Chapter 87

Riser and I face each other. I take this time to calm down and rest. As for Riser, he looks at me as if I were a monster, a look I've gotten used to over the years. I take one step forward, then another, causing Riser to back away.

"What did you do to me?! Why won't my flames come out?! Why can't I do anything?!" Riser yells at me, but I ignore his questions. "Answer me! You low-class devil!"

I strengthen my body and throw my left fist, striking him in the face. The impact moves his head backwards, spitting saliva. I follow up with a straight punch to the stomach, then an uppercut to the jaw, causing him to stagger and fall to the ground, blood dripping from his lips.

(That's it, I finally hit him.)

"What..." Riser touches his lips, seeing his blood. "How can that be? You shouldn't be able to inflict such ridiculous wounds on me... Where has my immortality gone!"

"Get up." I stand straight in front of him, fists clenched, looking down at him.

"...What did you just say?" Riser looks lost.

"Are you deaf or something? Get up."

"You..." Even though he's lost his powers, he seems to be boiling inside, turning red with fury. "How dare you give orders to me! Riser Phenex! I'm a high-class Devil and you're low-class! I don't take orders from you!"

"I don't give a fuck about your status. The fight's not over, so get up." I reply, still with my ominous calm, which seems to piss him off even more.

"And I'm asking you to answer me, what have you done with my powers?! My immortality!?"

"...I'm tired of you..." I close my eyes, annoyed. "I overloaded your body, rendering you unable to use your powers. Basically, I'm preventing you from using your flames and immortality. And don't worry, it'll come back in a few hours." It's obviously a lie, but if I tell him the truth. He'll try to buy time any way he can.

"How... dare you... That's cheating! Shame on you for stopping me from fighting!"

"Because it's not cheating to be immortal maybe? Obviously, what am I saying, it's acceptable when it suits you. But all tools must be used in combat, and that's what I did. Removing your powers is the best way to win. Now, it seems to me that this isn't over? You're still here. So fight." I provoke him, beckoning him over.

"You don't know what you're doing..." He rises slowly, assuming an amateurish posture. "Taking away the power of the Phoenix from me, inherited from generation to generation. This power is more than a symbol! It represents...!"

"I don't care. Your family history or status doesn't matter here on the battlefield."

His face tightens, I can hear his teeth grind between them. He starts to run, raising his fists and throwing it. I simply dodge and let him pass. Even without powers, he's still a high-class Devil, with the strength to match. And yet... his attacks are predictable, far too predictable, almost pathetic for someone of his caliber. I dodge each of his blows with ease and kick him in the stomach, sending him to the ground again, writhing in pain. Seeing him so upset, I clench my fists, feeling the tension rising inside me.

(That guy... He was just so full of himself?!)

"Is that all you've got? You used to be proud, playing around with your powers, but as soon as we take away your fire, there's nothing left."

"Tss, how can you say that when you're the one who took my powers away." He turns to me, his face filled with shame.

"So that's what I was thinking. You're useless without your flames. Hmpf, why am I surprised. Riser, the man who always had everything he needed at the right time. A happy life filled with wealth, nothing was beyond his reach. So why should he care if one day someone was able to take away his powers, that's just impossible, how dare him to do this to the Riser himself. You must be feeling pretty stupid right now. What did you expect when you confronted us, Riser? That it would end quickly? That you wouldn't encounter any difficulties?" Ddraig's aura comes out, creating waves of red energy emanating from me. "Who do you think you are, making fun of Rias so much?" My gaze is piercing, it's been a long time since I've been this pissed off at someone.

"You insolent fool! You're ruining everything! Rias must lose this duel! Everyone knew the result before this match even started! She has to marry me! She has no other choice!"

"She has no choice but to marry you? Give her life to a man she hates, lead a life filled with regret and unfulfilled dreams? And all for what? Just for family reasons? Don't be ridiculous. You and I both know why you want to marry Rias off so badly, you want to add her to your harem, you just see her as a trophy."

"To say that Rias isn't a beautiful woman would be the biggest lie a man could tell. I think we can both agree on that. Of course I'd be fulfilled, married to a woman like her. But I also know the stakes behind it, I know how important this marriage is, unlike you who doesn't give a damn." Riser suddenly becomes serious again, surprising me a little.

