The field remained suspended in the same state for one additional moment, every piece of the Phenex House frozen at the exact point where they had been interrupted. No weapon fell. No wing moved. The effect of the Forbidden Balor View held every target locked with absolute precision.
"Akeno, go easy on Riser's sister." Rias said while advancing through the air, her body aligned, the distance calculated.
"Leave it to me, Rias." Akeno replied, her hand already raised. "A small shock should do."
Rias shifted a handspan forward. The power of destruction gathered in her open palm, compact and dense, without dispersion. Her arm extended in a straight line.
The energy struck Yubelluna while she was still suspended in the air, the impact precise enough to pierce the defense without generating a wide explosion.
BOOM
Yubelluna's body was launched backward several meters before losing all support, disappearing in the automatic flash of teleportation.
At the same time, Akeno released the prepared magic. The lightning was short, controlled, directed only at the center of Ravel's body.
KRAK
The shock ran through the fiery wings without spreading discharge around them. Ravel was thrown backward, her posture breaking before she vanished instantly.
On the ground, the effect ceased only long enough to allow the sequence.
Kiba stepped forward and swung his blade in a short arc. The cut passed through Karlamine's side without excessive depth, enough to break her stance and balance.
SLASH
Karlamine collapsed forward and disappeared the moment her knee touched the ground.
Siris regained movement in the same second. The Zweihänder began to descend, but Saji was already within range.
"It's terrible having to hit such a beautiful girl." Saji said while advancing.
"Pervert." Koneko replied, her body still, arms crossed.
"I'm not a pervert!" Saji shot back without stopping.
"I can do it for you." Kiba commented, his sword still lowered.
"No." Saji answered, closing his fist. "I'll do it."
Demonic energy gathered in Saji's hand in a compact pulse. His next step was direct, without extra adjustment.
THUD
The punch struck the center of Siris's abdomen, interrupting any attempt to continue. Her body was thrown backward and teleported in the same instant.
Grayfia's voice echoed across the field, clear and unwavering.
"Participants eliminated."
"Ravel Phenex, Yubelluna, Karlamine, and Siris removed from the Rating Game."
At the top of the building, Gasper held his position. His body remained steady, but his eyes burned under the continuous strain of the active Sacred Gear. His breathing did not fail. The effect was not released.
Riser remained frozen in front of him, the flame still suspended in his hand, the smile locked on his face.
"Now it's your turn, Riser." Gasper said quietly, his voice low and steady.
Black energy appeared around Gasper's arm, compact and dense, without outward ripples. The flame did not spread. It was shaped, drawn forward in a straight line.
"Twilight Flame."
The flame advanced without hesitation.
The space between them was consumed in a single instant. There was no explosion. No scattered impact. The flame struck Riser directly, enveloping his entire body in one continuous, precise, absolute motion.
The flame suspended in Riser's hand went out in the same second.
His fire did not react. It did not resist. It did not regenerate.
Riser's body was engulfed by the Twilight Flame from head to toe, the black energy clinging to his skin, his folded wings, the demonic core that sustained his immortality.
"AAAAAAAH!"
The scream tore across the rooftop without restraint. His body twisted in place, still caught by the last remnant of the Sacred Gear before the effect ended.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
The flame did not go out.
"MY FIRE— NO— THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!"
Gasper blinked.
The Sacred Gear's symbol dimmed and extinguished completely. The paralysis field collapsed at that same instant, without delay.
Riser dropped to his knees, his body still wrapped in black flame, his regeneration visibly failing, no automatic recovery, no reconstruction.
"I AM IMMORTAL!"
The scream came out broken.
"I AM RISER PHENEX!"
The Twilight Flame continued consuming what it needed to consume.
Riser lifted his face one last time, teeth clenched, body unstable.
"NO— NO— NO—"
The space in front of him twisted in desperation.
Riser activated teleportation by force, tearing his own body out of the field before the flame could consume him completely. The flash was irregular and unstable, the displacement happening at the bare minimum necessary.
The rooftop was left empty.
The black flame dissipated into the air, ending together with the attack.
Grayfia's voice echoed across the entire field, clean and undeniable.
"Riser Phenex has been incapacitated."
"The House of Phenex has lost its King."
"Victory confirmed for the House of Gremory."
The announcement spread through the dimensional space without resistance.
Gasper remained standing for one extra second. His body did not fall. He simply closed his eyes when the distant echo of one last scream crossed the field before vanishing completely.
"AAAAAAAAH—!"
"Gasper!"
Rias appeared in the air above the building and descended without slowing. The landing was direct. The impact minimal.
She did not stop.
Rias stepped forward and pulled Gasper into a tight embrace, lifting him from the ground without effort, his body drawn against hers in the same motion.
"You did it." she said without letting go. "You ended this."
The pressure of the hug increased for a moment, with no concern for personal space or posture.
"Thank you." Her voice came out firm. "Truly."
Akeno landed right behind them, her wings folding calmly. She observed the scene without interfering, a natural smile appearing on her face.
