The underworld was still buzzing with the aftermath of Raizer Phoenix's devastating roast of Rias Gremory and her peerage. It wasn't just a loss in a peerage game—it was a public undressing of everything Rias stood for. Across the devil world, whispers of "The Phoenix Roast" were spreading like wildfire, but within the Gremory peerage, the damage was far more personal.
Each member of Rias's team wrestled with their own struggles, and for the first time, they were forced to confront the brutal truths Raizer had laid bare.
Rias: A Broken Leader
Rias sat slumped on her bed, her crimson hair disheveled and her expression hollow. She'd barely moved since the end of the peerage game, choosing to shut herself away in her chambers. Her pride, her confidence, and her identity as a leader—all of it had been shattered.
Raizer's words echoed in her mind over and over:
"You're a spoiled little princess who's been handed everything and done nothing with it."
"All your nutrients must have gone to your boobs instead of your brain."
"You're not a leader—you're a caretaker for a group of broken misfits."
The memory of his scathing remarks made her stomach churn. Tears welled up in her crimson eyes as she replayed the scene in her mind. She had fought so hard to keep her pride intact, only for Raizer to tear it apart in front of the entire underworld.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Am I really that useless?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Akeno: The Queen's Guilt
In the adjoining room, Akeno Himejima sat quietly, her usual calm smile replaced by a rare look of introspection. Raizer's words had cut deep, forcing her to confront truths she'd buried long ago.
"If you survived your mother's death, it's because someone let you survive. Do you really think an eight-year-old could outwit professional supernatural trackers? You've built your identity around revenge, but it's blinded you to everything else."
She closed her eyes, her hands trembling slightly. "He's right," she admitted softly to herself. "I've been so focused on my pain, on my anger, that I've ignored my duty as Rias's queen. Instead of helping her, I've been wallowing in my own problems."
The idea that her mother's death—and her survival—might have been orchestrated was a bitter pill to swallow. For years, she had clung to the narrative of her own strength, but now she was forced to question everything.
Koneko: A Conflicted Rook
Koneko Toujou sat by the window, staring out into the night. The cookie in her hand crumbled as she gripped it too tightly, her emotions swirling in a way she didn't know how to process.
"Your sister didn't abandon you—she protected you. She killed the monsters who experimented on her and the ones who murdered your mother. Instead of blaming her, you should have been thanking her."
Those words had struck her like a hammer, shattering the grudge she'd held for years. Could it really be true? Was her sister not the monster she'd convinced herself she was?
Koneko's small hands tightened into fists. "Did I… misunderstand her this whole time?" she muttered, her voice barely audible. "Did I waste all these years being angry for nothing?"
She thought about Raizer's comment about Rias: "You're not a leader—you're a caretaker." Was that all their king had ever been to her?
Kiba: A Knight Without Purpose
Yuuto Kiba sat on a bench in the training courtyard, his sword resting across his lap. He stared at the blade, his reflection distorted on its surface.
"You're not a swordsman. You're a boy swinging a blade without understanding what it means to wield one. Destroying swords won't solve anything if the system that created them remains intact."
Raizer's words echoed in his mind, challenging the very foundation of his existence. For years, his hatred of the holy sword project had been his driving force. But now, he wondered if his obsession had blinded him to the bigger picture.
"Am I just a child clinging to revenge?" he asked himself bitterly. The idea made his stomach turn. He thought of Mihawk's cutting remark: "Without vision, you'll never be anything more than a blade without purpose."
The thought burned. But maybe, just maybe, they were right.
Asia: A Fragile Glass Cannon
Asia Argento sat quietly in the corner of the common room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She had tried to smile and offer comfort to the others, but the weight of Raizer's critique hung heavily over her as well.
"You're a healer with no confidence and no combat ability. You're a glass cannon who shouldn't even be on the battlefield."
She sniffled, tears pooling in her eyes. "Am I… am I really that useless?" she whispered.
Asia had always tried to believe in her purpose as a devil, but Raizer's words made her question everything. Had she been dragging everyone down all along?
Issei: The Most Devastated
Issei Hyoudou was, perhaps, the most affected of all. He sat in his room, his head buried in his hands as Raizer's voice echoed in his mind like a relentless drumbeat.
"You're a disgusting predator who treats women like trophies. You don't deserve the power you've been given, and you don't deserve the respect of anyone around you. In any decent society, you'd be behind bars."
Issei's breathing was shaky, his thoughts a chaotic mess of anger, humiliation, and denial. "I'm not like that…" he whispered, but the words felt hollow even to him.
For the first time, Issei was forced to confront the truth of his behavior. The way he talked about women, the way he treated them—it wasn't heroic. It was selfish and gross.
He looked at his reflection in the window, his expression twisted with guilt. "Am I really… that horrible?"
Rias Tries to Rebuild
Later that evening, Rias gathered her peerage in the common room. The atmosphere was heavy, her team's usual camaraderie replaced by a tense silence.
"We need to talk," Rias said, her voice quieter than usual.
The others looked at her, their expressions ranging from guilt to frustration.
"What do we do now?" Kiba asked after a long pause. "Raizer was right about everything. We're not strong enough to fight anyone like him. Not even close."
Rias flinched at his words but nodded. "We're not. But we can change that."
Koneko crossed her arms, her voice flat. "How? You're the one who let us get this weak."
Rias bit her lip, the sting of Koneko's words cutting deep. "I know I've failed you," she admitted. "I haven't been the leader you needed. But I promise, that changes now."
The others exchanged hesitant glances.
"We'll train harder," Rias continued. "We'll work together and fix what's broken. But first… I need to fix myself."
Hope for the Future
Though the wounds left by Raizer's roast were still fresh, the Gremory peerage began to feel the faintest flicker of hope. For the first time, Rias was taking responsibility for her failures, and the others were starting to question their own shortcomings.
The road ahead would be long and difficult, but perhaps, in the ashes of their humiliation, they could find a way to rebuild.
This chapter dives deep into the emotional aftermath of Raizer's critique, focusing on the internal struggles of Rias and her peerage while setting the stage for their potential growth. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
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