Flesh is Weak

The mask lifts.

The house was extremely quiet when I returned from my work at the station. I was surprised not to have been immediately jumped by Rias upon returning. Instead, she was waiting outside the teleporter room with a sword, practicing stances along with trying to coat her blade in the power of destruction. It was still weak and only coated the blade's lower third. Rias stood with her back to me, and she seemed frustrated and pleased. Given that she has never had the power of destruction for most of her life, it's a steep learning curve. Rias had an unusual stance, however, with her sword.

It was from the White Scars. She was practicing coating the blade higher when I asked from a safe distance away from her.

"You ok, Ria?"

Rias jumped in surprise before she swung her sword in a clear death sentence for anyone close to it. It was not flashy like the Scars, just a brutal swing designed to take someone at the midsection. The sword hit the air, and I was impressed with Rias. She had done the move almost perfectly. Rias immediately went bashful, and she blushed. I smiled, and Rias was cute by being that red. My redhead finally said something.

"I'm sorry you scared me!"

Rias dropped the sword from its stance, and I approached.

"You did that move incredibly well, Ria. How many sessions did you do?"

Rias blushed again and then said in a soft voice.

"Three. I want to be strong like you. I want the strength and certainty of steel. I want to be your Lady of Iron with how she is likely Lady Astaroth. I want to prove to you that your efforts for me were not for nothing."

The bitterness of having lost that title for Rias was plain to hear. Rias's anger made her power coat more of the sword in red energy. I touched her hand, which settled the anger and the bitterness a tiny bit.

"I will acknowledge everyone as Lady Astaroth. You and Kuroka will have that, too. The efforts were duty at first, Ria, but when I learned what they would do to you, I destroyed an entire room in my rage, knowing that they would hurt you. I love you and want you to be safe, along with showing the asshat nobles that you are strong. My wife is not nor will ever be weak."

Rias tears up before she shakes softly saying in a happy voice.

"I love you too, even the parts I didn't understand at the beginning. I understand most of them now."

The atmosphere between us was one of happiness with the other. Before we settled in for dueling. Rias was getting good with a sword thanks to the hypno machine and practice before. She tapped me more than in our last series of fights. She was pleased with the style she was using, and it was, I noticed, easy to miss when a blow was going to hit you. Jaghati was an amazing swordsman, and I can see that his influence was deep in his legion's sword style. Rias also saw something new in our fights.

We were both holding back killing blows and were both tired at the end of our duels. I had won only by experience. Rias was very pleased with how this had helped her in swordplay. Rias had her head on my right shoulder as we sat against a wall on the floor, and this is something I want more of. The two of us together, and Rias, likes the sword as I do. It's been a good day, and I want more of these days than days when I feel the dread of the future. That was still there but having Rias and Kuroka made that lessen significantly. Rias was preparing to say something to me, and her face was beet red.

"I got news back from my folks. They said that they are hopeful about this. They, however, want to meet you. My sister heard that they met your grandfather, and she demanded to be there too."

Rias beams, knowing that this will help her more when her sister learns I am the Gorgan. I won't hide it there and will let the man be known. I smile, smirk, and then help Rias up.

"We can run Ria. I just don't want you nabbed by him. When do your parents want to meet me?"

Rias leans on my shoulder in pure bliss. We prepare to go upstairs, and as we climb them, Rias tells me in a happy voice.

"This weekend. They are ecstatic that I found a way out. They have hated Riser for years now, but with how few eligible people there are, they couldn't find a better deal for me. No one but the Phenex would give them anything they felt was good enough for me. I have not told them yet about the power of destruction. I wanted them to be surprised and like you more."

I'll make sure of that. We reached the first floor, and I was enjoying this with Rias.

"I'm free Saturday, Ria. I have a person in our group looking for more of his bases so they can be cleaned up. I'll start taking you with me. I just don't want you to be hurt. I'll make you armor and weapons. Do you want a chainsword or a power sword?"

Rias considered before she said with a very happy voice.

"Chainsword so I can be like you. I have been curious about it. My spirit wants to help me become stronger, too. I like him and he says that you have been extremely worried about me. You won't have to worry soon. He won't get this Lady of Iron."

I like this bravery it's cute. We went our separate ways to get joggers' clothes and a quick shower. Kuroka was sleeping in my room. Making the scene cuter and worse was Shirone, who was snoring. Both cats had their tails out wrapped around each other. I tip-toed past them and then grabbed my clothes, heading to the shower. When I was back out, the cats were awake and facing the door. Shirone looked bug-eyed at me. Kuroka smiled wide and teased her sister.

"My mate Shirone you're falling behind here."

Shirone grew still before running out of the room quickly. I snickered at the white cat, as did Kuroka. She prepared to get her own jogging clothes as I snarked at my queen.

