Chapter 239 The Letter of Challenge
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was unclear whether Zogil truly feared the Gremory household or simply had not realized that Naruse Mio was now living in Kuoh Town. Aki’s actions had been swift and precise, and he had left no survivors behind to report back to the enemy.
Mio had already been attending Kuoh Academy for nearly a month, yet there was still no sign of anyone coming after her.
With Basara Toujou’s transfer only two days away, Aki had originally planned to throw the newcomer a proper welcome party. Those plans came to an abrupt halt when a challenge letter landed on his desk.
”Buchou, has that yellow-haired phoenix finally lost his mind?” Aki asked as he flicked the letter onto the table.
A frown creased his face. “Azazel couldn’t even beat me, so where is he getting all this confidence from?”
”I could not say,” Rias replied, her expression unreadable. “You are free to decline. However, if you win, the Phenex family’s bloodline talent will be yours.”
Aki had no real reason to accept, especially when the entire affair smelled like a trap.
To entice him, the Phoenix clan—or more specifically, Riser Phoenix—had even persuaded his younger sister, Ravel, to wager three years of service as a peerage member on the outcome.
Officially, Ravel would simply be transferred into Rias’s peerage. Although Aki possessed overwhelming strength, his time in the supernatural world had been short, and he had yet to establish a true reputation through Rating Games. Building a peerage of his own required prestige as much as power.
The Phoenix clan had already planned to place Ravel at his side to investigate the truth behind his so-called Dual Cultivation ability, assuming she agreed to it.
To everyone’s surprise, the pampered young princess accepted with remarkable enthusiasm.
Riser felt a trace of disappointment that his own sister seemed less attached to him than expected, but the feeling was quickly overshadowed by excitement. The Underworld had thoroughly investigated Aki’s indulgent lifestyle, and Riser could not imagine him resisting a temptation placed directly in front of him.
Although they knew nothing about Aki’s Talent Copy ability, they had at least discovered one thing: the stronger the women around him became, the faster his own growth seemed to accelerate.
Ravel’s talent was not inferior to Rias’s. Despite her age, she already possessed S-Rank strength. Combined with her status as a Phoenix princess and her reputation as an exceptional student, she was an extraordinary prospect by any standard.
Just as Riser had expected, Aki was tempted.
After the previous Rating Game, he had spoken with Rias about obtaining an immortal body. Unfortunately, there were no shortcuts. According to Rias, such an absurd level of regeneration existed only within the purest Phoenix bloodlines.
Many devils carried Phoenix blood, but aside from Ravel and her mother, most branches of the family possessed lineages that had become diluted over time.
As for how the Phoenix clan preserved that purity, there were only a few methods. One involved marriages with other pure-blooded devil families, offering a reasonable chance of success. The other was so controversial that few were willing to discuss it openly.
After a moment of thought, Aki clicked his tongue.
”Buchou, I accept the challenge.”
He had no idea where Riser Phoenix found such confidence, but there was no way he believed the man could reach Demon King class in only a few days. Even reality had limits.
”Very well. I suspected you would not refuse, so I have already accepted on your behalf,” Rias said with a faint smile. “The duel will take place in the Underworld arena the day after tomorrow.”
Aki stared at her for a moment before grinning.
”A master’s command is absolute. How could a lowly servant like me ever object?”
A faint blush spread across Rias’s face as she shot him a sidelong glance.
Anyone looking at their relationship objectively would quickly realize that Aki held the upper hand. The meaning behind his words was obvious enough, and Rias understood it immediately.
The memory of some of Aki’s more demanding requests resurfaced in her mind, causing her heartbeat to quicken. Even a devil could not remain completely unaffected.
As their experience grew, Aki’s methods had become increasingly bold.
One could also say they had become increasingly perverse.
The Underworld’s dim sky stretched endlessly overhead, hidden behind a blanket of dark clouds that never seemed to move.
At the center of a massive crimson magic circle stood Riser Phoenix. His fourteen peerage members, all young girls, were positioned around the outer edge, forming a perfect ring.
”Young Master Riser, we are prepared,” a servant reported.
”Good. Begin.”
”Yes, sir.”
Several servants immediately poured mana into the enormous formation. Chaotic energy gathered within the circle and spread through the already unsettling sky, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
The unstable power surged toward Riser.
His aura began rising so rapidly that it was visible to the naked eye.
Watching his body tremble beneath unbearable agony, the Phoenix family’s butler could not help speaking up.
