Chapter 4: Phoenix.

-Small Mature scene, skip if you want-

Issei's mind raced in confusion and surprise as he watched Rias's unexpected actions unfold before him.

"What is happening here?" Issei thought, his heart pounding in his chest, his eyes fixed on Rias as she began to undress herself.

Before he could comprehend what was going on, Rias's voice broke through the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. "Hurry, go to the bed. I will get ready for it now."

Issei felt a mixture of embarrassment and astonishment as Rias pushed him back onto the bed, urging him to make himself comfortable. His gaze remained locked on her, unable to tear his eyes away.

As Rias removed her skirt and school shirt, revealing her white underwear, Issei's cheeks turned a deep shade of red. He struggled to find words as he tried to process the situation unfolding before him.

Time seemed to slow as Rias's fingers moved to her bra, his gaze unintentionally fixed on her delicate actions.

"B-Buchou! This is—!?" Issei started to panic. "Oh men, even for a horny student this is too much"

Rias removed her bra, showing her breasts to the demon teen, she got closer to him and whisper something. "Ise, aren't I good enough?"

"N-No! Absolutely not!" Issei replied extremely nervous.

"I thought about all sorts of things, but this is the only method left." She replied with a cold face.

"What are you talking about?" Issei inquired.

"If there is evidence, then they can't complain about it. The only person close to me who is able to do it with me is you. She replied leaving more questions than answers. But Issei started to calm himself as time passed.

"...Yuuto won't do. He is a pure knight. He would decline it for sure." She continued. "I also thought about asking Shallot…but I still don't how a Saiyan would react during an intercourse, That's why you were the only one possible, Ise."

Hearing this made Issei's ego boost up to the heavens.

"I won over those two?! Ahahaha, I don't know what's going on, but for that part I can be proud! I won against the handsome and the monkey!"

"...There are things you still lack in, but you seem to have the potential." Rias commented touching Issei's cheeks.

She then removed her panties and horse rides Issei.

"This is your first time, right Ise? Or do you already have experience?"

"I-It's my first time!" he replied

"I see. It's my first time as well, so let's do it till the end even if both of us have no experience. It's all right, it's very simple. You just have to put it inside here." Rias pointed out at her important part.

Issei was bleeding from his nose entirely, he was about to explode.

"Crap, my head is about to burst because of this amazing situation!" he took his sweet time to think about the best way to approach his condition, until Rias started to get hasty.

"Come on what are you waiting for? I'm also nervous. You can tell by my heart beat right?" She replied. "B-But! I-I don't actually have the confidence!" Issei said with a whiny and weak voice.

"Are you trying to embarrass me?" Rias asked. Triggering, finally, Issei's lust drive, he tackled Rias, took a deep breath and lean his body towards her.

-End of mature scene-

"Buchou—" Issei shouted but a flash interrupted him. The floor of his room sparked once again, the circle of the Gremory family appeared.

"...Looks like I was a bit late..." Rias sighed.

"WHY?! Is it Akeno? Kiba? Wait, no matter who it is, getting caught by anyone in this situation is really bad!" Issei's thoughts raced.

But to his surprise, the one who emerged from the circle was a silver-haired woman in a maid outfit. She took a moment to assess the situation and then addressed Rias. "Are you trying to break the agreement by doing something like this?" The maid's voice was plain, as if she were genuinely astonished.

Rias twitched her eyebrows at the blunt remark. "If I don't go this far, both my dad and brother won't listen to me, right?" Rias responded, her tone a mix of defiance and resignation.

"Both Sirzechs-sama and the master will become sad after they find out that you tried to give your purity to some lowly person like this," the girl commented. "And don't even mention the guy from the other dimension."

"Sirzechs? Master? Are those her father and brother? They also know about Shallot?" Issei thought. "She also referred to me as a lowly person. What a shame."

