made sure you all look great

Oh yea everyone is basically wareing a very fancy suite or dress even issei except for akeno who is warring a kimono with an orange side ribbon.

Yu: *sighs* yea well its still uncomfortable

Issei: but I'm honestly curious why did you bring us along I mean this is your celebration you should spend it with your own kind

Rias: hey don't forget you all are precious friends of mine I want you all here this is a victory for all of us so let's celebrate it!

Issei: hmph Hell yea!

Kiba: yes

Akeno: right

Koneko nods

Yu: *chuckles* well this is your party, alright let's do it

And with that Rias swings open the doors to a grand ball room full of fancy people or Devils more likely. After a couple of minutes of mingling (kiba, Akeno, and Koneko) and eating (issei and Asia….somewhat) and watching and observing ( yu of course). They were all called over by Rias. When everyone gathered they were greeted by Grayfia and a fairly tall red haired man with flashy armor to with his flashy outfit standing beside Rias

Issei: hey Rias what's up…and who's he?

Rias: oh right you three haven't met my brother yet have you?

Both issei and Asia looked shocked

Issei: ….w-w-wait…..THIS IS YOUR BROTHER!? THE GREAT DEVIL LUCIFE BROTHER!?

Lucifer: grrrrrrr

Rias: Mmhm this is my brother sirzechs

Asia instantly hides behind yu

Yu: huh? Hey Asia you ok? What's wrong?

Asia still shakes while trying to hide

Asia: …i…..I just…

Sirzechs steps towards Yu and asia

Sirzechs: please miss do not be afraid of me I'm not here to harm you.

Asia pokes her head out a little to look at him

Sirzechs: *chuckles* you must be Asia I've herd so much about you through Rias, She says you're an amazing friend of hers

Asia: ….? R-really?...

Sirzechs: yes very much

Asia now stops trying to hide and stands next to Yu still clutching tightly to his arm

Asia: i-im sorry I shouldn't have been so rude to you I didn't mean to-

Sirzechs: no please there's no need let just say it's a pleasure to meet you Asia Argento

Asia hesitant for a bit shakes his hand

Asia: *lightly chuckles* it's a pleasure to meet you as well

Sirzechs then looks over to yu

Sirzechs: of course I've herd of you as well, yu narukami a human summoner that bested four formidable fallen angles and many other creatures to boot, someone would be very lucky to have you on their team

Yu: ….thank you for the complaint sir but if this is an invitation like I told rias I'm afraid I'll have to decline

Grayfia groans and lowers her head while issei just decides to freak out

Issei: DUDE! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! DO YOU KNOW WHO-

Sirzechs: calm yourself human I also herd that he also very much wants to hold on to his humanity which I respect and think is noble

Yu: thank you

Grayfia: *mumbles* still could have shown some more respect

Rias: and brother issei hyodo is also a dear friend so please don't just call him human anymore

Rias and Sirzechs stare at each other for a until sirzechs suddenly chuckles

Sirzechs: *chuckles* alright sis I won't

Rias: thank you

Sirzechs: although this is quite intriguing

Yu: what is?

Rias: me and my brother here were discussing about the rating game with the house of Phoenix

Yu, issei, and Asia all tense up slightly

Issei: ….uhhh and….what about?

Sirzechs: well other that odd lost in connection considering we don't use much of any technology

Issei: *gulp*

Rias looks over to the three giving them a look of calm down

Sirzechs: what intrigues me is that despite how powerful rias and her team have gotten they still would have had a higher chance of winning if they had their secret weapon

The three humans instantly relax their bodies and sigh in relief

Issei: *sighs* ….wait secret weapon?

Rias: yes turns out they had these powerful healing positions called Phoenix tears

Yu: huh Phoenix tears?

Sirzechs: yes they are the most Prized possessions among the House of Phoenix, positions that can not only completely heal your injuries but also rumored to bring someone back from the break of death

Issei looks at Yu wide eyed

Issei: wait isn't that just like….

Yu: ….yea…..we better make sure they don't find out about….

Then they look at Asia who started blushing when she noticed

Asia: w-w-what?... Do I look….

Yu: wha- no Asia not at all you look amazing, right issei?

Issei: uhh oh yea of course there's no possible way you couldn't

Although shocked at first and blushing harder she had a big smile on her face

Asia: ohh…..thank you both

Rias: and your wondering why they didn't use it

Sirzech: that's right

Kiba: well it could very well be that they didn't think they needed them considering they thought they outnumber us

Akeno: *chuckles* well they learned quickly that they were completely outmatched

Kiba: that's for sure not saying we were weak before but without that training we've been through we've would've been in a lot more trouble

Koneko: don't be a wuss pretty boy we totally owned those d-bags

Issei: haha ya you did it was really cool when-

Then they all suddenly hear men yelling

Yu: huh? What is that?

Then the yelling and screaming gets louder almost as if there's a fight

Kiba: it's coming from the doors, are we under attack!?

Rias: everyone get ready!

