Chapter 48: Breaking the Phoenix

Hello there! I would like to apologize cus, I've mistakenly wrote "Kenji" as "Renji" for the next 40+ chapter because... Well, I'm not one to blame cus it's so easy to mispell when it's just one letter difference... And I've got a handful of ff's to translate, that's why! Pls overlook it. (It's just one word.)

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Just as Grayfia was about to release even greater power to test Renji, a golden teleportation magic circle suddenly appeared in the room.

A powerful, blinding light erupted from it, forcing everyone to momentarily shield their eyes.

Both Renji and Grayfia withdrew their magic and turned toward the magic circle, which radiated an intense presence.

As the glow faded, a blond-haired man stepped forward, his face full of arrogance.

Behind him stood fourteen female devils, each with a unique charm, their expressions confident yet obedient.

The man smirked as he scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Rias with unmistakable possessiveness.

Riser Phoenix.

A pure-blooded High-Class Devil from the Phoenix Clan.

And, according to the arranged engagement, Rias's so-called "fiancé."

Riser took a step forward, grinning.

"It seems I arrived at just the right time, Rias. I'm here to bring you home."

His tone was casual, as if everything had already been decided.

With complete disregard for everyone else in the room, he walked toward Rias, his hungry gaze locked onto her.

And then—

He reached out his hand, aiming to touch her.

SNAP!

Before Riser's fingers could so much as brush against Rias, his wrist was caught mid-air.

His smug grin vanished instantly.

A vice-like grip had clamped down on his wrist, refusing to budge.

Renji.

Without hesitation, he had stepped forward and grabbed Riser's arm with an iron grip.

Riser's eyes widened in shock.

The moment he tried to pull away, he realized—he couldn't.

No matter how hard he struggled, Renji's grip didn't move an inch.

"You're pushing your luck, Phoenix," Renji said, his tone cold.

He pulled Rias closer to him, wrapping his other arm around her waist.

Then, his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper—

"Rias is mine. If you lay another finger on her…"

His grip on Riser's wrist tightened.

"I won't hesitate to break this hand of yours."

Then, without another word—

Renji shoved Riser backward.

The Phoenix heir staggered, barely managing to stay on his feet.

Riser's expression twisted in rage.

"You… filthy human!"

His body trembled with fury, his pride as a pure-blooded devil shattered in an instant.

"You dare touch me? You dare interfere with my time with my fiancée?"

His anger exploded outward—

A torrent of flames erupted around him, the legendary Phoenix Fire.

The temperature in the room skyrocketed, warping the air itself.

The sheer heat caused furniture to melt, distorting the very surroundings.

Everyone instinctively took a step back—except for Renji.

Riser glared at Rias.

"You dare defy me, Rias?! Have you lost your mind?"

His voice cracked with fury, his eyes burning with both rage and disbelief.

But Rias, still held in Renji's arms, was completely unfazed.

Her crimson eyes hardened.

"Riser Phoenix," she said coldly.

"Address me properly."

A chill ran through the room, cutting through the heat of Riser's flames.

"We are not close enough for you to call me by my first name."

"And more importantly—"

Her voice was like ice.

"I am not your fiancée."

She raised her chin.

"The engagement between us was nothing more than a sham, a decision made without my consent."

"I never agreed to it."

Her words cut deep, and the humiliation on Riser's face was unmistakable.

"You… you…!"

Riser's rage boiled over.

"How dare you?!"

"You and your Gremory family—are you toying with us?"

His aura flared violently, flames roaring higher.

"If that's the case, then even your brother, Sirzechs, won't be able to say anything if I kill you right here and now!"

The sheer audacity of his words sent a shockwave of tension through the room.

Everyone froze.

Then—

BOOM!

A fist collided with Riser's face.

The impact sounded like an explosion.

A sickening crack echoed through the air as his nose shattered, his teeth flying out.

Riser's entire head snapped back violently.

And then—

He flew.

His body crashed through the thick wall of the clubroom.

He was sent flying outside, smashing through multiple trees before finally skidding across the ground.

A trail of destruction followed in his wake.

Back in the clubroom, standing in the spot where Riser had been moments ago—

Renji.

His right fist was still smoking, the last traces of Phoenix Fire dissipating from his knuckles.

It had taken less than a second.

But the damage was done.

---

"Y-You…!"

Riser's followers finally snapped out of their shock, their faces twisting with fury.

"How dare you strike Lord Riser?!"

"Do you have any idea who you just hit?!"

Their magic surged, an overwhelming killing intent filling the room.

But before they could move—

A furious voice echoed from outside.

"You… BASTARD!"

The ground rumbled.

Through the gaping hole in the wall, a flaming figure soared back into the room.

Riser Phoenix, his entire body wreathed in flames, his expression twisted in fury.

His face was already healing, the legendary Phoenix regeneration rapidly repairing the damage.

But the humiliation remained.

"You think a mere punch is enough to stop me?!"

He roared, his wings of fire spreading wide.

"I'll burn you to ashes!"

And with that—

He lunged at Renji, flames engulfing his entire body.

---

Renji's eyes narrowed.

His right hand rose slightly—

Reaching into the void, about to summon the Sword of Promised Victory.

There were only two ways to kill a Phoenix:

1. Overwhelming force, killing them faster than they could regenerate.

2. Sacred weapons, like holy swords, bypassing their regeneration entirely.

And Renji knew which method he was going to use.

He was about to draw his blade—

But before he could—

"Lord Riser, STOP!"

A commanding voice rang out.

In an instant—

The flames around Riser vanished.

A sudden, invisible force restrained him mid-air.

Standing between them, her presence calm yet absolute—

Grayfia Lucifuge.

Her silver gaze swept across the battlefield.

"That is enough."

With a mere gesture, the flames of the Phoenix died down completely.

The air settled, the battlefield frozen.

Riser's fury was still burning, but—

He couldn't move.

Renji, still ready to fight, slowly lowered his hand.

Because Grayfia's intervention meant only one thing—

This wasn't just personal anymore.

This had just become a political matter.

And the real battle…

Had only just begun.

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Sorry for the repeated chap previously 😅

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