Rias stepped into the center of the field, magic swirling, eyes burning with pride and defiance.
"Ready for our match, Lu-Lu?"
Lucien stepped forward, coat fluttering, a predator's smile on his lips. "Always, Ri-Ri."
Their power surged, the air trembling, and everyone instinctively took a step back.
One Gremory born of legacy.
The other was born for greatness.
In the shadowed treeline, unseen by all but Kuroka's sharpened senses, a cloaked figure watched. The old scent of plague and duty was thick in the air. Grayroad had not left. He had orders yet unfulfilled.
The true battle had only just begun.
The training grounds buzzed with anticipation as Lucien and Rias faced each other, the final match of the day about to commence. Their peerages stood along the sidelines, eager to witness the clash between the two prodigies.
Lucien adjusted his stance, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Ready when you are, Big Red."
Rias smirked, her crimson hair catching the breeze. "Don't hold back, Lu-chan, and didn't I tell you not to call me Big Red!"
The real battle… had only just begun.
⸻
Crimson vs. Abyss
Serafall, dressed in her magical girl uniform but with none of her usual playful air, stood as the acting referee. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and unease.
"Begin!" she called, raising her hand.
Lucien and Rias moved at once.
Crimson destruction clashed with abyssal shadow, the sky screaming as their attacks collided midair. Dust exploded. The earth cracked. Two bloodlines, two destinies collided with a force the estate hadn't seen in decades.
Lucien moved with lethal precision, each strike a symphony of honed instinct and darkness. Rias countered with blazing authority, her spells molten with rage and refinement.
But then something shifted.
Lucien's aura changed to something cold, oppressive, and timeless.
With a snap of his fingers, the ground beneath Rias split open. As black tendrils of shadow surged forth, snapping with sentient hunger.
Rias barely dodged, her eyes widening.
"That control… how did he evolve it this far?!"
Even Serafall, ever unflappable, took an involuntary step back.
"That… that's unmistakably Lucifuge clan magic…"
The field fell silent.
Lucien stood tall, his body shrouded in writhing shadow. The magic around him whispered like memories, like names long forgotten.
He wasn't just channeling power.
He was the power.
"So this is what Mother's legacy feels like…" Lucien murmured, voice cold as a void. "No wonder they feared her."
He raised a hand.
"This is the legacy of my mother's bloodline. Let me show you what it means… to be Lucifuge."
The sky darkened. The sun above dimmed unnaturally.
Massive constructs of shadow unfurled: towering swords, snarling wolves, wings jagged like broken prophecy. Every motion exuded dominion, not control, command.
Rias gritted her teeth and charged, her Power of Destruction burning at full force. But every spell was swallowed, redirected, or turned aside. Lucien moved through her power like a phantom until a blade of living shadow hovered inches from her throat.
He then unleashed his new moves.
Eclipse Waltz
Lucien disappeared in the blink of an eye, his body becoming a blur of silver and black. Ice blades sliced through the air, each strike striking from impossible angles. Rias responded with fiery precision, but the blades always managed to find their mark, leaving trails of frost across her skin.
Her eyes narrowed, a spark of realization flashing in them. "Illusions... and speed."
"You've seen nothing yet," Lucien whispered, his presence flickering like light at the edge of her vision.
Shadow of Reckoning
Then, as Rias regrouped, Lucien's form grew still. The air itself seemed to halt. The sun dimmed even further.
A dome of living shadow expanded around them, distorting light and sound. The temperature dropped, and Rias felt the weight of time stretch unnaturally. Inside, she saw flickers of her past: the faces of lost loved ones, the sting of betrayal, the weight of decisions made in the heat of battle.
The world outside faded. Inside the dome, Rias was alone with her regrets.
Lucien moved unseen, his presence only felt in the chill of breath and the whisper of steel as his blade struck.
Every attack bypassed her defenses, a direct assault on her will. Each blow felt like a violation, her soul recoiling from the magic that laced his strikes. And then, finally, the spectral brand across her chest.
The mark of Lucien's judgment.
Crimson Requiem
Lucien raised both hands. A spiraling sphere of crimson destruction erupted from his palm, humming with a deadly, explosive melody. The world seemed to warp as the sphere expanded, its presence swallowing everything in its path: magical constructs, illusions, memories.
