04/28/2012, Rating Game Dimension, Morning.
Riser covers his face as the light of his spell has just been devoured and then multiplied tenfold by the Extinguishing Star of Rias.
"WHAT!? HOW CAN THIS BE!?" shouts Riser looking with dread in his eyes the giant orb of destruction annihilating the roof and the top floor of the New School Building on its relentless advance. Despite Riser's attempts at dispelling the Extinguishing Star by trying to overpowering it, his magic only seems to fuel it. The Phenex decides to take flight, but Rias' final move is tracking him down, changing its direction at every Riser's movement.
"This attack... is it based on my Ruin the Extinct?" asks Sirzechs looking at the Extinguishing Star. "It seems little Rias really put all of herself in this" points out Serafall. "Yeah... she did" says Sirzechs half proud of her sister half disappointment in himself for not having trusted her enough. 'The Priestess has won' says Kohryu. 'I agree, Riser Phenex can't wish to resist the girl's power' confirms Apollo. However Ryoji and Makoto feel something, like a sixth sense telling them something. "Ryoji?" says aloud Makoto. From a mass of darkness forming in the VIP booth appears Death. "You feel it too, right?" asks Ryoji. "Oh, hello" he says waving his hand at Sirzechs and Serafall.
"Mochizuki Ryoji? Oh, you have always been here, right?" asks Sirzechs immediately understanding that Ryoji was probably in Makoto's mind all the time. Makoto returns his gaze at the screen showing the fight, Ryoji doing the same.
Riser gazes frantically at the Extinguishing Star looking for a way to avoid it. "Brother!" shouts Ravel, the only one of his peerage members still in game. Ravel's words trigger something in Riser as he clutches his chest feeling a huge weight on his shoulders.
'You are losing mangy bird. And you dare to call yourself a Phoenix?' says an hoarse voice in his head. "Who are you!?" asks Riser, still running from Rias' spell.
'I? I am you. Or, I am supposed to say this, but I am not a loser'. Riser suddenly takes his head in pain, curling up mid-air, as his eyes start to change in a shade of yellow. "Brother!" shouts Ravel flying towards the other Phenex. But, her path is blocked as the more she's near Riser the more she's being attracted by the Extinguishing Star's own gravity.
'I don't lose. It would be a shame in front of the Great Master. You heard it, mangy bird?' rhetorically asks the voice to Riser with Rias' spell now few meters away from him. Riser looks behind himself, he has already reached the limits of the pocket dimension. There is nowhere to run.
"What do you want!?" says Riser, his voice not audible due to the racket of the Orb. 'My Master told me a pawn has meaning only if it moves. So I will grant you my strength' says the voice. "Who do you think you are!?" barks enraged Riser, but the crude reality soon hits him. Or, in other words, the Extinguishing Star hits him.
His entire body sinks into the core of Rias' attack starting to be destroyed. Devoured by the ravenous demonic energy. His arms are vaporised by the density of the demonic power of the Orb, only for them to be soon healed.
His skin is burnt over and over, his limbs, his wings every inch of his body is continuously destroyed, but it still isn't strong enough to trigger the automatic retirement of the Rating Game.
Riser screams trying to get out of the orb, but he is trapped in a vicious cycle. He doesn't make it in time to fly away before his wings get destroyed and the process to start all over again. He can't focus on trying to vanquish the Extinguishing Star with his magic, as it would only fuel it even more.
"You are the one who will give up Riser!" says Rias panting. Preventing the Star from collapsing is becoming more and more difficult as it gets stronger and more chaotic.
"This is becoming a match of resilience" observes Sona. "Her opponent is a Phoenix how can Senpai Gremory hope to succeed?" asks Saji still shaking from the pyrotechnic show he's witnessing.
"While Rias is still only a rookie and Riser is a Phenex, he isn't used to pain" says Sirzechs smiling. "Thank you for helping my sister Yuki" he adds turning towards Makoto. "I am saying this again, I didn't do anything" replies Makoto. "You are too humble Makoto" says Ryoji giving a pat to the messiah.
"We should warn the infirmary. I wouldn't want Riser to suffer permanent damage. If that were to happen who will suffer Lord Phenex?" whines Serafall. "I think we can wait a little bit" says Sirzechs, satisfied in seeing the thorn on his sister's back suffering. "Zechs that's evil" points out Serafall.
