DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Riser's Mansion in the Underworld

Hours had passed since the battle in Lilith, and Riser's mansion in the Underworld was shrouded in a heavy silence. Riser was in his room, lying on his bed, while the distant echoes of the battle still resonated in his mind.

Suddenly, a soft glow filled the room.

BZZZZT!

A communication spell began to manifest in his hand, creating a hologram. Riser raised his arm slowly, watching as the figure of Ajuka Beelzebub took form in the air. The serious expression on Ajuka's face indicated that something important had arisen.

"We've read the hybrid's mind. We know everything now," Ajuka began, his voice grave and direct.

"Tell me what you discovered," Riser responded, his eyes focused.

"Valerie Tepes has been kidnapped by Euclid Lucifuge. He's forcing her to use the Sephiroth Graal, her Sacred Gear, to create the Evil Dragons that attacked Lilith. Valerie is under hypnosis. He's manipulating her completely."

Riser frowned, pondering the situation.

"So, the Sephiroth Graal is the key to these attacks," Riser said seriously.

"Yes," Ajuka continued. "This Sacred Gear can manipulate life and death. Combined with the power of dragons, it becomes an immense threat. However, rescuing Valerie isn't our primary focus right now. The priority is defeating Rizevim."

Riser nodded slightly, reflecting for a moment before thanking him.

"Thank you for the information, Ajuka. I'll get ready."

Ajuka paused briefly before ending the call, his figure disappearing into the air as the light from the hologram dissipated.

BZZZZT!

Riser slowly got out of bed, his thoughts now focused on Valerie Tepes. 'Valerie would be useful for Merlin's Peerage... All I need is to save her from Rizevim and Euclid,' Riser thought, feeling a new wave of determination surge within him.

He then extended his hand, activating the communication spell once more. A new hologram began to form, this time revealing the elegant figure of Merlin, who materialized in his palm.

"Riser-sama," Merlin said, her voice calm and professional. "What do you require?"

"I need a location spell to find Valerie Tepes," Riser explained bluntly. "She's been kidnapped by Euclid, and she's under hypnosis, using the power of the Sephiroth Graal. We need to find her as soon as possible."

Merlin narrowed her eyes, quickly processing the information before responding.

"Understood, Riser-sama. I can perform the location spell, but it will take some time. However, it will be possible to track Valerie, even with Euclid's magical barriers."

"Good," Riser said, satisfied with Merlin's efficiency. "Valerie would be an important addition to your Peerage. Make sure to bring her back safely."

Merlin nodded, a glint of confidence in her eyes.

"I will begin preparations immediately, Riser-sama. I'll contact you as soon as I have results."

"Thank you, Merlin. I'll be waiting for your news," Riser said, concluding the conversation.

Merlin gave a slight smile before ending the call, the hologram gradually fading from Riser's hand as the magic dissipated.

BZZZZT!

With the call ended and preparations underway, Riser let out a soft sigh and lay back down on his bed. His eyes fixed on the ceiling as his mind processed the upcoming events and what needed to be done. Valerie Tepes could be a crucial piece in the game he was about to play, and he was determined to use her to his advantage.

For now, all he could do was wait.

Thirty minutes later, Sona entered Riser's room quietly, her soft steps barely making a sound on the dark marble floor. The room was immersed in a tranquil atmosphere, only the gentle sound of Riser's breathing filling the air. Sona, with her thin glasses and calm expression, approached the window and gazed outside. She was clearly deep in thought, her hands resting lightly on the windowsill as the soft light of the Underworld's night illuminated her face.

The silence was interrupted by a sudden glow in the air.

BZZZZT!

Another magical communication began to manifest, and Riser, still lying in bed, raised his arm to answer. The figure of Merlin appeared in the hologram, her calm and professional demeanor unchanged.

"Riser-sama," Merlin said serenely, "everything you requested is ready."

Riser glanced briefly at Sona, who remained focused on the window, before responding in a controlled tone, without revealing much. "Good work, Merlin. I appreciate your efficiency."

Merlin, noticing Sona's presence and sensing that this wasn't the moment for further explanation, simply smiled lightly and nodded. "I am at your service, Riser-sama."

The call ended.

BZZZZT!

