The morning mountain air was crisp as my girls and I stood outside the cottage and waited for Rias and her peerage to finish preparing to leave. Nobody spoke, the silence of nature seemed almost deafening in the moment. There was a bit of anticipation even amongst my peerage as we waited.

Rias and her peerage emerged from the front door. By the looks on their faces she had given them quite the speech just moments before.

"Everyone ready?" Rias' voice broke the quiet.

Her peerage nodded, though none of them spoke. Even Issei—who usually had something dumb to say—kept his mouth shut. Good. He was finally starting to take this seriously.

Rias lifted her hand, and in an instant, a crimson teleportation circle flared to life beneath us. The glow intensified, surrounding us in a rush of magic, and then the beautiful mountains were left behind.

We were back in Kuoh Academy.

More specifically, we were in the Occult Research Club's meeting room. It was almost jarring, returning to such a familiar place after a week of intense training in the mountains. The contrast between the cozy, candlelit clubhouse and the open, rugged wilderness we had just left was stark, but there wasn't time to dwell on it.

Sona Sitri and her Queen, Tsubaki, walked into the meeting room within seconds of us appearing.

"Sona, Tsubaki." Rias greeted them with a nod.

"You're cutting it close," Sona noted, adjusting her glasses. "Grayfia will be here any moment."

As if on cue, a surge of magic filled the room, and in a flash of silver light, Grayfia Lucifuge materialized before us. She stood as composed as ever, her cold, professional gaze sweeping over everyone in attendance.

"It is time," she announced.

Another magic circle expanded outward, this one significantly larger so that it could fit all of us. The moment the light engulfed us, the world shifted once more.

When the light faded, we were still in Kuoh Academy. Looking around, I recognized the interior design of a classroom. Except, instead of desks and chairs the room was filled with luxurious looking couches. On the wall opposite the windows were dozens of monitors.

Some showed wide, sweeping pans of different locations across the school- the gym, the cafeteria, the ORG, and even the principal's office. Others showed close ups of each participant, allowing us not only to see the action but also see their reactions in the moment.

The battlefield was an exact replica of Kuoh Academy—down to the last brick and windowpane—but there was something… off about it, and it wasn't just because it was so empty. The sky above was dark, swirling with neon green hues, casting eerie shadows over the eerily empty school.

I suddenly realized we weren't alone in this room as I scanned the couches once again. Two similar looking men with crimson hair sat together and observed us.

The first was Sirzechs Lucifer—one of the Four Great Satans, Rias' older brother, and an absolute monster in terms of power. Though he wore a warm, disarming smile, there was an undeniable weight behind his presence, something that reminded you with every glance that he was far more than just Rias' protective sibling.

Beside him sat Zeoticus Gremory, the head of the Gremory household and Rias' father. He looked every bit the noble lord, exuding a calm, practiced authority.

"Leo," Sirzechs greeted, his voice carrying an amused lilt. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."

I gave him a polite nod. "The pleasure is mine, Lord Lucifer."

Sirzechs chuckled at that. "Just Sirzechs is fine. No need for formality."

Zeoticus offered a small smile as well. "Rias has spoken highly of you."

I smirked. "Hopefully, she left out all the bad parts."

Sirzechs' eyes glimmered with curiosity, his eyes sweeping over my peerage. His gaze wasn't lecherous, but calculating. As if he was assessing my current power. But before he could say anything else, Grayfia stepped forward, her voice commanding the attention of everyone present.

"The Rating Game between Rias Gremory and Riser Phenex will now begin."

I settled onto a couch next to theirs, my peerage filling in around me. It was a tight squeeze, but when Mizuki decided my lap was a far better option than being squished against the arm of the couch and Airi, we had a bit more space.

Mizuki curled up in my lap, resting her head on my chest, as Ayame and Akari took their usual places pressed against my sides. Yuki and Airi sat on the side of the couch opposite Zeoticus and Sirzechs.

We all watched in silence at first, curious how Rias would do in her first ever rating game.

Rias wasted no time. She turned to her peerage, her expression calm but serious.

"Our opponents outnumber us two to one," she said, her voice firm. "But that doesn't mean we don't have a chance. If we play this right, we can whittle them down and control the fight."

Kiba crossed his arms. "Do we know how they'll move?"

"Most likely, they'll split into groups and try to flush us out," Rias said. "Riser doesn't like to take risks. He'll rely on overwhelming force, using his numbers advantage to pressure us into a battle we can't sustain."

Akeno smiled, her usual playful expression taking on a sharper edge. "Then we should strike first before they can set the pace."

Koneko, who had been standing silently beside Kiba, nodded. "Pick them off one by one."

Rias agreed. "Exactly. Akeno, you'll take to the skies and disrupt their formations with lightning. We need you to keep pressure on them at all times."

