The Shadowed Cliffs Fortress had seen plenty of chaos over the years, but tonight's gathering in the main hall was something else entirely. Raizer Phoenix had just finished briefing his peerage on the state of Rias Gremory's team, and the reactions were… well, as expected.
Sitting in a semicircle around the grand table, the legendary figures of Raizer's peerage took turns leafing through the thick dossiers Yubelluna had prepared. The hall echoed with laughter, groans, and the occasional snarky remark as each member shared their thoughts on the sorry state of the Gremory peerage.
Roger's POV: The Pirate King's Banter
"Ha!" Roger burst out laughing, slapping the table so hard it shook. "Her knight is obsessed with a sword? That's the big threat? I thought we'd be facing seasoned warriors, not walking soap operas!"
He leaned back in his chair, grinning. "And don't get me started on their so-called Red Dragon Emperor. A pervert who spends more time chasing skirts than training? If he shows up to the fight with anything more than a nosebleed, I'll be impressed."
Roger's amusement didn't stop there. He held up Rias's file, his grin widening. "And this is their leader? Low high-class power and a massive ego? She's got more pride than power, and that's saying something."
Whitebeard's POV: The Wise Titan
Whitebeard stroked his beard thoughtfully as he skimmed through the reports. Unlike Roger, his response was more measured, but the disappointment in his deep voice was clear.
"This is the Gremory heir?" he rumbled. "She's relying too much on her name and not enough on her training. Her peerage reflects her leadership—disorganized and underwhelming."
He set the file down with a shake of his head. "Her knight has potential, but his obsession blinds him. The rook has strength but no confidence. The bishop is fragile, and the pawn…" He trailed off, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "The less said about him, the better."
Garp's POV: The Blunt Teacher
Garp didn't even bother hiding his disdain. He tossed Issei's file onto the table like it was trash, snorting loudly. "This guy's supposed to be the Red Dragon Emperor? What a joke! Back in my day, dragons were terrifying. This guy couldn't scare a housecat."
He grabbed another file, flipping through it with exaggerated boredom. "And this Kiba kid—what's his deal? He's crying over some swords? Boo-hoo, get over it. You don't win fights by whining about your past."
Garp's voice boomed as he gestured toward Rias's file. "And her? She's got a fancy name and nothing to back it up. She'd better hope her looks can win fights, because her magic sure won't."
Mihawk's POV: The Stoic Critic
Mihawk sat at the far end of the table, his expression unreadable as he examined the reports. Finally, he spoke, his tone calm but cutting.
"Her knight… lacks discipline," he said, tapping Kiba's file. "A swordsman consumed by revenge is a swordsman destined to fail. His blade will always be clouded by his emotions."
He moved on to Rias's file, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "And the Gremory heiress herself? She has power but no focus. She fights with arrogance, not strategy. That will be her downfall."
Mihawk's gaze shifted to Raizer. "You'll crush them, but don't grow complacent. Overconfidence is what makes devils like her fall."
Shiki's POV: The Comedian
Shiki, as always, couldn't resist making a spectacle of himself. He floated upside down in midair, lazily flipping through the files.
"This is gold," he said, grinning. "I mean, seriously, who picked these people? Did she find them at a charity event for troubled souls?"
He held up Asia's file, his grin widening. "Look at this one—Asia, the healer with abandonment issues. I'm sorry, but is she supposed to patch up wounds or make us feel guilty?"
Flipping to Issei's file, Shiki laughed so hard he nearly fell out of the air. "And this guy? The pawn? The Red Dragon Emperor? Are we sure this isn't some cosmic prank? I've seen garden snakes with more dignity."
Beckman's POV: The Pragmatist
Beckman leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he smoked a cigarette. "It's not surprising, really," he said, his voice calm. "Rias was handed everything—her position, her peerage, her power. She's never had to fight for anything, so she doesn't know how to lead."
He gestured toward the files. "Her team reflects that. They're all damaged in some way, but instead of helping them grow, she's just coddling them. That's not leadership—that's babysitting."
He took another drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "This isn't a peerage war. It's a mercy mission."
Fujitora's POV: The Quiet Observer
Fujitora sat quietly, his blind eyes closed as he listened to the conversation around him. Finally, he spoke, his tone measured.
"Every person in her peerage carries a heavy burden," he said softly. "But instead of overcoming their struggles, they're clinging to them. That makes them weak, not because of their past, but because they refuse to move forward."
He tilted his head toward Raizer. "You'll defeat them easily. But I wonder—what will become of them afterward?"
Akainu's POV: The Ruthless Critic
Akainu scoffed, crossing his arms as he glanced over the files. "They're pathetic," he said bluntly. "Weak, undisciplined, and unworthy of the title of devils."
He pointed at Issei's file. "This one especially. A disgrace to the Red Dragon's legacy. If he were under my command, he wouldn't last a day."
He moved on to Rias's file, his expression hardening. "And their so-called leader? She's more concerned with her pride than her power. That kind of arrogance is going to get her killed."
Yubelluna's POV: The Voice of Reason
Yubelluna, ever composed, waited for the laughter and snide remarks to die down before speaking. "It's true that Rias and her peerage are weaker than us," she said calmly. "But dismissing them entirely would be a mistake. Desperation can make people dangerous."
She glanced at Raizer. "That said, this is an opportunity—for both sides. For us, to show the strength of our unity. And for them, to see what they're lacking. Perhaps it will push them to grow."
Raizer's Final Thoughts
As the discussion wound down, I leaned back in my chair, watching my peerage with a faint smile. Their opinions were as varied as their personalities, but one thing was clear: none of them saw Rias's peerage as a real threat.
"Alright," I said, standing up. "We've had our fun, but let's not get overconfident. They might be weak, but that doesn't mean we can slack off. This is still a fight, and we're going to treat it like any other."
"Understood," Mihawk said, nodding.
Garp grinned. "Let's show them what real devils look like."
As I looked around at my peerage—legends, warriors, and comrades—I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Whatever came next, I knew we'd face it together.
This chapter captures the diverse personalities of Raizer's peerage as they react to Rias's team, blending humor, insight, and camaraderie. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to tweak!