Ten days. A period that flew by like a terrible dream. Ten days of hellish training, pain, gritted teeth, and desperate attempts to grow stronger. Ten days that ended in a predictable defeat in the Rating Game. And now, it had arrived—the wedding day of Rias Gremory and Riser Phoenix. A day that, for most of the high-society demons present, was just another socialite gala, an excuse to show off their wealth and influence. But for Rias and her loyal peerage, it was an execution day. The day when freedom and hope were to be sacrificed on the altar of political intrigue and clan honor.
...
The ceremony was set in one of the Phoenix clan's luxurious palaces in the Underworld. I arrived there using the "pass" that Sirzechs Lucifer had graciously arranged for me as part of our deal. Free passage into the demon world—a nice bonus for the upcoming "entertainment."
The palace was astonishing in its tasteless, gaudy luxury. Gold. There was gold everywhere. Golden pillars reaching to impossibly high vaulted ceilings, golden chandeliers the size of a small house sparkling with a myriad of magical lights, golden molding on the walls depicting mythological Phoenix birds in various heroic poses. The floor was polished obsidian, which reflected all this golden splendor, creating a sense of unreal, blinding brilliance. The air was thick with the heavy scent of exotic flowers and expensive incense, mixed with the faint smell of brimstone—the signature of the Phoenix house.
The crowd of guests was immense. Hundreds of demons filled the enormous ballroom. Lords and Ladies of ancient clans in formal robes, embroidered with jewels and the crests of their houses. Influential Underworld politicians with impassive faces. Wealthy traders of artifacts and souls. Young heirs and heiresses, eagerly hanging on every word from their elders and sizing up potential partners. All of them were smiling, exchanging pleasantries, drinking exquisite beverages from crystal glasses, but behind this high-society tinsel hid intrigue, rivalry, and cold calculation.
I stood in the shadow of a massive pillar, watching this assembly with poorly concealed disgust. Their world, built on hierarchy, blood, betrayal, and the empty demonstration of status, was alien and repulsive to me. I felt out of place here, a foreign body. But I was here with a purpose. Waiting for my cue.
My gaze slid across the hall, searching for familiar faces. There—Issei, Kiba, Akeno, and Koneko. They stood in a small group by the wall, dressed in the formal but, by local standards, modest attire of Gremory clan servants. Their faces were grim, their fists clenched. They were forced to attend this ceremony, to watch their Queen be given to another. Their powerlessness was almost palpable. Asia was not among them—Rias had apparently decided not to subject her to such stress and had left her in a safe place.
And there was the man of the hour himself—Riser Phoenix. He stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by his peerage-harem, accepting congratulations. He was beaming. His golden suit was even more lavish than the last time, his hair perfectly styled, and on his face, the smug smile of a victor. He was reveling in his triumph, bathing in the universal attention, catching the admiring (or envious) glances. Beside him stood Yubelluna, his Queen, cold and flawless as ever.
And finally… Rias. She stood at the altar, which was raised at the far end of the hall. She was wearing a luxurious wedding dress—white, as a symbol of purity, which seemed like a cruel joke in this world. Her crimson hair was gathered into a complex coiffure, adorned with jewels. She was unbelievably beautiful. But her beauty was cold, detached. Her face was pale as marble, her lips pressed tightly together, and in her blue-green eyes, there was only emptiness. She looked like a beautiful doll, devoid of a soul, being led to the slaughter.
Beside her stood her father, Lord Gremory, and her mother. They looked composed, but bitterness was plain in their eyes. They too were hostages of the situation, forced to sacrifice their daughter's happiness for the sake of political stability. And a little way off, in the box for honored guests, sat Sirzechs Lucifer. He was smiling his usual carefree smile, but I saw the tension in his shoulders and the cold glint in his eyes as he looked at Riser. He was waiting. Waiting for my move.
...
Solemn, but somehow fake, music began to play. The head officiant of the ceremony, an old demon with a long beard, began to recite ritual formulas, praising the ancient houses of Phoenix and Gremory, speaking of the great union that would strengthen the peace and prosperity of the Underworld. Empty words. A lie. Everyone knew it, but they continued to play their roles in this farce.
Riser approached the altar, his smile widening. He held out his hand to Rias. She froze for a moment, her fingers trembling. I could see her fighting with herself, how her pride was screaming out against this humiliation. But she took his hand. Hot, and alien.
The officiant continued the ceremony, moving on to the exchange of vows. Riser spoke his loudly, pompously, enjoying every word, every glance thrown at his "bride." When it was Rias's turn, she was silent. A tense hush fell over the hall. All eyes were fixed on her.
"Lady Rias?" the officiant coughed, prompting her for a response.
Rias raised her head. Her eyes were dry, but they held such despair that even I felt a pang of something akin to… pity? No, more like anger at this rotten world.
"I…" she began, her voice trembling.
And in that moment, the silence was torn apart by a desperate scream.
"NO!!!"
All heads turned to the source of the cry. It was Issei. He had broken away from the ranks of the servants and was running toward the altar, his face twisted in rage and pain. His gauntlet flared to life on his hand.
"I won't let you! Buchou! You can't marry him! I… I challenge you to a fight, Riser Phoenix! Fight me! If I lose, do whatever you want! But if I win, you'll leave Buchou alone!"
