Original Posted On Jan. 4, 2024
Beta Read by: Darklord331
Review Response:
ShadowBloodedge9396: I feel like I could have done better with the Faust fight, but I am happy with it.
NightSlayer04: Hm…
Nathair1: Who knows, but Kisara is going to use some of his techniques. My original plan for Kisara was to OC her a bit, making her a genderbent Sanji in a sense. We shall see what happens with Faust.
Borello: Thank you.
Bednarczykmiki: Yeah, it was fun to write.
Harem:
Koneko Toujo, Ravel Phenex
Ravel Phenex Peerage:
King: Ravel Phenex
Queen:
Bishops: Danjuro "Gentle" Tobita
Knights: Sai Kurozumi (SG User: Ink Dweller)
Rooks: Vulcan (Blacksmith, Hammer/Fist (from Reincarnated as a Behemoth))
Pawns: Mittelt (X1 Pawn)
OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO, ONE PIECE, HIGHSCHOOL DXD OR ANY OTHER ANIME I MAY REFERENCE!
"Hey" = Speaking
'Hey' = Thinking
'Hey' = Memory
"Hey"= Sacred Gear/ Communication link
Chapter 50: The Formal Challenge
Underworld, Phenex Mansion…
"Mother, Father," Riser greeted as he entered the lounge, bowing. "I have returned."
Layla and Jonathan's arms wrapped around their third child.
"Welcome home, Riser." Jonathan said as he hugged his boy.
"We missed you terribly." Layla stated as she pulled back, her hands cupping riser's cheeks. "Let me get a good look at you."
Riser smiled as he accepted his mother's affection.
A chuckle arose behind the parents and child.
"You didn't tell me your parents were so polite, my student." The elder said as he made his presence know.
"Who is this?" Jonathan asked, having never met the man.
"Forgive me, this is my last Peerage member, my Last Bishop, and my mentor," Riser said, pulling away from his parents to introduce his Bishop. "His name is Zuko, and he trained me the last two years I was away."
Layla quirked an eyebrow.
Seeing Zuko's clothing, she looked at Riser.
Riser had incorporated some of the clothing Zuko wore into his own, showing his own kind of respect.
She smiled, so happy her more problematic child had grown, until her smile vanished when she noticed something at his wrists and around his neck.
"Oh, honey, what happened?" Layla asked when she noticed the bandages around Riser's neck and at the cusps of his sleeves.
"Nothing bad, I promise." Riser said, not wanting to give away anything. "Now, there is something I have to talk to you both about…"
Skip, Next Morning, Phenex Manor…
*BONK*
"FUCK, WHY'D YOU HIT ME, VULCAN!" Naruto yelled, getting into the female beast kin's face as a large welt appeared on his head.
It was the morning after Sabo's fight with Faust, breakfast being served with Mittelt and Vulcan being the last two to enter, Manami and Danjuro being in their room to allow the Bishop to recover.
Vulcan, upon seeing Naruto eating his breakfast, walked up and belted him outside his head.
"THAT'S FOR YOUR CLONE JUST ABANDONING US YESTERDAY, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Vulcan shouted back as she grabbed his face and stretched it outward. "HOW DARE YOU ACT LIKE A VICTIM HERE!"
I AM SCARED OF GHOSTS AND SKELETONS, THE FUCK DID YOU EXPECT!" Naruto yelled in return, taking Vulcan's cheeks in his hands.
Both of them pulling on each other's cheeks as hard as they could, until an arm appeared between them.
"Alright, that's enough." Mittelt said as she held a plate of waffles. "We are trying to eat. Yes, Naruto's clone popping at the worst time is bad, but you are an adult, Vulcan. Don't start unnecessary fights between comrades."
Naruto and Vulcan released each other, glaring as they separated to eat dinner.
"So," Naruto said as he gave Ravel his attention before glancing at Sabo. "What happened to the necromancer?"
Sabo leaned into his chair, earning a look of ire from Ravel, prompting him to sit up straight again.
"Well, we gave him a choice." Sabo stated, thinking back to the previous night.
Flashback…
"Faust…" Ravel said as she returned her attention to the human. "What if I told you… that we can help you get the secrets of true resurrection, but at a cost?"
Ravel and Sabo held up an Evil Piece.
"I think I'd prefer death." Faust responded. "What does making me a devil offer me? From what I know, devils live forever, so I'd never be reunited with Eliza in death's embrace."
"If you accept, we can give you access to our family library, which has medical knowledge on almost ALL known creatures." Ravel explained. "It also has journals from around your Ancestor's time that could also hold the key to reviving Eliza."
"On top of that, we can use the steps Lord Beelzebub used to create the Evil Piece system to return Eliza's soul to this plain of existence." Sabo pointed out.
