Location: The Demon Realm Colosseum - Main Arena
Event: The Tournament for the Throne - Block A Preliminaries
Format: Battle Royale (100 Fighters)
The roar of the crowd was different here than in the DxD Rating Games. It wasn't excitement; it was bloodlust. The demons screamed for death, for entrails, for dominance.
Announcer: "WELCOME, SCUM! To the bloodbath! Only one survivor from Block A will advance to the main bracket! We have the General of the Armored Corps, Gald! We have the Venom Queen, Arachne! And... a newbie team led by the 'Hungry Dragon', Raiden!"
The gates opened.
Ninety-nine demons rushed out, weapons drawn, roaring battle cries.
General Gald, a massive demon encased in three layers of enchanted black steel, laughed. "Fresh meat! I will crush them all!"
Then, the final gate opened.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
A massive Behemoth walked out. It was the size of a tank.
Sitting on top of its head, looking bored, was Raiden. He was peeling an orange.
"Go, Fluffy," Raiden kicked the monster gently. "Don't step on the small ones. They stick to your feet."
The Behemoth whimpered and walked into the center of the arena. The other demons froze.
"Is that... a Behemoth? A wild one?"
"He tamed a Calamity Beast?!"
General Gald pushed through the crowd. "Move! A beast is nothing against my Cursed Armor!"
Gald's armor was legendary. It was forged in the deepest magma pits, capable of deflecting high-tier magic.
Gald charged the Behemoth, swinging a mace.
"Die, beast!"
Raiden looked down. "Noisy."
Raiden jumped off the Behemoth. He landed directly in front of Gald's charge.
He didn't block. He caught the mace with one hand.
CLANG.
The shockwave cracked the arena floor, but Raiden didn't move an inch.
"Nice wrapping," Raiden looked at Gald's armor. "But it's hard to get to the meat."
Raiden's fingers dug into the "indestructible" steel mace.
CRUNCH.
He crushed the weapon like it was made of aluminum foil.
Gald's eyes widened behind his helmet. "Impossible! That is Cursed Steel!"
"It's high in iron," Raiden commented.
He grabbed Gald by the breastplate.
[Gluttony: Metal Eater Mode]
Raiden opened his mouth. His jaw unhinged slightly, revealing rows of shark-like teeth.
He bit the shoulder pauldron of the armor.
SCREEEECH.
The sound of metal shearing echoed through the silent stadium.
Raiden tore a massive chunk of the enchanted armor off. He chewed and swallowed.
"A bit dry," Raiden critiqued. "And the enchantment tastes like rust."
Gald screamed, exposing his bare shoulder. "You... you ate my defense?!"
"You're basically canned food," Raiden grinned. "And I'm the opener."
Raiden punched Gald in the exposed chest.
BOOM.
The General flew across the arena, crashing into the wall and embedding himself in the stone. He was out cold.
The other demons panicked. "He one-shot the General!"
Arachne, the Venom Queen (a spider-demon hybrid), hissed.
"Physical attacks might work, but he is biological! Poison will melt him!"
She sprayed a massive cloud of green acid mist. It was corrosive enough to dissolve bones in seconds.
"Melt, Dragon!"
Raiden stood in the mist. His clothes hissed and burned away (leaving only his indestructible pants, thankfully).
He sniffed.
"Vinegar?"
He opened his mouth and inhaled.
[Gluttony: Vacuum Lung]
He drank the poison mist. All of it.
The arena air cleared instantly.
Raiden gargled the poison, swished it around his mouth, and swallowed.
"Weak," Raiden spat on the ground. The spit dissolved a rock.
"I drank the poison of the Dragon Eater Samael. Compared to that, this is just lime juice."
He appeared in front of Arachne.
"Do you have any dessert? Or are you just full of gas?"
Arachne trembled. "M-Mercy..."
"Denied."
Raiden flicked her forehead.
Thwack.
The force knocked her unconscious instantly.
With the two strongest fighters down, the remaining 97 demons hesitated. They surrounded Raiden, shaking.
Raiden looked at his watch. "I have a reservation for lunch in twenty minutes."
He released his aura.
Not the Gluttony.
The Lust.
[Lust: Sovereign's Command]
[Range: Arena Wide]
A golden wave of pressure expanded from Raiden. It wasn't a physical attack. It was a command to the soul.
To the female demons, it was an overwhelming wave of attraction and submission.
To the male demons, it was the primal fear of an Alpha Predator.
"Sleep."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Ninety-seven bodies hit the floor simultaneously. Some fainted from fear, others from... excessive excitement.
