He Saves Gods as a Man II

The Millennium Medusa

Two years ago

"Beta squad. Report." I whispered into my coms unit.

"..."

"Beta squad!" I repeated myself.

"B- Beta squad... acknowledged." Bryce grumbled.

"Gamma squad! Gamma squad! Move in!" I said.

"Gamma squad, moving in. Assassinating all lifeforms irrelevant to mission objectives." Sigurd replied.

"Gamma squad. No killing people. Also, go get your CPU checked with Master Jun after this." I replied.

"Charlie squad. Move in. Move in."

X8 nodded.

"Acknowledged."

BOOF.

I peeked from behind my cover.

"Charlie squad reporting. Charlie squad stuck. I repeat. Charlie squad is too big to fit."

"You... don't have to repeat yourself." I muttered.

Charlie Squad was now incapacitated.

This mission was going to go haywire soon.

I had to do it.

"Delta Squad! It's all up to you! Delta Squad!"

No reply.

"Delta Squad! Acknowledge!"

No reply.

I got up from behind my cover and approached Sarah, who was standing in the corner, her arms crossed.

"What are you doing, Delta Squad?!" I squeaked.

Sarah glared at me.

"I am not Delta Squad. I am Sarah Ultear!"

"Why aren't you in position?!"

Sarah threw her coms unit, a walkie talkie, on the ground.

"Because I look stupid!" She said, her face bright red in embarrassment.

"Come on.... Sarah. Don't be like that. The fate of Team Aaron rests on this mission!"

Sarah raised an eyebrow, turning towards the bowl of candy that was sitting in Outer Shadow Ernest Wang's room.

"Does it really?"

A vein popped on my forehead.

"Yes! Yes it does! After all... once we steal his precious limited edition Cherry Coke flavoured Jawbreakers, we can hold it for ransom. I'll have Outer Shadow Gjallarhorn in the palm of my hand to control! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Sarah gave me an extremely disappointed expression.

"Aaron! Aaron! Jubilee Squad has secured the loot!" June said happily in my coms unit.

"June!!!" I gushed.

"I knew I could always count on you!"

I ran to June's position, as Sarah rolled her eyes.

"June!!! My favourite Auxiliary Shad-"

Ernest gave me an annoyed look, as June popped a jawbreaker in her mouth, her eyes lit up happily.

"Mmm! Yummy! Thank you, Outer Shadow Gjallarhorn!"

Ernest patted June's head.

"No prob. But next time Outer Shadow Dainsleif drags you into his antics, you can always say no."

June shook her head.

"It's okay. I really like spending time with him. It's always so much fun!"

"Fun you say..." Ernest glared at me, as he pulled out his pole arm.

"Wanna see a trick, kid?"

June's eyes lit up.

"Mmhm!"

"Fantastic. For this trick, I'm going to turn this red eyed asshole into a shish kebab in 0.00001 seconds."

I staggered back.

"Ehhhh heheheheh.... Now Ernest... there's no reason to resort to violence! Hahaha.... Auxiliary Shadows! Retreat! Re- eh?"

I turned around to see Sarah leading the rest back to the Shadow Minions.

"Thanks for the candy, Ernest."

"Thank you, Gjallarhorn."

"Be sure to kill- er I mean take care of Bossman for us. Gonna hit up some 2K."

"Always an honour to be blessed with the Master of Da Sheng Men." Sigurd bowed, as everybody left me alone.

I laughed nervously at Ernest, who's body began emitting tremendous pressure.

"Um... this is probably a bad time to say this... but I also accidentally set your slice of life manga collection on fire."

"Which one?" Ernest's eyes somehow flashed even more dangerously.

"Um... would you believe me if I said... all of them? Ha. Ha. Hahaha..."

Da Sheng Men - NIMBUS STRIKE

"Wait... wha... that's not where a pole arm is supposed to go! YAAAAAAH!!!!" I screamed.

That day, June had to drag my barely conscious ass out of Gjallarhorn's barracks.

"Congratulations, Aaron! Mission success! We acquired the jaw breakers!" June said, enthusiastically.

"M- Mission... success...." I muttered.

I sat down gazing at the distance of Master Jun's realm.

"Ah man... if only his realm didn't literally look like Cybertron, it would be a nice place to settle down."

June sat in front of me, her big round eyes full of curiosity.

"Settle down? What do you mean by that?"

I scratched my chin, taking a sip from my water bottle.

"Ermmm... it sorta means choosing to just spend the rest of your days with someone you love. All day. Every day."

And have kids.

Of course I wouldn't tell a literal fourteen year old girl that.

June blinked.

"Wouldn't that mean you've settled down with me?"

PFOOOO.

I spat all my water onto the ground, still trying to process what this little girl just said.

"Ah. No this is different."

June handed me a paper towel, as always, whenever I spilled my drinks.

I took it, wiping my face.

"How so? Why won't you settle down with me?"

"D-Don't worry about it." I got up nervously, stretching my arms.

June's facial expression...

The subtle facial cues...

Was she disappointed?

I really didn't wanna verify it, but...

"Besides... settling down also means having kids. Wouldn't that seem wei-"

"I don't mind."

"Heh?"

June looked at me adamantly, pressing her hands to her chest.

"I... I don't mind. As long as you don't mind being with me! I'll do my best!"

I desperately tried to change the subject.

No no no.

This was beyond messed up.

She's fourteen... no. Technically she's thirteen dude. The legal age for marriage and... um.. the "naughty naughty" in Amerada was sixteen. But even then it felt wrong being with someone four years younger than me.

I got on one knee and patted her head.

"Come on, June. We both know you're too young. I'm seventeen and you're thirteen."

"I'm fourteen! I turn fourteen in two weeks!"

June pouted, and my heart felt warm.

Was this...

Sort of how Will and Nora felt whenever they dealt with my tantrums?

I chuckled.

"You're doing more than enough as it is."

June looked away, before putting a hand to her mouth and smiling.

"Of course I would... No matter what they say. I'll do my best to make sure you're the best Outer Shadow in the Black Legion. So please continue taking care of me!"

Present Day

"Aaron! Hey Aaron!"

My eyes fluttered awake, and to my disbelief, a familiar little girl appeared before me. Her smile radiating with kindness and light.

"June...? You're... you're alive..." I gasped, when suddenly, the little girl frowned.

"Oh." I muttered.

"Why did you call me 'June', Aaron?" Sakura asked.

She had somehow climbed onto my bed and was pummelling my chest with those tiny hands of hers like some messed up mutant spidermonkey.

"Nothing." I grumbled, getting out of the bed and leaving the room Diana had provided me in Andropol.

Sakura skipped alongside me. She had undergone another growth spurt. I was told by Diana that deities tended to age a lot faster in childhood, this aging would slow as they matured over time.

"Today, Diana taught me how to count. She's been teaching me lots of things while you were gone. I made you a bracelet while you were with your Auxiliary Shadows on mission."

"That's nice, Sakura."

Sakura stopped walking as I found myself walking alone.

"Aaron. Do you not like me?"

I paused, my heart racing.

"Ah. No. It's not like that."

"Then... why are you always leaving me on my own?"

I turned my head to see Sakura gripping a small homemade bracelet in her hands. My mind momentarily flashed to June standing there with her stuffed bear backpack.

I breathed deeply.

"It's... it's not your fault. I'm just not ready to take care of you."

"But Lord Bishamonten told me-"

My anger flared.

"Bishamonten didn't know what the HELL he was talking about. He was the reason I ended up like this!" I snapped, causing Saki to put a hand to her mouth. She was trying hard not to cry, and I knew.

But there was just too much history between me and Bishamonten and Avara... and June...

Of course Sakura had nothing to do with it.

I knew that more than anyone!

But...

I breathed heavily, trying to stabilize myself in the dark hallway. The lights that were illuminating it were only the candles that lined the sides.

"I'm too FUCKED UP to look after someone. To be a parent. You're better off staying here with Diana and being protected by the army of Andropol. It's for your sake, Sakura. That you don't end up in my world."

"But... that's not true! My predecessor's memories... I knew. And Lord Bishamonten told me about your past! You were just like me. You were on the run! We both lost someone important to us... we... you're just like me, you know how I feel!"

"Just because I know how you feel doesn't make me any more suitable to look after you than someone who is qualified to be a parent." I shot her down, not realizing the impact of my words.

Sakura gripped the bracelet, tears running down the side of her face.

"Why did you save me that day... when I was hunted by those wolves... why did you save me in the snow. YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME TO DIE!" She screamed, hurling the bracelet at my chest.

"I HATE YOU! I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT BRACELET BUT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!"

The bracelet clattered on the ground, as my mind flashed to when June's mother had thrown the stack of money bills at my chest. The money that I had been requested by Jun to deliver to her, following her world's customs.

I watched as Sakura ran off, sobbing. I stood in the darkness, unable to process anything.

I couldn't even say anything back...

Or even discern whether or not saying anything was a good idea.

I knelt down and picked up the bracelet, gritting my teeth.

The illustrations on it...

Were the same illustrations of the drawings and artwork of the walls in my old orphanage. Memories that I had spent with Will and Nora.

Sakura really went through Avara's memories... trying to turn dark memories into something light.

I summoned a red magic circle, putting the bracelet into it.

"She really sees you as her guardian. You know. Even when you spend so much time neglecting her. She refuses to see it that way. That's how much you mean to her, Aaron."

I got to my feet, turning to Diana Eustansia Avarice, who's Queen robes dragged elegantly across the ground. The glint of her crown shining, reflecting the light off the candles.

"I can't. I just... can't..." I muttered.

"I know."

Diana walked by me.

"But as someone who was neglected by her family. I understand how painful it is. The pain of desperately trying to cling onto the love of a parent, when everything is against you. The weight of being the one to end the legendary bloodline of Avalon."

"Your circumstances are different. Being born a girl wasn't in your control."

"And what of Sakura? Do you think she wanted to be a reincarnation of Avara? The Goddess who would forever be known as the one who mercilessly slaughtered a group of orphaned children? If she really embraced her circumstances, then why would she change her name to Sakura Hope?"

I clenched my fist.

"I won't tell you how to proceed with Sakura. I just wanted to tell you how it is. You sure like your facts, don't you? God-Eater?"

Diana smirked.

"You're the least queen-like queen I've ever seen in my life!" I snapped.

"A queen's gotta relax once in a while! Anyway. I can't dilly daddle for too long. I have to look over a heap of reports.... UGH!"

Diana left the hallway.

I left the castle and walked across the city of Andropol.

Adventurer squads were entering and leaving the city borders.

Ever since Nyx was defeated, citizens of Andropol had pleaded to Diana for the opportunity to use magic to grow stronger, becoming adventurers to ensure she alone would not be the only one to defend the city.

Though reluctant, as she cherished her people, she eventually obliged.

Now we had groups of adventurer teams forming all over the place, even an adventurer's guild too.

"HA! HA! HA!"

I glanced over at a group of recruits who were practicing their sword strikes.

A part of me got excited. After all (don't tell anyone this), MMO's still held a special place in my heart.

I actually have been playing them in secret whenever Annelise was at school, and everybody else was asleep.

Seeing Andropol like this was definitely a treat for my nerdy eyes.

