Disclaimer: Just in case nobody realized I don't own nor do I claim ownership of Highschool DxD, all characters and worlds belong to their real world respective owners. I'm just having some fun, that's all.
Warning sexual content disclaimer: All characters and actions are above 18+
Highschool DxD: The Cursed King of Kuoh
S1 Ch 25: A Flaming Chicken
"Sukuna! Please!" Rias pleaded as she tightened her hold on Sukuna. "I need you to take my virginity!"
"What?" Was all he said back, "what the hell are you talking about?"
He tried to push her away but she just tightened her grip, holding onto him like a giant koala. At the commotion both Ura and Asia made their way outside and both were equally surprised by the sight of the young devil king. Meanwhile Sukuna was still trying to understand what was going on.
"Princess calm down," He said, as he gave up trying to pry her off. "You're not making any sense. Tell me what's going on."
Rias looked up from his chest with literal tears in her eyes.
"You don't understand, we have to hurry." She said with clear desperation in her voice. "If they find out I'm tainted then I'll be free."
"If you're tainted what-"
Then it clicked for him as her words stirred up knowledge from his previous life. Specifically a part of the first season when Rias tried to jump Issei's bones to get out of her engagement.
"…Oh," he muttered under his breath, as realization settled in.
So this was that point of the story they were at. Then he began to remember that in the specific bedroom scene a gorgeous maid appeared to cock block the MC.
Then as if on cue a crimson magic circle appeared just beyond the boundary of his property, its light spilling outward in sharp, geometric lines that cut against the natural darkness of the night. The energy behind it wasn't subtle nor was it trying to be. It pressed outward, announcing its presence long before the figure within it fully materialized.
Blue particles gathered, condensed, and from within them, the head maid Grayfia stepped forward.
She looked even more beautiful than her anime version with an immaculate french maid outfit that practically clung to her figure, specifically her enormous breasts that were somehow even larger than Rias or Akenos.
"Will they ever stop getting bigger?" He wondered.
Slowly she stepped out from the magic circle clearly in no hurry, her head turning slightly as she took in the scene. Starting with Asia and ending with Sukuna or more accurately with Rias who was still in Sukuna's arms.
"…Really, Lady Rias?" she said, her tone calm—but edged in a way that made the meaning clear. "You came all this way to lay with a lowborn?"
Her gaze flicked to Sukuna again, lingering just long enough to make her judgment known without saying it outright.
"You do realize," she continued, "that Sirzechs would be terribly disappointed to find you here like this."
Grayfia warning rippled outward, as did the clear underlining warning which made Ura's expression darkened, and Sukuna to narrow his eyes.
Rias, clearly unhappy with her maid's words, opened her mouth, already preparing to respond, but he beat her to it.
"Hey." He said.
The single word cut through the air cleanly, drawing Grayfia's full attention without much effort.
"I don't know who you are," Sukuna continued, his tone flat, uninterested, "and I don't really care."
His gaze sharpened slightly, the edge in it unmistakable now.
"But who the fuck are you calling a lowborn?"
Grayfia paused.
There was a slight shift in her posture—not enough to break her composure, but enough to suggest that his disrespectful response hadn't been anticipated.
"Pardon the interruption," she began smoothly, recovering with practiced ease, "my name is—"
"I said I don't care."
The interruption came quicker this time, his patience already thinning.
"So skip the pointless introduction," he added, his voice steady but carrying a clear warning now, "and explain why you're standing on my doorstep in the middle of the fucking night talking down to me."
The air tightened.
Grayfia's eyes narrowed just slightly, her composure holding—but only just.
"As I was saying," she continued, her tone firmer now, "I am a servant of House Gremory. I was sent here to retrieve Lady Rias before she did anything… impulsive."
At that, Rias's grip tightened again.
"My choices are my own," she snapped, her voice regaining some of its edge despite the lingering strain. "Who I give my chastity to has nothing to do with you."
