P.S this story starts a few years before the start of our favorite DXD verse!
AND I DON'T OWN ANY DXD MATERIAL, ALL CREDIT TO THE ORIGINAL WRITERS!
"Talking out aloud"
'Thinking with ones mind'
"Spirits inside the sacred gears talking"
Without further delay, lets start the chapter!
Time Skip – 2 weeks
It was a bright sunny day as the Devils of the Gremory family were assembled in front of the two young kings who themselves were standing right in front of the destroyed mansion.
Today marked the end of the two week training camp Rias and her team were allowed to have. She just had received word from her livid father that the rating game between her and Riser would be held tomorrow evening.
"As you all know today marks the end of our training camp" Marid started while overlooking the group with an observant eye. From what he could see, all the Devils were slightly excited for the end of gruesome training they had gone under.
"Alright!" Issie cheered aloud while others could just sheepishly nod with the excited pawn.
"And I assume you also now understand what follows the gruesome training you all went under" Marid continued while giving Issie teasing smirk when he saw color drained out of his face.
Rias took over the briefing as she continued, "The rating game is scheduled for tomorrow morning meaning tomorrow morning we will be facing Riser and his peerage at full strength"
"Ara Ara we will be ready for him" Akeno spoke with an amused tone which masterfully masked her fierce determination to save her king from an unwanted marriage. Determination that was found to be common within all the Devils that were meant to be fighting tomorrow.
"In the last two weeks you grown far higher than you have ever had. But, you have not tested your limits with your current power" Marid spoke calmly while regarding the group.
"Are you suggesting…" Kiba muttered slowly in understanding, knowing what Marid was hinting at.
"A mock battle" Koneko finished the words of her senior while looking at Marid with the same impassive look she was known for having.
"Indeed" Marid nodded towards both Kiba and Koneko. "A final test for this training camp if I were to say". Marid stopped for a moment to notice the expression of Rias and her peerage. Unsurprisingly, he saw excitement and nervousness from each of them most likely due to them knowing how much stronger and versatile his peerage was than to them.
"The rules of this mock battle are simple, either defeat the opposing King or capture the objective location which in this case would be the destroyed manor" Marid calmly informed the participants of the mock battles.
"What about Millicas and Asia?" Rias asked curiously. Everyone knew that Asia wasn't a fighter and Millicas wasn't part of any peerage.
Marid hummed in thought for a moment before replying, "Asia could act as the official healer for the rating game while Millicas could act as the official rating game judge" Marid suggested to the group. With others agreeing to the arrangement, others started to prepare for the mock battle.
"Where would we be starting this mock battle?" Kiba questioned with a serious look.
"Each team would start at the opposing ends of the meadows with me and my peerage starting at the western end of the meadows while you guys starting on the eastern end" Marid replied with a smile on his face.
"So it is like Call of Duty search and destroy. Either defeat all of your opponents or complete the primary objectives" Issie's eyes widened in understanding as he finally grasped the rules of the game. Finally all of those gaming sessions he used to have without his perverted friends came in handy.
"Weird way of putting it but yes" Marid nodded before refocusing his attention on Rias who looked determined to beat him and his peerage in the mock battle. "You have ten minutes to prepare for the mock rating game Rias… Goodluck"
"So what now?" Kenta asked he saw the Gremory peerage depart for the other side of the meadows.
"Now we do the same thing. Plan!" Marid replied with a smile before walking towards his own side of the meadows with Yumi and Kenta right behind him.
Ten minutes later
At the end of the ten minute marker, Marid used his demonic energy to conjure up a bright red light and released it on the sky, something that could have been seen for a good few mile, more than enough to let the Gremory team know that the time for planning was over.
Shortly after, both teams split with each other to look for their opponents.
With so, Kiba used his superior speed to charge towards half destroyed mansion where he could not only begin the process of capturing the mansion but also scout out Marid and his team from a good vantage point since the mansion was right in the middle of the meadows.
"At least your speed has increased during this training camp" Kiba heard something call out from behind him. He swiftly summoned a demonic sword before turning around to face his opponent. Much to his horror, his opponent was Marid himself. He originally had thought that his opponent would have been Yumi due to her role as a scout in Marids peerage.
"Surprised to see me?" Marid teased Kiba with a smile when he saw a surprised and to some extent a fear-stricken expression on the young knights face.
"I am… I would have thought you would have sent Yumi to secure the mansion especially since the mansion has numerous vantage points, something that would be a boon for someone with Yumi's skillset in scouting" Kiba replied honestly.
Marid couldn't help but smile after hearing Kiba's response, "You would be right on the deduction there Kiba. This mansion would be a perfect place for me to abuse Yumi's scouting talents but she is needed somewhere else at the moment"
Kiba grew confused at Marids cryptic response but readied himself when he saw Marid summon a regular steel sword from his inventory.
"Ready Kiba?" Marid asked as he readied himself for a sword fight against Rias's knight.
Kiba only nodded seriously before rushing in at Marid with speed that would have been way out of his reach prior to his training.
"At least you aren't too painfully obvious at telegraphing your attacks" Marid spoke with absolute boredom as he lazily moved out of Kiba's opening strike.
Kiba found himself sliding across the ground due to him over committing on his first strike. Kiba quickly spun around to rush Marid. Despite acting angry over himself, Marid couldn't help but notice the slight coy smile on Kiba's face nor the faint traces of magic circle in his left hand.
'Hmm so he over committed on the first strike knowing I would simply just move out of the way. He used that cover to call in reinforcement… or atleast tell Rias where I was. Not bad at all' Marid himself smiled as he sped towards Kiba, marking the start of their speedy duel.
And boy was it a fast duel, both Kiba and Marid doing their best to get a upper hand over their opponent but despite Kiba's barely superior swords skill, Marid's overwhelming power made it impossible for the blonde knight to take any advantage of any opening he might have created against the high class Devil. Much to his embarrassment he would come out of their every exchange worse than Marid simply due to Marids superior strength.
"I must admit if you hadn't been wearing the gravity bracelets, there was chance I wouldn't have been able to match your speed in your base form" Marid complimented Kiba before overpowering one of the incoming attacks.
"Hgghh" Kiba groaned in pain as he felt Marid kick him in the legs before elbowing him in his face, sending him into one of the rock piles.
"You did good to survive till your back up got here. Your defeat here doesn't take away from how you cheekily used your first strike to send your teammates a message. Impressive to say the least" Marid complimented his downed opponent.
"Even then I failed" Kiba sighed as his defeat was now official.
"After putting up a fight most knights in the underworld wouldn't have been able to. It is just your luck I am that good" Marid smiled like a loon before continuing, "But perhaps you could have faked a strike in our battle. I can count at least three different instances where you could have faked a strike before targeting my blind spots. Had you done that, I don't think I would have walked away from this battle scott free" Marid gave his honest thoughts.
Kiba listened carefully before nodding in understanding. "I see… It is my loss but rest assured I won't be making the same mistake in the rating game"
"You better not" Marid nodded before teleporting Kiba to a safe spot, outside of their battlefield to get healed by Asia, who for the duration of the mock battle had been acting as neutral party and a healer.
