Ritual and Reunions!

(POV. Riser Phenex - after Riser's return, and everyone settled in at the Phenex residence.)

It had been a day since I had returned. Even now, I couldn't fully analyze everything that happened to me. Awakening unique power abilities, and moreover, the most recent, the power of the Third magic. Yes, Third magic.

How on earth did I manage that? That is my question.

When I awakened my cosmos, everyone would have to follow senses like the seventh or eighth and awaken them. But the most incredible thing, what defines a complete deity. The one that has a touch of Chaos, or its descent in the universe of Saint Seiya.

Big Will

It represents the will, or "Divine Cosmos" power. In my case, as a representation of the Phoenix constellation, being a descendant of a Phenex, possessing abilities from the Akuma no mi of a Phoenix. Everything aligned so that in the Type world, when I was undergoing this "mutation," I ended up with the true Third magic.

Granting me an enhancement in my "immortality," since I am "The Phoenix, and the Phoenix. It's Me."

My flames have become more powerful, my manipulation ability, which was already capable of creating the Sun in the palm of my hand, now allows the creation of White, or Cyan stars, whose density is of a higher degree.

**

I also decided that it was time to turn all the girls, even in their divine Pseudo forms, into half-devils through the ritual.

I decided to give them all a mutant pawn piece. Why? And how I gave it to them is quite simple. Although they were all "gods," their powers and bodies are human. Which means that above all, they are still part human. With the piece of evil, we can use them to turn them into devils. (A/N: Medusa was a goddess, well, until she was turned into a monster. So she's kind of a Demi-monster.)

The last few days had been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations. Somehow, everything I experienced, the battles fought, the alliances forged, and the powers unlocked seemed to lead me to this exact moment. The solitude of my room in the Phenex mansion contrasted sharply with the chaos of recent events. Here, surrounded by comfortable darkness, I could finally reflect.

The idea of sharing part of my essence with those who had become so close to me, the girls who risked their lives by my side, was both exciting and frightening. Giving them part of me, in the form of a mutant pawn as well as the Essences, being the Essency of the Blank and the Essency of Archmage, meant more than simply strengthening our bonds; it was a gesture of unwavering trust and a step towards an uncertain future we intended to build together. The responsibility weighed on me, but the expectation of seeing how far we could go together made it all worthwhile. (A/N: He also plans to give the Essences to his family, which currently consists of his Brides, as well as Parents, Siblings, and Peerage.)

In the silence of my room, the weight of my decisions began to settle. The ritual was scheduled for the following night, under the starry sky of the Underworld, where the lines between power and vulnerability would be drawn once again. I knew that by giving them this part of me, we would be irrevocably intertwined, destined to face together whatever the future held for us.

The process for transforming each one into a half-devil would not be simple or devoid of risks. It would require perfect synchrony between our souls and a deep understanding of the power about to be shared. The mutant pawns symbolized the ability to evolve, to transcend the limits set not only by our origins but by our own beliefs and desires. (A/N: I wanted to make their process more difficult because technically, they are gods. But at the same time, they're not. Just their receptacles. So I made Riser have to prepare something so that he could turn them into devils. Also, there's the fact that they already sort of have a divine soul in their body. By "luck," Riser has the true third magic.)

As I mentally prepared for the ritual, a whirlwind of thoughts invaded my mind. How would this affect our dynamics? How would the new abilities they would acquire manifest? And, above all, how could we use this new power to advance our goals?

My reflections were interrupted by soft knocks on the door of my room. "Come in," I called, my calm voice hiding the storm of emotions within me.

It was Tsunade, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Riser, are you ready for this? For what comes next?" Her question needed no clarification; we both knew the weight of tomorrow.

I took a deep breath, finding strength in her steady presence. "I am," I responded with a conviction that surprised even me. "Because I'm not alone in this anymore. With them by my side, I feel we can face anything."

Tsunade nodded, approval shining in her eyes. "Then let's make sure this is just the beginning. The start of a new era, not just for us, but for all those who dare to dream of a different world."

Her words echoed in me, strengthening my resolve. Yes, we were on the brink of something grand, something that could change the course of our lives and the world around us. The following night would not just be a ritual; it would be a declaration of our intentions, a vow to face the unknown together.

And with that, I knew. Regardless of what the future held, with the confidence and power we shared, we were ready to embrace it head-on. It was the promise of a tomorrow that we would build with our own hands, a future forged not just by power but by the unbreakable union of souls allied in a common purpose.

