The air around Issei collapsed inward.
The emerald jewels ignited like miniature suns.
BOOST.
The pressure doubled.
BOOST.
The ground beneath him shattered outward in a perfect circle.
BOOST.
The armor screamed.
Not audibly—but existentially. Power flooded every joint, every plate, every nerve. The crimson dragon aura coiled around Issei like a living thing.
Raiser felt it.
For the first time—
fear.
Ddraig's voice thundered, no longer restrained.
'BOOST × BOOST × BOOST—PERMISSION OVERRIDDEN.'
Issei roared as draconic wings of pure energy erupted from his back, dwarfing Raiser's burning ones.
The sky cracked.
Raiser braced himself, flames spiraling wildly. "You think brute force—"
"STOP."
Rias's voice cut through the battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Issei froze.
Raiser turned slowly.
Rias stepped forward, her hair whipping violently in the dragon pressure, eyes blazing—not with fear, but finality.
"Raiser Phenex," she said, voice shaking but firm,
"I never belonged to you."
Raiser snarled. "You're saying that because—"
"I said no," Rias snapped.
Silence.
Even the flames quieted.
"You never listened. You never cared. You never once asked what I wanted." Her fists clenched. "You wanted a trophy. A contract. A womb for heirs."
Raiser's eyes trembled.
"I chose Issei," she continued. "Not because he's strong. But because he sees me. Respects me. Protects my choice."
She looked at Issei.
"Issei… please."
The dragon aura faltered.
Ddraig exhaled slowly.
'Partner… stand down.'
Issei's fists shook.
"…Rias?"
She smiled softly. "You've done enough."
Raiser laughed—sharp, desperate. "You think this means you win? He's out of time. Without him, you're finished."
A small voice answered him.
"No."
Everyone turned.
Konako stood there.
Small frame. Silver hair. Expressionless.
Dragging something behind her.
Ravel Phenex.
Unconscious.
Broken.
The battlefield felt the shift too late.
Konako cracked her neck.
"You're loud," she said flatly.
"You hurt my family."
Raiser's eyes widened. "Wait—"
Too late.
Konako vanished.
She reappeared directly in front of him.
Her fist glowed with raw, compressed Devil strength—no technique, no magic, just overwhelming power.
One punch.
Not flashy.
Not explosive.
Just final.
Raiser's armor shattered.
His flames extinguished.
His body rocketed downward like a meteor, crashing into the battlefield below with a deafening impact that left a smoking crater behind.
No phoenix fire.
No regeneration.
Just silence.
Konako landed lightly beside the crater, brushing dust off her sleeve.
"…Fight's over."
The Sona's voice trembled as it echoed.
"RAISER PHENEX—DEFEATED."
The viewing room erupted.
Ajuka stared, stunned.
Sirzechs burst out laughing.
Serafall was openly cheering.
Aaron muttered, "That's worse than losing to the main character."
Rias rushed to Issei as the Balance Breaker dissolved, catching him as his legs gave out.
He smiled weakly. "Did… did we win?"
She hugged him tightly, forehead pressed to his chest.
"…Yeah," she whispered. "We did."
Behind them—
Raiser lay unconscious in the crater.
Defeated.
Humiliated.
Finished—
Not by the Dragon.
But by a rook.
In the Viewing Room
Kurumu tilted her head, genuinely baffled.
"I'm sorry, but how did Konako defeat Raiser?"
Nate didn't even look away from the screen.
"Issei already did enough damage. Raiser was basically at three percent HP."
He paused, then added casually—
"And Senjutsu has holy properties."
The room went silent.
Ajuka slowly adjusted his glasses.
"…Excuse me?"
Nate shrugged. "Phoenix regeneration doesn't like holy-adjacent internal energy. Especially when it's delivered directly to the core. No flames, no rebirth."
Sirzechs winced. "That explains the crater."
Serafall clapped excitedly. "So he didn't just lose—he got counter-typed!"
