**TIMESKIP – A Few Days Later**
The grand opening of Sona's academy had been a success, and word spread quickly through the Underworld. Not only had Sona made her mark as a powerful leader, but Ryo's influence had also started to take root in places he hadn't expected.
However, not everything was going as smoothly as it seemed. Ryo had begun to notice a strange energy building up in the Underworld. It was subtle at first, but as his training in [Void Manipulation] progressed, his senses had sharpened, and now the feeling of unease was undeniable.
---
**Ophis' Lair**
After a long day of overseeing the academy's operations, Ryo decided it was time to address the strange energy that had been bothering him. He met with Ophis in her lair, a dimension where the presence of void energy was most potent.
Ryo sat on a large stone, his eyes closed in concentration, as Ophis stood across from him. The eerie silence of the dimension was broken only by the soft hum of energy in the air.
Ryo: "Something's wrong, Ophis. I can feel it—there's a disturbance in the void. I've sensed it for days now."
Ophis tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "You've become more attuned to the void energy. That is good. But it also means you are sensitive to disruptions."
Ryo: "Is this a normal thing, or is something more dangerous coming?"
Ophis: "Void energy reacts to power shifts. Someone or something is growing stronger, likely trying to manipulate the void. You need to prepare yourself, Ryo. There are forces in the Underworld who will not sit idly by while you and I grow in strength."
Ryo opened his eyes, his face set in determination. "I had a feeling something like this was coming."
Just as Ophis was about to respond, the system pinged with a notification.
---
[Emergency Quest: Unknown Threat Detected]
**Description:** A new power is rising in the Underworld, and it threatens your current stability. Investigate the source of the disturbance and eliminate the threat.
**Rewards:** +50,000 EXP, New Skill Unlock, Unknown Reward
**Failure:** Catastrophic damage to the Underworld
---
Ryo: "An emergency quest? This isn't something the system does often." He read the description carefully and felt a surge of urgency.
Ophis: "The system has sensed it too. This is no small threat, Ryo. We must act quickly."
Ryo: "Right. We'll need more information first. Can you help me track the source of the disturbance?"
Ophis nodded. "We will need to meditate within the void. The source will reveal itself once we align ourselves with the energy flow."
---
**TIMESKIP – Meditation in the Void**
Ryo and Ophis sat across from each other, deep within a pocket dimension that was nothing but an endless void. Ryo had grown accustomed to the emptiness, learning to use it to sharpen his mind and his skills. Now, however, he was using it to search for the mysterious energy that had been growing more potent.
After what felt like hours, a sudden jolt of energy hit him, pulling his consciousness toward a specific point in the void. Images flooded his mind—dark shadows, twisted creatures, and a face… a familiar face.
Ryo: "What the hell…?"
The image that appeared in his mind was that of a red-haired woman with cold, calculating eyes—someone he hadn't seen in a long time.
Ryo: "Rias Gremory…"
Ophis' eyes snapped open as she heard the name. "So, it's her."
Ryo: "Why would Rias be involved in something like this? She's always been on the side of peace, building alliances, not tearing things down."
Ophis' voice was calm but dark. "She is not alone. The disturbance is not just her. There is something—or someone—behind her, using her as a pawn."
Ryo clenched his fists. "Then I'll find out who's pulling the strings. I won't let anyone use the people I care about as puppets."
Ophis: "Be careful, Ryo. Rias is powerful in her own right, but if there's something else behind this, it may be far more dangerous than anything you've encountered so far."
Ryo: "I understand."
---
**TIMESKIP – Gremory Territory**
Ryo used [ID Create] to travel directly to the outskirts of Gremory territory. He could feel the presence of powerful magic barriers, but with his growing strength, they were little more than an inconvenience. As he crossed the boundaries into the heart of Rias' domain, he sensed the disturbance growing stronger.
He walked through the lavish estate, taking note of the unnatural stillness. There were no servants, no guards, and no movement at all. It was eerie.
Ryo: "This doesn't feel right…" His eyes darted around the empty courtyard.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air, filled with a mixture of mockery and contempt.
???: "Well, well, well. If it isn't Ryo Uchiha. I didn't think you'd come here so soon."
Ryo turned toward the voice and saw Rias Gremory standing at the top of the estate's stairs. Her usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by an unsettling smirk.
Rias: "I knew you'd come eventually. You always had a thing for playing the hero, didn't you?"
Ryo: "Rias… what's going on here? This isn't like you."
Rias chuckled darkly. "Things change, Ryo. People change."
Ryo narrowed his eyes. He could feel it—the dark energy swirling around her, corrupting her aura. This wasn't the Rias he once knew. Something else had taken hold of her.
Ryo: "Who's controlling you?"
Rias' smirk grew wider. "Controlling me? No one is controlling me. This is all me, Ryo. I've simply evolved beyond the petty games of devils and humans."
Ryo: "That's not true. I can feel it. You're being manipulated."
Rias stepped forward, her energy crackling around her. "Think what you want. But if you came here to stop me, you'll have to go through me first."
Ryo's hand instinctively went to his katana made from void energy. He didn't want to fight her, but he knew he might not have a choice.
Ryo: "Rias, I don't want to do this. I can help you."
Rias: "Help me? The only help I need from you is your power. Surrender now, and I might let you live long enough to witness the new order I'm about to create."
Ryo tightened his grip on his weapon. "I won't let you destroy everything we've worked for."
The tension between them was palpable. Ryo knew this fight was inevitable, but deep down, he hoped he could break through whatever was controlling her.
Rias: "Then prepare yourself, Ryo. Because I'm not holding back."
As Rias charged toward him, her energy dark and wild, Ryo felt a surge of determination. He wasn't just fighting to protect the Underworld—he was fighting to save Rias from the darkness that had consumed her.
**The battle for Rias' soul had begun.**