The Occult Research Clubroom was bustling with preparation for the upcoming Rating Game. Rias sat at the head of the table, her sharp blue eyes fixed on the plans before her. Her peerage gathered around her, focused and determined. The tension was thick, as everyone knew the stakes of the battle against Riser Phoenix's peerage. Rias couldn't afford to lose, not only because of her pride as a Gremory, but also for the sake of her family and the bond she had with her peerage.
"I trust everyone has been practicing?" Rias asked, her voice calm but firm.
"Yes, Rias-sama," Akeno replied, her eyes sparkling with confidence. "Issei's gotten significantly better with his Boosted Gear. We should have no problem in the Rating Game."
Issei, sitting near the back of the room, nodded enthusiastically. "I'll make sure I don't mess up!"
Rias smiled at her devoted peerage. "Good. We'll need all the strength we can muster. Riser's not going to hold back, and we need to be ready for everything."
Just as Rias was about to continue her strategic discussion, the door to the clubroom slammed open, causing everyone to pause. Standing in the doorway, his usual arrogant grin plastered on his face, was none other than Riser Phoenix.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Gremory peerage," Riser's voice oozed with smugness as he took a step forward. "It's good to see you, Rias. I've been waiting for our little contest."
Rias's eyes narrowed, but she kept her cool. "Riser, what are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd pay a visit to my fiancée," Riser said with a wink, his eyes now glancing at Issei, who was sitting near Rias. "And it looks like you've got a new toy to play with." He sneered, his gaze lingering on the Boosted Gear's host. "You think that little trinket can save you?"
Issei stood up from his seat, his fists clenched. "Don't underestimate me, Phoenix. I'll make sure you regret that!"
Riser chuckled, completely unfazed by Issei's defiance. "I'm not underestimating you, kid. I just don't care about you. You'll be nothing more than an afterthought when the Rating Game begins."
Akeno's eyes flicked to Rias as she spoke with a tone of caution. "Rias-sama, something's off. The way he's acting—it's different from before."
Rias didn't need to hear more. She had noticed it too. Riser's usual confidence had shifted into something colder, more calculating. His smile was tight, as though he were forcing himself to put on a façade.
But as quickly as the moment passed, Riser shrugged and acted as if nothing was wrong, offering a half-hearted smile to Rias. "But, of course, you'd like to prepare, right? Wouldn't want to leave things to chance. I'm just here to remind you that the Phoenix family is still waiting for you."
He turned toward Issei with a grin that looked more forced than before. "And don't worry, kid. I'm sure you'll find your way in the game. It's just too bad that it's over before it starts."
Rias's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't react. The old Riser would have been far more aggressive and mocking. The current Riser seemed almost… controlled. Yet, his words had an edge, and there was something unsettling about the calm manner in which he spoke.
She opened her mouth to speak, but just as she did, another voice cut through the tension in the room.
"Riser Phoenix, that's enough."
Everyone turned to see Grayfia Lucifuge, the wife of Rias's older brother, Sirzechs, standing at the door. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, and her intense purple eyes gleamed with authority. Her mere presence had the power to shift the atmosphere in the room.
Grayfia's voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the stern edge to it. "You are not to cause any disturbances in this room. If you want to settle things with Rias, do it in the Rating Game, not here."
Riser's usual cocky grin faltered for just a moment, but he quickly recovered. He looked at Grayfia with a mixture of annoyance and reluctant acceptance.
"Oh, Grayfia-sama," Riser drawled, "I didn't mean to make things difficult. But you know how I am. I just wanted to see my fiancée
before the game."
Grayfia's gaze did not waver. "This is not the time, Riser."
For a moment, Riser held her gaze, as if debating whether to defy her, but then he sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll leave. But remember, Rias, when we meet on the battlefield, you won't have anyone to protect you."
With one last mocking look, Riser turned and walked out of the room, his peerage trailing behind him. The tension in the room slowly began to dissipate, but Rias couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
"Thank you, Grayfia," Rias said, her voice laced with relief.
"It's no problem," Grayfia replied, her expression softening. "But Rias, you need to be cautious. There is more to Riser than he lets on."
Rias nodded but kept her thoughts to herself. She trusted Grayfia's judgment, but for now, she had to focus on the Rating Game. They had no choice but to prepare for the battle ahead.
As Grayfia left the room, the others began discussing their next moves. Akeno, Kiba, and Asia were already planning their tactics, and Issei was focused on perfecting his control over the Boosted Gear. Despite the unsettling feeling in the air, Rias knew they couldn't afford to dwell on it. The Rating Game was still ahead.
Meanwhile, in the shadows outside the room, Amon observed the scene. Hidden from view, he had been watching the entire encounter unfold. His lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile as he watched the interactions between Riser and Rias. His influence had taken hold of Riser without anyone noticing—his parasite, a subtle force hidden deep inside the Phoenix heir, was already manipulating him from within.
What no one knew was that Amon was carefully guiding the course of events. Riser was now a puppet, unknowingly under the control of the fallen archangel. Amon wasn't after Rias; he had far greater ambitions. But the Rating Game provided the perfect cover for him to carry out his plans, and for now, he would let the pieces move as they would.
Amon's ultimate goal remained hidden from everyone—he wasn't interested in the Rating Game itself, but in the opportunity it presented to manipulate the fates of everyone involved. And so, he would bide his time, watching as the pieces on the board were placed into position, unaware that their every move was part of his greater scheme.
Inside the Occult Research Clubroom, the atmosphere slowly returned to normal, but Rias couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She didn't know that Riser was being controlled. She didn't know that Amon's shadow loomed over them all, quietly pulling the strings of their fates.