Grayfia didn't flinch.
"Noted," she replied calmly. "But you are still the heir to House Gremory. Your actions carry weight, whether you want to acknowledge it or not."
The implication hung in the air, unspoken but clear nonetheless. Making Sukuna's expression shift again, irritation settled deeper as he caught the meaning behind her words.
Rias stepped forward this time, her voice sharper. "Now Grayfia, apologize to Sukuna for your rude words."
At his name, Grayfia finally reacted. A hint of surprise illuminating her face as she looked back at him, studying him more carefully now.
"…Sukuna," she repeated, as if testing the name.
Recognition followed quickly after.
"You're the one who killed all those Fallen angels."
Sukuna's lips curved into a small grin. "That's me."
Something in her expression changed—not respect, not quite, but acknowledgment.
"You've caused quite a disturbance in the Underworld," she said. "Lady Leviathan has been particularly vocal about the aftermath. Saying she'll spank the one responsible for the mountain of paperwork she's had to deal with."
Sukuna tilted his head slightly. "Leviathan?"
Rias answered quietly from beside him. "Sona's older sister. One of the current Devil Kings."
He nodded once, filing it away with minimal interest.
"Sounds like her problem."
Grayfia ignored the comment.
"That aside," she continued, returning to her role, "this situation has gone on long enough. Lady Rias, we are leaving."
There was finality in the maid's voice now, and for a moment Rias hesitated. But just for a moment.
Slowly she began to step away from Sukuna and make her way over to the bossy maid—only to be stopped after just three steps.
She turned back and found Sukuna's hand clasped around her wrist. Rias looked at him with both confusion and surprise, while her pawn just smiled at her with his usual cocky grin.
"What if I don't have a problem with her staying?" He called out to Grayfia.
The maid's eyes narrowed, and the air suddenly shifted.
"Then I would have to insist," she replied.
At her words her demonic aura surfaced.
Her energy was heavy and vast. Controlled to a degree that made it even more frightening. To Sukuna's mystic eyes, it was like watching an endless waterfall of energy pour outward and fold back into itself, contained only by her will. It pressed against his senses, dense enough to crush anything weaker outright. She continued to pour her demonic energy outward clearly trying to intimidate the young man, and it worked.
For about two seconds.
Slowly a wide, distorted, crooked smile grew across his face as he stared down the new powerful opponent. Grayfia's eyes widened slightly at the young devil's excited expression, and for a brief moment a small smile tugged at her lips.
But before anything could escalate further, Rias intervened.
Her grip tightened around his arm, her gaze lifting to meet his, much steadier and more grounded than it had been moments ago.
"Enough," she said quietly.
Her words somehow cutting through the waves of magical energy. Sukuna held her gaze for a moment, then exhaled.
The tension around him eased, his own energy settling back beneath the surface as he released her hand.
"…Fine."
Across from them, Grayfia's presence receded just as smoothly, her aura folding back in on itself as if it had never been there at all.
Rias stepped back fully this time, her composure returning piece by piece.
"…I'm really sorry," she said, quieter now. "I wasn't thinking clearly."
Sukuna shrugged. "It happens."
She gave a small, relieved smile.
Then he added—
"Though if you wanted to fuck you didn't have to sneak around about it. I'm more than happy to take your body for a ride anytime."
Rias's face flushed immediately, while Asia behind them turned bright red, hands flying to her face as she processed his words. Even Ura's gaze shifted slightly, though she said nothing.
The devil king stepped forward and bopped him lightly on the head. "Idiot."
But she was smiling, while Grayfia said nothing. She simply raised her hand, another circle forming beneath them as the magic gathered once more.
"Goodnight, Sukuna," Rias said softly.
Then they were gone. The silence that followed the two devil's departure settled differently this time.
Sukuna stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where the circle had been before turning slightly back toward the house.
"…Well," he muttered. "That was something."
Somehow he knew he was going to be hearing about this tomorrow.