In that moment of tranquility before the storm, I allowed myself to feel a glimpse of hope. A hope not just for victories and conquests, but for the strength found in shared vulnerability, in power given and received with love. That was what truly made us invincible.

And so, with a firm heart and a clear mind, I awaited the dawn of a new chapter in our lives, ready to face together whatever came next.

**

(Ritual Room)

"Are you all ready?" I asked the girls who were lying down, with a floating pawn piece in front of their chests.

"Mou~~ I wanted to be the queen," said Illyasviel, who was quite pouty despite being a "woman" of age. She liked to act like the younger sister.

"That's fine, after all, the pawn piece is the most versatile. In it, you can become a Queen, as well as a Rook, Bishop, and Knight. So there's no need to be so upset about it. And in a way, if we're not in a game, you'll be allowed to keep promoting to Queen. After all, it makes no sense for you to stay in the state of a pawn. Except for your training, of course, or in an official match, where to achieve promotion, you must reach the enemy base. Only then will you be able to turn into a queen," I said to Illyasviel, my voice as honest as possible to convince her to stop throwing tantrums.

I looked at Illya, her sulky expression was adorable. How did she manage to maintain that childlike aura even being a grown woman? Perhaps that was part of her peculiar charm.

"Mou~~" She grumbled, pouting. "But I want to be queen now!"

I smiled, unable to help finding it amusing. "Patience, Illya. After all, you'll have plenty of time to get used to your new devilish powers."

A melodramatic sigh escaped her lips. "Alright, alright. I'll stop complaining." She rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her.

A peaceful silence hung over us as I watched the other girls positioned in the invocation circle. Their expressions ranged from Sakura's contained nervousness to Rin's defiant air. Each of them, so different, yet united by a bond forged in fire and blood. The others seemed like they were at a fair in a park, Medea, being the most accustomed to rituals, since after all, she is a witch. Another who cared little was Medusa, despite the fact, she never removed her blindfold, and remained without "seeing." On the other hand, Serenity maintained her calm and assassin serenity, few things were really capable of making her have a normal reaction.

Clearing my throat, I began the final preparations. "Be prepared. The transformation will require full focus of your minds and hearts."

A murmur of agreement echoed through the stone hall.

Breathing deeply, I extended my hands, channeling my power to the large magic circle drawn on the ground around them. Gradually, the ancient runes began to glow with a supernatural brilliance. Zun... zun... zun...

The air thickened with the arcane energy that was accumulating. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, each beat resonating with the pulse of the magic taking shape. Bum-bum... bum-bum...

Suddenly, the floating pawn pieces began to spin rapidly around each girl. Vishhh... vishhh... A hissing melody filled the air, as if we were being watched by thousands of invisible snakes.

I recited the words of the enchantment, my voice echoing with ancient power. The arcane words seemed to pierce reality itself, weaving a new destiny for those before me.

The pieces spun faster and faster. Vishhhhhhhhh! The sound grew louder, more intense, until it merged into a single piercing tone that threatened to burst eardrums. I reflexively covered my ears, but raised my chin, determined to complete the ritual.

Suddenly, the pieces stopped spinning and floated towards the girls' hearts. In a fraction of a second, each of them shone with the intensity of a small sun before merging with their respective chests in a dazzling explosion of energy.

Krashhhhhhhhh!

The shockwave hit me full force, although for me, it was just a breeze, the energy generated must have been strong enough to have alerted the Maous, to say the least.

"Great, now I'll have some Maous on my tail," I said to myself, knowing they would all come after me to question how I disappeared and where I went, and how these three girls appeared. My family had not yet made my return public.

While dining last night at the meeting with the parents, I heard some peculiar things, like the fact that I could not refuse any duel in pursuit of my brides' hands. After all, due to low birth rates, there were few specimens available, and all families wanted their sons and daughters to have a girl of their generation.

Which, in my absence, resulted in me having an unofficial Rating game match. which led me to have to add more members to my nobility.

A slight buzzing still echoed in my ears when I opened my eyes. The shimmering dust floated around me, lit by the sun rays that streamed through the high stone hall windows.

I blinked a few times, trying to focus my vision blurred by the dazzling light from the explosion. Gradually, the silhouettes took shape. One by one, I saw the girls standing up, coughing and shaking off the confusion.

"Rin? Sakura? Are you okay?" My voice came out hoarse but steady.

