Location: The Dimensional Gap (Transport Circle)
The transition between the Underworld and the Human World was usually a jarring sensation of pressure changes. For the old Sirzechs, it was a commute. For the new Sirzechs, it was an equation.
Distance. Magical density. Coordinate stability.
"We are arriving at the Gremory Safehouse in Kuoh, Lucifer-sama," Grayfia said, standing at his side. She had regained her composure since the morning's... activities, though she stood perhaps half an inch closer to him than protocol dictated.
"Good," Sirzechs said, his eyes closed. He could feel the threads of probability stretching out before him. "We will not be going to the safehouse immediately. I want to observe the town."
"Observe?" Grayfia raised an eyebrow. "Lord Lucifer, Lady Rias is expecting—"
"Rias is expecting a brother who will pat her head and tell her everything will be fine regarding the Phenex engagement," Sirzechs cut in, his voice cool. "That man is dead. She needs a King right now, Grayfia. Not a cheerleader."
The magic circle flared crimson. The equation balanced. They vanished.
Location: Rooftop overlooking Kuoh Academy, Human World
The sun was setting over the town of Kuoh. The students were filing out of the academy gates.
Sirzechs stood on the edge of a tall office building, a concealment barrier woven around him. He wasn't using standard magic; he was using Probability Manipulation to ensure that the chance of anyone looking up at this specific angle was absolute zero.
"There he is," Sirzechs murmured.
Down below, a brown-haired boy was laughing with two perverted-looking friends. Issei Hyoudou. The current host of the Boosted Gear. The Red Dragon Emperor.
"He looks... unimpressive," Grayfia noted, following his gaze. "His magical latency is almost non-existent. Are you certain he is the one?"
"The vessel is cracked, but the contents are nuclear," Sirzechs replied.
He focused his eyes. The world slowed down. He saw the numbers floating above Issei's head.
Current Threat Level: 2.
Potential Threat Level: Infinite.
Probability of Death by Raynare (Fallen Angel) within 4 hours: 98%.
"Let's test him," Sirzechs whispered.
He raised a finger. He didn't use magic to attack. He simply tweaked the variables of the environment. A loose tile on the school gate. A sudden gust of wind. The trajectory of a girl on a bicycle.
Adjust probability of collision: 100%.
Down below, Issei took a step. The tile slipped under his foot. He stumbled forward, right into the path of the speeding bike.
In the original timeline, he would have just crashed. But Sirzechs watched closely. For a microsecond—faster than a blink—Issei's eyes flashed green. His body twisted with unnatural speed, avoiding the bike by a millimeter, though he fell on his face in the process.
"Did you feel that?" Sirzechs asked.
"A pulse of Dragon energy," Grayfia confirmed, impressed. "Survival instinct."
"He has the reflexes," Sirzechs noted. "He just lacks the trigger. Let's go to the ORC. It's time to greet my sister."
Location: Occult Research Club (ORC), Old School Building
Rias Gremory sat at her desk, sipping tea. She was anxious. Her brother was coming. Usually, this meant an embarrassing display of affection, but it also meant safety. Sirzechs would protect her from Riser.
"Ara ara, Rias," Akeno Himejima giggled, setting down a teapot. "You seem tense. Is it because the Great Lucifer is visiting?"
"He's just... a lot to handle," Rias sighed.
Suddenly, the air in the room grew heavy. It wasn't the crushing weight of demonic power, but the sudden absence of sound. The birds outside stopped singing. The wind stopped blowing.
The door didn't open. It simply ceased to exist.
Sirzechs stepped through the frame where the door had been, the wood having been erased into nothingness by a casual thought. Grayfia followed behind him, looking apologetic about the property damage.
"Brother!" Rias stood up, putting on a smile. "You—you destroyed the door!"
She stepped forward, expecting the usual crushing hug.
Sirzechs walked past her.
He didn't hug her. He didn't gush over how much she had grown. He walked to the window, ran a finger along the sill, and checked for dust. Then he turned, his face an unreadable mask of authority.
"Your barrier is weak," Sirzechs stated. "A stray exorcist could breach this in ten seconds. Is this how the heir of the Gremory clan maintains her territory?"
Rias froze. Her smile faltered. Akeno's smile dropped instantly.
"I... excuse me?" Rias blinked. "Brother, I—"
"Don't call me that right now," Sirzechs said. He sat down on the leather sofa, crossing his legs. "Sit down, Rias. We need to discuss the Phenex family."
