Shin listened as Rias went over the plan for the rating game once again. They had been teleported to the alternate realm just a few minutes ago and given ten minutes to prepare. As everybody else geared up, Shin stared out the window, watching the weird sky move about with fascination. It was both trippy and awesome to look at.

"Shin!" His attention was drawn away from the sky as he heard Rias yell his name, everybody staring at him. From the looks he was receiving, he figured she had been calling his name for a while.

"Oh, sorry Rias. Just admiring the sky." Shin said, approaching them all, taking note of what everybody was wearing. Everybody decided to go with their normal Kuoh academy uniform, although Koneko was wearing some gloves. He decided he would hold back from pointing out that everyone should have been wearing at least some kind of protection.

"Then I'll ask again, do you remember what you're supposed to do?" Rias asked.

Shin nodded. "Of course, it is my plan after all. I just wait and preserve my energy so I can fight Riser while everyone else takes out his peerage. Hopefully we have enough people left after defeating his peerage that we can tire him out a bit before I fight him." Shin said, reciting the plan he had suggested to Rias.

It was mediocre at best and had a lot of flaws. However, at least this way it looked like he was trying to help everyone.

"Alright, then everyone else, you know what your part is. Now let's go win this rating game!" Rias said, smiling, her face full of hope. Her little speech seemed to hype up everyone else too as it seemed to give everyone the motivation to win this fight.

Not long after, everyone left the ORC to go fight Riser's pieces, Shin being one of those people. Using his control over his body, he completely masked his presence, making it possible only for someone skilled in Touki or Senjutsu to sense his presence, and that's because he couldn't suppress his life force.

He then chose to sit in wait in a tree in-between both the ORC and the main school building and just wait. After all, that was Shin's part in the plan, to just wait for the opportune moment to strike. Thus, he did just that.

He watched as Akeno destroyed the gym, as Koneko was retired by Yubelluna, as Kiba and Issei fought several of Riser's members, as Akeno lost Yubelluna, and finally as Issei went to help Rias as she fought Riser and Yubelluna.

The entire rating game was much the same of the one he saw and read in canon. Even the same Riser beating Issei half to death to get Rias to surrender, knowing this would happen. It honestly did pain him to just sit back and watch all this, to not help them.

Despite how he acted, he was not cold-hearted. Nor was he desensitized to violence. The only thing that stopped him from stepping in and ending this fight right here and now, or at the very least try, was what would happen if he didn't.

Not to mention, Shin wasn't sure he would be able to beat Riser at this second. Not with his heart in the condition it was. He was confident in his own strength to beat Riser; however he did not have that same confidence in the strength of his heart. There was no telling when it would give out or take a turn for the worst during a fight.

He was just thankful for the fact that Rias was too preoccupied with Issei get the snot beat out of him, to realize that Shin wasn't stepping in to stop it. Or to simply forcefully retire him. He watched as Rias admitted to defeat, crying the entire time.

Shin watched it all with a frown, a great deal of guilt forming in his stomach at the pain he had just caused Rias as well as everybody else. However, he had other things to worry about. Keeping himself completely hidden and suppressed from everyone, he landed on the roof a few meters away from them.

Looking at the tile of the roof, he saw what he wanted from Rias and Riser's fight. An aftermath of what happened when Rias fired a bolt of Power of Destruction at Riser, and in Riser's arrogance simply allowed it to hit him, cutting of both his left arm and leg. It took him a mere second to grow it back.

However, it still left a blood splatter, and that was what Shin wanted. Before anyone could even notice, he dipped his finger in the splatter, cringing as he licked it, trying not to think of all the potential STDs that could be in Riser's blood.

He took solace however in the fact that pure-blood devils could not come down with diseases, which exempted him from getting an STD.

If it worked the way Shin wanted to, then in a few hours' time, Shin would have the phoenix clan's immortality. If he wanted, he could use the phenix clan's immortality to potentially get a new heart. He couldn't heal his current heart, due to it being a human heart.

