Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Priapus, Mike God of Lore, Marethyu
The Guild of Gamers, the Cursed
Chapter 10: Riser's Gambit
– Rias Gremory –
Kaho, much to her pleasure, fit into her peerage almost instantly. Akeno was able to put her teasing aside to bond with a young girl who had lost her parental figure, Koneko enjoyed no longer being the 'little sister' of the Peerage and Samuel remained the pillar of maturity that he had become. She'd underestimated the power of having a functioning adult in her peerage, and while he wasn't a father (yet), he certainly knew how to handle younger girls.
…not in that way.
He'd even given her [Pyrokinesis: Blaze] because he'd intended to trade it away anyway as he had little use for it compared to his far stronger Gaia. It did help reassure Kaho that she would be able to be useful, something the serious girl had been concerned about after discovering that her brother had likely been killed for his Sacred Gear. She was heartwrenchingly grateful to Rias for 'saving' her and her little brother, and eager to prove she wouldn't be a bad investment. It was a worrying mindset for a middle-schooler.
Rias just felt guilty. If she or Sona had acted faster, Kaho's brother would still be alive. Sona was certain that the Fallen who had been living in the abandoned church were responsible, but they'd also long since disappeared. Their best guess was that Samuel scared them, his Boosted Gear and rapidly growing powers would be an intimidating prospect for some two-winged nobodies. Genshirou was likely a smash and grab on the way out.
Samuel had been ready to give the power away for free, as he had done to many of the peerage, but she'd put a stop to that. Especially now that Sona had set up a genuine payment scheme for his other trades, she'd talked with the others and agreed that they should pay too. Akeno, being Akeno, had suggested they pay exclusively in sexual favours. Koneko called her a slutty virgin. Koneko was enjoying being the only one of them to not be a virgin anymore after so much teasing from Akeno about being less… developed.
Samuel, being Samuel, had disagreed and after some back and forth, they'd come to an agreement that they would pay using Sona's payment plan but with a heavy discount. It was possibly the least devil-like negotiation with both sides trying to make the deal less in their favour. He had insisted on awakening Kaho's aura with no charge, since she'd recruited Kaho on his request. That, she agreed to. Then she secretly transferred payment to his bank account anyway.
She was a cunning and prideful devil, after all.
Watching as Kaho chatted with Millicas, she chuckled to herself before turning back to the pleased Grayfia. She wasn't surprised that Grayfia had jumped the queue to ensure that Millicas got his Aura awakened early. It was nice to see the usually stern woman acting like a mother.
"So, Riser's given up on facing us in a rating game?" Rias asked, amused despite herself.
"He's no fool. Boosted Gear alone would give him pause, in the hands of someone who knows how to use it, but thanks to the Satans using Samuel as an example for all Reincarnated devils with his meteoric rise, Riser is somewhat aware of his powers and knows that any Rating Game is unlikely to end in his favour," Grayfia agreed simply. "Rather, he's made an alternative offer, to settle this like nobles. Rather than face each other in a Rating Game, he is pushing for a one-on-one fight."
"Where he can handily avoid having to face Samuel or any of my Peerage at all," Rias scoffed, unsurprised at his cowardice.
"Yes- Mhmm, a bit harder please, Samuel," Grayfia mumbled as Samuel continued to massage her shoulders. It was baffling that news of Samuel's talented hands had even reached the Underworld. She blamed Akeno. "Yes. Riser has heard too much about Samuel's edicts and fears that they will defeat his regeneration. Riser is a talented fighter and a powerful devil, but he's well aware that he relies heavily upon his regeneration."
"And I imagine he doesn't want a reincarnated devil besting his family's trait," Samuel added with a knowing smile.
"Indeed. As a Longinus wielder, it wouldn't be that surprising as Phenex regeneration is far from perfect, but to lose to a reincarnated devil who has had their powers for less than a month would hurt his pride as a High-Class Pureblood devil far too much. But, he's aware it's a likely outcome and as such, is avoiding the fight altogether," Grayfia agreed simply.
Rias went quiet, frowning to herself. She wasn't surprised Riser was trying to change the game now that things were no longer stacked against her.
