Thirty days had passed after the youth gathering, and it was time for Sona and Rias to start their Rating Game.
Unlike Rias, who had fought Riser previously, it was Sona's first time to have a Rating Game, but even so, she wouldn't lose!
Whether it was Sona or her peerage members, all of them had given their everything to train to become stronger, and they had the confidence to win.
However, Rias and her peerage members didn't fear Sona, especially Issei, who had finished his hellish training on the mountain.
Still, unlike the previous gathering, which was held in the Phenex domain, the match of the two was held in the Gremory domain.
Whether Riser or Sona, neither of them cared about this, and they let Rias have this as they knew it was also a way for the Gremory House to promote their domain after the death of Sirzech.
However, no matter how they tried to improve themselves, as long as no existence like Sirzech was born, it was impossible for the Gremory House to reach its previous glory.
Still, the match between Sona and Rias would be held in the afternoon, but Riser wasn't in the mood to get up, especially when he knew what kind of trouble he would soon encounter. He let out a long sigh, wondering why many troubles came into him. He wanted to get used to it, but somehow he couldn't. At that moment, he was like a 996 employee who just wanted to spend more days on his holiday, but he knew he couldn't since tomorrow was Monday.
However, there was still a time before the "Rating Game," so he just lay on the bed with Kuroka, who was sleeping soundly on his chest like a pampered kitten. He kissed her hair as he stared at her beautiful face, causing her to curl and stick even closer to him.
In the end, Kuroka fell just like that.
There was no drama or whatever.
The moment he put his hands on her, Kuroka just accepted him and was even eager to have his children.
As for Arthur and Bikou?
Riser didn't care; the only thing he knew about them was that they should be in Ajuka's hands.
What about Sona?
With her match about to start in the afternoon, if she spent her night with her husband, Sona was afraid that her stamina would be drained. Moreover, it would have been several times better if they had spent time together when she won this "Rating Game."
"Now that you mention it."
After Riser defeated Kuroka, Arthur, and Bikou beside the Excalibur Ruler, Caliburn, Ruyi Jingu Bang, and jindou yun (flying cloud), which he retrieved from Arthur and Bikou, he got three rewards from defeating them.
[Congratulations, you have received "Moku Moku no Mi (Complete Version)," "Haste," and "Duelist."]
When he saw his rewards, those powers didn't give him a significant increase in his power, but as he got his rewards, he should be happy, right?
The Devil Fruit aside, he looked at "Haste" and "Duelist."
The power of "Haste" was simple since it only gave him the ability to increase his speed. Yet, there was a limit to it, as it might be impossible for him to increase his speed at the speed of light. However, it didn't mean this ability was as bad as he could imagine using this ability to increase the speed of his reaction, perception, and thought.
As long as he had creativity, he knew that many things should be possible.
As for his next reward, "Duelist," it allowed him to force the opponent of his choice into one-on-one combat and relocate him and his opponent into an enclosed space of deathmatch.
To be honest, this ability was strange, and he also wasn't sure whether he would use this ability.
If there was something beneficial about this ability, he could pull his opponent into a different space, so there was no need to worry about using all of his strength as his power might destroy the surrounding environment.
Still, if he used this ability, he might only use it on those who were strong.
As for those who were weak?
The moment he used "Villain," they would give up already.
Nevertheless, he got a new Devil Fruit once again, and he ate it without hesitation before he gained a new ability.
"Smoke Man, huh?"
Moku Moku no Mi, or Smoke Fruit.
The moment he ate this Devil Fruit, he became a smoker.
Was it a good ability?
If he had to say, it was quite good, as it worked well with his innate ability, which was fire manipulation. Moreover, as there was no limitation on this Devil Fruit, he could develop it on his will. Yet, he knew it would take time, and compared to his other Devil Fruits, he might not use this ability that much.
To be honest, he wondered whether he could gain an ability that would enable him to share his abilities with his allies. Making weapons for them was good and all, but it was troublesome. However, if he had an ability that made him able to share his abilities, he could just lend those abilities to his allies as he gained experience from them.
It was a win-win solution to develop his abilities as his time was limited, considering how many dangers had come in his direction.
"What did you eat, nyaa?"
Kuroka felt a movement from Riser and saw him munching something.
"I am hungry from playing with you."
Moreover, if he had such an ability, he could make his women stronger.
"...you reap what you show, nyaa."
Kuroka then glanced at his hardened rod and sighed, thinking that this guy was really lively and strong!
This is what Kuroka loved the most, though.
Having a strong man would mean having strong children.
Kuroka was already obsessed with Riser at the time and wished to have his first child, especially when she learned his wife wasn't pregnant. To be honest, she felt having to live with him wasn't bad as there was no need to worry about anything.
The danger, worry, hunger, and many other things; there was no need to worry about all of that as long as she had him.
Still, even if she wanted to have children, her body was sore.
"Let's continue to sleep, nyaa. We can do it later."
"No, I need to get up. My wife's Rating Game is going to start in the afternoon."
"Oh, right!" Kuroka only remembered, then asked, "Your wife is going to fight Shirone, right?"
"Yes."
"Can I come? I want to console Shirone, nyaa!" Kuroka didn't doubt that Rias and her group would lose when they fought Sona. She had seen how strong Sona was and had to admit that she wasn't Sona's opponent.
"Okay. Clean up your body first, and don't cause trouble later."
*Slap!*
Slapping Kuroka's bouncy and trained buttocks, Riser stood up and thought that his mood had improved after he touched such good buttocks. He stretched his hands and raised his spirit.
"You can do it!"
"..."
Kuroka looked at her reddened butt cheek as she lay on her stomach, then asked, "If you give me a "Phoenix Tears," then we can have a quickie, nyaa."
"..."
Riser stopped by his steps and took out the "Phoenix Tears" naturally, hoping he wouldn't be late.