"My purity is mine only. What's wrong with giving it to someone whom I acknowledged? Also, don't call my cute servant lowly. Even if it's you, I won't forgive you, Grayfia," Rias said, her stance turning confrontational as she prepared to attack the silver-haired woman.

However, Grayfia completely ignored Rias' aggression, instead picking up Rias's bra. "Anyway, you are the next heiress of the House of Gremory, so please don't show your skin to a man recklessly. Even more so if you are in the middle of this situation."

Grayfia then introduced herself to Issei, her voice carrying an air of formality. She bowed her head respectfully, her silver hair falling gracefully as she did so. Issei, captivated by her appearance, couldn't help but let his gaze wander over Grayfia's entire body. His eyes traced the contours of her maid outfit, his thoughts momentarily lost in admiration.

However, his reverie was abruptly interrupted by a swift and precise pinch on his cheek, courtesy of Rias. Her exasperated expression conveyed a clear message of disapproval for his wandering eyes and inappropriate thoughts.

"Grayfia, did you come here of your own accord? Or because the household sent you? ...Or is it my brother?" Rias asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion, as she tried to uncover the reason behind Grayfia's unexpected appearance.

"All of them," Grayfia replied simply, her response casting a veil of intrigue over the situation.

"Is that so? You, who is brother's [Queen], came to the human world personally. So, it can only be one thing. I understand." Rias's voice held a hint of resignation, as if she had pieced together the puzzle but was unsure if she liked the picture it formed. "I'm sorry, Ise. Let's make it so that the thing from earlier never happened. I wasn't thinking straight either. Let's forget about today's incident."

"Ise? Wait, is this person?" Grayfia's voice held a note of astonishment, the unexpected turn of events clearly catching her off guard.

"Yes, Hyoudou Issei. My [Pawn]. The user of the [Boosted Gear]." Rias's words carried a sense of importance, as if she were introducing Issei to a world of secrets and power beyond his imagination.

"...[Boosted Gear], the one possessed by the Emperor of Dragons..." Grayfia's hushed whisper revealed the weight of recognition and awe that the name carried, even in her composed demeanor. However, she quickly refocused herself, snapping back to her duty and professionalism.

"Grayfia, let's go back to my room. I will listen to what you have to say over there. Akeno can also attend, right?" Rias's invitation carried a sense of authority and expectation.

"The "Priestess of Thunder"? I don't mind. It's a must for High-class Devils to have their [Queen] by their side all the time." Grayfia's response conveyed her understanding of the dynamics within their world and her readiness to fulfill her role.

"Fine, let's go get her," Rias's voice held a mixture of determination and resignation. "Very well. Ise, please accept my apologies for today's events. I've caused you quite a bit of trouble. Let's reconvene in the clubroom tomorrow."

As Rias and Grayfia departed the room through a shimmering magic circle, Issei stood there in a daze, his heart still racing from the unexpected encounter.

"W... What in the world just happened?" Issei muttered to himself, a bewildered expression on his face. He pinched his own cheek as if to confirm that he wasn't in some sort of surreal dream.

Meanwhile.

Akeno and Shallot were in the kitchen, working together to prepare dinner for the evening. Akeno had taken the opportunity to buy some extra ingredients, ensuring that the meal would be a delightful feast. Shallot, on the other hand, utilized his unique abilities, channeling his energy to cook and prepare the food with incredible speed and precision.

"You know, Akeno, I never told you before, but having you here reminds me of the times I used to eat with my whole family back on Sadala," Shallot said, carefully serving the food onto the plates.

Akeno smiled softly but with a touch of sadness. "Hehe, I envy you in that way. I didn't have many happy dinners when I was a child," she replied, her gaze wandering a bit, lost in her memories.

Shallot, sensing that he had touched on a sensitive topic, gently asked, "Really? What happened? You have parents, don't you?" His innocence came through in his question.