"If I may, Lady Gremory," Samuel spoke up. She gave him her usual dirty look at his insistence at using her title, and Grayfia hid what was almost certainly a laugh with a cough. "It seems this Riser is unaware that I can lend my powers to others. With your Aura, Edict and Gaia, could you not simply best Riser fairly easily?"
"True, Riser isn't fully aware of how Samuel's powers work. While the Aura is now well known, he has yet to loan a power to anyone outside of your or Lady Sitri's peerages, except for Serafall who hasn't shown it off yet," Grayfia agreed. "And a man like Riser is unlikely to believe that a devil would give their power to another. He certainly wouldn't."
"You'd lend me Edict and Gaia?" Rias asked, a little surprised as they were undeniably his two strongest tools.
"Of course. I can go without them for an evening. [Temporal Tempo] is off-limits, as I fear returning to a world where I can't do my paperwork in a bubble of hasted time," Samuel joked. Giving him a beaming smile, she considered how this changed things. Riser was powerful, but a well-placed Edict would trivialise some of his most powerful tools. Gaia was probably overkill, in comparison. She'd been training hard, and with Samuel's time bubbles, her training time was going into overdrive. Her mother had agreed to help her learn to better control her Power of Destruction, and again with the Time Bubbles that meant far more despite the limited timeframe.
Though, now the shoe was on the other foot. Before, she'd wanted more time, now she wanted less so Riser would have fewer chances of learning that she could borrow Samuel's powers.
"With him changing the game, I could pick the time and place, couldn't I?" Rias asked, getting a nod from Grayfia.
"Given his decision to request that you change it from a Rating Game to a Duel, he could hardly complain about you picking the rest of the details. It is worth noting, he has no real influence to do so. If you wish to remain on course, it will remain a Rating Game," Grayfia pointed out but Rias shook her head.
"No, we'll do things his way. Can Sirzechs arrange for school to be closed next week?" Rias asked. She wanted her entire Peerage there and Samuel was harder to hide.
"Easily. I'm sure the students of Kuoh won't turn their noses up at a short break," Grayfia agreed.
"Then that's when we'll do it. Next Saturday. We'll use the official rating games arena, so he can't complain about things being unfair," Rias decided. "As for the rest, this weekend I'll return home to prepare."
"Why do I get the feeling you don't intend to blitz him with Gaia?" Grayfia asked knowingly, getting a smirk from Rias.
"If things go well, he will never know I borrowed anything from Samuel. I won't give him even an inch. He'll have no reason to complain," Rias swore, plans already forming in her mind.
They'd played around with Edicts in training, working out just how much they could affect. He could easily make any element more dangerous, something he and Akeno worked on to make her lightning more menacing than usual, but it worked just as well with her Power of Destruction.
She needed to win this 'herself' if she wanted it to end. If she wanted to put a stop to any other attempts, she needed to crush Riser, seemingly through her own power.
And as she said, she was a cunning devil.
– Grayfia Lucifuge –
She was impressed, in truth.
The addition of Samuel, and his ever-growing powers, seemed to have had a good effect on Rias and her motivation. It was pleasing to see Rias go from being so downtrodden and defeated to being ready to fight Riser herself. Yes, she was planning on 'cheating' somewhat, but they were devils, and that was expected. Riser was doing the same to try and fix the fight in his favour, so he could hardly complain.
She had been unsure of Samuel, back when he had first been turned, but she had to admit that his professionalism and maturity had won her over. As much as she loved the Gremory House, it was filled with whimsical people who often needed a firm hand to get them to reach their potential. Few realised how often she had to bully her husband into doing his job. The reason she'd insisted on such a stern persona was because Sirzechs was too laidback and would let people walk over him to avoid conflict, but few would dare disrespect her King and husband in her presence. It was the mercy of the strong, she supposed. He didn't care if they disrespected him because he knew he could erase them with a sneeze. Like a dragon ignoring a yapping chihuahua. Half the time he'd find threats sent his way funny, or more specifically, cute.