"...I guess I agree with you. Rias is a lovely young woman, there's no debate about that. And it's just as true that I don't give a damn about your family history. To me, all I see is people throwing Rias into a life that will make her miserable. That's what we're fighting for tonight. To set her free."

"Tss... I see, I figured out your little game." Riser rises to his feet, his gaze ready for battle. "Actually, you're just jealous!" He lunges and throws his fists at my face, which I dodge. "You don't wish to see her marry me, do you?! It makes you sick just thinking about it, doesn't it?! But too bad for you! I know Rias very well! You're not at all of her caliber, your low-class devil status is invisible to a woman like her!"
Each of his punchs are clumsy and agitated, but I mustn't underestimate them, because if I take a blow, I'm likely to feel it coming. He keeps on punching, preventing me from retaliating. Until I grab his wrist, preventing him from acting.

"Maybe." My answer seems to surprise him, his eyes widening. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how I feel about Rias, and knowing that if we lose... Yes, it disgusts me, but for her. "I twist his wrist, causing him to writhe in pain, before punching him in the face. "You pretend to know her, but you'll never see the Rias I see every day!" I stop his fist, feeling all the impact spread through my body. "A Rias smiling and loving towards the people around her!" I deflect an attack and kick him in the calf. "A Rias with lots of dreams and ambition, willing to do anything to make them come true!" We both punch each other in the face at the same time, knocking each other back.

"...Rias is still young... sure she won't be able to go to that cursed school and have her initial dreams. But she'll find others after our marriage, sure she'll have very little time for herself, because the marriage of two big families comes with a lot of responsibility. But she'll always have a little time for herself. And then, I'll be there for her, what could be better for her?" Riser claims, a satisfied face taking shape.

"Speaking of which, you're quite pretentious, but... what do you have to offer her?" I ask, spitting blood of my mouth.

"Ha! The Phenex family has much to offer..." He starts theatrically, but I stop him.

"I'm not talking about your last name, I'm talking about you. What does Riser, the man, have to offer?" I ask him again, wiping my mouth.

"..." Riser is speechless. "Me? It seems obvious to me, my legendary beauty, fantastic power, and unparalleled business acumen that will make me and her rich! The kind of thing you can only dream of."

"...I suspected as much." I sigh, exasperated. "You're so shallow Riser. The truth is, as a man, you've got nothing. The proof is already there. You've never known adversity, difficulty in life. You don't know how to take things in hand. You think everything will come easy to you, without the slightest problem. A man like you can't give anything away, because he already thinks he has everything. The truth is, you're nothing."

Riser doesn't move; he just stands there in front of me, speechless. He seems completely lost, not knowing what to do with himself. Then he gives me a dark look, menacing enough to send shivers down my spine.

"Did you look in a mirror before telling me that? Empty? The emptier of the two of us is you. I've never seen anyone fight so much without caring about themselves. You're a child who's been raised like a machine. I almost feel sorry for you."

"You're wrong." I rest my hand on my chest, feeling my heart race. "If I fight today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life, it's because this is all I have left. This fight I'm doing is for Rias, and for the others too, but it would be a lie to say I'm not doing it for myself too. I have a goal, and there's no way I'm going to spend the rest of my life obeying you."

The ruined city resurfaced, surrounding Riser and me, the stifling heat, the pain, the appalling screams of the people around us, dying of burns, or crushed under the rubble. Yes, if Rias got married, then our contract would be broken, because I would also become Riser's servant. So goodbye to my goal, I'll go back to being a child at death's door, with no purpose in life, with no way of paying the debt of my second life to all those who died in my place. And that's out of the question.

Just as I'm about to continue telling him what's on my mind. A surprising announcement is heard.

[Riser Phenex-sama [Queen] retires.]

An announcement that doesn't escape Riser's ears, his face melting in despair and shame. He turns to where the explosions were heard seconds before, to face me, there's no rage left in him, only the bitter taste of defeat hanging over his head, ready to fall on him.

"Hmmm..." I squeeze and unclench my hand. "It would seem that Rias has finished with your [Queen] Riser, that's the signal for me to finish. Too bad, I still had things to say to you, but then, sometimes things don't need to be said. It's self-explanatory, isn't it? I hope you understood where I was going with all this." I approach him.