A deathly silence fell over the hall. And then it exploded with a hubbub of voices. Shock. Disbelief. Mockery. A low-rank demon, a Pawn, dared to interrupt the sacred wedding ceremony of two great houses? Dared to challenge the immortal Riser Phoenix? It was unheard of. It was suicide.
Riser was stunned at first, and then he burst out laughing. Loudly, mockingly.
"You? Challenging me? " He doubled over with laughter. "You, you pathetic worm? My fiancée's Pawn? You couldn't even stand against my girls! What right do you have to challenge me?!"
"I love Buchou!" Issei shouted, his voice trembling but full of resolve. "And I won't let you take her!"
"Love?" Riser stopped laughing, his face contorting with rage. "Love is for weaklings! In our world, power is what decides! And you have none! You are nothing! And your Queen will soon be mine! And you… you will polish my boots! Or I'll simply order my Pawns to rip out your tongue!"
He took a step toward Issei, his hand erupting in flames, ready to strike.
"Enough, Riser-kun."
The voice was calm, but it held such power that all conversation and laughter instantly died. All eyes turned to the guest box, where Sirzechs Lucifer had risen from his seat. He was smiling his usual carefree smile, but there wasn't a shadow of amusement in his eyes.
"Lord Sirzechs!" Riser quickly doused the flame, bowing his head respectfully. "Forgive this... incident. This whelp..."
"Issei-kun has indeed acted rashly," Lucifer agreed, his gaze sliding over Issei with mild reproach, but no anger. "Interrupting a ceremony, challenging a high-class demon… It's a violation of all etiquette. He is just a Pawn, Riser-kun. He is no match for you. His challenge has no standing."
Issei turned pale, hearing the Satan's words. The hope that had flickered in his eyes died.
"But..." Sirzechs paused, his gaze turning cunning. "...since we're on the subject of challenges... I heard, Riser-kun, that you were challenged recently. After the Rating Game. By a certain Izayoi Jin. And you… accepted? Proposed a duel right before the wedding? In front of all of us?"
Silence fell once more. All eyes were now on Riser. He tensed visibly, his face flushing slightly. He had not expected the Satan to bring this up, here and now.
"Th-that… that was unofficial, Lord Sirzechs," he stammered. "That upstart broke the rules, interfered after the game… I simply… wanted to teach him a lesson for his insolence…"
"Teach him a lesson?" Sirzechs smiled wider. "A splendid idea! After all, the rumors about this Izayoi Jin are quite intriguing. They say he is incredibly strong. They say he single-handedly dealt with a squad of fallen angels. They say he is neither demon nor angel. And he challenged you, the immortal Phoenix. Isn't this a perfect opportunity for you, Riser-kun, to demonstrate your true might before all of high society? To dispel all doubts? To confirm your right to my sister not just by contract, but by strength?"
Sirzechs's words were like a silken cord, slowly tightening around Riser's neck. He had him in a trap. To refuse the duel now, after the Satan's words, in front of all the nobility, would be to admit his fear, to cover himself in indelible shame.
Riser swallowed. He looked at Sirzechs, then at the crowd of guests, catching their curious, expectant gazes. He was trapped.
"I… I do not go back on my words, Lord Lucifer!" he finally forced out. "I am ready to fight this Izayoi Jin! Right here and now, if he dares to show up! I will show him…"
He didn't get to finish. Because at that moment, I decided it was time to step onto the stage.
...
I stepped out from the shadow of the pillar, heading toward the altar. My steps were slow, calm. I didn't use magic, didn't create any flashy displays. I just walked. But my appearance had the effect of a bombshell.
The hall fell silent. All eyes were fixed on me. Demons whispered, trying to figure out who I was. Those who had heard the rumors watched with curiosity and disbelief. Riser's peerage tensed; Yubelluna placed a hand on the hilt of an unseen weapon.
Rias's team froze. A whole gamut of emotions played across their faces. Issei stared with his mouth open, unable to believe his eyes. Kiba and Koneko, with surprise and faint hope. Akeno, with a sly, knowing smile. And Rias… she looked at me as if she had seen a ghost. In her eyes, which a moment ago had been empty, a bright, desperate spark ignited. Hope. A final hope.
I approached the altar and stopped between Riser and Issei. I looked at Issei.
"Get back, whelp. This isn't your fight."
Issei, stunned, obeyed and retreated to his comrades.
Then I turned to Riser. He was looking at me with poorly concealed hatred and… fear?
"I heard you were calling for me, Phoenix?" my voice was even, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. "Saying something about a duel? About showing me my place?"
I glanced around at the crowd of guests, then looked at Riser again.
"Well. I'm here. Your wish is granted." I paused, enjoying the tense silence and Riser's bewildered expression. "But, as I said… this time I'll handle it myself."
My words rang out like a challenge. Like a sentence. Like the promise of a performance that no one present would ever forget.
A ringing anticipation hung in the hall. All eyes were fixed on the two of us—on me and Riser. The duel was set to happen. Here and now. In front of the entire Underworld. The outcome of this duel would decide not only the fate of Rias Gremory, but perhaps the balance of power in this world.