Kiba moved first.
As the Knight, it was his job to be the king's sword. To strike first. To cut down any threat to his king.
"Demon Breathing, First Form. Fallen Knight's Salute."
He crossed the distance in a heartbeat, his sword cutting through the air. The blade struck Riser's chest, slicing deep.
But the wound closed instantly. The moment the blade passed through, flames filled the gap. There wasn't even a drop of blood.
The wound closed. Flames licked across the injury, knitting flesh and bone back together.
Riser smiled, smirking.
Koneko moved next. She appeared at his side, her eyes glowing gold with Senjutsu. Her fist drove into his ribs, natural energy exploding on impact.
The moment her fist connected, Riser's body turned to flames. Her punch passed through harmlessly. He reformed a second later, completely unharmed.
Akeno descended from above, lightning crackling around her.
Black and purple lightning rained down, engulfing Riser completely. The explosion shook the entire courtyard.
When the smoke cleared, Riser stood there. Not even a scratch. Not even a burn mark. The lightning had torn through him, but he'd simply regenerated faster than the damage could register.
"Is that all?" Riser laughed.
Rias stepped forward, crimson energy swirling around both hands. The Power of Destruction hummed, eager to be unleashed.
"My turn," she said coldly.
She thrust both hands forward. A massive wave of destructive energy shot out, larger than any she'd used before. It slammed into Riser, erasing everything it touched.
For a split second, there was nothing. Just empty space where Riser had been standing.
Then flames burst from the ground. Riser reformed, stepping out of the fire like nothing had happened. Completely whole. Completely unharmed.
"Impressive," Riser said, dusting off his sleeves. "You've all gotten stronger.
He looked at them, his smile widening then he spread his arms wide, flames erupting around his body.
"But it's pointless. I told you. I'm immortal. You can't kill me. You can't even hurt me."
Riser expected them to lose hope. To despair. To realize how futile this all was.
But when he looked at them, they were smiling.
All of them.
And Rias…Rias looked at him like she'd already won.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Huh?"
Kiba moved. Faster than before. Faster than Riser could track.
"Fourth Form. Twin Shadows Fall."
His blade flashed. Clean and precise.
Riser's left arm fell to the ground.
He laughed. "Is that it? I told you, there's nothing you could do. I am imm—"
He stopped.
His arm wasn't regenerating.
The flames gathered at the stump, trying to reform his limb. But nothing happened. The fire flickered. Died. The wound remained open. Raw. Bleeding.
Riser's eyes widened. "What..."
He stared at his missing arm. Then at the stump. Then at Kiba.
Then Riser noticed the sword in Kiba's hand. It was different from earlier.
Kiba smiled. He held the sword up, letting Riser see it clearly.
"This," Kiba said, his voice calm. " is a sword specifically designed to kill beings like you,"
He tilted the blade, the crimson veins glowing brighter.
"Once this sword cuts you, that part of your body can never heal again."
Riser stumbled back, clutching his bleeding stump. "That's... that's impossible!"
Kiba fell silent. That is what he thought to but…
=====
Yesterday
The four of them stood in the training room. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba. Leon was in front, arms crossed, his expression serious.
"Between the four of you," Leon asked, "who do you think has the best chance to kill Riser?"
"Rias," Akeno said immediately.
"Buchou," Koneko agreed.
"Definitely Rias-buchou," Kiba added. "The Power of Destruction is the only thing that can truly erase him."
Leon shook his head. "Wrong."
They all looked at him, confused.
"It's you, Kiba," Leon said, pointing at him.
"Me?" Kiba blinked. "But I don't have—"
"Your imagination is still lacking," Leon interrupted. "You can create demon swords with different attributes, right? Holy swords, dragon slayers, god slayers..."
Kiba nodded slowly. "Yes, but my Sword Birth can't rival genuine demon swords. The ones I create are massively weaker compared to the real thing. I can't—"
"Then surpass it," Leon said simply.
Kiba stopped.
"You have great potential," Leon continued. "More than you realize. As for your will..."
He smiled.
"Isn't dying millions of times in virtual training proof enough of how strong your will is?"
The room went silent.
Kiba stared at him.
"You've died more than anyone," Leon said. "Fought Yoriichi. Lost. Died. Came back. Over and over. Millions of times. And you never gave up. Never stopped trying to improve."
Leon stepped forward.
"That kind of will? That determination? It's more than enough to create a sword that surpasses the originals. You just need to believe you can."
He looked at Kiba directly.
"Create an immortal slayer. A sword designed specifically to kill beings that can't die. A blade that negates regeneration permanently."
Kiba's hands trembled slightly.
"Riser's regeneration is his greatest strength," Leon continued. "But it's also his greatest weakness. He's never had to fight seriously because he always heals. He's careless and arrogant."
Leon smiled.
"Take away his immortality, and he's just another devil."
He placed a hand on Kiba's shoulder.
"You're the key to winning this, Kiba. Not Rias but you."
