Chapter 235 Never Backing Down
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The courtyard flared with light as Ravel sprouted two wings of brilliant flame and drifted gracefully toward Riser Phoenix.
It had to be said: if the Phoenix family did not openly call themselves Devils, no one would guess it from appearance alone. Rias and her peerage at least retained dark wings, even if they were a far cry from the classic batlike image; they still carried a trace of demonic heritage. The Phoenix clan, however, had embraced the immortal bird so completely that even their wings had changed into living flame.
As Aki and Rias touched down in the center of the courtyard, Akeno and the others spread out around them. Slender, raven-black wings unfurled one after another, surrounding the Phoenix siblings in a dark ring.
Watching those fiery wings flicker, Aki felt his hunger for the Phoenix bloodline sharpen. He could not help licking his lips as he imagined himself in the middle of a full-power battle, several sets of elegant flame-wings roaring at his back.
Whether they were actually stronger hardly mattered.
Coolness was its own kind of power.
Of course, reaching that point would require him to perfectly fuse all of his bloodline talents. Whether the problem lay with the mystery of his missing parents or his own lack of raw power, Aki’s current Devil form still felt incomplete. Worse, unlike purebloods such as Akeno, he could not freely blend his powers. Much like Amano Yuuma (Raynare), he was stuck switching between demonic mana and the innate energy of the Fallen. Even shifting into a hybrid state only made the transition faster; it was nothing like Akeno’s seamless Lightning Flash.
”Riser Phoenix, it is over.”
Rias stepped through the encirclement and drifted before him.
Aki and Asia remained behind, chatting with the others about the skirmish.
”Phew… They were way too weak. I didn’t feel any pressure at all,” Asia said in her small, innocent voice.
”Maybe it is simply that we have grown too strong…” Akeno replied, her tone sweet and bubbly.
After a few brief exchanges, the situation became clear. Aside from the Phoenix siblings, the opposing team had not fielded a single S-Rank. That made sense. If Devils truly had that many S-Ranks among the younger generation, the Fallen Angels and the Heavens would not be far behind, and the human world would have no room left to resist. The three great races possessed enormous potential, but potential needed time to bloom. Even among their heirs, SS-Ranks were almost unheard of. Rias and Sona, as successors to two of the Four Great Devil families, had originally stood only at S+.
Thanks to Aki’s tireless efforts, however, Rias had already reached SS+—the undisputed peak of their generation.
With the gap in strength laid bare, the tension had almost vanished. Seeing the others banter so casually, the flamboyant blond noblewoman with twin tails could not help stealing glances at them, clearly itching to join in.
”Rias, it is far too early to declare my defeat,” Riser Phoenix sneered, his voice sharp with wounded pride.
Riser knew the match was all but lost, but neither his pride nor the Phoenix clan’s reputation would allow him to surrender. He glanced at Ravel, whose attention had long since wandered, and decided to remove his sister from the fight before she could be hurt.
[Riser Phoenix’s Bishop, eliminated.]
As the announcement echoed across the battlefield, Riser’s eyes narrowed. He emptied his reserves, hurling weapon after weapon and support item after support item into the air as though discarding useless trinkets.
Cornered though he was, his immortality allowed him to abandon defense entirely. Akeno and the others were forced to break formation, dodging scrolls, charms, and one-use artifacts that detonated from unpredictable angles. Riser was not trying to survive. He was trying to trade life for life, and that reckless strategy left Rias struggling to find a clean opening. She could suppress him, but she could not account for every attack while he continued throwing out prepared tools without regard for his own safety.
Keeping his promise to Rias, Aki stayed near the edges of the battle, dodging Riser’s onslaught while watching the Yellow-Haired Punk closely. The man was hedonistic, certainly, but this level of spite felt strange, as though something deeper was pushing him.
A few moments later, Aki caught the way Riser’s eyes flickered toward the sky.
He understood.