Akeno gave a small, knowing nod, her fingers twitching as if she were already picturing the storm she was about to unleash.

Rias turned to Kiba. "You'll use your speed to harass them. Keep them off balance, divide them, and strike at their weakest points."

Kiba smirked. "Understood."

"Koneko, you'll be on the front lines. Head to the gym and see if you can't draw a few of them to you."

Koneko gave a short nod, her golden eyes gleaming with quiet determination.

That left Issei and Asia.

Rias hesitated for just a fraction of a second before speaking again. "Issei, I want you to support Koneko first. Use the boosted gear to cover her when she moves in and keep an eye out for openings. If you see a chance to take someone out, take it."

Issei swallowed hard, nodding. "Got it."

"And Asia," Rias continued, her tone softening slightly. "You stay in the safest place possible, with me. Your role is to heal us when we get hurt. Protecting you is one of our top priorities."

Asia looked hesitant but nodded quickly. "I'll do my best."

Rias took a deep breath and scanned her peerage, her expression unreadable. "We'll need to stay adaptable, but if we stick to the plan we can win this."

"Then let's get started," Akeno said, her tone light but her eyes focused.

With that, they moved out, each one disappearing into the Academy's replica grounds, ready to fight.

As Rias' peerage disappeared into the grounds, I leaned back against the couch, absentmindedly running my fingers along Mizuki's back.

"The strategy seems good on paper," I mused aloud, eyes still on the monitors as the pieces moved into position.

Akari, pressed against my right side, nodded. "Their biggest advantage is taking out the weaker pieces early. Kiba and Koneko are perfect for that, and with Akeno keeping their stronger members busy, they have a real shot at controlling the pace of the fight."

Mizuki hummed thoughtfully. "Asia being their healer means she's their linchpin. If she stays safe, Rias' team can keep recovering from damage while Riser's team slowly gets worn down. That's the real test here—whether or not they can keep her protected long enough to make a difference."

Mizuki shifted slightly in my lap, her gaze sharp as she studied the battlefield layout. "The problem is Riser's regeneration. Even if they remove all his pawns and eliminate most of his peerage, Riser himself is an endurance fighter. He won't go down unless they can overwhelm him in one decisive moment, and I don't see a way for them to do that right now."

I nodded. "That's the biggest flaw in their plan. They can dominate the early game, but if they can't deal with Riser in the end, none of it matters."

Akari exhaled slowly, crossing her arms. "I don't see Rias having the raw firepower to put him down. Akeno's the best shot at doing serious damage, but Yubelluna is an issue. If she keeps Akeno occupied the entire fight, that leaves Rias alone against Riser in the final moments, and that's not a fight she can win."

"Then it all comes down to how long they can hold out," Mizuki added. "If they can force Riser into making a mistake, if they can create an opening—"

"—Then they might have a shot," Akari finished.

Our discussion came to a natural pause, the weight of the situation settling over us as we watched the strategy unfold in real-time on the monitors.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Zeoticus and Sirzechs listening in silence. They hadn't said a word, but their expressions were unreadable. When the conversation between my peerage died down, Sirzechs gave a single, approving nod.

It wasn't just polite acknowledgement. It was something more.

Like he had been assessing my peerage—me—and had found something to his liking.

"I can't help but think," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else, "that we would do very well in this situation."

Akari chuckled beside me, crossing her legs. "We'd have ended this fight already."

Mizuki shifted slightly in my lap, tilting her head as she glanced up at me.

I turned to her. "Mizuki, if this were us down there, if we had to fight Riser, what would you have us do?"

Mizuki straightened, her eyes narrowing as she studied the monitors again. She didn't answer immediately. That was just like her—she was calculating, running through possibilities before she spoke.

Finally, she nodded to herself and spoke, her voice calm and methodical.

"The key difference between us and Rias' peerage is you," she said, looking up at me. "Riser is a problem because of his regeneration, but you can negate that. If we had to fight him, our goal wouldn't be to take him out in a single strike. We wouldn't need to. We would just have to disable him long enough to wipe out the rest of his forces. Once he's isolated,then we can all focus on him."

I nodded, interested. "Go on."

She gestured toward the screens. "First, we'd need to split his forces. Riser's advantage is in numbers, but we can turn that against him. His forces are strongest when they're grouped together, so we'd need to split them up immediately."

She looked at Airi and Yuki. "You two would be crucial for that. Your fighting style is built around speed and deception. I'd have you split off immediately, disappearing into the terrain. Attack from the shadows, picking off the weaker pieces first. Riser will send forces after you, which is exactly what we want—divide and conquer.

Airi smirked. "Taking out weaker enemies is easy enough."

Yuki gave a small nod. "We'd make sure they don't see us coming."