"No! Stop! Stay where you are!" Riser steps back, raising his hands to me. "You have no idea what you're doing! If you defeat me, then the Family of Rias risks extinction! Do you realize what you're doing?!"

"If you're really worried about her, then let me put your mind at ease. Nothing will happen to her. Me and her other servants are ready to give our lives for her."

"...Tss! This marriage is far too important! Why destroy our future! The future of the devil?! I could have become an important figure with this union! And you're ruining it!"

"Do you hear yourself talking? I already told you, but I'll make it simpler for you. Rias is not your trophy. She's decided you won't be the man she shares her life with. She wanted to fight for her freedom. And I, her low-ranking Devil, her servant, her [Pawn, obey her orders, nothing more. And I'll tell you again and again, I don't give a damn about your family matters."

"She didn't choose me...? Ah... I see, we're back to that! But if she didn't choose me, then you too can always dream!"

"It's terrible to be so stubborn... But you're right, Rias is on a completely different level compared to me, I don't deserve her affection, she has a bright future ahead of her, compared to me after all. Anyway, it's over, Riser. Rias won, and you lost, it's pretty pathetic, if at least you'd given it your all throughout the match. But you never did."

I charge my left arm, glowing with a pale light, my magic circuits lighting up in all colors, feeling a great power coming on.

"You'll pay for this... Putting me through such great humiliation! This isn't over, you low-class devil!"

Riser lunges at me, but I'm quicker and reach his level in an instant, my fists flying straight at his face.

"One last thing, did I tell you I used all my tools?" My fist is right in front of his face, his eyes widening. "I lied."

[SMASH] I hit him with the One for All, sending him waltzing into the building with a powerful punch, creating a shockwave and a powerful gust of wind. Sharp pain courses through my arm, being pierced by blades from the inside, starting at my shoulder, then gradually moving down to my hand.

I breathe hard, looking at Riser, who is still conscious. I step forward, passing over the debris. His eyes are wide open, piercing me, completely frightened.

"But you know Riser, it's not all over. You can come back to Rias when you're a better man. But for now, it's not even worth thinking about." I tell him. He doesn't react but I know he's listening.

"Stop!" Ravel's voice breaks the suffocating silence.

I turn, seeing her run towards us and stand between her brother and me. She looks at her brother's pathetic state, before turning to me, looking at my left arm in disgust.

"The fight is over! So please..." Ravel raises her hands in surrender.

I look behind her, seeing Riser closing her eyes, finally losing consciousness. A bright white light surrounds him, making him disappear.

"Big brother Riser..." Ravel turns one last time, stunned. "I can't believe it... My brother really lost..."

[Riser Phenex-sama retires.]

"One last thing." I call out to her, making her turn toward me with a gasp.

[Rias Gremory-sama won. All remaining fighters will be teleported.]

"Y...Yes...?"

"Tell him that if he tries anything, revenge or otherwise, I'll have no mercy."

"...I'll... I'll give him the message..." As she nods, her body is enveloped in a bright light, and disappears.

I sigh one last time, feeling all the tension go away, feeling a weight on my shoulder disappear. I turn outside, seeing Rias and Asia running towards me, but they're teleported away. I close my eyes, feeling that my turn is coming too. I leave, satisfied with my success. A great white veil blocks my view, then complete darkness.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Back to the sword graveyard. This place presents itself to me when I open my eyes. This rocky ground covered with sand, this warm-colored sky, suggesting that the sun is about to set, but there is no sun, only clouds moving at supernatural speed. And swords, as far as the eye can see. I walk, alone, for who knows how long, accompanied by the sound of my footsteps in the sand. Then there he is, this white energy silhouette, staring at the horizon. I walk towards him and stop behind him.

"What's up? When are you going to talk about it?" I ask.

The figure turns towards me, and I can make out a smile on the few lines of his face.

"It's still too early for you. When he gets here." He extends his hand toward me.

Suddenly, a bright bluish light appeared in the distance, growing larger and larger until it engulfed us both.