Faust's eyes widened slightly with a small flash of hope.
"SO… I give you my eternal servitude, and I can get the opportunity to revive my beloved?"
The Phenex siblings nodded.
"Truly, a Faustian Bargain. The Irony is NOT lost on me." Faust chuckled as he smiled. "I accept."
"Alright, who?" Both of them asked.
Faust's eyes landed on Ravel.
"I feel the little miss would be my best choice. After all, I did attack her comrades. Serving her, I can redeem my past actions. If she allows me to." Faust said, bowing as best he could within Justin's grasp.
Sabo chuckled, putting his arms behind his head.
"Welp, the man has chosen you, little sis." He said with pride, not bothered Faust chose Ravel.
"Don't expect them to forgive you easily." Ravel said as she held out her hand, two Pawn Pieces in her hand.
"I don't expect it to be easy." Faust said, accepting the Pawn Pieces within himself.
Flashback End…
"You accepted that lunatic into our group?" Vulcan yelled, standing up with her hands on the table.
"Yes."
"He… wh… I don't accept this!" Vulcan stated, her emotions all over the place.
"I agree, I am not on board with this." Mittelt voiced.
"Well, you were an enemy, but we accepted you, so what is the difference?" Naruto asked.
It was not really his place to intervene in this conversation, due to him only be a temporary member of Ravel's Peerage.
"That was different, I didn't attack…"
"But you did attack my friends of the Gremory Peerage, so I say this situation is NO different." Naruto interrupted Mittelt, leaning onto the table, eyes locked onto the fallen. "So, tell me why this is such an uproar, Mittelt?"
Mittelt snarled but remained silent.
It was true, Naruto was not wrong.
"Where is Faust currently, my King?" Mittelt asked, talking calmly.
"He is in the Underworld right now with Justin and Kisara." Sabo said as he ate his fifth helping of breakfast. "The plan is for them to introduce Faust to our parents and explain what happened. Ravel even recorded a video explaining things. That way, Mom and Dad don't just kill him. Aside from that, I believe Faust will be absent for a while, since we did promise him the ability to research old notes so he can revive his wife."
Vulcan sat down, arms crossed.
Feeling something graze her leg, Vulcan looked down and saw Loona.
The hellhound looked saddened at the emotional beast kin, sensing the woman's distress.
Placing her hand on the hound's head, Vulcan patted her.
"I'll give the bastard a chance, but if he shows ANY signs of sabotage or misdeeds…" the beast kin's eyes glowed as she flexed her fingers, cracking echoing from them. "I'll kill him, no hesitation."
Ravel, while not liking the threat, nodded.
The loyalty of animals or beasts was really strong, so betrayal was not easily tolerated.
The silence was broken when Sai entered, yawning as he did.
"Morning… what's with all the gloom?" he asked obliviously.
Skip, Kuoh Academy…
"Well, that is another piece to Ravel." Sona told Rias as she added Faust's name to the list of members.
She was not required to make this list, but it helped when keeping track.
Currently, Sona had the greatest number of servants in her peerage, while Rias had seven and Ravel had five.
Sona turned to Rias, seeing her friends back as she looked out the window.
"Rias, you seriously need to get in gear. I know you are banking on Hyoudo, but you should start getting his training underway." Sona urged.
"I know… I know…" Rias replied softly, nearly absentmindedly. "It's just… he is such a clean slate right now. I don't know where to start."
"May I make a suggestion?" Sona asked, standing up from her desk.
"Go ahead."
"I can ask Naruto to help you? As long as I offer a favor in return, Naruto might do it." Sona offered.
Rias lifted a hand up and bit her thumbnail.
It was not a bad offer.
Afterall, Koneko had gotten stronger the last few years training under him.
Rokushiki and basic swordsmanship from what Rias could tell, even though Koneko preferred Hand to Hand combat.
"Let's call that Plan B…"
Rias was not able to finish her sentence as a brilliantly red and orange bird perched itself at the windows.
A Familiar of Phenex, carrying a note within its beak.
Addressed to Rias.
Taking the letter, the bird bowed its head before taking off again.
Sona uprooted herself from her desk and walked over to Rias as said redhead opened and began to read the letter.
"Well?"
"Riser has returned… and wants to meet up… soon…"
Evening…
Homework, finished.
Dinner, eaten.
Naruto was in the backyard of Phenex Manor with Saji and Koneko, Mittelt with Onimaru and Loona nearby resting.
Naruto, Koneko, and Saji were sparing.
Sparing, more like Spartan.
With Koneko and Naruto, barehanded, ganging up on Saji to give him experience with multiple opponents.