Kunou looked up innocently. "So Konako-neechan punched him in the soul?"
Nate smiled. "Yeah. Pretty much."
Battlefield
Inside the fading Balance Breaker, Ddraig was silent.
Then—
'…Hah.'
Issei blinked weakly. "Ddraig?"
'That punch was not dragon-strength…'
A pause.
'That was execution-level intent.'
The Welsh Dragon sounded… impressed.
'Partner, remember this well—never anger the small ones. They end wars.'
Issei let out a tired laugh. "Noted…"
The battlefield was calm now. No fire. No lightning. Just broken stone and drifting dust.
Rias sat with Issei on the rooftop steps, his head resting against her shoulder. His armor was gone, leaving him exhausted, breathing slow but steady.
She gently wiped blood from his cheek.
"…You didn't have to push yourself that far," she whispered.
Issei smiled faintly. "Yeah… but I wanted to."
She stiffened. "Why?"
He looked up at her, eyes honest, no bravado left.
"Because if I lost… you wouldn't just lose the game."
Silence.
"…You'd lose your future."
Her grip tightened on his sleeve.
"You idiot," she said softly.
Then she leaned forward and hugged him—tight, unashamed, trembling just a little.
"…Thank you."
Issei froze for half a second—then relaxed into it.
Later.
Formal. Clean. Absolute.
Rias stood before the Phenex elders, Sirzechs at her side. Raiser was absent—medically restrained and unconscious.
Her voice didn't shake.
"I invoke my right as a Devil of the Gremory Clan," she said,
"to dissolve this engagement immediately and permanently."
One elder snarled. "Because you lost?"
Rias looked them straight in the eye.
"No. Because you tried to own me."
She placed the engagement sigil on the table.
"It was never valid. I never consented. And tonight proved exactly why."
Sirzechs smiled—dangerously.
"The House of Gremory recognizes this declaration."
Ajuka nodded. "And the Satans uphold it."
The sigil shattered into ash.
Engagement: Nullified.
Rias exhaled for the first time in years.
Back on the Rooftop
Rias returned to Issei, who was half-asleep.
"It's done," she said quietly.
He smiled without opening his eyes.
"…Welcome back to being free."
She sat beside him, leaning her head against his.
"…I think," she said softly,
"I'd like to choose my future now."
Issei chuckled weakly. "Take your time."
Above them, the moon hung peacefully.
For once—
No chains.
No contracts.
Just choice.
Gremory Household – Celebration Night
The manor was loud in that warm, chaotic way only victories bring.
Devils, yokai, family, and guests filled the halls—food everywhere, laughter bouncing off ancient walls.
And in one corner—
Issei was getting absolutely cooked.
Rias had her arms crossed.
Akeno smiled sweetly—which somehow made it worse.
Asia looked worried but nodded along.
Kiba sighed like this had been inevitable.
Even Gasper was participating.
"You used Balance Breaker without telling anyone!" Rias snapped.
Issei raised his hands defensively. "I had it under control!"
Akeno leaned closer. "Ara~ you collapsed immediately after."
Asia added softly, "You scared us…"
Issei shrank a little. "Okay… maybe a little reckless."
Sirzechs passed by, patted Issei's shoulder.
"Well done unlocking Balance Breaker."
Then immediately—
"But also don't ever do that again without backup."
Issei's soul left his body for a second.
Konako stood stiff as a board.
Rias gently held her hands. "You were incredible."
Akeno nodded. "That punch was decisive and elegant."
Kiba smiled. "Perfect timing."
Sirzechs crouched slightly to her level.
"You saved the match."
Konako's ears twitched. "…I just punched him."
Serafall popped in dramatically.
"A tiny fist that ended a phoenix dynasty!"
Konako visibly malfunctioned.
"…Please stop."
Everyone laughed.
Nate watched from a distance, amused.
"Yep," he muttered, "she's gonna hide in a cupboard later."
Elsewhere.
Zeoticus Gremory and Aaron sat at a table like old war buddies.