"You could have helped him if you had the courage to join the fight" Marid called out aloud knowing that the backup Kiba had requested had arrived even before he had dealt the final blow.
"That's some accusation Lord Marid" Akeno shimmered into existence from behind him.
"Using illusion to hide your energy was a neat trick but you forget I am a master of Illusions which means I can always sense and see through illusions weaker than mine" Marid threw a smile right back Akeno who herself frowned. "Perhaps you shouldn't have wasted your time by getting distracted and should have done something to protect Kiba. Doing something like this in the rating game could produce dire results for your team" Marid scolded her fiercely.
Akeno blushed in embarrassment since she had indeed lost her focus at seeing Marids high speed battle against Kiba. Her desire to see the limit of Marids power led to Kiba's defeat. Something she promised would never happen…
"Now Akeno Himejima… Show me what you got" Marid challenged the Gremory Queen with a vicious smile, a smile the Gremory queen reciprocated as both Akeno and Marid took to sky to start their battle.
Elsewhere
While Marid and Akeno began their battle aerial duel, on the northern side of the battle two other opponents came face to face, ready to begin their own duel.
"Lady Rias Gremory, it would be an honor to fight you" Yumi gave Rias a small bow as the two stood opposing each other.
"The honor would be mine" Rias replied humbly herself. Despite her incredible pride as a pure blooded Devil, she had to constantly remind herself what kind of a warrior Yumi had become under her nephews tutelage. A warrior that needed to be respect since not respecting the strength of your opponent makes one weak, something her cousin and a fellow Big eight member Sairaorg told her once. She had shrugged off his advice back then, but after meeting Yumi and seeing how powerful she had become in barely a decade, Sairaorg's advice made more sense.
"Ready whenever you are" Yumi usual serene expression adopted a more serious look as she got into her fighting stance.
Rias Gremory, took in a deep breath before unleashing a torrent of demonic magic at Yumi. As she had expected, Yumi easily blocked her attack with the combination of her barrier based sacred gear, which itself was augmented by her demonic energy.
"Now its my turn" Yumi spoke calmly before summoning both of her sacred gears to combat the princess of destruction. Without skipping a beat, Yumi unleashed a torrent of her own light arrows at the Gremory heiress who elected to simply move out of their way.
What followed was a high paced magical battle between two wizard type fighter. While Rias held a natural power advantage over her opponent, Yumi held the advantage of having an extremely versatile magical arsenal.
"Hggghhh" Rias groaned in pain as one of Yumi's demonic blast hit her behind a barrage of Yumi's deceptive light arrows; courtesy of her sacred gear.
"Looks like you drew the first blood Lady Rias" Yumi replied in such a sweet voice that would have implemented a smug comment if Rias hadn't personally known Yumi.
"Don't get too cocky Yumi" Rias snapped as she amateurishly healed the wound on her leg before returning fire at Yumi.
'Lord Marid was right! I need to push her further to make her realize that this is not her limit' Yumi thought inwardly before bending to a unconventional degree to evade one of Rias demonic blast before firing back at the Gremory heiress.
Elsewhere
In the southern part of the meadows Kenta was found running through the trees in an attempt to reach his opponents. Due to his advanced sensory skills, he knew exactly who and where they were.
"Come on Issie-senpai we need to move otherwise we wont be able to help others in their fights against Lord Marid's peerage" Koneko urged her senior to move but the said senior was too busy trying to catch his breath.
"Why do we have to run all the way there? Can one of them just come to us so we can get on with this!" Issie groaned in frustration.
Koneko's reply got caught in her mouth when she felt something move behind her. Using her cat like reflexes, Koneko quickly spun around to face her most likely opponent. However, once she found out who she was meant to be fighting against, she couldn't stop a frown appearing on her face.
Issie frowned himself, when he saw the man, he was supposed to be fighting against.
'Among all the things I could have wished for I wished for this?!? The fate truly does hate me' Issie groaned internally before mimicking Koneko by getting into a fighting stance.
"You should be careful what you wish for Issie" Kenta chuckled as he appeared from behind the bushes and tree.
"How did you find us this quickly?" Koneko asked in her usual monotone voice. However, inwardly she already knew the answer.
"I used Senjutsu of course" Kenta replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Had you been using your Senjutsu you would have been able to sense me coming way before your impressive hearing alerted of me being here"
Koneko looked abashed by Kenta's comments but despite his teasing and sometimes motivational advice over the last two weeks… Koneko couldn't find in herself to use her Ki. She knew if she had learnt to use Ki, she would incredibly boost the chances of her team winning in this upcoming rating game. But at the end of the day, she wasn't able to overcome her worst fears.
"You don't know what you are talking about" Issie shouted at Kenta angrily before summoning his sacred gear. Without hesitating for a moment, Issie rushed to punch Kenta in his face.
"Pathetic" Kenta taunted before backhanding Issie, sending him back towards Koneko.
"Issie senpai" Koneko caught Issie in mid air, "We need to work together if we want to defeat Kenta-senpai"
"I understand Koneko-san" Issie nodded quickly before retaking his fighting stance.
The two of them shared a nod, silently communicating their strategy.
As the spar began, Kenta wasted no time in launching a series of lightning-fast strikes. His movements were fluid and precise, a testament to his years of training. Koneko and Issei, however, were ready. They dodged and blocked his attacks with surprising skill, working together seamlessly to defend against his onslaught.
Kenta was impressed. He had expected them to be good, but their coordination was exceptional.
'Looks like Marids plan is working seamlessly! All of their sparring sessions as a duo gave them a good idea of how each of them fight' Kenta smiled as he noted the impressive teamwork of the unusual duo.
Despite this, Kenta remained focused, determined to maintain his advantage. He shifted his tactics, using his speed and agility to outmaneuver them, but Koneko and Issei were relentless.
Suddenly, Kenta found himself on the defensive as Koneko and Issei launched a coordinated assault. Koneko darted in and out, delivering quick strikes, while Issei followed up with powerful punches with the help of the Boosted gear. Kenta struggled to keep up in his base state, their teamwork proving to be more challenging than he had anticipated.
With a swift movement, Kenta managed to create some distance between them, taking a moment to catch his breath. He admired their tenacity and skill, a smile playing on his lips. This was turning out to be a more exhilarating fight than he had expected.
Determined to turn the tide, Kenta focused his energy, summoning flames to envelop his fists while popping out a set of cat like ears and tail out of their confinement on his body. Within a few precious seconds, Kenta had not only summoned his sacred gear but also transformed himself into his first state. With a shout, he charged toward Koneko and Issei, his fists blazing with fire. Koneko and Issei, caught off guard by the sudden burst of flames, tried to dodge, but Kenta's speed was too much.
His fiery fists connected with their bodies, sending them flying backward. They hit the ground with a thud, momentarily stunned. Kenta stood over them, his flames slowly dissipating, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Well done, you two," Kenta said, offering them a hand up. "That was an impressive display of teamwork."
Koneko and Issei accepted his hand, pulling themselves up with smiles of their own. Despite being defeated, they were pleased with their performance against such a skilled opponent.
"Thank you, Kenta-senpai," Koneko said with a monotone yet underlying gratefulness in her voice. "You're a formidable opponent."