The arena was silent.
Raiden stood alone in the center, shirtless, surrounded by sleeping bodies.
Fluffy the Behemoth walked over and nudged him.
Announcer: "U-UNBELIEVABLE! IT'S OVER! IN FIVE MINUTES! THE WINNER IS RAIDEN!"
Location: Royal Box
Leohart was laughing maniacally. "HAHAHA! Did you see that, Lars?! He ate the armor! He drank the poison! And then he knocked them out with a look!"
Lars (Takigawa) sighed, massaging his temples. "He's a monster, my Lord. A literal monster. He's going to destabilize the entire political landscape."
"Good!" Leohart grinned, his eyes burning with battle spirit. "Let him climb. I want to fight him in the finals. I want to see if his teeth can break my sword."
Nearby, a masked observer - Ramsus (Leohart's brother) - watched silently.
"He possesses the power of a Dragon and a Demon Lord," Ramsus thought. "He is dangerous. I must keep an eye on him."
Location: Fighter's Tunnel - Exit
Raiden walked out of the arena, putting on a fresh shirt that Maria handed him.
"That was fast, Master," Maria beamed. "You barely broke a sweat!"
"The food was bad," Raiden complained. "Too much metal, not enough meat."
Mio and the others were waiting.
"We advanced to the main bracket," Mio said, checking the board. "But now everyone is watching us."
"Let them watch," Raiden said.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was a young woman with short hair, dark skin, and a maid outfit. She had a stoic expression.
Zest. The creation and servant of Zolgia.
Yuki drew her sword instantly. "Zest! Zolgia's assassin!"
Zest ignored Yuki. She walked straight to Raiden and knelt.
"You are the one who killed Master Zolgia."
Raiden looked down at her.
[Gluttony Analysis]
[Target: Zest]
[Species: Magical Construct / Demon Hybrid]
[Loyalty: Unbound (Master Deceased)]
[Flavor: Vanilla. Plain, but reliable.]
"I ate him," Raiden confirmed. "Are you here for revenge?"
"No," Zest shook her head. "I am a construct created to serve. Without a master, I have no purpose. Logic dictates that the one who defeated my master is superior."
She looked up at Raiden.
"Please take me. I am proficient in combat, reconnaissance, and tea service."
Raiden looked at Maria.
"We have succubus maids, but they are lazy and just want to flirt. We have a giant robot gardener. Do we need a combat maid?"
Maria nodded vigorously. "Yes! I need help organizing the laundry! And she can guard Mio-sama while I'm busy with... other services for you!"
Raiden shrugged.
"Fine. You're hired."
Zest bowed. "Your orders, Master?"
"Find a restaurant that serves steak," Raiden ordered. "And don't try to kill me in my sleep. I bite."
"Understood."
[System Update]
[New Servant Acquired: Zest]
[Role: Head Combat Maid]
Location: Crimson Moon Inn - Public Bath (Reserved)
Time: Evening
Raiden was soaking in the magma-heated bath. The water was red and smelled of sulfur.
"Relaxing," Raiden sighed, leaning back.
The door opened.
Mio walked in... wearing a towel.
Behind her were Maria, Yuki (dragged against her will), Kurumi (keeping an eye on Yuki), and Zest (cleaning duty).
"W-Why are we all here?!" Mio shrieked, covering herself.
"Master Raiden commanded a 'Team Meeting'," Maria lied smoothly. "And nudity builds trust!"
Raiden opened one eye.
"I didn't command anything. But I'm not complaining."
He looked at the group.
1. Mio (The Princess).
2. Maria (The Succubus).
3. Yuki (The Hero).
4. Kurumi (The Yandere Sister).
5. Zest (The Doll).
"It's getting crowded," Raiden muttered. "I need a bigger castle."
Suddenly, the water rippled.
A magical projection appeared above the bath.
It was Leohart.
"Yo! Raiden!" Leohart waved cheerfully.
"PERVERT!" Mio screamed, diving underwater.
Raiden didn't flinch. "Old man. You're interrupting my bath. This is rude."
"I'm inviting you to dinner!" Leohart laughed. "Tomorrow night. The Royal Palace. Bring your 'Team'. I want to size you up before I kill you in the finals."
Raiden stood up, the water cascading off his muscular form (censored by steam for the girls' sanity).
"Dinner? Who's cooking?"
"The Royal Chefs. Best meat in the realm."
Raiden grinned.
"I accept."
The projection vanished.
Raiden looked at the girls, who were all bright red.
"Get dressed. Tomorrow, we eat the King's food."