'Look Grayfia, the mere ultimate-class is angry at me, how adorable.' Deranged words only someone as utterly obscene as Sirzechs could say and mean. She didn't even think he really meant any insult by it, he was just incapable of seeing direct threats or insults as serious thanks to his absurd strength. She wondered how many of his 'enemies' would retire in shame if they knew he found their barking so amusing.
It was still stressful, as no matter how powerful she was, those who thought to challenge Sirzechs were often very powerful themselves (or utterly deluded, sometimes both) and being the serious part of this pairing so her master could be soft placed her under constant stress.
And Samuel truly did have magical hands; she groaned quietly, prone on the bed. As she said, his professionalism impressed her as he worked his hands into her back, his magic increasing the sensation. Edicts truly was an absurd power, deserving of being a Clan magic. Would there one day be a Morgan Devil House with the power of Edict? She didn't know, as his powers may not transfer down.
"You have more knots than I expected, Lady Lucifuge," Samuel said softly, his tone professional and steady despite the situation. Her infamous dress was neatly folded on the nearby table, her bra on top of it. Perhaps she was testing him again, just a little, wearing nothing but a thong as he carefully worked the tension out of her body.
"The life as a member of a Satan's peerage is a blessed, but often busy one," Grayfia admitted as she lounged on the bed. Her breasts were pushed into the sheets, and he'd politely looked away until she'd laid down for him. "But you're holding back. I did ask for the full treatment, did I not?"
He hadn't used any of the 'tricks' that had apparently caused Rias to outright pass out from sheer pleasure.
"There's still a level of propriety to be observed. You are a married woman, to the brother of my King, no less," Samuel pointed out softly.
"And my husband is well aware I intended to ask for this treatment," Grayfia replied, turning her head to face him. "As long as you keep your fingers out of me, there will be no issues. We are devils, Samuel, and more importantly… I get very few days off. I want to make the most of mine, and as such I'd like the full treatment, the one Rias was so boastful of."
That wasn't to say she wouldn't discipline him if he was so crude as to just mindlessly grope at her buttocks or breasts, but most devil massage centers were far less proper than Samuel had been. Expecting human standards to carry over was a common mistake of reincarnated devils. Devil society put on a veneer of civility and propriety, but they were creatures of sin. She had no intention of cheating on Sirzechs, of course, but what a human husband and a devil saw as an affair varied wildly.
"Ah, my apologies, Lady Lucifuge," Samuel replied, honestly sounding apologetic that he'd held back. She paid close attention, feeling the way his touch… changed. It went from feeling pleasant to sending tingles through her body, each application of pressure causing her to gasp quietly before she got herself under control. She realised that he was altering the edict, making it more intense with each passing minute. Ah, it was no wonder Rias lost her mind. "If I may be so bold, may I try something new? I've had an… idea for a way to enhance my massages but I have not had the chance to test it yet."
"Go ahead," Grayfia mumbled, feeling very much like a puddle of flesh as far too much tension was removed by his talented hands. She wouldn't deign to go to a regular masseuse because Sirzechs had too many enemies who would try to take advantage of such a moment of weakness, whether through drugged incense or poisoned oils.
She paused, feeling the solid fingers… shift before she gasped as water spread across her bare back. Looking back, she could see that his arms had become liquid, clear water that was under his command.
"It is a power called Hydrification. I have little use for it, at least in combat, but I wondered about the other… applications of such a power," Samuel explained with a distracted smile, clearly focused on what he was doing as the living water shifted and worked her muscles in ways that regular fingers simply couldn't.
"I'd say- oh my, that you've found one," Grayfia moaned, her tone going increasingly breathy. Sirzechs had better be aware that his hips were in grave danger once she got out of here. Lady Venelana had to hear of this, she was certain her mother-in-law would be just as eager to experience this. "I might have to book regular sessions. Still, I think that's enough for my back."
He went to speak, his hands reforming, but his words were cut off as she lazily rolled over onto her back, breasts jiggling.
"Continue, please," Grayfia said, laying back with her eyes closed. Samuel hesitated for just a moment, before his hands returned to their job. To his credit, they didn't just openly grope and squeeze at her breasts, instead starting with her stomach and slowly working their way up until he reached the inevitable. His hands carefully moved as they massaged her large breasts, shifting to water again as the water moved unnaturally, finding each and every sensitive spot on her bosom, small whirlpool-like movements happening around her erect nipples as she enjoyed the treatment.
