Brain Damage

A/N: I rewrote the EV menu so the abilities were clearer and easier to understand.

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EMBODIMENTS

–Wrath (Minor): You are a weak personification of the sin of wrath.

Abilities:

~Anger empowerment (Minor): You find strength in anger to a small degree, your own or the one of those in your immediate surrounding.(Passive)

~Anger inducement (Minor): You can induce supernatural anger to a weak degree and provoke anger more easily if you so wish. (Active)

~Controled Wrath (Minor): Less chance of losing control when angry. (Passive)

–Lust (Minor): You are a weak personification of the sin of lust.

Abilities:

~Veiled Mind: Allow the masking of one's intentions. (Passive)

~Lust manipulation (Minor): Allow the manipulation of Lust to a small degree. (Passive)

~Lust Reading (Minor): Make possible to read the Lustful thoughts of weaker beings. (Active)

–One spark Impossibility (Extremelly minor): No matter how little of it you are. You still shouldn't exist.

Abilities:

~Lucky time: Allow the manipulation of causality to an almost non-existent extent. Shifting the odds of a situation in one's favor. (Active)

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Julian was satisfied with the ability to enhance his taunts, because it would be funny and also because of how useful provoking your foe into acting could be.

As for anger's powering him, he found it a nice addition. But since it was minor, he wouldn't count on it making much of a difference.

...

Upon exiting the pocket dimension of the rating match, he was tackled by a white blur.

"Good job."

Julian smiled in amusement at being praised, patting Koneko's head, he commented.

"Riser's magic was strong, but he had a flagrent weakness. Nonetheless, this was closer than I thought it'd be."

"What do you mean by close?! He ambushed you with his full power and didn't even get you!" Issei laughed gleefully and slapped Julian's back. Grimacing in pain and hiding his hand behind his back.

"Though I have to admit that I almost had an heart attack seeing you coming out of that massive flame tornado missing half your body." Issei added mutedly.

It was Julian's turn to slaps Issei on the back, almost throwing him to the ground. "Ah! You shouldn't have, don't you remember that I can cut my pain off?"

Issei smiled wrily, scratching his head but saying nothing.

"If I may, I don't think that's what Issei-Kun meant." Kiba spoke up.

"I cannot speak for the others. But for me, even with my pride making me not wanting it to be true. Since the moment you beat all of us together and took it upon yourself to train us. I subconsciously gave you an image of unfathomable strength. The more I saw of your battle prowess an knowledge. The less I thought that one day I would be able to defeat you myself. Thus, seeing you injured like that was quite the shock."

"Kiba is right. You taught me so much on how to use my magic while it was a new subject to you. I guess we subconsciously put you on a pedestal." Akeno supported Kiba's claim as she threw a look to Koneko.

Their words made Julian pause, before he put on a downcast expression. "So it's gone now? Do you guys not admire me anymore?"

"Not quite, seeing you coming back from that easily and utterly brutalize Riser in retaliation has... Make me realise the true meaning of messing with fire." Kiba joked.

"I think everyone in Devil society would agree that it was a good show. At least, I learned a lot from it." Akeno smiled gently, a special glint in her eyes.

Julian and the rest talked of the fight and the possible reasons Riser had to ambush him like that for a bit until Rias, who had stayed silent from the beginning stepped forward and adressed Julian. Making everyone quieten down.

"Thank you for all that you did for me." She bowed her head awkwardly.

"...That's it?" Julian raised a brow.

Taken aback, Rias stuttered. "W-What? What more do you want?"

"Don't you think I deserve a reward for all of that?" A teasing smile tugged at his lips.

"W-well yes. But I have nothing to give you." Rias replied, evading his eyes.

"Yes you have... Firstly, you can answer my question: Are you satisfied with how things ended?" Julian joyful demeanor disappeared, replace by a curious and inquisitive look.

"..."

There was a silence for a time before slowly, Rias began to shake. With his newfound power over wrath, Julian could see a black aura of anger slowly forming around her body.

"I-" Rias began before she was immediatly interrupted.

"I want the truth."

The aura only Julian could see exploded as Rias spat with clenched fists. "No, I am not. Seeing you accomplish what I couldn't and cancel my marriage with Riser while I couldn't make me feel sick to my stomach. I don't like it. I don't like how Riser treated me during our meeting last week and how I had to put out with it because of politics. I don't like how I had to be forced into a marriage in the first place. I don't like the omnipresent feeling that my fate is not mine to decide. I don't like feeling helpless and having to resort to the help of another to resolve my problems."

Meeting eyes with Julian, she continued. "I was blind to it before, or rather. I was resigned. I made excuses for ny laziness while thinking that my peerage being strong was all I really needed. That way, my problems would get solved naturally."

"But you showed me otherwise. It isn't enough for my peerage to be strong, I have to be too if I want to avoid things I dislike."

"I dislike being weak. So naturally, I need to get strong."

"The truth is, I don't know how to become truly strong, I'm not smart enough to figure it out with my poor talent. So, if it isn't too much to ask. Please guide me on how to become like yourself, free." Rias ended her speech and took a deep breath before releasing all her anger in a big exhale. A tired yet determined glint present im her eyes as she held strong under Julian's intense gaze.

While the members of her peerage digested their king true feelings, Julian broke the tension by easing up and smiling lightly. "I'm far from free, Rias. But no matter, I heard you. I will support you again. Because I can. Besides, teaching is fun."

"But now that you fulfilled my first demand, I have another one." Julian said, grinning.

Rias blinked, suddenly becoming nervous.

