86: Chapter 86

"At the very least, among the gods in the Three Realms, no one dares to treat Luo Yu as a child; they all speak to him as an equal."

"That's for ordinary girls. Do you think I'm ordinary? Besides, this is a matter of principle."

Himejima Suzaku was particularly insistent on this matter, and her stance clearly showed she wanted Luo Yu to call her "Big Sister."

"Give me a break."

Making Luo Yu call someone of a similar age like Himejima Suzaku "Big Sister" was more unbearable than killing him.

However, the two of them had finally managed to sidestep the deadlock of the "Himejima Clan," and the atmosphere had lightened up quite a bit.

"Right, weren't you here in the Familiar Forest to sign a contract? As it happens, I just found a decent familiar."

Himejima Suzaku merely smiled lightly and didn't press Luo Yu on the topic he had just diverted from.

She was also curious inside—just how outstanding could a familiar be to earn praise from Luo Yu, the renowned Red Dragon Emperor of the Three Realms?

Luo Yu raised his hand casually.

A dragon-kin creature dozens of zhang long plummeted from the sky, slamming hard into the ground. Its entire body was wreathed in blue electric arcs, and it let out a series of painful roars.

"Is this an Azure Thunder Dragon?!"

Himejima Suzaku widened her eyes, staring at the imposing blue behemoth before her.

The aura radiating from its body had reached the level of a High-Class Devil; it was clearly an adult. If it polished itself for a while longer, it wasn't impossible for it to reach an Ultimate-Class Devil level.

She remembered very clearly that there shouldn't be such an adult dragon species in the Familiar Forest. Even if there were, they would either already be contracted by someone else or be guardian beasts responsible for protecting this area.

"It is not an Azure Thunder Dragon."

Luo Yu corrected her. "This is a pure-blooded Thunder Dragon, a pure dragon bloodline. It hasn't officially reached adulthood yet, but it's close. You won't find another one like it in the entire Familiar Forest. Once it truly enters adulthood, it will be driven out of here to wander the Three Realms."

Luo Yu paused and looked at Himejima Suzaku. "This Thunder Dragon is just right for you."

"But... it doesn't seem willing to sign a contract with me, does it?"

Although Himejima Suzaku liked it, the Thunder Dragon's eyes clearly flashed with hostility and fear—fear of Luo Yu, and hostility toward her. Contracts are based on mutual willingness; if the other party doesn't nod, she can't do anything about it.

"As long as you like it, that's all that matters."

After Luo Yu finished speaking, he glared.

The massive, pure-blooded Thunder Dragon shuddered violently, and the entire dragon wilted. It pitifully crawled in front of Himejima Suzaku, and a magic circle automatically appeared beneath its feet—the very formation used for signing contracts.

Himejima Suzaku was stunned.

She never expected this Thunder Dragon to be so obedient, even voluntarily opening the magic circle itself.

What she didn't know was that the dragon bloodline within Luo Yu had already evolved to the Dragon King level. Dragon Kings have a natural suppression over other ordinary dragon species; that is the pressure of the bloodline. Once the bloodline reaches the Heavenly Dragon level, this suppression would be even more terrifying.

There were some orders that ordinary dragons simply dared not disobey.

Even if it was to force them to sign a familiar contract, it was the same.

Himejima Suzaku thus confusedly completed the contract and stored the pure-blooded Thunder Dragon into her own familiar space. The Thunder Dragon stayed inside obediently, waiting to be summoned next time.

"Now that's settled, the marriage on the Club President's side should be secure."

Himejima Suzaku said with a smile.

Luo Yu then remembered that Himejima Suzaku had become a member of Rias Gremory's peerage. With her strength, coupled with a High-Class Devil-level pure-blooded Thunder Dragon, that kid from the Phenex Clan was truly outmatched.

He had accidentally helped Rias Gremory.

However, given that woman's temperament, she probably wouldn't appreciate his favor.

The girls in PE class gathered in twos and threes; some were playing tennis, while others sat on benches chatting.

Sunlight bathed the campus, and laughter was everywhere.

But the atmosphere in the old school building was a completely different story.

"This is clearly targeting me on purpose!" Rias Gremory slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her face flushed red. "I will absolutely not agree to such unfair Rating Game rules!"

Grayfia stood opposite her, her maid outfit accentuating her capable demeanor.

With her long, silver-white hair tied up at the back of her head, she spoke with a calm expression: "Miss Rias, this is a decision made after joint deliberation by the Lords. The prohibition on using familiars and spirit beasts is mainly to prevent accidents like the one at the Sitri Clan banquet from happening again."

It wasn't just Rias Gremory in the room; Sona was also sitting on the sofa nearby.

Grayfia Lucifuge, the Queen of the current Lucifer.

She hailed from the prestigious Lucifuge Clan of the Extra-Ordinal Devils, and for generations, they had been the confidants of the old Demon King Lucifer. Her strength was renowned throughout the Underworld; she had once vied for the position of Demon King against Serafall and was known as the strongest Queen among all peerages, with the nickname, the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation.

During the Devil Civil War, she represented the Old Satan Faction and fought against the reformists, eventually falling in love with Sirzechs Lucifer on the battlefield. This romance had become almost legendary in the Underworld, and she was also Rias Gremory's sister-in-law.

She had come this time to convey the decision of the Gremory Clan.

Previously, the Phenex Clan had proposed banning the use of familiars and spirit beasts in Rating Games, the reason being exactly what Grayfia had just stated—to avoid another mess like the one at the Sitri Clan banquet.

The Gremory Clan had agreed.

Rias Gremory gritted her teeth in anger; didn't this effectively slash a huge chunk of Himejima Suzaku's combat power?