"Yo."

I turned to the voice, to see a young man wearing a familiar Eagle's jacket. A black coat was draped over his jacket, crimson accents similar to the Victorian era, the sleeves running down his sides.

"Bryce! Shouldn't you be back at Philly?" I asked.

"Just taking a break. You know them shorties were missing me." Bryce laughed.

Sure they did.

Bryce looked over at the recruits who were training.

"Andropol really stepping up their military huh."

"Yeah." I said, glancing over at him.

It was hard to imagine this was the same kid who used to coop up in his room all day playing 2K, ignoring missions and being a loser.

Ever since the ordeal with his mom in Philadelphia, Bryce had glowed up.

He had a new sense of self and identity.

From the Eagles Varsity Jacket, to the bat with all the names of the residents in Philly written on it, to his father, Tevin "The Machine Gun" Jones' bandanna draped around his neck like a scarf...

Bryce "Hellsing" Jones was setting new records in life, rather than in video games.

I HATE YOU! I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT BRACELET BUT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!

I sighed.

"Bossman. You don't look too hot."

"How could you tell? Please don't tell me you learned how to read people from me too."

"No. Your scent."

I irked, shifting away from him.

"My what now?!"

Bryce raised his hands.

"Wait! It ain't how it sounds. Ever since my vampire powers manifested all my senses have been dialled to eleven. Your blood, it just gave off the scent that you looked kinda... down."

"Yeah. Just a little down in the dumps is all. Whatever."

"I won't ask. As long as you don't wanna share, bossman." Bryce said, adamantly.

"Thanks man. I appreciate it."

Bryce put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know a thing that can cheer you up. I actually came here to deliver you the good news."

"Good news? What are you talking about?"

Bryce smiled evilly, his eyes flashed a vampire red momentarily.

"Shhh... Sarah don't know..."

What exactly was this moron getting me into?

Bryce and I sat through a training session with several recruits.

"Listen, Bryce. I appreciate the sentiment. But how lame of a boss do you think I am? Watching newbies learn to fight is about as fun as listening to Sigurd giving her neuroscience presentations."

"Just wait, homie. You gotta be patient."

"HA! HA! HA!"

My eye twitched in annoyance.

"Is this because I invited you out to cheesesteaks? You know I don't roll this way. There's nothing I find attractive watching sweaty ass dudes learning how to handle sticks, man."

"Spread your legs out more. Your center of gravity is completely off!" A woman's voice said, sternly.

Heh?

A woman?

I slowly turned my head, as my jaw dropped.

A tall, curvaceous woman walked past the recruits, inspecting their form.

Her blonde hair dancing with her strides.

"No way... no friggn way!!!!" I squealed.

"Heheheheheh.... now you know why I didn't wanna get Sarah involved. Loyce's former shawty is a guest instructor today!"

I gave Bryce a grim and serious expression.

"Extremely well done. Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing. You have been promoted to my First Lieutenant."

Hellsing nodded, giving me a salute.

"With pleasure, Outer Shadow Dainsleif."

"Indeed."

We continued watching Vicki giving out the class. The way she would lean to one side, exposing her curves...

"Um... please forgive me... but I do believe this is considered... immoral. Outer Shadow Dainsleif. Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing." A young boy whimpered.

"ZIP IT, ROBBIE." Bryce and I snarled.

"SORRY!" Robbie cowered in fear.

Bryce grabbed X8's human form by the collar.

"Oy. You tryna SNITCH on yo own boys? We got a tradition we like carrying out to SNITCHES in the hood. Want a crash course?" Bryce bared his fangs at Robbie Fernandez, who looked like he was about to piss himself.

"Yeah! Tell em, Bryce!" I cheered him on, when suddenly, my danger signals spiked.

The three of us froze.

What was that menacing chakra?

It was on the level of John Crass-

"Aaron... I turn my back for a few hours, and here you are laying eyes on another woman." Sarah growled, murderously.

"AAAH!" I screamed, falling flat on my ass before Sarah Ultear, who's hand was hovering over the hilt of her legendary Hero sword, Ygviil.

"You scum... just because a woman shows skin does not give you an excuse to lay your lecherous eyes on her! What is so appealing of a belly shirt anyway!"

"I mean... you're technically wearing a belly shirt right now..." Bryce muttered.

"HUH?!" Sarah snarled at Bryce, her face like a rabid animal. Her straight, silky purple hair fluttered wildly in response to her new rage fuelled chakra aura.

"Eek!" Bryce whimpered, hiding behind Robbie, who quickly materialized into his robot form and going into Armadillo Mode, curling up into a steel ball.

Sarah grabbed me by the collar, lifting me up with monstrous strength and bringing her face close to mine.

"Am I not good enough for you..."

"N- No! I mean! I have preferences is all..."

Smooth... Aaron! You SS Ranked Dumbass!

Sarah clenched her teeth, as Bryce and Robbie had completely buried themselves into the dirt.

Real helpful, you guys!

Suddenly Sarah looked away.

"I... I can do it too, you know. I can show skin." She muttered.

"Wha-"

Sarah put me down, as she undid the zipper to her belly shirt, revealing her black sports bra.

"What... what do you think...?" Sarah asked, quietly, giving me a shy glance. Her blush deepened.

My nose trickled with blood as she glared at me, shocked.

"You- you pervert! Why do you have a nosebleed?!"

"Me?! Why did you undo your zipper like that! You have your knockers wide open for me to see!"

"B- Because... because...! UGH! I HATE YOU."

Sarah swung her fist, as it completely demolished a nearby training dummy, reducing it into ashes.

My jaw hung open.

Normally an angry punch in cartoons would just send a training dummy flying.

Sarah hit the training dummy so hard it completely decimated the thing into oblivion, leaving behind a burn mark on the ground as if a F-22 Raptor launched an artillery blast at it.

Sarah breathed heavily, as we all stood there awkwardly.

"Outer Shadow Dainsleif." Vicki interrupted us.

Sarah yelped, fumbling with her zipper as she hid behind me.

"Outer Shadow Onyx. To what do I owe this boner- I mean pleasure."

Vicki regarded us.

"I... I apologize for taking refuge here. It... it wasn't something I would imagine myself doing. Please excuse me burdening on Queen Avarice's kingdom."

"Hey. Don't beat yourself up over it. No one would have expected Loyce to do something like that. And you trying to protect Yeling. Honestly, I get it. He means that much to you, right?" I asked.

"Bro... your girl is right over there... you can't act like no simp in front of Lady Vicki man." Bryce whispered.

Sarah clenched her fists, but took a deep breath, calming herself and approached Vicki.

"Outer Shadow Onyx. With the admonishment of Inner Shadow Loyce Hal from The Black Legion, what has become of his Outer Shadows?"

Vicki looked away.

"They've disbanded. We're... we're split. Some of us still believe in the ideals of The Black Legion. But most of Master Loyce's followers have sided with him. And I know full well why. Master Loyce meant so much to each and every one of us. Just as Inner Shadow Jun Gasket means a lot to you all. It is the same with Loyce. To know he had been against the organization this entire time... it hurt. A lot."

"But it's all for Yeling though. He's fine, right?"

Vicki managed a weak smile.

"Y- Yes. Hakah and Yeling are training together. I... I never knew Yeling could smile like that before. Perhaps I was never meant to be."

"Vicki..."

Vicki was really good at hiding her emotions.

But not this time.

It looked like her entire world had been ripped from under her feet.

She really was in love with Yeling.

I never expected something like this from the feared Millennium Medusa.

"So... what's your plan, Vicki?"

"I must support Yeling. With whatever I have, of course. I won't stop until I get Kon Larum and his wife, Rya the Celestial on our side. He is our trump card, alongside you, Dainsleif, in fighting against Master Loyce. As much as I hate it, I cannot agree with what he is doing. All of this... all of this was for his benefit. That alone I don't have a problem with, but his end goal... his end goal is what I cannot accept."

I looked at my Auxiliaries, who were ready for battle.

"Well. For the time being. Why not stay with us for a bit?" I said, grinning.

Vicki's eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me." I walked up to my Auxiliaries, putting my arms around them.

"Right here. These guys have already been putting in the work to get stronger for the sake of taking on Loyce. I can confidentially say Sarah and Bryce here have surpassed even you!"

Vicki blinked.

"That's... that's not possible... how can an Auxiliary Shadow reach the rating of S Rank?"

Bryce chuckled.

"Shorty, you ain't seen nothing yet. We gon keep gettin stronger for Aaron's sake. No matter what. That's what it means to support a bossman as incredible as he. If ya wanna get stronger, ya gotta get stronger together."

Vicki gazed at the distance.

"Together..."

I reached out my hand.

"Vicki. Let me guess, this entire time, you've been trying to get stronger all on your own. Since Fenrir, Tourmentus, and the Demon Lords chose to be on Loyce's side. You've been alone. Am I right?"

Vicki looked away.

"So what about it? In a battle, it is your strength that gets added to the team. Your strength. Independence is just as important as-"

"And just how well did that work for you?" I asked.

Vicki clenched her teeth.

"I... I cannot... join forces with another faction..."

"But you're not even part of Loyce's gang anymore." I retorted.

"Even so... we parted ways on relatively respectful terms. The last thing they would want is to see me team up with-"

"With Dainsleif, right?"

We spun around, as Sarah shoved Vicki out of the way, deflecting the strike of a cleaver.

Thunder and lightning sparked outwards violently.

"Well what do you know. A Hero." A man smiled crazily from within the bangs of his wild hair.

Sarah gritted her teeth, shaking from the tremendous effort of keeping up the clash with the mystery man.

Only he wasn't much of a mystery.

The rune of Vala was implanted on each of his cleavers, and that wild expression... I recognized it from the rumours.

A man who got stronger from getting more and more damaged.

The very definition of guts and glory.

"I will not let you harm Onyx. Even if you are a Hero just like me." Sarah seethed.

"Just like you? Bitch. We are nothing alike. I am the Legendary Hero of the Dual Cleavers, Tourmentus. Unlike you, I defeated my world's Demon Queen. You needed the help of your SS Ranked boyfriend! Don't EVER think we're alike!"

Sarah hesitated, the shot clearly affecting her, as Outer Shadow Andrew Tengen slammed his knee into her chin, then kicked her in the chest, sending my Auxiliary away.

Tengen dropped to the ground, as I had already summoned my Draugr, about to fire, but black tendrils surrounded me, which manifested the shape of wolves.

"You're protecting Harriet. That means you are Master Loyce's enemy. After all, Harriet betrayed us for Despair."

My eyes widened as a wolf leapt at me in close range within the shadows, snarling, its fangs in full view, but Bryce grabbed the monster with one hand, baring his own fangs and roaring a vampiric roar, chomping down on the side of Outer Shadow Tommy Riordan.

Riordan growled, trying to fight back Bryce, as the two tumbled out of the way.

Vicki was frozen.

"No... everyone... I didn't mean to..."

"Invaders spotted at the gate! It's an entire legion of Furies!" The scouts shouted, as Andropol rallied their troops.

"They've breached the wall! They've taken to the skies."

A mass legion of furies filled the skies, their wings outstretched and in full view. But one figure was engaging the entire Demon Queen army alone, firing barrages of missiles and lasers like a one man military.

