Chapter 239: Challenge Letter
Whether Zolgear was afraid of Rias's family or simply hadn't discovered that Naruse Mio was now in Kuoh Town was unclear. After all, Haruto had acted swiftly back then, leaving no survivors to report back.
By all accounts, Naruse Mio had been transferred to Kuoh Academy for nearly a month now, without even a shadow of pursuers appearing.
With two days left until Toujou Basara's transfer, Haruto had originally planned a welcome party for him, but suddenly received a challenge letter.
"President, has that blond fried chicken lost his mind?"
Haruto casually tossed the challenge letter onto the table, frowning as he said, "Even Azazel is no match for me. Where does he get the confidence?"
"Not sure." Rias shrugged. "You can refuse, but if you win, you'll easily obtain the Phoenix family's bloodline talent."
While it was a challenge, Haruto had no compelling reason to accept this time, and no matter how you looked at it, the challenge seemed full of oddities.
So, to persuade Haruto to agree, the Phenex family—or more specifically, Riser—shamelessly begged his younger sister Ravel to use her three-year service as a bet.
Of course, publicly it was framed as Ravel becoming Rias's servant. Although Haruto had the strength, his time had indeed been too short, and he hadn't shown any notable activity in Rating Games.
He still needed some time to establish himself before he could obtain his own Evil Pieces.
The Phenex family had already intended to send Ravel to investigate the truth about dual cultivation abilities, mainly depending on whether Ravel herself was willing.
To everyone's surprise, the little princess, who had been pampered growing up, agreed unusually readily this time.
Although Riser was somewhat sad that his sister showed no attachment to him, he was more delighted.
Haruto's unrestrained lifestyle had long been investigated clearly by the Underworld. Riser didn't believe Haruto could resist such a huge temptation.
Although these people didn't know about Haruto's ability to copy talents, they had more or less figured out that the stronger the woman, the greater the help she could provide him.
Ravel's talent was no worse than Rias's. Though not yet an adult, she already possessed S-class strength.
Not to mention her noble status as the little princess of the Phenex family and her identity as a top-tier beauty.
The reality aligned closely with Riser's expectations—Haruto was indeed tempted.
At the end of the Rating Game, he had discussed with Rias about acquiring an immortal body, but unfortunately, there was no easy shortcut.
Rias clearly informed him that such an overpowering recovery ability was only possessed by the purest Phenex bloodline.
There were many demons with Phenex bloodline, including suitable females, but aside from Ravel and her mother, their bloodlines had all been somewhat diluted.
As for how the Phenex family maintained such a pure bloodline...
One method was to pair with another pure-blooded demon, with a fifty percent chance of inheriting the pure Phenex bloodline.
The other method wasn't really suitable to discuss openly, as it could easily lead to moral decay.
After thinking for a moment, Haruto clicked his tongue. "President, I'll take this challenge!"
Although he didn't understand where Riser found the courage, he didn't believe the other could break through to Satan-Class in just a few days.
Even with cheats, you still had to follow basic rules.
"Good. I thought you wouldn't refuse, so I already accepted on your behalf in advance."
Rias smiled faintly. "The duel will take place in the Underworld's coliseum, the day after tomorrow."
Haruto: ...
After a speechless moment, he joked, "The master's command is absolute. How would a mere servant like me dare to oppose?"
Rias's pretty face flushed, and she shot Haruto a charming, exasperated glare.
When it came to their respective positions, Haruto clearly held the dominant role. His words unmistakably implied that she should obediently comply during their next dual cultivation session.
Recalling the outfits and positions Haruto demanded, even as an open-minded demon, the young woman couldn't help but blush with a racing heart.
As their experiences accumulated, Haruto's methods grew increasingly thrilling.
Well, one might also say increasingly perverse...
————
————
In the Underworld, the dim and gloomy sky remained eternally unchanged, as if shrouded by an ominous haze.
Riser stood at the center of a massive crimson magic circle, surrounded by his fourteen beautiful female servants positioned along its edges, forming a perfect ring.
"Young Master Riser, everything is prepared."
"Good, begin."
Surveying his silent servants with their complex expressions, Riser coldly issued the command to the family attendants.
"Yes."