She had just found out yesterday that Himejima Suzaku, with Luo Yu's help, had contracted a pure-blooded Thunder Dragon with strength reaching the level of a High-Class Devil, and she had been happy all night.

Now, this was great; her team had finally managed to assemble the combat power of four High-Class Devils, and defeating Riser Phenex should have been a sure thing. According to her investigation, besides himself and that Queen of his, the so-called Crimson Princess, who were skilled in fire magic, the rest on Riser Phenex's side were all Middle-Class Devils and Low-Class Devils.

The news brought by Grayfia was like a knife, stabbing directly into Rias Gremory's heart.

No matter how many people they had, facing the combat power of four High-Class Devils, those numbers were simply for show.

Not to mention Koneko and Bennia were still there; the two of them were not to be trifled with either.

But the bad news that came out of Grayfia's mouth was equivalent to making Rias Gremory cut off one of her own arms.

And it was even more ruthless than cutting off an arm.

Himejima Suzaku was a spirit beast contractor; if she wasn't allowed to use spirit beasts, more than half of her combat power would be wasted.

Sona, sitting to the side, frowned deeply.

The rules proposed by the Phenex Clan, no matter how you looked at them, were completely aimed at Rias Gremory.

No, this was simply targeting Rias Gremory.

Perhaps the Phenex Clan had long since thoroughly investigated the details of Rias Gremory's peerage, and to avoid any mishaps, they deliberately came up with these rules to hinder her.

They even used what happened at the Sitri Clan banquet during her first battle as an excuse.

"Lady Grayfia."

Sona couldn't just sit by and watch, so she spoke up directly to help Rias Gremory. "This kind of thing isn't compliant with the rules anywhere; the fairness of the Rating Game has been completely destroyed by you all."

"The incident during my first battle last time was an off-field summoning, not my own familiar or spirit beast."

"Or are you saying that Lord Ajuka Beelzebub has already issued a written regulation that from now on, all Rating Games are prohibited from using familiars and spirit beasts?"

Grayfia was just about to explain: "Sona, Lord Ajuka Beelzebub did not issue this regulation, it's just that we..."

Before she could finish, Sona interrupted directly. "Since Lord Ajuka Beelzebub has not added this new regulation to the Rating Game, then neither the Phenex Clan nor the Gremory Clan has the qualifications to change the rules of the Rating Game on their own."

"Otherwise, this is the greatest insult to the Rating Game."

Sona's words struck the point every time, all revolving around the rules of the Rating Game.

She wasn't just unilaterally defending Rias Gremory, but directly holding the logic in her hands.

Grayfia smiled bitterly inside.

This younger sister of Serafall was truly much more troublesome than Rias Gremory.

After just a few sentences, she was placed in a position where she had to concede.

No matter who judged this matter, it was the Phenex Clan unilaterally picking a fight.

It couldn't be argued at all.

Grayfia was just about to speak up and say something more. Suddenly—

A flaming red magic circle unfurled within the Occult Research Club.

Unlike the crimson red of the Gremory Clan, it was mixed with flame-like red-yellow.

After the light flashed, over a dozen figures appeared in the room.

They were all women, a bevy of beauties, each one more beautiful than the last.

But the leader was a man.

He looked to be in his twenties, dressed like a nouveau riche, with a head of yellow hair.

He had a devil-may-care look, like a little hooligan.

"The air in the Human World is still this dirty."

He frowned, his face full of disgust. "I really can't get used to it."

Riser Phenex walked over with big strides, his whole body radiating an arrogant, flame-like aura.

He was the Third Young Master of the Phenex Clan, the inheritor of the Phoenix bloodline.

He was also the focus of the discussion those few had just been having—her fiancé.

"Yo, Rias, long time no see."

Riser Phenex smiled and opened his arms, wanting to give her a warm hug.

Rias Gremory frowned and slapped his hand away directly.

"Rias, you're still not giving me any face. Anyway, it won't be long before we get married; this is an arrangement agreed upon by the entire Underworld."

Riser Phenex, having been slapped away, had a flash of annoyance cross his face, but he quickly returned to a smile.

"Riser Phenex, stop using the Underworld to pressure me. My marriage, Rias Gremory's marriage, can only be decided by myself. Whether it's my brother or my father, no one can force it upon me."

Rias Gremory stared at him coldly, saying every word clearly.

"Is that so?" Riser Phenex shrugged, looking unconcerned. "Do you think you can win against me by relying on your peerage?"

His tone was full of disdain.

Without that pure-blooded Thunder Dragon, and with the spirit beast contractor not yet in place, wanting to win against him? It was simply a dream.

Thinking of the spirit beast contractor Rias Gremory had newly recruited, a flash of cold light swept through Riser Phenex's eyes.

But that fleeting murderous intent went unnoticed by anyone.

"Sona is here too."

Riser Phenex turned his head to look to the side, smiling easily and casually. "The commotion your Sitri Clan caused during the first battle last time was quite significant."

Sona looked at him directly, not backing down in the slightest: "Riser Phenex, for your Phenex Clan to use such tactics is too shameful for the pure-blooded Devils."

"Sona, you're not saying that right." Riser Phenex spread his hands. "Whether it's familiars or spirit beasts... I haven't brought a single one in my peerage. Neither side is allowed to use them; that's very fair, right?"

"Then by that logic," Sona sneered, "Your clan's Phoenix flames should also be prohibited. Only then would it be a truly fair competition, rather than relying on flames to cheat and bully people in the Rating Game."

Her words were clearly standing up for Rias Gremory.

Sona, just like Rias Gremory, was among the ranks of the new generation of Demon Kings.