Issei nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that was intense. But we'll get you next time!"
Kenta chuckled, nodding in acknowledgment. "I look forward to it. Until then, let's continue to push each other to become stronger."
And with that, the three of them walked off the training grounds, their bond strengthened through their shared passion for combat and their mutual respect for each other's abilities.
"You know you cant just show your sacred gear in its true form right at the start of the rating game. Doing so will immediately make you a high priority target and despite all of your training, I doubt you could hod your own against Risers entire peerage before facing Riser himself" Kenta commented seriously as he walked towards the healing zone to get his charges healed up.
Issie, who had carefully listened to Kenta's advice the entire training camp couldn't stop a knowing smirk coming across his face, "Don't worry! Me and Draig have a plan for that".
Kenta's eyebrows rose at that but chose not to say anything. He now looked forward to the rating game even more since this would be one hell of a battle and unlike the battles, he was forced to fight all those years ago.
Back with Rias and Yumi
It had been a while since Rias and Yumi had begun their spar and now both of them were running on fumes. Not to mention the wounds each of them had taken were beginning to take their toll on their body.
Due to the obvious difference in fire power, every time Rias had managed to land a magical attack on Yumi, it would have an impact of five of Yumi's own attacks. As a result, Yumi always came out the worst in their engagement, if multiple wounds across her body and charred clothing was anything to go by as compared to Rias bruised ribs and minor wounds on her arms and legs.
'I need to end this battle quickly' both Rias and Yumi thought in unison after quickly taking note of their injuries.
Without further ado, they launched into action. Yumi moved first, darting forward with impressive speed, aiming a series of light arrows and demonic blast at Rias. Rias deftly dodged and blocked each attack, her movements fluid and precise. She countered with a barrage of her own, forcing Yumi to backpedal to avoid being overwhelmed.
Despite their fierce exchange, neither could gain a clear advantage. They were evenly matched in strength and skill, each refusing to back down. As they continued to fight, their surroundings bore the brunt of their power, with trees splintering and the ground cracking beneath them.
The two devils traded blows, their magical exchange becoming a testament of their skill in combat. Rias unleashed her power of destruction, manifesting as crimson energy that surrounded her fists and feet, sending small projectiles of her overly powerful inherited power to overwhelm Yumi.
Yumi countered with her own demonic powers, summoning a clear power barrier courtesy of her sacred gear to shield herself from Rias's attacks.
As the battle raged on, Rias began to sense an opening. She feinted to the left, then swiftly changed direction, slipping through Yumi's cracking barrier and catching her off guard. With a powerful kick, Rias sent Yumi flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree with a resounding thud.
Yumi quickly recovered, her expression turning serious. She knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down against Rias, especially not now. She summoned all her strength and launched herself back into the fray, determined to turn the tide in her favor.
But Rias was ready. She focused her power, channeling it into one final ball of power of destruction. With a shout, she unleashed a devastating blast of destruction that engulfed Yumi, sending her crashing to the ground with a defeated cry.
For a moment, Rias felt like she had gone overboard with her final attack when she didn't saw Yumi breathing. Fortunately, her fears were deemed unnecessary when Yumi coughed in pain before attempting to sit right up.
Breathing heavily, Rias stood over her fallen opponent. She had emerged victorious, but the battle had been hard-fought and close. Rias closed her eyes and then smiled, not in arrogance but in satisfaction and relief. It had been a long time since she had been pushed so far in battle. To make things sweeter, she had defeated Yumi, someone who had singlehandedly forced Zill to retreat. That mess with Zill truly shook her confidence but now that she had defeated Yumi, she could sigh in relief.
'I am not weak. I can win against the odds. I can win against who oppose me and want me to fall' Rias smiled inwardly.
"Well fought, Lady Rias," Yumi admitted between coughs, her voice tinged with admiration.
Rias offered her hand to help Yumi up, a small smile playing on her lips. "Likewise, Yumi. Perhaps next time, you'll emerge victorious."
"I doubt I could win against you without unlocking a balance breaker for one of my sacred gears" Yumi joked in good nature. Rias joined Yumi in giggling at the absurdity of nature since there was virtually almost no way a common sacred gear could achieve a balance breaker. Sure there had been exceptions in the past but those exceptions were extremely rare, almost rare as getting born with two sacred gears….
"Why don't you go and have tended to by Asia?" Rias suggested with a smile.
Yumi nodded before heading to the designated healing zone.
"Now lets see where Marid is" Rias huffed before using her sensing skills to locate Marid. She didn't had to strain her sensory skills too much since she could since a fountain of magical energy around the middle of the meadows.
'So Marid is fighting Akeno? If I hurry up, I just might be able to reach them in time to help Akeno in her battle. Perhaps we can win this time against Marid' Rias thought seriously before unfurling her two wings and heading towards where her queen and nephew had been fighting.
Back with Akeno and Marid
"Is that the extent of your loyalty to Rias? Honestly I am disappointed in this display of power" Marid taunted Akeno yet again while easily blocking Akeno's lightning strikes.
"My loyalty to Rias knows no bounds. For what she has done for me, the least I can do is beat you and help her win the rating game" Akeno responded seriously before continuing her barrage of her lightning strikes.
Their match had been going on for a few minutes at this point with Akeno always on the attack. Much to Akeno's frustration, She hadn't been able to land a single attack on Marid. It didn't help that she was now running out of stamina.
"Ara Ara looks like I would have to use more of my power to beat you" Akeno responded in her usual seductive tone which perfectly covered her frustration over her success in this spar.
"That's assuming you do have some extra power because from the way it looks… you are running on your last fumes" Marid taunted back before easily sidestepping another one of Akeno's attacks.
"Be careful what you wish for" Akeno giggled to herself before raising her hands to call upon the most powerful lighting she could summon. As if responding to Akeno's will, clouds above her darkened before emitting the lightning summoned by Akeno.
"Impressive light show. Shame it would amount to nothing" Marid shook his head in amusement as he took in the sight of Akeno summoning her most powerful magic.
"I will be the judge of that" Akeno responded seriously before unleashing her most powerful lightning strike at Marid.
What happened next shocked her as Marid simply just strutted forward with impressive amount of demonic aura gathering around his right fist. Before Akeno could register what was happening, Marid simply punched her attack right back at her.
"What the?!?" Akeno's eyes widened in surprise as she ducked immediately, which allowed her to narrowly dodge the attack.
"You were saying?" Marid sent a shocked Akeno a smug smile.
"How did you do that?" Akeno asked in shock.
"One of my combat teachers was a monster when it came to lightning magic. Not to mention my primary sparring partner over the last few years has been a dominant lightning and thunder user herself. Thanks to those two… I have incredible affinity and connection with lightning magic. I could even say that lightning has become one of my strongest elements, only behind my ice magic where I have a ridiculous affinity with due to my mother" Marid explained to a further shocked Akeno.
"That's incredible" Akeno muttered as her mind digested what Marid had just said.
"I know right" Marid nodded with a smile before his eyes took in a serious glint, something that only happened when he wears his trainers persona, "But I admit that I was incredibly disappointed when I saw you unleash your entire magical reserves on a single lightning strike" Marid scolded the Gremory queen.