"You are definitely the Bad Cat. I, however, can't fault your logic for her she's improving. I'll get him tidied up soon. I have a poison that will make it bad for him but I will need your bird skills again. They are all drones and I have proof now!"

My last bit got a pillow sent my way slamming into my head. However, Kuroka was snickering in amusement at that too.

"Your birds might be drones, but birds are still real, nya. You will fail here, silly mate. Are you saying your betrothed is a drone, nya?"

I snickered there.

"Most definitely, she is a drone. Drones are scary, Kuroka! She was the one who made all the plans for his games. They were nearly flawless. I don't know if she will like me. I caught sight of her early on, and I ran from her. That might come back to haunt me. I don't think she saw me yet I am unlucky."

Kuroka snorted.

"'Unlucky' you have Red and me nya. As for that, I hope you're okay. Who else was in his peerage nya?"

I turned my back to her, allowing my queen to get dressed. I answered her with a smile.

"A true Leviathan, a Valkyrie, Ravel, the wielder of Druandal, a grim reaper, and the nun with a heart of gold. I want to try to help the Leviathan. She's not in a good situation there. She also had a new Longinus and was eventually was going to become the actual Leviathan."

Kuroka was silent in shock upon hearing that. I do want to help Ingvild. If she is who she is there. Her in the peerage would help so very much because she would give us more legitimacy. She was mind-controlled there, and she could target my stupid iguana friend if she had the same gear. I worry about the Alliance of Hell more now. The Machine God says that they are not aware of me. I frowned heavily, trying to remember something before remembering my persistent dream. I asked him who the eye was. The Machine God was silent. Before saying, he didn't know who that was. All he knows is that they are strange and are not a threat otherwise he would have stepped in. I don't like that, and I'll start keeping a dream journal.

Kuroka purring for me as we descended the stairs calmed my worry slightly. At the door were Rias and Shirone in jogging pants and shirts. Shirone preens, trying to get me to look at her. A warning look from Kuroka is sent my way.

"You all look very beautiful. Where is Keno?"

Rias looked nervously at the basement, and I sighed.

"I'll be back."

Rias was about to say something to me; however, I wanted to get endorphins in me again. I opened the door to the medical ward, and my eyes were closed, getting ready to say something. They opened to the worst sight I had ever seen, and I went pale white.

It's horrific on a level I can't believe. It's Akeno wearing a slutty red nurse's costume facing Issari, who is strapped down for the enhancements. Issari is looking at me with her brown eyes, warning me not to say anything. I slowly closed the door to the ward, and then I walked upstairs. I want death's embrace. When I return to Rias, I'm still bone white in horror, and my redhead hugs my right arm in support. Kuroka looked curious while Shirone was looking at me in a what did I see way. I didn't say anything further as we exited the house.

The horror there would not leave me. I was so transfixed in said horror. Is this a dream? A very evil dream of the warp? Raynare's voice broke me out of it because of what happened.

"My Great King needs my help!"

I was slammed face-first into the ground by said person. Raynare babbling out to me while hugging my back.

"I tried to have Red stop you, my Great King! I tried to get there fast enough to save you!"

I groan from the sidewalk as I feel a rib crack from the force of the impact. Rias softly says from my right.

"I'm sorry, Gregor-kun. I was embarrassed by it and didn't say it fully. Please forgive me!"

Raynare, babbling her apologies too, increased the noise. This amuses Kuroka, who gets Raynare off me. Shirone tried to get me up off the ground. I get pulled up, and I say while still in my prison of the mind.

"I have seen the end of the world. I want to be in a black ship surrounded by blanks then I will be in what I feel."

Raynare babbled out to me in fear.

"The soulless should never be allowed! They who are unnatural never wish that!"

That confirms it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Everyone but she and I are confused by that response. I asked Raynare about this to focus on something other than the costume.

"How are you that Ray?"

Raynare was extremely nervous, and she came into my eyesight. She is wearing jogging clothes, and she is definitely like Asia and Hetvia, with her fingers poking together. Everyone was confused about this before Kuroka opened her eyes wide remembering the moment in the station. Raynare falls in with me on my left, and she pokes her fingers rapidly into each other. We started moving towards the gate, and when we got there, Raynare finally started talking.

"Father wanted us down here with the second children totally at some point. I was in one of the groups made to test this."

I opened the gate for everyone to the street. Rias and Shirone were so lost. Before, Rias widened her eyes in shock. We five exited the grounds, and after closing the gate with a clang, I walked with the group towards the park. I don't get why, still.

"You have that how?"

Raynare finger pokes before she answers with a small voice.

"I am not a normal angel. I was once like you. I was reincarnated before. Father wanted to test a way to counter falling."

I widened my eyes horrifying wide. Raynare had been a human before! I looked at her with both eyes on her, and now I feel horrible about this. Raynare started talking to the stunned four of us in a small voice.

