'I did not foresee this.'
He certainly didn't expect Riser to go through what he just did. Insulting Issei, goading Issei into fighting him, and the last act of Riser's foolishness.
Killing someone who Issei apparently had close contact with. Had Sirzechs known what Riser was actually going to do, he would have immediately canceled the fight...had it not been for Lord Phenex, the father of Riser.
MOMENTS AGO
Sirzechs Lucifer widened his blue-green eyes as he watched Riser's Queen eradicating the brown-black-haired girl with her staff. As he looked down to Issei, he felt such great sorrow for the boy. Narrowing his eyes, Sirzechs went to stand up to cancel the fight, until he was stopped by none other than Lord Phenex.
"Lord Phenex?"
"Let the fight commence."
"Why? For what your son has done-"
"I know what my son has done. And it's unfortunate for this young boy. That is why I am allowing the fight to go on uninterrupted."
Narrowing his eyes, Lord Phenex turned to look at Sirzechs.
"What my son has just done was foolish. From this battle...he is going to regret his actions, and learn that he cannot manipulate the lives of others to get what he wants."
Sirzechs stared in shock as he listened to Lord Phenex's words, and he lowered his head in shame.
'It's...it's my fault.'
With a snarl of rage, Issei charged at the Phenex male in a great burst of agility. Riser, surprised at the speed, didn't even have enough time to dodge. Issei tightened his hand into a fist and landed a harsh punch to Riser's face.
"AHH!"
Riser yelled out in pain as he flew back from the impact.
'SON OF A BITCH!'
Gritting his teeth at the pain, Riser finally smarted up and used his wings to balance himself. He widened his eyes when he saw Issei charging at him again. Narrowing his eyes, Riser charged towards Issei, lifting his hand into a fist to counter.
As the two soared towards each other, Issei dodged Riser's punch. Widening his eyes in surprise, Riser was unprepared as Issei kneed him in the abdomen, causing the Phenex male to cough out blood.
Closing his mouth in order to prevent any blood from coming out, Riser flared his energy aura, successfully blowing Issei away from him. Riser clenched his hands into fists, and harshly glared at Issei, who glared back at him with great ferocity.
"YOU STUPID BRAT! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!"
If there was any indication that Issei had heard him at all, the boy didn't show it. All he did was glare harshly at Riser, his pupilless eyes showing nothing but the pure intensity of his inner wrath.
His eyes widening in rage, Riser let out a scream as his wings grew to a great size. Above the wings, a colossal energy sphere manifested, its essence containing the pure flames of the Phoenix itself.
"HERE BRAT! DODGE THIS IF YOU CAN!"
After declaring, Riser shot the colossal sphere of flames towards Issei, who remained where he was. Riser widened his eyes as he noticed this.
'What the hell is he doing?! He's not moving!"
As the sphere of flames drew closer to him, Issei narrowed his eyes, and he lifted his head up as he let out a great scream of fury.
"GRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The sphere of blazes collided with Issei, seemingly consuming him entirely. Riser looked on in shock momentarily, before his face broke out into a wide grin.
"HAHAAHAHAHA! YES! YES!"
The Devils looked on in shock at the sight in front of them. Riser's attack had completely obliterated the young boy entirely. As Riser looked back down, his eyes widened further, and he felt his breath leave his throat.
The sphere of flaming blazes he had summoned onto Issei...it was growing smaller.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The entire arena amplified the scream of Issei, as the young man absorbed the essence of Riser's attack. The Phenex male looked on in horror as he witnessed his sphere of blazes being consumed by Issei's energy aura.
Suddenly, Issei's body glowed, until a much more distinct aura manifested around him. The initial aura Issei had previously, emitted a orange-yellow color, but now the aura manifesting around Issei emitted a blackish-gray color. The aura engulfed Issei, causing a bright flash to illuminate within the arena.
The Devils shielded their eyes from the brightness, and then as the light faded, they removed their arms from their eyes. Riser opened his eyes, and he gasped as he flew back.
"His appearance! He's changed again!"
The young man he was fighting, his appearance had changed once again. Issei's hair was now a night-black color, and was no longer as spiky as his Solar form, but was more upright. His left eye had regained its doe-brown color once more, however his right eye did not retain its yellow-orange color. His right eye was now a black-grayish color. His facial features were also more pronounced, giving him a look of intense focus.
Riser looked on in terror at the massive surge of explosive power radiating from Issei.
'He...he absorbed my flames! That's impossible!'
The Student Council Room
"H-he transformed again!" Saji exclaimed.
The members of the Occult Research Club and the Student Council all looked on in amazement and horror as they witnessed Issei go through yet another transformation. Rias's body shook as she felt Issei's power explode once more.
"H-he's even stronger than before!"
"He absorbed Riser's flames!" Tsubaki said as her stoic expression disappeared completely.
"This is completely unprecedented!" Sona exclaimed.