The room was tense, the atmosphere charged with energy as Raizer Phoenix stood in the center, his golden eyes fixed on Issei Hyoudou. The Gremory peerage clustered around their king, confusion and anger flickering across their faces, while Raizer's peerage lounged casually behind him, their smirks barely concealed.
Issei, though clearly nervous, stepped forward, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "What do you want now?" he said, trying to sound braver than he felt.
Raizer's calm demeanor didn't waver. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You've been awfully quiet since Shiki made his little speech. I expected more fire from the so-called Red Dragon Emperor."
Issei bristled at the taunt, his face flushing red. "You want fire? Fine! I'll show you just how strong I am!"
The Challenge
Before anyone could stop him, Issei summoned his Boosted Gear, the crimson gauntlet materializing on his left arm with a flash of light. The dragon etched into the gear's surface seemed to shimmer, its eye glowing faintly as if responding to its wielder's determination.
"Ddraig!" Issei shouted, his voice ringing with both desperation and confidence. "Boost me to the max!"
A deep, rumbling voice echoed in his mind, the presence of the Red Dragon Emperor responding. "Are you sure about this, Partner? This opponent is far stronger than you realize."
"I don't care!" Issei snapped. "He's mocking me, and I won't let him get away with it!"
The voice sighed, almost reluctantly. "Very well. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Boost!"
A wave of energy surged through the room as the Boosted Gear began its countdown, amplifying Issei's power with every tick. The air grew heavier with each burst of energy, the glowing gauntlet practically pulsing with raw potential.
Raizer's Calm Confidence
Raizer didn't flinch as the pressure in the room increased. Instead, he kept his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his body language radiating complete control.
"Impressive light show," Raizer remarked, his tone light. "But all that energy doesn't mean much if you don't know how to use it."
Issei gritted his teeth, his fists trembling as the Boosted Gear reached its peak. "You'll eat those words!"
"Go ahead," Raizer said, smirking slightly. "Hit me with everything you've got. I won't even move my hands."
The room fell silent, Rias's voice cutting through the tension. "Issei, stop! This isn't a good idea—"
But Issei wasn't listening. With a roar, he charged forward, his fist glowing with crimson energy as he threw his entire weight into the punch.
The Aura Barrier
The moment Issei's fist closed in, Raizer's aura flared to life. It wasn't magic, Haki, or any other technique—it was pure, concentrated aura, the raw power of a mid-Satan-class devil condensed into an invisible barrier around his body.
The punch never even reached him.
The moment Issei's fist collided with the aura, it was as though he'd hit an impenetrable wall. The energy from the Boosted Gear rippled outward, but it was immediately snuffed out, absorbed into the overwhelming presence surrounding Raizer.
Issei was launched backward with a force that sent him flying across the room, his body slamming into the far wall with a sickening thud.
The Aftermath
The room was dead silent as Issei slid to the floor, coughing violently. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his breaths came in ragged gasps.
Rias rushed to his side, her eyes wide with panic. "Issei! Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," Issei wheezed, though his trembling hands betrayed him.
Raizer turned toward his peerage, their expressions ranging from faint amusement to outright laughter.
Roger was the first to break the silence, laughing so hard he had to clutch his sides. "That was it? The Red Dragon Emperor, everyone! Give him a round of applause!"
Whitebeard chuckled deeply, his booming voice filling the room. "I've seen stronger punches from a drunk sailor."
Even Mihawk allowed a faint smirk to grace his usually stoic face. "Pathetic," he said simply.
Shiki floated overhead, laughing so hard he nearly fell out of the air. "Oh, man! That was priceless! Did you see the way he just bounced off the wall? Classic!"
Raizer's Proposition
As the laughter subsided, Raizer began walking toward Issei, his steps slow and deliberate. The sound of his shoes against the floor was the only noise in the room.
"Raizer," Rias said sharply, moving to block his path. "That's enough. You've made your point."
Raizer stopped a few feet away, his golden eyes meeting hers. "I'm not here to hurt him any further," he said calmly. "I'm here to talk."
Rias hesitated, her gaze darting between Raizer and Issei. Reluctantly, she stepped aside.
Raizer crouched down in front of Issei, his expression unreadable. "Tell me, Issei," he said softly, his tone calm but firm. "Is the Red Dragon Emperor home? I'd like to have a word with him."
Issei blinked, his mind still foggy from the impact. "W-What are you talking about?"
Raizer tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "I'm talking about Ddraig, the dragon inside your Boosted Gear. I have a proposition for him."
Issei frowned, his confusion evident. "A proposition?"
Raizer's voice lowered, his words deliberate. "I can free him. I can break the chains binding him to that gear and release him from his prison."
The room went deathly silent, Rias and her peerage staring at Raizer in stunned disbelief.
"W-What are you saying?" Rias stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Raizer didn't look at her, his focus entirely on Issei. "In exchange, he becomes my familia summon—bound to me, free from the gear, but still tied to this world."
"Y-You're lying," Issei said weakly. "You can't do that."
Raizer smiled faintly, his golden eyes glinting with confidence. "Can't I?"
The room's tension skyrocketed, the implications of Raizer's words sinking in. For a moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped, every eye in the room fixed on Raizer as they waited for his next move.
Cliffhanger
And then, with a quiet calmness that only deepened the weight of his words, Raizer stood and turned to face the rest of the room.
"Well, Ddraig?" he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "What do you say?"
The screen displaying the match flickered faintly, capturing the shocked faces of the audience as the entire arena held its breath, waiting for the Red Dragon's answer.
This chapter showcases Raizer's calm dominance, the tension between the peerages, and the shocking proposition that sets the stage for an explosive development. Let me know if you'd like to expand on any sections!