Arthur stood inside a perfect replica of the Occult Research Club room, the familiar surroundings doing little to calm the tension that quietly filled the air.
A few hours earlier, Grayfia had arrived to escort them to the Underworld, her expression as composed and unreadable as ever while informing them that the Rating Game would take place within the capital of the Gremory territory.
After saying his farewells and changing into the attire he had chosen specifically for this battle, Arthur stepped into the magic circle without hesitation.
In the next instant, he was here.
The rules were simple.
Because this was Arthur's first official Rating Game, the format had been reduced to a straightforward confrontation. Both teams had been placed on opposite sides of a replica of Kuoh Academy, and they were given thirty minutes to explore the terrain and prepare their strategies before engaging.
Arthur did not need thirty minutes.
He did not even need five.
The moment he appeared, his figure blurred as he used Shunpo, vanishing from the room and reappearing outside in the academy courtyard.
Arthur stood at the center of the vast courtyard, his figure calm and unmoving despite the scale of the battlefield around him.
The open ground stretched endlessly in every direction, offering no cover, no structures, and no opportunity for deception. It was a place meant for direct confrontation, a stage where only raw strength and presence would decide the outcome. He had deliberately chosen this location, not out of carelessness, but because he understood that against someone like Riser, subtlety was unnecessary.
A slow breath left his lips, and with it, he released his aura.
It did not erupt chaotically, nor did it explode outward like uncontrolled power. Instead, it spread with deliberate intent, like an invisible force claiming territory.
A dense, suffocating pressure filled the surroundings as black and crimson energy began to seep from his body, curling into the air like living smoke.
The colors were not merely visual; they carried weight, like something ancient and oppressive, the kind of presence that did not simply exist but demanded recognition. The black was deep and absolute, swallowing light itself, while the crimson flickered within it like restrained violence, like embers glowing beneath an endless abyss.
The moment it spread, the entire battlefield reacted.
Across the academy grounds, every member of Riser's peerage felt it at once. Their movements faltered, their instincts reacting before their thoughts could catch up. The pressure did not merely weigh on their bodies; it pressed against their senses, their awareness, their very existence, as though something far above them had turned its attention in their direction. It was not just strength they felt, but authority—the unmistakable feeling of being dominated by something they could not fully comprehend.
Several of them stopped entirely, their expressions tightening as they tried to locate the source. Even those trained for battle, those who had faced danger countless times, could not ignore the warning their instincts were screaming at them. This was not a normal opponent, and whatever stood at the center of that presence was not something they could afford to underestimate.
Arthur, however, stood completely still, his eyes calm as he observed the reactions spreading across the battlefield. Through that aura, through that invisible pressure, he could feel them.
Their positions, their movements, the hesitation creeping into their steps. His [Ruler's Authority] did not simply amplify his power; it imposed it, forcing everything within its range to acknowledge him as the center, as the dominant force within that space.
And yet—
Riser Phenex did not react the same way.
Standing among his peerage, surrounded by his own flames, Riser merely frowned in irritation. He felt the pressure, of course—he was not so dull as to miss it entirely—but to him, it was nothing more than an annoyance, an attempt at intimidation that held no real substance.
"Tch… what a pointless display."
His voice carried arrogance, but more than that, it carried certainty. In his mind, there was no scenario in which he could lose. It did not matter how unusual Arthur's aura felt, nor how unsettling his presence might be.
At the end of the day, Arthur was still human, and Riser was a Phenex. No matter how strong his opponent was, no matter how many tricks he might possess, the result would remain the same.
He was immortal.
And immortality, in his eyes, made everything else irrelevant.
While his peerage remained tense, their instincts refusing to settle, Riser stepped forward without hesitation, completely dismissing the warning signs around him as nothing more than exaggeration.
To him, Arthur was simply a capable fighter with a few interesting abilities, someone who might prolong the fight but could never truly threaten him.
Back in the VIP lounge, the atmosphere contrasted sharply with the battlefield, yet the tension was no less present. The large screen displayed Arthur standing alone at the center of the courtyard, surrounded by that ominous black and crimson aura that continued to spread like a silent storm.
