I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.

BEGIN DREAM…

The entire area was devastated. Buildings were destroyed, smoke and ash covered the air, the ground ripped apart as the infernal realm of the Burning Hells emerged. Demons poured forth from all sides, slaughtering the humans without mercy. Not even the children were spared.

Standing in the middle of the city were a bettered Aidan and Rias, exhausted and nearly defeated by a powerful foe. With dirtied faces and torn clothing from a few spots on their clothes, they were about to face utter annihilation, powerless against their foe. Their enemy was situated high above a mountain full of rubble, looking down onto them with evil.

A right hand suddenly pushed Rias far into the air behind her, away from the battlefield.

"Aidan!" Rias screamed as she was pushed away, only to be caught by someone in red armor on wings, like that of a dragon, and taken far away. The armor was heavily damaged and left a few parts of the occupant inside exposed, the face especially with the left side of it broken off.

"I leave the rest to you," Aidan calmly said as he faces forward. "Issei, take good care of her."

Issei, holding Rias tightly and flying away, grits his teeth and closes his eyes, unable to see Aidan behind him but the feeling within him was of pure grief and reluctance.

Yet still, Rias screams and reaches out to Aidan. "Aidan! Aidan!"

As Aidan still faces forward, he points his right blooding hand to Rias.

"Rias…" He calls out gently. Then he turns around briefly with a smile. "I love you…"

In pure grief and agony, Rias calls out to Aidan one last time.

"AIDAAAAANNN!"

Issei, from behind his broken mask, sheds a few tears that quickly slip away from his face, seeing Rias cry in pain and a respected Pawn now facing death itself. He takes her so far away so as to not let her see his body destroyed.

As Aidan turns around to meet destiny, his opponent was amused. He was huge, appearing to be very skinny and feminist-like. He features four arms, of which the top two have some kind of blade-like extensions. The shoulders are big, and they have a mouth on each of them, which has become a recognizable feature among the fans. He also procured spiky and hoofed legs, along with a spiky tail. On its forehead was some sort of mark, like where a stone of some sorts was once punctured through.

"Not even death can save you from me."

With one powerful blast from its demonic hand, Diablo kills Aidan, setting the entire island aflame from the blast as red and black lightning cackle around it.

And Rias could only watch in pure horror at the site of the death of her beloved pawn.

END DREAM…

*GASP*

Rias sat up with sweat on her face and a brief scream. Panting so fast and loud, her heart rate jumped up tremendously. Her vision was blurry a bit before she was able to see clearly that she was in her own room and in her bedroom. The feelings drained from her slowly returned to her, able to regain her own thoughts and emotions.

"Huh?" A tear leaked down from her eye as Rias felt it and slowly wipes it off. She stared at the droplet of liquid and remembered what she had seen.

That dream felt so real. So real in fact that Rias felt her hands shaking from it. She tries to clench her fist to stop it, but they wouldn't stop shaking. She could not even think past that terrible nightmare, of Aidan dying right before her eyes by Diablo himself.

She prayed that this was not an omen sign of the things to come should the Lord of Terror ever showed itself. But Diablo's form in her dream looked vastly different compared to the ones she read in the books and saw in the drawings. It was almost as if the Demon had become evil incarnate and not just fear.

Unable to sleep after that, she gets out of bed and reaches for a pitch full of water to pour herself a glass.

After pouring herself a cup, she takes a full swing of it, almost emptying the contents. She then looks out of her window where the moon shone brightly in its beautiful form up in the clear starry sky. She could see much of her surrounding light up just from the moonlight. It was so beautiful that just seeing it alone only made her somewhat comfortable in its light.

If only Aidan were here.

THE NEXT MORNING…

"The next thing I knew was that my whole left hand was covered in some form of corruptible magic, with black veins, spikes, and even claws," Aidan finished, staring down at his left hand as he clenched and unclenched. The condition on his left arm was getting much and much worse. Rias' magic of healing was no longer usable as the corruption had adapted to its healing effects.

In front of Aidan who told all of this was his Uncle Deckard. Earlier, Aidan did not tell him he had a Sacred Gear out of fear, along with the fact of its corruptive and demonic nature. But he new better that secrets cannot stay hidden forever.

Deckard strokes his long white beard with his right hand, concerned of Aidan's corruptive arm and how it could be debilitating him.

"This corruption is new to me," Deckard said on close observation of his nephew's arm. "I have seen what demonic magic can do to human mages and sorcerers, but not in the form of this. Usually the humans themselves would turn into demons instantly or become half-demons. But I have never seen one taking its time."

Aidan could only frown. "What can we do though, Uncle? I cannot walk around with this."

"For now…" Deckard pulls out from his magic satchel a large bandage cloth. It was not ordinary as it had some magical properties added to it, its origins directly from the region of Kehjistan. Or in the more modern tongue, Syria. "Take this and wrap it around your left arm. And tell the others you had a burning accident."

After Aidan takes off his shirt, he retrieves the cloth and wraps his left arm, with the help of his Uncle, he feels its magical properties soothe his corruptive arm like smooth water. This was not a long-term effect though and without a way to cure him, this will only slow down the corruption.

As Deckard helps, he inquires, "What else have you seen in your dreams, Aidan?"

"What do you mean, Uncle?" asked Aidan.

"I have been noticing your sleeping patterns. They have become abnormal, as if you have nightmares. I believe the corruption from your Sacred Gear may be connected to your dreams. So tell me, what did you see?"

Aidan took a moment to recollect his memory. His nightmares have gotten more and more intense, even more so without Rias to accompany him to bed. To ensure he did not give into fear, he only gave out the most important parts.

"I saw…I saw the Underworld, I think. There was…a mansion. I went inside and beheld myself a large ornate door. It opened and it led to me to some sort of treasury vault, with a lot of artifacts and relics kept there. At the back was another door, much more heavily guarded but all the locks were unlocked. So when I opened it, I saw a pedestal with a black cylindrical cover that was over it. When the cover itself was lifted, I saw some form of red crystal, with a jagged tip and growing bright in power."

Uncle Deckard's expression narrowed a bit. For some reason, the mention of a red crystal with a jagged tip made him furrow his eyebrows. It was like he became serious for one moment, if not a bit fearful.

"This bodes ill, Aidan," Deckard said as he finished the wrapping up. "These nightmares may start to seem more like visions. Of an omen sign of what is to come. And I believe your encounter with the Demons back it up."

"But isn't it possible for the Demons to be leftovers, Uncle?" asked Aidan as he puts his shirt back on. "Those left behind and in hiding within Sanctuary away from prying human eyes?"

"Possibly but remember Aidan. Remember the prophecy I have deciphered. The Demons will return, and the world must be told of the coming darkness."

"Well, I doubt humanity will believe in the existence of Angels and Demons being made real. But you're right. Yet for now, only the Student Council and the ORC know of its existence."

As Deckard puts the rest of his medicinal potions and bandages away, Aidan begins to feel his arm recede back to normal. However, when he just took even a small part of the cloth on his left arm off, the corruption still lingered. But at least his arm was not deformed, at least for now. But if his corruption influence continues more, it could spread to his neck and other parts of his body and it will be hard to cover them up.

For now, the arm will do.

"I do want to ask you something though, Aidan," Deckard spoke up, catching his nephew's attention. "It concerns Rias Gremory."

"What is it?" Aidan asked.

Deckard then came clean with this question, "Do you by any chance hold unrequited feelings for her?"

This caught Aidan way off-guard. He looks at his Uncle in a dumbfounded look, with his mouth slightly ajar.

"I… I…" Aidan did not know what to say. So Uncle Deckard pressed further.

"It's become obvious, Aidan. How you react around her, and how she reacts around you. How she turns to you when you enter the room. How she watches your every move."

"Are you saying…that I'm in love with Rias, Uncle?" Aidan asked.

"Do you deny what you feel for her in your own heart?" Deckard asked.

Aidan took a brief moment to think. "I… It's true that I may hold something for her. But I have never considered taking advantage of it. I mean, your mission and your work, Uncle, are my life. And I've dedicated myself fully to the cause. I don't think I will even have time to consider such thoughts of harboring feelings. Not with the demons return ever so closer."

Uncle Deckard smiled warmly at his nephew for speaking the truth. "I appreciate your honesty, Aidan. And I can fully understand what you mean. But don't think this means you should just lock away your heart."

"But your quest, Uncle. Is it not more important than the feelings of one man that could very well just be an illusion?"

"That may be," Uncle Deckard said as he walked over to a window. "Or not. I never told you this but I was married once."

"Really?" Aidan was surprised.

Deckard nodded, "In my younger life I married to a fine woman like no other. We had a son and we lived a healthy life. But my work overtook my life, for I was absorbed by my scholarly pusuits, shutting out friends and family and leaving no time. Tensions rose between me and my wife and we often argued due to my lack of presence in my son's life."

Deckard soon frowned a bit. "Eventually, they both left me and were on a plane ride en route to America. But…their ride crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers."

Aidan was shocked and let out a small gasp. The fact that his Uncle's wife and son were on the airplane that crashed into one of the twin towers on 9/11 shook him immensely. He could not imagine how Deckard must have felt when he saw the news and the casualty list.

"September 11th taught me a very important lesson, Aidan," Deckard explained. "The longer we pursue our works, the more detached we become around the people we care and we become nothing more than mindless drones searching for answers already known to us." He then turned around to face his nephew with a pleading look. "I implore you, Aidan… do not make the same mistake I did and ignore everyone around you due to your work, lest you allow fate and tragedy to take them away from you."

Aidan lowered his head as he held his hands together, as if pondering with more questions than answers. "But how, Uncle? How can I be strong enough to protect them from even the worst of dangers?"

He then felt a hand on his shoulder by his Uncle, making him prop his head up to see the old man bear a proud smile. "You are already getting stronger You just need to realize it."

This made Aidan smile a little yet sigh a little from his nose. He needs a tomorrow more than a today in this matter, but it was already running out of time.

The next day came and the students returned back to school. It was already the middle of the day as Aidan exited class and went to the bathroom to wash his face. He could not help but be distracted immensely, especially by his own Sacred Gear's corruption of his arm and of his nightmares. His longing for Rias also added to those facts.

'Rias…' Aidan's thoughts turned to the redhead. Every time he saw her in his head, his heart pounded a bit faster more than usual. It brought warmth to his face, making him smile in comfort. But as he does so, he looks at his left arm intensely, wrapped in that cloth by his Uncle to keep his corruption at bay.

Uncle Deckard's words echoed throughout his mind.

'It's become obvious, Aidan. How you react around her, and how she reacts around you. How she turns to you when you enter the room. How she watched your every move.'

'Do not make the same mistake I did and ignore everyone around you due to your work, lest you allow fate and tragedy to take them away from you.'

Aidan clenches his fist and brings his right hand over his arm. In silent contemplation, he wonders if he should follow through on his Uncle's advice. Deckard may be right but fate does not always play out twice. Sure, history may repeat itself in a different manner but it's just a matter of how.

But what about the corruption within his arm? How will Rias react to this when she sees its extent? She definitely will go to lengths to help contain or cure it but will that truly save him? Will he see the full extent of her love for him as Deckard told him?

His thoughts were soon interrupted by a voice as he exits out the bathroom.

"Aidan, are you okay?"

Aidan looked up to see Akeno with a sweet smile. "Akeno. I didn't expect to see you here. What's happening?"

"Nothing so far," She shrugged before her look turned into one of concern. "I've noticed you are not getting enough sleep lately."

Aidan scratches the back of his head and looked away briefly with a sheepish smile. "Was it that obvious?" Before he could say anything else though, Akeno comes over and lifts up his left arm, seeing the bandaged cloth around it. She notes a faint glimmer of power, a healing rune, over the cloth.

"Is your arm okay?" She asked in concern. "I didn't see you wear one last time."

"It's alright, Akeno," Aidan had to deceive her and gently took her hand away from his left arm. "Just a minor accident. Nothing to be afraid of." He could not exactly tell her about the corruption on his arm from his Sacred Gear, lest she soon tell Rias. It would only make things worse than what they already are.

Akeno soon approached Aidan up close and placed her hands on his shoulders before gently pushing him to the wall and pinning him against it. With a smile of seduction, she pressed her breasts against his strong chest and picked up his left thigh to rub up the side of his right leg.

Normally any guy would either freak out or be ecstatic. But Aidan felt neither of them. Rather, he felt intrigued at Akeno's forwardness.

"You don't have to be alone at night, you know?" She spoke ins a soft whisper to him. "Remembered when Rias and I slept together with you, so I can give you my thanks for saving my life?"

"I haven't forgotten," Aidan remembered as Akeno cups his cheek. "Rias had… had a lot on her mind as of late, mostly about you. Things that will affect all of us concerning you. She's even told me of how lovely it was to be in your arms at night. How all those worries and nightmares disperse away every time she sleeps with you.

Aidan would agree to that, for his nightmares too have been dispersed whenever he sleeps with Rias. But he still didn't understand what Akeno was trying to get at, so he plainly asked.

"What exactly are you getting at, Akeno?"

He was silenced by a finger placed on his lips as Akeno moved in closer. As she did though, Aidan's hands unconsciously stroked down her back, stopping near the top of her rear.

"What if I took Rias' place? Just for a little while." She whispered in his ear, tingling him with her hot breath. "I'll be sure to give you a better night's rest."

"Akeno…"

"What do you think you two are doing?" Aidan was startled while Akeno didn't seem to have been surprised. Turning their heads, they saw Rias standing with arms crossed and astern expression, waiting for an answer. "Well?"

"I just went to the bathroom to splash water on my face when Akeno showed up and—" But Akeno stopped him by taking his side and twisting it so as to cover it up.

"Owowowowoow…" Aidan whispered, trying to hold in the pain.

"Fufufufu," She giggled with a sweet smile. "Oh come on, Rias. I was just trying to be nice."

"Really now?" Rias doubtfully asked. "And how exactly is seducing him a form of being nice?"

"It was only an offering. Aidan hasn't had a healthy sleep in days. Plus…" Akeno lifts Aidan's left bandaged arm up. "He had an accident recently."

Rias raised an eyebrow. She knew Akeno was right. She has seen the bags under his eyes for some time now, highlighting his lack of sleep. They were more noticeable, unlike hers. She sighed. "Just be glad that I was the one that found you two and not the teachers."

With that she swiftly turned away with her red hair flowing with the movement and walked away.

After a sigh, Akeno turned her head to a puzzled Aidan. "I guess this is where I take my leave as well." The, in a bold move, she kisses Aidan's left cheek, stunning the man and making him blush a bit. "My offer still stands," She said as she seductively winks before following Rias.

LATER…

After the school day ended, Rias was with Akeno in the Clubhouse by the window, walking down the steps. Rias watches as Aidan walks home with Asia, Kiba, and Koneko in tow.

"Don't you find it amusing?" Akeno asked out of the blue, catching her best friend's attention as she turned around Akeno was on the sofa facing the redhead while organizing a stack of papers. "The reviews our clients give about Aidan are all very positive. Many of them are like 'he was so much fun,' or 'I had an excellent time with him. Thank you so much'."

Rias could only look at her with surprise and magnificence. Then her expression saddened a bit.

"Yet out of all of us in the group, he has only one pact signed by Kuoh's blacksmith. His studies and his Uncle's work about Devil Mythology have kept him distracted. It is a shame, but Professor Kain is right. Aidan is at least a good person."

"He truly is one of a kind," Akeno admitted as she looked through the papers in her hands. "As a Devil, he doesn't fit into any archetype, as he doesn't really have the qualities. Not that he cannot gain them. But the clients do like him with his kind personality and he shines the most in battle, showcasing his perseverance and commitment."