She could sense when he used his Pleasure Bursts power, using it in small but frequent doses to ensure that his massage felt downright divine. She truly believed that he'd make even an Archangel fall in an instant with these hands, and wondered if she should hoard this to herself or spread it to Lady Venelana, who would no doubt tell her friends.
The combination of his healing power, his edicts, pleasure bursts and now hydrification was beyond cheating. Yes, she could see how someone as inexperienced as Rias would lose herself entirely to this pleasure, but she was not so inexperienced.
He didn't remain on her breasts for long, moving down to her feet and then slowly up her legs. After finishing with her upper thighs, he skipped up to her waist, not touching anything covered by the thin white cloth, getting her to turn over again so he could work on her lower body all over again. His hands did work her barely covered cheeks, but finished up entirely too soon for her liking.
"What is it, Samuel?" Grayfia asked, spotting the look on his face. It was a mixture of inquisitive and hesitant at the same time.
"Oh, I was just considering the full potential of hydrification," Samuel admitted. "I do think I could do even better, but-"
Even better?
"Show me," Grayfia demanded, her body feeling lighter than it had in years.
"I- well, it would be a rather intimate massage-"
"Did I stutter?" Grayfia asked.
Samuel paused, before chuckling to himself.
"You did not, Lady Lucifuge. Right this way," Samuel offered, leading her to the bathroom where a large bathtub was waiting. "Please, remove your undergarments and get into the bathtub. I did warn you that this was more intimate."
Already knowing where this was going, she idly pushed her thong down and kicked it off as she got into the tub, Samuel's body shifting and becoming a wave of water that washed over her until his humanoid form was gone entirely, the tub filled to entirely cover her body except for her head that she rested against the bath's edge.
She had to admit, she was deadly curious how this would feel and she wanted to make sure it wasn't too much for Rias. After all, she could handle anything Samuel-
The water began to move as every single part of her body was massaged all at once, a million tiny hands working over every inch of her and Grayfia could only let out a surprised moan as she gripped the sides of the tub, eyes widening at the realisation that she may have underestimated matters.
– Samuel Morgan –
Being made entirely of water is an odd experience, but as I continue my work, I can't deny that knowing every single inch of Grayfia in such a manner is rather… enticing. You would think that I don't feel anything like this, but it's rather the opposite. I feel everything, every single inch of her sinfully soft body as she thrashes around slightly, gasping and moaning to herself. This does feel improper but she is the expert here and everyone agrees that Grayfia is the model of propriety so if she believes this is fine, who am I to disagree?
"F-fuck! Oh fuck, don't stop!" Grayfia moans, gyrating her hips into nothing. "Why- hah, why does it feel so fucking good?!"
Her usually neat hair is a soaked mess, hanging over her face as she once again fully submerges herself inside me. Odd, it's normally the man going inside the woman but I am nothing if not progressive. Despite not having lips, I also retain my sense of taste in this form and her arousal is sweet. I'm glad she maintains proper hygiene or this method could have been more unpleasant for me (though I did use a quick Edict to ensure any distasteful matter was disposed of).
Feat Achieved: Blow Grayfia's Mind, two rolls.
Rolling. Result: Common, Mythical.
[Cuddle King] - Common
You are the king of cuddling, whoever you are cuddling or having a skinship with will feel comfortable, and you are the best cuddling partner. Good for building relationships.
Funnily enough, that only makes Grayfia moan more as this is about as skin-to-skin as is physically possible.
[King Maker] - Mythical
You can grant copies of any powers you have access to. These copies cannot be stronger than Epic in power; any Legendary, Mythical or Divine perks or powers will be reduced to Epic.
…truly a power deserving of the name 'Mythical' because my power contract business just went into overdrive. With the sole exception of [Mine, Mine, Mine] which is legendary, every other power I have loaned out has returned to me and been replaced with a copy.
Grayfia has truly given me something amazing, and it is only fair that I ensure that the favour is returning. Edict, the sense of touch of every woman inside this bathroom is amplified a thousandfold. As her moans turn into screams, a time bubble ensures that she isn't needed anywhere for the next few hours as I begin to intensify my work.