Despite what people believe, when you are reincarnated into a devil, it does not change your organs, it simply can't. It changes only the things that are required to turn you into a devil. Thus, a human reincarnated into a devil still had a human heart and was susceptible to the same diseases a human is.

Shin could, theoretically, use the DNA in Riser's blood to overwrite his human DNA. It would take time probably about half a day, and in the end, he would be a pure-blood devil with both the Bael and Phenix bloodlines.

However, that is not what Shin wanted. His goal in this rating game, believe it or not, was not the Phenix clans' immortality. It was definitely something he wanted, but it was not his goal. His goal was still to come to fruition. At least, not for another hour or so.

Thus, he stood up, feeling his body respond to his desires, and use Riser's blood that he injected to adapt what he wanted to his own body. This would add more stress on his body, and thus more stress on his human heart, however that would change soon.

Walking over to where Rias was crying, comforting Issei, explaining to him that she did not blame him or hold anything against him for losing the rating game. Shin approached them as Issei passed out, a blue light overtaking him and sending him to the medical ward.

Rias jumped slightly when she felt someone's hand land on her shoulder, however relaxed when she realized it was Shin's. "I'm sorry Rias. I should have helped." Shin said, the guilt in his voice serious. However, he did not regret the actions he had taken. In his mind, they were necessary.

"It's alright Shin, it wasn't your fault. I should have been better prepared." Rias said. Shin wasn't going to disagree to the better-prepared part, however her losing the rating game was definitely not her fault. Shin was sure she would agree if she knew he let Riser beat the snot out of Issei for his own personal gain.

However, before he could apologize once again, he was covered in a blue light and teleported away. Expecting to be teleported to the medical ward, he was surprised when he came face to face with Grayfia and Sirzechs.

The three of them just stared at each other, or in Grayfia and Sirzechs case, glared. "Want to tell me why I'm here and not the medical ward?" Shin asked, having an idea of why they would teleport him to them, however he wasn't entirely sure.

"Why didn't you step in?" Sirzechs asked, glaring Shin down.

Shin released a sigh, rubbing the temples of his forehead. "For a few reasons. One, I'm not prepared to take on Riser just yet." Sirzechs scoffed, finding that highly unlikely. "And two, there were benefits of allowing Rias to lose the fight," Shin said, Grayfia and Sirzechs' glare intensifying.

"Explain." Sirzechs bit out, holding off from blasting Shin to the afterlife.

"I can't at the moment. I'm short on time and it would take too long." Shin said, unbothered by Sirzechs obvious killer intent wafting over his body. Sure, it was definitely immense and was obvious Sirzechs had the power to kill him. However, Shin was currently not in any sort of barrier and could teleport out at any given moment so didn't feel too threatened.

However, seeing his words only put the two other occupants of the room in a more angered state, he would have to ease their worries. "Would you two calm down. My deal with Sirzechs was to end Rias engagement, and I still plan on doing that." Shin said.

"And how are you going to do that now? Your chance is already over." Sirzechs yelled, his anger leaking a bit causing his voice increase in volume.

"Again, don't worry. There will be more chances." Shin said, still undisturbed by the loss of the chance to end Rias' engagement via the rating game.

"No, there won't be. You don't understand Shin, Riser has now won his right to marry Rias, and no one can change that besides him. The only way to end Rias' engagement now is for you to challenge Riser's right to marry Rias, and even then, he has the right to refuse your request. Not even I, as the ruler of the underworld, can force his hand." Sirzechs yelled.

Shin, tired of arguing with Sirzechs like a broken record, just scoffed at him. "I told you not to worry. I wouldn't be doing this if I hadn't planned it out beforehand. Now, I'm leaving." Shin said, teleporting away the instant he finished his sentence in a flash of red lightning.

Sirzechs looked confused as to how he disappeared so suddenly and looked to Grayfia for answers. "How did he do that?" Sirzechs asked.

Grayfia meanwhile was having flashbacks at the mere sight of that red lightning, flashbacks to the time that he had stolen a kiss from her. His callused hands cuffing the back of her neck, his ample and hard chest pressing against her body, his soft lips claiming her own with a passion she had never felt before.