"So," Zeoticus said proudly, "Sirzechs once vaporized a mountain by accident."
Aaron nodded. "Nate erased a divine artifact when he was twelve."
They paused.
"…You play co-op?" Zeoticus asked.
"Soulslikes," Aaron replied.
They shook hands.
Across the room, Nate and Sirzechs stared in synchronized disbelief.
"…Are our dads bonding?" Sirzechs whispered.
"…Over trauma and video games," Nate replied.
Later that night, when the noise settled.
Venelana approached Nate, composed and formal.
"For everything you have done," she said,
"we wish to present you with a treasure of House Gremory."
Nate scratched the back of his head. "Really, that's not—"
Zeoticus cut in gently. "It was my father's. Please."
The maids arrived.
They placed the jar on the table.
The moment Nate saw it—
The room changed.
Inside the glass: multiple pearls, each glowing faintly with layered colors—oceanic, ancient, alive.
Nate's breath caught.
"…Where did you get these?"
Venelana blinked. "Is something wrong, Yokai King?"
Kunou's eyes widened.
"…Nate," she whispered.
"These are Mermaid Pearls."
Rias froze.
"…Mermaid… what?"
Nate swallowed, voice low.
"One of my Yokai," he said slowly.
"Her name is Mermaidyn. A Ningyo."
Lily stepped forward, expression grave.
"She was once called Mermother. SSS-class.
She gave up her power to live as a human."
Nate clenched his fist.
"She and her husband returned home one day," he continued,
"and found their house empty.
The pearls were gone."
Silence.
Zeoticus stared. "…My father found them at a street vendor."
Venelana added softly,
"He thought they'd make a lovely gift for my mother."
Sirzechs looked horrified. "Father—"
Zeoticus raised a hand. "I didn't know."
Nate slowly exhaled.
"…Ancient Japan," Lily said.
"We believed they were sold off. Lost to time."
Nate looked at the jar again.
Years of quiet tension finally snapped into focus.
"…Then," Nate said, voice steady but heavy,
"you didn't just give me a treasure."
He looked up at Venelana and Zeoticus.
"You gave me a closure I wasn't sure I'd ever get."
Kunou hugged his arm tightly.
Rias swallowed. "…So these belong to someone you care about deeply."
Nate nodded.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"And now I can finally bring them home."
The pearls shimmered softly—like they'd heard him.
Sirzechs stood up a little too suddenly.
"I'm going to check the Gremory treasure vault."
The room paused.
Rias blinked. "…Why?"
Sirzechs adjusted his glasses, calm on the surface—internally screaming.
"Because," he said carefully,
"if we unknowingly had artifacts belonging to the Yokai Faction…"
He glanced at Nate.
"…there is a non-zero chance we also possess items from other ancient factions."
Nate took a sip of tea.
"…Define 'other.'"
Sirzechs' eye twitched.
"Dragons."
"Gods."
"Possibly a sealed demon emperor's lunchbox."
Serafall gasped. "Ooo~ treasure hunt!"
Venelana frowned slightly. "Our records are meticulous."
Nate raised an eyebrow. "With respect… your father bought Mermaid Pearls from a street vendor."
Zeoticus coughed. "…In my father's defense, they were very shiny."
Kunou leaned forward.
"Nate… what if they have something from our people too?"
Nate froze.
Slowly turned.
"…Sirzechs."
Sirzechs already had his coat on.
"I will be back shortly."
Rias stared. "You're panicking."
"I am being responsible."
A portal opened.
Gremory Treasure Vault – 3 Minutes Later
Sirzechs stood before rows upon rows of ancient relics.
He picked up a sword.
"…This feels dragon-forged."
Another shelf.
"…Why is this labeled 'DO NOT OPEN – SINGS'?"
He reached a crystal orb.
It hummed.
Sirzechs' face drained of color.
"…That's yokai warding script."
From behind him—
"Ah. Found it."
Sirzechs spun around.
