As the dust settled from the intense battle, Riser Phoenix stood victorious, his mind turning over the newfound power he had just unleashed. The ability he had named Nova was a game-changer—a skill that allowed him to generate and compress fire within his body, like a furnace stoked to its limits. The thermal energy produced circulated through him, drastically increasing his physical abilities.
What a neat ability, Riser thought, a satisfied smirk on his face. For someone who can wield hellfire, this also improves my control over it. The precision, the raw power... it's exactly what I needed.
The announcer's voice cut through his thoughts, signaling the end of the battle. "The stage has changed! Riser Phoenix and Birgir Oriax have been transported out of the battlefield and back to the Rating Game arena. The victor, Riser, will now claim his reward."
As they reappeared in the grand arena, Riser couldn't help but let his smile widen as he looked at Birgir. The defeated devil stood there, his expression aghast, sweat rolling down his forehead. Behind him, his peerage members were a sorry sight—disheveled, defeated, and filled with fear.
The announcer continued, "As per the rules of the Rating Game, had Birgir won, he would have received 12 Phoenix Tears. But, sadly for him, the he has lost, and now Riser Phoenix may claim any member of Birgir's peerage."
Riser pulled out his pawn piece, twirling it playfully between his fingers. "Now, what should I take?" he mused aloud, his tone almost teasing. He let his gaze wander over Birgir's peerage, drawing out the tension. "Your Bishop? Your Rook?" He paused dramatically, then pointed directly at Hitomi, Birgir's Queen. "Or your Queen?"
Birgir's eyes widened in horror. "No, Riser! Don't take my Queen! She's my lover!"
Riser's smile turned wicked, the kind of smile that sent chills down Birgir's spine. The defeated devil trembled, fearing the worst—that he would lose not just his Queen, but the woman he loved.
Hitomi, ever loyal, turned to her master. "Don't worry, darling. Even if Riser takes me, you'll still have my heart."
Birgir, desperate, looked at Riser with pleading eyes. "Please, Riser…"
Riser's expression suddenly shifted, his cruel edge softening, but only slightly. "Alright, I won't take your Queen," he said, almost casually. Then, with a deliberate motion, he pointed at Arrow. "But I'll take your Knight."
Arrow, who had been sitting quietly, her head bowed in resignation, looked up at Riser in surprise. "Me? But I'm only mid-class at best."
Riser nodded. "Out of all of them, you're the one with the most potential. You have the right attitude in a fight. Join me, Arrow."
Arrow looked over at Birgir, who couldn't even meet her gaze. He simply stared at the ground, defeated and ashamed. Knowing she had no future with him, Arrow stood up and walked toward Riser, determination in her steps.
Birgir followed behind her, his shoulders slumped. "Let's exchange chess pieces, then," he said, his voice hollow.
But Riser shook his head. "No need for that." He turned to Arrow, his tone authoritative. "Arrow, will you become my pawn?"
Without hesitation, Arrow nodded. "Yes."
Riser placed the pawn piece against Arrow's chest, and as he did, the chess piece sank into her body, glowing for a moment before Birgir's piece was expelled, clattering uselessly to the ground. Riser picked up the ejected piece and tossed his Knight piece back to Birgir.
"How… how did you do that?" Birgir stammered, disbelief etched across his face.
Riser smirked, enjoying the power shift. "I see no reason to tell you, but to save myself some trouble, I will. My chess pieces are special. If I have the permission of both the piece's owner and the chess piece master, I can do this. Mine are somewhat independent of the system."
Birgir looked at Riser, stunned and bewildered. He had never heard of such a thing.
Riser then activated a magic circle, the intricate symbols glowing beneath his feet as the ground around him began to shimmer with power. "Come, stand beside me, Arrow," Riser commanded.
Arrow, now Riser's pawn, walked confidently into the circle, standing at his side. As the magic swirled around them, Riser shot one last look at Birgir, his expression one of absolute dominance. He had won the battle, taken what he desired, and shown the underworld that Riser Phoenix was a force to be reckoned with.
With a final flash of light, the magic circle activated, and Riser and Arrow disappeared, leaving behind a broken Birgir and his devastated peerage. The message was clear: Riser was not just a high-class devil. He was something far more dangerous.
---
InfernoKnight:
Riser absolutely schooled Birgir in that fight. The guy barely broke a sweat and made Birgir's entire peerage look like amateurs. That "Nova" ability is no joke!
DarkPhoenixRises:
Did you see how Riser just walked through those attacks like they were nothing? Birgir didn't stand a chance. And the way he picked Arrow as his pawn? Cold and calculated.
DevilWarfare:
Birgir thought he could just overwhelm Riser with numbers, but Riser turned it into a one-man show. Hand-to-hand combat and that heat aura? Birgir was outclassed from the start.
UnderworldObserver:
Riser didn't even need his full peerage to take Birgir down. Just pure skill and some well-placed psychological warfare. Birgir's face when Riser took Arrow? Priceless.
FlameMaster:
The way Riser blocked those magic attacks and arrows was insane. He's on a whole different level now. Birgir never knew what hit him.
QueenlessKing:
Riser could have taken Birgir's Queen, but he went for the Knight instead. Smart move, considering Arrow's potential. Birgir got played like a fiddle.
HellfireWatcher:
Birgir walked in with all that arrogance and left with nothing but a bruised ego. Riser's new powers are terrifying—can't wait to see what he does next.
CelestialSpectator:
Birgir's celestial magic didn't even phase Riser. That fight was over the moment Riser decided to get serious. Watching him toy with Birgir was like watching a cat with a mouse.
PeeragePro:
Riser didn't just win the fight—he made a statement. His control over that heat ability and hand-to-hand combat is on another level. Birgir never saw it coming.
DevilStrategist:
Riser's tactics were brilliant. He baited Birgir into thinking he had a chance, then dismantled his entire peerage one by one. That's how you win a Rating Game.