I find myself in a white room. How I got here, I don't know. Who am I? I can't say. My memories of my previous life, my relationships—they all seem blocked, as if hidden behind a thick fog. The only things I can recall are my personal experiences with people and the fiction I've read or watched.

Wait. I remember now—how I ended up here. I was crossing the road, and then... a truck hit me.

A voice echoes around me, calm yet powerful. "Yes, you are right."

I know this voice. I know who it belongs to. How do I know? Because the scene before me can only be described as an act of God.

"You will now be reincarnated into someone's body I have selected," the voice says, matter-of-factly.

"Why me?" I ask, confusion swirling within me.

"You will know why. Look inside yourself."

I close my eyes and delve deep into my consciousness. Then I see it—the immense regret gnawing at my soul for not achieving my full potential. I feel it—the extreme obsession that drives me to accomplish something no one has ever done.

"Thank you, God," I whisper, a newfound clarity washing over me.

"Enjoy life, young man. Don't get lost in your unquenchable thirst." His words are both a blessing and a warning.

"I will try," I reply, as the white room fades, and a new life begins.

---

In the midst of a blazing inferno, the stadium roared with the energy of a high-stakes duel. Issei Hyoudou stood victorious over Riser Phoenix, who lay bruised and battered on the ground. The audience held their breath, the battle that would determine the fate of Rias Gremory nearing its climax.

Just as Riser faltered, his sister, Ravel Phoenix, leaped into the ring, her tear-filled eyes wide with desperation. "Brother!" she cried, her voice breaking, "You're hurt!, we give up"

Riser, or rather, the new soul that had mixed with him, recognized the turning point. A flood of memories surged through him—the plotlines of a story he vaguely recalled, the manipulations of Rias's brother, Sirzechs,to free his sister from marriage she despise and the path of despair that awaited him if he failed. In that instant, Riser knew what he had to do.

"Ravel," Riser commanded, his voice firm despite the pain wracking his body, "I command you to return."

"But brother..." Ravel hesitated, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Out of my way, Ravel!" Riser's voice was sharp, unyielding. He struggled to his feet, every muscle screaming in agony, but his resolve was ironclad. He needed time—time to adjust to this new reality, to this new self.

He faced Issei, who was breathing heavily, his strength nearly spent. "Rias's pawn, Issei, you've fought splendidly," Riser began, his tone almost respectful. "But let me show you the true power I wield."

Riser's body, once engulfed in the familiar golden flames of the Phoenix, suddenly erupted in a brilliant blue blaze. The flames spiraled around him, growing more intense by the second until he was no longer just a man, but a towering blue Phoenix, majestic and terrifying.

In the audience, Sirzechs Lucifer shot to his feet, disbelief etched across his face. "This... this is near impossible!"

Beside him, Grayfia's face paled, her voice trembling as she spoke, "This is unprecedented. It has never happened after that 1 time."

Rias, standing just behind them, turned to her brother, her voice shaky with fear. "What does this mean, Brother? What is happening to Riser?"

Grayfia answered, her tone grim. "My lady, what you see before you is the Phoenix family's ultimate ability, known as the Rebirth. Only the founder of the Phoenix family has ever been able to achieve it. He alone secured the Marquis rank for their family with this power. this change a person completely "

Rias felt her blood run cold. If Riser won now, she would be bound to him forever, her life, her body, her soul defiled for eternity. Desperation clawed at her as she cried out, "Issei, you can do it!"

Riser, now a blazing blue Phoenix, soared into the air, out of Issei's reach. He began hurling fireballs toward Issei, who was barely holding on. The young devil had nothing left but a cross and a bottle of holy water, tools that seemed laughably inadequate against the might of a Phoenix.

"You think you'll win because you sacrificed an arm and have a few holy relics?" Riser taunted, his voice echoing through the arena.

Issei, desperate, spoke to the dragon sealed within his arm. "Ddraig, take whatever you need from me. My soul, my life—anything. I can't let President Rias cry again!"

The dragon's voice rumbled in response, "I've told you before, your body can't handle my power. You're too weak."

"But I want to win!" Issei shouted, his voice hoarse with determination.

"Don't panic, idiot," Ddraig replied, almost begrudgingly. "He doesn't seem to want to kill you. His attacks are landing on less vital areas."

Riser's barrage continued until finally, he descended, his flames dimming. He looked at Issei's burned, broken body and felt... nothing. What was the point of this victory? Sirzechs Lucifer, the strongest devil, would never allow him near Rias. Even with a marriage contract, if Sirzechs ever snapped, Riser would be dead before he could blink. What did it matter if he was from the Phoenix family?

As Riser approached Issei's prone form, a magic circle flared to life. Rias Gremory appeared between them, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Riser," she sobbed, "Let him live. I will marry you."

Another magic circle opened beside her, and her peerage stepped out, standing loyally at her side. Then, yet another circle appeared, and Riser's own peerage appeared, ready to stand by him despite their nervous glances.

Issei, barely conscious, croaked, "I... I haven't given up."

Rias, more tears spilling from her eyes, cried out, "Shut up, Issei!"

Yubelluna, Riser's Queen, hissed at Issei, "Accept your defeat, you fool!"

Riser looked at the scene before him—the pleading faces, the tension in the air—and something in him shifted. He turned to the camera broadcasting the duel to the Underworld and spoke clearly, "I quit."

Ravel gasped, "But brother, you've already won! We have the marriage agreement!"

Riser glanced at her, his eyes narrowed as he realized she had return here which he have given her command. Something was off, but he would deal with it later. For now, he looked at his peerage, seeing the fear in their eyes despite their determined stances.

"Stand down, all of you," Riser ordered, his voice calm yet firm. "Return to the estate. Yubelluna, you stay with me."

As his peerage hesitated but eventually obeyed, Riser looked around the battlefield, his mind racing. He had retained his pride, but more importantly, he had just rewritten the script of his fate. And for the first time, he felt like the master of his own destiny.