Akeno blushed slightly since she knew that Marid was right in his assessment but her desire to inflict pain was too much to just ignore. Damn her sadist tendency.
"Might I suggest using your lightning strike in combination. Lightning with air or water does sound like a good combination for a attack… Don't you think?" Marid suggested with a smile.
Akeno nodded slowly before mentally slapping herself, 'Of course it makes sense. Most elements exist in nature in the state of their most powerful in. Like Lightning existing in storm in tandem with water and wind. Fire existing in a plasma state in a volcano'
"I guess you made the connection" Marid responded with a smile as if reading Akeno's thoughts.
"I wont be making a same mistake this time" Akeno spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness before summoning another bolt of lightning with one hand before using her free hand to summon a barrel of water. After a moment to control the two summoned elements, Akeno threw the two elements at Marid in conjunction with each other.
"Yes you would" Marid muttered in amusement before creating intricate magic circle in front of him. Akeno raised her eyebrows at the sudden appearance of magic circle but didn't say anything aloud.
'That magic circle looks far more advanced and complex to be a simple barrier against my water and lightning attack' Akeno thought analytically but didn't stop her attack as in her mind there was nothing Marids complex magic circle could do to stop her attack at this point.
Boy was she wrong as right in front of her, her water attack fizzled out of existence as the barrier itself collapsed. Without skipping a beat Marid altered his fight stance before using his index and middle finger to calmly catch the lightning before redirecting back at her at an incredible pace.
Her shock of not only seeing her water based attack destroyed but also her lightning based attack right back at her, she was not able to defend herself for what came next.
"Didn't I just say I have incredible control over lightning due to my mentor and primary sparring partner being dominant users of it" Marid spoke rhetorically as her redirected lightning attack hit Akeno and took her out of the sky, sending her into one of the rubble pieces with a massive THUD.
"What… how did you do that? Only Lord Ajuka Beelzebub is known for changing elements in such a way and he only is able to do that through his Kankara formula which is not something anyone could inherit" Akeno asked in shocked while her body twitched due to being struck by her own attack. Her shock greater than the pleasure she felt when she got hit with her own lightning attack courtesy of her masochistic side.
"As much as I wish I could use Uncle Ajuka's Kankara formula, what I did to dispel your water attack wasn't Kanakara formula. Rather it was a spell that involves combination of alchemy and rune based magic. I believe humans call this field of magic 'transfiguration', but they never could use it to such a degree due to their own limitations and difficulty of this field" Marid explained to Akeno with a healthy amount of pride. After all he knew of no one that could use magic in such a way.
"That's… very impressive Lord Marid" Akeno replied slowly while giving Marid a thoroughly impressed look.
'It is incredible. Despite being the son of the two of the strongest beings the Devil race has produced, Marid rarely relies on strength to win in battles but rather attempts to use his incredible library of skills to outclass his opponent' Akeno shook his head in amazement.
"I must agree with Akeno here. Your skills are truly incredible Marid" Rias spoke from the side as she finally arrived at the battlefield in the nick of time.
Marid rose his eyebrow after seeing the exhausted expression and the injuries littered across Rias body, "Rough battle?"
"You have no idea" Rias could only smile back at her nephew, "You truly have trained your peerage masterfully Marid. I doubt anyone of the big eight could challenge you or your peerage other than Sairaorg" Rias complimented her nephew in good faith.
Marid couldn't help but chuckle aloud, "Tell me something I don't know" Rias roller her eyes at his words.
"But for now I believe this mock battle is at the end" Marid spoke seriously as he got into a fighting stance to fight against both Rias and Akeno.
"That is correct which is why I am forfeiting this battle and declaring you the winner" Rias announced much to the shock of the other two Devils present.
"Buchou I can still fight"
Akeno tried to argue back but Rias simply stopped her with a proud smile on her face, "I know you can Akeno! But this battle was conducted to find out the limitations of our peerage when we are facing a much stronger enemy. From what I have seen you all have made me proud and then some. Even Issie put up an incredible fight against Kenta. But as of right now it is just you and me against Marid. If we were to fight against Marid as we are, this battle would end rather quickly. Like I said, beating Marid was never the purpose of this mock battle in the first place"
Rias then turned her attention towards her nephew, "Looks like you won this time Marid. But I trust me when I say this, me and my peerage will win next time we face each other… that is a promise" Rias spoke with a competitive look in her eyes.
"I will be waiting for your challenge then" Marid nodded with the same competitive look that Rias had.
"Perhaps we can continue this conversation with others when they are healed" Rias suggested to which Marid readily agreed.
Before long the trio of Devils arrived back at southern camp where Asia had been healing everyone with a smile on her face. Marid himself was pleasantly surprised when he saw Asia was barely sweating from all the healing she had done in the past hour. Regularly she would have been knackered after healing two people but now she was fully able to heal a person within ten minutes before moving onto the next person without breaking a sweat. It was a testament to Asia's growth in power and understanding of the demonic magic and her sacred gear, something that had evolved her healing capabilities to the next level.
"That was a good battle" Kenta cheered aloud, thoroughly enjoying the battle he had taken part in with Issie and Koneko.
"You could say that again" Issie agreed with Kenta. Despite losing he had also enjoyed battling alongside Koneko, "I cant wait for the rating game tomorrow. We will show that fried chicken what we can do"
Others joined Issie in cheering with Rias only smiling at her peerages high morale. The moment was destroyed when Marid entered the conversation to share his troubled thoughts regarding the rating game and the consequences should Rias and her team lose.
"What do you mean we may die?" Issie shouted at Marid, demanding answers from Marid at this point.
"Like I already explained to you, you wont die during the rating game, but should you and your team lose… there is a chance that after Rias and Risers marriage, Riser might stage some accident where you and Kiba would end up dying"
"But why though" Issie asked almost in a panicked tone. Thoughts of him dying wasn't something he found particularly present especially knowing what he had gone through in the last few weeks.
To Issie's surprise, his answer came from an unexpected source in Kenta, "To make sure his control over Rias and her peerage wont be challenged" Kenta replied with an ice cold voice before continuing with the same tone, "If Rias were to marry Riser, he would gain a significant control over her peerage. Control which I bet Riser would take pleasure in abusing"
"You should have told us about this earlier"
"I wanted you all to focus on the training first that's why I didn't mention anything about my suspicions earlier. Knowing all of you, telling you all about this would have distracted all of you from your training" Marid sighed before continuing, "Regardless, I have a deal with Rias that should she suspect something like this happening, then she would trade her pieces with me and my Dad to ensure their safety" at Marids sudden announcement, all of Rias pieces looked at Rias in shocked expression. Even the usual emotionless Koneko showed signs of betrayal coming over her face.
"I don't want to do this, but I made this plan as a worst case scenario to save you all from the diabolical future I am being pushed into" Rias told her team with a sad smile.
"How could you think something like that!" To everyone's surprise Akeno shouted at Rias, enraged at what she had heard from her King. Rias herself stiffened in shock and fear seeing the rageful expression on her Queens face.