Buchou, have Akeno-senpai and the others fake injuries and withdraw, he sent through the Soul Network. Getting shut out completely would humiliate him and the Phoenix clan. Give them some face.
Rias understood immediately. In truth, she was more familiar with Rating Game1 politics than Aki was, but the excitement of her first match and the freedom waiting at the end of it had clouded her judgment.
Following her cue, the girls exchanged glances. Yuuto, Asia, Mittelt, and Kalawarner all feigned defeat, voluntarily withdrawing from the match.
Sure enough, as Grayfia announced the eliminations, Riser’s posture eased. Even the edge of his aggression dulled.
”Riser Phoenix, how many more toys do you have left?” Rias asked. “Dragging this out will only humiliate you further.”
She had no intention of delaying any longer. If he would not surrender, she would break him.
Riser put away his remaining items but kept his armor and helmet active. Then he set his stance.
”Rias, our marriage concerns the future of the pure-blood Devils. Have you truly thought this through? I do not even care that you gave your first time to—”
”Shut your mouth, Riser Phoenix.”
Rias’s voice was cold enough to cut.
Her emerald eyes burned with killing intent.
”You speak as though you are so clean yourself. I have given you enough face today. Do not blame me for what happens next.”
Black-red mana erupted from her body, reeking of ruin as it lashed through the air like a serpent. Her long crimson hair whipped violently in the gale of her own power.
Hummmmm…
A forest of magic circles surrounded Riser Phoenix, greater in number than those Akeno had used against Yubelluna. This time, however, every circle bore the same design.
Rias began her chant.
A deluge of blood-red mana lanced down like lasers and swallowed Riser whole.
He had no way to retaliate. His wings of flame were shredded in an instant, and his body was blasted from the sky in a mangled heap. Yet within seconds, fire poured from his wounds. Ruined flesh knitted back together, broken bones straightened, and severed limbs regenerated in the blink of an eye.
By the time he struck the ground, Riser looked pathetic, but his body was whole.
Rias had expected as much. Her mana remained focused, and the next wave was already forming overhead. Five rounds of bombardment followed, each more merciless than the last, and several reduced Riser to nothing more than ash and flame.
At last, the limit of his immortality began to show.
The flames still repaired him, but their pace had slowed to a crawl. Wounds that should have vanished remained open, exposing raw, bloody flesh. His spirit was wearing thin, and it could no longer sustain regeneration against repeated fatal injuries.
Rias descended, breathing hard as the vast network of magic circles faded around her. Her mana reserves were nearly spent. Still, she looked down at Riser, who was struggling to remain on his feet.
”Riser Phoenix, we have reached this point. Are you truly going to keep hiding behind the rules?”
Riser smirked and cast a dark, venomous glance toward Aki.
What a shame. He had wanted to drag Aki down with him, but the bastard had stayed too far away. Even a mutual kill was beyond his reach now.
If Riser died by Aki’s hand, even in a sanctioned Rating Game, the consequences would be disastrous. Unless the Gremory and Phoenix clans went to war over it, Aki would likely never survive the aftermath. Under normal circumstances, Riser would not have gone that far. Yet as his mind frayed, he could no longer resist the whispering malice that did not feel entirely his own.
Every time he looked at Aki, hatred and revulsion surged up from some bottomless place inside him.
The thought that Rias had chosen Aki over him twisted that hatred into something uglier.
Aki had no idea what was happening inside Riser’s mind. Even if he had, he probably would have shrugged.
Look, Yellow-Haired Punk, I did not exactly steal her from you. Well, maybe I did, but Rias never wanted you in the first place, so that should not count, right?
Ignoring the glare, Aki let his thoughts drift back to the Phoenix bloodline. It was a terrifying ability. If he could copy that talent and combine it with his own monstrous soul, the result might surpass the original.
Rias waited for an answer, but Riser said nothing.
At last, she drew a slow breath and looked up at the sky above the combat space.
