Arthur allowed himself a faint smile as he felt the Domain fully stabilize around them. Maintaining it demanded an immense amount of power, almost everything he could currently output, yet the results justified the strain.
Within this space, Anti-Magic reigned absolute, suppressing all external systems of power and reducing even something as absolute as the Phenex regeneration to nothing more than a useless concept.
To Arthur, it felt like control.
To Riser, it felt like suffocation.
"H-how is this possible…?"
Riser's voice trembled slightly, no longer carrying the arrogance it once held. Before he could gather himself, Arthur stepped forward, his movements fluid and deliberate, and delivered a spinning kick that connected cleanly with Riser's face.
The impact twisted his neck violently before Arthur followed through with another strike from his opposite leg, using the rotational momentum to amplify the force behind it.
Riser's body staggered, but before he could fall, an invisible force wrapped around him and dragged him forward. Arthur's telekinesis pulled him in without resistance, and in the same instant, an elbow strike drove straight into his solar plexus, sending a violent shockwave through his entire body.
"Arang."
The technique landed perfectly.
Riser's breath left him completely as his body folded inward, and he dropped to his knees, coughing violently as blood spilled from his mouth. The pain was overwhelming, not just because of the damage itself, but because it remained. There was no regeneration, no flames to save him, only raw, unfiltered suffering.
Arthur looked down at him, his gaze calm, almost indifferent.
"I'll give you another chance. Magic doesn't work in here, and neither does your immortality. I think you understand what that means."
Riser spat blood onto the ground, his body trembling under the accumulated damage. His chest burned, his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive, and every breath sent waves of pain through his ribs and organs. Even so, his pride refused to bend, clinging desperately to the identity he had built for himself.
"Rot in hell…"
Arthur sighed quietly. He had expected resistance, but this level of stubbornness bordered on self-destruction. Killing him here would serve no purpose, and yet, leaving things unfinished would only invite future trouble.
After a brief pause, Arthur made his decision.
The Domain began to dissolve.
The infinite void collapsed inward, the suffocating darkness peeling away as the world reconstructed itself piece by piece. The academy grounds reappeared, the sky returned, and the pressure that had dominated the battlefield vanished completely. Arthur didn't need the Domain anymore; he had already achieved its purpose.
He had broken Riser.
Now, he would end it.
A crimson light flared around his arm as he summoned his Sacred Gear. The red gauntlet materialized, its presence alone sending a ripple through the spectators watching from outside. Even after everything Arthur had displayed, the revelation that he wielded a Longinus shook the entire arena.
Flames erupted.
At first they burned bright red, swirling violently around his body, but as they rose, their color deepened, darkening into something heavier, more oppressive. The energy expanded outward, distorting the air itself as the pressure began to rise once more.
"Balance Breaker."
The flames exploded outward before settling, revealing a figure clad in black armor adorned with golden details. The design was elegant yet terrifying, and from his head extended a magnificent pair of curled horns, giving him the appearance of a crowned king of destruction.
"Boost… Boost… Boost…"
With each amplification, the pressure intensified, sending visible tremors through the barrier itself. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and even outside, the audience could feel the aftershocks of his power leaking into the surroundings.
Arthur raised his arm slowly, his gaze locked onto Riser.
"Final warning. As the wielder of one of the two Celestial Dragons, I am giving you a chance to live. Surrender now."
Riser's body trembled uncontrollably under the overwhelming pressure, his instincts screaming at him to stop, to yield, to survive. Yet his pride held firm, refusing to allow him to kneel before a human, no matter how powerful.
He said nothing.
Arthur closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if accepting the inevitable outcome of that silence. When he opened them again, there was no hesitation left within him. His arm rose higher, power gathering into a single, decisive strike that would end everything in one blow.
At that exact moment—
"Wait!"
A voice cut through the tension.
Arthur's movement halted instantly as a teleportation circle formed nearby, and Grayfia emerged from it with urgency in her expression. She moved swiftly, placing herself between the two without fear, her presence commanding immediate attention.
"The Phenex family has voluntarily withdrawn. The match ends here. The winner is Arthur Tempest."
Her voice carried authority, echoing across the battlefield.
For a brief moment, silence followed.
Then Riser's body gave out completely.
The moment the pressure lifted, he collapsed forward, his injuries finally catching up to him now that his will could no longer sustain him.
Arthur exhaled slowly, the accumulated energy dispersing as he deactivated his Balance Breaker. The black armor dissolved into particles of light, the oppressive aura fading until the battlefield returned to something resembling normalcy.
The fight was over.
And there was no doubt left in anyone's mind—
Arthur Tempest had won.
[Congratulations, host!!!]
The system's voice echoed clearly within Arthur's mind, carrying an unusual hint of excitement that contrasted with its usual mechanical tone.
Ding!
[Mission completed]
[Rewards being distributed]
Arthur didn't react outwardly, his expression remaining calm as he walked alongside Grayfia. 'Leave it for later,' he replied mentally, choosing to postpone anything related to the system for a more appropriate moment.