Rias barely had time to react as the sphere came crashing down, the sound of its impact deafening in her ears.
The air around them trembled, and the sphere expanded into a violent crescendo, erasing everything that stood against it. When the dust settled, the training field lay in ruin, and Rias was on one knee, breathless.
Lucien stood over her, his gaze unflinching, his body still wrapped in the remnants of the shadow that had dominated the battle.
Aftermath
Serafall's voice rang out with urgency. As she had to flex her power, "Enough! Winner Lucien!"
The shadows peeled away like mist, and Rias, though exhausted, met his gaze with pride.
"You've been practicing that magic for weeks," she said through gritted teeth. "But this was different. That wasn't shadowcraft, Luci."
She looked up at him, her eyes burning with determination. "That was dominion."
Serafall approached, expression uncharacteristically serious. "Lu-Lu… that was Lucifuge Authority. Grayfia's legacy is in full bloom."
Rias blinked. "So it really was hers?"
Serafall nodded. "Yes. And if certain factions realize what you've awakened. There will be devils and worse sniffing around. Not all of them will be friendly."
Lucien extended his hand, and Rias took it, standing to her feet.
"We should visit your grandmother," he said. "Chysis Gremory. If I can awaken my heritage, so can you."
Rias smiled fiercely. "Agreed."
From the shadows, Kuroka watched. The way his darkness lingered… like it knew more than him.
And it terrified her.
Ghislaine started at Lucien with eyes of passion as her tail swung rapidly. "I found a worthy mate."
Crimson Embers & Quiet Bonds
The battle ended, but its echoes remained. The ground, still cracked from their fierce clash, seemed to hum with the remnants of power. Yumi cracked her neck, a small wince escaping her lips as she stretched, her muscles sore but alive with energy. She turned to Ghislaine, a fire in her eyes.
"Feel like burning off some of this adrenaline?" Yumi asked, her grin playful but fierce.
Ghislaine's lips curved upward, the gleam in her eyes wild with excitement. "Always," she growled, her voice low and filled with the thrill of the fight.
Without another word, they both disappeared into the woods, the sounds of blades clashing against each other ringing through the trees, an eerie harmony of steel against steel. They were two warriors who understood each other without needing words, two forces of nature, bound by their love of combat.
Back at the estate's steps, the others gathered, Yue, Gasper, Akeno, and Rangiku regrouped.
Yue's voice was calm yet full of intrigue, spoke up. "Lucien said we could explore the Crimson Plaza boutiques." Her eyes sparkled at the thought of browsing the luxurious shops that dotted the plaza, each one a treasure trove of unique wares.
Akeno's smile widened, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "Shall we take the royal card?" she asked, a playful challenge in her tone.
Gasper blinked, clearly unsure. "Are we allowed?"
Rangiku, the corner of her mouth tugging up in a knowing smirk, pulled out the royal card with a flourish. "We are now," she said confidently, twirling the card between her fingers.
With laughter echoing through the air like a soft chime, the group disappeared in a burst of teleportation, leaving nothing behind but the faintest trail of stardust.
Cookies, Consoles, and Sisters
In the game lounge, the air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of button presses, the tension of the game evident in every swipe and tap. Kuroka, her tail flicking with irritation, let out an exaggerated growl as her character met yet another untimely demise on the screen.
"You're button-mashing," Koneko said with her usual deadpan delivery, not even looking up from her own controller.
Kuroka's ears perked, her eyes narrowing with a hint of defiance. "I'm strategically overwhelming the controller, nya!" She grinned mischievously, but the flickering screen didn't seem to agree with her self-assessment.
Koneko sighed, reaching into the small bowl beside her and pulling out a perfectly baked cookie. She offered it to Kuroka with an almost mechanical gesture. The cookie was filled with warm, gooey mochi that seemed to melt the moment Kuroka took a bite.
Kuroka's eyes widened in pure bliss. "Nyaaaaaa~ this is sin. What is this?!"
Koneko's lips twitched slightly in the smallest hint of a smile. "Lucien's secret recipe."