Zeoticus Gremory watched with a frown, his arms crossed as his gaze remained fixed on the screen. Although his words came out as criticism, the concern beneath them was impossible to hide.
"That boy is far too reckless," he said, his tone heavy with disapproval, yet lacking true hostility. He had already accepted Arthur as someone chosen by his daughter, and that alone was enough for him to feel responsible for the outcome of this battle.
Beside him, Venelana let out a soft, amused laugh, her posture relaxed as she leaned slightly to the side, her eyes gleaming with interest rather than worry.
"You really should learn to express yourself more honestly," she said, her voice smooth and teasing, carrying the playful warmth of someone who understood him completely. "Anyone listening might think you dislike him, when in reality you are simply worried."
Zeoticus clicked his tongue but did not deny it.
Rias, seated nearby, crossed her arms confidently as she watched Arthur's figure on the screen.
"There is nothing to worry about," she said without hesitation, her voice firm with belief. "Arthur is far stronger than you think."
Her parents exchanged a brief glance, both sighing almost at the same time, clearly interpreting her confidence as the result of being deeply in love.
Akeno, however, smiled softly as she leaned slightly forward.
"What Rias says is true, Mother," she added, her tone gentle yet certain. "Arthur really is very strong~"
Venelana's gaze shifted toward her, her smile widening with playful interest.
"Oh my… it seems Akeno-chan has also fallen quite deeply," she said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt that made it clear she was enjoying the situation. "I wonder how many hearts that boy plans to collect."
Her attention briefly moved toward Asia, who sat quietly with her hands resting on her lap, her eyes fixed on the screen with a mixture of concern and admiration.
Venelana's expression softened, though the teasing glint in her eyes did not disappear.
"And this one as well…" she murmured, almost to herself, before letting out another quiet laugh. "How lively. It seems our Arthur-kun is quite popular."
Leaning back elegantly, she crossed her legs and looked at Rias again, her smile now carrying a slightly more mischievous edge.
"Rias, dear… are you planning to build a small kingdom around him?" she asked lightly, her tone resembling that of an older sister teasing rather than a mother questioning.
Rias flushed slightly but did not argue, and that alone was enough to make Venelana's smile deepen with amusement.
As her gaze returned to the screen, she studied Arthur more carefully, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, not in suspicion, but in curiosity.
"Still…" she murmured softly, her voice lowering just enough to carry a hint of seriousness beneath the teasing tone, "that aura is not something ordinary."
And for the first time since the match began, even she felt that this battle might not unfold the way everyone had expected.
---
Inside the barrier, Ravel Phenex stood beside her brother, watching the battlefield through the vision of a Familiar hovering high above the academy grounds. The image was clear, showing Arthur standing alone in the center, surrounded by that strange black and crimson aura that refused to fade.
Riser scoffed as he watched.
"That fool really believes that being somewhat strong gives him the right to act so arrogantly."
His voice carried absolute confidence, the kind born from never having truly lost.
Ravel hesitated for a moment before speaking, her eyes still fixed on the screen.
"Even so, Brother… perhaps we should consider forming a strategy? There's a chance that this might be—"
She never finished.
Riser cut her off sharply.
"Are you suggesting that this human is stronger than all of us combined?"
Ravel immediately shook her head, flustered.
"No, Brother, that's not what I meant, I just—"
"That's enough," he said coldly, dismissing her entirely. "We will win, just as we always do. Go find something else to do."
Ravel clenched her fists slightly, annoyance flickering across her face. Being ignored like that only strengthened her resolve, and without another word, she unfurled her phoenix wings and took to the sky.
She had heard certain rumors the day before.
And she wanted answers.
---
It did not take her long to find him.
Arthur stood exactly where the Familiar had shown, surrounded by Riser's peerage, completely calm despite being encircled. The only ones not present in the formation were Riser himself and Ravel.
For a moment, Ravel simply hovered there, observing him.