"I remember little of before. Father hoped that I could be the answer to the future problem and that I could help them. However, Father is the wisest and he has been further refining the process."

Holy shit. Big G planned for his death in multiple ways. Raynare was the first brave saint.

"Card or something else?"

Raynare smiled bashfully, and I understand now more than ever why she would have never killed Issari if canon had been followed. My pawn replied, and everyone was still in shock.

"Ace. I would be like the one who would come later. Father had high hopes for me and said that I could have a good life here, unlike the other places. I have seen many of them. They made me sad, especially the ones where I ruined them totally. No one understood until you. Metatron tried, but even he failed to understand."

Holy cog oil, that is not what I expected. No wonder she was so sad at the station with Issari. She saw the ones where her actions probably led to irreversible damage to Issei. It's amazing that she hasn't gone mad. I feel horrible for Raynare, no beyond horrible. I squeezed her hand in support and she looked from the ground. Her purple eyes softened, seeing my total acceptance of her.

"You're not a freak, Ray. You're just here incredibly early. They won't get this until much later. The way didn't work, it seems."

Raynare smiled at me, now having someone who knows what she is besides Big G. No wonder she can't help by saying his name often, even as a devil. Rias, along with the others, don't know what to say. Raynare smiled at me and said with that smile.

"I fell because Father said to me that there would be one who understands me and would be the person who could help me. I was greedy for that person. I now have my Great King who can help me finally, why I feel shame for how we met. Why I did the action despite my fear of them. I had to be with the one who understood me. My Red King of Mars has my heart and loyalty. I assumed the worst before I knew my king. Please don't think of me less."

I squeezed her hand and said without hesitation.

"I don't think less of you. Just don't ever be like the ones that can come later or those you saw. I stand by the sneakiest pawn. I will get things made for you to refine your skills further."

Raynare beams and looks at Kuroka and Rias for permission to do something. Kuroka smiles at our pawn and nods before bumping Rias, who is still in shock. She nods dumbly. Raynare beams and kisses my cheek, getting a hiss from Shirone. I sighed and remarked at my pawn.

"You're like him now, too. I will take it slow with you. If we don't work, you will still have me, Ray. I am stubborn about this, and it's not you but me."

Rias is about to ask, finally having been snapped out of her stupor. She, however, heard our god explain things to her. Her green eyes take on a whole new light for Raynare. Kuroka smiled at Raynare and patted her right shoulder.

"I approve of her for the future. Can you tell me a few stories, Ray?"

Raynare beams, getting that, and she starts telling Kuroka a tale that drew in the cats. Rias smiled at the devil fallen, getting a bit more, and said her piece.

"I will approve it, too. I'm sorry, Ray. Just after we meet the next one, she is here too, and she should have a say in this."

Raynare nodded frantically at Rias's request. We had reached the park by now, and I was still in some shock from Raynare's revelation; thus, I missed something, as did everyone else. We entered the park, and I immediately got into a bad feeling about this. As did Raynare, who widened her eyes horrendously because we both saw the issue immediately. As did Rias because she froze badly.

"Wards."

They had immediately gone up after we entered, and the fact that the park was nearly empty made this horrific situation worse. Standing in front of the fountain were fifteen people in full view of us, along with a very ashamed-looking sixteenth person off to the right side of the group, far away from them.

Said person was Ravel. She was in her pink dress with frills, and now that I got a closer look at her, she was my age and was slightly shaking. The other person and their fourteen was the asshat of the hour. Riser was extremely happy with himself. He is exactly like the base him with his blonde hair and clothes. His peerage is the same, too. Yunabella was hanging on Riser's right arm with a pleased look on her face while the rest of the peerage were all looking at the ground. Every single one of them was beaten down by the looks of them. They all have soulless eyes except one who was mostly destroyed. Riser smiled evilly, and he left Yunabella with his peerage. He was stepping towards me with an extremely pleased look at his catch. Ravel looked at me curiously before she frowned, seeing Rias and the others close to me.

Rias turned bone white and hid behind me, shaking in panic and pure fear. Riser enjoyed this experience of his betrothed looking at him behind my back. Kuroka took my right, Raynare my left, while Shirone tried to help her king by purring for her. Riser finally got to the halfway point between us and looked over his shoulder to his sister, excitedly saying to her.

"See, sister, big brother Riser is helping you out, too. You finally got what you wanted to see him. However, he has been doing exactly what Riser has said he would be doing dishonoring you. Thank you for helping Riser expose this information. Riser now has even more reason to beat down a pathetic welp. No one can insult our proud and noble family, especially a rat that tries this with Riser's betrothed, too."

You're the rat Riser. This, however, is extremely bad because it looks exactly like that for Ravel. Her face was a hint of belief in her brother's statement. Before she searches my face for something, she doesn't seem to find what she is looking for. Ravel grew extremely pissed.