Nate was already holding an old lacquered box.
"…Why do you know exactly where that is?"
Nate shrugged. "That's a Tanuki prank box. If you open it, it steals your wallet and replaces it with leaves."
Sirzechs stared at the vault.
"…How many of these are dangerous?"
Nate tilted his head, counting mentally.
"…Emotionally? Or politically?"
Sirzechs sat down on a crate.
Serafall peeked in.
"Sirzechs, did you find anything fun?"
Sirzechs answered hollowly.
"We may owe at least three factions an apology."
Serafall clapped. "Yaaay diplomacy!"
Back upstairs.
Rias rubbed her temples.
"…Why does my family own world-ending artifacts?"
Zeoticus smiled proudly.
"We collect history."
Venelana sipped her tea.
"…Sometimes history collects us back."
Kunou giggled.
"Nate, does this mean more treasure adventures?"
Nate sighed, already resigned.
"…I hate that I'm about to say yes."
And somewhere deep in the vault—
A cursed relic quietly updated its ownership status.
Back at the Adam House, the room had gone quiet.
Mermaidyn stared at the jar for a long moment, hands trembling—not from weakness, but from history finally catching up to her.
"…These are the ones."
Nate didn't rush her. He just stood there, steady, like he always had been.
"I kept my promise," he said softly. "I told you I'd find them."
For a second, Mermaidyn just looked at him.
Then she laughed—a sharp, broken sound that turned into joy—and leapt forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his forehead, lingering there like she didn't want to let go.
"I love you, Nate."
Nate chuckled, a little embarrassed, a lot relieved.
"I love you too, Mermaidyn."
The others watched in silence as she turned back to the jar.
Carefully—reverently—she lifted the pearls.
As they touched her chest, light bloomed.
Not violent.
Not overwhelming.
Warm. Ancient. Familiar.
The glow filled the room like moonlight underwater.
When it faded, Mermother stood where Mermaidyn had been.
A true Ningyo Queen.
Her presence alone made the air feel heavier, deeper—like the ocean itself had leaned in to watch. The antlers framed her head like a crown, she has a big chest and hour glass figure making her beauti more alluring. her tail moved with slow, regal power, and the pearls—now part of her again—pulsed softly with life.
She smiled down at Nate and, with a flick of her tail, gently lifted his chin so he had to look at her.
"So," she asked, voice layered with old tides and quiet affection,
"what do you think?"
Nate looked her over once.
Paused.
Then, very deliberately, looked back at her face.
A beat passed.
"…Worth it."
The room lost it.
Someone choked on a drink.
Someone else groaned.
Kunou crossed her arms, cheeks puffed out. "Nate—!"
Mermother laughed, genuinely laughed, the sound echoing like waves against stone.
She leaned closer, forehead touching Nate's.
"Good," she said. "Because this time… I'm not losing myself again."
Nate smiled.
"Good," he replied. "Because this time, you're not doing it alone."
Kuroka tilted her head, then casually walked up to Mermother.
Before anyone could stop her—
She leaned in and pressed her chest lightly against Mermother's, both of them freezing for half a second.
Then they smirked.
"Same size," Kuroka said.
"Same size," Mermother replied at the exact same time.
The room went dead silent.
Kurumu sputtered. "WHY IS THIS A THING—"
Mizore adjusted her scarf and spoke flatly.
"I don't think Nate cares about chest size."
Every eye in the room slowly turned toward Nate.
Nate felt the danger.
He felt it in his soul.
He raised both hands immediately. "Correct."
He cleared his throat and continued, very carefully.
"I care about who you are, not measurements. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot."
A pause.
Then he added, without missing a beat,
"…Also I am not ranking anything. I choose life."
Kunou nodded in approval.
Kuroka laughed.
Mermother smiled like she'd already won something centuries ago.
Mizore blinked once. "Logical."
Kurumu squinted. "Smooth… annoyingly smooth."
Nate exhaled in relief.
Crisis avoided.
Barely.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy