Chapter 79: Inferno Unleashed: Riser and Rias's Fiery Confrontation

When Grayfia saw Riser standing next to her, she restrained her killing intent. She immediately embraced his outstretched left arm, pressed her chest against his, and entwined herself with him like lovers. It was made clear that Grayfia's affection was truly directed from Riser, and it was difficult for Rias to watch.

Riser approached Rias, accompanied by Grayfia, as she bowed her head.

"Well, this is how it is. Both Grayfia and your comrades are in the palm of my hand."

Riser's right hand touched Rias' chin, lifting her face and forcing her gaze upward.

"Now, it's just you, Rias."

Riser's hand moved, touching Rias' cheek. He seemed to be enjoying the smooth sensation. Against Riser's seemingly joyful demeanor, Rias regained her composure and intensified her gaze. While it wouldn't change anything by doing this, she wanted to resist Riser in her heart, at the very least.

"I won't fall."

Therefore, Rias declared firmly.

"What?"

"I will never lose to you. I will resist and reclaim everyone someday."

"You don't have to say such things..."

Riser murmured, seemingly impressed or exasperated. It was difficult to judge. Suddenly, he extended his right hand forward.

"This is what I mean."

Flames gathered in Riser's hand. He released them towards Rias, and the battle began abruptly.

Avoiding the intensely hot flames that approached like a wall, Rias unleashed her destructive magic. However, the pillar of flame that erupted from the ground swallowed her magic completely.

Before she could even witness the futile attack, she quickly leaped away as flames attempted to emerge from where she stood. Just a second later, the place Rias had been turned into a scorching hell.

"Gah...!"

Even from the flying embers and the heat blast alone, it was evident. A direct hit would dissolve her to the core of her bones. No, it would burn her soul as well. That's how powerful it felt.

Taking a step back, Rias regained her breath. She had no time to hide her naked body. The heat dominating the space evaporated the sweat that had formed on her skin, leaving her with no composure. The difference in power was something she had already recognized, but she hadn't expected it to be to this extent.

Rias could feel the terror of Riser, but it didn't mean there was no chance of victory.

Riser had been intercepting Rias' magical power with flames every time. That meant he deemed it dangerous to take it head-on. If that was the case, her strategy was clear.

Rias protected her entire body with her destructive magic. It was a battle method she had never attempted before. Although her one-on-one battle against Riser had just begun, it was already giving Rias a substantial amount of experience. Using the combat style she devised to overcome adversity, she approached Riser.

"Haah!"

"Hmm..."

Seeing Rias approaching with her fist, Riser jumped backward. He unleashed flames, intending to engulf Rias. Rias narrowly avoided it and protected herself with her magic from the flames nearby, closing in on Riser as she followed the path of the flames.

"What...?"

Riser revealed his perturbation. Rias found an opening.

It seemed that Riser was still avoiding directly intercepting Rias' attacks. Rias was getting closer to him, eating away at his defenses.

A single strike wouldn't be enough to finish him off. The Phoenix would regenerate even if its head were blown off. He might counterattack painfully immediately after regeneration, but that was fine.

First, a single strike. Rias thrust her fist forward, aiming to obliterate Riser's detestable beak.

Her fist pierced Riser's face perfectly. She destroyed his face and plunged her hands into the collapsing head, channeling her magic. It was an internal magical attack. With each regeneration, his head was destroyed, causing Riser to let out a pitiful scream.

Rias witnessed such a scene as if it were an illusion.

"Well, well."

Smirking at Rias' fist that struck him without leaving a scratch, Riser retaliated with a counter-blow to her abdomen. A dull pain resounded inside Rias, forcing her to forcefully exhale the air from her lungs. She fell powerlessly, and Riser caught her with a knee kick to her stomach.

Consciousness faded away.

"You pathetic piece of trash, Rias..."

"Hehehe, it seems you genuinely believed you could win. How foolish."

"President, could it be that you have a mental illness? It would be better if I healed you with my power..."

"Rias' simplistic thinking won't be cured even until she dies."

"Oh, dear brother... I thought I could finally have your sperm after such a long time..."

Voices from the sidelines reached her.

"Shall we get to the main event soon?"

Riser peered down at Rias, who had been thrown to the floor. With an evil smile on his face, Rias closed her heavy eyelids.

Just before losing consciousness completely, Rias saw the wall of flames surrounding the room dissipating.

The room was dyed in pitch-black. The light from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling was tinged with darkness. The blood-red carpet extended from the floor near the entrance, dividing the vast room in two, all the way to the elevated platform at the back of the room.

..