Issei felt his heart stop; he was going to die here in the arena. Riser was right, he was nothing.

[This is how my host dies? By giving up?] The voice of Ddraig asked him, Issei saw the Red Welsh Dragon standing above the Phenex, eyes narrowed in disappointment.

"I can't continue, I will die!" He muttered, helpless in the end.

[Your power is beyond anything I've ever seen but its being held back by your perverseness! If you give it up, you can show this so called 'Phenex' the power of the Red Dragon that battled the White one under a castle for years and in the end won! Issei Hyoudou, I, Ddraig The Red Dragon Emperor, promise you this and my oath to teach you more of the Dragon arts than any other, ARE YOU WILLING TO BECOME YOUR TRUE SELF?!]

Issei was stunned then remembered the power he felt when he wasn't thinking about women in that way, he felt like a dragon incarnate when that happened. He decided to accept and win, for Rias and his friends.

"Yes, I am Ddraig."

Ddraig gave him a toothy smile, warm and welcoming.

[Then, partner, YOU SHALL BE FREE! BECOME YOUR TRUE SELF!]

Issei felt something leave him completely but he didn't care, his sacred gear started flashing uncontrollably as Ddraig boosted his power beyond the limits.

"For RIAS!" Issei roared, upper cutting Riser and sending him flying into the air.

Everyone watching was shocked, they all thought that Rias would resign to save her [Pawn], as she was going to it seemed like and now this happened.

"Ddraig, let's make roasted turkey for the main course"

[Agreed, I brought the stuffing, extra just in case we run out]

Issei leaped into the air before shouting something that sent shivers down the spines of the Devils that had seen and lived during the time of different Red Dragon Emperors.

[WESLH DRAGON: BALANCE BREAKER!]

Crimson red armor covered Issei head to toe, powerful waves of Dragon aura rushing off him. Two wings shot out and completed the transformation; this was the completed and perfect armor of the Scale Mail. Riser was floating in the air, unable to speak.

"You messed with the wrong [Pawn], bird!"

[BOOST! X50]

"AND NOW YOU WILL SUFFER!"

[BOOST! X50]

Charging with unimaginable speed, the armored [Pawn] of Gremory clotheslined Riser before beating him with bone breaking attacks. With every punch, Ddraig boosted Issei ten times more and made the damage output so much more. Riser was screwed, Issei kicked him away before his chest opened and Ddraig roared out.

[LONGINUS SMASHER!]

The green beam of power erupted out of his chest, covering the third son of Phenex completely. Not even a Phenex could regenerate from this attack, Riser disintegrated into nothing as the attack ended. The armor closed before Issei fell to the ground in utter exhaustion. The last thing he did before blacking out was ask Ddraig what that last attack was.

[That was an attack I thought only appeared in {Juggernaut Drive} but you proved me wrong. But the attack drained you of everything, my power any yours. You did well now rest. You've earned it, partner.]


It was over; Rias knew it, as she held her only [Pawn] in her lap. The Rating Game was over yes, but her servant was going to die, not from his wounds but the anger of the House of Phenex. Her tears fell in unstoppable waves, her emotions were everywhere and nowhere at the same time as she and her precious [Pawn] were taken from the pocket dimension and into the Underworld.

Looking up, the crimson hair princess saw her brother, Lord and Lady Phenex and…the rest of Riser's peerage?

"What's going on?!" She got out, looking from one to the other.

"Rias, your [Pawn] has done something that the devils all thought was lost. He, because of his way of defeating Riser, has to become a [King] piece or Riser's peerage will die." Sirzech said with a raised hand, the other was holding a [King] chess piece.

She had never heard of this before, but if it was lost in time than why did it reappear? Rias looked at Riser's peerage then at Issei before nodding, she wasn't evil, she was a Gremory and will do anything help those in need if she could that is. She hated Riser; his peerage however was an unknown to her so…

"Do it, but if you do anything else to him, I will end you! I don't care if you're my brother, harm my [Pawn], Sirzech and you will suffer, UNDERSTAND?" She threatened.

Sirzech nodded in fear, Grayfia was one thing his sister was on his maids/wife's level or higher in threatening.

"Then let's get it done quickly and then have Issei at the hospital."


Issei woke up in a hospital bed, his throat dry as sandpaper. Looking around he saw the sleeping form of Riser's [Bishop] and sister, Ravel Phenex, her blonde hair was tied into a ponytail and she wore a fancy dress without the frills of what she wore during the Rating Game. What he was surprised about was when his brain changed [Bishop] to his [Queen], wait…his?