Shaking her head, she forced those thoughts that had been haunting her ever since the incident, both while she was awake and asleep, to the farthest corner possible in her mind. With a scowl, she answered Sirzechs question. "I don't know."

(Scene Break)

In a flash of red lightning, Shin arrived in his bedroom, a feminine yelp coming from inside his room. Turning his head to the yelp, he saw Asia, in the process of putting on her panties after a shower, bent over, her impressive chest on full display.

'Yep, that's hot.' Shin thought shamelessly, silently thanking whatever god allowed him to happen upon this sight. Pulling his sight away from Asia's chest and her ample derriere, his forced himself to look at her face.

Asia's face was full blown crimson, utterly humiliated. However, it didn't take her long to regain her senses and quickly pull up her panties and proceed to pull the blanket off the bed beside her to cover the rest of her.

"Shin! Why didn't you knock first!?" Asia tried to admonish him, however with her crimson face and her voice quite due to her embarrassment, it didn't really work.

Shin just smiled at her embarrassment, amused. "Because I teleported in, kind of hard to knock when I do that." Shin said, embarrassing Asia even further. "Besides, there's no reason to be embarrassed Asia, you have a very nice body." Shin said, trying to ease her embarrassment. However, it only seemed to sadden Asia.

"Are you sure? I know I'm not as big as Miss Rias or Miss Akeno..." Asia said quietly, her insecurities coming to the surface. Shin chuckled seeing Asia's shyness, finding it a bit cute.

"No need to worry Asia. In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret. Despite what people believe, bigger isn't always better. You can only add so much sugar to a cake before it becomes too sweet." Shin said, squashing Asia's insecurities.

Asia smiled slightly; however, it wasn't long before her blush came back in full, having forgotten the situation she was currently in. "T-Thanks, Shin. Now leave so I can get dressed." Asia ordered, regaining some of her confidence thanks to Shin's words.

Shin chuckled and rose his arms in a placating gesture. "Alright, alright. I needed to check on Issei anyways." Shin said, turning around and leaving. Walking down the hallways to Issei's room, he knocked a few times. Hearing Issei mumble permission to come into the room, he opened the door, seeing Issei there sitting on the bed, staring at his new arm.

Shin smiled, seeing that Issei had done just as he had predicted. There wasn't a guarantee that Issei would sacrifice his arm to Ddraig for the sake of Rias in this timeline where she one, didn't save his life, and two didn't really know her or everyone else all that much.

"I see you gave your arm to Ddraig. How come?" Shin said, coming up to Issei and sitting down beside him on his bed.

Issei continued to stare at his new draconic arm, clenching and unclenching the finger. "I-I don't know really," Issei said, taking a big pause, knowing he would have to explain further. "I mean, I know I haven't known Rias long, so I can get how it's a surprise that I gave my arm away for her…" Issei said, not really knowing where he was going with his explanation.

Shin however, had a good idea why he did what he did. "But despite the little time you've spent with them, you feel happy when your around them. Right?" Shin asked. There was silence from Issei, but after a while he nodded.

On the outside, Issei was just a pervert seeking to build a harem to satiate his perverted tendencies. However, Shin knew better. Yes, Issei was a pervert, however that's not why he wanted a harem. Rather, he fooled himself into thinking he wanted a harem because he was a pervert.

However, on the inside, Issei was really just a person terrified of being alone. The thought of being alone terrified Issei to his very core. So, he wanted to surround himself with people who care for him, people who wouldn't abandon him, people he could trust. And that's why what Shin was about to do pained him greatly.

"I'm sorry for this Issei," Shin said, confusing Issei, finally dragging his focus from his arm and to Shin.

"What do you mean Shin? Sorry for wh-" Issei never finished his sentence because he felt a prick at his neck, something inserting into it. He didn't even have time to look down before he felt over onto his bed, unconscious.

Shin sat there, syringe in hand, staring at Issei's unconscious for. What he had just given Issei was a dose of horse tranquilizer. It would keep Issei unconscious for a few hours at least, enough time for Shin to do what he wanted.

