Facing Riser, who was already running on fumes, others might hesitate to deliver a killing blow...
In truth, they wouldn't even need to. A Phenex generally concedes when they know they can't win.
But this time was unusual; Riser simply refused to surrender.
And due to the nature of his Immortality, as long as he wasn't dead, he couldn't be incapacitated for battle. Therefore, the only option was to fight him until death.
The spectators were not fools. Rias's intention was clear.
Since Riser was cheating the system by refusing to surrender, he couldn't blame her if he was killed.
Death during a game was not unheard of. Since she had issued a warning, if Riser died, it would be treated as an accident.
"I, the Princess of Ruin, enshrouded by the Forbidden Night and True Darkness..."
Rias slightly closed her eyes. Her clear chanting voice was filled with destructive power that gradually converged into a dark, pitch-black sphere.
"Grant the enemy before me Absolute Destruction!"
As the final spell was chanted, the sphere, resembling a black hole, rapidly approached Riser.
Feeling the terrifying and dreadful magical fluctuations, Riser's mind seemed frozen. He couldn't muster any response.
I'm going to die... In my current state, taking this hit will absolutely kill me...
Born into the Phenex family, Riser had never contemplated the possibility of death befalling him.
But when truly faced with death, he realized how great the terror was.
He didn't want to die. He was the third son of the Phenex family; he still had an infinitely bright and wonderful future ahead.
Even without Rias, he wouldn't lack women, and he possessed inexhaustible wealth and respected status.
The subtle influences previously affecting him vanished instantly in the face of this great terror of life and death. Riser had never been so clear-headed.
Only by living was there hope. Death meant losing everything.
"I surr..."
He wanted to surrender, but Rias's attack had already been unleashed and could not be stopped.
Before he could utter the last word, the intense pain interrupted him. Just as he despairingly awaited death, the combat space twisted, and the attack that was about to destroy his body and mind instantly dissipated.
[Confirmed Lord Riser has abandoned the game. Lady Rias Gremory is victorious in this game.]
"What was that just now..."
Ethan's expression was serious. The entire space had been interfered with. The pressure he felt in that instant was far stronger than what he had experienced from Azazel.
"It was the Devil King."
Akeno Himejima smiled faintly. "It seems someone watching from the Phenex family helped him concede. Losing Riser's life in a Rating Game is clearly not worth it."
Ethan was slightly disappointed that Riser hadn't died, but there was a silver lining.
From the limited information he had, if he wanted to acquire the Phenex family's bloodline talent, there were only two candidates: Ravel and her mother.
If Riser had died here, Ethan could have basically kissed that goal goodbye.
Killing someone's biological brother or son—even if not by his own hand, he was the root cause of the whole affair.
Not having them seek revenge would be fortunate enough. Did he really expect to engage in Dual Cultivation with them?
He might as well go to bed early and dream about it.
With the Rating Game concluded, Riser was teleported out to receive treatment along with his Servants.
Maintaining the combat space also consumed resources, and it would be destroyed after the game ended, so Ethan and his group were also instantly transported back.
However, they didn't return to the Occult Research Club room but appeared at the medical bay.
"There's usually a treatment session after the battle."
Noticing the confusion in Ethan's eyes, Rias explained, "Normally, both sides have incapacitated members, so this serves as a gathering point."
Ethan nodded, instinctively looking at the numerous dazzling, beautiful girls on the hospital beds.
In intense combat, clothing being shredded was perfectly normal. It was only due to the overwhelming force of the victory that Akeno Himejima and the others didn't have any exposure.
As for Riser's beautiful female Servants before them, nearly all were in a state of nudity.
Ignoring the previous broadcast, there were also many male Devils around, yet everyone wore an expression of being completely accustomed to the sight.
Ethan observed carefully for a moment and confirmed that the Devils genuinely didn't care.
It wasn't just Devils; after asking Yuma Amano and the others, the Fallen Angels also didn't care about such things.
It made sense. You could see it in Yuma Amano's combat attire—the leather outfit was barely worn.
In some ways, this might even excite the enemies more.
He could only conclude that they were truly Devils, or perhaps Devils residing in the Japanese region.
