Riser Phoenix—the third son of the pure-blooded Phoenix family—possessed every gift of his immortal lineage. No matter the wound, his body would regenerate in a flash. His blood could grant immortality; his tears cured any injury.
Twelve battles, eleven victories, one draw—and that tie only happened because he'd gone easy on a family friend.
Every Phoenix could rise from their own ashes. In battle, they were almost impossible to put down.
If you wanted to beat them, you had two options: overwhelm them with such force that they never got the chance to resurrect, or keep killing them until their mind or spirit finally broke. There was no third way.
But Rias, for all her strength as a High-Class Devil, was up against another High-Class Devil—and not just any, but Riser Phoenix. Forget killing him; she'd be lucky to avoid outright defeat. So the first option was out.
The second? Even more hopeless. Counting her newest recruit, Kiyome Abe, Rias had just six peerage members. Riser had a full team of fifteen.
And as a Phoenix, he had more healing tears than she could ever hope to exhaust. The idea of beating him over and over until he surrendered was a fantasy.
So this "chance" the families offered Rias was little more than a formality—a way to make her accept the inevitable. Facing Riser in a Rating Game, her odds were next to nothing.
Rias bit her lip, hands clenched so tightly they trembled. She looked utterly lost—trapped, desperate, powerless.
"Rias…" Akeno started, then fell silent, her sigh heavy with sympathy.
"President…" Koneko and Kiba looked away, unable to offer comfort.
Kiyome and Asia fidgeted, the tension in the room making it hard to even breathe.
"Heh." Riser's smile was all smug satisfaction. "So, Rias, here's your one shot at freedom. What's your answer?"
Evelyn, the maid, kept her silence, watching Rias with a complicated gaze. As Rias's sister-in-law, she hated seeing her suffer—but this was bigger than any one person. The Gremory and Phoenix families had forged this pact long ago. Even Sirzechs, one of the Four Devil Kings, couldn't simply override it. Pushing further risked tearing the families apart.
Securing even this slim chance for Rias had been the best Sirzechs could do.
Shuo watched Rias's inner turmoil, his own expression calm and unshaken. He spoke, voice steady and full of conviction.
"Rias, just say yes. Trust me—give me one week. I'll train you all myself, and I promise, you'll be able to KO that turkey like it's nothing."
Rias blinked, startled by his confidence. "Shuo, you…"
Riser's face twisted with fury, flames practically leaking from his eyes. "You again! Calling me a turkey! How many times do I have to say it? I'm a phoenix—a phoenix! If you keep provoking me, don't think I won't burn you to ash!"
Rias glanced at her peerage—each one now burning with determination. Then she met Shuo's encouraging eyes, and something inside her solidified.
"Riser Phoenix, I will never marry you. I accept the Rating Game!"
Her voice was clear, unwavering. She locked eyes with Riser, her resolve shining. "But we set the time. One week from now, in the Underworld. I'll be the one to end this engagement."
Riser scoffed, but couldn't hide the flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Fine. One week. I want to see how you plan to beat me."
He turned to Shuo, his tone threatening. "You—Nangong Shuo, right? I'll let you off this time. But watch yourself. When the Rating Game comes, I want to see how you train them to defeat me."
Evelyn bowed with a final glance at Rias. "Since Lady Rias has made her decision, I'll return to report to Lord Sirzechs. Lady Rias, Lord Riser Phoenix—if you'll excuse me."
A crimson magic circle flared, and she vanished.
Riser's own circle glowed beneath his feet. "Rias, see you in the Underworld. I can't wait to see you fall apart in the Rating Game. Enjoy your last days of freedom—soon, you'll be mine!"
Before stepping through, Ravel Phoenix gave Shuo a bright, eager wave. "Hero, I'm looking forward to our next meeting! Until then!"
…Hero? Where did that come from?
Everyone shot Shuo a curious look, then turned to Ravel, who just grinned before disappearing with her brother.
With the Phoenixes gone, the tension in the Occult Research Club finally broke. Everyone let out a long, shaky breath.
"Shuo, can I really win the Rating Game?" Rias's voice was small, full of hope and doubt. She looked at him, searching for reassurance.
Akeno slid closer, her tone light and teasing. "Ara ara, Rias, you should believe in Shuo-kun. He almost started a war for you just now—how romantic. I'm jealous!"
Koneko nodded, her eyes shining with admiration. "It's true. Nangong-senpai's aura was so strong, he nearly crushed Lady Evelyn."
Kiba flashed his trademark gentle smile. "Nangong-kun's power surprised me too. But I'll always believe in you."
Kiyome pumped her fist. "That's right! Shuo-kun, you'd better train us hard. That turkey made my blood boil—one week from now, let's give him a beating he'll never forget!"
Shuo grinned. "Don't worry, Rias. This week of training will open your eyes. By the time I'm done, the whole Underworld will be shocked by your strength."
He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And if you still don't meet my expectations, I've got a secret 'cheat' ready. You'll win without breaking a sweat."
"A cheat? What kind of cheat?" Everyone crowded around, curiosity piqued.
Shuo just winked. "If it's a secret, I can't spoil it now, can I? But don't slack off—my original devil training starts tomorrow. Brace yourselves!"
His wicked laugh sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
Even Kiba felt a chill, as though some monster had set its sights on him.
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