"But yet…" Rias spoke as she remembers Aidan's corrupted arm. "His Sacred Gear is growing in power, as is his corruption. My magic can no longer hold it back."

Akeno soon frowned upon hearing that thought. Out of everyone in the peerage, only she knows of Aidan's corrupted arm, hence why earlier she looked at his bandaged left arm. She probably figured that the "accident" Aidan attempted to deceive her with was just a coverup to show how worse the situation has become.

"If we do not find a way to contain it, or even purge it…" Rias shuddered at that thought, fear oozing its way into her heart. "Despite growing in power, it's also killing him. And yet, it's not enough."

Akeno however looked surprised as she looks at the redhead.

"Considering what happened with the Fallen Angels and of what we know about our mythology coming to life, he's in the enemy's crosshairs. He's still having a habit of blaming himself for failing even the smallest of things. He feels like he has failed me, but I know that isn't true. At this rate, he may lose confidence in himself." She soon looks out to the horizon, showing both the sky and the land. "Both the High Heavens and the Burning Hells are keeping watch, especially on Aidan. If either of them intervene and try to kill him, I shudder to think we won't stand a chance. It's why I must focus on him, now more than ever."

"Well, that's definitely a statement," Akeno said. "But perhaps that's not all to it, is there?"

Rias turned to look back. "What do you mean?"

"It is true that both the Elder Angels and Demons will be keeping a close eye on him, but the High Heavens won't interfere due to their treaty. I cannot say the same for the Demons though considering their constant presence. We've all seen how much of a skilled warrior he can be, so I find this commitment to him to be rather fascinating. But I was thinking; that maybe, it's the other way around. Maybe it is you that needs him now more than ever."

Those last few words made Rias look at the ground in contempt. "I do not deny that, but I'm still hopeful the situation wouldn't react to that point in time. I'm worried, Akeno. His dreams and nightmares have become more intense as of late. His Sacred Gear corruption is growing ever more so. And sometimes… I can see Diablo's shadow looming over him, as if he is watching and controlling him."

"It's a moot point until we know more about his Sacred Gear, Rias," Akeno reassured. "But so far we have seen no signs of such evil coming here."

"If it does come though, I'll face it and my problems head on. Just like Aidan," Rias said with a confident and kind tone. "So don't worry too much about me. Aidan is the one who needs us."

But Akeno was not convinced and it only worried her more. She knew that Rias wanted ot handle the situation independently as she felt it was her responsibility to see things through to the end the way she wants. However, Akeno wanted to say to Rias that it wasn't only going to be her that will be affected as the others will be as well.

And if there ever comes a time when even a Demon like Diablo emerges, how then will Rias handle it?

In the end, Akeno sighed and decided to play along. Hoping it will all end well. Standing up to face her best friend, she said with a bow, "If you do not mind, I will be heading home now."

"Of course," Rias bowed back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, Akeno walks out of the room, leaving only Rias alone in the clubroom.

With a moment to pause, Rias turns her head to look through the window again. The sun was setting over the horizon. But as she looked, dark thoughts filled her mind. Her previous dream of Aidan left her with trembling legs like she was cold. She folds her arms together to keep herself warm, trying to block off the memory of the dream.

Aidan was in his room sitting on his bed in silent contemplation, dressed in his sleepwear attire which was a black tank top and short pants. He soon looks at his left arm and unwraps a small bit of the magic cloth around it. But what he saw was bad. Not only have the black veins been crawling upwards reaching his shoulder but also that, starting from his fingertips, his skin is becoming black in color. Black like the color of charcoal.

"Dammit," Aidan cursed to himself. "The cloth is slowing down the veins but it's still getting worse." Aidan sighs as he rewraps his arm before falling back onto his bed, looking up at the ceiling in plain view.

"Rias…" Aidan started talking to himself about her. He soon brought his right hand over to his heart, feeling and hearing its pounding when thinking of the redhead. "What is this? Why does my heart feel so…faster? Why does this even hurt so much? Is it truly real?"

He then brings his left arm up to look at it. It could have just been his imagination, but he swore he just saw his arm turn demonic, with red scales and black claws. This made him snap out of his fantasy zone with a brief gasp.

He sees his arm back to normal and clenches it to make sure it was still real. "Sigh. What is happening to me? Does Rias know any of this?"

Just then, a red light caught his attention. Looking to his right, he quickly sat on the edge of the bed after he saw it was a magic circle, with a very familiar emblem on it.

"Speak of the devil…" Aidan muttered as he saw Rias standing in place as the circle disappears, looking desperate, anxious, and even scared. "Rias? Are you okay?"

She didn't say anything as she walked up to him/ Avoiding looking at him in the eye, she seemed to look at his left arm wrapped up and stopped a few inches away from him.

"Aidan…" She whispered.

"Yes?"

Aidan did not have enough time to react because the next thing that suddenly happened was that Rias placed both her hands on his shoulders and pushed him and herself down onto the bed. She quickly angled him so that his back and feet were resting completely on the bed and his head on the pillow, before straddling his waist.

"Please, make love to me!" She suddenly proclaimed, finally looking into his blue calm eyes. Her voice had the same amount of fear and desperation as her expression.

"Wh-What?!" Aidan's eyes widened and his mouth was ajar.

"Please," Rias pleaded in the same tone. "I need you to make love to me! And I need you to do it to me right now!"

As he lied on the bed, Aidan felt his own body freeze up when Rias took her hands off his shoulders and sat up.

"R-Rias," He tried to speak through the shuddering, "What are you…?"

"I've given this a lot of thought, and this is the only way. The last stand I can make," Rias said, who had removed her button-down corset and magenta skirt, before finally taking off her shirt. Now she was straddling Aidan with only her white bra and panties. Her gorgeous and lustful body displayed out before him.

"Rias, what on earth are you—" Aidan was silenced by a finger placed on his lips.

"If the evidence is clear that I'm ruined, then they have nothing to complain about. And I will finally be free."

She reached behind and unhooked her bra, letting her breasts fall off as she let the rest of her undergarment slip off her arms and onto his stomach. Revealing her ever so large melons and pink nipples. Aidan had seen them many times in the time he spent sleeping with Rias while naked, but this was the first time he found himself unable to look away from the beautiful mounds. He was snapped out of his trance when Rias grabbed his right hand and placed it on her left breast.

"Please, Aidan!" She moaned as she had the hand squeeze her breast. "I know this is your first time, and neither of us are experienced; but I'm sure that you'll not disappoint. I have to admit that I'm nervous, but with you, I know I'll find the strength."

"Rias please, just tell me—Ah!" Aidan struggled and moaned slightly as Rias leaned down and started kissing the right side of his neck, she let go of his hand and directed hers to go underneath his tank-top and started grinding her hips against his. Aidan had to admit that Rias' soft and warm lips on his skin were sublime, along with the hot and moist feeling of her womanhood rubbing against his crotch, and her cold smooth hand running up his body was starting to break his will.

"She soon stopped her kiss and lifted herself up to arch her back. "It's okay…ah…" Rias said as she moans. "Please-Hah. Just take me…mh…you're the only who—ah—who can save me!"

"ENOUGH!"

Rias did not know how or when, but she suddenly felt herself being pushed back and off the bed, hitting a wall. After she hit the wall…

*BOOM*

A large cracking sound was made as Rias looked with shocked and scared eyes. Fear crept onto her instantly, her legs buckling and her hands shaking.

Aidan had deployed his Al'Diabolos Terror Claws on his left arm and punched a fist to the wall behind Rias, missing her head on purpose and producing a very large crater hole. The impact was loud and strong enough to shake the whole building. Red, fiery electricity sparked off from the Sacred Gear in small bursts, but it didn't hit either of the two.

Rias, consumed with fear, sees a malevolent red and black aura of power surge behind Aidan. His eyes also turned crimson red and she also saw the black veins from his left arm reach up toward his neck and stopping just right under his chin. His growling was like that of an animal, but more darker if not more demonic.