[[Yes, Ravel Phenex is now your [Queen] piece. Apparently here was a rule in the Rating Game rulebook that said and I paraphrase "When the [King] piece is killed and is unable to return via Evil Piece or Phenex tears or [Twilight Healing], his or her peerage will go to the person that has ended their life, not matter what class they may be."]]

Ddraig explained all this in his mind, though he didn't answer how Ravel was his [Queen] yet.

[[When you became the new [King], the pieces switched around and several were switched with other peerages. You only have 3 [Pawns] as the other 5 have been given to Lady Phenex, Ravel is your [Queen] piece while the original one, Yubelluna, is now your other [Bishop]. You should also know that it was only a few days ago that the Fallen Angels from before became your other pawns, so you really only have 1 [Pawn] piece left that's open.]]

'Wait, so I have Riser's peerage now? Then why do I only have most of his peerage then?'

Ddraig hummed before answering [[I think that it was your will and evolving power that did it, as it removed most of the [Pawns] that would cause more harm than good to Rias Gremory and yourself. Two of them, Ni and Li would have fought with Koneko every waking moment from what I was able to see from your [King] piece. Though, it surprised me when Raynare, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt were somehow brought back from the grave and made your [Pawns]. If this continues then you may have many great pieces in your peerage before you become a High-class Devil, but it may not happen for some time as you've stabled yourself enough to not have another outburst but I feel that it isn't over for us both.]]

'So, I am stuck with what I've got for now, huh? But why is Ravel here and not Rias?'

[[Ravel locked out Rias after the first month of your stay in the hospital, citing that she should be the one taking care of you as your [Queen], Rias was unable to argue with that and now here you are. I still say that you're not ready for any major training right now but everybody else will say something different, so I guess it might be a good start by waking up your [Queen] and see what has happened while you've been asleep.]]

'Might as well, it might help me get to know her better…'

[[Indeed]]

'I shouldn't have watched Stargate SG-1 with you, you fan girling dragon.'

Issei raised his hand and placed it, gently, on Ravels head and had it slapped away, hard.

"Don't touch my head when I'm sleeping." She muttered darkly, before yawning.

"Sorry, don't kill me"

Ravel smirked before placing her hand on his head, muttering to herself before saying "How do you feel now that you're awake?"

Issei thought for a moment before he said "Well, I don't feel like I have broken anything so that must be good, right?"

Removing her hand, Ravel nodded "That's a good sign, but not what I was talking about. How are your emotionally?"

That brought Issei up short, emotionally from what? Then it clicked, Riser…

"I don't know really, I feel fine but maybe Ddraig had something to do with it…"

[I did suppress the utter convulsion that you would have and you focused on the disturbing side of Riser Phenex. You removed a slime stain from this plane of existence but your emotions will feel conflicted as time goes on.]

Ravel looked angry for a moment then it changed to one of concern. Issei didn't understand what Ravel was thinking but the silence was killing him.

"So how have the others been fitting in, I've been out of it so you're the only one I can think of to tell me."

Ravel perked up, smiling slightly. "Well, Xuelan, Yubelluna and I have settled in nicely but the [Knights] are having a hard time getting settled into having a new [King], the two youngest have been learning at your Academy. But the new [Pawns] are being rebellious and won't listen to me, they listen to Yubelluna and Isabela, but it's only just. I'm at the end of my tether and I never thought that you would never wake up."

Issei felt his heart sink, he may not have known his peerage but he felt so terrible right now. He had to do something to help, anything would do.

"Help me up, I'll handle them myself, if they don't listen to the [Queen] then they have to suffer from the [King]." Issei grunted as he slowly lifted himself up, Ravel was at his side instantly.

Ravel summoned his school uniform and let him get dressed before helping him to the transportation center of the hospital and getting them back to the ORC in one piece.


Raynare was sitting on one of the couches in the ORC, looking at the scrabble board with a dark look. Across from her was the Gremory's [Rook], Koneko, who was eating a cookie and, much to the reborn Fallen Angel's frustration, was winning. How could this girl be beating her, though it was sort of her fault for entering this game with the white haired girl in the first place.

"Are you going to play or not?" Koneko's blunt voice asked.

"Here, your turn" Raynare said, making her play before waiting for the young woman to play.

They were interrupted when a devil transportation circle appeared and revealed the form of…her former love interest and now her [King]. She had been dead and now…she had somehow become back as a devil/fallen angel hybrid [Pawn], as it had happened to the same story as her fellow fallen angels.