"You tricked me into this Riser. You said you would help me find him and get us on the right foot. You used my desperation to know for an excuse to be up here to torment her. You have always been a pig, so I fully understand why she would turn to someone else who isn't you. I had used the last of my hope you actually cared about me for this. I hate you for this because you ruined my hopes for him and me. Fuck off, you bitch."

Oh, shit, that's hot. Ravel was glaring at her brother with absolutely zero respect or familial love. She is still her brilliant self, and I like that a lot. Riser shrugged his shoulders at his sister before he unleashed his next blow on me.

"You say that even if he is a filthy halfbreed? We were lied to by them. Riser will inform father of this lie and he can break it with them. Either way, you will be free of him and can help repopulate the race properly. Rias thought Riser would not be ready to counter her pathetic attempt to escape from Riser and didn't notice Riser making sure he would win, which is hilarious. What can you expect from a weak devil with no other use but as Riser's wife."

Ravel froze at the insinuation of me. Rias started weeping behind me from the years of abuse hits full fury and force. She had been recovering, and now she's back to this. Ravel looked at me up and down extremely fast. She was silent on this new knowledge, and Riser smiled his cruelest smile yet, as did Yunabella. He will see me at my worst. It will test what I might have with Ravel. It can destroy everything my grandfather had sacrificed for me. It will destroy everything I have done for Rias if I lose and this doesn't go my way. I feel wrath build in me entirely for this. I replied with a dead voice like my war-mask self.

"You insult an Heir of the Seventy-Two Pillars Riser Phenex. I am confirmed by my grandfather, Lord Ajarkan Astaroth. Last I checked, you're a second son with no claim to the title of Heir Phenex. You insult my betrothed with your garbage, and you insult the right of Rias Gremory to get out of her contract legitimately and legally. I have the absolute right to beat you down for the insults to all of us. However, what do you expect from a man who beats his own peerage? I can see the bruises on several of their faces, barely hidden. If that is what Lady Gremory can expect from her betrothed, I can understand why she would want me over you wholeheartedly. It's pathetic for a noble to behave like that. Oh, wait, there is not one in you."

The park stills as the challenge was made. The only sound after that was Riser growing pissed off. I smile smirked at Riser while Rias stopped weeping behind me and just sniffed sadly. Ravel looked at me with a new face of interest. Shirone has nothing but pure stars in her eyes for me. Kuroka and Raynare join my smile smirk in support of me. I extend my own demonic power out just for Riser to feel. He was in a pure rage at me, just as Yunabella was. Riser spat out his newly formed hatred of me.

"Riser has pure noble blood in his veins, you disgusting halfbreed filth! You sully our race with your vile existence! Riser will kill you for the insult to Riser's nobility and his superiority over you! Riser challenges you, who is a vermin, to Riser's superior life! Riser challenges you to a ratings game for the weak one and for daring to sully my noble sister! You who has probably never done anything useful in your halfbreed life!"

I smile blood, thirsty for Riser, and openly feed my sin. That makes Riser look at me like I'm mad. I spit at the ground in front of him.

"Challenge accepted fire turkey. You face the Gorgan and his peerage. I have done real war while you play at it. I have killed plenty of strays that was more than enough to pay for Lady Gremory's out from a shit like you. You're nothing but a joke. A bully that hasn't ever fought a strong person till Hafter, and you got destroyed the last I heard. This will be a cakewalk."

Riser got the largest tic mark I have ever seen yet here. He was enraged by my insult and this, turning against him. Ravel looked at me now with a face amazed. Riser blew a gasket. Fire roared out of his hair, and flame wings came out of his back. He spat back at me with hate-filled eyes.

"Riser will win this game against a lying and uppity bacterium who thinks above their betters! Riser gives you one week out of pity for such a weak thing! Riser will make you scream for mercy!"

I continue my smile smirk. Hook, line, and sinker. My face makes Ravel get a blushing smile. Her eyes are on mine, looking at me in deep fascination. I am immediately convinced I want that for a wife. Alex says to me he wanted this too. He asked me to go into the weapon I made for Riser. I smiled at him and said yes. I need an arc gun to practice with anyway. He fist pumps in glee, saying he's totally cool with me now. He does tell me to get vengeance for the broken catgirls. I replied to Riser in pure amusement.

"I accept the week. Get ready to lose fire chicken. Lady Ravel, I will enjoy getting to know you properly and bear no ill will towards you for his disgusting behavior or for manipulating you so that he gets his kicks. I will make sure we build this relationship right after I win."

Ravel nodded furiously. She tried to say something there, but everyone in the park froze upon hearing another voice in the heat of rage.