Robbie was holding back the armies of Loyce's subordinate Demon Lords and keeping them from overwhelming Andropol's army.

But from the center, the horde parted for a Fury who's wings were much larger than the rest.

On her head was a silver crown, and her unitard was decorated with silver shining accents.

Demon Lord Freya Althuum.

Freya glared at Vicki from the distance.

"How could you go against Master Loyce, Harriet. After everything he has done for our sake, you still have such little faith in our Inner Shadow?" She said.

Vicki stood frozen.

"Frey... I never meant to betray you all. This is all for the sake of-"

"For him. Right?" A man with two shining angel wings appeared before us, his sword outstretched.

I slipped out of the way, but the man managed to catch Vicki in the side, as her eyes widened. Completely taken off guard.

"Look at you. The Millennium Medusa. Your concentration has been broken. Look what Yeling Mah has done to you! This isn't love. This is corruption. He's ruined one of Master Loyce's most Complete Outer Shadows!" Demon Lord Erafil snarled.

I summoned my MP7 and fired a clip of bullets at Erafil, who deflected it off of one of his wings.

"Vicki. Fall back. You need to regain your bearings, otherwise you'll be dead weight!" I said, shielding Vicki from Freya and Erafil.

I aimed my Draugr at Erafil, who brought his wing up again to shield himself, but I fired right through the crevice, the bullet bouncing and deflecting off of the wall of the city, the reflected trajectory slamming into the Fallen Angel's back.

Erafil sputtered blood, stumbling forward, as I shot inwards.

Convocatio and Augmentus - Fast Casting

Convocatio - Grenade Summoning: Electrocution Disks, Binding Webs

I pressed the disks against Erafil, as the Angel shuddered from the enormous current.

I pushed myself back, flipping in the air.

Convocatio - Ultimate Ironsight 55XHPS Version 5

I reached into my magic circle, while flipping and setting the switch to "PIERCE MODE".

I took aim, focusing on the weak spot I had identified when firing at Erafil with my SMG earlier.

I pressed the trigger, as a red streak Destreum bullet shattered Erafil's feathers, piercing him right through the shoulder..

"GAH!"

Erafil glared at Freya, who flapped her wings, shooting to my direction with ridiculous speed.

"Dainsleif. I know you. You may be SS Ranked, but you are still a human. Even with Electricity Magic, you cannot keep up with my speed!" She said, closing in with deadly momentum.

Of course.

I figured.

The Queen of the Furies would never rush blindly into fights. She was the type of Demon Lord who cared for her people and fought her battles through tactics.

It was a shame that she would become my enemy.

Freya clenched her teeth, her eyes wild as she flew to my direction, but was suddenly halted dead in her tracks.

"WHA-"

I smiled sinisterly, my face an inch away from hers.

A look of realization dawned on her face.

"Bindings!"

I pressed my Draugr's barrel to her forehead.

"We don't take lightly to traitors to the Black Legion. And as I expected, you're still the same old Demon Queen I used to make fun of in The Black Legion. S Rank. Vala's blessing doesn't enhance Demon Lords, since y'all are the furthest from Hope there is!" I snarled, about to press the trigger, but my instincts suddenly spiked up.

Vicki cried out in pain.

From the corner of my eye, Erafil had impaled the Outer Shadow with his Skysword, blood gushing out of her side.

"How did he recover so quickly?!" I gasped.

Freya glared at me.

"Your initial hypothesis was correct about some of us. The Blessing of Vala cannot possibly enhance those of Demon and Monster blood to the degree of a Demon Lord. But Demon Lord Erafil is different. He is an Angel. He now ranks Low Tier SS Rank. Enough to dispatch the traitor."

"Tch!" I said, as I spun to assist Vicki.

Erafil had launched an assault at Vicki, who summoned her Perfect Balance ability, enhancing her body with a white glow from the Skyworld.

Celestial Scabbard - ARMOR OF ATHENA

Glowing white highlights arced throughout her body, running down her arms and thighs, as shining white armour cladded her shoulders and around her waist, lining her leggings with a scale-like plating.

"Using heavenly armour to protect yourself from an Angel's attacks? You always were the type of person to resort to cheap tactics like this as long as it guarantees victory." Erafil growled, the Skysword bouncing off of her armour.

Vicki brought her arm back.

Obsidian Ordnance - SNAKE'S GAME

A demonic black and red energy exited her arm, zig zagging violently across the world and ripping the grass and dirt apart.

Erafil went on the defensive, flying away and dodging the arc.

"This won't stop me." Erafil said, as he flapped his wings, unleashing a torrent of feathers which overwhelmed the dark energy, cutting into Vicki, who had not been concentrating enough to anticipate his next move.

Dozens of feathers embedded themselves into Vicki's arms and thighs, one of them piercing her side.

Erafil shot in again, but I spun to Vicki's direction, aiming my gun.

Light Magic - False Sword

Erafil's eyes went wide, halting himself deep in his tracks.

"No... Master Loyce erased that ability! How are you able to summon it again?!" He gasped.

"Dunno. But I do know that the nature of Noir's Cursed Demon Magic is the perfect counter to celestial beings. Wanna wager, dipshit?" I asked coldly, aiming the Thompson Contender to Erafil's chest.

"Doesn't matter how much you dodge it. Black Bullets is an area of effect. One press of the trigger and you're finished, pal."

Freya had undid her binds, but hesitated, knowing full well the effect of the Black Bullet.

"He's bluffing." A man's voice said, startling me.

ZWIFF.

"Wha-" I gasped, staring at my empty hand.

The gun I was holding was gone.

From the distance, a man in full military gear stood. A red scarf around his neck, and in one hand, was a highly advanced compound crossbow.

In his other hand, was my Draugr, the False Sword spell undone.

Suddenly, visions from three years ago flooded my mind.

A man who had overwhelmed my Auxiliary Shadows and I.

An assassination mission gone wrong.

And a gunshot which would haunt me forever.

"N- No... no way..." My voice trailed away, as the man slowly turned around.

More and more visions flooded my mind, flashing and alternating between past and present.

Why...

Why was he here...

Convocatio-

My hand fizzled with red sparks.

My magic was disabled.

To You, From Three Years Ago

SLAM.

I smashed into the ground, as before I knew it, the hand of the man was fully latched onto my face, shoving me into the dirt.

"Y- You..." Erafil stumbled back. Uncertainty washed over Freya's face.

"A- Are you going to interfere with our fight against Vicki?" Freya asked, cautiously.

The God of Warfare regarded the Demon Lords, then at me.

"This one is mine. Do as you wish with the Reincarnation."

"This won't end like last time." I snarled.

"Are you sure, God-Eater?" Jekyll asked.

I pulled out my sidearm MP7, emptying a clip at the god's face, but his hands moved at lightning fast speed.

Before I knew it, Jekyll held out a fist to my face, opening it and spilling the bullets onto my chest.

I gritted my teeth.

"S+ Rank. SS Rank. At the end of the day, the gap still remains."

WOOSH.

Jekyll hurled me into the air as I flew at supersonic speed. The sheer change in momentum churning my insides as I vomited, my eyes wide.

I smashed into the side of the castle, coughing out blood.

Jekyll appeared before me with frightening speed, as if he had suddenly teleported to my location.

"You spoke a half truth. It certainly won't be like last time."

SMASH.

My head flew right into the concrete, my skull ringing as Jekyll had slammed my head into the side of the castle.

"Because I will show my Lady just how powerful I am when I take my kills seriously."

KABOOM.

I smashed through the walls, skidding on the ground and falling down the stairs, hitting my head against the railing.

I scrambled to my feet, aiming wildly at Jekyll, firing a barrage of SMG bullets, but Jekyll zipped across the small space, dodging my bullets and creating afterimages.

Jekyll kicked me in the chest, knocking the wind out of my lungs as I flew backwards, slamming through another wall and crashing into another hallway.

I struggled to my feet, watching Jekyll approach me from the distance.

I aimed my MP7 and fired around the structural supports, collapsing down before Jekyll could close the distance.

His magic nullification...

There was a limit to it.

A weakness.

I had discovered it when I fought him the first time. But there was nothing I could do at the time.

I didn't have enough experience, my ranking was still S+.

But now...

Now was different.

I closed my eyes.

If I couldn't summon my guns with him in front of me, then the logical answer would be to fight him indirectly.

There was no time to summon everything. I had to summon whatever I could in this split second before Jekyll destroyed the barricade.

Convocatio and Augmentus - Fast Casting

Convocatio: Destreum ACR 6.8 Black Dot Sight, Spitfire AX5, Predator Launcher VX, Ultimate Ironsight 55XHPS Version 5

Convocatio Ammunition Summoning

I slung all of my firearms over my shoulder, my sidearms to my thighs, and my projectiles to my sides.

I took out my assault rifle, switching on the Black Dot Sight, sprinting towards cover as Jekyll decimated the barricade.

I leaned to one side, narrowly dodging an arrow from Jekyll's crossbow.

BEEP. BEEP.

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

I ripped the arrow from the rock and threw it back at the god, who swatted his hand, causing the arrow to explode violently.

Jekyll pulled out a SMG and fired, as I ran for it, hiding behind cover and tossing several smoke grenades and one flashbang grenade.

"Don't you know better than to try that on someone like me?" Jekyll asked, catching the flashbang and throwing it back, but suddenly, I popped out of my cover, aiming my Black Dot Sight and precisely shooting the grenade before the god could let go, causing the flash bang to unleash a blinding white light.

I turned back to the god, switching my AR magazine with Anti-Magic Rounds.

I had to disable his magic-nullification.... erm... magic.

That was one of the many headaches I had to deal with to fight on even grounds with someone at this calibre.

Out of all the gods I've faced...

The God of Warfare, Jekyll, was by far the worst.

Because he was basically like me.

But better.

I began firing, the bullets racing towards the god, but Jekyll stomped his foot, unleashing a shockwave which blew the bullets and me back.

I smashed into a concrete column, my head spinning.

Jekyll materialized in front of me, aiming his crossbow to my face, but I pulled out my Draugr, shooting at the small winding mechanism on the crossbow machine with a Napalm Round.

The weapon was engulfed with flame, causing Jekyll to grit his teeth, annoyed.

I pulled out another grenade from my belt, tossing it as it exploded into a toxic gas.

The flame of the napalm increasing its spread.

"Not bad." Jekyll muttered, coughing.

I slipped on my gas mask, pulling out my MP7. I began running across the castle, flanking, shooting, and taking cover.

Jekyll coughed and retched, dodging the bullets and blasting to the other side of the grand hall, running across the perimeter alongside me.

The two of us exchanged gunfire with our respective submachine guns.

I hid behind a column, as another wave of gunfire ripped the concrete apart.

I breathed heavily, calculating in my head.

From running around, I already memorized the architecture of the Grand Hall.

I took out my Ironsight, loading two bullets and encasing them into one bullet chamber.

The one in the front had a slit at the back for the other to rest on when fired.

I aimed down the spot with the sniper's scope, and fired.

The bullet ricocheted off of the surfaces like a game of snooker, as it raced towards the god.

