13 Chapter 10: Devilish In-Laws & Beatdown
A/N:
" " : Dialogue,
' ' : Thought,
"Italicized text" : Telepathy,
[ ] : Spells, Techniques and Sacred Gear Casts,
"Bold text": Ddraig & Albion.
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Haruki POV
The ten days went by as routinely as they could. With us training and finding new and better ways to use our powers, be that creatively or destructively.
For Akeno and Rias, I helped them make their energies more solid, helping Akeno make Light weapons imbued with thunder and helping Rias make solid constructs on her body, like gauntlets, greaves and the like.
For Koneko, I had finally started teaching her martial arts focused on quick, strong strikes that use small amounts of energy. I taught her how to manipulate her energy finely enough to be able to emulate Tsunade's particular style of fighting, where she pushes a great amount of energy into her strikes at the moment of impact, greatly amplifying the strength of her blows.
For Asia, I helped her learn how to heal at long range and even how to throw her heals as balls of healing. There wasn't much else I could give her on special training, so we just continued with the general physical training.
I finally taught Issei how to use energy attacks and draconic magic. He created his signature Dragon Shot, but this time the energy ball was about the size of a shot put rather than a ping pong ball. He also created his much more recognizable Dress Break as what it was meant to be, an attack to destroy armor, which he simply gave the name Armor Rend. He of course, found out about the more sexual usage of the technique.
As for Kiba, he had been able to improve his proficiency in using Shūndō to the point that he had started training with Kōkū Shūndō. He's also learned how to make energy slashes with his sword. All in all, it was a productive 10 days.
Moving past our activities during those 10 days, the day for the rating game has finally come. I'd informed my parents about it and they fully supported my decision to humiliate and traumatize Riser in the upcoming battle.
The night came quickly and we're now all in the ORC clubroom, accompanied by Sirzechs, Grayfia and Sona along with her peerage. I'm currently seated between Akeno and Rias who are resting their heads on me, looking at the man who would possibly become my brother-in-law.
Apparently, it seems that while he's somewhat impressed by the fact that Rias had acknowledged me as someone she'd willingly and happily marry, he's a bit peeved that she's being bound by a magic contract.
Sona lets us know that she'll take care of the broadcast of the game and takes her leave with her peerage following her to manage the broadcast to both the Gremory and Phenex families.
"You do know that we can't leave things like this." He says, still showing his opposing stance toward our contract. "Sorry, but this is how things are now. If you don't like it, you'll have to live with it." I respond while Rias shamelessly nuzzles my chest.
"And besides, don't act like you were supportive of her or of the engagement. You're a Satan, arguably the most powerful and influential one. You could very well have dissolved the engagement by virtue of your power and position. If anything, it's your fault that she had to resort to this." I tell him unblinkingly while stroking Rias' luscious red locks.
"You don't understand the politics of the underworld." He begins saying but I interrupt. "I do and I would rather I didn't. If anything, it's a flawed system that would collapse, either on itself or as a result of the enemies that devil kind would have made. After all, I doubt that the devils linked to multiple Yokai massacres actually did anything to atone for their crimes. And let's not even talk about the idiots that make up your council." I say, shocking him with the fact that I know of the multiple controversies that have happened and are still happening in the underworld.
"If we're being honest, you're more of a celebrity than a leader to the devils, but I guess you're too proud to see beyond their adoration for you." The tension in the room becomes palpable as he very clearly looks like he's contemplating attacking me and just being done with it. Too bad for him, I'm practically immune to his power.
"Rias chose me and I didn't in any way force her to choose. As a matter of fact, the night that your wife here came to pick her from my house, she came to me, desperate to get out of the engagement. That was when I gave her the contract, as well as the time to think about what she would do. So if you're going to say that I should nullify the contract now, it's too late. Even the written contract is now nothing more than a piece of paper with dried up blood on it." The hostile aura on him seems to dissipate, almost as if he's come to accept that he can't change it.
He then looks at Rias who has chosen to lay her head on my lap. "Since this is what you've chosen, I won't force you to take back your choice. But do understand that things might not end so well with the Phenex family." He says solemnly, meanwhile Rias just waves her hand dismissively.
"From what he's told me about himself, the Phenex family would shut up and swallow their pride if they found out about him. Not to mention, they couldn't harm him even if he let them attack him." Rias says with full confidence in me.
