Riser's peerage moved first.
Yubelluna raised her staff, magic circles flaring to life. Explosions erupted across the courtyard, forcing Kiba and the others to scatter.
Isabella and Xuelan charged forward, the two Rooks moving like battering rams.
Ravel hung back, magic swirling around her hands. Mihae stood beside her, preparing her own spells.
Marion and Burent, Riser's pawns, spread out, flanking from both sides.
At the same time, Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno moved.
Kiba's Holy Eraser appeared in his hand, the demonic blade humming with power.
He took a breath. Deep and controlled. Just like what Yoriichi-sensei did.
"Demon Breathing, First Form," he murmured. "Fallen Knight's Salute".
When Rias first mentioned that Yoriichi was from a manga called Demon Slayer, Kiba had done his research. He had read about the breathing styles, studied the concepts, the philosophy behind them.
With countless fights with Yoriichi himself. Thousands of battles. Thousands of defeats. Until finally, he understood. Until he could create his own.
His body moved. Faster than before. Faster than Isabella could track. He crossed the distance in a heartbeat, meeting her head-on.
She swung her massive mace down, hoping to meet him head-on. Kiba sidestepped, his movements fluid and precise. The mace cratered the ground where he'd been standing.
He exhaled, slashing at her ribs. The blade cut clean through her armor. Blood sprayed. Isabella gasped, stumbling back.
"Impossible," she breathed, clutching her side.
Kiba didn't give her time to recover.
"Demon Breathing, Second Form. Blade Genesis."
Multiple swords materialized around him, each one different. Holy Eraser, Flame Delete, Replenish Calm. His Sacred Gear and breathing style merged seamlessly. A year of fighting Yoriichi, of learning the flow, the rhythm, the perfect union of breath and blade.
He attacked.
The swords moved as one, a whirlwind of steel. Isabella raised her mace, trying to block, but there were too many angles. Too many blades.
One caught her shoulder. Another slashed her thigh. A third drove into the crack in her armor, widening it.
"Wait—" Isabella tried to speak.
Kiba spun, all his swords converging into a single point.
The unified blade drove forward, piercing through Isabella's guard. Light flashed. Her eyes went wide.
She collapsed, her mace clattering to the ground.
"Riser-sama's Rook, retired."
Kiba straightened, dismissing his swords. "Thank you, Yoriichi-sensei," he whispered.
Marion and Burent saw their opening. They rushed in from both sides, daggers raised.
Kiba didn't even turn around.
"Fourth Form. Twin Shadows Fall."
Two strikes. Faster than the eye could follow.
Both Pawns hit the ground before they realized they'd been cut.
"Riser-sama's Pawns, retired."
Kiba took a deep breath and looked over at Koneko. She was facing Xuelan, Riser's Rook, and Mihae, Riser's Bishop. Two against one.
He wasn't worried.
Koneko closed her eyes for a brief moment, centering herself. The natural energy around her stirred, responding to her call. Senjutsu. She'd mastered it. Well, not fully.
When she opened her eyes, they glowed faintly gold.
Xuelan struck first, her fists glowing with ki. It was a lightning-fast jab aimed at Koneko's face.
"I won't lose!"
Koneko tilted her head, the punch missing by inches. She could feel the flow of Xuelan's ki, see every movement before it happened. Read her life force like an open book.
Mihae attacked from the side, holy light gathering in her palms. "Sacred Blessing!"
A beam of light shot toward Koneko.
Koneko sidestepped, letting it pass harmlessly by. She didn't break eye contact with Xuelan.
Xuelan followed with a roundhouse kick. Koneko blocked it with her forearm, didn't even flinch, then countered with a straight punch to the sternum.
But this time, it wasn't just physical strength.
Natural energy surged through her fist, disrupting Xuelan's ki flow.
Xuelan gasped, her eyes going wide. She stumbled back, clutching her chest. Her ki scattered, her rhythm broken.
"What... what did you do?" Xuelan wheezed.