Rias and the others got battle ready. Both Issei and Yu got in front of Asia to protect her. Issei summoned his sacred gear while Yu pulled out his sword and got a tarot card ready to summon a persona

After a minute or two the doors flew and blasted opened by some fiery explosion. Everyone covered themselves to not get hit. Emerging from the fire and smoke was a blonde haired man warring a chest open red suit with the look of murder and hatred on his face. Yes if you haven't guessed its riser phoenix looking battered beaten and breathing heavy like he's been in a big fight.

Riser: *pant* *pant* *sighs* and riser has finally found you

Everyone was shocked and surprised to see Riser there

Sirzechs: riser!? What is the meaning of this!? You come here uninvited, attack my guards, and destroyed a very expensive door! Explain yourself!

Rias: tch no doubt this is all because he lost, give it up Riser! You lost I don't belong to you anymore!

Riser: *chuckles* oh little Rias riser is not here for you

He then looks at Yu with murder in his eyes and points towards him

Riser: riser is here…..for him….

Yu: …? Me?

Issei: what does your lame ass want with senpai!?

Riser: STAY OUT OF THIS BOY! Yu narukami…..you…you coST ME EVERYTHING!...EVERYTHING! YOU WILL SUFFER FOR THIS!

Yu: I've done nothing to wrong you riser! You lost all on your own! Don't drag me into this!

Riser: oh *chuckles* that's where you're wrong human…

Then Ravel comes from behind him looking timid

Ravel: please brother don't do this

Riser: YOU STAY OUT OF THIS AS WELL! THIS IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!

He shoves her away to a wall Surprising everyone

Issei: hey! That's your sister

Riser: shut it human! I won't tell you again

He looks at Yu again

Riser: yu narukami…you have been the biggest thorn in my ass for far to long. First you insult me in front what should have been my bride

Rias: ugh

Riser: then you dare challenge me as if you're my equal, and now…you are the reason I'VE LOST EVERYTHING!

Yu: …what are you talking about?

Riser: don't try to pretend you know what

Yu and the others look at each other in concern

Sirzechs: what is he talking about?

Rias: …

Yu just keeps a straight face and looks at Riser

Yu: …..so what? Did you just come here to tell me off?

Riser: *chuckles* oh no no that's far to simple, i'm here to finally put an end to you once and for all

Rias and the others moved in front of Yu guarding him

Rias: over my dead body riser

Yu: …..Rias don't…

Rias: i'm not letting him anywhere near you Yu I won't let him

Riser: oh little Rias perhaps you didn't here me I'm no here for you

He then summons a fire ball in his hand

Riser: i'm here for him

Sirzechs: Riser stand down now!

He says giving off a destruction aura

Riser: *chuckles* no

Everyone visibly gasped

Sirzechs: ….what?

Riser: i'm not leaving until I burn that price of human filth to ash!

Yu: so what? You'll just roast and burn everyone here just to get to me?

Riser: oh if only, no no I have another way of making this easier, you see during those days I did a bit of some research on your past more importantly you're life before kuho

Yu was now looking fearful

Riser: and come to my surprise to find a few humans you have a deep connection with

Yu: …..*inner speech* no….no no no that's impossible they….they couldn't have been able to there's no way

He picks up an orb from his pocket and speaks to it

Riser: show him

Then suddenly 11 holographic projections appeared showing 8 different kinds of people…..familiar people

Yu: what….what is…..wait….no….NO!

Riser: that's right narukami take a good look at your precious friends

Yu looked at the projections to find very familiar faces

Yu: kou….Daisuke….yumi….Hisano…..

Everyone that Yu met Inaba excluding his team was being shown. Yu now looks at riser angrily

Yu: you basterd! What the hell have you done to them!?

Riser: *laughs* oh don't worry I haven't done anything *chuckles* but that all depends on you

Yu: what that hell does that mean?

The projections get bigger and wider giving Yu the chance to see a dark hooded figures each standing a few feet away from them all

Riser: these men (yes he means actual men) are the only ones still loyal to me and will do whatever I wish, say if I needed a puny human burned to ash

He lifts his hand in a snapping position

Riser: all I'll need to do is…

Yu: wait! Wait! Wait! Don't….please….

Rias now walks forward

Rias: what's gotten into you riser!?

Sirzechs: human hostages? this is not what you should be doing! You're one of the pillars we're better than-

Riser: I DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT THAT SHIT ANYMORE! I will do whatever it takes TO SEE HIM SUFFER!

He was about to snap his fingers until yu shouted in panic

Yu: NO NO NO NO STOP! DON'T!

Riser stops

Yu slowly steps forward regardless who tries to stop him

Yu: *sighs* look I'm right here if you want to punish me then do it! I'm right here!

Riser: *chuckles* oh if only it were that simple, no I don't just want you dead, I want you to suffer

He looks at one of the projections that had shown Hisano laying in a bed with the Same dark hooded figure standing over her

Riser: hmhmhm she seem like a nice old lady but her time is closely running out isn't it? Maybe after I'll pay her a visit and show her what a real man is like before she finally gives out

Yu clenches his fists hard with anger

Riser: oh but might just speed up the process won't it? Oh well she'll more then likely thank me for it anyway *laughs evilly*

Yu: YOU SICK SON OF BITCH!