Mizuki turned to Ayame next. "You'd be the lure. You're fast, and your fighting style makes you difficult to pin down. I'd have you harass their mid-tier fighters, never staying in one place long enough for them to coordinate against you. With your speed boost from your Sacred Gear, you'd be almost impossible to catch."

Ayame smiled shyly, twirling a lock of her hair absentmindedly. "I'd do my best."

Mizuki's expression didn't change as she turned to Akari. "You're the hammer in this plan. Riser's flames make him nearly untouchable, but your Hellfire is stronger. Once Leo locks him down, you'd have free rein to unleash everything you have on his forces without worrying about him interfering."

Akari smirked. "So I just blow everything up? I can work with that."

I chuckled at Akari's words, amused by her constant desire to make things go boom.

Mizuki nodded. "Exactly. The moment Leo takes Riser out of the equation, we don't stop moving. We focus entirely on eliminating the rest of his peerage. Without his numbers, Riser won't be nearly as difficult to deal with."

She finally turned back to me. "And you… you're the lynchpin. The second you lock Riser down we shift into full attack mode. If we take out every single one of his allies, we force him into an unwinnable position with no backup, no distractions, and no escape."

I leaned back against the couch, considering her words. It was a simple plan, but efficient. Unlike Rias' team, who had to find a way to deal with Riser in the middle of everything else, we could remove him from the fight entirely and focus on eliminating his team first. And once he was alone? It wouldn't even be a fight.

"And what about you?" I asked, curious what Mizuki would be doing during all this.

"Well, first I'd support you in tying down Riser. With my ability I could make him slip up, second guess himself or freeze in terror. I imagine that just a single moment of hesitation on his part would be enough for you to disable him."

I nodded at her words, agreeing that that would be an invaluable help to eliminating the threat of Riser early on.

"After that, I would support everyone else as needed, making sure his stronger pieces don't get a chance to tire any of us out."

"I'm glad she's on our side," Airi noted, a curious expression on her face as she studied Mizuki from across the couch.

"Me too," I said, squeezing Mizuki tighter to my chest. Mizuki sighed contently as she settled deeper into me. Turning our attention back to the monitors, Rias' peerage was on the move.

At first, things seemed balanced—Rias' peerage fought hard, using smart tactics to pick off some of Riser's weaker pieces. Kiba's speed and swordplay would let him tear through the lower-ranked pawns with ease, while Koneko's sheer physical power should make short work of any opponents foolish enough to get close to her.

Kiba stalked three of Riser's peerage members in the woods outside the school, slowing them down and hopefully weakening them with explosive traps.

Meanwhile, in the gymnasium, Issei and Koneko faced off against four of Riser's pieces—Xuelan, one of his bishops, along with three of his pawns: Ile, Nel, and Mira.

Xuelan, a martial artist, moved in first, engaging Koneko in a fierce hand-to-hand battle. The two exchanged blows in rapid succession, neither giving an inch. Koneko's raw strength was evident, each of her strikes landing with a force that would have sent most devils flying. But Xuelan was skilled, dodging and countering with practiced technique, aiming for Koneko's vital points in an attempt to wear her down.

While Koneko fought her bishop opponent, Issei had his hands full with the other three.

Ile and Nel, twin pawns, wielded chainsaws—yes, actual chainsaws—and chased Issei around the gym, laughing wildly as they swung their weapons at him.

"Why do they have chainsaws!?" Ayame gasped, watching as Issei struggled to duck under a wild wide swing from Nel.

"Come back here! Let us shred you to pieces!" Ile giggled, revving her chainsaw.

Issei yelped and jumped back, only for Mira, the other pawn, to step in his way. She twirled her staff expertly before slamming it down, barely missing his shoulder as he rolled to the side.

"Those two twins are certified crazy," Akari notes as the two continue to taunt Issei about cutting his balls off. Issei needed a plan, and he needed one fast.

Across the room, Koneko was slowly overpowering Xuelan. The martial artist was fast, but Koneko had the edge in raw power. A well-placed punch to Xuelan's ribs sent the bishop staggering, and Koneko didn't waste a second, pressing the attack.

It seemed Issei was beginning to grow comfortable with the three attacking pawns, or perhaps he had just built up plenty of boosts by now. Issei dodged much more fluidly, easily landing a single-handed blow to each before he stepped back from them.

Issei raised a hand into the air, "Now it's time for my special ability!"

"Oh no," I mutter, smacking my forehead with my palm as Issei unleashes his Dress Break on the poor girls.

The second he snapped his fingers, their clothes tore themselves into shreds, leaving them completely naked and embarrassed. A high-pitched scream filled the gym as all three girls scrambled to cover themselves, their weapons forgotten in their panic.