Kuroka's eyes filled with admiration and terror in equal measure. "…He's dangerous," she muttered, savoring another bite as if the sweetness of the mochi could redeem all her earlier frustrations.
Silence settled between them, a comfortable, peaceful silence that only siblings, those bound by a deeper understanding, could share. The game continued, but the competitive edge softened, now replaced by a quiet companionship. Kuroka's tail brushed against Koneko's, the only sound now that of their quiet laughter and the soft crunch of cookies between moments of gaming chaos.
Midnight Mayhem: Magical Girl vs. Strategic Troll
Later that night, Serafall crept into Lucien's private study under a veil of silence, her wand clutched like a thief's dagger.
"For science," she whispered, already scanning the bookshelves with pratice ease.
She slid open a hidden drawer and a faint gasped escaped her lips.
Inside lay a thick leather-bound notebook marked:
Waifu Tier Candidates – Restricted (Private)
Serafall's eyes gleamed. "Jackpot."
She flipped it open with the speed of a spellcaster cracking a grimoire and began reading aloud:
Yue: A-tier. Mysterious, loyal, tragic beauty. Kisses like snowfall. Velzaria: S-tier. Chaos incarnate. Lethal smile. Dangerously adorable. Albedo: God-tier. Would stab. Still wife material. Gabriel: Celestial-tier. Too pure. It should be illegal. An actual angel. Serafall: A-tier. Magical Girl Queen. Emotional support bomb. High snuggle value. Dangerously clingy.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Gabriel is above me?"
She flipped the page, hoping for an explanation.
Her eyes flew back to the page, desperate to find some sort of explanation. At the very bottom, a hastily scrawled note caught her eye:
Note: This is the fake version in case Serafall ever breaks in. The real list is magically sealed.
Her eye twitched.
"He knew I'd come?!"
A storm of magical energy began swirling above her head. Ice spread, dangerously freezing plushies. One particularly innocent plush penguin exploded in a shower of cotton.
"I'LL SHOW HIM EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BOMB!" she screamed, and with a burst of magical energy, she stormed into Lucien's chamber, her voice trembling with indignation.
She stormed into Lucien's chamber. "You left a fake list! A fake list! Gabriel?! ABOVE ME?!"
Lucien calmly summoned Lilith, who popped up as a chibi avatar with guilty little wings.
"Lilith," he said, "excellent placement of the decoy."
Lilith beamed. "Operation Magical Girl Bait was 87% effective."
Serafall's mouth dropped open.
"You named the protocol after me?!"
Lucien just smirked. "You're famous for a reason."
Serafall twitched. "I demand reparations!"
Lucien leaned in with a grin. "Cuddle coupons and pudding?"
Serafall turned beet red and vanished in a cloud of glitter.
From somewhere down the hall: "THIS ISN'T OVER!!"
Messages from Queens and Dragons
Later, on his balcony, Lucien sat back with his phone in hand, scanning through his messages. Two notifications lit up his screen.
Albedo:
"I'll arrive in a week. Your domain had better meet my standards. XOXO, my Crimson Prince."
Lucien smirked, shaking his head. Classic Albedo.
Velzaria:
"Fight me. Win, and I'm yours. Lose, and I vanish."
Lucien stared at the message for a long beat, his lips curling into a playful grin.
Talk Between Ri-Ri & Lu-Lu
The cool night air of the Underworld was alive with the whispers of stars as Rias joined Lucien. Wrapped in a simple red cloak, she walked silently over to him, her steps steady but her presence comforting. No titles, no pressure. Just Ri-Ri and Lu-Lu, as they'd always been.
They settled side by side, the soft hum of the night surrounding them. The twin moons of the Underworld began their slow ascent, bathing the land in a pale, ethereal light. For a moment, they simply sat in silence, the weight of the day melting away under the quiet of the stars.
"You were incredible today," Rias said softly, her voice low but warm. "Not just strong... commanding."
Lucien exhaled deeply, his eyes trained on the horizon as his thoughts swirled. "It didn't feel like me, honestly. The shadows… they moved like they always knew me."