"I have heard and witnessed this too, Gorgan. I will make sure this shit who has long burned every single bridge that he had with us doesn't try to continue his streak. I understand everything now. Rias, we will talk after."

There, with Wu and Vladimir in their battle gear, was Heniya Gremory in scarlet crimson mage robes. She was like being near Sirzches in how bad her pressure was. Riser shakes worse than I do. He now has a fearful face, betraying that he had been ready to double-cross me. Heniya was looking directly at me with her green eyes with a very curious look. She turned that look on Riser, and he quakes, seeing the number three in the games staring him down. Rias was still behind me, and she was looking at the ground in shame. Heniya lets up the pressure, and everyone not in the Crimson Lady of Ruin's peerage takes a deep breath for badly needed air. Heniya said to Riser in a very unamused voice.

"You try to do what you do, and you forfeit immediately. You have bullied my sister long enough for me to know the signs of your bullshit. I caught your familiar spying on her when she was working out and knew you would try something soon. Imagine my surprise that the stray hunter I had long considered how to convince to reincarnate into my peerage was doing their work all for my sister. He will show you a fight that has been coming for a long time. Don't think the games board hasn't noticed the shit you pull so don't try what you were going to do. I will draw up the game rules and have them verified by another person. I won't judge the game before you cry of favoritism. I know just the person for that. Now fuck off back to the underworld or else."

Riser glares at Heniya and me equally. He was pissed he had this whole venture turned into something he hates. He snarled out his anger and then retracted his wings and flame hair. Before he looked at Yunabella, she looked to the peerage, and they all started moving out. Yunabella smiled in sadistic glee at her control over them and took the lead in front of the group. Riser was in the back. Riser glared once more at my face, and he, in his eyes, promised me ultra pain and suffering. Before he finally left the park with a very reluctant Ravel. She throws one last look at me, and it holds nothing but curiosity. Before she, too, goes.

Heniya said as soon as they were gone.

"You will be held to the same standards, so don't try to cheat either. The games are my life, and despite the fact that you are better than him in my eyes for what you did, I will not allow cheating. It's nice to know the man beneath the helm now, truly. Your insistence on not reincarnating makes more sense, just not in the way I would have thought."

Heniya was staring straight at me. Her eyes fell on Kuroka and Raynare before she returned to me. I met her eye and answered with a half-smile.

"I had no intention of cheating, before or after. I expected him to, however. I had wanted to tell you properly, Heiress Gremory, at an upcoming dinner that Rias was supposed to set up. That went out the window, so I will introduce myself now, Gregor Astaroth, at your service. For helping me, I will give you the favor card you gave me. I'm sorry for the disruption to your city."

Heniya frowned upon hearing me offer that. She shook her head.

"You will not have to use it I was going to confront him about his shit anyway. I have long argued that he should be punished for his crap, but mother and father have been pressured into keeping this by our grandfather Lord Bael. However, your grandfather convinced them and they were hours away from breaking it with his folks. He pushed this now with the clock ticking hoping that you would be weak and cave. The fact that you are a half will make him try to get his father to screw you over with the girl."

I smile smirked because he is an idiot.

"They won't break it. My grandfather and my father made sure they won't. If they do so, they risk not getting their hands on our stuff. Riser is a bully, and he will go down as a bully. If you won't take the card for helping me, there take it for this. I have a contract magician, and I want to have them for this game. He can use his if he has one, too."

Time to face two Longinus users, you bitch. You almost destroyed my chance with Ravel because you were that petty. Heniya grins at my request.

"Done, and I will have that included in the rules. You will get your copy soon. I'm curious to know how you have one already, but I won't care much if you beat him down for his shit. He should learn that cheating is spotted extremely quickly in the games. His last matches before Hafter were easily won and immediately raised the board's suspicion. He was thrown against Halfter to test if he was cheating. Ten separate cases of it were recorded. Hafter pretended not to notice, and when he curbed stomped Riser, it was enough for Riser to be knocked down to the lowest bracket of the games. Destroy him further. A win against him, who has done games while cheating, versus you, who hasn't done either, will crush him, and he will never recover. Rias, please come over and talk with me. I'm not angry with you, nor will Mom or Dad for him doing this."

Rias reluctantly emerges from behind me, where she had been squeezing my back in comfort, trying not to cry. Heniya is a good sister because she gently takes Rias's hand before she leads Rias to the fountain to talk alone. A bubble goes up for them, and that leaves the four of us with Wu and Vladimir. Wu studied me again hard before shrugging his shoulders.

"You were decent before kid, but this is not what I had expected either. My bet with everyone was that you were doing something in regard to being a Robin Hood figure. This answers the first question but raises many more."

Vladimir studied me intently during that time, and he remained silent. The smile smirk hasn't left my face.

"I did my deeds to help her and the people of this city. They who have the lack of justice from shits like the Hunter's Guild have their justice from me."