When I regain consciousness, I feel like I'm wrapped up in a warm, cozy bed. I open my eyes slowly, the light outside being rather subdued. On the ceiling, I see a crystal and glass chandelier, unlit. I turn my head to the right, feeling the softness of the pillow, and see a dark red velvet curtain and a veranda overlooking a balcony. I turn my head to the left, seeing the exit door, a bright light emanating from the bottom of the door. Custom-made wardrobes with lots of ornaments and decorations. I look up to see Asia sitting in a luxurious chair, reading a book.

I move, pulling the sheet off me and sit up, stretching. Asia turns to me and smiles, putting her book on the dresser and sitting down on the bed.

"Hello Senji-san! Sleep well?" She asks me.

"Hello Asia, I feel great... How long have I slept... and... where are we?" I ask her, intrigued.

"Fufufu... It's 2pm, we've all slept at least 10 hours. And we're at the President's house, or at least her parents'." She explains.

"I see... I understand better the decoration, somewhat luxurious." I look around again, somewhat overwhelmed. Having never seen this before. "By the way, how long have you been waiting for me?"

"I arrived only a few minutes ago. We were the last two to wake up. We were waiting for you to eat. I'll tell President that you're awake. Apparently there are clean clothes in the bathroom." Asia points to one of the doors on the wall facing my bed.

"Okay, let's do that then." I roll out of bed, stretching a good bit to wake up properly.

But before Asia can get out, the door is opened by a maid, letting in Rias who, seeing me, runs up and embraces me and a young man in his twenties who looks very much like her, with shoulder-length red hair and blue eyes.

"Senji! Thank you, Senji! I still can't believe it, we did it, we won, it's all thanks to you..." Rias hugs me tightly. "I don't know how to thank you..." Tears begin to fall from her cheeks.

At first, I don't know how to react to this situation, this outpouring of emotions in Rias and me. But I accept it, taking her in my arms in turn, patting her on the back.

"A simple thank you will suffice, President. And then, it's thanks to everyone that we succeeded. But if it ever happens again, I'll be ready. You can be sure of that."

Rias steps back slightly, still holding me in her arms, but looks at me, her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with tears, as if I'd said something unbelievable.

Asia looks at us, her eyes shifting between Rias and me, and just as she wants to say something, the person accompanying Rias coughs, drawing our attention. Rias separates from me, somewhat embarrassed, and takes up a position next to Asia, before cuddling her from behind. The young man steps forward, a big, sincere smile on his face.

"I finally meet the Sekiryuutei of this generation. Pleased to meet you, I'm Sirzechs Lucifers, Rias's older brother, and the leader of the Devils." He introduces himself.

"Nice to meet you." I lower my head in respect. "I'm Senji Emiya." Then I look at Rias, who avoids my gaze for some reason. "I was also thinking that you and the President look a lot alike. So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

"Well, after a match like that, to say I was curious about meeting you is an understatement. Seeing a Phenex defeated is pretty rare these days. It was absolutely incredible." Sirzechs explains.

"I see. Glad you liked it. So, that wedding thing's over, isn't it?" I ask.

"Of course, the wedding has been cancelled and replaced by a party to celebrate your first victory in a Rating Game, albeit an unofficial one, but all the same." he says.

"I see... wait, a party?" I ask, feeling a slight tension rise in me.

"That's right, we'll keep it small, only members of our house and Phenex's house are invited, so we'll be a small committee." he adds.

"Um... But isn't it dangerous to do that? Won't the broken marriage cause conflict?" Asks Asia, slightly confused.

"Ah that... it already is. Your victory has caused quite a stir among our two families, and you've even been accused of cheating..." Sirzechs said, turning to me. "And some refuse to accept the result of your hard-won duel. All these people have obviously refused to attend the party. As for our parents..." He gives an embarrassed smile. "Let's just say father is delighted, but mother is a little less so."

"Hmpf! That'll teach her to make decisions for me!" Rias exclaims, pouting.

"Haha... Anyway, now think about relaxing. But before I escort you to the dining room, I'd like to have a word alone with Senji, if you don't mind of course." he asks, turning to me.

"Hm, no problem." I nod.

At Sirzechs' request, the girls leave the room. He waits for the door to close before turning to me, a more serious look on his face.

"Senji, I imagine you don't like me very much, but I'd like to thank you personally for your victory over Riser. Thank you for making my sister win." Sirzechs bows his head.

