Sirzech Lucifer grimaced as he sat at his desk, watching his clock as it ticked to the final seconds for when his wife would arrive. When she did, they would head to the Rating Game arena and watch as both Riser and Rias duked it out. Only two weeks for his sister to have her peerage trained enough to fight off the more experienced Riser Phenex, which would be in the logical low end. Riser's peerage was fourteen powerful women, including his sister who was his secondary Bishop piece. However, he knew that his father's friend, Ichi Iroh, had done something but had been too busy to look into it.
Such was the life of the Devil King, or at least one of them.
Too much paperwork and his wife always bringing him back to the point so he could deal with this or that. Right now though, he had cleared his schedule for this event. Of course, Ajuka Beelzebub would be joining him for this event. These events needed two of the Devil Kings to appear, both representing each side of the conflict for the Games. It was a traditional thing, something Sirzechs could do without in the long run but the Devil Race was a stubborn one, they held onto traditions like it was the last drop of water in a vast desert.
Of course, he also knew that the Rating Games were more then just two sides fighting. It was a simple way to handle political infighting, how to handle a family dispute in private matters or something like this. But, Sirzech felt a dark hole in the pit of his stomach as he knew that Rias would rather end her life then even let Riser anywhere near her. That and she was also dealing with the trauma from Aiichi, the cut on Grayfia's cheek was from the Gremory Family power was evidence of that. It hadn't healed, those wounds don't heal normally.
Unlike him, who followed his mother in mastering the Power of Destruction, Rias had followed their Father in mastering Demonic Chaos. Power that not only repelled atoms away from one another, it tore the soul apart and put a small piece into each and every repelled atom so they could not really die. Their horror leaving behind a shadow in reality, something he felt so easily as he walked around the old Satan city. The Devil Civil War had taken a massive hit to his sanity, leaving him with the rather deserved "siscon" status. It was a reaction to losing his innocence on the battlefield, not wanting his younger sibling to suffer the same fate as he did.
He failed spectacularly in that regard, Rias had faced the horror of reality and slaughtered monsters at Aiichi.
Her reactions were something he had done with both his parents after the Civil War, only Grayfia helped him through his trauma and got him on his feet. The Woman he married wasn't the same one that everyone knew was changed by the hands of the parents of previous heads of the Devil Pillars and Houses. The children of his generation rose up as the trial of Grayfia had been broadcasted live, leading to a revolution against the parents. Heads rolled, literally, as the children brought out the very guillotine that France had used during the bloody French Revolution.
It weakened the geas on Grayfia but didn't fully remove it, she had to break it herself if she wanted to be free.
As Grayfia entered, he stood up and followed her to where they could travel to the arena. His thoughts were on what his little sister could do against Riser. Many plans came to mind, the main one being that Rias would all but defeat Riser's peerage before she gives up when its just herself as Riser plays on her emotions and views on how she treats her peerage. Arriving at the room where he would watch the game, he was not prepared for the utter devastation that would come.
Callsa Dragio stood with her husband as they waited within the room reserved for the families of those close to the Gremory Pillar. The tall, voluptuous blonde haired woman was in a dark red wine colored silk dress. Her massive breasts could be seen as one of her long legs was exposed, showing off the simple dark crimson high heels that she wore. Her sharp blue eyes looked towards the wall that would allow them to view the Rating Game while also keeping them protected.
Her husband, the always masked in public Lucius Dread, was silently reading over a folder he had brought. Callsa couldn't help but smirk internally as her neutral expression remained on her face, a mask to protect herself with those she did not know.
"The game will start soon," She said, her soft tones causing her love to tilt his helmeted head towards her, "I suspect Rias got help beyond the stipulations put in place. She was never one to stay idle if her peerage was on the line."
"No," Lucius said, humming before saying, "Heir Riser Phenex has not faced Heiress Gremory before, she also has made even the Ice Queen of Lucifer avoid her. Not something he could say was a fluke. However, she is also your friend and may help her return from her emotionless state. Time can only tell."
Callsa nodded before leaning into her husband, pressing her body against his back with a mischievous smirk, "A long sweaty night in bed says that Rias thrashes Riser utterly and completely."
Lucius hummed before his hand moved, sensually squeezing her inner thigh, "One week in a maid outfit and a erotic french accent says she makes this entire game a show and pulls off something that was thought to be lost."
Callsa grinned, "you're on, husband of mine~!"
Callsa's expression returned to its neutral one as Sirzech and Grayfia entered the room, before the bet was on. Either way, Callsa was gonna enjoy herself with her husband.
Venelana Gremory née Bael followed her husband, Zeoticus Gremory, down the hallway towards the viewing room. The Brunette Ruin Princess, now known as the Eldritch of Crimson Ruin, was pondering on what had caused their only daughter to go down this path. Venelana was an intelligent woman, there was no doubt, but even she felt lost on why Rias fought as though her life depended on it until that fateful day with Headmaster Iroh.
