April 28th, 2012, Gremory's Training Ground, Morning.
A rare, palpable tension hung in the air of Makoto Yuki's mind. It was not the sharp, immediate fear of battle, but the slow-burning anxiety of anticipation.
The day had arrived, and the fate of Rias Gremory's future rested on the outcome of a formalized conflict.
'Makoto, are you ready?' asked Ryoji, his voice as Thanatos a calm, deep current in the psychic sea.
'Yes, I am,' Makoto replied, his mental tone betraying a hint of unease. 'I just hope everything will be fine. Rias and everyone did their best, but I don't know if it will be enough. I can't help but feel... anxious, I guess.'
It was an admission he would rarely make aloud. The well-being of his confidants hs always been a weight he carried deeply.
'This is not good, Universe!' Cendrillon's voice chimed in, bright and forceful, a cheerleader's spirit surging within her. 'Smile and cheer for them! Your usual stoic and gloomy face will not be able to light up their hearts! I cannot accept such a lack of festive spirit!'
'I agree with Cendrillon, hee-hoo,' Jack Frost added, his squeaky voice unusually serious. 'The Priestess, the Hanged, the Magician, Akeno, and Yuuto all put their faith in you. Now it's your turn to have faith in them, hee-hoo.'
'I couldn't have explained it any better, Universe,' Kohryu's wise, rumbling voice intoned. 'The Magician did a wonderful job, and not only did she do it for the Priestess, but also to make you proud. Fafnir can confirm it.'
A metallic creak echoed in the shared consciousness. 'I hope you are reeeady to lose your bet, All-Father,' Fafnir mocked.
'I wouldn't be so sure, lizard,' Odin retorted, his single eye glaring in the metaphysical space. 'The blonde is something to be reckoned with. His willpower is not to be underestimated.'
'The All-Father speaks the truth,' Yoshitsune stated, his voice the calm center of the brewing storm. 'Kiba Yuuto has been a good student. Now it is time for him to prove himself as a worthy warrior in a real battle.'
'You are making me feel jealous,' Thanatos mused, a wistful note in his voice as he thought about the intensive training Rias and her peerage had undergone.
'Next time, you don't hide things from me, Ryoji,' Makoto immediately replied, a faint echo of their old dynamic surfacing.
'It does matter not,' Lucifer's voice cut through, cold and absolute. 'This game is already over. The Priestess has managed to overcome her mental obstacles regarding her power. Her victory is a foregone conclusion.'
A ripple of surprise passed through the assembled Personas. 'Am I imagining things?' Ryoji asked, amused. 'Lucifer, are you perhaps saying the Priestess is worth your time?'
'Me and Makoto had the exact same reaction,' Messiah replied, causing a wave of mental laughter to spread among the other Personas.
Even Makoto, who was usually indifferent to his other selves' jokes, felt a small, genuine smile touch his lips.
'Silence, all of you,' Lucifer commanded, though his tone lacked its usual lethal edge. He didn't even threaten them, a testament to the shift in atmosphere. 'Especially you, Apollo.'
'Why do you always target me?' the Sun God lamented.
Before he could receive an answer, a firm, polite knock on the door pulled Makoto back to reality. The internal council faded into the background.
"Lord Yuki," Grayfia's voice came from the other side of the door.
"I am coming," he answered, opening the door to find the impeccable maid waiting patiently.
"Where are the others?" he asked, noting the unusual quiet in the manor.
"Lady Rias and her servants have already departed for the Rating Game dimension. We are instead taking a different teleport towards the VIP booth. Lord Lucifer is there as well. He would like to meet you, if that is not a problem," Grayfia explained.
"Lord Lucifer? You mean Sirzechs?" Makoto clarified.
"Indeed."
"What do you mean by 'Rating Game dimension'?" Makoto asked, his curiosity piqued.
"To prevent serious damage to the structures where Rating Games are held, the real fights happen inside a magically constructed pocket dimension. This allows for more comprehensive security measures to be implemented."
"Security measures? It is not deadly, is it?" A faint hint of worry colored Makoto's voice.
The use of an alternate dimension suggested a level of destruction that couldn't be contained in the real world.
"There are inherent risks in any combat," Grayfia admitted with her characteristic honesty. "However, the magic governing the Rating Game dimension will forcibly withdraw any combatant before their demise, or if they are rendered unable to fight any further. It is designed to be a test of skill and power, not a fight to the death."
Makoto nodded, somewhat reassured, and followed Grayfia through the manor's halls.
'Ryoji, did you remind Elizabeth to come?' he asked internally.
'She accepted the Tower's offer to visit Takamagahara and meet the other Shinto gods,' Thanatos explained. 'Izanagi followed her as well, but he will be with us at a minute's notice should something happen.'
'Today, of all days?' Makoto sighed internally. 'We can't do anything about it now. Let's go.'
They arrived at the teleportation room, and with a flash of magical energy, they were sent to the heart of the Underworld.
April 28th, 2012, Underworld, Morning.
In a stark, minimalist preparation room deep within the Underworld's coliseum complex, the air was thick with a different kind of tension. It was the focused, razor-sharp anticipation of a team on the brink of battle.
Rias Gremory stood before her peerage, her usual playful demeanor replaced by the unwavering composure of a king.
"Are you all ready?" she asked, her voice clear and firm, devoid of any trace of the insecurity that had plagued her weeks before. This was not the time for hesitation; it was the time to be the beacon her family and friends needed.
"Yes!" came the unified, powerful response from Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, and Irumi.
"Before we go out there and beat Riser for good..." Rias began, her gaze sweeping over each of their determined faces. "There is something I want to tell all of you."
She paused, her composure softening just enough to show the genuine emotion beneath.
"I... thank you. For everything. I've never really stopped to think about what a great family and friends you all are. So, thank you."
Tears of profound gratefulness welled in her eyes, but they did not fall. They were a testament to her strength, not a sign of weakness.
Akeno stepped forward, a gentle, yet sadistically eager smile on her lips. "We are here because we believe in you, Rias. Let's fry that chicken and sign the first win of the team of Rias Gremory, future Rating Game champions."
Koneko slammed her small fists together, a quiet intensity in her crimson eyes. "I want to punch Riser Phenex in the face," she stated, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Kiba offered a confident, sharp smile, his hand resting on the hilt of an unseen sword. "I will show you I am worthy of being your knight, President."
Irumi pumped her fist in the air, the Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet gleaming. "Say it aloud, charming prince! We are going to win this game, President, and show that arrogant prick his place!"
'I see fire in your heart, partner,' Ddraig's voice rumbled within her. 'Don't waste it.'
'You don't even have to say it, Ddraig,' Irumi shot back, her grin widening.
[The Rating Game is starting in 10 minutes. Please, both peerages head towards the teleportation towards the Rating Game dimension.]
A magically-projected voice echoed through the room, cutting through the moment. The time for speeches was over. As one, the members of the Gremory peerage adjusted their uniforms—reinforced versions of the Kuoh Academy attire, now battle-ready.
They shared one last, determined look, a silent promise passing between them. Then, they turned and began their march down the long corridor that led to the teleportation platform, their steps synchronized, their resolve a tangible force.
In a similar room not far away, Riser Phenex led his own, far larger peerage with a smirk of arrogant certainty. The two groups, one fueled by determination and bond, the other by tradition and assumed superiority, moved towards their fate.