Chapter 8: The Fall of a Phenex

Tensions were mounting in the Occult Research Club. Rias had been trying to keep her calm demeanor, but with each passing day, the pressure from her family regarding her engagement to Riser Phenex weighed heavier on her shoulders. She knew Riser would be coming soon, and with him, the demand for her to marry him.

Alex had been lounging lazily in his usual spot, his posture relaxed but his eyes focused. He knew everything about the situation. With his knowledge of the High School DxD world, he was fully aware of how the Phenex family operated—and how Riser would act. However, his personality, much like Beerus', had little patience for arrogance or disrespect.

Issei, on the other hand, was clueless about the engagement and had been distracted by his training, still on a high from their recent battle with the fallen angels. He had no idea that a much larger conflict was on the horizon.

Riser's Arrival

It didn't take long before Riser Phenex made his grand entrance. He arrived at Kuoh Academy with a limousine and his full peerage, each one as smug and haughty as their leader. Rias and her peerage, along with Alex and Issei, stood at the school gates to greet him.

Riser stepped out of the car, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight, and his signature smirk plastered on his face. His eyes, filled with arrogance, swept over Rias and her group as if he owned them already. "Rias, my dear fiancée," he called out in a voice dripping with false affection. "I've come to finally take you back where you belong."

Rias, standing tall, glared at him. "I told you before, Riser. I won't marry you."

Riser's smirk grew wider as he stepped closer, ignoring her protests. "That's not for you to decide. Your family has already made the arrangements. You belong to me now."

Issei blinked, confused and alarmed by what he was hearing. "Wait… President, what is this guy talking about? Fiancée? You're engaged to him?"

Rias sighed but didn't answer, keeping her focus on Riser. "It's complicated, Issei. I don't want this."

Riser's eyes flicked over to Issei with disdain. "Who is this? Another one of your lowly servants? You really should teach your pets to stay quiet, Rias."

Issei growled, stepping forward in anger, but Alex remained where he was, his eyes narrowing as he observed the exchange.

"Riser," Alex spoke up, his voice carrying a cool, almost lazy authority, "I suggest you stop talking before you embarrass yourself even more."

Riser turned toward Alex, sneering. "And who do you think you are? You're no match for me. I'm a Phenex, born of flames that can never die. I'll regenerate from anything. You're just a nobody."

Alex sighed, his boredom with the situation growing evident. "You Phenex really love to talk about being immortal, don't you? It's kind of pathetic."

Riser, his patience running thin, ignited a flame in his palm. "You should learn your place before I burn you to ashes!"

But Alex had already had enough. He slowly stood up from where he was lounging and walked forward, his expression calm but his aura shifting. The lazy atmosphere around him evaporated as he raised his hand toward Riser.

"Since you're so proud of your immortality," Alex said, his voice growing more dangerous, "let's see how it holds up against this."

A swirling, purple energy formed in his palm. The sheer presence of it sent shockwaves through the air, making everyone in the area freeze in their tracks. Rias' eyes widened in realization of what Alex was about to do. He was preparing to use Hakai—the power of destruction, capable of erasing anything, even a Phenex.

"Alex! Wait—!" Rias began, but it was already too late.

Just as Alex released the Hakai, a flash of silver appeared in the sky. Grayfia, the Queen of the Underworld, descended at lightning speed, her face filled with urgency. "Stop! You can't—!"

But she was too late.

Riser's smug expression twisted into one of pure terror as the purple energy engulfed him. The power of destruction was absolute. There was no regeneration. No escape. No coming back. Riser screamed in disbelief and horror as his body began to disintegrate, crumbling into dust before vanishing completely.

The entire courtyard fell into a stunned silence. The once arrogant and seemingly untouchable Riser Phenex was gone—erased from existence, without a trace left behind.

Grayfia, landing gracefully but with a shocked expression, stared at where Riser had once stood. "What… did you do?" she whispered, her voice tight with disbelief. Even as someone of her power, she knew just how dangerous Hakai was. To see it used so casually was terrifying.

Rias, frozen in place, couldn't believe what had just happened. Riser was gone. All of the pressure, the engagement, the looming threat of being forced into a marriage she didn't want—it had all vanished in the span of seconds. But the shock of it all left her speechless.

Issei, for once, was completely silent. His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open in shock. "H-He's… He's gone… just like that?"

Alex, unbothered, let his arm fall to his side. His calm, laid-back demeanor returned as if nothing had happened. "What? I warned him," he said casually, stretching his neck. "He should've known better."

Grayfia's cold gaze fixed on Alex, though her tone remained formal. "Do you realize what you've just done? The Phenex family won't take this lightly."

Alex shrugged, completely indifferent. "He crossed a line. I don't really care what his family thinks. He disrespected Rias, and he got what he deserved."

Rias finally found her voice, though it was shaky. "Alex… I…"

He turned to her with a lazy smile. "What? You didn't want to marry him, right?"

She shook her head, her emotions a mix of relief, fear, and disbelief. "No, I didn't… but…"

Alex waved a hand dismissively. "Then I did you a favor."

Grayfia stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You cannot just erase someone like that without consequences. The Phenex family is powerful, and even with their abilities, there will be political ramifications."

Alex yawned. "Let them come. I'll deal with them if they want to start something."

The sheer nonchalance with which Alex handled the situation left everyone stunned into silence once more. Even Grayfia, known for her composure, struggled to maintain her calm in the face of someone who treated such immense power so casually.

Rias, however, felt a strange mix of emotions—relief most of all. For the first time, she felt truly free from the weight of the engagement. And though Alex's methods were extreme, a part of her couldn't help but be grateful.

"I… don't know how to thank you," Rias said softly, her voice filled with conflicted gratitude.

Alex turned to her, his smile softening slightly. "You don't have to. I told you, I made you a promise."

As the silence stretched on, it was clear that the events of today would ripple through the underworld, shaking the foundations of the power structure. But for Alex, it was just another day. He had removed a problem, and now he was ready to go back to his usual, relaxed routine.

Grayfia, though still uneasy, knew there was no undoing what had been done. The Phenex family would undoubtedly react, but for now, she could only focus on ensuring that the fallout didn't spiral out of control.

The battle with Riser was over. But the consequences of Alex's actions were only beginning.