Wu smiled bigger while Vladimir said in a very bored voice.

"They are shits. I still want that fight. It's unusual for pissy nobles to do that kind of work, period. They beg their daddies and mommies for the money for whatever they want. I might like you, brat."

That amused Wu, and he chuckled, patting Vladimir. The giant shrugged his shoulders while focusing on Kuroka. He smirked at her while Wu was now watching us intently. He smiled and replied cheerfully.

"I want to see this fight, Heir Astaroth. I'm especially eager to see what you bring to the games. Come on, Vlad. I'm going back to the house. I can't miss my TV shows, and Heniya will chase the turkey if he comes back."

Vladimir grunted and kept watching me before following Wu through a newly opened portal back to their base. The park was silent for us before Shirone suddenly grabbed hold of my right leg and began to purr up a storm.

"Strongest prince, nya! Beat down Riser-baka with words and axe, nya! Will be the best kitty for you, nya!"

Kuroka huffs in amusement at her sister, starting to get her off my leg. Raynare was silent, and I asked her.

"What were the chances there for us?"

My pawn replied with a sad face.

"Seventy-thirty. Other way was him attempting to kidnap Red while we walked home. The sister helped us. After kidnapping her, he would forcibly marry her before the contract broke. I am sorry. Paths are not always clear for me."

I will be extra kind to Ravel for this. Kuroka held Shirone like a scolded kitten, and the white cat pouted at her position as I pat Raynare.

"The sea sucks, Ray, and I get you can't see everything. Just be ready for next week. Which one did you take inspiration from? The Raven or the Bat?"

Raynare smiled at the questions.

"The Raven. He was the sneakiest like me!"

Kuroka laughed at our pawn while Shirone whined in her sister's arms. It's funny how she is trying to escape from them. I smiled myself and said to Raynare with my face amused.

"You honor him, Ray, and will show the underworld the sneakiest pawn. We will train this week."

Raynare nodded fast at the greed to show her sneaky skills. Kuroka promised me with her eager smile.

"His queen is weak, nya. A mid-tier bomb maker gear. I outclass her, nya. The rest are not in good shape. Red's people would have had a tough time with the numbers difference, nya. We won't have that problem. Shirone, he will win, and you won't have to be a toy for a bird, nya. Your brave prince has fought multiple mutation queens by himself and won."

I rolled my eyes at the now incredible, thirsty look Shirone sent my way. It was only one while I almost died again to the ogre. I was interrupted from snarking at Kuroka by Rias slamming into me, knocking me to the ground while she weeps slightly. I quickly wrapped my arms around my redhead and whispered sweet nothings to her in ultra comfort and support. Heniya appeared behind her little sister and smiled slightly at the sight of us. I immediately see the unspoken threat to hurt me if I make her sister cry. The Crimson Lady of Ruin eyed Kuroka briefly before shrugging and returning her glare, showing something. Heniya is a closet sis con.

It seems that Rias can't escape from them either. Rias tightens her grip on me and starts to stop crying. I tell her this without any uncertainty.

"I will win Ria. We are not going to lose to a rat like him."

I whisper one of my secret weapons for Riser in her ear, and Rias draws back from me and looks straight into my red eyes. Her green ones widened knowing this. I smile blood thirsty and that makes Heniya snicker at her sister.

"I told you, Rias, that he has my complete support. Mom and Dad support him, too. They just didn't have a better choice, Rias. It was him or Zephyrdor, and given everything, he was better than that to them initially. They have never hated you, Rias. They just wanted you to have a good life. You will have that now. Heir Astaroth, I wish you luck, and after the game, you and I can talk."

Heniya looked directly into my eyes and was amused by something she saw. Her eyes turned on Kuroka again, and she said to me while smiling.

"I know about her. Sirzches has told me already. She is free to be around here. Control her, and I will consider the matter settled. I want her to beat the shit out of the purple bitch. She is a disgusting person, and I am sorry for the rest of them you will destroy. Rias allow me into the house. I'll talk to our parents about the dinner."

That was said before she twirls around and moves out of the park with the grace of a very well-trained dancer. Rias was silent for several minutes before she said it in a very small voice, only for me.

"I love you for defending me for everything you have done for me. Win and show them all that I have a Lord of Iron Will. Show him that almost ruined my life that you are far nobler than him."

I look at Kuroka, and we share the same brain cell. We snicker together, getting a tilted head from Rias. I say with no hesitation.

"Riser faces real opposition. He faces two MLG players. Cheating only gets you so far. We will crush him faster than Hafter. Come on, Ria, let's get dinner and ice cream after my treat. You're safe, and in a week, you can proudly call yourself the Lady of Iron."