"Come on," he called out to Asia and Ura. "Shows over. Let's get back to bed."
o-O-o
The next day the young devil pawn found himself sitting on the rooftop of the academy, which had become something of a habit for him.
The space offered what the rest of the school couldn't: distance, and quiet. A place where the constant noise of people, obligations, and pointless conversations fell away into something more tolerable.
Sukuna sat near the edge, one leg hanging loosely over the side while the other rested bent beneath him, his posture relaxed in a way that suggested he could stay like that for hours without discomfort. In his hand sat a neatly packed bento, the scent of cooked meat and rice drifting faintly in the cool air as he ate at an unhurried pace.
He exhaled softly through his nose, letting the quiet settle in his chest as he leaned back slightly, gaze drifting lazily across the horizon. For a moment—just a moment—he felt at peace.
Then his phone buzzed.
The sound cut cleanly through the serene air he was enjoying.
Sukuna didn't reach for it immediately. Instead, he let it ring once… twice… before finally pulling it from his pocket and glancing at the screen.
Kiba.
"Of course," he thought.
He answered without enthusiasm, pressing it to his ear as he took another bite. "What?"
"Sukuna," Kiba's voice came through, polite but carrying a subtle urgency beneath it, "we need you in the clubroom. Immediately."
Sukuna closed his eyes briefly, already knowing.
"…Figures," he grumbled.
There was a pause on the other end, as if Kiba wanted to say more, but Sukuna didn't give him the chance. "Fine I'm coming," he muttered before hanging up.
For a moment, he just sat there, staring at nothing in particular.
He sighed clearly annoyed—but not surprised.
"Well… the show's starting."
He finished the last bite of his meal, then let the empty container sink into his shadow, the darkness swallowing it without a trace. Stretching his arms overhead, he rose to his feet in one smooth motion, rolling his shoulders once as he walked toward the edge of the rooftop.
Then stepped off.
For a brief second, his body hung suspended in open air but like the great Isaac Newton said what comes up must come down. Quickly descending back down to the earth, the wind rushed past him, tugging at his school blazer as he twisted mid-fall, flipping backward with practiced ease. The world spun once, twice—then steadied as he angled his descent.
He landed lightly, with barely a sound.
A quiet yawn slipped from him as he straightened, hands slipping into his pockets as he began making his way toward the old school building. He didn't rush, but that was because he didn't have to. Whatever was waiting for him wasn't going anywhere—and if anything, arriving late would only make it more interesting.
By the time he reached the clubroom, he could already feel it. The powerful demonic presence spilling out from the closed clubroom.
Different from Rias or Sona.
He smirked faintly as he pushed the door open.
As he made his way inside the room, the Occult Research Club was full as usual.
Most of the familiar faces were there—Rias, Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, Asia—but they weren't alone. Sitting comfortably on one of the couches, as if he owned the space, was a man Sukuna only recognized from the anime series.
Blonde hair, with sharp features. And a presence that carried itself like it expected the world to bend for it.
His arm was draped lazily around Rias's shoulders, fingers idly playing with strands of her hair as he sipped from a teacup with his other hand, posture relaxed in a way that clearly she didn't like.
"Lovely," the man said, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "The tea prepared by my Rias's queen is most delicious."
Akeno bowed slightly, though the stiffness in her posture made it clear the courtesy was forced. "Thank you," she replied, her smile polite—but thin.
Sukuna stepped fully into the room.
"Yo, pretty boy," he said casually, glancing at Kiba. "You called."
Kiba exhaled quietly, relief flickering across his face. "Sukuna. Thank you for coming."
Asia offered a small, grateful smile, while Koneko gave him a brief nod. Akeno acknowledged him with a glance, though her attention quickly shifted back to the situation at hand.
Sukuna's gaze drifted back to the man on the couch, tilting his head slightly.
"…Who's this loser?"
The room froze, and for a brief second, even the air felt like it had paused.
