The Shadowed Cliff Castle had quickly become both a harsh reality check and an unrelenting training ground for Rias Gremory and her peerage. Days passed in a blur of grueling exercises under Garp's relentless tutelage, but the group soon discovered that the physical toll was only part of the challenge.
Living within Raizer Phoenix's domain came with another harsh truth—his world operated on discipline, ambition, and an unrelenting pursuit of strength. For Rias and her peerage, the first few days were nothing short of humiliating.
Life in the Shadowed Cliff Castle
The castle was stark and minimalistic, and Rias had already thrown several tantrums about the lack of luxury. Each member of her peerage was assigned an identical room—bare stone walls, a single bed, a desk, and a chair. No decorations, no comfort. It was as though the castle itself rejected the idea of indulgence.
"This is ridiculous," Rias muttered one morning as she glared at her barren quarters. "I'm the heir to the Gremory family, and I'm stuck in this… this cell!"
"It's not that bad," Koneko said flatly, walking past her door with a half-eaten cookie.
"Not that bad?!" Rias exclaimed, gesturing dramatically to her surroundings. "I deserve better than this!"
"You don't," came Raizer's voice, startling her. He leaned casually against the doorway, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "This castle is designed for people who work hard. If you're looking for luxury, go back to your estate—oh wait, you can't."
Rias flushed, her anger flaring. "Why are you even here?!"
Raizer smirked. "Just checking on my new students. How's the training going? Survived Garp's punches yet?"
Her fists clenched as she bit back a retort. The last thing she wanted was to admit how thoroughly Garp had been dismantling her team every single day.
Observing Raizer's Routine
Though Raizer rarely interacted with Rias and her peerage directly, they quickly realized how little they truly understood about him.
"He's everywhere," Kiba muttered one afternoon as they watched Raizer sparring with Mihawk in the courtyard. The two moved so quickly that their blades were almost invisible, the sheer force of their strikes creating shockwaves.
"And yet, he's never really here," Akeno added, frowning. "Have you noticed? He's always working on something else. Either managing his empire or training."
Koneko nodded, her sharp eyes focused on Raizer. "He's the last to sleep and the first to wake. And he trains like a maniac in between."
Issei groaned, slumping onto the grass. "Who does that? Does this guy even know what fun is?"
"Fun doesn't win wars," Koneko said bluntly, biting into another cookie.
Rias, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. For all her complaints about Raizer's arrogance, his dedication and focus were undeniable.
Garp Brags About Raizer
One evening, after yet another brutal training session, Garp gathered the exhausted peerage around a fire in the courtyard. As they nursed their bruises, Garp leaned back with a smug grin.
"Did you know," he began, his voice booming with pride, "that Raizer started training at the age of two?"
"Two?!" Rias exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Two," Garp repeated, nodding sagely. "And by the time he was four, he was strong enough to spar with me. That's when I decided to take him under my wing."
"You trained him?" Kiba asked cautiously, still nursing a bruise from earlier.
Garp laughed. "Trained him? I made him! Every punch, every kick, every technique—he learned it all from me. And let me tell you, that boy didn't just survive my training; he thrived. Most people wouldn't last a week with me."
Issei groaned, his head in his hands. "I'm barely lasting a day."
Garp grinned wider. "Exactly! And Raizer's been doing this since he was four. While you were playing games, he was building himself into a warrior."
The Peerage's Real Power
As the days went on, Rias and her peerage began to piece together the true power of Raizer's peerage. The more they learned, the more their annoyance turned into a mix of awe and terror.
"How strong is his team?" Akeno asked one evening, her voice cautious.
Garp leaned back with a smirk. "You really want to know?"
Rias nodded, though her stomach twisted with unease.
"Alright," Garp said, counting on his fingers. "Whitebeard, Mihawk, Roger, and me—we're all Super Devil Rank. The highest rank you can reach in the underworld."
The group froze.
"Super Devil Rank?" Kiba choked out, his face pale.
"That's right," Garp said, grinning. "And Mihawk? He's the strongest swordsman alive. Not just because of his skill, but because of his Devil Fruit. And let me tell you, he's not someone you want to disrespect."
Kiba's face turned ghostly white as he remembered his earlier encounter with Mihawk. "He's going to kill me. He's going to suck my blood and my youth. I'm dead."
Shiki, who was passing by, burst into laughter. "Don't flatter yourself, kid. Mihawk doesn't care enough about you to bother."
"That's not comforting!" Kiba wailed.
The Others
"And the rest of them?" Rias asked cautiously.
Garp grinned. "Shiki, Sengoku, Akainu, Kuzan, Greenbull, Fujitora, and Ben Beckman—they're all Mid to Peak Satan Rank. Stronger than most devils alive today."
"And Raizer?" Akeno asked, though she already suspected the answer.
"Mid Satan Rank," Garp said proudly. "But don't let that fool you—he's climbing fast. I wouldn't be surprised if he caught up to me soon."
The group stared at Garp in stunned silence, the weight of his words sinking in.
Reactions to the Truth
Issei broke the silence with a groan. "We're doomed. Doomed. These guys are on a completely different level."
"You're not wrong," Koneko said flatly.
Kiba buried his face in his hands. "I've spent my whole life training as a knight, and even I can't imagine reaching that level. What's the point?"
Rias clenched her fists, her pride warring with the undeniable reality. "We have to try. If they can reach those heights, so can we."
"Not if you keep whining," Garp said bluntly, smirking.
The Reality of Raizer's Life
Over the next few days, Rias and her peerage couldn't help but observe Raizer's routine more closely. His life was a whirlwind of work, training, and strategy, leaving no room for distractions.
"He's not just strong," Akeno admitted one evening. "He's disciplined. Everything he does is purposeful."
"And it's paying off," Kiba added. "He's surrounded himself with the best of the best. His peerage is a powerhouse."
"He doesn't waste time," Koneko said simply, biting into another cookie.
Rias remained quiet, her mind racing. For all her frustrations with Raizer, she couldn't deny his achievements. He was everything she wasn't: focused, driven, and unrelenting.
Cliffhanger: A New Perspective
As the days wore on, Rias and her peerage began to see Raizer in a new light. The road ahead of them was daunting, but one thing was clear: if they wanted to survive in this world, they would need to learn from the man who had built an empire through sheer determination and grit.
And whether they liked it or not, Raizer wasn't giving them a choice.
This expanded chapter delves deeper into Rias and her peerage's reactions to Raizer's strength and lifestyle, highlighting their growing respect and dread. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!