In the original timeline, during the Rating Game, the Oppai Dragon's Dress Break ability caused Riser's Servants to have all their clothes destroyed.
They were so embarrassed that they covered their vital areas and couldn't resist until they were knocked unconscious.
On the other hand, Akeno Himejima, Koneko Toujou, and even Rias had various degrees of exposure. And this was all during a live broadcast...
While he had secretly rejoiced at the "fan service" when watching it through a screen, now that he was actually faced with it, Ethan sincerely urged the girls to find sturdier clothing and avoid having their clothes ripped off so easily.
He was happy to look at other women, but not happy for his own women to be viewed by others.
The girls exchanged amused glances. They were quite pleased with Ethan's somewhat jealous reaction.
"Akira..."
After a laugh, Rias's tone turned slightly helpless. "I understand, but that kind of material isn't easy to get, let alone fashioned into clothing."
The stronger one became, the greater the destructive power, and the harder it was to find equivalent weapons and defenses.
Weapons were fine; they required less material and were easier to manufacture.
But preventing clothes from ripping meant the opponent's attacks couldn't pierce the defense, which was incredibly difficult.
This explained why bikini-style armor existed; it was easier to manufacture and required less material.
"Then I'll handle all the fighting from now on, and you guys won't need to lift a finger."
"Don't be ridiculous."
Rias gave Ethan a white look. "You didn't seem to have a problem when you were looking at others."
Ethan was, of course, joking. He would never forbid Rias and the others from fighting.
Since acquiring better armor was impossible, they could only continue to work on improving the girls' strength.
If they maintained overwhelming power, like today, their clothes might still rip, but at least they wouldn't have total exposure.
No exposure was good enough. Ethan wasn't a sexual prude to the point of being a maniac.
He never criticized the girls' daily attire, such as black stockings, hot pants, and mini-skirts...
In fact, he secretly wished the girls around him would wear those things every day. They looked great, and they were also convenient.
Ethan and his group quickly left the medical bay, having suffered no injuries besides significant magic power depletion.
"Lady Rias."
Just as they were about to return to the Occult Research Club, the silver-haired, beautiful housewife in a maid outfit appeared again.
"Regarding the wager with Lord Riser, Lord Sirzechs hopes you will be subtle about it."
"Isn't he Devil King Lucifer now?"
Rias let out a displeased harrumph, subtly retaliating with a slight verbal jab.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on making Riser do anything; I just want him to give up the engagement."
"Then let the wager be the Phenex family voluntarily dissolving the engagement. How does that sound?"
Grayfia maintained her usual demeanor and didn't mind Rias's small act of revenge.
Rias still wasn't sure what her brother was thinking, but her goal was achieved regardless.
"That's acceptable."
She nodded and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back now."
Grayfia subtly moved aside and bowed her head slightly.
...
Three days had passed since the Rating Game. Riser and all his Servants were fully healed after treatment.
At the same time, the matter of dissolving the engagement was finalized.
Because the Phenex family initiated the break, the Gremory family even received additional compensation.
Being broken up with does affect one's reputation, which was why Riser had repeatedly invoked the 'honor of the Phenex family'.
However, the high-ranking officials of the Underworld knew the whole story and could only offer their silent sympathies to the Phenex family.
To lose face and then pay compensation would upset anyone.
Up to this point, everything was developing in a positive direction.
But there's a saying: Misfortune is what good fortune relies upon, and good fortune is where misfortune lurks.
The exaggerated increase in strength demonstrated by Akeno Himejima and the others attracted the attention of the Underworld's high command.
A simple investigation quickly uncovered the reason behind it.
"Send someone to approach the current inheritor of the Red Dragon Emperor. Also, remember to ask if Dual Cultivation works with the same sex..."
"Select a few beautiful females from our family and test whether it's actually true."
"Bring gifts and ask the inheritor of the Red Dragon Emperor if he's willing to change the object of his contract."
Similar conversations constantly occurred among the Underworld elite, even within the Phenex family.
"I recall Ravel and Rias get along quite well..."
Revar, the current head of the Phenex family and Ravel's elder brother, thought to himself.