Riser Phoenix turned and stared at him.
Grayfia—standing nearby—didn't move, but the faint tightening around her eyes betrayed her surprise. Across the room, Kiba and Akeno both had to visibly restrain themselves, while even Koneko's lips twitched just slightly.
Riser began to rise—but suddenly stopped.
Grayfia's gaze flicked toward him, sharp enough to halt him mid-motion.
She stepped forward instead.
"Sukuna," she said, her tone controlled, though there was a faint strain beneath it now, "this is Lord Riser Phoenix, third son of the noble House of Phoenix… and Lady Gremory's fiancé."
Sukuna blinked.
First he looked at Riser, then back to Rias.
"…This guy?"
Rias had already moved away from the couch, putting distance between herself and Riser, her expression tightening slightly as Sukuna spoke again.
"This is the asshole you wanted me to kill?"
Color rushed to her face immediately. "Sukuna, I told you I don't want you to—"
"Excuse me."
Riser's voice cut in sharply, his composure cracking just enough to let his irritation show. "Lowborn trash does not speak over Riser."
Sukuna turned slowly.
"…Did you just refer to yourself in third person?"
Riser's eye twitched.
"Do you always talk like a three year old?" He continued, completely unimpressed. "Or is that just when you're trying to sound important?"
The vein in Riser's neck throbbed visibly as he stood, his aura flaring faintly with his rising anger.
"Who do you think you are?" he demanded.
Sukuna just gave his usual condescending smile.
"Someone who doesn't need to trap a woman into a marriage she clearly doesn't want just to feel like he's worth something."
His words landed hard making Riser's expression snap. Fury breaking through whatever restraint he'd been holding onto.
"You dare—"
"There will be no fighting."
Grayfia's voice cut through the tension like a blade, making both men turn towards her.
"Where's the fun in that?" Sukuna asked innocently.
The maid just ignored him, and turned her head towards Rias.
"My master anticipated conflict," she continued calmly. "As such, he has authorized a final measure should negotiations fail."
Rias sighed, rubbing lightly at her temple. "Of course he did. Go on."
Grayfia inclined her head slightly. "If Lady Rias insists on prioritizing her personal wishes over her family's decision, the matter will be settled through a Rating Game."
Sukuna tilted his head.
"A Rating Game?" he muttered. "That thing bob cut was talking about?"
Kiba nodded. "It's how noble devils resolve disputes. Since open warfare is no longer permitted."
Akeno added, her tone more serious now, "It's why we have our pieces. Everything is structured for it."
He absorbed their words, though the faint smirk on his face suggested he already understood more than he let on.
Riser's composure returned just enough for his pride to reassert itself.
"Riser has participated in numerous Rating Games," he said, his tone swelling again with self-importance. "And has emerged victorious in all of them. That is why Riser is known as the Immortal."
At his boast, Sukuna couldn't help but snort, making Riser's gaze snap toward him instantly.
"Has something Riser said amused you?"
Sukuna clicked his tongue. "Yeah. You and your ridiculous nickname."
The devil was silent, which prompted Sukuna to continue.
"You really believe that title means something?" he said, stepping forward slowly. "You fool. There's no such thing as an immortal."
Riser's aura flared again. "You dare mock the name of Phoenix—"
In the middle of his sentence Sukuna began walking towards him. With each step he took, something heavier filled the room.
His cursed energy bled outward like a rising tide of something unnatural. It coiled around him, pressing into the space, warping the air just enough to make it feel wrong.
When he finally stopped walking he was face to face with the obnoxious high class devil. Sukuna leaned in slightly until their faces were only a few inches apart, his blue eyes bleeding into red.
"Yeah, I do," he said quietly. "So what are you gonna do about it… flame boy?"
The room held its breath as the two looked ready to come to blows but then—
Grayfia's power surged.
It filled the room with overwhelming force, drowning out both Sukuna's and Riser's presence entirely. The pressure was suffocating, leaving no room for either of them to push their pissing match any further.