"Like she said, you won't have to worry about them after the battle is over." I say meaningfully and he accepts it before teleporting away. Grayfia followed shortly after, but not before activating the magic circle that will be used to teleport to the alternate plane that would serve as the battle purpose field where the rating game will take place.
"Well, it looks like I've got to get going now, girls. I'd say wish me luck, but it's clear that I won't need luck to beat him. And besides, I already count myself lucky to have you two." I say and plant a soft kiss on both their lips.
Pulling away from the kisses, I stand up and and wave goodbye to them then teleport to the alternate plane, which lands me in the ORC clubroom with no one else inside with me. "Well, it's time to get down to business." I say, cracking my knuckles.
Narrator POV
As Haruki had been teleported into the alternate plane, so had Riser and his peerage. Said alternate plane contained a replica of the entirety of Kuoh Academy within it.
Before the rating game started, Grayfia addressed all spectators of the rating game, those being the Phenex family, Rias and her peerage and Sirzechs Gremory, the Satan Lucifer.
"Everyone, I am Grayfia, servant of the Gremory family, arbiter of the rating game between the Gremory and Phenex families. Taking Rias-sama and Riser-sama's opinions into consideration, we prepared a replica of Kuoh Academy, the school that Rias-sama attends in the human world, as the battlefield." She says, surprising Issei and Asia who are seated amongst Rias' peerage.
"A full replica of the school?! There's no way that's actually for real. Right?" Issei says in disbelief. "It's exactly as she said, Issei. Every single inch of the school has been perfectly replicated in the alternate plane , even to the small scratches on the wood." Rias says, to Issei's amazement. "Just how amazing are a devil's powers?" He asks, bewildered.
Before they could continue speaking, Grayfia's announcement continued. "The location where the representatives of both families will be transported is their base. With the Gremory family's representative, Natsuhiko Haruki, having his base in the Occult Research Club's clubroom, which is in the old school building, and Riser-sama's base being the Student Council's room located in the new building. For Riser-sama's pawns to use promotion, please head to the enemy base to do it."
"Hey, I know that Haruki is pretty powerful and all, but would he actually be able to beat all of them by himself? I mean, there 16 of them and only one of him." Issei says in worry. "There's no need to worry about him, Issei-kun. Even if there were a hundred of them, they'd still lose against him. After all, the strongest of them is a mid-High rank, while Haru-chan is at the mid-Ultimate rank, while also being highly skilled." Akeno says with a small chuckle.
Issei feels a squeeze on his hand, and looks at Asia, who seems to be the only other person who is worried about Haruki. Taking a deep breath, he gently squeezes her hand and tells her not to worry.
"The rating game will now commence. Also, this match will continue until dawn in human's time. So, the game starts now." After Grayfia's announcement, the school bell rang loudly to signify the start of the match.
*In the alternate plane*
Immediately the bell rang, Riser's peerage members left the Student Council's room and headed towards the ORC clubroom where Haruki had been transported.
"A lowly human dares to humiliate me, Riser. I'll make sure that he regrets it for the rest of his days. And Rias and that queen of hers, I'll make sure to take them while he watches." Riser says with hatred and vitriol in his voice. What he didn't know, was that Haruki could very clearly hear him.
Haruki, who had spread his senses throughout the entire alternate plane, opened his eyes that were now in reptilian slits, characteristic of dragons. His face was cold and the area around him had started to freeze and get covered in frost. "Congratulations, Riser. You're the first devil to make me this angry."
Haruki steps out of the building and casts the [Doppel] spell, leaving a copy of himself to guard his base while he went to eliminate his opposition.
Using Shūndō, he quickly covered much ground, the stopped at the midpoint between their bases. Using his power to latch onto the fabric of space, he snaps his finger, teleporting every member of Riser's peerage to the area in front of him.
Riser's peerage were all confused as they were teleported, as they had been moving separately, especially Yubelluna, Riser's Queen, who had been flying above them.
While most of them were still trying to find out what had happened, four of them quickly noticed Haruki about a hundred meters away from them. Razel, Yubelluna, Isabela and Karlamine, Riser's Bishop, Queen, Rook and Knight respectively, got into a combat ready stance.