Akeno's expression shifted, and she hesitated for a moment. "Well… I don't really like to talk about it, but… I could never get along with my father after something terrible he did," she finally commented, her voice trailing off. She seemed to tense up, clearly struggling with the memories.

Seeing how uncomfortable she was, Shallot decided to quickly change the subject and offer some support. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Akeno. But I'm grateful to have you here with me now. You've made these past weeks so much more interesting, and I want you to know that I consider you part of my family now."

Akeno's eyes softened, and she gave Shallot a sincere smile. "Thank you, Shallot. That means a lot to me," she blushed after that. "You know Shallot…you have a great heart…but you are so naïve with some things…" Akeno said getting closer to him.

"What do you mean, Akeno?" Shallot asked.

"Oh, come on…you used exactly the right words to comfort me…what do you think that makes me feel, eh?" Akeno said, getting her face closer to Shallot's.

"E..ehm…I mean happy?" Shallot said nervously.

"Yes…but something more, just close your eyes and let me show you -" Akeno approached Shallot but was interrupted before she could start. A magical circle appeared on Shallot's floor, causing them both to turn their attention.

Rias and Grayfia appeared just in time to witness the unfolding situation. "AKENO?!" Rias shouted in surprise. "Just when things were about to get interesting," she replied a little upset. Grayfia then joined the conversation. "We need to discuss some things, [QUEEN] of Rias, please come with us."

Then the silver-haired woman wasted no time and began to analyze Shallot. "So, this is the 'Saiyan' who arrived from another dimension." She then approached the young Saiyan to introduce herself.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Grayfia." She said bowing her head.

"Hi there, my name is Shallot," he replied, extending his hand for a handshake. However, Akeno softly slapped him on the back of the head. "Shallot…what did we study about noble families?"

"Oh, sorry," Shallot replied, introducing himself again, this time bowing his head and placing his hand on his chest, showing respect.

"Don't worry, we don't need such formalities when we're in your house."

"Excuse us for invading your home, Shallot, but we need to borrow Akeno for this," Rias said.

"No problem, do what you gotta do. Good luck!" The Saiyan replied.

"See you tomorrow, Shallot," Rias and Akeno said, bidding their farewell.

"Oh boyl, time to finish all of the dinner, lucky me!" he thought.

Next day.

Issei and Asia were walking towards the school, Issei looked really tired, he couldn't sleep anything after his incident with Rias. Asia obviously noticed this; she asked the demon teen what happened last night.

"Are you okay?" Asia asked worried. "You didn't do the morning training today, so I thought your body was hurt."

"It's nothing, Asia... I just had a rough night, that's all. Thank you for asking, though," Issei replied, obviously not wanting to mention that he was about to have sex with Rias.

"Remember, if anything is troubling you, I'm here to help, Ise," Asia replied, trying to support her friend.

Issei nodded, and they both continued their trip to the occult club. Upon arrival, they found Kiba and Shallot talking about what happened yesterday. "Hmm, if she went for Akeno alongside Grayfia, then something is not right," Kiba said.

"Rias looked a little tense, I guess she will tell us now," Shallot said.

"Let's just wait for her arrival." Kiba said.

Issei and Asia approached Shallot and Kiba to see if they knew anything about Rias.

"Hey, Kiba, don't you think Rias has been acting strange lately? This whole week seemed pretty exhausting for her," Issei asked.

"As I was saying to Shallot, I didn't notice her strange behavior until he told me," Kiba replied.

"You think Akeno would know?" Asia asked.

"I betcha, she is the most trusted servant of Rias."

"Oh! They just arrived, I sense new demon energies inside, let's go," Shallot exclaimed, opening the door to the main room. Inside, there was Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Grayfia.

"Oh boy…" Kiba whispered, the atmosphere was tense, nobody wanted to talk. Even Koneko was sitting on a chair far from the main group. Minutes passed, and finally, Rias decided to break the silence. "Looks like everyone is here. Before we start the club, there's something I need to tell all of you."