”Young Master, is this truly worth it? Even if you succeed, your future path will be cut off.”
Countless conflicting forces crashed through Riser’s body. He gritted his teeth against the sensation of being torn apart piece by piece, relying on his legendary regeneration to rebuild himself while forcing the violent energy into submission.
”There is a saying in the Human World,” he growled through clenched teeth. “A man fights for his pride just as a temple fights for its incense. Even if I cannot take Rias back, I will make him pay for this humiliation.”
Did Riser truly love Rias?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps he simply wanted what everyone else wanted.
Either way, the thought of his fiancée being taken by Aki had become an obsession that followed him everywhere. He could not focus on training, nor could he enjoy the company of Yubelluna. Rather than continue suffering beneath that weight, he chose to gamble everything.
After receiving Rias’s reply, he ignored every warning and activated one of the Phoenix clan’s forbidden secret arts.
As time passed, Yubelluna and the others grew visibly pale. The weaker members struggled just to remain standing.
The art worked by draining the life force and mana of every peerage member before funneling it into the king. The stronger the servants and the greater the king’s endurance, the more power could be gained.
As the first signs of collapse appeared among the girls, the true cost of the technique became impossible to ignore.
Only the Phoenix clan could safely use such an art. Anyone lacking an immortal body would have died many times over from the chaotic energy tearing through their veins.
The circle continued to spin.
Sparks burst from Riser’s skin as his regeneration operated at full capacity, constantly repairing the damage being inflicted from within. Yet while the circle strengthened his body and mana, it did nothing to protect his mind.
The first to fall were the twin sisters.
”Nel… Iru…”
As the green-haired twins collapsed and their auras rapidly weakened, Xue felt a stab of pity. Their fall seemed to signal the beginning of the end, and one after another the remaining girls started losing consciousness.
”Ughhh!”
Riser’s aura continued to rise.
So did his suffering.
His mind was beginning to break, and even his immortality could no longer keep pace with the destruction ravaging his body.
Seeing the danger, the butler acted immediately and shut the technique down.
When the process finally ended, only Yubelluna and Xue remained conscious.
Looking at their fallen companions, both felt an uncomfortable emptiness settle in their chests.
Riser had never asked for their permission.
The Phoenix clan had never cared about their opinions.
They had accepted the clan’s support and believed this would be their chance to repay that debt. What they had not expected was for Riser to push them so far that they were left as little more than empty shells. Had he endured a little longer, he might have drained them to death.
The technique’s power was undeniable.
Its price was equally terrifying.
The damage inflicted upon the peerage was catastrophic. The only comfort was that everyone had survived, though whether they would fully recover remained uncertain.
Riser’s battered body was quickly carried away by servants for treatment.
Meanwhile, Yubelluna and Xue attempted to move their unconscious companions themselves. Unfortunately, they were now weaker than ordinary humans. Carrying twelve people was impossible.
Being drained dry was no exaggeration.
Even with proper treatment, some of them might never regain their former strength.
As the Rook, Xue possessed the strongest physique among those still conscious. She managed to lift the twin sisters onto her back, but uncertainty soon stopped her. Would the Phoenix clan even bother helping them now?
Before she could decide what to do, a small figure descended from the sky on wings of flame.
”Serves you right for keeping this from me,” Ravel said, her voice carrying its usual sharp edge.
Recognizing that familiar tone, Yubelluna and Xue exchanged tired, bitter smiles.
A gentle wave of mana lifted them and their unconscious companions into the air. As they watched Ravel work, neither knew quite how to feel.
—
Summary:
Aki accepts a challenge letter from Riser Phoenix, who is driven by an obsessive “heart demon” to reclaim his former fiancée. To prepare for the duel, Riser forces his peerage to participate in a brutal ritual that nearly kills them, draining their life force and mana. While Aki prepares for the fight, the surviving peerage members are left in a state of exhaustion and ruin, setting the stage for their eventual rescue or exploitation by Ravel.
—
Trivia:
Riser’s secret art permanently sacrifices the future potential of his peerage.
The “heart demon” fueling Riser is a result of his inability to move on from losing Rias.
Aki is not fully aware of why Riser believes he can win despite losing to Azazel.
Riser’s cruelty towards his peerage is noted as an extreme measure that the clan ignores.
Notes:
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• 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.
• Naruse – The family name carried by Mio, her sister Maria, and their parents. This significant lineage is deeply tied to the history involving Wilbert and is central to the current pursuit.