"Come on, keep your magic in the whip." Naruto stated as he grabbed Saji's weapon, tossing it aside to break into Saji's guard, fist near Saji's chin. "You'd be dead."
"Come on, man, I'm still new to this…" Saji exclaimed, slightly out of breath.
"True, but I trust you can do this, and more." Naruto said as he stepped back, allowing Koneko to have her turn.
Recalling the 'tongue' of his sacred gear, Saji prepared to spar with Koneko.
Unlike Naruto, who held back due to being friends with Saji, Koneko did not.
Saji stepped, whipping his power around, intending to snare Koneko, but with a quick Soru, Koneko's knee embedded itself into Saji's guts.
With his organs thoroughly rearranged, Saji collapsed, his sacred gear vanishing as he hit the ground.
"Really, Koneko?" Naruto asked in disappointment.
"His enemies won't care, I'm just adding a tad more realism." Koneko retorted.
"I'm done…" Saji weakly stated, hand waving a small flag in defeat.
Naruto sighed, scratching his head as he turned to face the house.
"Hey, Mittelt… wanna spar? Keep your skills sharp?"
"Yeah, that is a good idea." The fallen replied.
Summoning her wings, Saji saw a wing of a devil and a wing of a fallen appear.
"Aerial combat?" She asked as she summoned a Light Spear.
"No problem here." Naruto said as he drew Shigure and Yubashiri.
Naruto bounced on the toes of his feet, prepping for a harder spar… until Ravel exited the back door, letter in hand.
"Wait, wait, before all of that…" Ravel called out, having heard what they had said in the kitchen. "I have some news."
"Well, what is it, my King?" Mittelt asked as she lowered herself to the ground, her wings vanishing.
Sabo walked out, smirking as Ravel looked back at the letter.
"In two days, Riser is going to visit Rias, offering her a challenge." Ravel read off the paper.
"What challenge?" Koneko asked, shortening the distance between herself and Ravel.
"A chance to break free of the marriage." Ravel said in surprise.
Meanwhile…
"TAKE MY VIRGINITY!" Rias begged as she stripped naked, breasts spilling out of her bra, which was tossed next to her clothes.
Issei, aroused and confused, stared like an idiot as Rias sat on his knees, her hands shakily grabbing the hem of his underwear.
"Rias, what is going on?"
"Don't worry, just…" Rias tried saying but went silent when a red light appeared just off the bed.
The Seal of Lucifuge.
"Oh, fuck me…" Rias said as someone started to come through the magic seal.
"I wanna…" Issei weakly said as the light died down.
Grayfia, bowing, fully appeared.
"Good evening, Mr. Hyoudo, Lady Rias." She said in a calm, reserved tone.
Issei immediately knew she was important as Rias huffed.
"Leave, Grayfia!"
"Lady Rias, cover yourself." Grayfia said as she knelt down and picked up Rias's clothing. "You are in front of a man…" She glanced at Issei. "Who is not your betrothed."
'Betrothed?' Issei thought, his heart sinking.
Then, everything clicked.
Flashback…
"If you really wanna understand the situation, ask Rias about it."
Flashback End…
Issei's confusion, partially answered, covered himself as Rias got off the bed, accepting her school button up shirt over her shoulders.
"Sorry, Issei, just forget this ever happened." Rias said as she left with Grayfia.
Issei laid back down, staring up at his ceiling.
His chest ached.
He wanted answers… and was not able to get them.
Skip, Two Days, Kuoh Academy, After School, ORC Clubroom…
Rias and Ravel sat on one sofa with their peerages, Minus Gasper and Faust, patiently waiting for Riser to appear with Grayfia.
It was an uncomfortable silence.
"Here you go." Akeno said as she offered Rias a cup of tea as Danjuro, now fully healed and rested, gave one to Ravel before preparing one for Grayfia and Riser.
Rias took the cup, sipping the tea without waiting for it to cool down.
Yes, it burned her tongue, but she was so focused on the future meeting… it didn't bother her.
Issei, meanwhile, watched Rias with concern.
'Why didn't she tell me?' He thought…
Flashback…
Previous Day…
"You all knew about this?" Issei asked the rest of his peerage members while Rias was showering.
"Yeah, we all knew." Akeno replied for everyone. "It isn't like we were hiding it, Issei."
"But none of you ever said anything about this to me… I mean… just…"
Kiba put a hand on his shoulder, getting Issei's focus.
"I understand, it is frustrating, but let Rias explain herself… okay?" Kiba asked in a concerned tone.
Issei wanted to tell Kiba to fuck off, every fiber in his being wanting to lash out… but he chose to be mature, and nodded.
He chose to wait.
A few minutes passed.
Kiba was reading a book.
Akeno hummed as she prepped something to drink.