Standing up, he looked down at Issei, a bit ashamed for breaking Issei's trust like this. However, if Shin allowed Issei to storm the engagement party, his plans would be thrown off the rails. He would just have to ask for forgiveness after the upcoming events.

(Scene Break)

Shin stood with the rest of Rias' peerage, minus Issei as he was still unconscious, waiting for the engagement party to begin. Shin was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, marveling at the way he could literally feel his body change by the second. Every strand of DNA in his body slowly, but surely, changing to match his desires.

It was a weird feeling, one hard to describe. As if he was suddenly aware of everything in his body, the blood flowing through his veins, his lungs expanding as he breathed in air, the pacemaker in his chest sending electric shocks to his heart, forcefully making his heart beat at a regular pace.

However, hearing Riser enter the room, he looked to the doors as Riser walked in, his chest puffed out in pride. Wearing a red suit much like he had in the anime, with the exception that it looked much tighter on this version of Riser.

He watched as Riser walked around, greeting guest, trying to gain political favors. The usual stuff you see at parties like this one. When he saw Riser walk away to get a beverage was when Shin struck, pushing off the wall and walking to Riser.

Shin stood next to Riser as he arrived at the beverage table, using the time he had until Riser noticed his presence to create small snack sandwiches out of the stuff they had on the table. It was just snack-sized meats, cheese, and crackers, however, they all tasted pretty good.

After Riser finished off his drink, he finally looked to the side to see Shin devouring all the snack sandwiches on the table, which in turn made Riser chuckle. "Like those do you? I personally prefer ham, pepperoni, and pepper jack cheese. It makes quite the good combination." Riser said, surprising Shin slightly by Riser's admittedly nice behavior.

Looking up to Riser as he was a few inches taller, Shin nodded, swallowing the last of the snack sandwich in his mouth. "Yea, they're really good. I like the ham, salami, and Colby jack cheese though." Shin said, taking the time to size Riser up.

"Not a bad choice. Not a bad choice at all." Riser said, his ever-present smirk on his face. After a few seconds, a look of realization seemed to come upon Riser's face. "Wait, you're that kid from Rias' peerage! Shin Hyoudou if I recall. You have to be one of the ballsiest people I have ever met you know." Riser said, amusing thoughts of the time he had stolen a kiss from the strongest queen plaguing his mind.

Shin smirked, his thoughts also straying back to that time. "Yea. Honestly, I didn't really mean to do it to Grayfia specifically. I just grabbed the nearest female. Just so happened that it was Grayfia. Although I did pay hell for its afterword's." Shin said, getting another laugh from Riser.

"Yea, I bet you did. I can't even begin to imagine what pains you must have faced because of that." Riser amusedly said, his eyes dripping down and catching a certain logo he recognized easily on Shin's shirt. It was not formal in the slightest, however he just figured that was Shin's personality. He had figured Shin was the kind of person who didn't give two fucks from the time he made out with Grayfia.

"I can't help but notice your shirt. Rogue, you're a fan of there's as well?" Riser said, pointing out the white logo plastered on Shin's shirt. (For anyone who doesn't know, Rogue is a fitness brand that makes very good workout equipment.)

Shin looked down at his shirt, surprised for a second, before looking back up. "Yea, big fan. I personally find their bars to be the best by far. Their grips are always amazing, bars super durable, and their bar clips are usually very reliable. Not to mention all the rest of their equipment." Shin said, relishing in Riser's surprised face.

"I must admit I'm surprised. There aren't many people from the supernatural world that takes up weightlifting. Usually are too arrogant or too lazy to take care of their body, deciding to cruise by on the power they were born with." Riser said, once again surprising Shin.

Granted, the series had limited interaction with Riser, however this is not in the slightest how he remembered Riser to be. Maybe training to become stronger humbled Riser in this world.

Casting those thoughts aside, Shin clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Yea, I know what you mean. And you already know, it's those exact people that always complain about how weak they are yet never actually do anything to change it." Shin said, talking with Riser as if they had been friends for years.