• Zogil – A gaunt, dying Devil Grand Duke near the end of his lifespan who leads a faction seeking to eliminate Mio. With Ultimate-Class strength serving as a power benchmark for Maria, he monitors magical signatures in a remote region. Due to shifting timelines, he has not yet captured Shela. Despite his formidable position, he is an entity or individual who likely fears the Gremory household.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and Red Dragon Emperor successor with smooth, jade-like skin and a wild, sturdy physique. This mixed-blood Devil/Fallen Angel/Nekoshou is a dominant, authoritative powerhouse who uses dual cultivation, lightning magic, and high martial strength to heal others. Rias’s key pillar, he protects the Naruse sisters and Mio amid complex supernatural conflicts.
• Mio – A delicate, prideful, and busty red-haired Demon King’s daughter with peach eyes and twin tails, she is a pure-blooded Devil from the Naruse family. Possessing latent fire magic, this tsundere transferred to Kuoh Academy to avoid pursuers. Inquisitive about the Underworld and the Occult Research Club, she resists control over her fate, struggling with her lineage and complex relationship with Aki.
• Basara – A handsome, spiky-haired young man with a rugged edge and a distinct scar, Jin Toujou’s son and Chisato’s nephew is an earnest youth who shoulders a heavy lineage. Recently uprooted from a Hero Village into the Toujou family, this magic novice possesses the unique Banishing Shift ability. A veteran at transferring schools, he acts with ease in academic settings, though his upcoming transfer already leaves a notable, anticipated absence.
• Toujou – The Toujou family name, carried by Koneko.
• Azazel – A decadent, arrogant fallen angel and former Governor General, this middle-aged man in a neon hot-spring yukata pairs a rogue personality with immense, Demon King-class power. Defeated by and confirmed weaker in combat than Aki via Balance Breaker, he still acts as a formidable antagonist who researches Sacred Gears, provides the Occult Research Club with data, and shapes their view of Aki.
• Rias – An elegant, voluptuous SS+ rank Gremory devil heiress and Buchou with long crimson hair and green eyes. As future clan head and Sirzechs’ sister, this tea-loving, book-reading noblewoman commands a peerage from a villa. Wielding destruction mana, she navigates a forced marriage to Riser and a soul-bound bond with Aki, acting as a firm, confident leader and organizational contact for patients.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• 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 of the noble Phoenix clan, this sixteen-year-old blonde twin-tailed Devil princess sports flame wings and a lolita dress. Initially haughty and a loyal yet critical Bishop to her brother Riser, her sharp, analytical mind later leads her to join Rias’s peerage. Reverent yet nervous, she serves as a tactical asset, messenger, and patient escort with a solemn, sharp-tongued demeanor.
• Riser – A tall, yellow-haired, punkish High-Class Devil of the Phoenix clan who wears a crimson suit, wields infinite wealth, and has a queen named Yubelluna. Driven by obsession and an intense drive for dominance, his arrogance masks permanent mental trauma, physical deterioration, and a near-death terror from a past duel. He uses fire control and near-immortal regeneration to pursue Super-Devil status, fueled by losing his fiancée, Rias Gremory, and a deep hatred for Aki.
• Yubelluna – Known as the Bomb Queen, this loyal A+ rank magic user is a highly skilled, experienced Queen who possesses powerful bomb and barrier magic. A girl with a sultry, curvaceous build and long purplish-red hair, she maintained a romantic relationship with Riser Phoenix and once desired to be the first to participate in cultivation, but finally regained her freedom after Riser was incapacitated.
• Iru – A green-haired, sky-blue-eyed twin loli with a petite, adorable appearance, identical to her sister Nel in looks and mana. Formerly in Riser’s peerage, she is currently C-rank. Highly proactive and devoted to Aki, she possesses a petal-soft secret garden that provides intense pleasure during cultivation, while watching the cultivation process with a mix of curiosity and envy.
• Nel – A green-haired devil loli and member of Riser’s peerage, identical to her twin sister Iru in appearance, C-rank mana, and a mind-link. Previously healed by Aki, she now seeks to restore her strength and potential alongside her sister through Dual Cultivation.
• Xue – A powerful, athletic girl and martial arts genius who wears a traditional Chinese qipao with a bun hairstyle. As a loyal, A+ rank Rook in the Riser Phoenix peerage, she possesses incredible physical strength and resilience, constantly pushing herself to her absolute limit until she collapses from exhaustion after combat.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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