"I will repeat myself," she said, her voice cold, controlled. "There will be no fighting in my presence."
Riser stepped back first, while Sukuna rolled his eyes.
"…Buzzkill."
Riser straightened first, rolling his shoulders back as he forced his composure into place again, though the edge in his eyes hadn't dulled in the slightest. His pride had taken a hit—more than one—and it showed in the way his jaw tightened before he spoke again.
"…Very well," he said slowly, each word measured like he was forcing it through clenched teeth. "If Lady Rias wishes to defy the will of her house, then Riser will indulge her… for now. Riser will even give her ten days to prepare for the match."
Rias crossed her arms, her expression sharpening despite the earlier tension. "You make it sound like you're doing me a favor."
"I am," he replied immediately, the arrogance slipping back into his tone as if it had never left. "You have never participated in a Rating Game. You lack experience, discipline, and a proper peerage structure. Ten days will not change that—but it will give you the illusion of hope."
Sukuna let out a low scoff from where he stood, drawing everyone's attention again.
Riser's eyes flicked toward him instantly, irritation flashing. "Do you have something to add?"
He tilted his head slightly, that same crooked smile creeping back across his face. "Yeah," he said. "You talk too much."
A quiet ripple passed through the room—Kiba stiffened, Akeno's lips pressed together to keep from smiling, and Koneko's eyes narrowed just slightly with interest.
Riser's patience cracked again.
"You insignificant little—"
"Save it," Sukuna cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. "If you're going to threaten me, at least make it sound original."
The air around Riser flared again, heat building in waves as his demonic power leaked outward, flames flickering faintly along his shoulders and arms. It wasn't subtle anymore, nor was he just posturing—this was his anger finally boiling over.
"You think yourself untouchable," Riser said, his voice lowering, dangerous now. "You think because you've killed a pathetic Fallen or two that you can stand before a noble of House Phoenix and speak as you please?"
Sukuna didn't step back, or even blink.
"I don't think," he replied calmly. "I know."
For a moment, the two of them stood there, locked in place, neither willing to give an inch, but then Riser laughed.
A sharp, humorless sound that carried just enough disbelief to mask the irritation beneath it.
"…Fine," he said. "Then Riser will educate you."
He turned slightly, raising a hand, and that's when they appeared.
One by one, his peerage stepped forward from behind him, filling the space with their presence. A full set—complete, structured, and polished in a way that spoke of time, resources, and status. Each of them carried themselves with confidence, some with curiosity, others with clear disdain as their eyes settled on Rias's group.
The difference in experience between the two devil groups was immediately apparent.
Riser spread his arm slightly, as if presenting them. "This," he said, pride returning fully now, "is what a proper peerage looks like."
Silence filled the room at least until the obnoxious pawn started laughing again.
"…That's it?" The words landed on the group of women.
Several of Riser's servants stiffened immediately, their expressions darkening as they processed what he'd just said. One of them—a woman gripping a staff and dressed as a monk—stepped forward slightly, her aura flaring in response to the insult.
"You dare—"
Then she stopped mid-step.
Her body froze, breath catching in her throat as something slammed into her senses. Sukuna wasn't looking at Riser anymore, he was looking at her.
And that's when she saw it, as she stared into his crimson red eyes. A vision of her stepping forward to punish him for his insolence with her staff only for an invisible blade to sever her head and her body falling onto the floor, a puddle of blood forming beneath it.
She stumbled back a step, her grip on her staff loosening until it dropped onto the floor with a loud clang. Cold sweat formed along her brow and ran down her back, while her earlier confidence vanished, replaced with clear fear.
Riser noticed, his eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at her, then back at Sukuna.
"…What did you do?" He demanded.
Sukuna didn't answer, he just smiled faintly.
"That's your team?" he said instead, his tone almost bored. "Half of them are here to look pretty, not fight."