She was about to make a comment when the boy's aura hit her, making her comment die on the tip of her tongue. He was angry and it was visible to the naked eye, Raynare notice Koneko's hair stand up on end at the aura's appearance before she left to do something only to stop when Issei asked her something.

"Koneko, could you get the other Fallen Angels to come here, please?"

Koneko nodded before vanishing, Raynare then felt the hatred focus on her. She was now the weakling, unable to do anything at all.

"Raynare"

She gulped, unable to look into his face. She couldn't, guilt was running in her blood that was so cold that it hurt.

"When I say your name, you look at me"

She heard him take the seat next to her, forcing her to look at him. Issei looked haunted slightly before it vanished, showing something that the fallen thought creepy. He looked older than he was supposed to, sighing with tired exasperation.

"Ravel, could you hold the rest of the fallen back while I talk with Raynare? It's personal."

Ravel Phenex, the [Queen], nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Issei looked at her before sighing.

"Why? You and I were just fine on our date, so why did you do it?"

Raynare narrowed her eyes, she had already answered this question before and yet now it felt like a lie.

"I already told you…" She began but Issei cut her off.

"That was different! I'm your [King] now and I can tell that you are lying about not enjoying it!" He barked venomously, making her shudder in fear.

If she was truthful with herself, Raynare had enjoyed the date very much. Issei had gone out of his way to make her feel wanted and he had restrained himself from his perverted side, she had caught the quick glance now and then but that was it. Did she have feelings or was it something foolish?

"I did enjoy it; I don't know why I suppressed it, OK? I just don't know." She whispered and found her head in Issei's lap, she must have slipped.

Issei was silent, his hand was brushing through her hair and it was instinct that did it. Several minutes passed before he stopped, making her whine in protest. She stopped when he slowly got himself up as nearly fell to the floor, she caught him before he could hurt himself and helped him up again.

"Thanks, I think my body is still tired from my overuse of power in the Rating Game." Issei said before, with her help, he got to the door and opened it.

Standing there was the rest of the fallen angels, Koneko and Ravel. Issei motioned for them to get inside but was unable to close the door as Rias had entered right behind the small group. Raynare left Issei's side quickly and was replaced with Ravel; Rias hugged Issei gently before sitting at her desk and nodded for him to continue.

Issei closed the door and gave his [Pawns] a dark glare, making them flinch. In a flash of red, the Boost Gear appeared and Ddraig started boosting his partner so he could stand with his own strength. When he was able to stand on his own, though Ravel didn't leave his side, Issei spoke.

"When I found out that all of you somehow came back from the grave as my [Pawns], I was surprised then I found out you lot wouldn't follow Ravel, who is now my [Queen] piece and superior. You would only listen to a [Bishop] and a [Rook], I may be new to this whole devil peerage thing but I do know that you four are the worst [Pawns] ever and that needs to change."

It was Kalawarner that sneered "We don't take orders from you!"

Issei looked at her and the blue haired woman instantly shrank back in terror, his eyes were glowing emerald green and his aura was blood red. It was Ddraig that spoke next.

[Your attitude will kill you in the end, but for whatever reason, Fate has decided that you four are now [Pawns] in my partners peerage and you WILL do as he commands, you don't know what has happened to him.]

It was the youngest of the fallen that asked "what do you mean?"

[Issei Hyoudou has given up his perverted life and has become his True Self, the person he would have become if he someone hadn't led him on that path.]

Rias spoke up at this moment "This is your second chance, if you mess this up you will die, if not by Issei's then I will end you."

Ravel, with her other worldly sixth sense, caught Issei as the gauntlet rest itself. "Rias, could you get Akeno to make something for Issei? He may be well rested but his body still needs food and water to function."

Rias nodded, getting up and head for the door before stopped "I'm glade your back, Issei"

And with a warm smile, the crimson haired devil left. Issei turned to his [Pawns] before he said softly "Tell the rest of the peerage to find me so I can speak to all of them."

The [Pawns] quickly left, leaving Ravel and the Red Dragon Emperor behind.

"That went better than expected" Issei said wearily.

Ravel nodded slightly "It was good, but will it be enough?"


Issei Hyoudou's Peerage:

King: Issei (Sacred Gear: Boosted Gear)

Queen: Ravel Phenex (Mutant Piece)

Bishops: Yubelluna, Mihae

Knights: Karlamine, Siris

Rooks: Isabela, Xuelan

Pawns: Ile and Nel, Bürent, Raynare, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, Millet, and 1 unclaimed Pawn