"Rias, do you want me to explain the situation?" Grayfia offered, but Rias waved her hand, rejecting the offer.

"The truth is—" Rias was interrupted as another magic circle appeared on the ground, but this time it wasn't from the Gremory house. It had a weird symbol, and instead of red, it was orange.

"—Phoenix," Kiba murmured. A column of fire rose from the circle. Shallot felt a strong energy forming inside the pillar. A silhouette of a man could also be seen, and the silhouette swung his arm, causing the fire to extinguish.

"Fuu, it's been a while since I came to the human's world," he said.

The fire revealed a man in his early 20s wearing a suit with his shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. He inspected the whole room, and his facial expressions made it clear that he held himself in high regard. As he approached Rias, he wore a grin that seemed more smug than affectionate, grabbing her hand with an air of ownership.

"My lovely Rias, I came to see you," he purred with a tone that set Issei's nerves on edge.

"...M-My lovely Rias? Who the hell is this guy?" Issei's thoughts were laced with a mixture of confusion and jealousy, his competitive spirit tingling.

"I feel the same energy that Rias and the others have, but there's something unsettling about him," Shallot mused, trying to analyze the aura he sensed.

"Now then, Rias. Let's go and take a look at the ceremony hall. The date of the ceremony is decided, so we need to check it before then," he said, with a possessive grip on Rias's arm that didn't sit well with anyone in the room.

"Who is this guy, and why does he act like he owns her?" Issei's irritation was growing.

"...Let go of me, Raiser," Rias's voice was laced with a blend of annoyance and anger as she firmly removed his hand.

Seeing Rias in that uncomfortable position fueled Issei's anger, and he decided to confront the arrogant newcomer, ready to stand up for Rias.

"Hey, you. You're being rude to Buchou. What's with that attitude towards a lady?" Issei's tone was stern and challenging.

"Ah? Who are you?" Raiser replied dismissively, as if Issei was an insignificant bug in his path.

"I am the servant Devil of Rias Gremory! I'm the [Pawn], Hyoudou Issei," Issei declared with pride, determined to make his presence and loyalty known.

"Hmm. Ah, okay," Raiser replied, brushing off Issei's introduction once again, as if it was of no significance. Issei's frustration grew, feeling like his efforts were in vain. But he wasn't about to give up just yet.

"I mean, who the heck are you?" Issei asked, this time hitting a nerve with Raiser, who finally seemed to react.

"...Oh? Rias, you haven't mentioned me to your servants? I mean, are there guys who don't know me? A reincarnated Devil? Even so," Raiser inquired, sounding almost surprised that he wasn't immediately recognized.

"I didn't tell them because there was no need," Rias replied, a hint of tension in her voice, which only seemed to amuse Raiser. "Oh my, harsh as always. Hahaha..."

"Tss, what a moron!" Shallot suddenly interjected, the words coming out with an unexpected sharpness that caught everyone off guard.

"What did you say, primitive?" Raiser retorted, clearly insulted by Shallot's comment.

"Shallot!" Rias exclaimed, her tone a mix of reprimand and frustration.

Koneko reacted quickly, stepping in and making a small gesture to signal Shallot to hold back and not escalate the situation further.

Grayfia, being the composed and level-headed one in the room, stepped forward to mediate, attempting to defuse the tension between the two groups. "Hyoudou Issei-sama."

"Y-Yes," Issei replied nervously, slightly taken aback by the sudden formality.

"This person is Raiser Phoenix-sama. He's a pure-blood High-class Devil, and the third son of the House of Phoenix," Grayfia explained, her tone indicating the significance of his status.

Shallot's memory was jogged. He recalled something he had studied with Akeno about Raiser's family; something about them being responsible for supplying a magical potion known as phoenix tears.

As for Issei, he was desperately trying to piece together the nature of the relationship between Rias and this Raiser guy. How had they met? What was their connection? But Grayfia continued, revealing more about the situation.