Yubelluna, true to her moniker of Bomb Queen, used her explosion magic to attack Haruki, while Ravel threw flames at him. Karlamine drew her sword and coated it in her flames, then dashed into the dust cloud that had been caused by Yubelluna and Ravel's attacks, while Isabela stayed back to protect the rest from any imminent attacks.
Before any more attacks could be sent to Haruki, Karlamine, who had dashed into the dust cloud, was flying back to them quickly in a straight line. Isabela tried to catch her, but as her hands came in contact with Karlamine's back, an invisible force seemed to propel Karlamine even faster and hit the both of them away.
While the girls were all looking at the two who had been blasted dozens of meters away from their initial point, they eventually saw that Karlamine started glowing blue, then she disappeared. "Riser-sama's one Knight has been knocked out." Grayfia's announcement, hots their ears with its weight.
"I'm not going to waste my time dealing with you small fries, so I'll just take you all out at once." They hear Haruki's voice from within the dust cloud.The dust cloud is violently blown away, showing that Haruki is entirely unscathed, with his clothes not even suffering the slightest bit of damage.
All the girls were surprised, as they at least expected that his clothes would have gotten dusty or torn from the attacks, but he was in pristine condition without any blemishes.
The next instant however, they were all encased in ice, save for their heads. They had no idea how they were caught off guard, nor did they have any idea how to free themselves from the ice. Haruki did not have any patience for them, and released a blast of light magic that destroyed all their top halves.
"Riser-sama's 8 Pawns, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, one Knight and Queen have been knocked out." The announcement hit like a nuke, leaving everyone speechless.
Not caring for the now retired members of Riser's peerage, Haruki cracked his neck with a cold expression. "It's just you and me, Riser. And you can bet that I'm going to take my time with you." He says, then disappears in a quick flash of Shūndō towards Riser's position.
Riser in a surprised panic, flew out of the Student Council's room, looking around to find Haruki, when all of a sudden, he was dragged to the ground at a considerably high speed. He impacted the ground with extreme force, leaving a Riser-shaped crater in the floor.
The dust cloud that was produced by his fall was swiftly blow away, revealing Haruki, who was the one that pulled him to the ground. Riser tried to struggle to come out of the crater, but he noticed that he couldn't move.
The air itself had become heavy to him, making him lose his breath quickly, but he strangely stayed conscious. He looked to Haruki's face and saw hat his eyes were now in reptilian slits and glowing green. But more than that, he noticed the disdain that Haruki held for him in his gaze.
In an attempt to attack Haruki, he blasted out flames from his hands that were facing upward, but the flames were quickly extinguished before they could reach Haruki.
"Did you think that this game was meant to be a battle between me and you?" Riser hears Haruki ask him, a superior edge to his tone. "If you did, then you're extremely stupid." Haruki says and bends down, bringing his face closer to Riser, who is flat on the floor.
"This was never a battle, Riser. This was merely an exhibition of the punishment that I will give you and anyone that dares to lust after my women." Haruki says and controls some of the earth to turn into spikes that impale Riser's legs, causing him to scream out in pain.
"Don't go screaming now. We've got quite a few hours to ourselves, so I'll make the most of it." Haruki says coldly. What followed was a deluge of torment that even a yaksha would turn away from.
Disembowelment, deboning, twisting musculature, flaying. Haruki performed them all on him without any remorse or care for the retaliation of the Phenex family. And he did all this while using light magic and white magic to worsen the pain that Riser would feel.
When he felt like he had done enough, Haruki stepped away from Riser's bloodied body with a seemingly relieved look on his face, with his eyes having a soft green glow. "Understand this, Riser. This was a warning. The same goes to the spectators. If anyone in any way tries to disrupt my life, be it a direct attack on me or an attack on my family, friends or my women, I will make you wish that Death itself came for you." After his words, Riser finally passed out.
"Riser-sama has been knocked out. The victor of this rating game is the Gremory family representative, Natsuhiko Haruki." Grayfia says, with a small but noticable bit of apprehension in her tone. Shortly after which, Haruki was teleported out of the alternate plane.
Chapter End.
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A/N: Hello everybody. Well wishes from your friendly author. Please, if you like the release, leave a comment or two, as well as a review. Thanks, Merci and Danke.