It could just have been her imagination, but on closer look behind him, it looked as if she saw Diablo right in front of her own eyes.

Aidan had no idea what suddenly came over him. When he yelled the word 'Enough', his voice sounded a bit demonic, unhuman. He must have guessed that all the frustration in him reached its limit and shattered like glass and called upon the will to push Rias off so suddenly she didn't have time to react, not to mention nearly taking her head off in the process. Now she was looking up at him with wide eyes full of fear, naked as the day she was born. She was shaking, scared like a little child.

When Aidan finally regained his senses, he calmed down a bit. His ragged breathing subsided, his red eyes returned back to blue, and he slowly pulled his arm back from the crater he made behind Rias. Bits and pieces of debris fell off as he brought his hand back but eventually, Aidan relaxed enough to disperse away his Sacred Gear, retaining his normal arm. The black veins that went up to his neck subsided and retreated back to his arm.

Both Rias and Aidan stayed silent for a long moment. Neither said a word, lest one of them dared for the other to speak first.

Rias soon broke the silence. "Don't tell me you're denying—"

"Stop!" Aidan demanded, startling her and grabbing her shoulders with his hands. "Just stop… and talk to me." Aidan kept his voice low yet struggled to keep it from trembling. "Rias, for the past two months, you've changed. You became distracted and shrugged off your problems whenever asked what was wrong. You've had nightmares, of which you came to me for comfort before you stopped all of a sudden. I do not mind sleeping with you, even when naked. But this?"

Aidan soon looked into her eyes so that she can see the angered look.

"You intended to rape me just so that you could make yourself feel better? What the hell is going on with you, Rias? This is not the woman I remembered you to be!"

Rias soon looked down, looking as if she was about to cry. Her front bangs overshadowed her eyes.

"So is that it?" She asked, choking on her own words as she did. "Am I not good enough for you? Am I not to your liking?"

"That's not true!" Aidan responded passionately. "I desire you more than anything in this world! I'd do anything to make you happy, no matter what it is! You are the most beautiful and kindhearted person I have ever met!"

His passionate confession made Rias blush a bit as she looked up with teary eyes.

"Then why won't you do it?" She pleaded. "Why won't you make love to me? You said you would do anything to make me happy, so why won't you-"

"Because I can't do it with you like this!" Aidan shouted, before his expression turned solemn a brief moment later. "I can't do it, because when I see that look of fear in your eyes, I know that this is not the way to do it. It only brings more pain than what you are already feeling in your heart."

Aidan soon caught her eyes with his again.

"You're asking me to make love to you, but do you really love me in return, Rias?! Are you here to show me that you love me, or is this all a big solution that you'll use to solve whatever's upsetting you, and then go back to your life looking back on this like it meant nothing?"

If there was a single word out there that would outweigh the guilt Rias felt at that moment, then she could not find it. Aidan soon let go of her as he backed off into the bed and sat down on it, taking up the front end of it. Rias soon joined him on her own time, walking slowly and sitting down. She retained the look of guilt on her face and she didn't bother to move towards him. Neither of them had the courage to even look at one another.

Aidan soon began to feel guilt within himself as well. This was not the same guilt of failure like he felt when he failed to save Asia but rather one of out-bursting and shouting in Rias' face like that. He felt he had taken things too far but how was he to complain? He had confessed his desires and feelings to be with Rias, but the guilt was mainly of accusing Rias of trying to rape him and act like it would be nothing the next day. It would be a psychological wound more deeper than any physical wound.

Feeling guilty, Aidan approached Rias and pulled her close for a comforting hug of passion. Rias was too stunned to do anything, as her body was overwhelmed by his warmth. With his left arm wrapped around her small waist, his right hand was placed on the back of her head and threading her crimson lovely hair.

He then spoke gently into her ear, both resting their heads on each other's right shoulder.

"Rias, I know that you're hurt. I know that you are afraid. I feel it every night you're in bed with me. And I feel the same, but mostly from you. And honestly Rias, I'm tired. I'm tired of feeling that way and not being able to hold you any closer without hurting you in the process. Quite frankly I've reached my limit of you cutting me off from your troubles, whenever I want to help you. The fear and desperation that you show worries me so much to the point you are just looking for the quickest way out without thinking of the consequences. I don't want to bring any more pain than what has already been inflicted on you. Do you understand?"

Tears of sorrow and guilt soon started to flow out of Rias' eyes. It was too much for her to handle as she wraps her arms around Aidan, burying her face in the crook of his neck and beginning to cry. She soon came to realize the terrible mistake she was about to commit and had inadvertently hurt Aidan in more ways than one. Although she told Akeno she would handle it, he had taken it the wrong way unlike Aidan where he would've taken his time to plan out before executing.

In that moment of tears, Rias began to feel new desires and emotions swell within her. Emotions that she felt about him that were there for a while but were unable to make clear. Emotions she felt certain of identifying now.

After about five minutes of constant crying, Rias shed her tears and pulled a bit away, opening her eyes and smiling sadly. "I do, Aidan. I think I do."

Aidan soon gave a sigh of relief and smile but it only last very briefly as he felt the red-haired beauty place her hands on his cheeks. She straddled him and pressed herself against him. He then saw a face full of distress but not because of her guilt.

"I just… I don't want you to die again, Aidan," She said fearfully. "I don't want to lose you."

To Rias, the memory of her most recent nightmare came back into play. Of how Aidan pushed her away to safety for Issei to take away while he battled Diablo alone and died in the ensuing explosion. It was something she did not want to feel again, and it only intensified her fear of losing him even more as she looked at him.

The two were silent as they just enjoyed each other's company.

"Rias?" Aidan whispered as he was back on the bed, with Rias laying on him. He didn't resist and placed his hands on her hips. He was exhausted at this point, especially with his eyes only half-opened.

"It's okay," She reassured him. "Just let me do one thing, Aidan." She soon brought her head closer as Aidan could feel her lips close in. "Let me give you something I've never given anyone else."

And with that, Rias gave Aidan her first kiss. It caught him off-guard initially, but she soon felt the passion behind the kiss surge though him as he gave in, closing his eyes and pressing his lips against hers. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist as her hands remained on his cheeks.

Their blissful moment ended when they separated their lips to refill their lungs. Staring alluringly into each other's eyes, their hot breaths tickled their lips.

"Rias…"

"Aidan…"

Before either of them could ask the other something, a flash of silver light filled the room. Quickly turning their head towards the source, they saw a magic circle that was only familiar to Rias. Aidan got off the bed and was prepared to summon his Sacred Gear, but Rias shook her head to urge him not to, since it was too late.

Appearing before them was an extremely gorgeous, busty woman that appeared to only three years older than Rias, with silver hair and matching color eyes. Her hair flowed all the way down to her back and features a long braid on each side with small blue bows at the ends while the rest was let down and ended in two braids. Her outfit was a blue and white French maid outfit with long sleeves and a white maid headband over her head, with red lipstick as a cosmetic accessory.

"Really Rias," The mysterious maid asked with a professional icy personality. "You trying to break the agreement by doing something like this? With a low born no—" when she laid eyes on Aidan, she gasped for some reason.

Aidan did not mind the offensive comment as he did not care for such criticism, but the woman's gasp made him puzzled. Looking back at Rias for an answer, he was met with much a confused expression as well as the two looked back.

A tear drop escaped the maid's left eye as she looked at Aidan before asking with a whisper; "…Aurelia-sensei?"

"What?" Aidan asked confusingly. Who was this Aurelia-sensei? From the sound of it, it sounded like the name of an angel, perhaps an Elder Angel? But why would a Devil be acquainted with an angel, their natural enemy?

The silver-haired maid, realizing what she'd just said, quickly resituated herself by wiping away her tears and clearing her throat.

"Ahem, pardon me for that," She said to Aidna before turning to Rias. "But I hope you realize that Sirzechs and the master will be upset after they find out that you tried to give your purity to a lowborn."

