Rias POV
Issei was able to use the balance breaker. The foreign and infernal form. Something that is not supposed to exist. My chest exploded with pride. It was like when Milicas was able to use the Power of Destruction for the first time. The pride of an older sibling.
And right then and there I realized that the feelings that I had for Issei weren't a romantic form. But the feeling of an older sibling would have for her brother. I actually thought of giving my first time to him too. Now it just seems like a stupid and desperate move on my part. A childish idea that I had.
And then the clash between Riser and Issei started. Riser showed off martial talent that I haven't seen before from him. Was I really looking at him but never really seeing him for who he is all this time? He showed precise and fast strikes that some I couldn't even follow.
And Issei is actually fighting against him almost equally. My dear and cute Issei has become strong enough that he doesn't need me anymore. In fact, I am getting left behind by him. I have to improve and do better as both his king and his older sister.
Maybe after all this is settled I can ask Riser to train me. I still don't see myself as being together with him but I think that we can be friends actually. For some reason, after the fight. When I found out that he himself was an otaku, I found myself poking fun and needling him about topics.
That Jojo's reference just broke the wall that was within us all this time. Maybe I am just happy having someone to finally discuss things like this but maybe even if we did get married, maybe someday I can still find some way to be free. We can still find a way to just be friends I guess.
Oh my… Did I just get a character development? Is this what being mature actually means? To be calm and make the best of your situations? Looking back at my past self I find myself cringing at my actions. On how childish I could see myself being.
Looking back in the fight something changed. Riser was just standing there as if in a daze and then what happened during the rating game, happened again. A black flash of some kind dazzled us from the screen and the result was as unbelievable as ever.
The balance breaker armor, the scales of a dragon was obliterated. As if a power of destruction in lightning form actually manifested for a second.
What even is that technique? I'll ask him to teach me that too.
I'm worried about Issei but I know he'll be fine. Riser won't hurt him too much, Issei would just become stronger because of this. Although after that first black flash he just stood there with a stupid smile on his face while staring at his hands. And then he started looking at something? Then he… is he hugging something? What even is happening to him?
Issei then brought out a rosary, what? Did he get that from Asia? And poured Holy water in his left arm that was wrapped with the rosary.
Issei didn't let that chance go and sent Riser flying with a punch in the face. And they once again beat each other up with speeds that would make Yuuto jealous. Is this one of the peaks of power?
Then after a while of fighting Riser once more got that hazy look in his eyes. And then he did that technique over and over and that was where it all went wrong.
Issei with panic shot his hand outward, but because of his panic he wasn't able to form a fist and just did a knife hand that went straight through Riser's chest.
"Onii-sama!!!" A screech echoed out in the viewing room. Riser's chest spilled with blood. No fire was being generated to regenerate him. His peerage fell into dire panic.
This is bad… This is really bad. My vision started darkening. My heart started beating so fast and I could hear a loud breathing.
"Stop the match!!!" Lord Phenex was screaming at Onii-sama.
Onii-sama himself had a white face, clearly this wasn't in the plan.
"Get a phenex tear, hurry up!!!" Lady Phenex was ordering the servants in a panic. Riser fell down in a pool of blood spreading over the floor of the arena. Issei is not even moving, too stunned over what happened.
I realized that I was hyperventilating. This is bad. A pure-blooded devil being killed is always a bad thing. We are few enough as it is. If Issei kills Riser, he will be hunted down. The whole underworld will not rest until he is dead. They will rejoice in killing him.
The last one to kill a pure-blooded devil, they hunted her down, then to prevent it from happening again, they killed every last one of their race. And her sister was almost put to execution. Even though it led to the strained relationship between the devils and youkai.
I am of course talking about the SS-Class Stray Devil Criminal, Kuroka. The sister of Koneko. If Riser is killed here in front of all these high-ranking devils, accident or not, they will all call for his head. And there would be nothing I can do for him. Issei is not a high-ranking member of our society. The only value he has is being the Red Dragon Emperor.
But they would see that as him being weak enough to kill while he is still starting.
And so for the first time I prayed, I prayed to our dead ancestors. Please let Riser survive, let him live. If you do then I will marry him, no matter what. Don't let my comrade in arms die like this. Don't let my little brother be hunted and killed. Please don't let anyone die here. I beg you Lord Lucifer. This is the only time I will bother you so please, just this once. Let my selfishness be fulfilled.
Then the blood surrounding Riser rippled. Once. Then twice. And then an overlapping beat started. And slowly but surely Riser stood up. And threw his head back laughing. His hand covering his face.