She then began to understand why Rias fought so hard to keep herself away from Riser.
Blinded by the young heir, she had not understood why until she saw it for herself two weeks ago. The young man's eyes were way off, no warmth in them except for a facsimile of it. Each word calculated and thought out, cold and sharp like a frozen dagger. The boy she had known in her younger years was dead, gone and changed into something that made her skin crawl. It was a horrifying way to see it but now, she couldn't unsee it. Riser Phenex was gone, replaced by a monster in his skin. Grimacing to herself, she couldn't help but wonder what Lord Abban Phenex and Lady Elizabeth Phenex.
Their son, so bright and warm before becoming this thing that acted like Riser.
Probably as badly as she and Zeoticus took it after they returned home after having tea with Ichi Iroh. She had not slept that well a week after Rias had gone onto her training, waking up from memories being relieved in a different light. That had also caused her to push her natural gift, the Power of Destruction, even further beyond that she had startled Sirzech and Zeoticus one day with how much she had been using.
But now, she would be watching the fruits of her daughter's labors. She hadn't learned what type of training Rias had gone under, along with her peerage, but she hoped it was worth the effort. As she entered the room with her husband, she put on a smile as she saw Lucius Dread and Callsa Dragio. Her eldest child was there along with his wife, Grayfia but the surprises didn't stop there.
"Oh, hello Zoe Astrimous!"
Zoe Astrimous née Gremory hummed as her Queen, young Lily Evens, walked at her right side. Zoe knew that this would be the first time that Lily had ever been to a proper Rating Game viewing, the girl only ever been in the games herself. Though, unlike most of the reincarnated devils, Lily had died and possessed the body of a puppet mascot of some now lost restaurant company. With black and white stripes running down her legs and arms, pointed fingers and thin heels, Lily was a puppet in a black dress that looked rather regal. Along with white thin tentacles that stood in for hair, and glowing purple eyes, she was a human shaped puppet. The thing that broke this image was that she was forever an eight year old, despite her body showing off the curves of a growing woman.
Zoe wasn't exactly sure why this was but she didn't let anyone try to cop a feel, or having the wrath of a very ticked off eight year old soul hurt them.
Even her title, "Next Strongest Queen in the Underworld", was indicative of her power. She was reaching the levels of Grayfia and Callsa while also simply possessing a mascot body. Zoe smiled as she walked, young Lily humming as tentacles slide out of her back and writhed in the air.
"So, Auntie Rias is gonna face that mean boy?" Lily asked, the innocent question sounding a bit wrong coming from something with her growing curves.
"Indeed she is," Zoe nodded before patting her Queen's head gently, "I want you to take notes for your siblings to study in case we have to face her in a proper Rating Game."
"Of course, Mom, don't worry." Lily nodded with a smile as her eyes glowed warmly.
The pair of them continued their walk before finally entering the room as Venelana, her many times great grandnephew Zeoticus wife, called out to them.
"Oh, hello Zoe Astrimous!"
"Hello Venelana," Zoe smiled at her daughter-in-law, the taller woman walking over and hugging the smaller one, "How are you?"
"I am doing well," Venelana grinned before stepping back, "I hope the children are well?"
"They are doing well, their bodies are running at maximum proficiency," Zoe sighs, "sadly, I wish they had their own bodies to grow up in instead of bodies of metals."
Grayfia then motioned to the viewing wall as she said in a soft, nearly emotionless tone, "The rating game shall begin momentarily, please be seated."
Naima Ima sat in the room that was reserved for the teachers or instructors of a chosen side, this one being for Rias and her Peerage. Sitting in a specialized seat was Medusa in her real body, her long tail coiled around the furniture item as she sipped from a warm cup. Behind them, standing invisibly, were the four other teachers from the Clan Medusa was adopted into. As Naima thought over the past three months/two weeks of training the peerage.
They had trained very hard and grew in their power, abilities somewhat mastered. Naima, however, had a feeling in her gut that something was gonna happen that would make her facepalm. Rias wanted to go all out and prove Riser wrong, Which was a nice thought but even she had to admit, going all out was something you did with overwhelming numbers. But, Rias was a smart young woman. She was up in the ranks of smartest students along with Sona and Akeno.
"Do you think Rias has a plan for every person in Riser's peerage?" Medusa asked softly, looking at the viewing wall that would show them the rating game.
"Knowing Rias," Naima snorts, "She might turn this into an entire cosplay show, if I'm being honest."
Medusa chuckled, "More likely to make a name for herself and her peerage by running it like some dramatic play, something to call out Riser."