In another area of the Runeas Arena, the parents of Rias together with Blazalon Phenex were watching the Rating Game. The situation has been peaceful in the room, with Blazalon admitting the potential of Rias peerage and recognizing her servants as worthy of House Gremory and House Phenex.
However the situation changed when Rias launched her Extinguishing Star and hit Riser. "Marquis Phenex?" asks Lord Zeoticus Gremory seeing the glass in the Phenex's Clanhead hand starting to shake. "Archduke Gremory... I thought we had a deal" tells Blazalon, upset about the current turn of events. "Yes, obviously" retorts Zeoticus.
"Then why is YOUR daughter beating MY son!? This Rating Game was supposed to be a formality! Have you idea of how much I spent on this marriage!? I put the face of my house in this! Has this been only a way to shame the Phenex House, Lord Gremory!?" roars Blazalon slamming his hands on the table.
In two days the greatest ceremony in the history of the Underworld will take place in the Phenex Castle. Blazalon made sure everything will be perfect. He invited the most influent people of the devil race. Lords, Ladies, heirs and heiresses. He ordered luxuries from all over the mythological realms made promises and cashed in many useful favours.
"Lord Phenex you are gravely misunderstanding this. I would never dare to shame an House like yours" says Zeoticus, defending himself from Blazalon's ire. "Really!? Do you know that if by any chance your daughter avoids the marriage it will be MY house which will suffer the most?" Zeoticus tries to answer back, but the Phenex stops him. "Not only I will have to personally apologize to all the pillars for cancelling the ceremony two days before. Not only my own son will be humiliated in front of a rookie. I will lose both prestige and money. This is an insult Lord Gremory!".
"Lord Phenex. Why don't we sit down and finish to watch the Game. I am sure we will see this through" says Venelana diplomatically, causing Zeoticus to look at her wife in gratitude. 'You better not mess this Riser. You are playing with the honour of our House here' thinks Blazalon sitting down like Venelana suggested.
'I hate repeating myself mangy bird. Call upon my name. You want to be humiliated by Rias Gremory?' asks the hoarse voice in Riser's head between the latter's screams of pain. 'You will become the laughing stock of the entire Underworld. Hilarious don't you say? You will be the shame of the Phenex House. Your Father will disown you. Your brothers and sister will forget you'. The voice starts mocking Riser, torturing his mind while Rias' magic does it with his body.
'Once a proud devil, now the punching bag of an 18 years old girl. Defeated by a bunch of highschool students, Riser Phenex: the lowest of his House'. "AAAAAH!" Riser continues to writhe in pain. 'Mangy bird. What are you going to do? Call me. SUMMON ME. DO IT OR DIE!' roars the voice, booming inside his mind.
"P-PERSONA!". Riser is engulfed by bright red flames, bright as the shiniest gem and red like blood, which blast away the Extinguishing Star.
"I am Thou. Thou art I. From the Sinful Pit of thy Rotten Heart I am free. Losing? That is not a curse I shall accept on me. I am fire! I am life! Now and forever I am PHOENIX!".
An enormous beast appears behind Riser, now in a better shape than ever - his clothes too recreated by the flames of the Reverse Phoenix.
The Reverse Phoenix is a giant puppet bird. Its wings are made of dark feathers, just like every other part of its body: dark feathers pinned on carbonised bones. No skin, no flesh. Only bones and feathers. The ribcage of the Reverse Persona is acting as a literal cage trapping tiny birds entirely made of fire which sing a desperate song. Over the head of the Reverse Phoenix there is an orange crown levitating. A crown of burning orange thorns.
"A Persona!?". Makoto takes a quick look at the screen before turning towards Ryoji, his usual stoic attitude gone. "Ryoji. Elizabeth said the people of this world couldn't have Persona until the birth of a Sea of Souls then what is that?" he asks. "I... I don't know" replies Death. 'It is clear as day that it is not Phoenix. It is something else' says Kohryu. 'I know what that is...' says Apollo dead serious. 'Then speak Sun God' orders Lucifer. 'A Reverse Persona...'.
"It is impossible Riser Phenex is not a Shadow Self and even if he was, he's still not a Persona User" retorts Ryoji. "Mako what's happening?" asks Serafall. "We must do something Rias is in danger!" exclaims the crimson Satan. Before anyone can make a final decision comes the voice of Grayfia. "Lady Rias has been defeated. The winner of the Rating Game is Lord Riser".
Pivoting their heads to the screen once more they see Riser standing on the destroyed second floor of the New School Building, Rias already retired by the magic of the Pocket Dimension. "Ria... lost?" asks Serafall not believing her eyes. Sirzechs doesn't utter a word, instead he rushes away from the room heading towars the infirmary.
