Chapter 33

Time moves oddly fast when your day is full and Damian was on the receiving end of that for over six months. His day was filled to the brim whether it be spending time with his family and in-laws or training and learning under two Super Devils.

But now, he was out of time. Six months had come and gone and it was time for him to fight against Riser. It was an important fight, one that would define not only if he would be the spouse of Rias Gremory but also how he was seen by the world at large. It was his start you could say, his entrance into the wider world.

"Are you ready?" Sirzechs asked Damian seriously, worry buried deep in his expression. If he were to show his worry it would be the same as disregarding all the effort Damian spent in preparation for this day.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Damian replied calmly as he struggled with his tie. For some reason, he just couldn't figure out how they worked. He was fairly good with knots but it was like some god of knots and ties from whatever pantheon had cursed him.

"I suppose so." Sirzechs replied solemnly as he walked forward and tied the tied for him. Both of them knew it, Damian had no chance to win. Damian had no way to breach Riser's immortality and Riser had plenty of ways to kill him.

"Don't think I've lost from the get-go teacher. I'm your brother-in-law, don't give up on me already." Damian declared playfully, lightly tapping the side of Sirzechs before putting on a simple black suit jacket over his white button up.

Normally it would slightly restrict his movements but this was a world of magic, there was no stopping them from making their clothing more convenient. Damian had even utilized what he learned from Ajuka to make it fairly fire resistant. At the very least, he won't be flashing anybody today.

"I'll put my trust in you then." Sirzechs declared softly. The only reason there was even a hint of doubt in Damian's loss in the Crimson Satan's mind was because… even he, the boy's teacher, didn't know what he was capable of fully.

His energy control was nearing the level of divinity, his mind was oddly mature, and his body grew at a rate unnatural even for devils. His very existence was odd and that was a source of comfort for those close to him.

He was weak but because he was so odd they could believe in him, that he could defeat the immortal phoenix and save the Gremory princess. His oddity was his strength and the source of his credibility.

"Make sure you pray for me alright? God may not be here but maybe somebody will answer." Damian requested with a low chuckle as he pat Sirzechs' should, stepping past the wide eyed Satan and leaving the room.

"Haha… perhaps I should pray today." Sirzechs spoke, a hearty chuckle leaving his lips. The revelation that Damian knew of god's death was shocking to put it bluntly but it was also unsurprising oddly enough. To those who knew him, Damian was the peak of oddity.

But that was his charm and his strength.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Rias asked worriedly, a deep frown on her face. As time passed the realization that she had forced such a burden on the person she had a crush on dawned on her and worry corrupted her soul.

"You and Sirzechs sure are similar. He just said the same thing." Damian replied in amusement, a playful grin on his face. He could see where they were coming from but he put enough thought into this day to confidently say that he would win. He would get his ass beat, but he'd win.

"That's not very reassuring." Rias muttered with a pout. She could tell that Damian was confident and that was reassuring in and of itself but she would like for him to declare it to her, to pass some of his confidence to her.

"It wasn't supposed to be." Damian replied with a low chuckle, ignoring the pout of his future spouse. Fighting over the right to marry somebody wasn't a position he thought he'd ever been in but Fatum was an odd force of nature.

Things were changing. Rias had changed, her family had picked a new spouse for her, Sirzechs and Ajuka were allying themselves with him rather than staying away from politics, and Riser would soon get the taste of a knuckle sandwich.

"Don't worry. I'll win." Damian declared confidently, gently placing his hand on her head and lightly messing up her long crimson hair much to her chagrin. "I've got a princess to save so I can't lose. Just watch me." Damian requested her playfully, a serious glint in his eyes.

"Okay. I'll watch you so save me quickly." Rias requested, a sincere and relieved smile forming on her face. She had seen him train to the point of shedding blood, at the very least she had to believe in him to match his determination.

"Of course. I won't be long." Damian declared simply before walking off. He had a phoenix who thought he was invincible to humble. It was troublesome but the fun of throwing a bird of freedom into the ground should make up for it.

Walking through the halls to the meeting place where Grayfia and Riser would be waiting the plans Damian had made ran through his mind. They were dirty and extremely cruel but Damian had no regret, his opponent was unrepentant scum so there was no need for pity.

"So the peon has arrived. I had thought you were running away in fear." Riser taunted Damian as soon as he opened the doors to the room, a disdainful and prideful smirk on his face. It was written all over his face that he hadn't even thought of the 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 he could lose.

"No, I wouldn't dare do that." Damian began, a polite smile on his face even in the face of such eyes. He was confident that Riser would soon be showing him different eyes though what they may be was something Damian was interested in seeing.

"I'm starting the teleportation." Grayfia began stoically, her tone showing a distinct lack of interest in the battle though her true feelings were more conflicted. She was a staunch believer in following the rules but at the same time, she wanted the best for Rias and Riser was not the best.

"Your time is up peon. I'm expecting wonderful screams from you so do not disappoint me." Riser demanded arrogantly, a wide smirk stretching across his face. His words were crass for a devil pillar but he believed he had the right to discard tradition and many would believe him, he was the face of the devil's corruption for the new generation after all.

"Just a warning." Damian began with a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes as his body began to morph into motes of light. Raising his eyebrow in response Riser allowed him to continue, amusement clear in his expression.

Riser was filled with so much confidence that he wanted to hear what Damian had to say just to shame him for it later. He was looking forward to taunting him as he broke his bones and shattered his organs.

"This peon is going to beat the shit out of you." Damian declared coldly, his polite smile replaced by a cold expression barely hiding his boiling anger.

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