Riser got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom, where he began washing his face. The cool water ran gently over his skin, helping to clear his mind after so many intense events. Meanwhile, Sona remained near the window, her eyes lost on the horizon, but her silence spoke volumes. She knew Riser was hiding something, but for now, she chose to ignore it. She sighed softly, the Underworld moon reflecting off her glasses as the room continued to envelop her in a superficial calm.

After finishing washing his face, Riser turned and approached Sona. Coming up behind her, he wrapped her in a firm embrace, his hands sliding gently around her waist. Sona stayed quiet for a moment, as if allowing herself to forget her worries. She felt Riser's warm breath on her neck, and then his lips touched her skin delicately.

Riser, now closer, leaned in and kissed Sona, his hands still holding her waist. The kiss was slow and deep, as if time had stopped in that moment. Sona returned the kiss, allowing the tension she had felt to dissipate completely, even though she knew there was more behind Riser's restrained words.

Headquarters

Sirzechs stood beside Ajuka in the Maou headquarters, his eyes scanning a large map of the ongoing war in the Underworld. The surrounding environment was somber, illuminated only by magical torches casting a soft glow over the table covered with maps, reports, and strategies.

Ajuka, with his calm and analytical posture, studied the map alongside Sirzechs, his eyes glowing with serious concentration. He broke the silence, his voice tranquil but weighted.

"We should call Riser to join the war," Ajuka said, still looking at the map. "He proved effective in Lilith, and his presence could be useful on the battlefield."

Sirzechs remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the map, though his thoughts were elsewhere. He finally looked at Ajuka, his blue eyes revealing a slight hint of distrust.

"No," Sirzechs responded, his voice firm but restrained. "Riser needs to continue protecting the Underworld."

'I don't trust Riser to fight by my side in such a delicate war,' Sirzechs thought, his expression hardening slightly.

Ajuka, noticing Sirzechs' hesitation, simply nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the map in front of him.

"As you wish," Ajuka said calmly, his hands folded over the map. "But I must ask, are all the participants ready?"

Sirzechs, still with his eyes on the map, answered without hesitation.

"Yes, they are ready," Sirzechs said firmly.

Ajuka nodded in agreement, satisfied with Sirzechs' response, though his gaze still carried a note of caution.

Riser's Mansion in the Underworld

Two hours passed, and the heavy silence in Riser's mansion in the Underworld dominated the atmosphere. Sona was lying in bed, already asleep, her face serene and calm as the faint light of the Underworld moon illuminated her resting body. Riser, emerging from the bathroom, slowly dried his hands with a towel as his eyes watched Sona's figure for a moment.

With a calm movement, Riser approached the bed and leaned over her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Sona stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake up. Satisfied, Riser gave one last look at his wife before activating his magic circle.

A golden glow enveloped his feet, and in the blink of an eye, Riser vanished from the room.

BZZZZT!

Riser's Mansion in Kuoh

Riser materialized smoothly in the main hall of his mansion in Kuoh, where Merlin, Tiamat, Rossweisse, Kuroka, and Iryuka were already waiting.

Merlin was the first to approach Riser, her posture confident and her gaze as analytical as ever. She made a slight bow before speaking.

"Welcome, Riser-sama," Merlin said, her voice soft but professional. "We are ready to perform the location spell as requested."

Riser nodded, glancing at the other women of Merlin's Peerage.

"Good work, Merlin," Riser said, a slight smile on his face as he addressed her and the others. He then looked directly at Iryuka, who stood a little further back but was visibly eager to help. "Iryuka, I'm glad to see you're adapting well."

Iryuka gave a small bow, grateful to be included in the plan.

Riser walked toward the center of the room, where a large holographic globe of the Underworld floated. "Let's begin," he said, gesturing for Merlin to start the spell.

Merlin positioned herself beside the globe and began murmuring ancient words in a magical language. Her hands traced symbols in the air, and the holographic globe began to glow with increasing intensity, the lights swirling around the hall.

After a few minutes, the globe started displaying a detailed map of the Underworld, with a specific point marked by a pulsing red "X."

Riser approached the globe, his eyes fixed on the marked spot. He carefully observed the location revealed by Merlin's spell. The hologram displayed a remote and isolated area, far from the major centers of the Underworld.

"So that's where you are, Valerie Tepes," Riser murmured, his eyes locked on the "X," his mind already plotting the next steps. "I'm coming."

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