"Are you sure about this?"
Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the four Maous of the Underworld, asked his younger sister suspiciously.
At that moment, they were inside a special space, isolated within a barrier in the very dimensional barrier itself. It was not just any place, as this place served as the playing field for Rating Games. After all, as the main method of resolving disputes between devils without ending with both sides dying and further reducing the already small number of devils, Rating Games were used by everyone from simple high-level devils to even Maous in extreme cases.
With such levels of power, it was best for them to fight in an isolated space that would not affect the Underworld. It was Ajuka Beelzebub, another of the four Maous and the so-called smartest devil, who was also the creator of the Evil Pieces, who created a barrier that isolated a special space within the very dimensional rift, which was probably the most dangerous place that existed.
Although there was another reason for such an isolated location, with so many important devils gathered together, they were far too easy to attack. Even if the four Maous stopped the threat quickly, just the collateral effects of the battle would kill hundreds of the pillars of the current Underworld. That was why Ajuka created this special space in the most isolated place that existed, which only had two entrances, entering through the dimensional rift, something no one who valued their life would do, or entering through a special entrance in the Underworld created by Ajuka and known to very few.
Not only was this something well known, it was also something that worried Rias at this moment.
'This place is completely isolated, is he sure he'll be able to get here?' Rias wondered mentally while keeping her nerves under control so as not to reveal anything.
"Rias, Rias, are you listening to me?"
"What? Ah, yes, what happened?"
Finally, due to her older brother's insistence, Rias came out of her thoughts and returned to reality. Looking at the stadium around her, she couldn't help but have mixed feelings.
On one hand, it was filled with devils, at least 90% of the devils who actually mattered were here, including even the old devil elders, although considering that her marriage had been pushed largely by them, she probably shouldn't have been surprised.
But while this made her happy on one hand because, exactly as Kaito wanted, she could subordinate the entire race here if she did things right, on the other hand, seeing so many people come to watch what, to her, was a situation that would decide her life as if it were mere entertainment angered her quite a bit.
"You decided to hold this Rating Game from one day to the next, I heard Riser agreed to give you a few days to train" Sirzechs sighed helplessly. "Honestly, Rias, sometimes you're too immature, although perhaps a week wouldn't have been of any use to you, I could have used that time to at least delay it for another few months, and those three months to get another six"
"I..." Rias didn't know what to say.
"It's fine, you're my younger sister and I watched you grow up, so I understand you. You want to end this once and for all, whether you lose or win.
It's not a bad way of thinking, Rias, but it's the kind of thinking that only the strong can afford.
You have to understand the difference in level between your peerage and Riser's right now"
Sirzechs did his best to tell his sister that she should train for a long time without being harsh, but at this point he could only tell her directly. In any case, it was already too late.
To Sirzechs, this was a lost match. Even knowing that Rias had the Red Dragon Emperor on her team, it was useless with the little training time she had.
"At least I'd like to know how you convinced Grayfia about this" Sirzechs said, already resigned, with curiosity.
At least, before the match started, he wanted to know what she had done to get his Queen on her side and convince her to accept.
If she hadn't personally asked him, no matter how much Rias or Riser had asked for this sudden Rating Game, he would never have accepted.
And although he couldn't stop it forever, the others couldn't simply ignore the opinion of the most powerful Maou in Hell either.
Rias heard this and simply smiled.
"I didn't convince her" she said honestly.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, Sirzechs, stop interrogating Rias so much, she knows what she's doing"
"Yes, son, you should trust your sister more"
Before Rias could answer anything, two people interrupted the conversation.
A man with long, straight crimson-red hair identical to Rias's, blue eyes, and elegant black and gold noble clothing. With an appearance that didn't look any older than forty and an athletic build, he was Zeoticus Gremory, Rias and Sirzechs' father.
On the other hand, a woman with long light brown hair, though shorter than that of the other three members of her family, and the characteristic violet eyes of the Bael family, from which she came before marrying her husband. Wearing light-colored clothing just as elegant as her husband's, which accentuated her incredible curves and enhanced her almost youthful beauty, she was Venelana Gremory, Rias and Sirzechs' mother.
"Impossible" Sirzechs shook his head helplessly. "I've given you the benefit of the doubt because I trust both you and Grayfia, as well as not finding any irregularities, but this situation is far too sudden and suspicious"
"Stop doubting your younger sister and go meet with the other Maous who are waiting for you"
"But... Fine" Sirzechs sighed. "Rias, I really hope that I'm just overthinking this and nothing is happening"
With an elegant but familiar farewell, he said goodbye to his family and headed toward a special balcony where three other devils were located, a special place reserved for the four Maous.
After Sirzechs left, Venelana looked at her daughter with concern.
"Rias, nothing is really going on here, right?"
"Of course not, Mom, I don't know what you're talking about" Rias replied, pretending innocence.
In reality, Rias already knew they were suspicious of the current situation, but the truth was that there was not only no evidence, there wasn't even a coherent theory about what was happening.
What kind of plan involved suddenly scheduling a Rating Game that could ruin your life from one day to the next? Why would Rias do that? If it were an enemy, why would they want the most powerful entities in Hell gathered together? That was suicide. Besides, it was impossible to reach this place.
This caused many intelligent devils who were aware of the current situation to have suspicions about what was happening. None of them managed to find the reason, however, and most dismissed it as overthinking.
In the end, Venelana could only smile just as helplessly as her son had before.
"I just hope you're okay"
"Just that?" Rias asked.
"If it didn't involve the end of the entire race, that would be good too" Zeoticus joked from the side, much more relaxed than the rest of the family.
"I don't promise anything" Rias said in a tone that both of them thought was a joke.
"Alright, daughter, you should also go and meet with your team now, there's an hour left before it starts" Zeoticus said, not taking her previous words seriously. "I hope whatever you have planned to win this Rating Game works"
Zeoticus looked at Rias with pity before being honest for a moment.
"I really regret having to put you through this, my daughter. I wish I had the power to break this engagement by force. No, I wish I had been strong enough not only to never need it in the first place, but also to reject the pressure from above to accept it" he said guiltily.
Rias opened her eyes wide, surprised by her father's sudden words and attitude.
In the end, she simply smiled understandingly.
"It's fine, Father, it's the rule of Hell, isn't it? The strongest commands"
"...It's true" Zeoticus replied after a second, equally surprised by the tranquility his daughter emanated in this situation.
"Rias, stop talking so much and go with your team already. This is far too important for you not to take it seriously" Venelana interrupted from the side, worried.
Just as Rias was about to answer, something changed. Above everyone, in the center of the field, a field so large that the small change should barely have been visible, space rippled in a circle like a vortex of fire as a portal opened.
All devils at Supreme level and above noticed what was happening and tensed as they went on guard, knowing that something was happening.
But the most shocked of all was Ajuka Beelzebub from the Maous' box.
"Aju?" Serafall Leviathan, another Maou and Sona Sitri's older sister, asked, more confused than worried. "Isn't no one supposed to be able to get here? Did they get through your defenses?"
Ajuka's frown deepened even further as thousands of possibilities passed through his mind.
"No, they didn't get through the defenses. They simply ignored them completely" Ajuka said seriously. "Whatever just arrived here is using means unknown to this world"
"Then..." Serafall said.
"Yes" Ajuka interrupted. "Lords"
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(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)