"After everything you have done for us! After saving us from Deaths doorstep, do you honestly think we would abandon you in your time of your need!!?!? Do you have no idea how your peerage, whom you consider as your second family, feel about you!" Akeno harshly asked Rias while grabbing her shoulders and shaking them in a demanding manner. Rias was shocked by her queens reaction, her shock only deepened when she saw tears threatening to run down Akeno's face.
"I will never abandon you Buchou, even if someone as disgusting as Riser decides to use my body as a means to satisfy his own lust" Koneko spoke with unchallenged determination.
"KONEKO?!?" Rias snapped her head towards her sole Rook in shock. She only got a determined look in response.
"I, Kiba Yuuto, as your sole Knight also vow that I will help you win this rating game and should I fail I will gladly pay any price I would have for my failure, be that be death" Kiba responded determined look of his own before summoning his sword only to go down to his knee and bow to his King, completing his vow to Rias Gremory.
"Kiba…" Rias spoke in a shocked voice.
"I may have not been part of your peerage Buchou but I too swear I will win this match for you and failing that I will be ready to pay any consequences that come down my way"
"Me too" Asia also nodded with a determined look.
By this point, Rias had started cry to after seeing her peerage rally behind her, showcasing their support in her as their King and leader.
"You all are honestly too much" Rias wiped her tears before regarding her peerage with love and affection for what they were ready to do for her. "I promise you as your King, we will win this rating game no matter what it takes so that you won't ever have to even think about sacrificing yourself for me ever again"
"YEA!!!" Rias and her peerage cheered together all the while.
'They say as if I will let that fried chicken do anything to any of them' Kenta thought furiously.
'Be careful with what you do should the worst happen since different rules apply to you Kenta. However, seeing your King over there looking completely unbothered would have me believe that he had done something to ensure the worst doesn't happen'
Kenta looked around to see his King to only to see him smiling and then winking back at him completely unbothered just like Adara had said.
'Why is he looking so unbothered, could he have something already hatched up behind the scene or is he just giving me support to tell me not to do something reckless. I cant be sure of anything when it comes to him can I? But then again, from what I have seen of him… he is a rather sleek Devil'
Issie Hyoudou Residence
It had been a good few hours since the Devils of the Gremory house had returned to Kuoh after the mock battle.
Issie who himself was rather sore from all the training he did was lying on his bed, waiting for sleep to take him. Much to his annoyance the sleep never came and the young pawn found himself thinking about the consequence of losing the battle, something Marid had informed all of the Devils about.
'I wont lose to that fried chicken! If I lose then not only would he forcefully make Rias Buchou part of his harem but also make Asia part of his harem as well' Issie thought furiously.
"Then show that Pheonix boy how powerful can a Red Dragon Emperor could be" a voice came from the Boosted Gear which apparently had summoned itself.
"Draig!?! How can you talk to me right now? I thought we couldn't talk to each other without me going to sleep first?!?" Issie looked down at the armored gauntlet in his left hand.
"That was only necessary at the moment since your body was too weak for me able to establish a viable connection between us but that all change after you begun your training under that crimson haired Devil" Draig calmly replied before continuing, "I decided to observe you train for the last two weeks. I must admit despite your lack of magical reserves and absolute no martial arts training before the start of this 'training camp'…you did very good" The red Dragon Emperor complimented his partner hesitantly. It was not in his character to praise someone so bluntly. Despite so his newest partner had indeed worked hard enough for Draig to get over his quip.
"I know I have worked hard Draig, but I can't shake the feeling… What if me and the others cant defeat that fried chicken?! What if…." Issie spoke with rising panic before brining his head into his hands.
"You worry too much about the faith of others partner. You have trained well and grown at a rate that would have made most of my previous partners rather jealous. Granted the biggest reason behind that growth is apparently your Devil genes which you have inherited after your conversion but your growth cant be disregarded" Draig tried to motivate his partner but it looked to have brought no fruition since Issie's face was still in his hand and had that panicked look in his eyes.
The two didn't say anything for the next few minutes. To the surprise of both Issie and Draig, the silence between them didn't felt awkward due to the conversation both of them were having, but instead felt comfortable as if it was a break in the conversation between two childhood friends. It was a feeling that neither Draig or Issie had before in their lives despite both of them having people in their lives they would consider friends or partners.
"What if I said there was a way to make you stronger?" Draig spoke all of a sudden. His words instantly grabbing Issie's attention.
"How?" Issie practically demanded from his partner.
Draig sighed heavily before continuing, "There is a way to make you stronger but that way has its risk should it fail. Not to mention the incredible consequences should we succeed in making you strong"
"No matter the consequences, but I wont lose to that fried chicken Draig. Rias and the others saved my life. This is the least I could do" Issie spoke with determination as he inwardly apologized to his parents for being so reckless. But a part of him believed that despite the recklessness of his actions, his parents would have approved of his actions.
'Rin would be proud of me of helping Rias and others by risking everything. That's what she would have done! That's what a hero would have done!' Issie thought to himself as his mind briefly wandered to his first ever friend.
"Very well. If you are so hellbent in saving that Gremory girl then I must begin now" Draig sighed before beginning his work on his newest partner who could just look on in fascination at what Draig was doing.
Next morning
It was the morning of the rating game and all the Devils of the Gremory house were assembled in the Occult Research Clubroom. The room had a tense atmosphere since most of the assembled Devils were about to fight in a rating game that would determine their future more or less.
Moments later an impressive grey white magic circle appeared in the clubroom that most of the Devils immediately recognized.
Out of the said magic circle walked the head maid of the Gremory family.
"Is it time Grayfia?" Rias asked confidently but the Gremory head maid, who had known Rias ever since her birth knew of the underlying nervousness in her tone.
"Yes my Lady. Rating game between yourself and Lord Riser Phoenix is ready to begin. If you could enter this magic circle alongside your peerage" Grayfia politely nodded before summoning a Gremory teleportation circle for Rias and her peerage.
"Come on everyone. We have a match to win" Rias boldly stated before walking into the transportation circle.
"Hai!" the Gremory peerage nodded confidently before following their King into the magic circle.
Soon the group was enveloped in a bright crimson light before being teleported away. Leaving only Grayfia, Marid and his peerage.
"I assume that you would like to watch Lady Rias rating game?" Grayfia asked her son in the formal tone she was known for having.
"That would be correct. I also hoped that I could bring my peerage along. Considering they helped me in training Rias and her peerage, I believe they deserve to see how Rias and her peerage win the Rating game against Riser" Marid spoke confidently which made the Gremory head maid's eye rise a minor fraction. The surprise wasn't because of her low belief in Rias in winning the rating game but rather in Marids conviction in his statement meaning he truly believed Rias would win the upcoming rating game. Something she desperately hoped for happened.
"That would be acceptable after all it is customary for High class Devils to be accompanied to important events with their peerage" Grayfia nodded before creating another magic circle for Marid and his peerage.
With a subtle head nod, Marid, Millicas, Kenta and Yumi swiftly entered the magic circle before being whisked away themselves.
Elsewhere
Marid and his peerage materialized in an apparition point prestigious looking room.