Gasper stayed still within the embrace, his face pressed directly against Rias's chest, leaving no room for immediate retreat.
'I really have nothing to complain about.'
"Rias." Akeno commented, tilting her head slightly. "You're going to suffocate him."
"Let me celebrate properly, Akeno." Rias replied without letting go. "He deserves it."
Akeno kept her discreet smile, fully aware of the weight of that result for her king and for the balance of the Underworld.
Rias did not release Gasper immediately. His body remained lifted for another moment, relief turning into open celebration, without political calculation in that second.
"It's over."
"It's finally over."
"I'm free."
The space above the rooftop distorted in a precise jump. Grayfia appeared in a clean displacement, landing with controlled elegance a few steps away. Her posture was formal. Her gaze attentive. Her presence imposed order without raising her voice.
"Sister-in-law." Rias said as she recognized her, still holding Gasper.
Grayfia kept her hands aligned before her body.
"Rias." Her voice was neutral. "I ask that you maintain proper posture. Your victory will be formalized before the Houses. Embracing a servant in public and celebrating in this manner is not an attitude consistent with the image you must uphold."
The message was direct. Without harshness. Without concession.
Rias held her gaze for a moment. Understanding came without resistance. Her body lowered carefully, placing Gasper on the ground before straightening herself, her wings adjusting, her posture returning to the axis expected of a victorious leader.
"Understood, Grayfia." The response was immediate.
"We did it, Rias." Gasper said as he steadied his footing, his voice low and stable.
"We did it, Gasper." Rias replied, her tone firm, without losing the softness of the moment.
Grayfia observed the brief exchange of looks between them. No comment followed. No visible interpretation. The silence was a deliberate choice.
"Well." Grayfia continued, turning slightly toward the open space. "Let us proceed to the observation area. The victory of the House of Gremory will be formalized according to protocol."
"Yes, let's go." Rias answered immediately.
Akeno gave a short smile beside them, satisfied, the relief evident in her relaxed posture.
"And the others?" Rias asked, adjusting herself before moving forward.
"They are already waiting for you." Grayfia confirmed.
Grayfia raised her right hand. A magic circle formed beneath the group's feet without excessive visual dispersion. The runes aligned quickly and precisely, and space folded in a single pulse.
The transition was immediate.
The observation area appeared around them, wide and structured, the field projections already closed. The focus was no longer on the game, but on the presences gathered there.
Sirzechs stood to the side, arms relaxed, posture firm. Lord Gremory stood a few steps ahead, his body upright, gaze fixed on his daughter. Lord Phenex remained on the opposite side, expression restrained, the result already irreversible.
Rias stepped forward twice and stopped.
"Onī-sama."
"Otosama."
Sirzechs responded with a brief nod. The gesture was simple, but carried silent approval. Lord Gremory held her gaze for an extra moment before nodding as well, his rigid posture softening just enough to acknowledge the outcome.
Grayfia remained one step behind Rias, returning to her formal position.
"The match has officially concluded." her voice rang clear. "Victory for the House of Gremory. The marriage contract between Rias Gremory and Riser Phenex is hereby annulled permanently."
No theatrical reaction followed the announcement.
Lord Phenex looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening before relaxing. There was no protest. There was no basis for one.
Sirzechs stepped forward.
"The result is valid." his voice remained steady. "And it will be recognized by all Houses."
It was not what Lord Gremory had wanted. Even so, the decision had already been made. He kept his posture upright, his gaze firm, accepting the outcome without offering open resistance.
Lord Phenex slowly turned, his focus falling upon Gasper for the first time since the official conclusion. The silence before he spoke was short, but intentional.
"What is your name, boy."
"Gasper, sir."
The tone was direct. Without exaggerated reverence. Without provocation.
Lord Phenex narrowed his eyes briefly, evaluating. His gaze moved down and up once, measuring presence rather than appearance.
"I know your Sacred Gear." he continued, voice low and controlled. "But that flame… that is not part of what is recorded."
"That is one of my abilities." Gasper replied without changing posture. "And it is a secret of the House of Gremory."
The sentence settled into the space with enough weight to close any alternative path.
A secret of the House of Gremory.
Lord Phenex kept his gaze fixed for one more second. No reply came. His jaw moved once, a clear sign that the information had been accepted as a formal limit.
"I see."
He turned toward Lord Gremory, his tone returning to protocol.
"Well." he continued. "I suppose this concludes our conversation, Lord Gremory."
"Yes." Lord Gremory replied without hesitation. "I will accompany you."
The two aligned their steps and left the observation area without looking back. No additional words. No farewell gesture.
The space felt larger after their departure.
Sirzechs remained where he stood, his gaze following them briefly before returning to Rias. Grayfia maintained absolute silence, her posture impeccable.
Rias took a single deep breath and then relaxed her shoulders, just enough to mark the end of the tension.
The contract was over.
The game, concluded.
And that result would not be reversed.
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next chapter!