Rating Game Arena – Underworld ColosseumCapacity: 66,666 devils.Sky: Artificial crimson sun, bleeding light over a floating city replica. Announcer:Naud Gamigin, voice like molten gold.
Naud (booming): "Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted hellspawn! Welcome to the Juvenile Rating Game Exhibition! House Gremory versus House Phenex! First to disable the enemy King wins!"
The crowd roared. Banners of crimson destruction clashed with golden phoenix flames.
Gremory Side – Team Prep
Rias Gremory, age 8, stood at the front—King piece, crimson hair blazing. Her peerage:
Yuuto Kiba (prototype Knight, age 10) – sword humming. Koneko Toujou (Rook, age 7) – fists clenched. Akeno Himejima (Queen, age 9) – holy lightning crackling.
Zeoticus lounged in the VIP box, Ravian in a reinforced devil-steel stroller beside him. The infant was dressed in a mini Gremory cape, scales polished, three eyes half-lidded in feigned sleep.
Zeoticus (to Venelana): "He's the perfect prop. 'Look, Phenex—our baby is watching.' They'll underestimate us."
Venelana sipped wine, violet eyes locked on Ravian's stroller. A tiny Divine Dog flickered in its shadow—invisible to all but her.
Venelana (murmuring): "He's hunting already. I can taste the cursed energy."
Phenex Side – Team Prep
Riser Phenex, age 14, strutted like a peacock—King piece, golden hair slicked, regeneration aura blinding. His peerage:
3 Pawns – fire-whip wielders. 1 Bishop – healing flames. 1 Rook – human battering ram.
Riser (smirking):
"I'll crush the Gremory princess in ten minutes. Then I claim the freak child. Father says its eyes are worth a Satan-class alliance."
His hidden ace:
2 Rogue Pawns (disguised as arena staff) – mission: snatch Ravian during chaos.
Round 1 – Opening Clash
The arena transformed—city streets, skyscrapers, lava rivers. Rias's team teleported in. Riser's team ambushed from rooftops.
Riser (laughing): "Burn, crimson bitch!"
Phoenix flamesengulfed Kiba. He dodged, sword flashing—Speed Blitz. Koneko punched a Rook through a wall.
Akeno summoned holy lightning—CRACK—two Pawns vaporized.
Crowd:"GREMORY! GREMORY!"
VIP Box – 2:15 into match
Ravian's POV He couldn't move. But his left eyetracked every flame. Erasureitched—wanted to delete Riser's immortality.
Leech (whispering): "Patience, killer. Save it for the real threat."
System Panel (visible only to him):
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[Quest: Survive the Rating Game – Active] [Sub-Objective: Do not reveal Erasure] [Bonus: Protect Rias → +1000 EXP]
Kidnap Attempt – 3:40 into match
The two rogue Pawns—now in arena medic uniforms—slipped into the VIP box. Zeoticus was distracted, cheering as Rias blasted a Bishop with Power of Destruction.
Rogue 1 (whispering): "Now. The baby's asleep."
They reached for the stroller. Ravian's right eye—Kamui—spun.
The first rogue's handphased into the stroller—into the pocket void. Then reappearedinside his own skull.
Rogue 1 (gurgling): "G-GAH—"
Rogue 2 panicked, flames erupting. Zeoticus turned—too late.
Ravian's First Stand
King Crimsonmaterialized—a crimson ghost behind the stroller. 0.5-second time skip.
The world blinked. Rogue 2's flame vanished. His head was now 10 feet away, rolling.
Leech (ecstatic): "YES! First Stand use! You're a monster, boss!"
System Alert:
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[King Crimson Unlocked – Lv.1] [0.5-second skip, 1 use/day] [Cooldown: 23h 59m]
Zeoticusfroze. The VIP box was silent. Ravian sat in the stroller, covered in blood, mute, three eyes glowing.
Zeoticus (hoarse): "...What in the nine hells?"
Arena Floor – 4:00 into match
Rias felt it. A surge of cursed energy from the stands. She looked up—saw smoke rising from the VIP box.
Rias (screaming): "RAVIAN!"
She abandoned the fight, teleporting to the box.
Aftermath – VIP Box
Rias arrived to carnage.
Two headless bodies. Zeoticus holding Ravian, blood on his suit. Venelanaerasing evidence with Power of Destruction.
Rias (tears): "He… he killed them?"
Ravian reached for her with a bloody claw. His Tenseiganglowed—gentle. A chakra pulsecalmed her trembling.
Leech (softly): "She's scared of you now. Good. Fear keeps allies sharp."
System Ping:
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[Bonus Objective Complete: Protect Rias] [+1000 EXP] [Level Up! → Level 5] [Skill Unlocked: Mochi Mochi (Weak) – 1 mochi cube/day] [Title: Bloodied Cradle]
Rating Game – Sudden End
Naud Gamiginteleported in, face pale.
Naud: "Due to… unforeseen circumstances in the VIP box, the match is suspended! House Gremory wins by default!"
Crowd:Confusion. Boos. Cheers.
Riserscreamed from the arena floor:
Riser: "CHEATS! THE BABY'S A WEAPON!"
Lord Phenex stood, eyes blazing.
Lord Phenex: "This isn't over. The child will be examined by the Council."
Gremory Estate – 1 Hour Later
Emergency Meeting.Sirzechs Lucifer (via hologram) – crimson hair, Satan aura.
Sirzechs: "You let a baby use a Stand? In public?"
Zeoticus paced, Ravian in his arms—asleep, blood cleaned.
Zeoticus: "He saved himself. And Rias."
Venelana held the Magma Grimoire—now glowing faintly.
Venelana: "The Phenex want war. We give them fear. Train the child. Publicly."
Rias sat in the corner, clutching Ravian's tiny cape. She hadn't spoken since the arena.
Rias (whispering): "He's not a baby. He's… my sword."
Ravian's Dream
He floated in the void again. Soul stood before him, grinning.
Soul: "Three kills. One time-skip. You're evolving, bug. Next wish? Or should I take one?"
Ravian opened his mouth—no sound. But his worm spoke for him:
Leech: "Tell the god to shove it. We're just getting started."
System Final Panel – Night
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[Status] Level: 5 EXP: 1550/2000 HP: 80/80 Chakra: 50/150 Cursed Energy: 60/150 [New Skills] • King Crimson (Lv.1) – 0.5s skip • Mochi Mochi (Lv.1) – 1 sticky cube • Divine Dog (Lv.2) – 15 min duration [Items Unlocked] • Chain of a Thousand Miles (5 meters) • Gryphon (sharpens with blood) [Quest Update] [Main: Survive Phenex Retaliation] [Sub: Train with Rias → Unlock Peerage Slot]
Leech (whispering): "Sleep, sword. Tomorrow, we cut."