From the reflection, I could make out Jekyll casually slicing the bullet with a knife, but to his disbelief, another one was right behind it.

"You little shi-"

The bullet slammed Jekyll right in the shoulder, as I felt my magic get restored.

Now was no time to mess around.

There was only a split second to finish this.

I concentrated, all my rage, and pain, from when Jekyll had tormented June and my team.

Then of Sarah... who embraced me every night to try to make me feel better.

If I was gonna honour June's memory, I didn't have to just protect my friends.

I had to kick this god's ass.

ASURA'S PENALTY

I stomped my foot, generating four extra arms from my back, as my body emitted a ferocious blue chakra aura.

TRIGRAMS

THIRTY SIX HANDS

"RAAAAAAAAH!" I roared.

Advanced Lightning Magic - COSMIC AUGMENTUS

Advanced Convocatio: THIRTY SIX FOLD THOMPSON CONTENDERS

I assumed my stance, six Thompson Contenders housing Anti-Hope Bullets loaded in each one, as I shot forward with immense speed, firing each one at Jekyll.

Jekyll swatted his hands, but the bullets slammed into the god's chest, sending him backwards.

I chased after him in a feral rage.

Jekyll aimed his crossbow, as I split off into three astral projections, each summoning a Caliga Anti-Aircraft heavy weight rifle.

The arrow zipped past one of my Chakra spectres.

Jekyll grimaced, pulling out a shotgun, as he took aim at all three of us.

Advanced Light Magic - False Legacy

I burst to the ground at light speed, allowing the shotgun blast to decimate my afterimage.

I brought my foot back, six barrels of the Caliga's rifles aimed at Jekyll from different positions.

I roared, firing and resisting the recoil of six explosive Destreum rounds as they slammed into Jekyll's back, sending him crashing through the roof.

"You bastard. Just who do you think you're messing with? There isn't a single bounty I hadn't completed. Until you came along."

My eyes widened, as I turned around to see Jekyll, who had teleported to my location instantly. His face leaking with blood.

"You're not the only one who fights smart. Now that I have a lock on your chakra, I know exactly where you are. Blinding tactics won't work on me."

Jekyll recoiled his fist and threw it, as I dodged, but Jekyll grinned, changing the direction of the punch and smashing it to the side of my face.

I spat out blood as I smashed through wall after wall, collapsing on the ground.

My vision turned blurry, as I felt a sudden pain in my head.

Something broke.

I held out my hand.

Convocatio - Turricalum Grand Fleet

Thousands of red magic circles appeared, but Jekyll brought his foot back, leaning forward and summoning a combat knife.

SHOOM.

Jekyll disappeared, as the god of warfare reduced to a series of white lines. Criss crossing across my vision at an impossible rate, cutting and slicing up each and every one of my DS34 Sanctuaries before they could even exit their magic circle.

I struggled to my feet, but collapsed, as the astral projections dissipated.

My body felt light, and my vision was getting blurrier.

My thoughts were getting slower.

And each footstep that Jekyll took to get closer to me felt like an explosion.

"Believe me. God-Eater. I don't enjoy this any more than you do." Jekyll raised his crossbow and pointed it at my head.

"Considering this is how you are going to die."

I gritted my teeth.

There was still too much for me to do.

I had to...

I clenched my fist.

But would Frenzy Mode even work on this guy?

It worked last time didn't it?

But with my body at this state...

Frenzy Mode might well kill me before Jekyll did.

Jekyll materialized in front of me, as I aimed my Draugr, but the god ripped the gun out of my hand and slammed his fist into my stomach.

I vomited blood, but managed to slip out of the way and launch a punch of my own, connecting with the god's face.

His head snapped back, but he didn't look at all harmed.

"Pfft." Jekyll cracked his neck, delivering another flurry of punches at me.

I pulled out my firearms to withstand the blows, which was probably not a bright move, because soon I found myself surrounded by the broken remains of all the firearms I had summoned.

I stood before the God of Warfare completely unarmed.

Jekyll cracked his fingers, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"I'm gonna beat you into fish paste." He snarled.

I gasped, my mind flashing back to the past.

I'm gonna beat you into fish paste! Will shouted at the gang members who were threatening Nora and I in the street.

Nora pulling at Will and yanking him away, scolding him for trying to start a fight with people who were obviously more dangerous than some orphaned kid.

Why...

Why did I have that memory...?

This had to be a coincidence.

SLAM.

Jekyll nearly punched my head off, as I deflected his punch with my forearms.

I flew backwards violently, smashing through the walls of a hallway and crashing into a room.

Jekyll climbed through the wreckage.

"Grrr..." I muttered.

There was no way in hell I could fight this guy hand to hand.

He was far faster than any gods I fought.

He was far stronger than any gods I fought.

And he was far smarter than any gods I fought.

It was almost like he had all of my expertise, then had it amplified through a Divine Harvard Degree with Honours and became a god level killing machine.

If fighting him meant going to the extreme, I had no choice.

Jekyll closed in and launched two punches at me.

I dodged and weaved like a boxer, my hand reaching for a frag grenade.

Jekyll's eyes flashed, noticing my hand movements, and reaching out to his face, but I flipped the pin, rotating the grenade on the palm of my hand.

Shock plastered the god's face.

"What are you-"

KABOOM.

"GRAAAH!" I roared in pain, as my entire arm jolted forward from the shockwave of the blast. I rotated my body, swinging my fist as hard as I could, using the explosion as propulsion and slamming it square into Jekyll's face.

The God of Warfare flew backwards violently, skidding with his feet as I closed in, ripping out two chunks of metal that were protruding from the destroyed walls of Diana's castle.

I jammed them into my belt and turned on the taser, gritting my teeth and resisting the agonizing pain of the electrical current.

"You're insane!" Jekyll exclaimed, as I swung my fists violently. Jekyll blocked my overhand strikes, but the current arced towards him as his face contorted in pain.

"The more you hurt me the more you hurt yourself!" Jekyll said.

"I'll do whatever it takes to fuck you up for what you did to June!" I snarled.

I launched a one two combo at Jekyll, his head snapping back.

I went low, dodging a hook and unleashed another combination of punches to his midsection as hard as I could.

The electrical current overloading my muscles and nervous system, forcing muscle contractions far beyond the limits of my body.

I could feel my bones beginning to crack, the pain overloading my body.

But my adrenaline forcing me back to the fight.

"ENOUGH." Jekyll ripped the metal knuckles out of my hands and kicked me in the face.

I smashed through the floor, descending down the castle and crashing through.

Jekyll then pulled out his SMG and fired, the bullets slamming into my body. My vision tainted with red.

I was taking gunshot wounds left and right.

The only thing keeping me awake was the sheer adrenaline coursing through my body.

I fell to the ground, rolling out of the way and knocking over a bookshelf, but Jekyll punched the bookshelf to the side, unleashing a loud explosion as the bookshelf was reduced into wood splinters, blasting a hole through the side of the castle.

Jekyll then closed in, grabbing me by the throat and smashing my body through more walls of the castle.

My vision was pretty much gone, as the two of us hurled into the throne room.

I fell before the throne of Diana Avarice, who was nowhere to be seen.

I tried to get to my feet, but fell over, all sense of balance gone.

"Your cerebellum has been crushed. You can't even stand anymore. Now I will finish the job."

Jekyll pulled out his crossbow and took aim.

Loyce's words boomed in my mind.

Your body is deteriorating, and by wielding Crassman's techniques, you are only accelerating your inevitable demise.

Fuck!

But did it look like I had a choice?

Either I used it and died later...

Or I died now.

I'd rather die later than now, when my comrades were still under attack!

I concentrated, my body glowing.

Trigrams One Gun Combination Style

I picked up a piece of rubble and aimed it at the crossbow bolt, which was flying at me.

But with the Chakra that I was now channeling, it was as if everything was in slow motion.

My senses, reflexes, and observational skills amplified significantly. Far beyond Augmentus.

DEAD EYE

I flicked my thumb, the stone splitting the bolt and smashing into Jekyll's forehead.

"What the-"

I got to my feet, Chakra now replacing the electrical signals in my brain and nervous system.

I rushed forward, dragging my fingers across the ground and ripping stone slabs out of the floor, unleashing a shockwave of dirt and rubble which slammed into the god and sending him backwards.

"Chakra?! You would even think about wielding something so taxing to your lifeforce when your body is like this?!"

Jekyll aimed his crossbow again, but I had closed in with devastating speed, grabbing his weapon with my bare hands and crushing it.

Jekyll's eyes went wide. His mouth hung open.

"N- No... her crossbow..." He muttered.

I grabbed the god by the face and slammed him into the ground with so much force, a crater formed, unleashing a shockwave which levelled the walls of the throne room.

I brought my fists back.

Asura's Penalty

I generated four spectral arms as I coated my own fists with Chakra.

BLOOD GLADIATOR

I began unleashing a relentless flurry of punches, sixfold, at Jekyll's momentarily unresponsive body, pummelling him and causing blood to explode from his mouth.

I then ripped the SMG from his other hand, generating a copy in each of my six arms, and fired at the god relentlessly, unleashing chakra laced bullets which slammed into him.

"HOW.... DARE.... YOU!!!!" Jekyll roared, grabbing one of my spectral arms, crushing it and breaking it into dozens of segments all at weird angles.

Jekyll then slammed his head into mine, sending me into the roof.

I crashed back onto the ground, my Asura projection dissipating.

I forced Chakra to course into my body, as a now unarmed Jekyll unleashed a flurry of ferocious punches at my direction. I was barely able to dodge, despite using chakra.

I slid back, forcing myself out of the fist exchange with Jekyll.

Everything that I had picked up from this guy's style...

Even after analyzing him...

I should have been able to take him down.

But no matter how much I tried to predict, how much I tried to analyze and read his movements...

He either ate all my shots, or he was able to counter.

I couldn't beat him no matter what I did...

And that wasn't the only thing.

Jekyll wiped the blood off of his mouth, rage filling his eyes.

His fist fighting style... was so familiar.

Because that style...

Was so similar to mine.

"You broke her crossbow. I will never forgive you for that." Jekyll said, menacingly.

I was going to crack a joke...

Something along the lines of "sorry I broke the birthday present your mom made", but at this point, I didn't feel like cracking any jokes.

The danger level of this guy was forcing me to take this fight 110% seriously.

"You little shit... I... I..." Jekyll grasped at the rune on his neck.

My eyes widened, as I stumbled back.

My Chakra senses were on high alert.

His power was exponentially increasing.

"She gave me that crossbow. She did. The most important person I had left gave me that. And you took it away." Jekyll whispered in my ear, as my heart skipped a beat.

He had closed in so fast, I hadn't even realized it.

Even with Chakra amplifying my senses.

SMASH.

Blood escaped my mouth, as my body crumpled in on itself.

Jekyll slammed his fist against my face, as I smashed into the throne. I tried to escape, but Jekyll grabbed my head and smashed me into the ground where the throne was.

Over and over again.

"Kill my enemies."

SMASH. SMASH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

"Kill them all."

CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

"For Lady Vala. So she..."

SMASH. CRUNCH.

"She will spare her... spare her life! That is my bargain!"

Jekyll lifted my heavily bloodied face from the remains of the throne.