"And he is the husband of the next heiress of the House of Gremory. He is engaged to Rias."

"WHAAAAAAT?!" Issei's exclamation was loud and astonished, echoing through the room.

Shallot, although a bit surprised himself, turned to Koneko, leaning in to ask her a question.

"Koneko… I don't remember hearing or reading about 'engagement' in my studies with Akeno. What does that mean? I've just learned about the leaders of the demon houses."

Koneko replied, hushing him with a finger to her lips. "It means when two people formally agree to marry each other. Now shhh, let's listen."

"Got it…what's 'marry'?" Shallot asked again, his curiosity persistent, but Koneko hushed him once more, signaling him to listen.

After that, Raiser and Rias sat down on the couch, while Akeno delivered cups of tea to the entire group.

"The tea made by Rias's [Queen] is superb," Raiser commented, though it was clear that his focus was less on the tea and more on Rias herself.

"Thank you very much," Rias replied, her discomfort evident in her response.

Raiser continued to be overly familiar, touching Rias's hair, shoulder, and legs without permission. Each time she shook off his hand, he seemed to become even more persistent.

"This is getting uncomfortable; I didn't expect his energy to become so repulsive in just a few seconds," Shallot thought, observing the situation.

Issei's gaze shifted to Shallot, finding a kindred spirit in the frustration they both felt. "It's not fair, just watching this unfold," he thought, feeling a surge of determination.

And then, as if on cue, his usual perverted thoughts tried to break through the tension. "Wait a minute, I've already felt Rias's boobs. That's a win for me, hehehe."

Asia, noticing Issei's flushed face and mischievous grin, asked, "Um, Ise-san, did something good happen?"

Koneko chimed in, her expression unchanged, "He's probably just having his usual indecent thoughts."

"In that case, wipe your drool, Issei," Kiba offered, passing him a handkerchief.

Before Issei could reply, the room was shaken by a furious outburst. Rias's voice pierced through the tension, carrying a wave of intense emotion, "STOP THIS ALREADY, I WILL NOT MARRY YOU!" The dramatic moment left the room in stunned silence.

"Yeah, I've heard that tune before. But Rias, you can't just brush off the gravity of your family's situation," Raiser replied, a smug air about him.

"That's where you're wrong! If I'm next in line for the Gremory throne, then I'll be the one to choose my future husband! The pressure from my father, my brother, the whole clan... it's overwhelming. Besides, I made a pact that I would have the freedom to live my life until I finish university in the human world!" Rias's words held conviction.

"Sure, your freedom is essential. You can go to college, follow your own path, and manage your servants your way. But it's not just about you, Rias. Your father and Sirzechs-sama are worried about the survival of our lineage. We lost a considerable number of pure-blood Devils during the last war, and our ongoing rivalry with the Fallen Angels and God isn't letting up. It's a sad truth that the heirs of pure-blood Devils often meet untimely ends in these battles, leading to the demise of the family. Marrying another pure-blood High-class Devil, someone who shares the same legacy, would be a strategic move to bolster our Devil forces. These young ones here will undoubtedly shape our future," Raiser's explanation carried weight.

Shallot, silently listening nearby, pieced together the grim truth.

"So that's the dark tale behind the vanishing of the demon noble families. Hybrids outclass the pure-bloods, and the war wiped a great portion of the pure-blooded demons," Shallot reflected.

"I won't let my family fall apart. I am open to taking a husband, but it won't be you, Raiser. I'll marry the one I believe in. Even the old noble houses' Devils have the right to make their own choices," Rias declared firmly, asserting her autonomy.

The atmosphere tensed as Raiser's arrogance flared, his fiery display announcing his power. Shallot, vigilant, slipped into his battle stance, recognizing the formidable energy emanating from Raiser.

"This power... it's not on Vali's level, but it's still intense," Shallot analyzed, preparing himself.