=====
Present
They moved.
All at once. No hesitation.
Riser's eyes darted between them. His heart pounded. For the first time in his life, he felt it.
Fear.
He couldn't regenerate anymore. He could actually die.
He had to fight.
A pillar of fire erupted from his hand, roaring toward Rias. She twisted to the side, the flames scorching past her. Her own blast of destruction carved through the air, missing him by inches.
Lightning crashed down from above. Riser threw himself to the side, rolling across the scorched ground. The bolt exploded where he'd been standing, leaving a crater.
He tried to get up. Koneko was already there.
Her fist slammed into his ribs. Natural energy flooded through him, scattering his magic, breaking his concentration. He gasped, stumbling backward.
Kiba appeared behind him.
"Demon Breathing, Fifth Form. Silver Oath Severance"
The blade moved. A clean, perfect arc.
Riser's right leg hit the ground before he even registered the pain.
Then the pain came.
"AHHH!" He collapsed, clutching his thigh. Blood poured from the stump. Flames flickered around the wound, trying desperately to heal it.
Nothing happened.
"No, no, no—"
Rias didn't wait. Her hand glowed crimson. A blast of destruction shot toward him.
Riser rolled, barely avoiding it. The attack tore through the stone behind him, disintegrating everything it touched.
Akeno's lightning struck next. He tried to dodge but he was too slow. The bolt grazed his shoulder, electricity coursing through his body. He screamed.
He pushed himself up with his arms, trying to stand on his remaining leg. Flames gathered around his fist. He had to fight back. Had to—
Koneko was in front of him.
Her fist drove into his chest. The impact cracked bone. Natural energy exploded on contact, disrupting what little magic he had left.
He fell backward, gasping for air.
Kiba was there. Waiting.
Another flash of black steel.
Riser's left leg was gone.
"STOP! STOP IT!" He thrashed on the ground like a dying animal. Both legs gone. Blood spreading across the courtyard in a dark pool.
But they didn't stop.
He wasn't Leon Mishima. He couldn't fend off four opponents at once. Couldn't counter their attacks, couldn't read their movements. He'd never trained. Never needed to. His regeneration had always been enough.
And now he had nothing.
Rias fired again. The blast hit his side, burning through his ribs. He felt bones crack, felt his lung collapse.
Akeno's lightning struck his shoulder. His entire arm went numb, paralyzed, useless.
Kiba stepped forward. His blade gleamed in the dim light.
One final strike.
The sword cut clean through Riser's right arm.
"AHHHHH!"
The limb fell beside him. Riser stared at it. At his own severed arm lying in the dirt.
He couldn't move. Couldn't fight. Couldn't even stand.
Just a torso and a head. Blood pooling beneath him. His flames flickering weakly, pathetically, unable to heal a single wound.
He looked up at them. All four of them standing over him.
His vision blurred. His breathing shallow.
"Please," he gasped, his voice breaking. "Please... I surrender. I give up. Just... just stop..."
Rias stood above him. Her expression was cold. Empty.
The moment the words left his mouth, light surrounded him.
Riser vanished. Teleported out of the battlefield. The blood remained. The severed limbs remained. But he was gone.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena.
"Riser-sama has surrendered. Winner: Rias Gremory!"
Silence.
Rias stood there, staring at the spot where Riser had been. Her chest heaved. Her hands still glowed faintly with crimson energy.
They won.
They actually won.
She couldn't believe it.
Her legs gave out. She dropped to her knees, catching herself with her hands.
"Buchou!" Kiba rushed to her side.
"I'm fine," Rias breathed. "I'm fine. I just..."
She looked up at the sky. At the artificial sun in the Rating Game arena.
"We won," she whispered.
Akeno landed beside her, her black wings folding. "Yes. We did."
Koneko walked over, her golden glow fading. "It's over."
Rias laughed. It started quiet, then grew louder. Relief. Joy. Disbelief. All of it pouring out at once.
"We actually did it," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "We beat him. We're free."
Kiba smiled, dismissing Immortal Slayer. "You're free, Buchou."
The teleportation circle appeared beneath them. The game was over. Time to return to the real world.
Rias stood, wiping her eyes. She looked at her peerage. Her family.
"Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "All of you. I couldn't have done this without you."
And when it faded, they were back in the Occult Club Room.
Rias took a shaky breath, looking around. It felt surreal. Like waking up from a dream.
But it was real.
She turned and saw him.
Leon stood near the window, arms crossed, a small smile on his face.
She ran to him.
And for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe.
=====
Author's Note:
Eyyy! Rias and her dilemma arc is finally wrapped up, and Riser is gone—for now, at least.
Next chapter, we're shifting back to Leon. The story will refocus on him, the wider world, the canon events, and the villains.
I won't say more or I might spoil it—but trust me, things are about to get interesting.
Look forward to it!
====
If you'd like to read ahead and support me, feel free to check it out: [email protected]/VashFF