Rias got extremely excited, and she hugged my mid-section in glee. Kuroka puts her horny sister down and helps Rias and me up off the ground. Raynare was innocent of ice cream because she asked as we left the park.

"Why would you eat ice?"

Rias begins explaining ice cream to Raynare with Shirone, and that helps Rias with the newly returned depression from Riser being an ass. I'm curious to know where Raynare originally came from here. She was probably European, given her looks and when he was alive. I don't detect a hint of an accent to pinpoint her country of origin. Raynare looked at my wondering face, and she guessed what I was thinking.

"I don't remember where. The only thing I remember was somewhere with many forests."

That could be anywhere in Europe, and given that it was in the early Middle Ages, that really doesn't help. I look at her in curiosity and wonder if this would be her companion quest. Raynare just hugged my left arm.

"I don't want to know. I will be like my king and build a new life here. You have many worries, and this will not be one of them. I am content with the one who understands. My king knows me that is enough."

Psykers are weird, and I'll be ready to help her if that changes. Raynare knew immediately that I would before she grew increasingly interested in a flavor of ice cream Rias said was the best.

It was nearly evening when we got home from what was supposed to be an easy walk. I treated everyone to an expensive dinner and good ice cream, as Rias still struggled with Riser doing this. She understands immediately when I put the barrier up between us again. She knows I'm trying to protect her further from Riser, who has barely saved the contract by making the move. He would attempt to use our proximity to drag me through the mud of the underworld to better paint the situation he stumbled into.

That was clear immediately when I saw my grandfather waiting for me in his noble suit. He gestured to me to follow him up to the study, and I followed because I needed to face him. It was inside the Lord's office, sitting down with me, that he began choosing his words mentally. His eyes fell on mine, and he said, finally, with a sigh.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You made the best of the situation, and for that, thank you. Thanks to him, the underworld is now fully aware of you. I have mitigated most of the damage he tried to inflict. The Phenexs have split again, and Lord Phenex tried to demand the contract be terminated for misleading him."

I am ready for them. Riser was a pig, and this was his first attack on me to get a medium of revenge for the humiliation. I don't show emotion and let my grandfather continue.

"He can't back out. I never claimed that you were a pureblood. They assumed that. I had taken precautions for the off chance that this did come out. The contingency was played, and Lord Phenex realized he had no grounds for a cancellation. Lady Phenex pointed out that this situation was caused by Riser Phenex, being a sore loser who couldn't accept that this was over. That and the girl being adamant that this stays made Lord Phenex cave. The only requirement he demanded from you is that his son live after the game."

That's good and bad. I wanted to kill him and string his corpse up for the nobles to see. My anger must be showing because my grandfather understood my rage. I reluctantly agreed.

"I won't kill him. Just make him scream for doing this period and for trying to weaken us. I want to know Lady Ravel properly."

That got a smile from my grandfather.

"You will. I will not help you with your game nor shall anyone else for either side. This game has been turned into an honor duel between the two of you and no one can interfere in this now. The GKF tried to stop this before it became an honor duel saying that a halfbreed had no legal discourse for this. Yet your actions again helped us because the Satans launched their own strike against the GKF forcing them to focus on that before you. Thirty people have been arrested in the last hour. You play politics as well as you fight. I am eager to see what you will do once your Lord."

I smile smirk with my grandfather. Our shared hate of the GKF makes this enjoyable for us. He finally stopped our facial expression and grew serious again.

"Win the game. Show them why you're an Astaroth and the son of Ajuka. It's time that people remember properly that he's a super devil."

I smirked, evil incarnate.

"They will fear the Lord of Iron. If anyone calls me weak, let them know I have a Longinus, just not which one. Let them freak out, and they will do so more with my contract magician."

Ajarkan smiled evilly, too.

"I will. Good luck, Gregor. I will enjoy your victory."

That said, my grandfather got up and left the room. I sighed in relief and prepared for my next move. As I got up from the chair and exited the room, I ran into my next problem. Kuroka is standing behind a very bashful Murayama and an eager-looking Katase. My queen had her ears and tails out, and I looked at my horny knight with a slightly disappointed look.

"How did you spill Murayama-chan?"

Murayama blushed badly and nervously shifted her feet, not answering the question. Katase spoke with an eager and amused voice.

"She let loose her wings when the two of us showered together at a new dojo. She had a nosebleed while that happened muttering about tails. You're a noble. I want in for the noble samurai who fights for the weak! I want a king with honor reincarnate me now!"

I shake my head at my down-bad knight. I tell Katase the truth.

"What piece?"

Katase replied immediately.

"Pawn, I'm the best swordswoman in the city our age, but I don't have gear."

I looked at her for doubt or regret. There was none. I punish my knight.