That hit harder than anything else he'd said.
A few of the women bristled immediately, their pride taking the blow even if they didn't fully understand why. The tension in Riser's group rose sharply, irritation spreading through them like a spark catching dry wood.
Riser's aura flared again, hotter this time.
"You mock Riser's peerage?" he said, his voice tightening once more. "You insult warriors you cannot begin to understand?"
"You filled your board with ornaments," he said plainly. "Don't get upset when someone points it out."
Riser stared at him for a long moment, something calculating flickering behind his anger now. His earlier arrogance didn't disappear—but it shifted, tempered slightly by something more cautious.
He had felt it.
The young devil's strange aura and power that no low level devil had any place having. And even he wasn't stupid enough to ignore it.
"…Ten days," Riser said finally, his tone settling into something colder, more controlled. "Prepare yourself. Prepare your team. Because when the Rating Game begins…"
His gaze locked onto Sukuna.
"I will burn you to ash."
Sukuna didn't look away, meeting his challenge head on.
"Looking forward to it," he replied. "Poultry."
Riser turned sharply, his cloak flaring slightly with the motion as he raised his hand. A teleportation circle flared to life beneath his group, the crimson light casting long shadows across the room as his peerage gathered within it.
For a moment, just before the circle fully activated, he glanced back.
At Sukuna.
At Rias.
At all of them.
"Enjoy your ten days," he said. "They'll be your last."
Then the light surged, and they were gone.
Silence followed.
Grayfia remained for a moment longer, her gaze lingering on Sukuna as if reassessing something she hadn't fully accounted for before. There was no hostility in it—but the earlier dismissal was gone.
"…Ten days," she repeated quietly, more to the room than to anyone in particular.
Then she turned, and vanished as well.
The Occult Research Club felt smaller now that the peerage members were alone. Rias exhaled slowly, one hand lifting to her temple as she closed her eyes briefly.
"Well," she muttered. "That could have gone worse."
Akeno let out a soft breath beside her, her usual composure returning as she straightened. "Ten days isn't much time."
Kiba nodded, his expression serious now. "We'll need to prepare immediately."
Koneko said nothing, though her gaze drifted briefly toward Sukuna, something thoughtful flickering there before she looked away again.
Asia shifted slightly, her hands clasping together as she looked between them, the weight of everything finally settling in.
"…We're really doing this," she murmured.
Across the room Sukuna just yawned loudly. Stretching his arms overhead as if they had just finished discussing something minor.
"Guess so," he said, completely unconcerned.
Rias opened one eye, staring at him.
"…You're taking this seriously, right?"
He glanced at her, then smirked.
"Don't worry," he said. "I already told you I'd help you with your chicken problem. As long as I'm here your victory is guaranteed"
His words didn't reassure anyone, but they decided to believe him nevertheless.
o-O-o
The city fell behind them faster than expected.
Concrete and glass gave way to winding roads, and winding roads eventually thinned into narrow paths that cut through the mountains like water through stone. The air changed the higher they climbed—cooler, cleaner, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth that didn't exist anywhere near the streets of Kuoh.
It was quiet out here.
Not empty, just quiet
Kiba led near the front alongside Rias, the two moving at a steady pace, their conversation low but purposeful. Asia stayed close to them, her steps light despite the backpack strapped to her shoulders, her gaze constantly drifting from one sight to the next as if she didn't want to miss anything.
Koneko followed just behind.
Or rather—Under.
Her backpack was absurdly large.
There was no other way to describe it. The thing loomed over her like a small building, easily ten times her size, strapped securely to her back as if it weighed nothing at all. She moved without complaint, or hesitation, each step as steady as the last despite the ridiculous load she carried.
Behind them—Sukuna walked slowly with his hands in his pockets.
Completely unbothered.
He didn't match their pace. He moved when he felt like it, taking his time as if the climb itself was nothing more than a casual stroll. Beside him, Ura walked half a step behind, her posture composed, her kimono shifting softly with each movement as the two carried on a quiet conversation.