Naima thought about it before grimacing in defeat, not exactly sure what Rias would do. Only she needed to watch to see what Rias would do, and she would be groaning from the performance.
Lady Elizabeth Rosaliana Phenex grimaced as she looked at the viewing wall, wondering where her son had turned into a monster. The Lady Phenex was sitting with her two eldest sons, Ruval and Rizum, as her husband was speaking in quiet tones to the Phenex Lawyer. She was pondering on what she was gonna do because her son wasn't the same as the one she had given birth to.
Of course, she only began to notice after having some of her favorite tea provided by Lord and Lady Gremory. Jasmine Tea had become a rarity in the phenex household until she started noticing discrepancies in her memory and other events. Such as her supply of jasmine way too quickly rotting or vanishing, or all of it was vanishing from the market. It was rather clear someone was sabotaging her tea, but she hadn't realized what was going on until now.
Most of them had been her asking her youngest son to get her jasmine for her tea then returning to say they were all sold out. Soon, she thought it was gonna be inevitable she would never have her tea again. She had also noticed her youngest was acting odd every now and then before things had been fuzzy.
"Do you think our little brother can win?" Rizum asked, motioning to the viewing wall with a motion of his hand.
"'No," Ruval said flatly, shaking his head as his dark blue eyes flashed, "he is treating this game like he did against House Strav'grot. He's going all out and trying to end them before he can be ended."
Rizum blinked as Elizabeth remembered that Rating Game, Riser's third game in the arena and he had almost lost against a full team. He had only eight pieces back then, but even so, her son was put on edge before they had even left the manor for the Rating Game arena.
"Something about Heiress Gremory has him spooked?"
Ruval nodded as he looked at his younger sibling, "Riser is more minded in the ways of spying and information gathering, reading a room is a secondary skill but he also has the uncanny ability to feel out a group. Something in Heiress Gremory's group has him spooked and wanting to end this game quickly and decisively."
Rizum grunted, the younger sibling pondering that before asking, "do you think that something has come up with Heiress Gremory to warrant such a reaction as he is giving her?"
Ruval nodded, "I have seen many Rating Games and participated in two of them myself but in all of them, everyone was fighting at the top of their game. This one is off by several factors, the first being the time limit of two weeks. No game is ever fought after two weeks of training, never has been or should it. Riser gave Heiress Gremory a handicap on purpose; he wants her to lose. Secondly, Riser made it so no help could be given to her in any fashion from her family. He shut that down in a heartbeat, leaving her alone."
Ruval snorted as he continued, "by my estimate, Riser wants Heiress Gremory to be isolated and alone, unable to use help when she needs it the most. Third is that Riser got his peerage trained under Lord Bael, who has been a rival to the Gremory's after the events of Lady Venelana's and Zeoticus's wedding as well as disregarding Lady Zoe Astrimous. That can't be avoided, as Lady Astrimous is technically a Pillar like the Bael's and Gremory's, the late Lord Astrimous didn't want the power and hassle that would come along with it."
Rizum grimaced as the full weight of the youngest brother came through as Ruval finished, "and fourth, Riser is giving every one of his pieces Phenex Tears. Heiress Gremory will have none on her team, so any wounds that would be fatal can easily be fixed and stamina returned to full while her peerage is left tired and without any victory."
"He wants to utterly dominate her," Rizum hissed, his eyes burning, "What is he thinking?!"
"He isn't," Ruval huffed, shaking his head, "and he's dragging Ravel through the mud along with him because she believes in him. Which is our fault as we were not there to keep her out of this foolishness. So, after this match, no matter the winner, I'm having Ravel removed from our brother's peerage and left open, maybe sending her over to Heiress Gremory or having her join my own Peerage for a time."
"Undoubtedly the time with you will help her expand her narrow view of humankind," Rizum nodded.
Riser waited patiently for the game to start, his peerage looking restless. He had spent the morning injecting all but his sister with the NTR Drug, reinforcing their obedience to him as he looked at the hologram for the arena. Of course, he had it on the academy grounds so it would seem like he was being petty but that was on purpose. He had to make sure that Rias understood that no matter what she did, she could never beat him in any fashion or form.
She would be like Yubelluna and forever be his obedient little crimson wife.
His sister looked over the map as well before muttering something in Babylonian, a curse as she moved a few of the pawn pieces on the map to another location.
"That's about as well as I can get it, Big Brother," She said with a glower at the table, "the plan will be adjusted once we know what they have planned or will do. Can't do anything more given the fifteen minute set up phase, unless you want to shore up our defenses?"
Shaking his head, Riser motioned towards the map with a sharp gesture, "No, this will be good enough. Instruct the others in the plan then have them ready themselves for combat. Just like they were trained to do."
Soon the game would begin and Rias would fall, all her precious little pieces torn apart in a blast of fire and brimstone.