"I feel you man, I mean I have firsthand experience myself with that, usually from people in the subsidiary families of the Phenix house. Always complaining about the power, they were born with, using that as some sort of excuse to being weak." Riser said, a scowl of disgust on his face.

"Sounds about right. People always complaining about their genetics, always saying shit like, 'Oh, if I had the same genetics as you, I'd be fucking huge!'. Pathetic really. As if saying all the hard work people like you and I put in amounts to nothing, that our strength comes from our genetics and genetics alone. Ticks me off sometimes to be honest." Shin said, Riser looking at him like he found something he had been searching his whole life for.

Shin looked to him, his face soon becoming much the same. "Did we just become best friend?" Riser asked.

"Fuck yea we did!" Shin said loudly, attention quickly becoming drawn to the two of them. "Hey, this is just an engagement party, right?" Shin asked.

Riser looked at Shin confused. "Yea. What does that matter?" Riser inquisitively.

Shin smirked. "Then what do you say we just ditch this place and go hit some legs." Shin said, Riser looking at him incredulously.

"Are you serious?" Riser asked, by now everyone's attention focused on them. Soon seeing Shin was not joking in the slightest, a smirk broke out onto his face. "Fuck yea! Let's go hit some legs! Follow me." Riser said, leading Shin to the exit of the party hall, both of them intent to go do an intense leg session.

"Riser…" A voice that seemed to send chills down both of their spines stopped them halfway though, Shin faintly hearing Riser mutter a curse. Turning around, Riser looked at the occupant of the voice, a blonde-haired woman who looked to be in her late twenties with an hourglass figure.

"Yes mother?" Riser asked nervously, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"Where do you think you're going?" Riser's mother asked dangerously, an ominous feeling coming over Shin and Riser, making them shiver.

"N-nowhere." Riser squeaked out, clearly intimidated by his mother. Riser's face looking like he was having war flashbacks.

"That's right. Now go up there and wait for your fiancé." Riser's mother said, Riser nodding obediently and walking to where his mother had gestured without a word. She then turned her attention to Shin, the change in her face like night and day. Unlike the scary, strict mother, was now a kind, gentle, and caring person.

"Hello, I'm Raven Phenix, and you are?" Raven introduced herself, sticking her arm out for a handshake. Shin, seeing that, took her hand and put it palm down, leaning down and kissing her knuckles in a polite gesture, Raven smiling at him in approval when he came up.

"The name's Shin Hyoudou, pleasure to meet you Mrs. Phenix." Shin introduced himself, letting go of her hand, everyone else in the party room slowly starting to go back to what they were doing before the scene Shin and Riser had made.

"Oh please, any friend of my son is a friend of mine. Just call me Raven." Raven said.

"As you wish, Raven," Shin said, Raven once again smiling in approval at Shin.

"I am sorry to have stopped my son and your workout session. However, as the groom, he is needed here. Feel free however to stop by any time you want to work out. I'm sure my son would love to have a lifting partner. Though, please do make sure you say hi to me if you do." Raven said, sending him a wink.

Shin stiffened, stuck between a rock and a hard place. He had just made friends with Riser, and now his mom was hitting on him. Now he stuck between deciding whether to break bro code or fall into temptation. It was one of the biggest rules of bro code, you don't sleep or date family members.

However, he didn't want to be rude, did he? "Thank you, Raven. I will be sure to stop and say hi to you if I ever come here for a workout session." Shin said, cursing bro code inside when Raven gave him a sultry smile in response.

"Good, I look forward to when that happens." Raven said, staring at Shin sultry for a few seconds. "I must excuse myself now, I have more to greet. It was very nice meeting you." Raven said, sending him one last sultry look before walking off, making sure to rub against him slightly as she walked past him to greet more guest.

'Man, sometime bro-code is a bitch.' Shin thought.

That's it for that chapter, sorry if you were disappointed with the rating game, however I saw an opportunity I just couldn't pass up that would happen Rias lost. You all will be seeing it next chapter, if you didn't spot what it was in this chapter.

I'm excited to see how many of you picked up on what is going to happen in the next chapter. And for all the impatient people, yes, next chapter will be the Riser fight.