”Sirzechs Lucifer-sama, and all observers,” she declared, her voice cold and resonant. “I request that Riser Phoenix be transferred out immediately.”
—
Summary:
Rias and her peerage dominate Riser Phoenix in a Rating Game, forcing him to his physical and mental limits. Despite the overwhelming power gap and the loss of his peerage members, Riser refuses to concede due to a mix of clan pride and a corrupting mental influence. Rias eventually halts the brutal bombardment and requests that the observers forcibly extract Riser from the field. The match concludes with Riser incapacitated but still harboring a dangerous, irrational fixation on Aki.
—
Trivia:
Riser Phoenix’s refusal to surrender is partially caused by a mysterious mental influence that amplifies his hatred for Aki.
Aki possesses a unique ability that allows him to copy bloodline talents from others.
Rias has reached the SS+ rank in the Rating Game system due to Aki’s assistance.
The Rating Game is a political tool, and Rias was initially unfamiliar with the unspoken rules of “giving face” to opponents.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Phoenix – The Phenex noble clan, from which Riser and Ravel originate, is known for their unique bloodline abilities and the healing properties of their tears.
• Ravel – The youngest child and princess of the noble Phoenix clan, this spoiled, highly talented blonde Devil girl sports twin drill ponytails, flame-themed wings, and a frilly pink lolita dress with a folding fan. Serving as Riser’s S-rank Bishop, she is intensely loyal yet highly critical of her brother. Behind her solemn, analytical demeanor lies a sharp tongue and a tactically valuable mind.
• Riser – A tall, yellow-haired High-Class Devil of the Phoenix clan with a punkish appearance, wearing a crimson suit. He wields infinite wealth, fire control, and reckless, near-immortal regenerative abilities in pursuit of Super-Devil status. Driven by obsession and the humiliation of losing his fiancée, Rias Gremory, his arrogance masks a near-death terror and intense hatred for Aki.
• Rias – An elegant, voluptuous SS+ rank Gremory devil heiress with long crimson hair and green eyes. As future clan head, sister to Demon King Sirzechs, and Occult Research Club President, she is a tactical genius wielding destruction mana. Possessing a commanding presence, she confidently leads her peerage while navigating a forced marriage to Riser Phoenix and an intimate, soul-bound bond with Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous raven-haired Orc-devil shrine maiden with red eyes, a high ponytail, and dark wings. As Rias Gremory’s fiercely loyal S+ rank Vice-President and Queen, this elegant, seductive, and playful older student handles administration and fights on the ground. Known as the “Priestess of Thunder,” her relaxed demeanor masks a violent, destructive combat style utilizing massive lightning and natural magic. She is also Aki’s soul-bound contract partner who longs for his attention.
• Aki – A tall, physically imposing Kuoh Academy strategist and Red Dragon Emperor successor, this mixed-blood Devil/Fallen Angel/Nekoshou is a handsome, dominant powerhouse with a casual yet arrogant demeanor. As the Student Council’s sole male member and Rias’s key pillar, he copies talents and uses dual cultivation and lightning magic. He protects the Naruse sisters and is in a complex relationship with Mio.
• Amano Yuuma – Yuuma Amano is the alias of Raynare, a Fallen Angel disguised as a school uniform-wearing transfer student with a pure, innocent face, a devilish, slender figure, long black hair, and black wings. She serves in Rias’s Peerage, the ORC, and a barrier maintenance team. Possessive, assertive, and proactive, she takes the lead in training her partner Aki, with whom she desires intimacy.
• Raynare – Lady Raynare, alias Amano Yuuma, is a voluptuous, dark-haired former Fallen Angel training under Rias at the Occult Research Club. Shifting between an innocent schoolgirl guise and her true, darker nature, she is one of three people under contract with her mentee, Aki. This contract boosts her combat strength to high-end S-Rank, though she still struggles to integrate as a cohesive peerage member.