"Rias, who or what is she talking about?" asked Aidan.

"She means my brother and father respectively," Rias answered, standing up from the bed and having Aidan move to the side and sit down on the bed, so that she could confront the maid. "My purity is mine, and mine alone to do with as I please. What's wrong with giving it to the one I admire the most? And on that note, I will never allow anyone, not even you, to call any one of my servants a 'lowborn.' Especially him. I don't care if you are my brother's Queen, but I will not forgive even you, Grayfia."

The maid known as Grayfia was unmoved by the threat. She soon bent over to pick up Rias' clothing. "I understand but you are also the next heir of the House of Gremory. Please do not show your skin to a man recklessly. Even more so if you're in the middle of this situation."

Grayfia soon turned her attention over to Aidan. "I apologize for this sudden arrival and for criticizing you. My name is Grayfia and I'm the maid that serves the House of Gremory," She greeted with a bow. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, mister…?"

"Aidan Kain. The pleasure is mine," Aidan stands and bows his head in return. Grayfia however looked surprised.

"Is this the person you have spoken to us about?" asked Grayfia to Rias.

Rias confirmed, "Yes, he is my Pawn."

Grayfia directed her eyes back to Aidan's face. Staring deeply at him that he himself could not help but stare back. "So…it is you. She told me about you. And yet, she still misses you."

"Who is she?" asked a confused Aidan. Rias was about to say something when Grayfia suddenly waked up to him and stopped a few inches away. Her left hand soon reached up and caressed his cheek, to the young man's surprise.

Her eyes were filled with love, sorrow, and affection. "You… you have your mother's eyes."

"What…?"

"Grayfia!" Rias pushed herself in between the two with a displeased look, separating both of them from each other. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't get too close to my favored servant."

Grayfia raised an eyebrow before she retained her neutral expression. "Then we best get going," She implied.

"Just one thing," Rias said with an unpleasant face, "Did you come here of your own accord? Or because my brother and/or the household sent you?"

"All of them," Grayfia immediately answered.

Knowing that there was no way out of this, Rias gave up with a sigh. "Then let us return back to my room. I will listen to whatever you have to say there. You don't mind if Akeno attends as well?"

"I don't mind if the Priestess of Thunder attends as well," Grayfia answered. "In fact, it is only proper for a noble High-class Devil to have her Queen by her side at all times."

Rias soon turned her attention back to Aidan, only to blush when realizing how close she was to him. The redhead wrapped him into a hug, which he returned.

"Aidan, I am so sorry for what I did. I never should have handled this like I wanted to. And thank you for stopping me from doing something horrible."

"It's all good, Rias," He said with a small smile. "All is forgiven."

Before she pulled away, Rias reached into her pocket and wrapped something around Aidan's neck. He looked to see his Horadric necklace.

"My necklace? Where did you-?"

"I recovered it after that ambush in the Familiar Forest. I held onto it when I wanted to return it to you."

Aidan smiles. "Thank you, Rias."

Soon the redhead gave him a soft kiss on the lips to which he had returned back. "I promise to tell you everything in the morning."

"Alright," Aidan said. Reluctantly, the two pulled away from each other's arms as Rias went over to Grayfia and disappeared in silver light.

Aidan was now left alone in the room, having trouble sleeping once again.

THE NEXT DAY…

"So Grayfia came last night, huh?" Kiba asked Aidan as the two boys and Asia walked to the clubhouse after school was over. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say it's drama within the House of Gremory."

"That's not much to go off of," Aidan responded rhetorically. "I fear there is something a lot more to this. Perhaps Akeno would know more than any of us."

Kiba responded as they arrived at the front door, "Of course! She is the President's most trusted servant and her closest friend. If anyone knows what is going on, it's her."

He was about to reach the door handle but stopped all of a sudden, his expression turning serious as his eyes narrowed. "Then again, there is one thing that would upset her. And it may be pretty bad news."

It was more than enough for Aidan to put on a serious expression as well. He knew that this meeting was not a coincidence, especially with encountering Grayfia last night in his room. Regardless, the three went in, ready to confront whatever the bad news would be. Or so they had hoped.

When he reached the room, Aidan opened the door and while he did expect trouble, there was nothing. Except for Koneko sitting on one of the sofas, Akeno standing at the side of the desk with Rias sitting in her chair by it. While all seemed fine, Aidan knew the atmosphere was tense and that no one was talking.

Grayfia was also present, standing in front of the desk with her back facing him.

"Grayfia…" Aidan greeted, as Kiba and Asia caught up with him, prompting the silver-haired maid to turn her body to the side to see him. Asia must have felt an uneasy feeling in the room as she was holding on to Aidan's sleeve with an uneasy expression.

Rias scanned the room at everyone with a serious expression. "It looks like everyone is here," She said as she stood up. "Before we get started, there is something that I'd like to tell all of you."

"My lady," Grayfia interjected. "With your permission, I'd like to explain the situation."

But Rias rejects her offer with a wave of her hand. "The truth is—"

All of a sudden, a fiery orange light shone from behind Aidan, Asia, and Kiba. Everyone looked to see a magic circle glowing on the floor and its pattern was not the same.

"The mark of the Phenex," Kiba said next to Aidan. The magic circle erupted in a column of flames that stood as tall as the ceiling, sending a blast of heat everywhere.

Realizing what Rias was about to say, Aidan gripped his left hand tightly. Secretly in his mind, he allowed the corruption hidden behind the bandages advance through his left arm. His rage, if not a bit of fear, fueled it as he looked to see the silhouette of a man inside the fires that erupted from the magic circle.

The man swung his arm across, and as if on command, the flame disappeared without leaving a scorch mark on the floor.

"Ah, it's been a while since I came to the human world," The man said before turning around to face the group.

He was tall and handsome young man that looked to be in his 20's with short blonde hair and dark blue eyes, wearing the burgundy blazer with gold embroidery on the right. He wore colored pants and black dress shoes. Underneath the open blazer was a white dress shirt that was not fully buttoned, leaving one button short which gave a slight view of his exposed chest.

Aidan could see immediately on his face a grin of arrogance. He kept his icy cold look at him but the fires within him raged on.

"I came all this way to see you, my beloved Rias. It's been far too long." The man said to her, which Rias gave a very irritated look as she was unpleased by his arrival.

Kiba came over to Aidan, hoping to try to calm him down. "Aidan," He whispered. "Easy now. If you start a fight, it will only make things worse than they already are now."

Aidan knew Kiba was right just by looking at his expression. He too had a scowl directed at the man. Aidan thus had no choice but to stand down immediately.

However, in secret, he allowed the corruption in his left arm to spread further, ignoring the pain it brought as it granted him more power. And more whispers of temptation.

"Everyone, this is Lord Riser Phenex," Grayfia stated for him to everyone in the rom. "He is a pure-blood High-class Devil, and the third heir in line to the House of Phenex."

The name sound familiar to Aidan. But then it hit him, as he remembered three certain female members; his former assassins that he saved weeks ago from the Siegebreaker Assault Beast. He recalled Yubelluna, Karlamine, and Xuelan and how they were given orders by their master to end Aidan.

'So…it's him then,' Aidan thought has he once again tightened his grip, now realizing who the man was that was trying to kill him in the first place.

"Um… why is he here?" Asia asked.

"He is the fiancé to Lady Rias Gremory. Lady Rias has been engaged to him for quite some time now."

Aidan took a brief look at Rias, who was glaring at Riser with clenched fists trembling and her eyes burning bright with disgust and anger. Riser was unmoved, keeping his arrogant smile, along with a sense of triumph.

Now Aidan understood why Rias had came to him last night. The moments Rias would be so lost in her thoughts that she'd forgot what she was doing. Her nightmares that she had when she would tremble and sob in her sleep so much that she held onto Aidan out of fear.

All of it was connected to Rias' engagement to this son of a bitch. His Uncle would need to know about it right after this meeting.