She had seen him yesterday, but seeing him like this, standing alone against so many without the slightest hint of tension, made her heart beat faster than she expected. His golden hair moved gently with the wind, and his violet eyes remained calm, almost indifferent, as if the entire situation did not concern him in the slightest.
Those eyes… they were strange.
She had heard they were Evil Eyes, but she could not identify their nature.
Taking a breath, she descended.
"Excuse me," she said, her tone polite and composed. "My name is Ravel Phenex, the youngest daughter of the Phenex Clan. Do you have a moment to speak with me?"
Arthur turned his gaze toward her, clearly surprised by her formal approach. From what he remembered, Ravel was not supposed to be this polite, especially not during their first interaction.
Still, he smiled.
"Of course," he replied calmly. "I always have time for such a lovely and well-mannered young lady."
Ravel's cheeks flushed faintly at the compliment, and to her own confusion, it affected her more than it should have.
"I heard some rumors yesterday," she continued, trying to stay focused. "May I ask you about them?"
Arthur crouched slightly so she would not have to look up too much, a small gesture that did not go unnoticed.
"Go ahead."
Ravel smiled, encouraged.
"Is it true that you possess an Evil Eye? And if so… what kind is it?"
Arthur's lips curved slightly.
"It's true. It's a restriction-type ability. Anyone within my field of vision is subjected to a powerful curse."
What he said was not a lie.
But it was far from the truth.
Arthur's eyes were far more terrifying than that simple explanation suggested. His vision extended in all directions at once, granting him complete awareness of everything within range, leaving no blind spots, no hidden angles, no room for surprise. Even movements approaching extreme speeds were laid bare before him, every motion broken down and analyzed instantly, though his body had not yet fully reached the level required to always keep up with what he could perceive.
At the same time, something far more dangerous lingered beneath that perception.
He could see the "lines."
Thin, almost invisible threads that existed across all things, living or not, marking the fragile boundary between existence and destruction. They were not fully developed yet, not something he could always act upon perfectly, but the mere ability to perceive them already placed him in a realm far beyond ordinary fighters.
Ravel, however, only heard his simple explanation.
And even that was enough to leave her speechless.
"Is it really okay to tell me that so easily…?" she asked hesitantly.
Arthur reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"Don't worry," he said lightly. "No matter how much I reveal, the outcome won't change. Besides… I've decided not to kill your brother today, and that's because of you."
Ravel froze.
Those words carried weight she did not expect.
"You… were planning to kill him…?"
Arthur let out a small laugh.
"I was," he admitted casually. "But now that I've met you, I've changed my mind. Later, you can remind him that he's still alive because of you. It might help keep him in line."
Ravel didn't know how to respond.
Before she could say anything else—
A loud siren echoed across the battlefield.
The match had begun.
---
Arthur moved instantly.
With a subtle motion, he used telekinesis to push Ravel away from the center of the battlefield, placing her safely a few meters behind him without harming her.
At the same time, a blade descended toward him.
He raised his arm.
The sword collided with his black gauntlet and stopped completely.
The atmosphere changed.
The warmth, the calm expression, the easy smile—
All of it vanished.
Arthur's eyes sharpened, and the moment he activated [Keen Insight], the world around him slowed.
Every movement became clear.
Every attack predictable.
Every intention visible.
The women rushing toward him from the front suddenly froze mid-step, their bodies trembling as an overwhelming sense of dread gripped them. It was not just pressure they felt, but something deeper, something instinctual, as if standing before something that could erase them entirely.
From behind, a Knight attempted to strike.
Arthur had already seen it.
Her movement unfolded in slow motion within his perception, her blade tracing a clear, predictable path that he had already analyzed before it even reached him.
The sword struck—
And failed.
It could not pierce his body.
Arthur turned.
His leg moved in a clean, precise arc.
"Taebaek."
The kick landed with perfect accuracy against the side of her face, the impact carrying overwhelming force condensed into a single point.
The Knight's body shattered instantly into fragments of light.
And just like that—
The battle truly began.
-
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