Rias turned her gaze to him, concern flickering across her face. "Grayfia's legacy," she whispered, almost to herself. "It scares me sometimes how deep our bloodlines run. Yours is waking up fast."
He nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words. "That's why we need Chysis. You deserve to understand your full inheritance, too. And I need her help stabilizing the Lucifuge side before it pulls me under."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with the unspoken challenges ahead.
Then Rias asked in a softer tone, "Do you ever miss how simple it all used to be?"
"All the time," Lucien replied, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Back when your biggest concern was beating Sona at chess, and mine was sneaking extra desserts without my mom catching me."
Rias chuckled, the sound light and free, but it carried an undercurrent of nostalgia. "Now we're dealing with peerages, territory claims, political engagements…"
"…And mysterious systems," Lucien added, his smile turning wry.
She turned to him fully, her expression serious. "You still haven't told me everything."
Lucien's gaze darkened slightly, but his smile remained. "I will," he promised. "Soon. I think the system is tied to the balance of the factions. Maybe even the abyss itself. But right now, I only know it reacts to will, desire, and legacy."
"And your legacy…" Rias's voice softened, a trace of awe and fear beneath the words, "…is terrifying."
Lucien didn't argue. He just let the silence speak.
Elsewhere — Crimson Eyes and Cold Orders
In a shadowed vault deep within the Gremory estate, Grayroad watched the duel unfold on a glowing crystal, his eyes narrowed in quiet contemplation.
Grayfia stood behind him, her usual composure now tinged with a subtle tension. Sirzechs stood to her side, his presence a quiet anchor.
"He's growing faster than expected," Sirzechs remarked quietly, his tone heavy with a mix of pride and concern.
"Too fast," Grayfia muttered, her eyes fixed on the crystal, her hand tightening at her side. "We must accelerate the Gremory rites."
Sirzechs turned his head to study her, his voice soft but probing. "Do you regret it?"
"Not yet," she whispered back, her gaze never leaving the image in the crystal. "But I will act… if the old order comes for him."
Lucifuge Manor — Nightfall
Serafall's departure left a faint silence in the air, but the weight of the moment settled quickly. Rias leaned into Lucien's side, the glow of the twin moons reflecting in her crimson eyes.
"Two days until the Familiar Forest," she murmured, the quiet intensity of her words grounding the air around them.
"Perfect timing," Lucien replied, his tone warm but practical. "Our peerages need bonding."
Behind them, Kuroka stopped in her tracks. That scent… that familiar, ancient presence. That's not Lucien's magic.
It was older.
Her golden eyes narrowed. Something was wrong.
Lucien's Study — System Breach
Lucien tapped through his system interface, eyes focused on the horizon of his new kingdom as he prepared to expand his territory further.
But
[System Alert: Transaction Failed.]
[Royal-Class Treasury Lock: Active]
[Reason: Crimson Sigil Card — Missing]
Lucien's eyebrows furrowed as he muttered under his breath. "Lilith?"
A chibi avatar of Lilith appeared before him, nervously wringing her tiny hands.
"Uh… slight issue, Host…" she stammered, her little devil wings twitched.
Yue peeked into the room. "Don't be mad…"
Lucien turned slowly, his gaze cool but calculating. "Yue."
"They found it… and tested the card on boutiques, upgrades, and spa sets…"
"Spa sets?!" Lucien's voice raised slightly, incredulous.
"Rangiku said it came with a foot enchantment. Gasper bought something… haunted. He's hiding."
Lucien sighed deeply. "I'm trying to build a territory, and my peerage is trying to bankrupt me in one shopping spree."
Lilith offered brightly, "You could install a purchase request system?"
"Do it."
Yue vanished. Lilith winked out.
Lucien returned to his interface: One more option: Personal Summon Slot.
No substitutions. No overrides. This summons answers to you and you alone.
"Lilith," he said. "I need someone who can run a kingdom."
Golden light filled the room.
A composed voice said:
"Greetings. I am Souma Kazuya. Let's begin with population logistics."
Lucien blinked.
"…I just summoned Souma."
Outside the room, Kuroka's eyes narrowed. That magic again.
It wasn't Lucien's.
And tomorrow, she'd find out why.
Because one thing was certain, old magic never leaves quietly.