Koneko, barely sparing them a glance, took the opportunity to deliver the finishing blow to Xuelan. Pinning the opposing bishop to the floor, Koneko sent Issei a disgusted look, "You are disgusting."

With all four members of Riser's peerage defeated, well, at least in spirit, Rias ordered Issei and Koneko to retreat from the gym. The moment they are at a safe distance, Akeno completely leveled the gymnasium with a single blast of lightning.

"Wow," I whisper, stunned, "That was impressive."

"I could do better," Akari challenged, getting a little riled up.

I smile at her before kissing her on her nose, immediately taking the fire out of her, "I don't doubt it for a second, my love."

Glancing at another monitor to see how Kiba was doing, I realized that he had finished dealing with three of Riser's pawns, Marion, Burent, and Shuriya, in the woods outside the school.

"Kiba really is impressive," Ayame muttered, having watched her fellow knight easily take down all three pawns.

"Should I be feeling jealous right now?" I teased Ayame.

"What? No! Of course not!" Ayame got flustered, blushing a deep crimson as she buried her face into my shoulder.

I chuckled at Ayame before returning my attention back to the monitors. They had dealt with RIser's pawns and a bishop with relative ease, but they couldn't forget that they weren't the problem.

The problem was him.

Riser was completely unbothered. Rias and Asia were fighting Riser on the roof of the school. The Phoenix flames surrounding him made him practically untouchable—any damage Rias managed to deal to him, he simply healed away like it was nothing. And worse, he knew it. He was playing with Rias, dragging this out to prove a point.

The frustration on Rias' face was obvious. She was fighting to win—he was fighting to humiliate.

The match continued, and the tide turned further against Rias. One by one, her peerage began to fall. Koneko was taken out first, overwhelmed by one of Yubelluna's massive blasts. Kiba lasted longer, his speed letting him evade most attacks, only being taken out when pushing Issei out of the way of an attack. Akeno held her own for a long time, but even she couldn't deal enough damage to stop Yubelluna.

That left only Rias, Issei, and Asia standing against Riser and Yubelluna.

I exhaled slowly, leaning back in my seat as I crossed my arms over Mizuki's waist. This wasn't good. Not at all.

"Rias is running out of options," Zeoticus murmured, his expression calm but his tone weighted. His sharp gaze remained locked on the battlefield. "She has fought well, but Yubelluna is… formidable."

"She is one of the most powerful Queens still actively participating in the Rating Game circuit," Sirzechs agreed. Though his tone was light as ever, I could see the subtle tension in his eyes. "Akeno's loss proves that. And now, Rias is left with only two pieces against a devil with infinite regeneration and a woman powerful enough to defeat Akeno in a direct fight."

I glanced between them before turning my gaze back to the battlefield. "Issei's will is something else, though," I said. "He's taken a beating and still refuses to give in."

Sirzechs chuckled lightly. "Yes, his resilience is… surprising."

Down below, the battle was reaching its climax.

Riser stood, untouched, watching the last of Rias' peerage with amusement. His arrogance was practically dripping from his posture. He wasn't taking this seriously anymore—not that he ever was.

"This is pointless," he said, shaking his head. "Rias, you're only making this harder on yourself."

Rias didn't respond. Her crimson hair clung to her face, her breathing was heavy, and even from the viewing box, I could see the fatigue setting in. But her eyes burned with defiance.

She wouldn't surrender.

Not until there was nothing left.

Yubelluna floated beside Riser, her presence just as imposing. "Shall we end this, my Lord?" she asked, tilting her head toward Riser.

Riser smirked. "Yes. Let's end this farce."

And then—

Everything happened at once.

Riser raised his hand, golden flames roaring to life around him. He summoned a massive wave of fire, crackling with destructive power, and hurled it toward Issei.

Yubelluna followed suit, a sphere of explosive magic forming between her palms before she flung it toward Asia.

Rias moved instantly.

With a fierce battle cry, she pushed herself forward, gathering all the power she had left. A barrier of destruction energy erupted around her as she threw herself between both attacks—desperately trying to save them both.

But she was too slow.

Issei didn't wait.

Ignoring Riser entirely, he charged straight for Yubelluna, pushing his body far beyond its limits.

The battlefield exploded in a blinding surge of fire, destruction, and magic.

For a few agonizing seconds, nothing could be seen—only smoke, light, and deafening chaos.

Then the dust settled. Asia was gone. Her body had been consumed by the blast, her unconscious form teleported away in a flash of magic.

Yubelluna crashed into the ground, her eyes wide in shock before she vanished from the battlefield. That left only three.

Issei was still standing, but barely. His entire body trembled from exhaustion, his breath ragged, his arms hanging at his sides. He was at his absolute limit. But his eyes.

His eyes still burned.

Riser took a slow step forward, unfazed. He had barely lifted a finger in this fight, and he knew it.