– Later –
…I may have gone overboard.
Feats Achieved: Get Grayfia addicted to your touch, one roll granted. Acquire your first regular contract, one roll granted. Two rolls total.
Rolling. Result: Epic, Divine.
Grayfia lounges in the seat, practically glowing with satisfaction in a way I haven't seen since I pulled out all the stops for Koneko. She's 'booked' a weekly appointment with me, but she undeniably pays well.
[Tome of Vigor] (Nature School)] - Epic
"The unbridled power of the herd thundering over the plain, the sheer strength of the mighty bear as it closes in upon its prey. Hear the primal music that beats in the sinews and bones of beasts! Then you will be able to harness it and strengthen your pack with the force of nature itself." -Zaethyl, Wild Guardian of the First Elves
[Mana Incarnate] - Divine
You are a living font of mana, no longer limited in the amount of spells you can cast. In addition to never running out of mana, you can overcharge your spells to make them much more effective.
"I- can I really call myself your King still?" Rias asks, looking at me with admiring eyes. Mana Incarnate has certainly… amplified my magical aura, and evidently I feel similar in power to the Satans now. I could not beat them, without some very clever edicts at least, but my mere presence is another matter entirely.
"You can," I say simply. "One day, I will go my own way, but for now, at least, I remain your Bishop. More importantly, I believe I can ensure that victory goes your way in the coming fight. My powers have grown once more, permitting me to copy my powers onto others rather than giving them out entirely. This has no real limit, though powers that are beyond a certain level in power become weakened. To put it simply, I can share a diminished version of [Mana Incarnate] with you and the rest of our Peerage."
"I- I can't accept that. You've already given us so much and-"
"Lady Rias, may I speak?" I cut in. She hesitates before nodding.
"Of course. You don't need to ask permission," Rias says quickly.
"Shut up and stop being an idiot."
Akeno and Koneko's snort of laughter turns Rias bright red at my blunt words, as she sputters out a few words before sighing.
"You can't call me Lady Rias in one breath and then tell me to shut up in the next! Pick one!" Rias grumbles, her lips twitching in reluctant amusement.
"Incorrect. I call Sirzechs a fool at least once a week, and often tell him to stop talking. He remains my Master, all the same," Grayfia adds easily. "Sometimes, people need someone willing to tell them when they're being stupid."
"That's true! Mom calls Dad dumb all the time," Millicas agrees with a smile. "He can be a bit silly at times."
"That's because he can't stand being serious, and doubles down on being 'silly' when he's off work," Rias snorts.
"Everyone needs their way of relaxing. It's a key to a healthy work-life balance," I say with a nod. I don't blame the man, if he spends his days trying to balance a supernatural race that's technically in a Cold War, I can see why he'd like his personal life to be less serious. "But my point remains. You would agree that winning this fight and ensuring Riser does not become your husband is important, yes?"
"Of course!" Rias says, almost sounding insulted by my blunt, slowly spoken question.
"More important than your pride?" I continue, seeing her flush again before she sighs.
"Of course it is," Rias agrees with a groan. "You're right. Don't look so smug."
"Of course. I am merely advising my King," I say with an entirely straight face. She maturely sticks her tongue out at me, blowing a raspberry but I surprise her with a quick kiss, using the contact to copy over [Mana Incarnate]. Lowering it from Divine to Epic is a considerable downgrade, but even still her presence becomes undeniably more potent as Grayfia watches with a raised eyebrow and a small smile on her lips.
"I- I am going to talk with Sona and make this a proper contract," Rias insists.
"Sure. Right after you blow Riser up and end this betrothal contract," I point out, and no matter how much she wants to argue (purely for the sake of arguing, I think), she can't hide the growing smile on her face as she looks down at her hands with a rather menacing smile, the power of destruction sparking from them.
First, a week of training to prepare Rias for this challenge. Then, we can put a pin in this silly little distraction and get back to our classes.