"Brother are you feeling good?" asks Ravel landing at Riser's side. The male Phenex smiles. "Yes Ravel I am fine. You all did a wonderful job. No, we have a party we must prepare for" says Riser as he and his sister leave the Rating Game Dimension.
04/28/2012, Runeas Arena Infirmary, Midday.
"Argh... FUCK!". Rias slams her fist on the table on the side of her infirmary bed, hitting it with so much force caused by the stress that it cracks. Rias puts her hands on her face, trying to remember what happened the last seconds of the Rating Game. Trying to understand where she failed.
However the only things that come to the Gremory's mind are the sudden waves of flames siphoning over her and waking up on the bed where she's currently laying on immediately after. "Damn it all!". Rias Gremory, the usually calm, compassionate sometimes silly President of the Occult Research Club crashes out.
After letting out a relieving shout, which doesn't make much to alleviate her spirit, Rias falls back on the bed closing her eyes and putting her hands over her face. 'I hate it. I hate that prideful bastard. I hate my family for condemning me to this!' thinks Rias, her mind full of thoughts of hatred. 'All my words were for nothing... at last I couldn't do anything. I failed myself and my real family'. Soon Rias' rage gives up to her sadness and shame.
Someone rushes in the room without knocking on the door. "Rias! Are you hurt? Oh Satan I was so worried about you, can you move? Speak? Do you need something? Should I call a doctor? Just tell me". Sirzechs starts flooding Rias with questions, fueled by his immense worry.
Sirzechs, his blue eyes softened by the sight of his sister, tries to put an hand on Rias' shoulder. To reassure her. To comfort her. Instead Rias mives slightly further each time Sirzechs tries to get closer. "Rias?" asks Sirzechs. "You shouldn't be here, Lord Lucifer. It is inappropriate for the Satan of Internal Affairs to mingle with the heiress of a Pillar House". Rias' voice is cold, clearly hurt, but Sirzechs doesn't notice it. The way she referred to him as 'Lord Lucifer' is like a direct punch to his stomach, stunning the Crimson Satan.
"Rias? Please listen to me. I am sorry. I tried to speak with Father, but you know I could not do anything about it" tries to apologize himself Sirzechs. "I know. I would never question your actions Lord Lucifer. Now please leave me alone. I need to check on my family" replies Rias, emphasising the last word. Sirzechs is about to add something, but he nods his head.
"I... understand". He then leaves the room, not before waiting for a little bit looking at his sister which treats him like a stranger. Sirzechs bites his lip so hard to make them bleed and leaves.
When she's sure her brother is really gone Rias starts crying, covering her face with the pillow of the hospital bed. What she just said to her brother... she perfectly knows how cruel it is, especially for someone like Sirzechs. But he and her parents, they are not her family, she doesn't consider them family anymore. Where were her parents when she really needed them? Was really their contract with Lord Phenex more important than the happiness of their daughter!? Rias sighs heavily and stands up. She must know if her family is fine.
In another room of the infirmary Rias' peerage has reunited to watch the final act of the Rating Game after that their injuries have been treated.
When Rias eliminated Yubelluna the peerage thought it was over, that they have won, and the look of horror in Riser's eyes in front of the relentless approach of the Extinguishing Star fortified their hope. But the sudden announcement of Rias' retirement, few seconds after she seemed to have won took them by surprise. Surprise, not sadness, not anger. Confusion and surprise.
"What!? There must be an error right? A lag in the streaming, or something like that no?" asks Irumi incredulous. "President..." Koneko rubs her eyes, it has been too fast no one understood what happened. "I am going to look fo Rias-" says Akeno trying to stand up, but she's the most injured of the bunch. Yubelluna attacked her with everything she got, and after drinking the Phoenix Tear she did it again leaving Akeno greatly injured. "Senpai don't overdo yourself. I will search for the President" says Kiba offering himself.
There is no need for the blonde to search the Gremory as Rias herself enters the room looking at her peerage with a conflicted look. "A-are you ok?" asks Rias, gulping to hide her own sorrowful voice. Rias' attempt to show a secure expression is useless, it's crystal clear she's not ok. "Apart from senpai Himejima we are completely fine... President are you crying?". Irumi's question makes Rias to jolt and shake her head. "No, no! We knew we could lose... I am fine" she tells faking a smile.