Rias sat, her legs trembling slightly. This wasn't the brother she knew. This was the Monster of the Civil War.
"I assume you came to cancel the engagement?" Rias asked, hope lacing her voice. "Riser is unreasonable, and I—"
"I am not cancelling it."
The words hit the room like a physical blow. Rias looked like she had been slapped.
"W-What?"
"The Council is right," Sirzechs lied smoothly, watching her reaction. "Pure-blooded devils are dying out. You have a duty. Riser has a duty. Politically, the match makes sense."
"But I don't love him!" Rias shouted, standing up, her aura flaring crimson. "I am Rias Gremory! I am not a broodmare!"
"Then prove it."
Sirzechs didn't raise his voice. He simply leaned forward, his eyes glowing.
"You act like a spoiled child, Rias. You run to the Human World to play house with your peerage, neglecting your training. You rely on the name 'Lucifer' to shield you from the consequences of your weakness. If you want your freedom, you have to take it."
Rias clenched her fists, tears stinging her eyes. "How?"
"I have arranged for the Rating Game to proceed," Sirzechs said. "But I have altered the terms. If you lose, you marry him immediately. If you win... the engagement is void, and the Phenex family will owe you a boon."
"I can't beat Riser!" Rias argued. "He's immortal! He has a full peerage! I only have Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba!"
"Then you had better find more pieces," Sirzechs said coldly. "And you had better learn to use the ones you have."
He stood up, walking toward her. Rias flinched, but he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. It wasn't a comfort; it was a grip of iron.
"I will give you ten days. I will train you myself. But I will not fight your battle for you. Sink or swim, Rias. Show me you are a Gremory."
He let go and turned to the void where the door used to be.
"Tonight," he added, looking back over his shoulder. "Go to the park. The boy you've been watching... he dies tonight. Make sure you don't mess up the resurrection. He is your Pawn."
Rias's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"I know everything," Sirzechs said. "Do not disappoint me."
Location: Kuoh Memorial Park, Night
The fountain water turned red.
Issei Hyoudou lay on the ground, a hole in his stomach. The Fallen Angel, Raynare (posing as Yuuma), stood over him, laughing maniacally.
"Stupid human! Did you really think I liked you?"
From the shadows of the tree line, hidden by the night and probability, Sirzechs watched. He leaned against a tree, arms crossed.
"Cruel," Serafall's voice whispered in his ear via a communication magic circle.
"Necessary," Sirzechs murmured back. "He needs to die to be reborn."
Raynare spread her black wings and flew off, leaving the boy to bleed out.
Issei reached a hand up to the sky. 'I... I just wanted a girlfriend...'
Sirzechs watched the life fade. He checked the probability.
Probability of Rias arriving in 10 seconds: 100%.
A crimson magic circle appeared. Rias Gremory stepped out. She looked grim. Her brother's words were still ringing in her ears. 'Sink or swim.'
She looked at the dying boy. She felt the Dragon inside him.
"Live," she commanded, placing a Pawn piece on his chest. "Live for me."
The piece sank into his body. The wound closed. Issei Hyoudou was reborn as a Devil.
As Rias lifted the unconscious boy onto her shoulder (using magic to lighten the load), Sirzechs stepped out from the shadows.
Rias gasped, nearly dropping Issei. "Brother? You were watching?"
"I wanted to see if you would hesitate," Sirzechs said. He walked over and looked down at Issei. "You didn't. Good."
He looked at Rias. The fear in her eyes was mixed with determination now. She wanted to prove him wrong. She wanted to earn his respect.
"Take him home," Sirzechs commanded. "Tomorrow, your training begins. And Rias?"
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow, I will teach you what the Power of Destruction actually is. Because right now, you're using a cannon to shoot spitballs."
He turned and vanished in a circle of teleportation, leaving Rias standing in the park, clutching her new Pawn, terrified and exhilarated all at once.
Location: Lucifer Castle, Master Suite
Sirzechs reappeared in his room. He unbuttoned his high collar, tossing his cape onto the chair.
He checked his mental map. The pieces were on the board.
Rias was motivated by fear and spite.
Issei was recruited.
Serafall was obsessed with him.
Grayfia was compliant.
He walked to the window, looking out at the red moon of the Underworld.
"Now," he whispered, a dark smile spreading across his face. "Let's see if we can't break Riser Phenex so badly he thanks us for