I was sputtering blood, one of my eyes permanently closed.

I was breathing out of my mouth, but each breath felt wet with blood.

Jekyll leaned in.

"You weren't a priority. We were here to send you a warning. On behalf of Lady Vala and Great Demon Lord Loyce Hal. No matter what forces you amass. Even if you have the intel of Outer Shadow Vicki Harriet. You stand no chance. But if you want to keep meddling with their affairs, we will, without hesitation, end you all. We have already dispatched every other Outer Shadow and their Auxiliaries who tried anything. Crassman and Hellion... if they don't know their place, we will crush them too."

I coughed.

"Ah... urk..."

I knew better than to say something snarky.

As much as I wanted to kill Jekyll for what he did to June...

This "fight" was about as clear as day.

Even with Chakra control...

Even after everything I had done to improve myself and get stronger, even reaching SS Rank...

I still stood no match against the God of Warfare.

That day I had used Frenzy Mode must have been a fluke.

And even if I did have access to it, that shit would burn through the rest of my lifespan before I could stop Vala.

Even if there was still a grudge match between us, even if there was still bad blood...

I needed to know when to fall back.

"U- Understood..." I muttered.

Jekyll let go of my head as I crumbled to the ground, sliding and tumbling down the steps and watching my body fold in on itself.

I stared at the busted throne room from the cracked and destroyed floor.

Diana sure wasn't gonna be too thrilled about this.

Jekyll picked up the crushed crossbow.

"I also won't ever forgive you for what you did to this. But I know the bounds of my mission. So this is goodbye, Dainsleif."

I glared at Jekyll as he walked away.

I had to keep the anger in.

I had to keep the past in.

If I let myself give into my rage, I'll die.

No amount of rage and history with this guy will let me win this fight. This was reality.

"A- Aaron...?" A little girl said, as Sakura peeked from the entrance of the throne room.

My heart stopped.

No.

No....

Sakura gasped, tears flooding her eyes.

"Aaron! What happened! You're... you're..."

Jekyll stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes bewildered, unable to comprehend what he was looking at.

He then turned to me, the pupils on his eyes so dilated that his eyes were almost white.

A boiling rage, for beyond what he had displayed earlier, flooded me like a torrent.

"Why is she here." Jekyll whispered, each word laced with tremendous amounts of murderous intent.

Why was he so mad?!

"Wha- What do you mean...? That's... that's just a harmless little girl. She won't do anything. You came..." I burst into a fit of coughing.

Sakura watched in horror as Jekyll approached me, punching me in the face over and over again.

It was a miracle I was still even conscious.

"WHY. IS. SHE. HERE. WHY CAN I SENSE AVARA'S PRESENCE IN THIS GIRL." Jekyll roared.

Avara? Did this god know Avara?

If so, why was there so much animosity in his voice?

"Stop it! Stop bullying Aaron!" Sakura screamed, rushing forward to my direction.

"No... stay back!" I croaked, desperately, but Sakura Hope wasn't listening to me, as she shielded me with her tiny little frail body.

"Stop bullying him!" She screamed at Jekyll's face, who towered over her.

His animosity was now mixed with confusion.

"Huh?"

Sakura grabbed onto Jekyll's arm, against my desperate pleads to stop.

"Aaron is a good person! He can be mean at times! But you can't bully him, it's wrong! I don't want to see Uncle Aaron get bullied and hurt like this... so stop! Stop hurting him!"

Sakura screamed at Jekyll, tugging at his arm, as his rage began boiling over.

"Avara... Avara... You... you have the same soul signature as her... you ARE her!" Jekyll roared, bringing his fist back, but Sakura stood her ground, trembling and crying.

"NO! I won't let you hurt Aaron. He... he took care of me!"

Jekyll's fist trembled.

"What the FUCK did you just say..." He whispered, as a tear ran down his face.

I had no idea what was going on.

What was his connection to Avara?

This guy was impossible to read!

But one thing was clear.

I had to get Saki out of here. I had to...

Nothing mattered as long as Saki was safe.

"No... run Saki. Run! Jekyll... you came here to deliver the message right! I... I swear! I swear I won't interfere with you again! I admit defeat! I won't... I won't mess with you! I promise! Just don't hurt her... please! I'm begging you!" I pleaded, my voice cracking in a million different places.

Jekyll began trembling uncontrollably.

"Aaron Hope. How dare you... how dare you take in the very deity who ruined your life..."

Jekyll approached Sakura, as my mind flashed back to the very same god approaching June.

"No... don't... DON'T!" I begged, as all of the memories I had with June began folding in on itself, overloading my mind.

Then my memories of Sakura, the way she used to cling onto me.

The way she saw me as her guardian...

Because she didn't just see that part of me, that recognized her fear of being alone in the world...

But also that part of me that didn't want the same thing that happened to me... happening to her.

Jekyll raised his fist.

"It's okay Aaron. I will protect you. I... I will protect you this time. This time I will save you from Avara. I promise. I promise... I promise..."

I stared at the god.

"Wha-"

KABOOM.

"DAINSLEIF!" Robbie shouted, from within his robot form.

Assault X8 landed on the ground, his body click clacking and transforming into his golem heavy artillery mode.

"Your injuries are beyond critical. They are life threatening. I must prioritize your safety."

X8 approached Jekyll, but froze.

Jekyll glared at the combat mech, his eyes murderous.

"Robbie Fernandez. Surely you know the outcome of this. Someone as analytical as you."

X8's gears whirred, as a heavy, high powered laser formed on his back, aimed at Jekyll.

"Robbie... he has Saki... please... please don't let him take another from me... please..." I sobbed.

X8 turned to me. I couldn't tell what that robotic face was thinking, but suddenly, Robbie regained his senses, turning to Jekyll and powering his laser.

"Return Sakura Hope to Dainsleif, or you will-"

KABOOM.

My eyes widened in shock, as Jekyll suddenly materialized in front of my Auxiliary Shadow, his hand open.

It took a fraction of a second to realize he had just struck Robbie with his hand, and before I could react, X8's body shattered into a million pieces.

"ROBBIE!" I shouted, before Jekyll grabbed and yanked Sakura to a portal.

Sakura was unconscious in his arms, the shockwave that had been emitted from destroying Robbie's body having knocked her out.

"SAKURA!!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, reaching out as far as I could.

No...

NO!

"Don't worry. Aaron. I will protect you from Avara. This time I will."

"GET BACK HERE YOU FUCKING GOD! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL TEAR YOU APART WITH MY OWN HANDS!" I roared, as Jekyll stepped into the portal, disappearing.

I screamed as hard as I could, guilt and heartbreak tearing my mind apart, as I blacked out from emotion.

Aaron Hope

"Your wounds are critical." A doctor said, but his voice seemed like nothing but a muffle.

"At this point, you may not be able to use your arms or legs again." Another said.

All muffle.

"Multiple aneurysms..."

"Highly susceptible to a stroke..."

"Permanent brain damage..."

"Recommended to retire altogether..."

My skin felt cold. I blinked, and all of a sudden, I was somewhere else.

In the snow.

A man was standing before a little girl, his gun in hand.

The wolves he had killed were still disintegrating, and the little girl's small dress was tattered, stained with blood, dirt, grime.

"But... you're just a mortal... how can a mortal protect a god?"

"You can say I'm no ordinary mortal. After all, you've identified me as the guy who kills gods. If a mortal can do that, I'm sure he can also protect them too. So I will protect you. Being out here sure is cold, huh."

The scene changed. The man and the little girl were now in an apartment complex.

She was sitting on a bed, sipping warm hot chocolate.

"I've had dreams. Dreams of my predecessor. Dreams of her slaughtering a bunch of children like me. And one of them, looked a lot like you. She killed two children. A boy and a girl. And they looked really close to you. And I know there isn't much for me to do... but... say I'm sorry."

My vision began to twirl, tumbling in and out of past and present.

"Killing would be wrong. Right?" A little girl's voice asked.

"Ah. You're... you're honestly so silly. You don't need to ask for my forgiveness, because you didn't do anything wrong. Whatever your predecessor did, has nothing to do with you. You're good. So keep doing good." The man replied.

My vision changed again, this time, the little girl was looking at me directly.

Her big round innocent eyes.

Even after being on the run, losing her guardian.

She looked at her guardian's killer, with eyes full of trust.

"I don't... want to be called Avara. Because the previous Avara did so many bad things and it made you sad. And probably made a lot of other people sad as well. I don't want that to be me. So... I want a different name."

The reincarnated Avara stood on top of my chest.

"From now on, I will be known as the Goddess Sakura! And you will be my first follower, Uncle Aaron!"

My vision tumbled out of reality, returning to the present. But not before Sakura's voice uttered one last request.

"Will you forgive me?"

I gasped, staring at myself in the mirror.

I was covered in bandages, one of my eyes was protected by a pad.

But a tear ran down it anyway.

I grunted, reaching out with the one arm that wasn't covered in bandages and casts, pulling my wheelchair to the edge of the nightstand. I was so injured, that even the magic of this world couldn't heal me. Sarah's magic couldn't heal me all the way either. This was as far as it got. Nanomachines were too risky, given the nature of my wounds.

There were a couple of flowers and cards.

I ran my hand over one of them.

It was from Sigurd.

Aaron.

I know right now, you most likely prefer to be alone. It is not within my right to say I can understand what you are going through. But we will always be here for you. Please. Just let me know, and I will drop everything to be by your side. I am currently searching for ways to become stronger, and I am safe. You do not need to worry about me. Trust in your friends, Dainsleif. We will always be there for you.

Sincerely,

Annelise "Sigurd" Scarlett

So she was okay.

That was great.

I ran my finger over another card.

It was a postcard, showing the view of Philadelphia. The same view that had Bryce's mural.

Written on the back...

Hey Aaron. It's Bryce.

Listen man. Take it easy. We'll be fine. Don't you worry about us. You just take it easy, okay? Don't push yourself too hard. Don't be too hard on yourself. Please.

Sitting on the edge, was a box of chocolates.

Dainsleif. I spent 46 hours searching online for the best solution to supporting a grieving comrade. However, it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated. I have much to learn. Despite this, I managed to purchase these chocolates. I also know that you are sexually attracted to tall women with distinct curvaceous features and blonde hair. So please take a look at the collage I spent fifteen hours composing of popular models in media doing highly suggestive poses. The link is provided down below.

I managed a weak smirk.

Robbie... I'm so glad you made it.

Someone knocked on my door, as it creaked open.

Sarah walked in, her eyes full of concern.

"Aaron..." She muttered, pressing her forehead against mine.

"It's..." I said.

"It's not your fault." Sarah's voice cracked, as she put her arms around me.

"I promise you. It's not your fault. It isn't. So please. Don't ever think that." She whispered, gently stroking the back of my head.

Sarah reached for something behind her, and pulled out a small thermos, unscrewing the lid and pouring some liquid into it.

"Herbal soup from Kalidas. I... I prepared it for you. The doctor suggested several restrictions to your diet, and I found a recipe my younger sister used to always make that fits the requirements."

Sarah blew on the edge and lifted it to my lips.

Drinking the broth gave a warm fuzzy feeling in my body.