Several attendants began channeling magical power into the enormous magic circle. The chaotic energy continuously gathered, affecting the already eerie sky and making it increasingly unpredictable.
The turbulent magical energy ultimately flowed toward Riser at the center of the circle, his aura visibly surging at an astonishing rate.
Watching Riser's body tremble uncontrollably under immense suffering, the Phenex family steward couldn't help but express concern.
"Young Master, is this truly worth it? Even if successful, you'll lose all potential for future advancement..."
Various uncontrollable forces relentlessly assaulted Riser's body. Enduring excruciating pain akin to being sliced by a thousand blades, he utilized his powerful regenerative abilities to continuously heal his body while absorbing the violent, mixed energies.
"As the human world saying goes, 'Buddhas fight for incense, men fight for pride.'"
Gritting his teeth, he snarled viciously: "Even if I can't win Rias back, I must vent this frustration!!!"
Riser genuinely liked Rias - or rather, anyone would naturally be drawn to Rias.
The thought of his betrothed being stolen by Haruto fueled his rising anger to the point where he couldn't focus on cultivation, nor even enjoy pleasures with Yubelluna.
This state could be considered what they call an inner demon.
Rather than suffering daily torment from this inner demon, he preferred to gamble everything.
After receiving Rias's reply, Riser disregarded all advice and resolutely activated the Phenex family's secret technique.
As time passed, Yubelluna and the other young women gradually grew pale, with the weaker ones barely able to remain standing.
This secret technique forcibly enhanced the master's power by draining the life force and magical energy of his servants.
The extent of enhancement depended on both the servants' strength and the master's endurance.
Only members of the Phenex family could employ this technique - without their formidable immortality, the numerous chaotic, uncontrollable energies coursing through one's body would be fatal regardless of how many lives one possessed.
As the magic circle continued operating, sporadic sparks erupted from various parts of Riser's body - manifestations of his immortality working at full capacity.
Yet the intense pain constantly assaulted his psyche. While the magic circle could enhance his magical power and physical constitution, it couldn't strengthen his mental fortitude.
The first to reach their limit weren't Riser, but the twin lolis.
"Nel... Ile..."
Seeing the green-haired lolis collapsed on the ground with fading vitality, Xuelan in her qipao revealed a pained expression.
The twins' collapse served as a signal, as the young women successively fell unconscious.
"Urgh!!!"
Riser's aura continued to intensify, but in turn, the pain he endured grew increasingly severe.
His mental energy was rapidly depleting, and the regenerative abilities of his immortality could no longer keep up with the destruction.
Seeing this, the steward decisively terminated the secret technique.
In the end, only the strongest among them, Yubelluna and Xuelan, barely managed to hold on. As they gazed at their companions, whose fates were unknown, a chilling dread settled in their hearts.
Riser had never once consulted them about this matter.
No one in the Phenex family cared about their opinions. They had originally thought that since they had consumed so many of the family's resources, this would serve as repayment.
But they never expected Riser to be so cruel, draining them all to the point of uselessness. If he hadn't reached his limit, he would likely have continued until they were all dead.
Such a powerful secret technique naturally came with significant side effects.
The requirements for the caster were only one aspect; it also inflicted severe damage on the servants.
The only silver lining now was that everyone was still alive, but how long they could hold on remained uncertain.
Battered and bruised, Riser was taken away by the servants for treatment. Yubelluna and Xuelan, struggling against their weakened bodies, tried to move their companions for treatment as well.
But in their current state, weaker than even ordinary people, even moving was a challenge, let alone carrying twelve individuals.
Being drained to uselessness was no joke. Even with proper rest and recovery, it was uncertain whether they would ever regain their former strength.
As a castle, Xuelan, the qipao-clad woman, had relatively better physical endurance and barely managed to lift the slender twin lolis.
But given their current condition, would the Phenex family even bother to treat them...
Just as Xuelan hesitated, a petite figure with flaming wings slowly flew before the two of them.
"Serves you right for keeping it from me."
Hearing the familiar sharp tongue, Yubelluna and Xuelan wore bitter smiles.
As a gentle surge of magical energy lifted them and the girls on the ground, their emotions became overwhelmingly complex.