Asia noticed Aidan's fist trembling, but also saw a sliver of the black veins creeping up towards his neck. She did not speak out on it, as she was already consumed by fear just by looking at Aidan's dark look.

"Rias my dear," Riser said to his future wife, before gesturing to the sofa on his right. "Why not sit down so that we can have a proper discussion between us?"

"What do you want, Riser?" Rias vehemently and angrily asked, sitting back in her chair scowling. "And make this visit of yours quick."

"Not much, really," The arrogant man shrugged his shoulders. "Other than to tell you that I've forgiven you."

"What?" Her right eye ticked.

"When I heard that you were attempting to engage in intercourse with another man in order to get away from this marriage, I was ready to kill him and burn him a thousand times over. But Sirzechs was able to calm me before sending his Queen in my stead."

Aidan took a quick notice of the other Peerage members clearly annoyed by Riser's cocky attitude. But he would like to think that out of all of them, he felt more than annoyed.

"He also offered me the opportunity to pick the day of the wedding."

"Of course he did," Rias irked with a sigh.

"And I have already decided that it shall be on the day the House of Phenex was formed, held in the Inferno."

"Oh shut up already!" Rias snapped, glaring sharply at Riser and just reaching the limit of her patience. "I've told you before that I have no intention to ever marry you! I'd rather kill myself than submit to you!"

"Yes, yes," Riser said uncaringly. "But my dear, you know I cannot allow that. If you die, the Gremory House falls. It will be too selfish of you to do something like this."

"That is none of your concern!" She snapped back. "I do not need to be reminded that I am the next heiress to my family, but the one who is going to pick the man I want to spend the rest of my life with is me. Not you nor anyone else!"

"You forget that it is imperative for the Devils, especially our households, to remain pure-blooded. We are still recovering from the war and our casualties were so high. Both your father and Sirzechs made this decision with the best interest of all Devils in mind."

But to Aidan, it was more than just repopulating the species. While most of what Riser said was true, not all of it was correct. In fact, the Devils' origins of how they were formed is also inaccurate; to a degree.

Rias went around her desk, storming over to Riser before stopping about one foot away from him. "My father, brother, and my whole family made this decision because they're in too great a rush to maintain their reputation," She countered, standing tall and defiant against him. "I will not repeat this line again; but, Riser Phenex, I will not marry you!"

She gasped lightly when Riser stood up and grabbed her chin with his fingers delicately. His face, once filled with arrogance, now carried an unpleasant look with his eyes becoming sharper.

"You know, Rias," He said as his smirk twitched and wanted to form a snarl. "I carry the proud name of Phenex behind me and I will not let it be tarnished. I only came to this small building of yours just so that I can find the person you attempted to sleep with so that I could destroy him myself. Rather, I don't like the human world so much. The fire and wind are so filthy and for a Devil such as myself who is a master of both elements, I cannot stand it!"

Small patches of fore started to form around his body, with even small bits of it around the room.

"And the thought of someone taking you before me is monstrous! I will take you back to the Underworld right after I kill the bastard! Even if I have to reduce all of your servants to ash!"

*SHIBOOM*

Suddenly, Riser was flung across the room from a powerful shot of red and white lightning to his right. Hitting against the wall with his back and making a crater, he was telekinetically held there as his hands and ankles were soon held together by burning metal plates that were originally in the form of metal candle holders around the room ripped from the wall and fashioned into hot metal.

They clamped down on Riser and held him tightly, burning through his clothing and into his flesh. Normally for a Phenex like him, he could withstand flames, but this was molten metal. And he yelped a bit in pain.

"Who…Who did this?!" Riser demanded, wanting to know who the imbecile was that attacked him.

But all eyes soon turned to the individual with his left arm up, holding Riser in place. It was Aidan.

(Author's note: Insert soundtrack – Starcraft II Legacy of the Void OST- The Dark Voice) (Up until 1:00)

"So, it's you…" Aidan said as he walked slowly to Riser. "The coward who cannot get his own hands dirty when he wants to do the job himself. Pitiful."

His voice became somewhat dark as Aidan walked. No one tried to stop him, not even Rias nor Grayfia, too shocked to see that it was Aidan who attacked Riser. But for the former, she saw the bandages on his left arm slowly fall off, showcasing the full extent of his corruption. It made her gasp and bring a hand to her mouth, terrified of seeing such a horror.

Even Akeno was no exception to this. But Kiba, Koneko, and Asia were speechless at the sight of it, wondering what the hell happened to Aidan in that moment.

"And you must be the one whom Rias tried to ruin herself with?" Riser asked.

Aidan however did not answer, remaining silent as he held Riser up in his makeshift prison and still glaring at him.

Riser continued talking. "Aidan Kain. From what I have heard from you, I am impressed that you managed to kill the Fallen Angels who had murdered you before being reincarnated as a Devil. But to think that being in the human world has dissuaded Rias enough for her to have sex with a lowly servant like you. And it's even more clear that she doesn't know how to discipline you!"

With that said, two wings of raging flames extended out of Riser's back and a blast of heat forced the others of Rias' peerage to shield themselves.

Aidan was unaffected, even as Riser broke free from his restraints and levitated himself down on his wings of fire. Aidan soon brought his left hand down, not caring whether his corrupted arm showed itself.

"You've made a mockery of me when Rias gave you her first kiss!" Riser smirked with a look of anger on his face. "But threatening and attacking a noble is something you'll learn to regret!"

Aidan was unmoved and, to Rias' eyes, she could have sworn his eyes changed color from blue to red. She also saw his power aura build up in the form of a black shadowy mass behind taking shape, in the form of a familiar Demon from her dreams.

"Enough!"

Caught off guard, at least for Riser, both he and Aidan turned their heads to see Grayfia standing there with a stern look. Even though she was focused more so on Riser whose flames he quickly extinguished, she also glared at Aidan. But her glare was more likely a façade to keep hidden a face of desperation, wanting for Aidan to stand down.

Even Rias herself was confused by her sister-in-law's attitude lately, never seeing her like this once in her life, but a part of her could not help but think it was what Grayfia told Aidan last night. How she spoke the name of Aurelia-sensei and how Aidan had his mother's eyes. She wondered if this Aurelia was Aidan's mother that he never knew of?

Grayfia soon sighed lightly and retained her neutral look. "My Lady Rias, Lord Riser. As you know, I am here on behalf of Sirzechs. So do understand that when I am here, there will be no disruption of peace. If there is, I will be forced to step in."

Her eyes glowed, for some reason giving a small chill down Aidan's spine. Given that he had just met her recently, Aidan had no idea how powerful she was, especially if she was a former apprentice to this Aurelia-sensei. When he saw Riser sighing and shaking his head, he got his answer.

"When being told that by the Strong Queen, even I can be quite scared," He admitted.

But Aidan was not convinced.

'The fool doesn't even know what it means to be scared. His pride won't let him admit it.'

"My apologies," Aidan powered down and bowed to Grayfia, which she accepted with a nod. She then turned back to Rias and Riser.

"My Master and Sirzechs knew that conflict would arise like this. Both houses have decided upon an alternative solution. A last resort, if things lead to this."

"Why am I not surprised?" Rias commented with her arms crossed. "What is this alternative solution, Grayfia?"

"If Lady Rias wishes to, then the matter can be settled in a Rating Game against Lord Riser."

Rias was left speechless and shocked to hear that from Grayfia. Aidan walked back to Asia, Kiba, and Koneko, who took a new regular bandaged cloth and wrapped it around his left arm to hide the black veins.

Aidan knew full well of the Rating Game, so he did not need an explanation. It was a competition between two Devils to showcase their social standing within the Underworld and measure their strength. Its rules play along similarly to the game of Chess and only Devils of High-class are allowed to participate in official games.

At least to Aidan that was what is well known. But for he and his Uncle, there was a dark truth behind it that no one else knew, aside from the Four Great Satans. And it all goes back to the Devils' origins and its connection to the Demons, to the Burning Hells themselves.