"Hahahahahaa!!! An awakening, this is it. A true awakening. A back to back awakening. This is the true form of cursed energy. I finally reached it. I am at the starting line. I have proved that I can grow strong. I can reach the pinnacle. Did you know that our energy is just a negative energy but if you multiply it by itself it will turn into a positive energy? And with it you can enhance your healing factor by a lot. It was such a simple concept but I could never reach it. I couldn't even reach a black flash before. Hahahahaha!!!" he was speaking so fast like a giddy child while his chest was slowly but surely closing up.
It really looked weird with no flame covering his regeneration. His flesh just knit itself together. But the darkening in my vision started fading. The heaviness in my chest started alleviating. Thank Lucifer. My comrade didn't die. Hmph! If he died I would revive him myself so I can make his life hell. He can't die now. I won't let him. Who will carry my figures when I go shopping for anime goods if he is gone…
But I really am glad. Thank you Riser, I am glad you are okay. I didn't know it at the time but this was the moment that cemented when I started to look at Riser in a different way than before.
"The reason why you are going to lose is because you didn't target my head like you did in the rating game, Hyoudou Issei!!! Now let's finish this!!!" Riser looked straight ahead at Issei.
There was something different about him. He had two slits, no, those are eyes at the bottom of his eyes. And throughout his body, red solid lines like tattoos started appearing.
The venue was silent at seeing Riser's different form. What is that?
~~~
Ravel POV
I was so worried for Onii-sama but I shouldn't have worried, of course, Onii-sama wouldn't lose to a low class ranking devil, even if he is a dragon.
Onii-sama is the strongest. Even I couldn't beat him, let alone this reincarnated devil.
And Onii-sama even achieved the form he was talking about during our training. He has returned to the origin. This is Onii-sama's true devil form, and soon Onii-sama would grow so strong he can take on the satan's themselves.
I felt that his transformation is still incomplete for some reason though. Onii-sama disappeared, and reappeared in front of the sacred gear wielder. And landed a roundhouse kick. That sent the dragon flying.
The dragon got his wits about him and started boosting, he sent a dragon shot towards brother which was dodged by the slightest margin. And hit the rook pillar in the arena which crumbled to dust.
My proud brother moved so fast again that it looked like he was teleporting. He hit the armor which cracked again and started whaling on him. The dragon emperor started whaling on brother too.
However unlike before, brother's wounds are now healing at an exponential rate. Each time a wound was inflicted on him he just healed it and immediately retaliated with a cursed energy infused punch.
And then slowly but surely Onii-sama was wearing down on the sacred gear wielder. When before every crack, chip, and just destroyed part of the armor were just regenerated by the dragon. It was slowly being chipped away.
Every crack was getting bigger. Every chip in the armor got shaved away and finally something between them had to give. Between the regeneration of the armor and regeneration of Onii-sama himself.
The armor shattered to a million pieces. And only the boosted gear was left in his left arm. But to his credit the now armourless emperor did not stop fighting. Even holding a rosary in his boosted gear he should have been burning on the inside, the same as Riser Onii-sama. But he stood and fought like a warrior. Or at least a brat of a warrior.
And with both of them whaling on each other not even dodging anymore. Even Onii-sama is not using techniques anymore. It was just full on brawling at this point. They are just taking each other's punches and then giving their own.
I hate to say it but as much as I love Onii-sama, he really is such a man. Why are all men so stupid. If you can dodge an attack just dodge. Don't take it for your stupid male ego, you're going to get yourself hurt.
And then once more in the fight and for the last time. Onii-sama narrowed his eyes and said to the brown haired boy.
"Grit your teeth, Hyoudou Issei!" and the sparks of black once more shone and sent the pervert flying for the last time.
He tried getting back up but his arms supporting him gave out under his weight, and everyone knew that the fight was over. Onii-sama won.
"Stand Proud, Hyoudou Issei. You were strong." Onii-sama said, looking down at the downed boy.
The said boy was looking a little regretful but had a satisfied smile on his face as he fell unconscious and surrendered himself to sleep.
Everything was silent for a moment in the viewing room, when the men suddenly clapped and hollered at the sight of the battle that greeted them.
And I couldn't help but sigh and clap along. Men are so stupid. Am I right?
~~~
A/N:
Welp for better or worse the climax of the first arc is over, the Riser introduction arc is over and the epilogue for the arc is coming, and then the start of a new journey to go and have lots and lots of sex. We are going to pimp town baby. We are going to get some fame, money… don't forget the bitches. Well maybe not I don't know…
Anyways thanks for the support so far to continue this trend go check it out, sometimes it's free, sometimes it's not. But either way maybe you'll get satisfied with this. For advanced chapters go check out my…
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