"You will train her, Murayama-chan. We have a game in a week, and I need to focus on other projects, including making our next weapons for Hetvia. You will help there, too. I will reincarnate you soon, Katase-chan. Kuroka tell everyone in the peerage to meet in the library tomorrow. Let us show the underworld the Warriors of Mars and why we will slaughter our way through a firebird. I expect the best from everyone."

Murayama nodded her head in acceptance of her punishment. Kuroka huffs in amusement at our horny knight.

"For being a bad horse girl no kitty tails for a bit. Now go to the corner and think about that, nya."

Murayama weeps waterfall tears, and Katase is amused that her best friend is getting punished. I eyed her for a second before gesturing to Katase to follow. The pinky does with an extremely eager look for what is to come.

Cao Cao was talking with Georg about a potential solution to the problem that had arisen from what Hercules had discovered at the JDF base. Cao Cao was eager to meet the Warriors of Mars. They were extremely good warriors, and the team he sent had with magic learned that this group cleared the base in less than a half hour. They had found evidence of said guns thanks to several pocket marks from them. No bullets to try and reverse engineer that, however. Cao Cao was about to ask Georg when Stanley interrupted them, entering the room.

"Boss, I have finally found a report about your interest. One of the people is a stray devil hunter called the Gorgan. They have an impressive kill count. However, my report says they are a pureblood devil."

Cao Cao frowned. A pureblood devil? The monkey had been extremely insistent that the one he spoke to was a human, which made no sense in many ways. Cao Cao didn't like this. Pureblood devils were always the worst sort of creatures. Why would one help a human who was seen as lesser than dirt by them? He considered this confounding idea while Georg said in his German accented voice.

"We will have to kill them fast then, ja. Zey might be a new merc group that was started as a way to strike at Grigori. The human might be the public face for the regulars while this Gorgan controls the group from behind the scenes."

Cao Cao frowned, as did Stanley. Stanley was not a reincarnated hero. He had an extremely weak gear but was a genius when it came to intelligence gathering, thanks to said gear. He said this in a very disbelieving way to Georg.

"Unless pureblood devils are using guns now, I don't think that's true. The Gorgan uses guns. The report I got specifically mentions that. A big blocky one that is not anything that the devil king has seen before."

Cao Cao was now extremely worried because that said many possibilities. Was this a pureblood devil that had finally accepted that humans had a good idea in guns and had improved them further with magic to make something new? That thought terrified him. Yet the monkey had been so adamant that the leader was a human that he had screamed that when he had taken two limbs from them. Cao Cao didn't like this even more. He gave Stanley a new order.

"Get me every single bit of information on them. Georg is right this could be bad. If they are finally starting to adapt, we face a worse situation than before. Look hard because we might have trouble."

Stanley nodded, showing his blond hair. He immediately left to fulfill this order. Georg gave his boss a look, and he got to work immediately on his possible counters.

Ophis watched emotionlessly as the devil in front of her made her report. It was basic stuff, really. Just little things that were not really important and got Ophis no closer to her goal. However, sometimes things caught her attention.

"We will likely get more recruits for our cause because of a recent thing that hit the underworld by force. There is a halfbreed that has been exposed recently."

Ophis stayed emotionless, but she saw her right-hand freeze in interest. Ophis liked her right hand. He was one of very few within the organization who stayed totally faithful to her plan. The devil giving the report was also that. She was a plant inside the OSF and honestly didn't care about blood purification. Vali Lucifer asked his burning, curious question.

"What is so special about this halfbreed?"

The devil woman thought over her answer. She said softly to the other halfbreed.

"This one is a noble. An acknowledged Heir to the Astaroths. He is the son of Ajuka Beelzebub."

Vali went wide-eyed, showing the scar over his right eye. Ophis immediately started paying attention. Her blank eyes focused on the devil woman before her. Agrat Leviathan looked at her boss and the halfbreed before her. Agrat was not a judger like her sister. Power was power, and the halfbreed Lucifer had it in spades. Agrat was in the tiny reformation part of the OSF. She and the other secret members all believed they needed to reform because they were far behind everyone, and the NKF was correct. Ophis finally asked her first question. Her bland voice was as emotionless as her eyes.

"Is he as strong as his father?"

Agrat answered with a nod.

"Supposedly, he has a Longinus. I'd take that with a grain of salt, however."

Ophis was blank-faced, but Vali grinned fully. A possible rival to add on with the red one. He fed his sin with a newly built lust for battles that could and would happen with this fellow half-breed. Fate had given Vali a new fun thing. Ophis remained empty. She, however, gives an order to Agrat.

"Watch that carefully. You are competent, and I want to know everything about him."

Agrat accepted the order.

"As you wish."

Agrat continued her report to Ophis. The sister to the Head of the Leviathans was internally worried. The machines powering that objective were starting to fail, which was extremely bad. Agrat needed them repaired quickly or completely new ones. She had several plans and would do what she could. It would have to be enough.