"It's over," Riser said, his voice laced with finality.

But it seemed Issei didn't hear him or he just didn't care. Despite bleeding from multiple wounds, barely being able to stand, and a slightly glazed over look in his eyes, Issei continued to move forward towards Riser.

"I won't give up," Issei growled, his voice rough and uneven. He was pushing himself past his limits, and his body looked like it could give out at any second.

From my seat in the viewing box, I saw Rias take a step forward. Her hands were trembling at her sides, her expression tight with something I couldn't quite place. "Issei, stop! You've done enough! You can't— you'll die if you keep going!"

Issei didn't stop. He barely even acknowledged her.

His entire body shook, his breathing was ragged, but his eyes were still locked onto Riser. There was something behind them, something different from before. He wasn't fighting for victory. He was fighting for something else.

"No… I can't stop," Issei muttered. His chest heaved with each breath, but his voice was steady. "I won't let him take you away, Rias. I won't let him take your happiness."

Rias didn't respond right away. She stood there, frozen, with a complicated expression on her face.

"I won't let him take you from me!" Issei shouted, his voice raw. He pushed himself forward again, his legs barely holding him up. "If you want me to stop, you'll have to kill me!"

Riser sighed and ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "How tiresome," he muttered. "Fine then." Without hesitation, flames once again roared to life around him.

A golden inferno swirled at his fingertips, gathering into a condensed ball of fire. Unlike his earlier attacks, this one was different—denser, brighter, and far more dangerous. Even from the viewing box, I could see the heat rolling off it, distorting the air around him.

Riser barely looked at Issei before flicking his wrist forward. "Then die."

A column of fire exploded toward Issei, a surge of destruction tearing across the battlefield. Before I could even process what was happening, Rias moved. She stepped forward so quickly it was almost a blur. Magic flared up around her, crackling with raw energy as she threw her hands up.

"NO!" She screamed, her voice cutting through the battlefield like a blade, "I SURRENDER!"

Everything stopped. The battlefield locked in place, as if time itself had frozen.

The fire that had been seconds away from consuming Issei simply vanished, dissipating into nothing. The magic overseeing the match had already determined the outcome. The Rating Game was over.

Riser lowered his hand, his expression shifting back into a smirk. "A wise decision, Rias," he said smoothly. "You were always going to end up mine. Now, you've simply accepted it."

Rias didn't move. She didn't speak. From where I sat, I could only see her back—rigid, unmoving, shoulders squared.

Our viewing box was silent. There was no cheering, no celebration. Just the cold, suffocating stillness of reality setting in. Riser Phenex had won.

I exhaled slowly, trying to process it. Despite everything, despite how hard Rias and her peerage had fought, it hadn't been enough.

Sirzechs was the first to break the silence. "She fought well," he said, his voice thoughtful. His usual amused lilt was absent, replaced by something more serious. "Considering how short a time she's had to prepare, she and her peerage have come incredibly far."

Zeoticus nodded. "She led them well, and they gave everything they had. If they had more time, if they had just a little more experience, things may have turned out differently." He turned his gaze to me then, his expression unreadable. "Leo, I have to assume you had a hand in this."

I blinked, caught slightly off guard. "What do you mean?"

Zeoticus smiled faintly. "Rias and her peerage have grown in leaps and bounds these past weeks. Strength, confidence, tactics… I find it hard to believe they could have come this far on their own."

I shrugged. "My peerage and I may have helped a little, but honestly, Rias did more for my peerage than the other way around. Training alongside them, pushing each other, learning together—that kind of shared experience was invaluable for all of us."

Zeoticus studied me for a moment before nodding approvingly.

Sirzechs let out a slow sigh, leaning back into the couch. "It's unfortunate," he said, "but in the end, this is what's best for House Gremory. For all of devilkind."

I turned to him, studying his expression. "Rias and I talked before about the possibility of someone else being promised her hand," I said carefully. "I understand there's more at play than just what she wants."

At that, Sirzechs and Zeoticus shared a look.

It was quick, barely a flicker of understanding between them, but I caught it.

Zeoticus turned back to me, his expression carefully neutral. "There is nothing that can be done now to prevent Rias' marriage to Riser," he said, his tone deliberate.

The way he said it made something in my gut twist.

Nothing they could do.

But maybe… someone else could.

I narrowed my eyes slightly but didn't press the issue. Instead, I leaned back against the couch, my mind hard at work.

With a flash, Rias and Grayfia appeared in our viewing box. Rias stood stiff, her eyes downcast and refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

With a wave of his hand, Zeoticus summoned a teleportation circle. "We'll be heading to the Underworld to begin preparations for the wedding," he said, his voice even.

Rias flinched ever so slightly at the word wedding, but she didn't argue. She didn't say anything at all.