The President of the Occult Research Club looks at her injured queen, her look a mix of resentment towards her parents and worry for her friend. "Akeno I am so sorry. I... really don't know what to say...". Rias grits her teeth. Why is she so hesitant? She then feels Akeno's arms around her. "Don't be so apologetic Rias. We did what we could" she says in a bittersweet tone.
"President what happened there? We didn't understand nothing" asks Irumi, but Rias doesn't answer immediately as she tentative. "Riser is stronger than me. It's just like that, sorry if I disappointed you" decides to say the girl. "President it is not you who are at fault here..." says Kiba trying to cheer up the situation, but it is incredibly difficult given the outcome. They remain in silence for a while, just like Rias all of them are trapped in their own thoughts.
Rias reflecting on her future and what will happen to her family, the real one, not the Gremory House. Akeno locks her eyes on Rias, no words of comfort coming to her mind that could really be of help: only empty ones. Koneko clenches her fists. 'A burden... that's what I am' she thinks reminiscing her defeat. Kiba goes on a similar line of thought chastising himself for not having done more. Irumi frowns.
'Will I always be helpless in front of threats to the people I hold dear?'. Despite her unwillingness to do so her mind goes back to ger parents... 'Partner. I am a dragon so being a morale support isn't my best, but I know a few things about people and you are not someone who is helpless' says Ddraig. 'The results are not the best, the contrary. Still you fought, and you didn't yield until the very end. I saw other Red Dragon Emperors crumble in front of defeat, but you didn't. I saw warriors give up to panic and madness. You didn't'.
The silence is broken by Rias who turns back towards the exit. "Rias, where are you going?" asks Akeno seeing a flicker of something in Rias' eyes, even if she's not quite sure of what. "I need to take a walk and... reflect I think". Without waiting anyone Rias leaves the room in an awkward silence when she exits.
04/28/2012, Runeas Arena, Midday.
'Universe you don't understand! We must take that thing down, now!' shouts Apollo, an uncommon anxiety in the voice of the Sun God. 'No. We are not sure what that even was' replies Makoto. The blue messiah is roaming through the alleys of the Arena, heading towards the Rating Game dimension. Makoto asked Serafall to not make the pocket dimension reset yet. Maybe he can find some answers to the mystery of that 'Phoenix'.
'Sun God, is it fear in your voice?' asks Lucifer. 'Yes! You don't understand how dangerous a Reverse Persona is!' repeats Apollo. 'Tatsuya...' he then whispers to himself. 'While I agree with you Apollo, we can't deny the fact that that is not a common Reverse Persona. Where is the Shadow Self?' tells Thanatos.
The Personas start to argue until Makoto stops them. 'I have an hypothesis. What if Nyarlathotep is trying to make artificial Persona users? Just like Stregas' proposes Makoto as he remembers the documents he found scattered across Tartarus explaining the experiments to force the awakening of a Persona.
'And Nyarlathotep is trying to do it, but with Reverse Personas? Is this what you mean? Then why? He already created a Shadow Self with Izanami, he doesn't need artificial 'Reverse Persona users', if we can define them as such' says Kohryu. 'We miss something...' Makoto scratches his head trying to find and answer, but he has no clues. 'And why Riser Phenex between all the people lf this world?' asks Yoshitsune.
'The answer is perhaps more simpler than you think, Universe. The Crawling Chaos could just be trying to have more weapons to his arsenal' says Odin. 'Nyarlathotep only fights with Shadow Self usually. If he's developing new ways of fighting it means he's plotting something' points out Thanatos. 'I don't like how it sounds, hee hoo'.
Makoto enters the, now ravaged and scorched, pocket dimension. The buildings of Kuoh Academy are now nothing, but high piles of ashes and burning hot debris; it is almost unrecognisable as a school. "Let's take a look around" says to himself Makoto.
Meanwhile Riser is happily whistling enjoying his newly found feeling of power. He, Riser Phenex, is truly the shining jewel of the Phenex House, not his brother Ruval. 'Stop gloating yourself, mangy bird' says the Reverse Phoenix, venom in its voice. 'Ah. I am stating the truth here, my supposed 'other self'' replies Riser. The Phenex takes a last look back towards the Pocket Dimension smirking at the thought of his win. But his feeling of superiority is soon replaced by a sense of dread. 'GREAT MASTER!' shouts the Reverse Phoenix taking abruptly control of Riser's body. The Phenex tries to fight back clenching his chest and gritting his teeth, but his body betrays him.