"I will take you back to the underworld, even if I have to burn all of your servants," Raiser's chilling threat sent shivers down the spines of the Gremory group, causing Asia to clutch Issei's arm tightly in fear. Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno were ready to step in if necessary.

"He's on par with Buchou's demonic power," Issei observed, recognizing the formidable might Rias wielded.

Just as a full-scale confrontation seemed imminent, Grayfia intervened, her presence alone imposing enough to quell the rising tension.

"Rias-sama, Raiser-sama, please calm down. If both of you were to continue, then I won't be quiet about it. For Sirzechs-sama's honor, I won't hold back," Grayfia warned with unwavering determination, instantly defusing the situation.

"...To be told that by the 'Strongest Queen'... even I would be scared... I definitely wouldn't want to fight the people from Sirzech-sama's group, which is known to be made up of monsters," Raiser conceded, acknowledging Grayfia's authority.

Shallot, taking note of Grayfia's commanding presence, contemplated her strength. "Now I see who's in charge here. I wonder just how formidable she really is," Shallot mused, assessing Grayfia's aura.

Issei couldn't help but be taken aback by the extent of influence Rias's brother wielded over the other demons. As the tension subsided and Grayfia spoke again, she offered a glimmer of hope for the members of the club.

"Master, Sirzechs, and those from the House of Phoenix knew it would turn out like this. To tell you the truth, this was to be the last discussion meeting. Everyone knew that it wouldn't be solved, so they decided to make a last resort," Grayfia revealed, shedding light on the dire circumstances.

"Last resort? What do you mean, Grayfia?" Rias asked.

"Rias, if you wish to push your opinion forward, then how about you settle it by having a [Rating Game] against Raiser?" Grayfia said leaving Rias speechless.

"[Rating Game]? I think I heard about it before..." Issei thought.

"What… game?" Shallot asked, his confusion evident.

"It's a game that Devils with peerage play, competing by having their servants battle," Kiba explained.

"As you're aware, only mature-aged Devils can officially participate in the [Rating Game]. But for this unofficial match between pure-blood Devils, even those not fully mature can join, under certain conditions," Grayfia clarified.

"Especially when it's related to family and household matters," Rias added, her frustration palpable.

"So, they're resorting to a game as a last-ditch effort, in case I refuse?" Rias's anger was clearly building.

"Rias, are you considering declining this as well?" Grayfia asked.

"No, I won't refuse. This is an opportunity. Fine then, let's settle it with a game, Raiser," Rias responded with determination.

"Well, well, you're accepting it. I'm not bothered. But you do realize, I'm already a matured Devil, having participated in the official games. So far, I've won most of them. Are you sure you want to challenge me, Rias?" Raiser taunted, a smug tone in his words.

But Rias didn't back down, meeting Raiser's challenge with a fearless smile.

"I will. I will blow you away, Raiser!" Her words held a determined resolve, a clear indication that she wouldn't yield easily.

"Fine. If you win, do whatever you like. But if I win, you will marry me immediately." Raiser's response carried a hint of arrogance, confident in his own abilities. The atmosphere grew tense as the two of them locked eyes, a silent battle of wills.

Grayfia, sensing the moment, stepped in to mediate.

"Understood. I, Grayfia, have confirmed both sides' opinions. I will oversee the match between the two households. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Yeah."

Both Rias and Raiser agreed, though the tension lingered in the room like a charged current.

"Very well. I will inform the two households then," Grayfia's decisive statement brought a sense of finality to the discussion.

"Good, now it's on," Shallot responded with a spark of excitement, clearly ready for the impending showdown. However, Raiser's demeanor remained unshaken, his air of superiority still evident.

"Hey, Rias. Would the ones here be your servants?" Raiser inquired with a condescending tone, trying to undermine her.

Rias, undeterred, rolled her eyes at his attitude and confidently retorted, "So what?" Her response didn't seem to faze Raiser, who began to chuckle, finding amusement in her reaction.

