[Third Person POV]
Erza launched herself forward, sword drawn.
She swung down hard, blade barely missing Riser, who had preemptively jumped back, and shattered the ground where he had stood seconds before.
Erza didn't let up; she followed after him, slashing and thrusting her blade.
Even though Riser told her she could attack freely, Erza still held back, unaware of how much her new master's regeneration was able to take.
Though Natsu would argue Erza didn't know how to hold back, that would be wrong.
She just never held back against her friends because she knew they could take it. Since Erza was unsure about the strength of Riser's regenerative powers, she was probing his strength to gauge how much he could take.
Erza kept swinging her blade, slightly faster each time as she got a better feel for Riser's strength. The blade left gashes up and down his arms, making Riser glad he wore a short-sleeve shirt.
Erza's attacks were too fast for him to react to. Whenever she struck, he tried to dodge, only to have reacted too late, leaving him open for her next cut. The wounds didn't last long, healing seconds later, but at the speed she was moving, his arms were practically covered in his healing flames.
Throwing himself to the side, Riser attempted to dodge at least one of Erza's strikes.
In doing so, Riser realized he had woefully underestimated Erza when he proposed their spar as her sword still closed in on him. He knew she was strong, almost certainly high-class in strength; however, he still didn't realize the difference between the classes.
As he threw himself to the side, Riser unfolded his black, flaming wings and took off into the sky.
Riser already knew that he wouldn't win this, so at the very least, he could try not to look completely pathetic in front of his first servant.
Gaining height, Riser used his height advantage to start launching fireballs at Erza. A basic spell, but for a low-class like him, it was quite efficient. He'd studied and trained since arriving and had learned his energy limits were quite high.
Combined with his previous magical knowledge, he was capable of holding his own against those slightly above his level, though not forever, obviously.
Spell after spell slammed into the ground, scorching the dirt and warming the area briefly.
Erza stood, watching her airborn master, brushing aside the flames flicking against her skin.
"Flame Empress Armor," Erza chanted. Her magic activated, Heart Kreuz armor glowing before her entire outfit changed.
Erza's silver chestplate changed into a red, orange, and black bodysuit that stretched from her chest to her hips, with two red-and-black 'wings' protruding from the back. Her gauntlets and boots changed to resemble the claws of a dragon. Erza's hair was styled into pigtails with horn-shaped clips.
The sword Erza held was gone, replaced with a larger red sword with an orange guard, the Flame Empress Sword.
Seeing that she had switched armors, Riser knew he had lost.
Erza was also used to fighting Natsu, so she probably had a few tricks to deal with fire that he hadn't seen.
The Flame Empress Armor negated fire magic by 50%, meaning his already weak attacks got weaker. As for his flying, Riser doubted he was safe from Erza since she was an S-class mage. Even without the Heaven's Wheel Armor, which he was certain could fly to reach him, he wasn't experienced enough to focus through attacks yet, meaning any ranged attacks she did would send him plummeting to the ground.
Seconds later, Riser was proven right.
Multiple flying, fiery slashes erupted from Erza's sword. Riser flew around them as best he could, but Erza's magic proved overwhelming.
With so many attacks creating a net of slashes, Riser found it increasingly difficult to dodge until finally, there was no room left.
One of Erza's attacks finally slammed into his chest.
Pain shot through Riser's body, blood leaking out. The distraction stunned him; his wings froze in place, and Riser plummeted to the ground. It wasn't that the pain overwhelmed him, but his older memories told him it would hurt, creating a mental disconnect.
Panicking, believing that she might've gone too far, Erza rushed over, only to see that what should've been a painful wound was covered in fire. The fire covered everything, burning away the blood as it left his body.
When the wound had fully healed, the fire dimmed, leaving a burnt shirt, but nothing more.
"Riser, are you okay?" Erza asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"I'll live. It'll take more than that to kill a Phenex," Riser said as he sat up. He looked at Erza with a hidden awe. Less than a month into his new life, and he already had such a powerful and loyal servant.
Standing up with Erza's help, Riser seemed distracted for a few seconds before a glow enveloped the room. Moments later, a sword with a black hilt and a pure white blade clattered to the floor. Picking it up by the handle, Riser looked at it with some fear.
Riser had spent 60 of his remaining 81 points on the sword, knowing how useful this weapon would be for Erza.
It was made of the same angelic material used by the exterminators in Hazbin Hotel. It didn't emit an aura that was toxic to devils, and wouldn't burn him if he touched it like holy water, but as a weapon, it was incredibly lethal.
The angelic metal was capable of killing sinners, permanently removing any regenerative ability they had. For natives of Hell and Heaven, it was a weapon that struck their very souls, making recovery impossible.
Riser explained the weapon's properties to Erza, telling her to keep the sword stored for emergencies. The last thing he needed was everyone knowing about her holding a holy weapon anyone could use. Especially one capable of killing him so easily.
Once Erza Requipped the sword, Riser exited the training grounds with her, intent on proving to his mother he was right.
Riser led Erza throughout the gold and red-themed mansion. Passing under golden chandeliers and by dozens of maids and butlers, Erza looked around in awe at the grandeur of everything. The walls, with a familiar red wallpaper, were lined with paintings detailing the history of the Phenex clan.
Paintings of previous family members, important contractors, and events they were involved in in some way, if it had to do with them, there was probably a painting of it.
The servants they passed by looked at their youngest master with curiosity toward the strange new redhead, but seeing that she was with Riser, they went right back to work.
After several minutes of walking, Riser and Erza finally arrived at his mother's study.
*Knock knock knock*
"Come in," his mother called out.
Riser opened the door and entered, followed closely by Erza, who shut the door behind them.
"Mother, I brought a servant for my peerage with me." Riser proudly walked to the desk where his mother sat.
Rae's face turned ashen at the implications of what he might've meant, remembering he asked for tears to create his peerage.
"Riser, where did you find her?" She asked, keeping her composure steady. Rae didn't want to assume anything, but she also hoped her son hadn't done something stupid or was thinking with his dick, something many devils are known for doing.
"I used those tears you gave me to summon her. Erza is completely loyal, and probably somewhere around high-class strength."
Unable to think about which part of his words to focus on, Rae Phenex decided to focus on something else. "What about those Phenex tears?"
"I think they were sent to non-existence? Something along those lines."
It was then that Rae Phenex's brain froze in shock, unable to believe the words coming out of her child's mouth.
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Author's Note:
Thanks for reading; I'll see you next time!