Koneko munched on some snacks as she played her Switch.
Rias exited the bathroom, dry and dressed.
"Well, I know some answers are needed for why I called all of you here." Rias said, knowing it was time. "It is about my fiancé…" the last word was said with venom. "Riser Phenex."
Flashback End…
Rias explained everything.
Issei understood it was an arrangement between Riser's parents and Rias's parents.
He understood it.
Didn't mean he liked it.
Everyone's eyes was drawn to the opposite couch as a magic seal appeared.
Riser Phenex appeared standing before the couch, Grayfia beside him.
"Lord Riser, Lady Grayfia." Everyone attached to the Phenex clan said, standing up and bowing.
"Lady Grayfia." Everyone connected to the Gremory clan said, bowing to the Wife of Lucifer.
Naruto bowed to Grayfia, but approached Riser.
Both men stared at each other.
Then they smirked.
"Riser."
"Naruto."
Both shook each other's hands, shaking like adults as they smiled.
"You got taller." Riser said, using his empty hand to show the height difference.
"Come on, I was ten, it's been five years." Naruto chuckled, his eyes becoming sharp. "You also fixed your speech."
Riser's smirk wavered.
"Yes, I did." He said with embarrassment, the air around him starting to heat up. "Try and bring it up as an insult, and see what happens."
Naruto laughed, fur starting to form on his hands.
"Anytime." He replied.
"Let's see how far we both came in that time." Riser said as they released hands. "But first…"
Riser turned his attention to Ravel, smiled.
Ravel and Riser hugged.
"Been to long, brother."
"Indeed, Sister. I see your peerage has grown." He said, looking at said individuals. "Including that necromancer at home."
"Is he behaving?"
"Mother and Father like him enough. A bit strange, but he is polite." Riser said with an eyeroll. "Sabo seemed extra excited to have him around when he returned home last night."
"Sabo is indeed a strange one too." Ravel joked.
The siblings ended the hug, and now business as Riser turned to Rias.
"Rias." He said politely, bowing to his fiancé.
"Riser." Rias said with a clenched jaw.
Riser sat down, accepting the tea Danjuro prepared.
"Thank you, Danjuro." He said, blowing on it before taking a sip.
Danjuro offered Grayfia her cup, which she politely declined.
"Now," Riser said as he looked at Rias. "I assume you got my letter?"
"Indeed, if I didn't, this would have been a worse meeting." Rias said, drinking her tea.
Riser smirked as he put his cup down.
"Then, you know my request?"
"Yes." Rias said as she put her cup down. "You are challenging me to a Rating Game with our marriage at stake. I win, it's annulled. You win, we get married immediately."
Issei's fist clenched, which did not go unnoticed by Riser.
"Yes, and I assume again that you are fine with these conditions?" Riser asked.
Rias stood up.
"I accept this challenge, Riser Phenex." Rias declared.
"Well, then I shall inform your families of these events, and we shall prepare a Rating Game as soon as possible." Grayfia stated.
"Hold on, Lady Grayfia." Riser said, holding up his hand as he stood up, staring Rias in the eyes. "Let's give Rias ten days to train her peerage. I do believe," he looked at Rias's peerage. "That Rias's peerage is at a horrible disadvantage. I mean, with six members to her name vs my entire peerage…"
A massive Phenex summoning seal appeared, its light dying to reveal Riser's entire peerage.
"Is complete." He said with confidence.
"THAT IS UNFAIR!"
Riser turned to Issei as Naruto, who had been quiet, facepalmed.
"YOU ALREADY HAVE A HAREM, SO WHY TAKE PRESIDENT!" Issei bellowed, blood seeping from his eyes.
His horniness took over.
He charged toward Riser, summoning his Boosted Gear… only for Zuko to appear before him, grab his right wrist, and left shoulder before spinning him around.
So fast did Zuko spin Issei, that Issei moved backwards like a spinning top and into the wall.
Asia ran to Issei's side, starting to heal him.
"Rias, I do trust that during the training you'll teach him some manners." Riser stated as he turned to Grayfia. "I will return home now, Lady Grayfia."
Grayfia dismissed Riser and his peerage.
"Well, now you have that time to get everything ready, Lady Rias." Grayfia said to the redheaded King. "Use it wisely."
With that, Grayfia vanished, Rias not noticing as she was already thinking of what to do.
"Naruto," She said as she turned to the kitsune, who was using his finger to clean his ear. "Can you…"
"No."
Chapter 50, DONE!
Welp, this is now underway.
Yes, Faust is in the Underworld with the Phenex Clan heads, learning as much as he can.
Hope you all enjoyed, and if you did, please leave a review, even if you hated it as it helps me become a better author.