"Then this match will be a laugh. Only your [Queen], the 'Priestess of Thunder,' can fight on par with my adorable servants," Raiser confidently proclaimed, trying to diminish the potential threat of Rias's team.

With a snap of his fingers, a magic circle on the floor lit up, leaving Issei and Shallot speechless as they witnessed the summoning.

"Well, these are my cute servants," Raiser declared, presenting his formidable lineup of 15 evil pieces.

Issei couldn't help but express his concern, "Two knights? Two rooks? a queen? He's got the entire team! And to top it off, it's a full girl team. We're outnumbered."

Shallot, on the other hand, was brimming with excitement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Whoa! Just think of all the diverse fighting styles these girls must have. I'm pumped up and ready to face them!" His enthusiasm was infectious, despite the odds stacked against them.

Issei found himself shedding tears as he gazed at Raiser's stunning team, living out his harem fantasy.

"H-Hey, Rias... This servant over here is crying a lot while looking at me," Raiser remarked with a smirk. "This boy's dream is to have a harem. I think he was moved after looking at your servants."

"Gross~." One girl said

"Raiser-sama, this person is really giving me the creeps," the girls whispered among themselves, watching Issei's emotional display.

"Don't say that, my adorable girls. Looking up to those who are more experienced is natural. Let's show them the fire in our hearts," Raiser encouraged his team, displaying his charismatic leadership. But then, to the shock and discomfort of everyone present, the phoenix began to engage in a passionate kiss with one of the girls right there in the room.

"What the hell?" Shallot exclaimed, his confusion mirrored on the faces of the others.

Asia moved closer to Issei, her face flushed with embarrassment. Koneko expressed her disgust, Kiba averted his gaze, and Rias and Akeno seemed entirely unfazed.

Raiser then casually switched to another girl, his actions clearly intended to provoke and unnerve Issei. It was a bold display of arrogance and power that left a sour taste in the room.

"You will never be able to do this," Raiser taunted Issei.

"Don't say what I think you're saying! Damn it! Boosted Gear!" Issei shouted, summoning his sacred gear.

"A womanizer like you isn't good enough to be with Buchou!" Issei retorted, pointing his finger at Raiser.

"Huh? Weren't you looking up to the so-called womanizer?" Raiser countered Issei's words.

"He has a point, in a twisted way," Shallot thought.

"S-Shut up! That's different with the thing about Buchou! At this rate, you will continue to flirt with other girls even after you marry Buchou!"

"Heroes love women. That's a saying in the human world, right? A good phrase indeed. But this is just a close relationship with my servants. Aren't you also getting adored by Rias?" Raiser replied.

"Hero? You? You're just an arrogant dick," Shallot interjected, further provoking Raiser.

"That's not the way you talk to a High-class Devil! Rias, what's going on with your discipline towards your servants!?"

Rias, recognizing that Shallot wasn't her servant, simply replied, "Like I care, he is right."

"Yeah, Shallot is right. You're no hero, you're just a fried chicken, hahaha! We don't need to have a game! I will just take you all down, right here, right now!" Issei declared, his determination igniting preparing to attack

Raiser sighed and ordered one of his girls to act.

"Mira. Do it."

"Yes, Raiser-sama."

A girl, just as small as Koneko, appeared in front of Issei, wielding a bo staff as a weapon.

"Out of my way," Issei said. But the girl moved with astonishing grace, easily dodging Issei's attack and swiftly countering, delivering a precise strike to his abdomen with one end of the bo.

Issei went flying to the back of the room. "Ise-san!" Asia shouted in concern.

"That was the Boosted Gear? HAHAHA, he was easily defeated by the weakest member of my team," Raiser said, mocking Issei.