"…Not bad," Sukuna muttered, glancing out over the slope as the trees began to thin. "Didn't expect something like this so close to that mess of a town."
Ura followed his gaze, her expression softening just slightly. "It's peaceful," she said. "A rare thing, given your usual surroundings."
He huffed lightly. "Yeah. Might have to come back here when this stupid game's over."
Ura nodded once, her tone steady. "I would like that."
Ahead of them, Rias stopped and turned, one hand resting on her hip as she called back down the trail.
"You two could at least pretend to keep up."
Sukuna didn't even look at her.
"I'm coming," he said lazily, lifting one hand in a dismissive wave. "Relax."
Then, just a beat later he added.
"And try not to get your thong in a twist."
Rias froze.
A faint flush crept across her face almost instantly as Akeno's soft laughter followed the remark without hesitation.
"Ara Ara… how bold."
Rias turned sharply, clearly ready to respond—then stopped herself, exhaling slowly as she turned back toward the path.
"…Just hurry up."
Sukuna smirked faintly.
The climb didn't last much longer after that. The trail curved once more, rising just enough to crest the final hill—and then it opened.
Wide.
Clear.
The mansion stood ahead of them, large and imposing against the backdrop of the mountains, its structure blending traditional design with something more refined. A wide lake stretched off to one side, its surface still and reflective, while open fields spread out around the property, untouched and ready.
It wasn't just a retreat to the countryside, it was a training ground. Asia stopped the moment she saw it.
"…Wow," she breathed, her eyes lighting up as she stepped forward slightly. "It's beautiful…"
Her voice carried softly across the open space, genuine in a way that made Kiba smile faintly while Akeno hummed in agreement.
"It does have its charm," Akeno said.
Koneko simply nodded, her gaze already scanning the terrain with quiet focus.
Rias stepped forward, turning to face them all, her expression shifting once more into something firm, controlled, and commanding.
"Alright," she said, her voice carrying clearly now. "This is where we train."
The air seemed to settle around her words.
"We have ten days," she continued, her gaze moving across each of them in turn. "That's not enough time to become something entirely new—but it is enough to push yourselves further than you ever have before."
Her tone sharpened.
"I'm not going to hold back. I don't expect any of you to either. If we're going to win this, then every second counts."
A beat of silence followed and then one by one her servants responded.
"Right." Kiba spoke first.
"Right," Akeno echoed, her usual lightness tempered now with something more focused.
"…Right," Asia added, a little quieter, but no less determined.
Koneko gave a small nod.
And then—Sukuna snorted.
"You sound like the start of a training montage," he said, a grin tugging at his lips as he shook his head slightly.
The atmosphere was immediately ruined.
Rias stared at him, her expression flattening as whatever momentum she'd built up in her head deflated slightly.
"…Really?" She asked, looking at the others.
He chuckled, already walking past her, completely unconcerned. "What? You even did the speech."
Ura followed behind him, her expression neutral, though there was the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes.
Rias huffed softly, crossing her arms as she turned back toward the others.
"…Ignore him."
Sukuna kept walking, heading straight toward the mansion as if the rest of them had already fallen into line.
Halfway down the slope, he paused just long enough to glance back over his shoulder.
"What are you all waiting for?" he called out, a faint smirk curved his lips. "You heard the princess."
The group looked at each other for a second, nodded and then moved. One by one, they followed after him, their earlier hesitation replaced by something new.
Conviction.
As the group made their way to the mansion a small smirk grew across Sukuna's face unseen by the others as he thought about facing the flaming chicken in combat.
"Well this is going to be so much fun," he thought.
And for the first time since the challenge had been made— It didn't feel like a pointless game anymore.
A/N: If you like this story and what to read ahead chapters 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are already available for Patrons.
Just go to to Google and type in RoguePrince69 and click the link.