Sarah...

Sarah continued to pour some more, offering me the cup.

Sarah didn't know how to cook. She was always so bad at it. I always made fun of her for it, teasing how she was the least "wife-like" out of all the girls I knew.

She would always be so offended, to the point where she declared if she ever had a man, that man would be the one to cook all her meals, since that man would have the honour of marrying a Hero of Kalidas.

But here she was, giving everything she had to learn how to prepare this broth for my sake.

I drank the rest of the broth she made, as she put it away, helping me comb my hair and brush my teeth.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" She asked.

"No." I replied.

The rest of the day consisted of Sarah wheeling me around Andropol's infirmary.

I glanced at her bandages. On her eye was a new scar that ran down the side of her face and reached her chest.

I slowly reached out, as Sarah yelped.

"A- Aaron...!" She whispered, as my hand brushed across her collarbone, causing her to fluster.

"...Scar..." I croaked.

"I... I received it from fighting Tengen. He was quite a terrifying enemy. I never imagined a Hero would be so ferocious... ultimately I couldn't defeat him. I was spared after he got in an argument with Freya. My performance was unacceptable... but I will make sure to change that."

Sarah took my hand.

"But I'm fine, Aaron. I chose to fight a Hero stronger than me on my own accord. This is a path that I chose to take and will take. And I will do everything in my power to come back to you. No matter what."

Sarah got on one knee, resting her chin on my lap as I stroked her hair with my free hand.

Sarah closed her eyes, smiling.

"I'm your fiancee, after all. I want to be there for my wedding with the goofiest and silliest man I ever met."

Sarah would take care of me for the next few weeks.

She had informed me of the state of Andropol, as I slowly began to regain the ability to speak.

Vicki was shunned by all the people, for bringing harm to the city.

Diana was severely injured, as she was forced to fight Demon Lord Leon Valentine all on her own, while her soldiers were overwhelmed by Valentine's army.

Robbie had somehow survived being decimated, as he was technically just a spirit, and had been living in the form of wireless earbuds for a week. Bryce took advantage of this and used it to replace his AirPods during that time, showing off to all of his friends in Philadelphia his new "dripped out pods".

As for Bryce...

Bryce and Tommy had fought to a standstill. Vampire vs. Werewolf.

The fact that Bryce had fought toe to toe with a Vala empowered Outer Shadow shocked Riordan, who couldn't believe that Bryce had been a vampire this entire time.

I was glad all of my Auxiliaries were okay, but Diana was bedridden.

And I knew for a fact that Vicki was beating herself up for everything she had done.

"Sarah... where is Vicki now?" I asked.

Sarah helped me change out of my shirt.

"She left Andropol, after helping the city rebuild. She's in Millennium City, though she claimed she was fine, it was clear she was in insurmountable pain."

I inspected my hands. My body was still heavily bandaged. I was in no shape to stand, still in my wheelchair.

I was grateful to Sarah for caring for me.

"When I recover a bit more, I want to speak with Vicki."

"Very well."

I had recovered a bit more to go outside, as Sarah wheeled me around Andropol.

"Sarah... the doctors told me that I need to retire soon. At this rate, I won't be able to use my arms or legs ever again."

"I know. But it is your decision whether or not to keep fighting. I cannot stop you."

"I will keep fighting... but I will take better care of my body. No more of these extreme injuries. I promise you, Sarah."

Sarah gripped the handles of my wheelchair, leaning in and kissing the top of my head.

"I believe you."

We watched the sunset, as Sarah wrapped her arms around me from behind.

"We'll bring her back. Don't worry, Aaron. Sakura will come back to you."

I said nothing, closing my eyes.

I knew Sarah and the others didn't want to hurt me. But I knew just as much that I had been neglecting my responsibilities of being Sakura's guardian. Even when I had hurt her, and when I had yelled at her, swore at her face, and made her cry...

She still stood up to Jekyll, trying to defend me from him.

I didn't know what to do anymore.

I don't know what to do.

And I'm scared.

"Sarah..."

"Yes?"

"Can you take me somewhere?"

"Of course."

* * *

The orphanage had been replaced with a new building, a residential complex. A new river ran down the side of the trail.

In Amerada, a river always signified abundant life.

What an asshole move, considering the "abundant life" was most likely the bitch who damn near got me killed.

Sarah wheeled me along, as memories flashed in my mind of me playing with Will and Nora.

Growing up with the other kids in the orphanage.

"Here." I said, as Sarah stopped before a memorial full of flowers.

"Is this... a graveyard?" She asked.

"Yeah. Can you hand me the flowers?"

Sarah summoned a magic circle, taking out the flowers one by one as she helped me lay them next to each one.

Every foster sibling I had, whether or not I liked or disliked them (most of them I disliked by the way, since they called the MMO I was obsessed with a "gay ass game with the anime girls"), I spoke to their gravestone, recalling at least one thing that I enjoyed when I spent time with them.

And with every gravestone, Sarah learned of my past.

Until we finally got to the last two.

"Hey Will. Nora. I've been meaning to continue with my whole investigation on your last names. But... I've been pretty busy you know. And I haven't been visiting you often either. Damn. Look at the dirt that accumulated on your stone, Nora. How disrespectful. You could have been the next Shiel Hawkens!" I laughed, before accidentally bursting in a fit of coughing.

Shit, I was still too injured to laugh.

Sarah quickly rubbed my back, handing me a lozenge.

I stared at the stones.

"Will... and Nora... were the ones who taught me everything." I told Sarah, who sat down across from me, listening attentively.

"So... the Legendary God-Eater... the strongest Outer Shadow in all of the Black Legion. And the greatest fighter I've ever seen..."

I smiled.

"Yup. These two were my mentors. If it wasn't for these two hooligans, I wouldn't have been your Outer Shadow."

I reached out, brushing Will and Nora's gravestones.

"Will taught me how to fight hand to hand. How to be strong and fit. How to be athletic. Trigrams Combination Style... pretty much the foundation came from his way of fighting. It's not really a formal style, but for some reason, it worked for us. Will always protected me like a big brother. And I always looked up to him. When we were orphans, sometimes, we were bullied by people on the streets. Obviously. We were defenceless kids, and they could get away with whatever they wanted. But Will didn't care. He would gladly throw down for our sake, jumping into action and throwing hands. Of course, he would get in major trouble."

I put my hand on Nora's gravestone.

"And Nora taught me how to think. How to predict and analyze. How to approach a fight tactically and how to be smart. There's no way a human can fight gods and monsters with regular guns. But if it wasn't for Nora, I would still try to hack at the same tree using the same technique for years on end getting nowhere. You've always praised me as being smart and cunning, and whatnot. But... the truth is, I'm an idiot compared to Nora. Nora was a genius levels beyond me. If anything, her intelligence rivals even Master Jun's."

Sarah raised her eyebrows.

"She must have been incredible!"

I smirked.

"She better be! I expect no less from my teacher! But she never had a chance to make it big, due to her orphan status. She also... had a bad habit of stealing and making dangerous weapons. It was one of the reasons she was never picked up by anyone."

I put a hand on my chest.

"When I was little, I was... scared. A scared kid. These two took me in and taught me to be strong. Will taught me to be tough, and Nora taught me to be smart. Together, they helped me grow into a better and stronger person. In a way... I guess they were kind of like my parents almost. I always remember them during hard times and they gave me strength to go through them... but right now..."

I sighed.

"I'm... scared. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm terrified of what's going to happen to Sakura. I'm scared of the battle ahead of us. And I'm scared if I can even hold out until then. My body... my body is on its last strands. I can't keep pushing myself because I know I'm going to break soon. But this task... it's getting me to go beyond my limits. Well beyond it."

Sarah approached the gravestones and bowed.

"Master Will. Master Nora. Thank you so much for raising Aaron. He has grown up to be an incredible person."

I blinked.

"Sarah...?"

Sarah smiled.

"Though he is prone to being a troublemaker in The Black Legion. Maybe he got that from you, Nora. But some of it came from a hilarious late girlfriend of his. Sometimes he lashes out, especially when I or one of his Auxiliary Shadows gets hurt. I think he got that from you, Will."

"H- Hey! Don't go about telling them all my embarrassing things!"

Sarah giggled.

"I think they're adorable. I bet they agree too."

My face flushed.

"B- But... ah. Dammit. Of course this would happen eventually. It's inevitable for a wife to meet her in-laws at some point." I grumbled.

Sarah kissed me, and helped me replace the flowers to their gravestones.

I watered the plants and cleaned off their graves, as Sarah rested her chin on her hand, watching me intently.

I caught her smiling.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just... find you quite endearing when you care for things."

"Huh? I'm just brushing off Will and Nora's gravestones..."

"The little things all add up. Perhaps you do not see it yourself. But if Will and Nora were here, they would be so proud of the person you had become."

I looked away.

"Someone who left behind a trail of bloodshed and hatred, hands stained with blood, and now covered in bandages. I'm sure they're real proud parents."

"Killing in itself is nothing to be proud of. It's the act at which you would go to such extents. Isn't that what you told Bryce?"

I stared at her.

"I..."

Sarah stroked my face.

"Regardless of what you think of yourself. You chose me to be your wife. And I chose you to be my husband. That will never change. My opinions of you will never change."

A smile crept on my face.

"I guess you're right. I'm ready to head back now."

"Very well."

Sarah gripped the handles to my wheelchair, as we rolled off.

"Hey, Sarah."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Sarah sucked in air quickly, but let out a slight exhale.

"I love you too."

A few weeks later, I finally regained the ability to walk on my own, sorta, relying on crutches, though I found myself leaning against Sarah frequently.

Thank god she was strong as hell, otherwise Sarah probably would have to deal with a 6 foot man stumbling on top of her every twenty minutes.

I limped to the master bedroom, which was guarded by soldiers left and right.

"YOU!" Russel snarled.

"Ah shit. It's the leader of the Alzheimers Clown Council." I grumbled.

"The leader of the what?! How dare you speak ill of Her Majesty's Trusted Virgin Exemplar!"

This moron just called himself a Virgin Exemplar!

"If it wasn't for your incredibly... voluptuous... colleague..." Russel the Virgin shook his head violently.

"Her Majesty would not be in this condition! She had to fight an entire army all on her own... I can never forgive myself for forcing her into such a position. After everything she had been through back when she was still a Princess... and now this. I... should not have put the blame on you. Forgive me. But the one known as Vicki Harriet, I shall never forget. The things she has done..."

Russel buried his face in his hands.

"I had known Queen Avarice ever since she was a baby. I served her father, King Eustace. When both of her parents had perished... she had no one to turn to. I was so happy to see Miss Diana grow up every day. So happy that she saw me as the closest thing to a father... yet..."

"What Diana did she did out of the good for Andropol. And you say you're her caretaker, right? Surely you know how tough she is. She looked after an entire country all on her own since she was a kid. This isn't enough to take her down. And now we got people in Andropol getting stronger for their queen, becoming adventurers. We as her royal subjects are responsible to work hard for her sake. This isn't a defeat. This is just a reminder of what we must do. I'll deal with Harriet. Don't you worry."

Russel nodded, wiping his eyes.

"Thank you, Sir Dainsleif. My opinion of you has... improved... but only slightly."