"Where are we?" Kenta asked curiously as he looked around the fancy looking room.
"I believe we are in one of the VIP observational observatories set up for the rating games" Marid informed his Rook calmly before walking out of the room into a well decorated hallway with his baby brother. His peerage wasn't too far behind them.
The squad of Devils soon turned a corner to head to their observational booth only to realize that the outside of the room was surrounded by dozens of heckling reporters of the underworld.
"Oh look! It's Lord Marid Gremory and Lord Millicas Gremory, sons of the current Lucifer!" one of the reporters spoke loudly before beginning to take photographs of Marid and his peerage.
Both Kenta and Yumi stiffened at being such a focal point of attention so suddenly, something both of them weren't used to. While Marid and Millicas grimaced at the thought of dealing with reporters couldn't help but stay still in their place.
"Just let me do the talking" Marid subtly whispered to the group all of whom were more than happy to let him deal with the excited group of news reporters.
"Lord Marid how are you adjusting to your new life in the underworld!" one of the excited reporters asked the former heir to the Gremory family.
"It's nice to be back at home after such a long time" Marid responded with a charming smile.
"What are your thoughts on the current ranking of the Big eight? Afterall you have been placed at the very last" another reporter shouted his question hoping that he could get a reaction out of Marid.
"I couldn't care less about the rankings. Only people who are insecure in themselves worry about the opinions of others" Marid coolly replied.
"That's not true after all most Devils are concerned with rankings and accolades due to our pride. Are you saying that our pride is byproduct of insecurity?" the Devil reporter retorted eagerly with a vicious smirk Thinking he had manipulated the situation enough to get a rise of the son of the current Satan.
"Yes, in some cases our pride is a byproduct of insecurity. But this always apply to those who are to concerned things like accolades or rankings. Someone like yourself by the looks of it. If you don't believe me then ask one of the current Satans that if they feel intimidated by other Gods or even perhaps by some of the strongest Devils our race has produced ever since the start of rating games. Their answer would be no. Not because of their arrogance in their own strength but simply because of a simple saying that is rather famous on Earth… 'A lion doesn't concern itself with the opinions of sheep'" Marid replied calmly before moving onto the next reporter who had garnered his attention.
"Speaking of Gods is it true that you are part of the delegation that is supposed to meet with the Olympian Gods?" the reporter asked with a keen look. At that point, Marid couldn't stop himself from frowning, since the information regarding him attending the meeting was kept a secret even from high ranking Government officials.
'Ah Zekram Bael working his magic yet again' Marid concluded within his mind before refocusing on the news reporters who were awaiting his response.
"I am sorry but I am not allowed to comment on anything regarding the meetings with the Olympians" Marid easily deflected the question.
"In your perspective, what is your most desired outcome would you hope the Satans could achieve with the Olympian Gods" one of the other reporters shouted his question.
"Peace" Marid replied dubiously as if it wasn't the most obvious answer in the world.
"Even if the peace is at the cost of kneeling to those Gods" one of the other reporters retorted, outraged at the thought of kneeling before anyone.
"Let me ask you this… What would you rather have… fight a pointless war for the sake of preserving your pride or play peace and enjoy the benefits that come of it?" Marid countered rhetorically with a question of his own. His rhetorical response stilled most of the angered reporters
"What do you mean peace with benefits?" one of the news reporters asked slowly after some time.
"Peace is always good for business since it not only allows technological advancements but also opens new avenues for business and entertainment" Marid nodded in response.
"Business and entertainment? Surely you don't mean" one of the reporters eyes widened in as he understood what the oldest son of Lucifer hinting at.
Marid nodded in agreement, "That is exactly what I am hinting at… Rating games" Marids words started murmuring between the reporters who quickly discussed the either absurdity or excitement over such a scenario.
Marid simply continued with a smile, "Imagine having our current Rating game champion, Diehauser Belial, facing off against God class opponents in a rating game or perhaps even members of the 'Big Eight' fighting off against some of the strongest warriors of Greek Pantheon. While it would be initially difficult to manage of some of their divine powers in the rating games, once those details could be ironed out, I have no doubt that the rating games involving supernatural beings from different races would be incredibly entertaining since the current rating game rankings have almost become… stale in comparison to what they were when the rating games were first introduced to the underworld" Marid suggested with a smile. To his satisfaction, the group of reporters were taking his idea into consideration. It was a suggestion that made some of the rational and rating game enthusiast drool at the thought while some of the prouder reporters could not help themselves but think about the possible business advantages that Marid had suggested. Then there were reporters associated with news networks in the underworld that had aligned themselves with the pure blood narrative, who were scandalized by the thought of having other factions involved in rating games, something that had become a national sport for their race.
However, before anyone could reply back to Marid Gremory suggestion, all the Devils were suitably shocked when a man with grey hair and cold grey eyes appeared from around the corner with a calculating look in his eyes. Beside the man was his loving wife; Imogen Gaunt, a woman with beautiful dark brown hair with modestly covered C-cup breast with a regal gown. Alongside the man was also his baby sister Cleria Belial wearing a rather prestigious regal gown herself.
"I must admit I find myself rather attracted to the idea of multi-supernatural race rating game season" the rating game champion coolly entered the conversation.
"Diehauser -sama"
"Lord Belial"
All the reporters hurriedly turned towards the rating game champion, ready to take his statement regarding Marid Gremory suggestion for using rating game as a means to achieve peace.
"Do you agree with Lord Marid Gremory suggestion?" one of the reporter asked excitedly.
"I do" Diehauser Belial nodded in agreement while giving Marid a calculating look. "During my long life… I have had a fair share of battles involving life and death scenarios and have also fought in countless rating games, which are usually fought for fun. I can safely say that fighting in a rating game is immensely better than fighting for one's life. Furthermore, fighting in a rating game also act as a natural deescalate of hostility between people who still hold hatred to one of the other factions. Rating game provides a safer way to squash those differences. Moreover, I would also like to announce that while I hold no love for the fallen, church members, Gods or angels; I hope peace could be arranged with them as well. And should a call for support for peace is ever presented by the Satan's then as the Lord of the house of Belial I would happily support such a venture by the Satan's." Diehauser concluded as he looked over the shocked crowd of reporters.
"Thats how you make a public statement" Marid whistled with an impressed look.
"Now if this is everything, I believe we have a rating game that is due to start soon; one I imagine Lord Marid Gremory and his peerage would like to watch without being bothered" Diehauser calmly spoke while giving the shocked reporters a rather pointed look.
"Yes of course Lord Belial" soon the reporters hustled out of the hallway, making way for a group of bemused Devils to continue their journey to the VIP room.
During the walk, Cleria joyfully skipped a few steps before walking beside Marid, "You owe me one now you know" Cleria informed Marid with a bright smile.
"I certainly DO NOT!" Marid snapped his head towards his fellow high-class Devil while giving her an indecorous look.
"Yes you do" Cleria replied just as sweetly. "We both know you HATE the underworld media and me using my big brother to rescue you is basically me saving you a lot of headache"
"Then wouldn't I own a favor to your brother and not you?" Marid gave her a sour look.