I'm taken aback by his gesture and his words, my mouth agape for a second, before I ask him to stand up, somewhat embarrassed that someone as important and powerful as he is should be so polite to me.

"But I don't understand, you also decided on this marriage didn't you?..." As I speak those words, something clicks in my head. "Oh... you reluctantly decided..."

"Right." He nods. "I love my sister with all my heart, and I'd do anything for her. But I'm also Lucifer, ruler of the Devils. And very rarely do I have any choice but to make decisions that go against my personal choices. And Rias' future was one of those choices."

"I understand... But that family and inheritance thing Riser was talking about, is that true?" I ask.

"In part, yes. The Gremory family is great noble families who survived the war. Our History is a true heritage, to lose everything with Rias' death was unacceptable, so like any parent loving their child, ours decided to find a way to protect her and her heir status."

"And a marriage with another large family was the best solution I suppose." Sirzech nods at my words. "And did you choose Riser, or was it a rush job?"

"It's been decided."

"For a long time?"

"Yes. The reason both families pushed marriage faster was out of fear. Due to the Fallen Angels' attack on Fuyuki, or the harbor disaster. My parents got scared and decided to bring the wedding forward."

"..." I frown, noticing that once again, someone's misfortune is my fault. "But if it was chosen long ago, how come Rias hates Riser so much? There must have been a time when she liked him, right?"

"...Indeed. Riser was the perfect candidate for Rias, and she even found him charming at first. But as time went by, his air of superiority and over-inflated ego became more and more apparent. To the point of becoming unbearable for Rias. And then, as you said yourself, it became clear that Riser didn't love Rias with any real affection, but saw her completely as a trophy, to climb the social ladder and become an influential High Class Devil." He frowns, omitting to say that he wanted her in his harem. "And by the time we and the Phenex family noticed, it was already too late."

"Hence the idea of a Rating Game to break the tie."

"Correct, and you succeeded." Sirzech smiled at me, as if the rest was going to be fun. "By the way, as you already know, we watched the game, especially your duel against Riser. And your words upset many, but were also accepted by others, especially Riser's parents. Their son had been a problem for some time and they hope this crushing defeat will calm him down and change him. They'd like to thank you in person tonight. As for my family, my father already loves you very much, but my mother..." He scratches the back of his head, searching for his words. "She doesn't hate you or anything like that, but she might lecture you a bit. You seem to me to be a direct person, so I ask you to be a little more tactful with her please, she just wanted her daughter to be safe and inherit House Gremory without a hitch. She too bitterly regrets this arrangement..."

"Don't worry about it... I think I understand your parents' situation towards Rias, I just hope she won't hold it against me for unintentionally insulting her or Phenex's household."

"No, your words were right, even if you may have hurt them a little on some points... Which makes me wonder, did you really mean all that?"

"Yes. That's why I can't help but resent you a little. But thanks to your point of view, I understand the situation a little better. And then, Riser's arrogant air didn't really help to be honest either..."

"Ah, I understand you. In any case, I thank you, for what you did for Rias and for taking the time to listen to our version of this... regrettable choice. But before I set you free, I'd like to ask you one last question." Sirzechs' gaze becomes more serious. "Your power, that of nullifying your opponent's abilities. Does it work on everything?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't really know. I've only used it twice." I reply.

"Hmmm, and if you used it on Rias, would she be able to use the power of destruction or not?" He asks, curious.

"I've already tried it on her, and yes, she's unable to use it for a few minutes." I nod, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

"I see... Interesting..." He rests his hand on his chin, deep in thought. Then he relaxes and lets out a light laugh. "Very well, thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I'll let you go and get ready and especially eat, you must be hungry." He turns and approaches the door before stopping. "Ah yes, right after we eat, we'll take your measurements to make tonight's outfits, so don't forget to tuck in your tummy." He says with a smile.

"Um... I haven't put on weight, have I?" I murmur, touching my belly. "Ah! By the way, um... do I really have to go to this party?"

"Hm? Oh well that, you'll have to check with my little sister, and good luck with that." He said with a smile, before opening the door and stepping out of the room.

"...It's lost in advance..." I sigh.

Vol.15 End.