Better than nothing, I guess.

I stepped into the bedroom, to see Diana gazing out of the window. Attached to her body was several magical tubes, connected to mana modules which looked like they were supplying her with revitalization magic.

"Youuuuuuuur majesty...." I said, in a grand tone, making extravagant movements with my hand.

Diana turned to me, as I tried to get on one knee, but Sarah stopped me.

"Idiot! You'll reopen your wounds!"

"But it's the Queen. God save the Queen!"

"You never once bowed to her since coming here and you're doing it now of all times!"

I started humming the Bremian anthem, while Sarah frantically tried to get me to stop fooling around.

Diana smiled.

"You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you finally goofing off again, Aaron."

I stopped wrestling with Sarah, turning to the Queen.

"Diana... listen... about Vicki-"

"No, Aaron. I made the call to let her into the Kingdom gates. Because she was someone who so desperately needed someone. Betrayed by her own colleagues and her friends. Loyce I imagine must have been like a father to her. I don't know what made her feel the need to go so far as to leave her cohort, but it must have been for his sake. As for... Sakura..."

I stared at the ground. Sarah wrapped an arm around me.

"She is alive." Diana said.

"Wha- What? Really?" I gasped.

Diana nodded, pointing at her eye.

"Did you forget my little demonstration when we first met? I can read the magical and physical potential of people, as well as their properties. Saki is still alive, but she is held captive. I don't know what they plan to do with her, but they haven't harmed her. So you can relax a little, your daughter is okay."

A sob escaped me, as my chest flooded with emotion.

Sakura...

Thank god...

"I need a plan to save her. But... right now..." I looked at my heavily bandaged body.

I was barely even able to walk.

Much less fight.

"How bad was the report?" Diana asked.

"Pretty bad. If I keep this up I'm gonna be a cripple before I have kids with Sar-"

I widened my eyes, holding a hand to my mouth.

What did I just blurt out?!

Sarah stared at me, her eyes bewildered. My mind flashed back to the day she had punched that training dummy, causing it to explode and disintegrate from the sheer force of her punch, which was probably equivalent to twenty military artillery strikes.

Diana snickered.

"I always thought you would end up with Sigurd. But then again, she's part robot isn't she? Part of me always was hoping the Saron ship would sail!"

"Technically she got turned into a cyborg, through Master Jun's abilities. So she's a human now. But... nah. Sig is more of a really close friend, it's not like that. And what the hell is a Saron ship?!"

Diana tilted her head.

"I thought you were in tune with mainstream media? 'Saron' is what you get when you combined Aaron and Sarah. Pretty cute, don't you think?"

"Remind me to never lend you Ernest's Rom-Com collection ever again."

Diana pouted.

"Those are my favourites!"

I looked out the window, as people continued rebuilding the kingdom.

"I'm gonna go see Vicki. And maybe we can think of a strategy to go from there. With me out of commission like this... there's only one guy I know at my level who can put up a fight now."

Diana nodded.

"Very well. If you ever need the assistance of the people of Andropol, please. Reach out to me."

"Will do."

Sarah helped me limp out of the bedroom, but not before Diana called out to me.

"And Aaron?"

I paused, turning to the queen, who gave me one more smile.

"When you see Saki again... remember to show your love to her. That bracelet that you still have on you. She needs to see how much she means to you."

I looked at my wrist, which now had the bracelet Sakura had made for me.

"Of course, Your Highness."

I limped out of the castle, walking through the village, gazing at the horizon. The nature filled land and waterfalls in the distance of the fantasy world.

Sarah sure fit right in, her black robe fluttering in the wind.

"Aaron."

"Yo."

"What was it that you said earlier?" She asked.

Shit! Shit on a stick!

I thought she would have forgotten about that... but never underestimate a Hero I guess.

"I... umm... it was nothing. I just blurted something out is all. You know me. Hahaha."

Sarah gripped my arm, her face turning red.

"Did you mean it?" She asked, quietly.

"Erm... I..."

Damn, was the cobblestone on the ground always this interesting?

"I want to have them too." Sarah whispered.

"Cobblestones?"

Sarah irked.

"Not that. I meant... that."

Sarah leaned against me, her lavender scent nearly putting me back into the infirmary bed.

"Children. Not now, when we have so much to do. But when this is over. I want... I want Sakura to have siblings so she won't feel alone. And maybe a part of me wants them because they will be from you as well."

I turned to Sarah, speechless.

Did this girl have brain damage or something?

Who would want to bear my kids?! I was a General Pain in the Ass (GPITA, according to the Black Legion Outer Shadows), enough as it was.

I couldn't imagine little versions of me running around and causing a mess for Sarah and I to clean up.

"We can give them a chance. A chance you were never given. Be a father to our children. Just like you will be to Sakura when you save her. That is my wish." Sarah said.

"Sarah..."

SKID.

I raised an eyebrow, something catching my eye.

"What the-"

I took a step, when accidentally, I stumbled, stepping on the black object.

CRUNCH.

"YEOOOOWWW!" Robbie's voice yelped from the object's speakers.

"BAHAAHAHAHA!" Bryce laughed hysterically from the bushes.

"BRO STEPPED ON HIS OWN SUBORDINATE! OH MY GOD. IM DEAD!"

Sarah quickly let go of me, her face infuriated at Bryce. Bryce stopped laughing.

"Oh shit, you're here too." He said, quickly.

"Why wouldn't I be?! Who is going to tend to Aaron?!" Sarah snapped, angrily.

I picked up Robbie, who was in his "earbuds form".

"X8, are you okay?" I asked.

"Status report: only a little bit compromised around my hinges." Robbie replied.

I smiled.

"I'm glad you're okay. I thought you... you would have died... I gave you an irrational request. It must have bugged your CPU out and-"

"No. Dainsleif. There were no calculations this time."

"What?"

"I cannot explain it. But... when I held you back three years ago, my calculations had indicated that you had a near zero chance of surviving if I let you engage Jekyll in combat. That day you fought him again and nearly died, my calculations told me the same thing. But for some reason... something overrode my precepts. Seeing you beg for me to let you go, unlike last time. Something inside me overrode my protocols and I aimed my lasers at the god, despite a 100% certainty I would be destroyed."

"Robbie..."

"Why are you here?" Sarah asked, angrily, as Bryce put an arm around me, causing me to wince in pain.

"Dude! I'm still recovering here!" I yelped.

"Sorry." Bryce let go, before Sarah could summon her sword and chop the vampire's head off.

"Listen, Bossman. You probably are thinking about heading out right? Well, I figured we probably can't stop you. So I dragged Robbie along. We gon come with you."

I blinked.

"Are you sure? Don't you need to be at Philly to train-"

"Nope. I figured I'm needed here. You can't fight right now. At a time like this, you need yo boys to back you up."

Bryce glanced nervously at Sarah.

"Er... and girl. But you get the point. We ride or die! Ride together and die together!"

"Let's hope we don't actually die together." I muttered.

"Dainsleif. While I recover data for another version of my mechanical combat body, please. Attach me to your other earlobe. I will provide additional support in a more compact form."

Robbie glowed, transforming into another earring.

I put it on my other earlobe.

Auxiliary Shadow Assault, ready for duty. Robbie's voice emanated in my head.

Greetings. I am Buck the Destroid. Always a pleasure to work alongside a fellow intelligence to serve our master.

Robbie paused.

Heh? Huh? What?

"You two are going to get along great." I said.

"Where to, Bossman?" Bryce asked.

I took a deep breath.

I always left them out of the loop back then, only ever using my Auxiliaries to throw hijinks and pranks on other Outer Shadows.

I never imagined I would be so reliant on them now.

And I was grateful for them.

"Huddle around me. We're going to Millennium City. To find a grieving Medusa."

PURGED

"Awww man! Good ol' Millennium City! Hey. How about once the Shadows take us there, why don't we go grab a bite at Big Joe's pizza? I've been craving some of their-"

Sarah grabbed my ear, causing me to yelp.

"Owowowowow!!! What the hell's that for?!"

Sarah brought my face close to hers.

"The doctor said no heavy foods that might irritate your liver."

"What are you, my mom? What is one pizza slice gonna do?"

"I know exactly what's going to happen. You will have one slice, then you will say 'Oh! What's the harm in another?' Then from one slice you will eat two slices. And then three. Until the whole thing is gone!"

I pouted, turning away.

"Fine. We'll skip on eating out. But at least let me visit the amusement park rides. I wonder if that one park that Harmon Industries funded has already finished building."

Sarah leaned in, raising an eyebrow as she poked at my cast.

"Stop that! I'm gonna fall over!"

"Oh really? I thought you wanted to go on one of those amusement park rides. You will be susceptible to much more than a finger poke."

"...whatever. I guess we can just... be boring as HELL and find Vicki right away."

Bryce chuckled.

"What are you, a little kid? Weren't we supposed to come here for Vicki? Bro really decided to forget about Vicki over a pizza."

"You're one to talk! All you were thinking was bashing MC's cheesesteaks the entire time!"

"Because they ain't come close to Philly's! What do you want from me!"

"Something is wrong." Robbie interrupted us, having already recovered enough to create a human form for himself to inhabit.

Sarah put her hands on my shoulders, shielding me.

"No... was Millennium City always this desolate?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

The Shadows dispersed, as we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere.

At first glance, it seemed nothing out of the ordinary.

Buildings and streets, roads, and occasional cars.

But that was the problem.

"There's... no one here..." Bryce muttered, as we spun around.

Convocatio - Illium Obsidios

Sarah summoned an obsidian hunting knife, strapping it to one of her thigh bands. Her hand hovered over her sword, which was strapped to her back.

"Aaron... was Millennium City always this empty?"

All of my enthusiasm had drained out of my body.

Replaced with caution.

This was wrong.

The cars that were travelling around here... they looked like they were... following the same pattern.

Lifeless... almost like they were going through the motions.

It didn't seem like someone had cast a spell or anything.

But...

It was as if the world felt...

Completely unpopulated.

I narrowed my eyes at the distance. My heart stopped.

"Guys... do you see that?"

Sarah and Bryce turned to where I was looking.

"Whoa." Bryce muttered.

Sarah gasped. "How is that even possible? This must be some sort of illusion, magical or natural, it is as if the world is seemingly dissolving and degrading in the distance."

Robbie's body shimmered, transforming into a tall, skinny, humanoid droid, his Scout Mode.

From his shoulder, a contraption opened, releasing a mechanical drone, which hovered before us.

Begin scouting precepts.

The drone flew to the distance.

What the hell happened here?

"Robbie, what do you see?" Sarah asked X8, who focused.

This... does not compute. It is as if the world's resolution has been degraded significantly. I cannot explain it. It is almost like...

"A video game that was never developed all the way. And what you're seeing is pixels?" I asked.

X8 turned to us.

Pitch black. Pitch... pitch...

Sparks began sputtering from his mechanical body, causing him to convulse.

My eyes widened, as I spun to the direction of the drone.

"Bryce! Throw me an uzi!"

"Y- Yeah. On it, bossman!" Bryce summoned an uzi and tossed me the gun, as I quickly aimed down the drone, which was now several hundred kilometres away, firing and taking it out.

