Fate DxD

Chapter 87

Riser and I face each other. I take this time to calm down and rest. As for Riser, he looks at me as if I were a monster, a look I've gotten used to over the years. I take one step forward, then another, causing Riser to back away.

"What did you do to me?! Why won't my flames come out?! Why can't I do anything?!" Riser yells at me, but I ignore his questions. "Answer me! You low-class devil!"

I strengthen my body and throw my left fist, striking him in the face. The impact moves his head backwards, spitting saliva. I follow up with a straight punch to the stomach, then an uppercut to the jaw, causing him to stagger and fall to the ground, blood dripping from his lips.

(That's it, I finally hit him.)

"What..." Riser touches his lips, seeing his blood. "How can that be? You shouldn't be able to inflict such ridiculous wounds on me... Where has my immortality gone!"

"Get up." I stand straight in front of him, fists clenched, looking down at him.

"...What did you just say?" Riser looks lost.

"Are you deaf or something? Get up."

"You..." Even though he's lost his powers, he seems to be boiling inside, turning red with fury. "How dare you give orders to me! Riser Phenex! I'm a high-class Devil and you're low-class! I don't take orders from you!"

"I don't give a fuck about your status. The fight's not over, so get up." I reply, still with my ominous calm, which seems to piss him off even more.

"And I'm asking you to answer me, what have you done with my powers?! My immortality!?"

"...I'm tired of you..." I close my eyes, annoyed. "I overloaded your body, rendering you unable to use your powers. Basically, I'm preventing you from using your flames and immortality. And don't worry, it'll come back in a few hours." It's obviously a lie, but if I tell him the truth. He'll try to buy time any way he can.

"How... dare you... That's cheating! Shame on you for stopping me from fighting!"

"Because it's not cheating to be immortal maybe? Obviously, what am I saying, it's acceptable when it suits you. But all tools must be used in combat, and that's what I did. Removing your powers is the best way to win. Now, it seems to me that this isn't over? You're still here. So fight." I provoke him, beckoning him over.

"You don't know what you're doing..." He rises slowly, assuming an amateurish posture. "Taking away the power of the Phoenix from me, inherited from generation to generation. This power is more than a symbol! It represents...!"

"I don't care. Your family history or status doesn't matter here on the battlefield."

His face tightens, I can hear his teeth grind between them. He starts to run, raising his fists and throwing it. I simply dodge and let him pass. Even without powers, he's still a high-class Devil, with the strength to match. And yet... his attacks are predictable, far too predictable, almost pathetic for someone of his caliber. I dodge each of his blows with ease and kick him in the stomach, sending him to the ground again, writhing in pain. Seeing him so upset, I clench my fists, feeling the tension rising inside me.

(That guy... He was just so full of himself?!)

"Is that all you've got? You used to be proud, playing around with your powers, but as soon as we take away your fire, there's nothing left."

"Tss, how can you say that when you're the one who took my powers away." He turns to me, his face filled with shame.

"So that's what I was thinking. You're useless without your flames. Hmpf, why am I surprised. Riser, the man who always had everything he needed at the right time. A happy life filled with wealth, nothing was beyond his reach. So why should he care if one day someone was able to take away his powers, that's just impossible, how dare him to do this to the Riser himself. You must be feeling pretty stupid right now. What did you expect when you confronted us, Riser? That it would end quickly? That you wouldn't encounter any difficulties?" Ddraig's aura comes out, creating waves of red energy emanating from me. "Who do you think you are, making fun of Rias so much?" My gaze is piercing, it's been a long time since I've been this pissed off at someone.