"He's here! If I bring HIM to the Great Master I will be one with the Universe! I WILL BE FREE FROM THE CAGE YOUR SOUL IS MANGY BIRD!" shouts Riser without his consent as the Reverse Phoenix has taken control of him after feeling the presence of Makoto. "Great Master!". Riser starts walking slowly towards the teleport towards the Pocket Dimension, the real Riser slowing him down. "Stop fighting Mangy Bird! Do yourself a favour and yield!".
The dreams of glory of the Reverse Phoenix are soon interrupted by a voice in its head.
"Reverse Phoenix seal" says Nyarlathotep as Riser takes back control of his body. "Brother! Brother calm down, breathe! What happened!?" says preoccupied Ravel rushing at Riser's side after hearing him shouting. The Phenex faints as his strength leaves his body.
04/28/2012, Old Satan Faction Headquarters, Midday.
"The Reverse Phoenix is still too unstable. It has an irrational desire to reunite with both me and Makoto" explains Nyarlathotep to Shalba after the former closes the Shadow Compendium. "Did the experiment fail, then?" asks Shalba. "No, while it didn't work out as I intended the results are still acceptable. We shall let the Reverse Phoenix sleep for a while, until it is fully grown".
"Do you want to start testing the new guinea pig, Father?" questions Shalba. "We shall wait until we have clearer results. For now focus on supporting Izanami" orders Nyarlathotep standing up ready to leave. "Wait Father, what about that Fallen Angel? Kokabiel".
"Him? Don't waste your time, no one can be so stupid to assault head on a town in a delusional hope to restart a war no one wants. Even the most irrational beings maintain a fragile glimmer of sanity. An all out war will eventually come, but only when I decide so". Dismissing the topic of the rogue fallen angel Nyarlathotep exits the room, flying away in his butterfly form.
"Lord Beelzebub". A soldier of the Old Satan Faction enters on the room. "Diodora Astaroth wishes to speak with you". Shalba grimaces in disgust, his left eye twitching in repugnance. "What does spineless trash want to discuss with me?" questions the Shadow. "He demands a recompense for killing the Glasya-Labolas heir. He said he wants assistance into acquiring an italian nun" informs the soldier.
"Tell him he must be glad I still find usefulness in keeping him around. If he wants to abandon himself into his perversion then he must not waste my time". With this said Shalba violently slams the door into the soldier's face.
04/28/2012, Gremory Main Residence, Afternoon.
Inside the Gremory Castle, a large palace built based on the 17th century royal residences of the human monarchs, especially the royal palaces of Caserta and Versailles, there is a palpable air of tension. After the official proclamation of Riser's win Rias, together with her traitorous parents, returned to their home. The heiress of the House categorically refused to have a word to the Lord and Lady not even acknowledging them.
"Rias you should talk with Lord and Lady Gremory" says Akeno. The two girls are seated in Rias' room, as the red-haired didn't even want to walk the same alleys as her parents. "No" answers Rias. "Rias... this isn't going to resolve anything...".
"I don't care about it. Akeno... where are the others?" asks Rias, emotional weakness in her voice. "They have returned to Kuoh. They only let me stay with you as your queen" Akeno looks away, not wanting to see Rias' reaction at the news she can't see her family.
"What!? Why!? It is not fair! First they dictate on my future then they take away my family?" Rias is, once again, on the verge of tears. "I am sorry Rias..." says Akeno, without any words to say able to lift up the mood she just tries to reassure Rias by staying with her.
In one of the halls of the castle the lords of House Gremory and Phenex are politely celebrating the union of their houses. "Marquis Phenex, I wonder. Where is young Riser?" asks Zeoticus offering a drink to his guest. "Riser was tired from the Rating Game. His sister said he wants to have some rest before the ceremony happening in two days".
"I see. Then I can only wish him the best of rest" politely replies Zeoticus as he and Lord Phenex begin talking about politics now that they are tied more than ever.
Speaking of politics makes Venelana to overthink the presence of the Ancestor in the Arena. 'Was he preoccupied of the potential Phenex House starting to shift from their neutrality in the senate? No. The Great King Faction is simply too influent'. The woman then pivots her head towards the door of the room. 'Rias...'. Seeing the cold stare on her daughter's usually carefree and innocent face grieves her soul, but she knows it is the devil's way of doing things.
'She will learn to accept it' comes the final decision of the woman. 'Just like me and Zeo. Rias will only need to acquaint herself with Riser'.