My head exploded in pain, as I turned away.

My brain began shooting danger signals into my body. For some reason, it was warning me of something that I couldn't even understand.

But I knew what to do.

I shouted to my Auxiliary Shadows.

"Guys! Don't look at the distance!"

X8 suddenly keeled over, his human body spilling out of the armour, which began corroding.

"Get back." Sarah pushed us aside, taking out Ygviil.

Cosmic Moon Magic - LUNA ARC

Sarah slashed, the silver arc decimating the armour and eliminating it.

From where the armour lay, the grass and ground had disintegrated. But for some reason, the remnants of the grass and ground... the little pieces that had gone up into the wind from being disintegrated were the same colour as their parent materials.

As if someone had decided to blend up the ground into a fine dust and let the wind carry it away.

Robbie scurried back, hiding behind us.

"Wh- What... what is that? What happened? My drone approached it, then it suddenly lost signal. And before I knew it, it was as if... my very existence had started to cease to exist... As if nothing mattered. I did not matter... and everything felt blank... I don't understand... I don't..."

Robbie began hyperventilating, as Sarah summoned a Convocatio spell, handing him a paper bag.

"As above. So below." A voice said, as we spun to its direction, but the owner of the voice had already disappeared.

"If letters form a word."

WOOSH.

Sarah took out her knife, dual wielding it with Ygviil, while Bryce pulled out his bat and summoned his uzi.

"And the words form a story."

WOOSH.

Sarah and Bryce were trying to pinpoint the source of the voice, but it was clear whoever was behind it was clearly too fast for either of them.

This was bad news.

"What to do if the letters are no more?"

"Back to back, guys." I advised my Auxiliaries, as Sarah and Bryce huddled in front of me and Robbie, who was still incapacitated.

"If a power revolves around a narrative..."

Wielding Chakra across my body was too much for it to handle. Especially when it was still in this condition.

But if I could wield only a percentage of this spiritual energy...

And psychologically I was used to channeling my spirit throughout my body...

Then subconsciously, if I only concentrated it in one spot... then I should be able to call upon a manageable portion.

Do what I can right now.

The rest will come later.

I concentrated my Chakra into my eyes, enhancing my senses.

Aspectum - Target Lock

My eyes darted back and forth, chasing after the black streak.

"...and the narrative revolves around an author..."

"WHAT TO DO, IF THE AUTHOR IS NO MORE." The creature hissed.

I pulled out my Draugr from my side, which had been pre-summoned, spinning to the direction of the attacker, which had penetrated both Sarah and Bryce's blind spots.

I pressed the barrel to the enemy's forehead, cocking the hammer and squeezing the trigger, but the creature's eyes went wide from within its cloak.

BANG.

HISSSSSS....

The creature fell backwards, as Sarah closed in, her body shimmering with a silver glow.

Cosmic Chakra Moon Magic - Great Luna Eclipse

Sarah's speed suddenly increased exponentially, silver electricity arcing off her body as she chased the monster down.

"You escaped me twice and nearly killed my Outer Shadow. I will not let this slide." She snarled, as the monster retreated, but Sarah was now too fast.

"One who channels the coat of arms throughout her body. Just as it was foretold."

Sarah slashed at the creature, but another intercepted her, as Sarah's eyes widened.

CHOOM.

Bryce went in, transforming into his vampire form, and swung his bat.

The interceptor blocked the strike, but Bryce's attack was so powerful it caused him to slide backwards.

The two hooded figures retreated, positioning themselves side by side.

"Why do they not fall to The Church?"

"We must rewrite the story."

"We cannot change their stories."

"They are immune."

I tried to aim my gun again, but my arm flared up in pain.

"But this one is vulnerable." A third attacker's voice appeared behind me, as I gasped.

Bryce and Sarah spun to me.

"Aaron!" Sarah cried out, as she rushed forward, but one of the figures took advantage of her surprise, swinging down with a scythe made entirely out of an unknown black mist.

Bryce managed to intercept it with his bat, saving her.

"Don't lose yo focus, woman! What the hell are you doing?!" Bryce yelled at her, but suddenly, more and more hooded figures appeared, swarming the two.

I tried to move, but it was as if I lost the ability to remember how to move... how to contract my muscles.

"The Sword Hero is immune to the anafabula. Her chakra runs intensely through the coat of arms. The Heir to Dracula is immune to the anafabula. A greater power of a higher narrative shields him. The Elemental is saved from the anafabula. He plays an insignificant role in this story. But..."

The figure stroked my face, smiling and breathing over my skin causing me to sweat profusely.

"The Joker of the Dark Hexagram is now vulnerable to the anafabula. Because his chakra has overridden the protection he once had. But the chakra is not strong."

I stared at the figure. I couldn't make out its face from the shadows of its robes, but its skin looked pale as snow. Wrinkled. Its mouth looked grotesque, its teeth missing.

"What... what are you..." I muttered.

"AARON! HANG IN THERE! AARON!" Sarah yelled, trying to fight back the horde of figures who were swarming them.

Bryce swung viciously, unleashing a wave of scarlet red energy which blew the attackers back.

"Go. Sarah. I can handle these fools on my own. You get yo man back!" He said, as he concentrated, growling and glowing a scarlet red.

"GRRRRARRRRRRR..." Bryce's fangs protruded out of his mouth, red cracks of energy forming.

The figures backed up.

"We cannot change his narrative."

"He is immune."

"We cannot defeat him."

"We must hold our ground."

"Yes."

"For the Church."

"I ain't got all day listening to YO BULLSHIT." Bryce roared, blasting forward and smashing one of the figures into the ground violently, unleashing a terrifyingly gargantuan shockwave which nearly levelled the landform we were standing on.

The hooded figures scattered, as Bryce chased them down.

"Gimme yo blood!" Bryce smiled maniacally.

Sarah rushed to my location, her body glowing with chakra.

"Robbie! Snap out of it! Help me protect Aaron!" Sarah begged, but Robbie stood still, his body petrified in fear.

The figure leaned in close to me, as everything seemed to dissolve.

"What am I? Who are we? Would you like to know...

"Joker?

"Would you like to be enlightened?

"For at the end of every doomed story..."

I gasped, as my surroundings elongated. As if I was going at light speed in outer space.

White lines flooded my vision, what looked liked stars were being distorted, stretched out to infinity.

"...is but one. Only one."

My body felt like it was being shunted at light speed. But it was then did I realize...

My body wasn't there anymore.

This was in my perspective, but it was not.

"I" was there.

But I was not.

I continued being shunted, my surroundings suddenly shrinking.

Soon, planets became the size of marbles.

And then galaxies.

Until I was looking at a sphere...

A weird sphere containing galaxies and stars...

Was this our universe?

But it didn't stop there.

"What... what the hell is this..." My voice trailed away, as to my disbelief... the universe itself began to shrink, more and more spheres appearing side by side in a spiral...

The figure's voice boomed in my mind.

If letters form a word, and the words form a story, what to do, if the letters are no more?

My brain felt like it was going to explode.

I felt like I was witnessing something I should not be witnessing.

And as the multiverse continued to shrink before me, a colossal figure appeared in my vision, his arm outstretched, holding the spheres in the palm of his hand. And in his other, a large brush.

I couldn't make out his figure, because it was so bright... but dark at the same time...

But something felt awfully wrong.

The gargantuan man was fading out of existence.

If a power revolves around a narrative and the narrative revolves around an author...

No fucking way...

Was this...

Was this supposed to be...

KABOOM.

I yelled at the top of my lungs, my mind and soul and essence filled with fright, fear, and panic.

The man had exploded into trillions of small particles, which each began to fade away.

What to do, if the author is no more?

I was surrounded by pitch black, and from the distance, was the figure of an extremely tall being.

Unnaturally, and unnervingly tall.

If I could guess... it was at least 29 feet tall...

A black cloak, and four horns sprouted from its head, but it was all I could make out. White mist rolled off its body... outlining it.

That white was the only way I could make its figure out of the darkness.

I had no idea why.

But every fibre of my existence was telling me to look away.

It was telling me to run away.

That thing was dangerous.

I should not be seeing it.

I should not ever dare look at it, and if, by any chance, I could avoid it...

Even if I had the power of a god, even if I had all the power in the entire world...

Even if I could control the path of my story...

I would still be no match for that thing.

It will devour me.

And as that... that... thing became closer and closer, that feeling of dread and terror only became exponentially worse, until there was nothing I could do.

But scream at the top of my lungs.

"Aaron!! AARON!!!" A girl's voice called out to me, as I blinked, the vision disappearing.

I yelled at the sky, convulsing, my body still petrified and terrified at what I was just shown.

Sarah grabbed me by the shoulders and buried my face into her chest.

"Aaron... oh god... oh god... you're okay. You're okay, you're safe. I'm here."

Bryce had his foot on one of the followers. His hood was now gone, his robes ripped to shreds.

All around him were the bodies of the deceased attackers.

He looked like a bald man, but aside from his skin and missing teeth... his eyes were completely black.

Just like the empty space that he had shown me after that... "creator" had been blown to smithereens.

"Who the hell are you. What the hell did you do to my boss? You best answer, before I CLOCK YOUR ASS." Bryce shouted, aiming his uzi at the man's face.

The man stared at Bryce.

"Incredible..."

Bryce's eye twitched in annoyance.

"I ain't got time for your cocksucking! Spill it before I lose my patience!"

The man's mouth slowly contorted into a sinister... unnerving smile.

"We are the Cult of Church Sol. We praise our destroyer. For he will bring the end to everything. For that is his purpose. His purpose to end all purposes. Until nothing is left."

Bryce tightened the grip to his submachine gun.

"Who is your destroyer. WHO."

The man began cackling.

"He has destroyed... trillions of realities. He has devoured... trillions of stories. He has spread to every world and reality imaginable. And this one... has been a victim too. That is the nature of our destroyer. That is the nature of the way... the way of Ara-"

Obsidian Ordnance - REAPER'S LIBERATOR

A black whip appeared out of nowhere, decapitating the man before any of us could react.

The man dissipated into a mist, his mouth still open, and his eyes completely unfazed, as if nothing could possibly faze him anymore as long as he was able to preach about his "destroyer".

"No. Do not ask about his name. Do not even think about investigating that rabbit hole." A woman's voice said, as Vicki Harriet landed on the ground, her hand outstretched.

Celestial Scabbard - DIVINE CLEANSING

A ray of white light shone from her hand, disintegrating the ashes of all the cult members.

Bryce stumbled back.

"Wha- What the hell are you doin?! We was questioning that dude!"

Vicki glared at him.

"And I am telling you to let it go. For your sake. For the sake of everyone you care about. Do not get yourselves involved with that cult. And above all else, do not even think about the being they worship."

Sarah held onto me tightly.

"Why... what is going on, Outer Shadow Onyx?"

Vicki sighed, scanning for any traces left of the cultists.

"Auxiliary Shadow Ultear. Let me see Outer Shadow Dainsleif."

Sarah hesitated.

"What are you going to do."

Vicki's face darkened.

"I am going to protect him from what I am going to say next. The same goes for Auxiliary Shadow X8."

Sarah slowly let go of me, reluctantly, as Vicki approached me.