"Are you sure you want to do this, my dear?" Riser taunted Rias, annoying her. "I am already a mature Devil and have won most of the games. Unfortunately, you're inexperienced and have never qualified for an official game."

"He knows that only mature Devils are allowed to participate," Akeno told Aidan. "So it's not like she's had much opportunity."

"But inexperience is not what we have to worry about," Koneko said. Aidan kept silent though as he kept his attention on Riser who scanned over him and the rest of Rias' peerage. Asia got nervous and hid behind Aidan, but Riser's gaze was foxed on the man who had assaulted him earlier. He smirked while Aidan remained cold.

"Rias, I have to ask," Riser looked at her. "Are these adorable servants all you have?"

"And so what?" She retorted, twitching her eyes at his words. "To be honest, I have a feeling they're all I need."

Riser could only laugh in mockery though. "Then the match will be easily won by me. Only your Queen can have a fighting chance against my adorable servants."

Saying that, Riser snapped his fingers and a magic circle with his family symbol appeared before erupting in a column of flames. Out of the fires stood a large group of girls that appeared to range from young pre-teens to adults. Almost all of them were wearing different and unique outfits of their own, ranging from casual to elegant to erotic.

"I have all fifteen pieces," Riser pridefully stated. "A complete set."

Aidan scanned amongst the group of girls that stood before them, unfazed by the fact that they are vastly outnumbered. He then spotted three familiar servants among them.

"Xuelan. Karlamine. Yubelluna." Aidan said each of their names and their heads peaked up upon hearing them. They were equally surprised to see him again and Riser took notice and glanced between the three and Aidan. While confused at first, he suddenly remembered and chuckled.

"Ah that's right. You three were with him that day," He said.

The others were confused, as Kiba asked, "What day?"

Before Riser could answer, Aidan beat him to it. "Riser sent his three servants from his Peerage to assassinate me while I was on a contract."

"What?!" Rias almost screamed, standing up in pure anger. Everyone else, even Grayfia and the rest of Riser's peerage, looked shocked. The only ones not unfazed here Riser, who kept a smug look, and Aidan who maintained his cold glare.

"Yes, that's right," Riser confirmed with a smug. "I sent them only to observe you after I had my Familiar go and scout for me initially." He then held up a hand and an exotic looking bird-of-prey appeared in a ball of fire. "When I learned you were on a contract, I sent them to watch and deceive you and have them kill you. Until that monster in the mountains ruined it all."

"What monster?" Rias asked. No one answered though, not even Aidan. To recall the Siegebreaker Assault Beast was something nobody wanted to speak out on for not only was it a Demon of the Burning Hells that no one would believe in, but rather the question of who summoned it in the first place still remained a mystery.

Riser continued as he dispelled his Familiar. "I thought that the beast would kill you. And if they killed the other three, it didn't matter. But instead, you managed to wound it and chase it away and it is now nothing more than a smoldering corpse turned to rock and ash."

Aidan finally had his answer on Riser's personality. If this son of a bitch did not care about the lives of his Peerage, then he would be more than happy to hide behind as many bodies as possible, sacrificing them all as pawns so long as he lived. Everything now came full circle on him thus getting to Riser, from a strategic point of view was easy: be rid of his chess pieces including his Queen and then take down the King. Like in chess.

Aidan could spot within Riser's Peerage a beautiful young girl with dark blue eyes. She has long blonde hair tied into twintails with large, drill-like curls and blue ribbons keeping them in place. The front of her hair has several bangs hanging over her forehead, with a V-shaped fringe hanging over the bridge of her nose. She wore a long, pink dress with white frills and a magenta bow in the front.

Using his powers to secretly look inside the girl's mind for her identity, he identified her as Ravel Phenex. The younger sister to Riser Phenex and like her brother, she bore a smug look. In the back of Aidan's mind, he saw an opportunity in the future concerning the Rating Game. And perhaps even more if he and Riser become bitter enemies for all time.

Aidan turned his attention back to the man in question. "So you were content to let your servants die even if your assassination attempt failed."

"It's only fitting for a King to make sure his or her servants remain strong," Riser answered. "And even if I did do nothing, it doesn't matter. But when they returned from their fight, their loyalty to me was put into question and they started to become doubtful. Apparently shaken by that huge monstrosity in the mountains and of you saving their lives. I should at least thank you for taking care of my cute servants."

Riser gave a mocking bow of gratitude. But Aidan was unamused nor even irked by it.

"However, I am more curious of you. And about your powers. I was told you bore a Sacred Gear from Devil Mythology called the Al'Diabolos Terror Claws." Riser soon spotted Aidan's left arm and its black veins. "That thing on your arm where your Sacred Gear is deployed from cannot be a coincidence. So, do you mind filling in the gaps, Lowly Devil?"

Riser would not get his answer however as Aidan remained silent. He kept his anger contained even as it built up but the corruption and power from his Sacred Gear grew.

But the silence felt like an insult to Riser. "You dare keep your answers from me, Low-Class!?" He suddenly shouted. "You insult me for a second time with your silence? You truly do not know your place!"

"Save your threats and empty words, boy!" Aidan retorted back. "You haven't the tongue for them."

That shook everyone in the room a bit, Riser especially as he was slightly startled by the sudden outburst. Although he got more irritated for even being called a boy by Aidan.

Rias could see Aidan's anger growing, the corruption on his left arm spreading even more so.

"Aidan, please calm down," She told him, but Aidan did not listen.

"My place is at the side of Rias! Always!" Aidan's statement made her gasp. "To think that you, a High-class noble who believes everything should be yours by right, would claim her as your own. It is you who does not know your place. You're no king of a Peerage; you're just a mere slave who does not know fear. Pathetic!"

'Aidan…' Rias said in her head, looking at him in surprise. But his cold words to her forced fiancé shook her a bit of course.

Riser had enough of the presence of a Pawn who had not only insulted him three times by now, but also assaulted him from getting too close to Rias. Anger raged within and thus took to extreme means to remove this threat of his power.

"Mira, do it," Riser commanded one of his servants.

"Yes, Lord Riser."

Approaching Aidan was a young girl with blue hair and light brown eyes. Her hair is styled with four short ponytails, with two of the four pointed up and the remaining two pointed down. The front of her hair features split bangs going across her forehead, with side bangs framing her face. Her outfit consists of a white haori with a red obi, which is worn under a red happi coat. She wears bandages on her forearms and shins and wears black guards over her hands. For footwear, she wears a pair of zōri.

Mira jumped up with her wooden staff and thrusted it at Aidan's stomach. Aidan just stood there, unmoved by her advance, even with Rias and the others shocked that he was not getting into a stance.

In a move faster than a blink of an eye, Aidan grabbed Mira's face with his left hand. Her staff did not even reach towards Aidan and he gripped her head tighter, making her struggle and scream through her muffling. Red electricity soon sprouted from his hand and electrocuted Mira. Her eyes widened in pain as her screamed echoed through the muffling.

Aidan continued to coldly torture her in front of Riser and his peerage, all of them shocked by Aidan's ruthlessness. Even Rias and her peerage were equally surprised seeing how he was able to overwhelm another Pawn easily. But Grayfia was the one who looked the most surprised, retreating briefly into her own thoughts as she looked at Aidan.

'Aurelia-sensei… how would you react to this turn of events?'

Soon, Aidan flung Mira across the floor back to them, prompting two of his pawns, Marion and Burent, to catch her and attend to her. Mira's clothing was somewhat torn up from the electricity and burned marks decorated across her unconscious body.

Riser stood up in defiance, "You dare attack her so dishonorably? What kind of low-born are you?!"

Aidan soon walked slowly forward, every step echoing across the wooden floor. But he soon began to laugh quietly, with his front bangs covering his eyes yet he strangely kept a wicked smile of satisfaction.