He tries to charge at riser but issei and Kiba were holding him back

Rias: ….you really are sick riser

Sirzechs: if you harm a single hair on those humans you will suffer the consequences

He says that while having an even larger aura of destruction

Riser: *chuckles* you think you scare me anymore? I have nothing left to lose, all I have now is my revenge

Sirzechs sighs seeing that there's no reasoning with him anymore. Then an idea came to him

Sirzechs: if you wish for true vengeance then you shall settle this within the arena

Riser along pretty much every devil in the room looks at Sirzechs wide eyed

Riser: …really?

Rias: brother….please no yu's not even a devil he can't…

Sirzechs: I don't see any other solution sis

Yu: ummm I'm sorry what is he talking about?

Rias: it's….its an old and barbaric tradition amongst our kind that I wish my brother would get rid of by now

Yu: what?

Rias: ….

Sirzechs: in times of old when the first Lucifer was the ruler of this world, there was a way for our kind to not only judge the accused but also to claim what that the other wants through a somewhat "one on one" battle witnessed by the either by the two family's, the majority or the whole devil community(to put it in simple terms for all you gravity falls fans out there its basically glubnar were the victor gets to decide the fate of the defeated and any they know or care about and claim what the victor wants from the defeated) this way riser has another chance to greatly redeem himself

Rias: but…still-

Issei: dose that go for senpai as well?

Rias: wha- issei!

Sirzechs: of course if he accepts the challenge

Yu looks down for a few seconds then looks at everyone on the projection. Then he looks at riser who has a huge smug grin on his face which angered him even more. The he quickly looks at Sirzechs with a face of determination

Yu: I accept

Everyone visibly gaps

Rias: yu!

Kiba: yu what do you think you're-

Sirzechs: the human Yu narukami has accepted what's say you riser

Riser: *chuckles* well then this should be interesting but also very entertaining hmhmhm very well I accept as well

Sirzechs: the so I shall be! The human summoner Yu narukami will battle in combat with the arch devil of the 72 pillars Riser Phoenix in FATAL HELLFIRE!

All the Devils excluding rias and her friends begins to cheer, roar or whatever basically signifying that they're all excited

Sirzechs: I will give the combatants seven day a week to prepare for the battle until then no harming or interfering with any of them

He looks at riser dead in the eyes

Riser: hmph fine

Riser then looks at yu

Riser: you better cherish those seven days human because when the time comes what I do to you in the arena will the first, COME SISTER!

Ravel: ….yes brother

Ravel walks over to riser looking down sad

Riser: see you till then hmhmhmhm HAHAHAHA!

He teleports along with raval in a huge blaze with his laughter echoing for a second or two. And as he disappears so the projections

Rias: …..i…..I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE BOTH OF YOU!

She looks at Sirzechs angrily

Rias: I seriously can believe you of all people put Yu in that position!

She then looks at Yu angrily

Rias: and you! Why in the hell would you accept something like that!? Do you have any idea what you're putting yourself through!? Your friends, your family,…..you, I mean this is just-

Yu: rias! Calm down I knew what I was signing up for and it's not like I had much of a choice

Rias: yes yes you did you could have let me or my brother or any of the higher ups handle this!

Yu: and what was that gonna change rias!?

Rias: ….

Yu: nothing because even if you did even if you could he still hell bent on hurting those closest to me just to hurt me this way I can for the part guaranty my friends safety from him and more then likely any other devil that might have the Same idea

Issei: *sighs* he right

Rias: wha- issei!

Issei: hey I never said I liked it this just what senpai has to do and I'm gonna be there to support him

Yu: wait issei do you mean?

Issei turns to Sirzechs

Issei: that part you said about somewhat one on one earlier dose that mean anyone else can join with them?

Rias and the looked shocked realizing what he was asking

Sirzechs: over the years combatants would bring additions to the Arena, if you're asking if you can join Yu in the arena that's up to him

Issei looks at Yu in excited anticipation

Yu: ….you really want to be in the arena with me?

Issei: yes I really do…..look I know that I'm probably the last person you would want with you….and you're probably thinking of ways to tell me no…..but please senpai please let do this with you I not only want to finally prove myself but I want to keep my promise to back at that church there's no doubt he look every way to make you loose and I want to be there so that doesn't so please senpai let me do this with you

Yu looks down

Yu: …issei…..

Issei also looks down sad, but the he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up to see Yu smiling at him

Yu: there's no I'd rather have to watch my back then you issei just…..try not get too distracted

Issei chuckles through his tears of joy

Issei: *sniffs* thanks senpai I swear you won't regret this

Sirzechs: if that is all then I shall take my leave and prepare the necessity's for the fatal hellfire, come Grayfia

Grayfia: yes my lord

And Sirzechs along with Grayfia teleport out

Akeno: we should go to Lady Rias I think this party's over

Rias: *sighs heavily* I can't believe this….

Yu: i'm sorry Rias but this is happening weather you like it or not

Rias pinches her nose and sighs again

Rias: *sighs* I know

And Rias teleports them all back home