"Your determination is impressive, but there's no need to brood anymore. it's all over. You're not marrying anyone. So, smile for me, don't you?" Julian said. Causing everyone to smile and nod in agreement.

Issei opened his mouth, looking ready to support Julian. But stopped abuptly as Rias let out a low chuckle, a few warm tears falling from her eyes that she didn't bother to hide. A beautiful smile of pure happiness appearing on her face.

"You're right. I'm not marrying Riser."

Julian's expression softened, a pleasant silence descending upon the group as they took in that the trial was truly over.

Only Julian found himself thinking about the future, knowing of the struggles yet to come and awaiting them with some trepidation. And considering that if Riser was strengthened so much, his future foes would be as well.

If he was to be honest, he found his match against Riser quite enjoyable. The danger his spell posed and the consequence of being eliminated making him feel more alive.

But the best part would be utterly crushing Riser in close quarter. That was satisfying, even more when he knew how devastating his defeat to him would be on his ego.

Indeed, putting someone in their place felt quite good. Who would have known?

Of course, he knew where he stood. But not everyone did.

Because of that, If possible. He would like to reenact the feat as much as possible in the future.

But to do that, he needed more strength.

That much was evident, but he didn't need strength only for that.

He also needed it because defeat was not an option.

Not in this world, his losses could remain confined to the other worlds.

Here, in DxD. He couldn't afford even one.

—————

Julian, along with Sirzechs. Arrived before a huge mansion decorated in golds and red color.

"Sirzechs-Sama, Julian, welcome. You'll need to come in, as Riser, while perfectly healthy, refuse to come out of his room." Welcoming and gesturimg for them to enter the mansion was Riser's father, Lord Phenex himself.

While the bet was public and well known from the high society and the match broadcasted in the whole Underworld. The conclusion was a private matter.

Hearing Lord Phenex words, Sirzechs winced as him and Julian entered the mansion. The later casually observing the luxurious decorations present around him, raising an eyebrow in surprise as he caught sight of a particular painting of a white-haired woman.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he can rise back up swiftly from this setback."

"To be frank, Riser seriously needed the reality check. But it's my mistake to have given too much power to him, too soon. Because of it, young Rias was the one to suffer." Lord Phenex shook his head in shame.

"Don't beat yourself too much over it. The important is that all went well in the end. Of course, not so much for Riser but you get it." Sirzechs smiled wrily.

"Indeed, though there's still something I want to say. The match was meant to allow our son to exhaust all of their grievances for each other but Riser only seeked to escalate things. For this, I hope you forgive him. And you can be assured that he will be punished accordingly." Lord Phenex bowed his head to Sirzechs.

"It's not me that you should ask to forgive Riser. But Julian, after all, he was the one to deal with Riser' sheneanigans." Sirzechs pointed out.

"You're right." After thinking about it for a short moment, Lord Phenex nodded and approached Julian. Who was walking before them.

"You probably heard what me and your father were talking about. To this, I would like if you could find it in yourself to forgive my son. I have no excuse for his behavior besides my lack of a firm hand in his upbringing and prudence. To prove my sincerety toward my wish of you keeping no bad blood with Riser. I can double the ressource you'll be receiving from Riser's end of the bet. Of course, only if you find such an offer to your taste. What do you say?" Lord Phenex asked calmly, an amiable smile on his face.

Julian, keeping a steady gait forward as if he knew where he was going, which he did because of his magical sense, nonchalently scrutinized the noble's face. Only upon seeing that there was regret and shame hidden in his eyes did he answers. "I can agree to that, but it will all depend on Riser himself. And he'll still have to obey one of my order, which will be to apologize to Rias and her peerage for his disrespect."

"That's par for the course." Lord Phenex agreed, relief evident on his face at Julian accepting to let go.

After settling things with Julian, Lord Phenex went back to talking with Sirzechs about politics and the like. Though Lord Phenex seemed eager to learn more about Julian himself through Sirzechs, embarassing the later as he either didn't know or couldn't answer the majority of the question.

Soon, under the curious gazes of the servants. The trio arrived before Riser's room.

"Just let me warn him that you are here. Also, just a headups. Riser lives along with his peerages, of course his sister don't sleep in the same room as him. But she's still probably in there too, trying to cheer him up. So don't be surprised." Lord Riser said to Julian before knocking twice on the door and entering, coming back couple of seconds later.

"Alright, you can go in." Lord Phenex gestured to Julian with his hand before promptly going back to Sirzechs' side.

"I know you won't tell me more about the new painter or where you Gremory got these otherworldy works from. But can you at least give me a hint to when the next batch is coming? You see, my wife was very pleased by me giving her the painting as a gift. In fact, she loves it so much she decided to hung it up in the main hall, even going as far as replacing her old favorite piece of art to do so. I'm certain you noticed when we passed it..."

Julian rolled his eyes. To consider one of his failure at painting his Divine Mother in such high esteem. These nobles really had low standard.

Discarding such thoughts from his mind, Julian opened the door and entered Riser's room.

His supernatural eyes quickly adapting to the darkness present, he quickly took in the bedroom.

The place was as he expected, huge. With an equally massive bed in the middle and multiple extensions on either side of the room.

There was no sources of light as all of the windows were covered.

However, the dark didn't stops him from registering the numerous pairs of eyes lazering on him on his entrance.

Everyone he had defeated on his match with Riser's was present.

Shrugging off the hostile gazes he received from some of the girls, Julian smiled. "Well, isn't it quite crowded in here. How you doin, Riser? You don't look so good... My last punch couldn't possibly been so hard that the brain damage persisted through both your immortality AND the simulated pocket dimension, could it?"