Mihae fired another holy beam. Koneko spun, grabbed Xuelan by the wrist, and used her as a shield. The beam hit Xuelan instead. She cried out, collapsing.
"Senjutsu," Koneko said simply.
Mihae's eyes widened but Koneko was already moving.
She struck. A palm thrust to the chest. Natural energy flooded into Mihae's body, disrupting her magic circuits, scattering her holy power.
Mihae gasped, her spell fizzling out. She dropped to her knees.
Koneko stepped back, the golden glow fading from her eyes.
"Riser-sama's Rook, retired."
"Riser-sama's Bishop, retired."
Koneko lowered her fists, letting the natural energy settle back into the world around her.
She met Kiba's gaze and nodded.
"Good work," Kiba said quietly.
"You too."
Then they both turned to Ravel, who was standing nearby. Her hands trembled slightly, flames flickering around her fingers.
Ravel stared at them. At Kiba and at Koneko, who'd dispatched their opponents, her fellow pieces without breaking a sweat.
She laughed.
"You're strong," she admitted. "Stronger than I expected. Stronger than Onii-sama thought you'd be."
She lowered her hands. The flames died.
"But it doesn't matter," Ravel continued. "You can beat all of us. Every single member of his peerage. It won't change anything."
"Onii-sama is an Immortal. Untouchable. You can't kill him. You can't even hurt him.. No matter how strong you've become, you'll never beat him."
Koneko frowned. "We'll see."
Ravel shook her head. "No. You won't. I'm not fighting you because there's no point. Why waste my energy when Onii-sama will win anyway?"
She raised her hands in surrender.
"I forfeit," Ravel said. "Not because I think you'll win. But because fighting you is pointless when my brother is unbeatable."
"Riser-sama's Bishop, retired."
Ravel crossed her arms, her expression defiant even in surrender. "Enjoy your victory while it lasts. Onii-sama will crush Rias-sama, and this will all be over."
They were silent.
Kiba and Koneko exchanged a glance. Ravel's confidence in her brother was absolute. Unshakable. It made something twist in their chests. A flicker of doubt.
What if she was right? What if Riser really was unbeatable?
Koneko clenched her fists.
Kiba took a breath.
Then they both shook their heads.
Koneko clenched her fists.
Kiba took a breath.
Then they both shook their heads.
No. They'd trained for a year. Pushed past their limits. Rias believed they could win. And they believed in her.
Lightning crackled above them.
They looked up.
On the roof of the main building, Akeno floated in the air, wings spread wide. Lightning danced around her body, purple and gold intertwined. Below her, Yubelluna knelt on the ground, her staff broken, her body smoking.
"Ara ara," Akeno's voice carried across the courtyard, sweet and dangerous. "Is that all the Bomb Queen has to offer? I'm disappointed."
Yubelluna tried to stand, her legs shaking. "You... you bitch..."
Akeno smiled. "Such language. And here I thought we were having fun."
She raised her hand. A bolt of black lightning shot down, striking the ground right next to Yubelluna. The Queen flinched, falling back to her knees.
"Shall we continue?" Akeno asked, tilting her head. "Or would you prefer to surrender?"
Yubelluna gritted her teeth. "Never."
"Good," Akeno purred. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Kiba and Koneko watched.
Akeno was toying with her. Completely in control.
"She's gotten scary," Kiba muttered.
"Yeah," Koneko agreed.
Akeno's smile widened. Lightning gathered around her, the air crackling with power.
"Very well then. Let's finish this."
She thrust both hands forward. "Fallen Lightning: Heaven's Judgment."
The sky opened up. Dozens of black and purple lightning bolts rained down, all converging on Yubelluna.
Yubelluna screamed, throwing up a desperate barrier.
It shattered instantly.
The lightning engulfed her completely. The explosion was deafening. When the smoke cleared, Yubelluna lay motionless on the roof, her body twitching.
"Riser-sama's Queen, retired."
Akeno landed gracefully, her wings folding behind her. She glanced down at Kiba and Koneko, gave them a cheerful wave, then turned her attention toward the main courtyard.
Toward where Rias was fighting.