• Amano – Raynare, a fallen angel masquerading as Kuoh schoolgirl Yuma Amano, is a striking, long-haired woman with a commanding presence. An Occult Research Club member with a history of betrayal, she acts as a disciplined leader and mentor linked to past experiences. Despite her A-Rank status with Aki, a black-belly nature, and instant-change powers, she hides her faction ties, guilt, and fear of abandonment.
• Yuuma – Amano Yuuma (Raynare) is a striking, curvaceous former fallen angel and Grigori operative with long black hair and violet eyes. Reincarnated as a high-class devil, this light magic master and aerial combatant now serves as a devoted Pawn in Aki’s Gremory peerage. Bound by a profound soul contract, she playfully teases others while serving Aki with an obsessive, fierce devotion.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Asia – A gentle, blonde first-year nun recently reincarnated as a kind-hearted female Devil and Gremory peerage Bishop. Positioned in the Occult Research Room, this earnest, clear-headed newcomer serves as a crucial supportive healer for conflict survivors. She deeply cares for others, anticipates her growth, and holds a naive affection for Aki, whom she once invited to lunch.
• Sona – Sona Sitri is the stern, beautiful heir to the noble Sitri family, Kuoh Academy’s Student Council President, and a peerage head with short black hair and glasses. Professional and bureaucratic, she acts as Akira’s master and works with Rias Gremory. She also oversees the supernatural Rating Games, managing the broadcast and combat feeds to capture key moments like Riser’s loss of composure.
• Kalawarner – A tall, voluptuous, fair-skinned fallen angel turned Devil, this emerald-eyed, blue-haired S-Rank fighter belongs to Rias’s peerage. Working as a Kuoh Academy English teacher and household consultant, she is strict yet playful, acting as a loyal, sisterly figure devoted to Aki’s cultivation. Though deeply intelligent, she feels insecure about his bond with Rias and competes with Mittelt for his attention.
• Mittelt – A petite, twin-tailed blonde Fallen Angel turned Devil in Rias’s peerage. Sporting jet-black wings, light-based powers, and a jade-white-red aura, this sharp-tongued, impulsive S-Rank fighter wears a black-and-white maid uniform. Transferred to Aki’s training group after serving Raynare and Kalawarner, she craves Aki’s affection, teases others, and has a playful bond with the younger household members.
• Yuuto – An A-Rank Knight in Rias Gremory’s peerage, this blonde male Devil is a speed-based swordsman nearly at high-class level. He has an analytical mind and can create magical swords. Despite recent special training, a unique physical condition bars him from the new contract system and Dual Cultivation, causing heavy emotional weight over his lack of progress compared to his peers.
• Grayfia – The strongest Queen and a high-ranking Underworld Devil, this silver-haired maid serves the Gremory house as a medical examiner and Rias’s sister-in-law. Conveying the Demon King’s wishes as his secretary, she acts as a mature, calm, and seductive voice of authority. She balances administrative duties as a detached, neutral arbiter, announcer, and referee overseeing Rating Games.
• Yubelluna – An A+ rank magic user known as the Bomb Queen, this loyal, highly skilled Queen of Riser Phoenix’s peerage maintains a romantic relationship with him. Characterized by her sultry, curvaceous build and long purplish-red hair, she possesses high-ranking bomb and barrier magic. Though highly capable, she struggles to maintain her strength during the ritual and collapses from exhaustion after her eventual defeat in combat.
• Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure-blood devil of the prestigious Gremory house, has striking crimson hair, blue eyes, a curvy figure, and a prominent bust. Wielding top-level demonic power, she governs Kuoh Academy’s hidden hierarchy and leads her household in a high-stakes competition against the rival Phoenix clan.
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory, a high-ranking Lucifer-class Devil and the red-haired Demon King, holds significant political and combat authority. Serving as an arena observer for the Rating Game, he commands a regal appearance. Older brother to Rias, he navigates complex relationships with allies and rivals, manipulating events for his family’s benefit while maintaining an ambiguous political stance.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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