"That's because Onii-sama would never have helped you if I hadn't asked him to. Since he did you owe me the favor" Cleria spoke cutely while continuing to skip alongside Marid.
Behind him, Marid could see both Yumi and Kenta were thoroughly enjoying listening in their conversation.
Marid gave her a sour look before relenting, "I guess I owe you one… what do you want?"
Marid saw Cleria smile widened as her eyes gained the starry look that he knew she gets when she gets excited about something, "Oh nothing right now. But that doesn't mean I wont cash in this favor sometime later" with her parting words Cleria followed her brother and his wife into the main VIP room.
"She got you there you know" Kenta commented from behind while doing his best to not laugh out at the sour look that was imprinted on his masters face.
"Kenta… shut up!" Marid gritted his teeth as he regarded his sole Rook.
"Oh would you look at the time… the match is about to start" Yumi looked at her watch reflexively and only just realized the time.
"Then what are we waiting for" Marid replied with a smile before walking into the VIP room.
There Marid could see his father, the current Satan Lucifer, wearing prestigious wizarding robes that complimented his crimson hair well. Alongside him stood his mother wearing her usual French maid outfit.
Beside his parents sat five of the strongest Devils of his generations; Sairaorg Bael, Cleria Belial, Sona Sitri, Seekvaira Agres, Dagon Glasya-Labolas. All of them wearing their best suits ready to see what the joint strongest youth Devil (at least according to the youth Devil rankings) could do against Riser Phoenix, who was hailed as a genuine rating game protegee by fans and critics alike.
On the far side of the room sat the 'Older Devils' which included his grandparents, Lord Bael, Zekram Bael, an average looking blonde haired man known as the current Lord Phoenix and an extremely beautiful blonde haired woman in the form of Rosalina Phoenix. There was another
"Isn't everyone looking lovely over here" Marid spoke aloud, announcing his arrival to the group of high class Devils before focusing his attention to the most politically influential Devils beside his father and Zekram Bael, perhaps even on the same level as them. "Lady Rosalina Phoenix and Lady Rivia Abaddon… It is an honor to meet you both as well" Marid spoke calmly while offering the two extremely powerful Devil couple a polite bow, something both Yumi and Kenta also did.
"Psst.. Yumi who is she?" Kenta subtly inquired about the blonde haired woman that was sitting beside Rosalina Phoenix. Sure he was told about the current clan leaders oif the surviving 72 pillars but he had never had came across someone like the female Devil in front of him. Plus due to his deep connection with Ki, he could see the barely restrained power that emitted from the two female blonde Devils. But something about their power kept him at unease.
Yumi leaned in to whisper back, "She is known as 'Harbinger of destruction'. A title that was bestowed on her when it was publicly announced how during the mission recall she evolved her portal ability to such a level that it allowed her to delicately transport an immensely powerful bomb of demonic energy created by Rosalina Pheonix Falbium Glasya-Labolas and Ajuka Astaroth. It was rumored that she got into a relationship with Rosalina phoenix after she passed lordship of her house to her descendant Bedeze Abaddon. I don't know anything else about her other than she was also progenitor of house of Abaddon making her one of the oldest surviving Devils".
"Lord Marid" the power couple gave the former Gremory heir a polite head nod but didn't say anything further much to Marids own surprise. He had expected some form of anger from Rosalina Phoenix due to him using Ravel as a means to get Rias out of her engagement but he felt nothing from the blonde Phoenix.
To the amusement and shock of Kenta and Yumi, their King didn't acknowledged neither the Great King Zekram Bael nor the lords of the houses of Pheonix or Gremory. Just a subtle welcoming nod to his grandmother to greet her. Something she reciprocated with a loving smile of her own. Knowing the politics that had been going on behind the scenes, she didn't blame her grandson for giving her husband the cold shoulder. On the contrary, she respected him more for having the courage to stand up for his reasons.
"Dad!" Millicas happily greeted his father with a bow.
Sirzech Lucifer, smiled at his youngest sons joyous attitude before enveloping him into a fatherly hug. "How have you been Millicas?".
"I have been very well. Big brother has been training me alongside Rias one-sama and her peerage" Millicas informed his father with a bright smile.
"Let me look at you" Sirzech playfully eyed his youngest son, "You have gotten stronger. Your vitality has increased greatly"
"I know right! Big brother Marid had me doing …" before a hyperexcited Millicas could complete his sentence his older brother laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Perhaps this is something you could tell Dad when you alone with him" Marid suggested with an amused smirk.
"Huh?" Millicas blinked at his brothers suggestion before blushing in embarrassment when he saw the looks he was getting from people around the room. Most of them like the members of the Big Eight were smiling at him as if he was the cutest person in the world while the elders, except of Zekram Bael, Rosalina Phoenix and Rivia Abaddon who were gazing at him with calculated expression, were just amused at Millicas's hyperactive attitude.
"Oh yes! Perhaps you are right brother" Millicas coughed into his hand to hide his embarrassment before taking his seat beside his father who looked just as amused as others in the room.
"I believe there are some introductions that need to be made here" Marid moved on to introduce his newest servant to his father, "Dad please meet Kenta Maki. He is my newest servant and my sole Rook"
"It is a honor to meet you Lord Lucifer" Kenta stepped forward and gave the current Lucifer a formal bow. Something he had worked on last night with Yumi. After all this was his first time in such a formal setting meeting people who were genuine royalty.
"It is nice to meet you as well Kenta-san" Sirzechs nodded in approval. "My wife and son have told me about you. While I sympathize with your troubled past, I am glad you found a forever home in my sons peerage" Sirzech responded with a smile.
Marid couldn't be sure but he was almost certain that he saw a unreadable expression behind his fathers smile.
Kenta, who was stiffened at the reminder of the childhood he had been through, took a deep breath before replying to the current Lucifer, "I am indeed glad that be in Lord Marid's servitude. While he is not the most lenient with his training methods, Lord Marid has indeed provided me with a great home which is immensely better than my previous… accommodations"
"That is good to hear" Sirzech nodded in approval, liking what he saw from his oldest sons rook.
Similarly what he had done when he had introduced Yumi to his family, Marid had Kenta provide his father and brother with communication circle to his private channel in an a scenario if they ever had to get in contact with him.
Soon, after the introduction with his family were done, Marid moved down the line to his seat, between his best friend and rival Sairaorg Bael and his father.
"Sairaorg and Ladies. It has been a while" Marid greeted his fellow Big Eight members with a small bow before taking his seat.
"Hey!!" Dagon protested the implied insult at him but eventually laughed alongside his fellow friends and high-class Devils.
Soon the group of childhood friends started talking with each other. Some of them talking about their current life while others talking about their eventual goals. Kenta who had been listening to the entire conversation, was impressed and excited to face Sairaorg in a battle when he heard how much of a battle maniac Sairaorg was. A feeling that was mutually reciprocated by the Bael heir when he saw Kenta's expression.
"Since you have trained Rias and her peerage for the last two weeks and most likely have seen how Riser fights… who do you think is going to win?" Sairaorg asked the question that most Devils were wondering. Sairaorgs question reduced a lot of the murmurs around the room as if someone had lowered the volume in the room with a tv remote.