I wanted to say something, anything, to reassure her. But words failed me. I didn't think there were any words that would take away the sting of what had just happened, what she was about to have to do.

Before stepping into the teleportation circle, Zeoticus turned back to me, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "The ceremony will take place tonight," he said, his tone casual—too casual. "You and your peerage will, of course, have an invitation."

His words settled heavily in my mind. They wanted something done.

I inclined my head slightly. "I appreciate the courtesy."

Sirzechs said nothing, but the glance he exchanged with Zeoticus before following him into the circle told me enough.

In a flash of light, they were gone.

Grayfia, who had remained silent through the entire exchange, turned to face me. "I will return you all to the Occult Research Club," she said. Her tone was unreadable, but there was something beneath the surface, something measured.

She raised her hand, and a silver teleportation circle flared to life beneath us.

A moment later, my peerage and I reappeared in the familiar surroundings of the ORC clubhouse.

We weren't alone.

Rias' peerage was already there, slumped on the couches and chairs, looking exhausted and defeated. Issei sat on the floor, his arms resting on his knees, breathing heavily. Kiba stood nearby, arms crossed, his expression tight with frustration. Akeno leaned against the desk, silent, for once without her usual teasing smirk. Koneko sat curled up on a couch, staring at the ground.

The weight of their loss hung heavy in the air.

The only movement came from Asia, who had wasted no time. Without hesitation, she knelt beside Issei, her hands glowing with warm, green light as she began healing him.

"You pushed yourself too hard," she murmured, her voice soft.

Issei let out a small, tired chuckle. "Yeah… kinda figured that out when I could barely stand."

Asia didn't say anything else, just focused on her work. Slowly, the wounds across his body began to close, the bruises fading away.

I exhaled and leaned against the back of the couch, my gaze sweeping the room. It felt… strange. Off. Something obvious was missing.

"Feels weird being here without Rias," I said aloud, letting the words hang in the air.

The reaction was immediate. Kiba's scowl deepened, his jaw tightening as his arms clenched harder against his chest. Issei shot to his feet.

The sudden movement nearly knocked Asia over, but she managed to steady herself, blinking in shock.

"Shut the hell up!" Issei snapped, his voice raw with emotion. "You think we don't know that!? You think we don't feel that emptiness too!?" His fists clenched at his sides, his entire body shaking. "How dare you talk about her right now like—like she's already gone!"

I didn't flinch at his outburst. I had expected it. I had wanted it.

I let the moment stretch before nodding slightly. "Good," I said simply. "Glad to see there's still some fight left in you."

Issei froze, his breathing still heavy, his anger still burning.

I shifted my gaze to the rest of them. Kiba. Akeno. Koneko. Even Asia. "So tell me," I said, my voice level. "Are you all still willing to fight? Or are you giving up on Rias?"

Silence.

Kiba's hands tightened into fists at his sides. Akeno's fingers curled against the desk. Koneko's eyes finally lifted from the floor.

Issei let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "What's the point?" he muttered. "It's too late. We lost. We got our asses kicked. And now… Rias is gone forever."

I rolled my eyes. "You're a moron."

Issei's head snapped up, his eyes flashing with renewed anger.

"Rias isn't married yet," I continued, crossing my arms. "She's not gone. Not yet."

As much as I care about Rias—as much as I want to be the one to save her from Riser—this isn't about me. It's about Rias.

It would be easy to charge in, to be the one to fight for her, to take her back. But I saw how Rias made her feelings perfectly clear back in that Rating Game.

I saw it on her face.

When Issei nearly got himself killed for her, Rias screamed for him like nothing else in that fight had mattered. She threw away the game, threw away her pride, for him.

I don't understand it. Hell, half the time I don't understand him.

Rias saw me as a potential escape from her predicament. Thinking back to our conversation while we were hiking to the cottage for training, I should have known then and there that she had feelings for Issei. The way she blushed just from him looking at her said it all.

I cared for Rias, definitely, but I wasn't sure if it was love. Infatuation, sure. Attraction, most definitely. Thinking about the reality of the situation, I knew that there were plenty of reasons that went against my desire to marry Rias myself.

I had a broken House to rebuild. A House that I was the sole member of. Marrying Rias would mean that our kids would likely be Gremory's, her family was the more politically powerful one after all.

I would be so focused on rebuilding my House, on strengthening my own peerage, that I feared that I would not have enough time to dedicate to Rias, like she deserved. She had her own peerage to worry about, her own issues to deal with.

My eyes swept over my peerage. Akari, my loyal and loving queen, was smiling at me as if she already knew what I was up to. Ayame, my cute, constantly blushing knight, stood next to me shyly, though seemed ready to defend me at a moment's notice. Mizuki, my brilliant bishop, was lost in her own thoughts even as she studied my face closely. Airi, my defiant, brash pawn, was looking at Issei as if her opinion of him was drastically lowering with each passing second. And Yuki, my motherly, cautious pawn, was watching me closely, curious what I was up to.