=====
Rias dodged to the left, a pillar of fire scorching the ground where she'd been standing. The heat was intense, making the air shimmer.
Riser laughed, flames dancing around his fists. "Is that the best you can do, my dear? I expected more after all that training."
She didn't respond. Didn't waste her breath.
Her hand glowed crimson. The Power of Destruction surged. She thrust it forward, a wave of destructive energy cutting through the air.
Riser didn't even try to dodge. The blast hit him square in the chest, tearing through his clothes, burning his flesh.
He staggered back, smoke rising from the wound.
Then he smiled.
The wound closed. Flesh knitted back together. Flames licked across his skin, healing him completely.
"See?" Riser said, spreading his arms. "Immortal. You can't win, Rias. No matter how many times you hit me, I'll just keep coming back."
Rias gritted her teeth. She knew. She'd known from the start.
But she wasn't going to give up.
Not now. Not ever.
Rias launched another blast of destruction. It hit Riser in the shoulder, tearing through muscle and bone.
He healed instantly.
"Riser-sama's Rook, retired."
Riser's eye twitched. He glanced toward the battlefield, saw Isabella's body being teleported away.
Rias didn't give him time to think. She attacked again, crimson energy tearing through his side.
He healed. Again.
"Riser-sama's Pawns, retired."
His jaw clenched.
"Riser-sama's Rook, retired."
"Riser-sama's Bishop, retired."
The announcements kept coming. One after another. His peerage falling like dominoes.
Riser's flames flared hotter, angrier.
"Riser-sama's Queen, retired."
He stopped. Turned toward the announcer's voice. His expression darkened.
Yubelluna. His Queen. Defeated.
"Riser-sama's Bishop, retired."
Ravel too.
Rias stood across from him, breathing hard. Her peerage had done it. They'd wiped out his entire team.
Riser looked at her. Then he started laughing.
"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. Your little servants actually managed to beat mine. Congratulations, Rias."
He clapped slowly, mockingly.
"But you know what's funny?" Riser continued, his smile widening. "It doesn't matter. Not even a little bit."
He spread his arms wide, flames erupting around his body.
"You can train for ten years. A hundred years. It won't change anything." He pointed at her. "Because you still have to beat me. And you can't."
Rias fired another blast. It hit him in the face, obliterating half his skull.
His head regenerated in seconds.
"See?" Riser laughed, touching his perfectly healed face. "I'm immortal, my dear. No matter how many times you hit me, I'll just keep coming back. You're wasting your energy."
He started walking toward her, slow and confident.
"Here's what's going to happen," Riser said, his eyes roaming over her body. "You're going to exhaust yourself trying to hurt me. Then, when you can't move anymore, I'll claim my victory. And after that..."
His smile turned predatory.
"I'll claim my prize. You. My beautiful bride. And I'll make sure to enjoy every moment of our wedding night. Over and over again."
Rias's hand trembled with rage. "You disgusting—"
"What are you going to do about it?" Riser interrupted, spreading his arms. "Hit me again? Go ahead. I'll heal. I always heal. That's what makes me a Phenex. That's what makes me unbeatable."
He laughed, flames swirling around him.
"There's nothing you can do, Rias. Absolutely nothing."
Footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
Riser glanced to the side.
Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno appeared, moving to stand beside Rias. They looked tired, battered, but their eyes were sharp. Ready.
"Buchou," Kiba said quietly. "We're here."
"Sorry for the wait," Akeno added.
Koneko said nothing, just took her stance.
Rias felt something warm in her chest. Pride. Relief.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Riser looked at them and laughed harder.
"Oh, this is perfect! All of you together? You think that makes a difference?" He grinned, flames blazing brighter. "Come on then. All four of you. Attack me at once. It won't change the outcome."
He cracked his knuckles, his expression full of arrogance.
"I'm a Phenex. And none of you can beat me."
Rias stepped forward, her peerage at her side.
"We'll see about that," she said.
The final battle was about to begin.
====
If you'd like to read ahead and support me, feel free to check it out: [email protected]/VashFF