Despite being seated a few columns away from the 'Elders', Marid had enough social acumen to interpret that despite not looking interested in the question everyone in the room was interested in hearing his answer on the matter.
"From what I have seen from Riser… This match is going to be far closer than one would think" Marid simply replied.
"What do you mean?" Sona asked this time, curious to see how much her childhood friend had improved in her time away.
"What I mean is that Riser and everyone else who forced this marriage early on Rias unwittingly played a masterstroke. If Rias and her peerage had been given to come in their primes then their was no way Riser could beat her in a rating game. Despite only training seriously for two weeks, I am willing to put good money on Rias being able to pull off an upset over a far more experienced opponent in Riser. Give them a few months of serious training then perhaps Rias and her peerage could even rival me and Sairaorg in a rating game" Marid gave his honest opinion on the matter.
Sairaorg and others nodded in understanding and genuine excitement since most of them had already planned to take part in rating games once they were old enough to qualify. However, before the conversation could continue, Lord Phoenix snorted humorously "Rias may be a talented user of Power of Destruction but she has no hope against my own son and his full peerage". Lord Phoenix arrogant support for his son was met by approval of both Lord Bael and Lord Gremory but neither of them dared say something aloud due to Lady Gremory's intense glare at her own brother and husband. Her expression only said one thing 'Go on say something, I dare you!' yet none dared to speak aloud against Rias in such a openly manner since they both knew the wrath Venelana Gremory was capable of bringing when she was angered. She didn't inherit her title of 'Flaxen-haired Madame of Extinction' cause of nothing.
Marid who was thoroughly amused by Lord Bael and his own grandfathers cowardly attitude returned his attention back onto the arrogant Lord Phoenix, "I would have agreed with your conclusion if Rias had been fighting Ruval Phoenix, someone who not just relied on his natural talent but actually trained it and evolved it to a respectable degree, but we are not talking about Ruval Pheonix here. Riser Phoenix is just an arrogant playboy wannabe who just needs to be put in his place" Marid responded with such venom that it rose a few eyebrows and tempers around the room to the point the security who were within the parameters of the room were getting worried and seriously considering calling in more reinforcement should a fight breakout. Luckily for them, any chances of a fight breaking out basically went to zero when Rosalina Phoenix smoothly entered the conversation, cutting off all the anger Lord Pheonix was about to spew onto the oldest son of the Mao.
"I wonder if this is a compliment to my oldest son who indeed had honed power unlike his predecessors" Rosalina gave her husband a cool look who merrily just gulped in fear knowing that his wife blamed him for how lousy and undriven their youngest son had been, "Or perhaps a genuine threat against my youngest son. But it must be the first reason rather than the latter since I don't believe the youngest son of the current Lucifer would be so foolish to threaten my son when my own power and wisdom could rival any of the current Satan's" Rosalina Phoenix regally raised her eyebrows as her entire being emitted unnatural calmness despite the subtle threat she made against Marid.
Sirzech Lucifer and others listened on with a interested look, choosing to stay back to see how the conversation would unfold. Their interest grew further when they saw Marid smiling back at the immensely powerful female Devil who like she had said more than enough political and magical power to challenge either of the four Satan's or the Great King himself.
"It was barely an observation on your youngest son Lady Phoenix… However" Marid begun with a smile before his eyes gained a vicious look that they barely held, "After Rias wins her rating game, if I find Riser or anyone else exacting revenge on either my peerage or on Rias and her peerage or anyone else I genuinely care about for the matter… I swear on the souls of the old Satans and the new… I will eradicate their very souls. Even if my actions would result in another Civil war" Marid coldly replied to Rosalina Phoenix, presenting his threat as a promise rather than a bravado statement most Devils are known for.
Majority of the room, including the current Lucifer, were surprised by Marids cold words but relented to say anything else after Rosalina Phoenix didn't respond back, much to their astonishment. The Devil of the infernal storm chose to give Marid a respectful smirk, indicating that he had passed whatever test she had placed for him.
As if she had read the mood, Grayfia Lucifage's voice entered the VIP room, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Lords and Ladies of the underworld… My name is Grayfia Lucifage and I have been chosen as the Rating game referee by the Lords of House of Gremory and Phoenix. We will be starting the rating game between Lord Riser Pheonix and Lady Rias Gremory as per the marriage contract signed by the Lords of both their houses and Great King himself" Voice of Grayfia Lucifage echoed throughout the VIP room.
Before starting of the rating game, Marid quickly leaned towards his father to ask him of something, something he had forgot to ask him earlier, "Dad do you have a recommendation of a construction company in the underworld? Preferably a company who work in rebuilding of broken structures"
The Lucifer raised a questioning eyebrow after hearing his son's bizarre question.
"Rias's pawn may have destroyed the main house on the meadows we were meant to be training at" Marid responded to his fathers unasked question with a lowered tone.
Sirzech Lucifers eyes rose further at the mention of destruction caused by his baby sister's youngest pawn who by all accounts was reincarnated only recently.
'Looks like Marid is right; this rating game will be far more interesting than it looks on paper' Sirzech thought inwardly before conjuring up a card for one of the best construction companies in the underworld which Marid eagerly passed onto Yumi while giving her a meaningful look.
Yumi, who herself understood the task nodded in understanding before putting the card away in her calendar. She would contact the company immediately after the rating game ends.
"Lords and Ladies of the underworld, the rating game between Lord Riser Phoenix and Lady Rias Gremory begins now!" Grayfia announced on the speaker as both teams were magically transported into their home bases in the rating game field.
Chapter end
Before we end this chapter, I would like talk to about the rating game rankings mentioned above. So in this story, I genuinely have a youth Devil ranking system in place. It is something that doesn't matter right now but will play a huge role in the later arcs.
Sidenote:- The first criteria to rank a Devil is there recent accomplishments rather than their magical potential which is why Rias is on the same rank as Sairaorg, even though Rias is stronger than canon Rias, Sairaorg would absolutely dog walk her. With that cleared out of the way, lets look at the Youth Devil rankings!!!
Youth Devil Rankings:-
1. Rias Gremory (Defeated Magdarean Bael in a mock battle and Marid for the heirship(even hough it was a dubious win, it was considered a win))
2. Sairaorg Bael (No explanation needed! Mans a tank that easily defeated his half brother for the heirship of their house)
3. Marid Gremory (Incredible magical potential noted at the time of his birth. Considered by majority of the Devil populace to become at least an ultimate class Devil on his talents alone)
4. Cleria Belial (Despite not taken part in any battles yet, she was noted to have incredible potential according to the tests conducted at her birth)
5. Diodora Astaroth (Incredible potential noted at birth)
6. Seekvaira Agres/ Sona Sitri (Both of them are pretty equal)
7. Dagon Glasya-Labolas (Weakest out of the bunch but overall isnt weak but his rank is purely their because of his laziness and nonchalant attitude towards training)
Furthermore, before I end this chapter, I just wanted to urge you all to please COMMENT on the chapters and let me know what you all think. Please write constructive criticism so I know where I am lacking or if my story has some plot holes. These help me greatly improve the quality of my chapters.
Until then stay safe and have fun!
DGZalama out!
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