Outside the barrier, the atmosphere had completely shifted. What had once been an arena filled with tension and anticipation had now turned into a scene of controlled chaos, as members of the Phenex family and medical personnel rushed to attend to Riser's collapsed body. Even with their resources, the fact that he had been pushed to such a state left a visible mark on everyone present.
Grayfia walked beside Arthur in silence for a few moments before finally speaking, her voice calm yet carrying a weight that reflected her thoughts.
"You're stronger than I anticipated…"
Arthur glanced at her briefly before looking ahead again, his expression thoughtful rather than proud.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how strong I am myself. I've never really had the chance to measure it against someone at the same level."
Grayfia considered his words carefully and found no arrogance in them, only a simple statement of fact. At that level of power, there were indeed very few individuals who could serve as a proper benchmark, which only made his situation more dangerous.
"You attracted a great deal of attention today," she continued, her tone slightly more serious now. "It won't be long before the truly powerful take notice of you. When that happens, things may not remain as simple as they are now."
Arthur responded with a small, easy smile, one that didn't quite match the gravity of her warning.
"I appreciate the concern."
Grayfia sighed softly, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary. His attitude was undeniably reckless, yet there was something about it that didn't feel careless, but rather confident in a way that was difficult to criticize. Against her better judgment, she found that trait… somewhat endearing.
Before she could say anything further, a familiar voice suddenly broke the moment.
"Darling~"
Rias appeared from around the corner, her crimson hair flowing behind her as she rushed toward him without hesitation. The moment she reached him, she leaped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist in a completely unrestrained display of affection. Without giving him any time to react, she pressed her lips against his in a deep, lingering kiss, as if trying to reassure herself that he was truly unharmed.
Arthur instinctively supported her, one hand resting against her back as he returned the embrace, though the suddenness of it all drew the attention of everyone nearby.
Not far behind her stood the rest of the group.
"Ahem… Daughter, I believe introductions should come first."
Zeoticus cleared his throat, attempting to sound stern, but the warmth in his expression betrayed him completely. The pride he felt after witnessing Arthur's performance was impossible to hide, and his "scolding" lacked any real force.
Venelana, standing beside him, simply smiled in amusement, her gaze shifting between the two with a knowing look.
"Now, now, dear… let them enjoy the moment. It's not every day one finds such a… capable young man."
Her tone carried the same teasing elegance as Akeno's, though refined by years of experience, and her eyes lingered on Arthur with clear approval.
Realizing what she had just done, Rias quickly pulled back, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as she composed herself.
"I'm sorry… Arthur, these are my parents."
Arthur gently helped her down before stepping forward. His posture straightened slightly as he gave a respectful bow, his demeanor shifting into something more formal.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Arthur Loken. I apologize for any trouble I may have caused, and I'm grateful for your support."
Zeoticus stepped forward immediately, his earlier restraint completely gone as he extended his hand with a confident smile.
"I am Zeoticus Gremory, current head of the Gremory clan. There is no need for such formality, young man. After what you've shown today, I can say without hesitation that you are more than worthy of my daughter."
Arthur accepted the handshake, feeling the firm grip that carried both strength and approval.
Before he could respond, Venelana closed the distance between them with surprising ease and pulled him into a warm embrace. Despite the difference in height, there was something about her presence that made Arthur feel… smaller, in a way that had nothing to do with power.
For a brief moment, he didn't understand what he was feeling.
Then it clicked.
It wasn't foreign.
It was unfamiliar.
A warmth he had never truly experienced before.
In his previous life, he had never known what it meant to have a mother. The realization struck him quietly, surfacing not as pain, but as something softer, something almost fragile.
"T-thank you… ma'am… Mother."
The word came out more naturally than he expected.
Venelana's expression softened instantly, her arms lingering just a second longer as if she could sense the emotion behind that single word.
"You're a good boy," she said gently, her voice carrying a quiet understanding that needed no explanation.
Kiba stepped forward next, his expression filled with genuine respect.
"You were incredible, Arthur-san. I would very much like the opportunity to train with you in the future."
Koneko gave a small nod from beside him, her usual calm demeanor restored.
"Senpai… you were amazing."
Akeno approached with a soft laugh, slipping her hand into Arthur's as she leaned slightly closer, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
"Fufu~ My boyfriend looked absolutely irresistible out there. I might have fallen for you all over again."
Asia, standing just behind her, looked slightly embarrassed as she spoke, her fingers fidgeting together.
"I… couldn't really follow the fight, but… I'm really glad you're okay."
Arthur smiled at all of them, the tension from the battle finally easing.
Venelana clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention.
"Well then, this calls for a proper celebration. We can't simply let such a victory pass without acknowledging it, can we?"
With that, she took the lead, her presence naturally guiding the group forward.
"Come along, everyone. We'll be hosting dinner at the Gremory residence tonight."
And just like that, the battlefield was left behind, replaced by something far warmer—
A gathering that felt, for the first time, like family.
-
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