"HEY! KNOCK IT OFF!" Shallot interjected, charging towards the girl. She tried the same tactic she used on Issei, but Shallot proved to be much faster. With a quick sidestep, Shallot dodged her attack and counterattacked by punching the girl right in the same spot she hit Issei, knocking her down.

The phoenix was impressed by Shallot's display.

"Looks like one of your servants is not as bad as I thought, Isabella!" Raiser commented, ordering another girl to attack. This lady had a white mask covering half of her face, orange hair, and was dressed in a black latex suit.

Shallot prepared for her attack, feeling her immense strength as she threw a punch at him. Their hands met in a test of strength, and Shallot felt the pressure. He realized that Isabella was strong. Trying to find an opening, he threw a powerful kick at her gut, but she didn't even flinch.

Isabella countered by lifting Shallot up, then slammed him forcefully into the ground.

"And there he goes, I honestly thought this guy was something," Raiser said, finally triggering a reaction from Rias.

"Enough! If you touch one of my servants again I promise I will make you retire in just a few seconds" She said.

"Fine Fine, how about we have a match in 14 days? We could do it now, but that wouldn't be interesting." Raiser said.

"...Are you giving me a handicap." Rias asked

"Are you against it? Is it humiliating? [Rating Game] isn't something simple that you can win with only your feelings. If you can't use your servant's power to the fullest, then you will lose immediately. So it's not weird for you to train with your servants for your first [Rating Game]. I have seen Devils who lost without using their power to the fullest countless of times, no matter how great their potential and power was." Raiser explained. He then approached his magic circle.

"—14 days. If it's you, then you should be able to improve your servants."

Raiser then looked at Issei and Shallot.

"Don't be a disgrace to Rias, Rias's servants. Your blow is Rias's blow."

With that, he disappeared, using his magic circle, but not before saying goodbye to Rias. "Rias, the next time we meet will be at the game."

The tension in the room started to subside as Raiser left.

"14 days…" Rias said, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

"Do you think that is enough time, Buchou?" Kiba inquired, concern etched across his face.

"I don't know…but we must start now with the training if we want to stand a chance against them," she replied, her determination evident.

"And what about Shallot? He's not a part of our clan," Akeno asked, glancing at the Saiyan.

"True, but he can still help us," Rias said, her eyes shifting to Shallot. The Saiyan stood up, a sense of responsibility radiating from him.

"I may not be part of your clan, and I don't know if I'll be able to help you in that game, but that doesn't mean I can't help you with your training," Shallot affirmed, his voice carrying the determination that had marked his actions in battle.

Koneko, who had been silently observing the conversation, chimed in, "Shallot-sempai, can you give us an honest assessment of where we stand in terms of power compared to Raiser and his team?"

The Saiyan then replied "If Issei got knocked out by Raiser's weakest servant, then yeah, we're at a disadvantage right now. But it doesn't mean we can't catch up. I was almost at the same level as the orange-haired girl," Shallot explained, his eyes focused on the challenge ahead. "With the right training strategy, I'm sure we can bridge the gap."

"Alright then, what are we waiting for?" Kiba's resolve was evident in his voice.

"My my, Shallot knows how to motivate people," Akeno commented with an appreciative smile.

"…I wanna see if I'm able to learn one of your Ki attacks, Shallot-sempai," Koneko said, her curiosity mixed with determination.

Issei stood up after being healed by Asia's Twilight Healing. "I know I'm weak right now, and I'm sorry, but I promise I will do my best to become stronger and protect Buchou."

"Me too!" Asia added, her determination matching Issei's.

"Perfect. Let's give it our all, guys," Shallot said, his enthusiasm contagious.

Rias nodded, her smile growing wider. "Alright then, Shallot. We'll need all the help we can get. Let's head to the mountains and begin our training immediately. We'll rise to the challenge and show them what we're made of." The Gremory group now had a clear goal: to prepare for the upcoming showdown in 14 days. Their fate, and the fate of their household, depended on their unwavering efforts.

End of Chapter 4.