"You dare to stand against me, a Pawn of Rias Gremory's Peerage?" Aidan continued to chuckle and laugh. "I wonder…"

Aidan soon brought his head up and asked one question.

"How tastes your fear?"

Aidan's eyes rapidly glowed red and a sudden influx of power overwhelms him. A violent red and black aura of power envelops his body and explodes forth, roaring in all of its fury. Everyone instinctively covered themselves, even Riser, from this unexpected action. Even Grayfia stumbled back a bit in response to this sudden power surge.

"What the hell is this?" Riser asked as he shielded himself from the light and the wind.

Parts of the Clubhouse began to crumble and crack from the intense pressure. Nobody could even get close to Aidan as they all watched. His Sacred Gear was activated yet covered in black spikes that, although small, protruded forth from the arm. The black veins also expanded forth, covering his neck, chest, and right arm entirely. His skin soon turned pale as the red malevolent aura loomed over him.

"Aidan!" Rias cried out to him but was not able to get any response of some kind.

Aidan soon emerged forth and spoke with a voice that sounded so different than his normal one It was deeper and darker, if not demonic.

"Death will be but the beginning of your suffering," Aidan proclaimed a scared Riser. "And I will feast upon your terror."

Riser attempted to keep his pride and fearlessness intact. "I fear nothing. Not even a low-born scum like you!"

But Aidan smirked grimly. "Then bear witness to the power of Terror, little slave."

With that said, Aidan's power aura increases to the point where some members of Riser's Peerage began to get cold feet. Aidan then telekinetically pinned most of them back to the walls and bound them in barbed chains with just a mere swipe of his hand.

Riser was shocked to see most of his Peerage pinned down. All of his Pawns were held back, as was one of his bishops Mihae. One of his Rooks, Isabela, was incapacitated. Siris, another of Riser's two Knights, was pinned to the wall along with Isabela, Riser's other Rook. Riser looked to his other Peerage members but they were, in his eyes, useless to him.

As for Yubelluna, Xuelan, and Karlamine, they could not do anything due to being paralyzed with fear. The man whom they swore an oath of debt to was now so powerful with such a malevolent and intimidating aura rivaling that of Riser that they could not even begin to comprehend what was going on. This was the same man that saved them from that Siegebreaker Assault Beast demon weeks ago. And now it felt like he was being possessed by another Demon, one more powerful than ever.

All that Riser had left was his little sister Ravel, his Bishop other than Mihae. But the last thing he would ever want is for her to get caught between him and the terrifying Aidan.

All that was left for Aidan now though was Riser now that he had no more bodies to hide behind. This was the perfect opportunity to end this before it even begins once and for all.

"Don't hurt him!" Ravel went up front and put her arms up, shielding her brother. But Aidan was annoyed.

"Out of my way!" He forcefully grabbed Ravel by the hair and threw her to the side, making her tumble to the floor.

"Ravel!" cried Riser but he was met with bigger problems as he came face to face with his foe. His pride had cracked a bit, unable to be mended, and he couldn't even move at the sight of such raw and horrifying power laying before him.

Aidan approached Riser with the intent to spill his blood.

*SHING*

Suddenly though, a blue barrier with two circles of runes wrapping around it diagonally surrounded Aidan. Aidan growled in confusion and irritation, prevented from reaching to Riser to kill him. Everyone including him turned to see Grayfia deploying a strong containment barrier around Aidan.

And she was already struggling due to Aidan's immense power.

"I can't…hold him back for long," Grayfia said. "Lady Rias!"

Rias immediately knew what to do as she approached the barrier.

"Aidan, stop!" She cried out. "Don't let it overtake you. You must fight it!"

Aidan, upon turning to his left and seeing Rias' desperate face, was left startled. It was as if something took a hold of him and made him stop, making him struggle as his body twitches. Rias' voice alone was the key to it.

Again, Rias pleaded, "Aidan, please. I know you are still in there. Break free from it."

"I…" Aidan's voice spoke through as he clutches his head with his hands. "I can't. He's too strong!"

"You're stronger," Rias implored. "Don't let it win. Break his hold. Don't let it control you."

Then, she spoke some words that really paid it off.

"Don't leave me alone again."

That made Aidan's eyes revert back to their familiar blue color. Just then, a painful headache enraptured over him. He yelped in agony as he tries to fight back against the dark influence that had overtaken his mind. His body twitches from his arm to his head in random places as he tries to fight back.

Grayfia could no longer maintain her barrier and fell exhausted, with Kiba and Akeno attending her. With the barrier dropped, Aidan was soon lifted into the air and screamed in pain as a white light shone off of his form.

This lasted for about ten seconds as the light grew brighter and brighter before a torrent of energy ruptured forth, dropping Aidan to the floor with a thud.

Groaning in pain, Aidan was on all fours with his head down as he struggles to lift. Rias attends to him, checking her favored servant concerningly. Aidan panted a bit before he regained his composure.

"It… it has passed, Rias," Aidan said as he looked up. The black veins were retreating back to his left arm as his skin regained its natural color. His eyes also returned back to their gentle blue appearance "He is gone."

Rias sighed in relief, thankful to have her Pawn back from that terrible possession. But whatever it was meant only more trouble and concern for her regarding Aidan. With his Sacred Gear ever gaining more power just from the emotion of fear itself, it may not be the last time she saw Aidan come under swayed such as this.

Riser and his Peerage looked so shocked, wondering what on earth had just happened. Yubelluna, Karlamine, and Xuelan were so tempted to go see and tend to Aidan after what they just saw, but Rias' presence dissuaded them from making such a move. Plus, perhaps their master whom they now disapprove of due to his proclamation of casting aside his Peerage members would not allow them near Aidan.

"…Grayfia," Rias suddenly spoke up, before Riser could say anything else. "Tell my brother that I agree to the Rating Game."

This statement caught the other members of her Peerage by surprise, even Aidan. He would have asked more had Rias not ignored him and kept her serious expression.

"I will inform him immediately," Grayfia responded. Rias soon turned her attention over to Riser.

"Riser, believe me when I say this; that we will blow you away!" Rias proclaimed to him.

"I look forward to it, then," Riser exclaimed as he and his servants gathered together, along with an awakened Mira even though she needed treatment. "I will be waiting for you at the Games."

He then turned his attention over to Aidan, bearing a scowl. "Aidan Kain! I will be more than satisfied watching you burn by my flames!"

With that, he and his Peerage were consumed in a tower of flames, his laughing voice echoing throughout.

Once the flames dispersed away, Aidan called out to Rias.

"Rias…" The crimson girl looked to her favored servant. "When next I meet him, I will make him suffer."

To Rias, Aidan's eyes turned that red color. And once again it could just be her imagination, but overcoming Aidan's form in a silhouette of sorts, she saw the one thing that brought fear to her entire being.

Diablo, the Lord of Terror, himself.

The first chapter of the Phenex Rating Game arc is done. And boy was this just the beginning. What started off as nightmares for both Rias and Aidan is now slowly but surely starting to become a reality.

Akeno is making such bold moves. Whether this is simple comfort or desire to be pleasured, who know what can be told behind her strange mask? And Rias doesn't like it one bit either. Speaking of Rias though, what she did was perhaps the worst thing imaginable for her and Aidan's reaction was perhaps the most scariest. I mean come on, who deploys a Sacred Gear and purposefully punches and misses a lovely girl's face so as to make her stop?

Grayfia. Where do I begin with her and her reaction to Aidan? Who was this Aurelia-sensei that she knew of? And how is she exactly Aidan's mother if Grayfia says he has her eyes?

And now the son of a bitch himself arrives. Clearly Aidan does not like Riser for obvious reasons but there is more to it than that. And Riser does not like Aidan either. But one thing is for certain: both will have a taste of fear itself. Diablo's influence grows stronger with every passing moment and it is only a matter of time before he truly returns. What better way for him to start emerging than with his favorite introduction quote "How tastes your fear?"

Next up is the training camp episode in the mountains. Stay tune for it!

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