A low moan was Sakura's only response, while Rin growled, shaking her head like an irritated feline.

"Urg~~ Why did it flash like that? It might give me a headache," Rin grumbled, her blood-colored eyes sparking.

I couldn't help but smile in relief. If she was already complaining, then everything was fine. I raised a hand in a pacifying gesture.

"It was just a small... mishap. But it seems to have worked."

As I spoke, I let my eyes wander over the others.

**

As I was training, I heard footsteps coming up behind me. It was then that I turned and encountered a small Phenex, who wasn't in our house and spent more time with her friends.

"Riser," Ravel greeted with a respectful nod. "You have returned."

A smile crossed my lips as I approached. Even now, so many years after that fateful night in the arena, Ravel still displayed that captivating mix of reverent awe and dark fascination whenever she saw me. Our relationship was forged in the flames of pure demonic dominion.

"Yes, sister," I uttered in a solemn tone. "I have returned from the realm of mortals to report my progress." making an exaggerated bow to his little sister.

FSSSHHHHH! With a practical gesture, I ignited a small black flame in the palm of my hand. The shimmering bluish light illuminated our faces with a supernatural aura, accentuating my sharp features and Ravel's pallor.

She swallowed hard, her Adam's apple bobbing up and down as her eyes widened. She still maintained that mix of attraction and fear for me, even after all these years exposed to my legacy of darkness.

"And...then report," Ravel managed to say with effort, although her eyes never left the dancing small flame. (A/N: Acting and joking. if it wasn't clear.)

A low growl escaped my throat as I advanced into the chamber, the shadows writhing in my passage. I could smell the faint woody scent of her excitement in the air, an intoxicating perfume that stirred my demonic sensibilities. Even now, my dominion over her remained intact.

"Mortals are weak fools living in their own illusion," I spat with disdain, letting the words run with a softly threatening tone. "They walk blind, oblivious to the true power pulsing under the foundations of the world they know."

FWOOOSHHH! With a slight wrist movement, I released more power into the small flame, making it roar into a whirlwind of dark blue demonic fire. The heat was intense, almost unbearable, and Ravel instinctively stepped back a few paces. Oh yes, I could still invoke her primal fear with simple gestures.

"But you need not fear, sister," I arched an evil eyebrow as I caught her wary look. "Not from my darkness, at least." (A/N: Eighth-grade syndrome.) while Riser put a hand on his face and struck JoJo poses.

I moved closer again, coming within inches.

"Indeed, you should embrace the darkness, little sister," I growled softly, my voice rough as coarse sand against her skin. "It was it that forged this powerful bond between us. A bond that transcends blood and family, tying our demonic essences in primitive synchrony."

I grabbed her chin firmly, forcing her half-closed eyes to meet mine. The black flames danced between us, casting wild and twisted shadows on her features as I dominated her with just a glance.

"You cannot deny, Ravel," I dragged the words out slowly, letting them reverberate around the walls. "You have never been as alive as when you surrendered to the darkness of my relentless nature."

"Kya, Oni-Sama!" Ravel said, striking with her drill-like hair.

**

After the Ritual, I went to meet with my Brides, after all. They must have been worried during my absence, especially Rias who was sleeping at my house the day I disappeared. I walked through the sculpted corridors of the Phenex mansion, my steps echoing with a rhythmic ticking against the polished stone floor. The setting sun's light poured through the high windows in a golden stream, bathing everything with a reddish glow.

I found Rias in the main hall, nestled in one of the crimson velvet armchairs near the fireplace. She looked up from an ancient book as I entered, and a warm smile lit up her face.

"Riser." Her voice was velvety, whispering my name with a reverence that made me shiver. "You've returned to me."

"Always, my beloved." I crossed the room in a few broad strides, extending a hand towards her.

Rias accepted my gesture, her delicate hands fitting perfectly in mine. With a gentle tug, I raised her to her feet, gazing into her deep blue eyes for a long moment. Both were looking into each other's eyes. It was almost as if the world had turned off and all that mattered was Riser and Rias. Their lips moved to meet.

"YOUR BEAUTIFUL AND ADORABLE MAGICAL GIRL LEVIA-TAN IS BACK!!!"

(A/N: Sorry for the delay. Last Tuesday, I returned closer to the Amazon forest. and that gave me some trouble to write the Fics. besides the fact of Work, which makes me tired. but now I think I got it right to publish. although it should not take long to return home.)