As I took in all of them, I knew that I had more than enough wonderful women already. Rias was, lets face it, smoking fucking hot. Akeno was likely a package deal with Rias, the thought of which was incredibly hot, but Akeno was also a masochist. And since I wasn't into sadism I wasn't exactly interested in exploring that with her, or anyone.

My mind made up, I focus back on the room.

"We're going to the wedding."

That got their attention.

Kiba's head snapped up. Akeno straightened slightly. Even Koneko, who had barely moved since we arrived, finally looked directly at me.

Issei frowned. "What?"

"We're all attending," I continued, my voice level. "We'll be civil. We'll play along. We'll wait for the right moment. And then…" I let the words linger before I leaned forward slightly. "We're taking Rias back."

Issei's eyes widened.

Kiba's grip on his arms relaxed, the tension in his shoulders shifting.

Akeno smiled—a real smile this time, slow and sharp.

Koneko's lips parted slightly, her fingers flexing at her sides.

I let my gaze sweep across all of them, making sure they understood. "We'll disable anyone who gets in our way. Riser's peerage, the guards, whoever tries to stop us. But when it comes to Riser himself…"

I locked eyes with Issei.

"This fight is yours."

His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

"You wanted to fight for her, right?" I said. "Well, here's your shot. When the time comes, you challenge him. You beat him. You take Rias back."

Issei swallowed hard, his hands clenching at his sides.

"You've already come close to killing yourself for her once," I said, my tone just sharp enough to make sure he understood the weight of this. "If you've got some special power hidden inside you, now would be the time to find it."

With our plan set, there was no time to waste. We hurried to prepare for the wedding, my peerage and I making our way back to our clubhouse.

The moment we arrived, my girls rushed toward their rooms to begin getting ready. I, knowing full well that if I didn't move fast I'd be stuck waiting hours for the bathroom, bathed first.

The hot water did little to ease the tension in my shoulders, but I forced myself to focus. This was more than just saving Rias. This was the moment House Tenebris stepped into the light.

By the time I stepped out of the bath, steam curling around me, towel wrapped loosely around my waist, I barely had a moment to register the hallway before chaos erupted.

The door slammed open, and suddenly, a stampede of women surged past me.

Airi shoved past on my left, already yanking her shirt off as she moved. "Move, move, move!" she barked, as if we were rushing into battle.

Yuki, ever the quieter of the two, followed right behind her with a determined expression, her arms filled with bottles and products I couldn't even begin to identify.

Ayame practically skidded to a stop in front of me, hands on my chest, pushing me back as she narrowed her eyes. "You're done, right?"

"I—"

Before I could answer, Mizuki slipped past like a ghost, not even sparing me a glance as she hurried Ayame along. She was already pulling her twin-tails free from their ties, her delicate hands methodically untangling strands of damp blonde hair as she murmured, "We have to hurry if we're going to be ready in time. It is a wedding, after all."

Koneko would have been proud of how smoothly she ignored me.

And then Akari strode in last, the eye of the storm, green gaze flicking over me like I was in her way. She had a towel slung over one shoulder, a silk robe hanging from her free arm. Unlike the others, she actually took a moment to appreciate the sight of me fresh out of the shower, smirking ever so slightly before giving me a single, unimpressed look.

"You took your time," she said.

I barely had time to move before the door was shut in my face.

The lock clicked. Silence.

I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face, still standing half-naked in the hallway.

I shrugged, shaking my head and made my way to my bedroom, figuring I might as well get dressed while I had the chance.

The moment I stepped inside, my movements stalled.

Laid out on the bed, meticulously arranged and undeniably prepared just for me, was a fine black suit.

I stepped closer, my fingers running over the fabric, but it was the crest that held my attention—an intricate emblem woven in shadowed embroidery, stitched so precisely and intricately that it looked almost alive against the black fabric.

At its center burned a small ball of Hellfire, shaped like an elongated flame, twisting and flickering despite being nothing more than thread.

From the heart of the Hellfire, elegant, curling tendrils of shadow extended outward, forming an intricate web of interwoven patterns. They weren't wild or uncontrolled; they were purposeful, spiraling in symmetrical arcs.

The outermost ring of the crest bore inscriptions in Ancient Deftodiz, the ancient script of the devils, bearing the name of my House and our family motto.

The left half of the crest read '𐌃𐌏𐌌𐌖𐌍 𐌕𐌄𐌍𐌄𐌁𐌔𐌉𐌔' or 'House Tenebris'. On the right, it read '𐌉𐌍 𐌕𐌄 𐌃𐌀𐌓𐌊, 𐌅𐌄𐌕𐌄𐌍 𐌉𐌔 𐌂𐌀𐌔𐌅𐌄𐌃' or 'In the dark, fate is carved'.