– Riser Phenex – One Week Later –
As Rias and her Peerage arrived, he couldn't stop himself from shuddering at the presence of Samuel fucking Morgan. Dressed in what looked like a… butler outfit, he was walking beside Rias, the draconic aura of Boosted Gear filling the air. His peerage shuddered too, and he tried not to be offended at how much they looked like they were moments away from throwing themselves at the walking font of power. Even Ravel was rubbing her thighs together with an entirely out of place look on her usually cute and stern face!
Thank the Satans he'd found a way not to fight that monster. Rias and her fucking luck.
It wasn't until they got closer that Riser realised something. It wasn't just Samuel giving off such an immense feeling, and as Rias stood before him, he froze at the realisation that every single member of her Peerage was giving off their own menacing aura of sheer power.
Even the new girl! Why did a human middleschooler feel stronger than him?! What were they feeding her and her peerage over in Kuoh?
"H-hello, Rias," Riser tried, his nerves failing him as he stuttered slightly.
"Let's get this over with," Rias replied with a sneer on her lips. "You wanted a duel, Riser. Here I am. This is the only 'one-on-one' you'll ever get with me."
As she spoke, she 'flexed' her mana, a thick red aura forming around her as she glared at him like he was something she'd wiped off her shoe.
Oh fuck.
…Wait, why was he turned on?!
— Bonus Scene — Issei Hyoudou
He'd fucked up.
He wasn't completely stupid. He knew how carried away they had gotten. He and his friends had only encouraged each others' worst impulses and each slap on the wrist only made them think they could get away with more and more. It seemed so worth it at the time. What was the worst that could happen? The Kendo club would beat them up again, but they healed fast and their memories would stay forever.
Motohama had noticed the damaged part of the wall that led to their paradise, and Matsuda had used his sports club training as an excuse to be at the school over the break, slowly making the hole bigger and bigger.
It had all seemed worth it, peering through that hole at the bare breasts of Katase, and then reality had returned as that pretty-boy teacher had loomed over them. He'd expected a beating, maybe detention, but privately in the back of his mind he'd agreed it was worth it as Katase was seriously stacked and he'd finally seen them without even a bra.
Now, he had a criminal record and was suspended for a month. He hadn't seen either of his friends all week, not allowed out, all his porn and his computer taken away from him. He'd even heard that Matsuda's family was moving out of Kuoh and that he was going to some juvenile detention school for delinquents. He had only just avoided going to prison, and that reality weighed heavily on him.
With no games, no friends to talk to, no computer to go on and not even a single semi-lewd poster on his walls, Issei sighed to himself. As much as he wanted to blame the pretty boy, especially after seeing Murayama and Katase practically ogling him and hugging him as their 'hero', he knew it was entirely his own damn fault.
Kuoh was meant to be his paradise, but now he was dreading returning to the school where he was known as a sex offender. Not just 'the perverted trio' but a genuine criminal. His chance at romance was shot dead in the water, he'd be lucky to have even a single friend left.
Hearing his mother approaching, he flinched. He wasn't doing anything wrong, only studying, but he didn't feel the need for another lecture right now.
"Issei, are you decent?" she asked, as if he spent every waking moment beating his meat. God, how many times had she caught him doing exactly that? When had he become so shameless?
"Yeah," Issei replied, his tone tired as the door opened. He had to do better, for his parents sakes if nothing else. No more outright ogling girls, no more-
"Hello, Issei," a familiar voice said as he turned, seeing an awkwardly smiling girl with chestnut hair tied into twintails… wearing a black spandex bodysuit that clung to her curvy figure. To her left, a girl in a similar outfit glared at him, blue hair with a streak of green hanging to her shoulders.
"Irina?!" Issei realised, making her beam and step closer, her body jiggling with the movement. Issei could only gulp as his eyes were dragged down to her chest, disobeying his best efforts to get them to stay the fuck still.
"Issei!" his mother shouted, as Issei despaired, spotting the cross necklace Irina was wearing.
"This is him?" the other girl asked, sounding disgusted as Irina turned to speak to her. Oh god, it was skintight everywhere! Don't look at the booty, don't stare at the booty! It wasn't even his favourite part but- oh dear God.
Come on, God, at least work up to the tests! Don't drop skintight bodysuits on him the moment he decided that he wanted to be better!