I ran my fingertips over the embroidered words, feeling the raised stitching beneath my skin. A slow breath filled my lungs as I started to dress myself. I slid the jacket on as I walked towards the mirror in my closet and straightened my cuffs, the links of which also had my family crest upon them, and took in my appearance.

Feeling confident in my appearance, I head downstairs into the portal room and wait patiently for my girls to arrive. Or, at least, I tried to be patient.

I had no idea how much time had passed, but the fact that I had time to think about how much time had passed meant it had been long enough. Just as I was about to leave to look for them the soft click of footsteps against the polished floor made me glance up.

And then, for the briefest of moments, I forgot how to breathe.

They moved as a unit, stepping into the room with an effortless grace that spoke of both elegance and danger. The matching kimonos they wore were perfectly fitted, hugging each of their bodies like they had been made for them—because, knowing them, they had been.

The fabric was rich, woven with care, designed not only for beauty but for movement. These weren't traditional kimonos meant only for ceremony. These were outfits meant for battle.

And each of them bore the House Tenebris crest stitched over their hearts.

Akari led the group, as confident as ever, her lush green hair cascading down her back, her flower hair ties subtly in place, holding her hair in a way that perfectly framed her flawless face. Her kimono was black with red accents, the contrast sharp against her fair complexion. The fabric clung to her voluptuous frame, emphasizing her curves in all the right places—her large breasts, her cinched waist, and the fullness of her hips. Even standing still, she looked like a queen surveying her domain.

Ayame was next, her chestnut-orange hair styled in its signature crown braid, giving her a regal yet disciplined look. Her kimono was white with red accents, complementing the warm tones of her hazel eyes. The fit was perfect, highlighting the lean muscle of her frame while still maintaining a softness that suited her. Where Akari radiated confidence, Ayame was blushing at my attention and smiling meekly at me.

Mizuki followed, the smallest of the group, but no less striking. Her blonde hair, tied up in her usual twin tails, bounced slightly as she walked. The white kimono with blue accents fit her slender frame perfectly, hugging her small chest and slim waist, but it was the way it flared at her hips that truly emphasized her shape. Despite her quiet nature, there was something undeniably sharp in her presence.

Airi and Yuki came last, side by side, their outfits nearly identical—both wearing black kimonos with light gray accents. The difference was in their details.

Airi's shoulder-length black hair framed her face, her gray eyes sharp and focused. The kimono hugged her moderate chest, curving perfectly around her waist and wide hips, while still allowing for fluid movement. She smiled smugly at me as I openly checked her out.

Yuki, in contrast, was a striking presence. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, the dark silk of her kimono enhancing the intensity of her storm-gray eyes. Unlike her sister, she was far more well-endowed, her large chest accentuated by the cut of the fabric. But it wasn't just her body that made her stand out—it was the quiet confidence in her expression, as if my gaze locked onto her was all the praise she needed.

I struggled to control the well of emotions in the back of my throat as I felt tears try and form in my eyes. This was more than just my peerage proudly displaying the crest of my family on their chests. This was my family, something I had never truly had; something I hadn't really realized I had until right now.

"His expression says it all, girls," Akari said as she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

Remembering to breathe, I exhaled slowly and gave them what they were waiting for, "You all look absolutely stunning."

Akari softly kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "There you go. Glad you approve."

Finally collecting myself, I let a smirk tug at the corners of my lips, "Took you long enough."

Akari rolled her eyes at me as she placed her hand over the crest on my chest. With a small flash of magic, the crest disappeared.

"Don't want to give the game up too quickly," Akari winked at me as she went around and did the same for all of the girls.

Realizing that they were left visible only so I could see all of them wearing my family's crest, I grinned at Akari as I began to activate the teleportation circle. We planned to wait outside the hall until Issei and the others arrived, and then we'd enter as one group.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I pretty much one-shot this attempt when I originally wrote it and it only needed a little bit of touching up. I know some of you might dislike the decision for Leo not to pursue Rias. Since I started writing this story, I have been toying with whether or not he would. I've honestly gone back and forth so many times it's crazy. But ultimately writing this scene helped me realize that it just wasn't meant for this story. When you factor in the added lore of peerages having a power that binds them (Leo's being love, Rias' being loyalty), all the things I have planned for Leo's future, and just the sheer size of Leo's peerage (current and planned) it just didn't feel right. It didn't feel authentic to me, Leo, or the story.

Anyways, if you enjoyed the chapter and you aren't already favoriting/following please consider doing so. It's amazing to me that so many of you already are and I thank you all for continuing to return to my story. Leave a review and let me know what you think. I'll see you all next time!