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."

If Letters Form a Word

"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's going on, Onyx? Why did they come for us? And why are they referring to Aaron as The Joker?"

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 Assault."

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

The air became tense, as Vicki knelt in front of me.

"I... It's the first time I've done this. So please be patient with me." She said.

"Uhh, yeah. Sure." I mumbled.

Vicki took a deep breath, as she approached me and kissed me on the lips.

"AYO WHAT THE FU-" Bryce exclaimed.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Sarah screamed angrily, summoning Ygviil, but Robbie frantically held her back.

"Sarah! Stay calm!"

Vicki pulled away, her cheeks bright red.

"Mmm. This... this doesn't mean anything. I was merely passing on to you a part of the blessing Loyce gave me."

I stared at the Outer Shadow, who turned away and was slightly tapping the dirt with one of her high heels, shyly.

Everybody went silent for a few seconds.

"Can I have another one." I blurted out quickly.

Shit! Hormones!

"WHA- ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Sarah snarled, grabbing me by the collar and shaking me back and forth until my head wobbled like a bobblehead.

"Stop! Sarah! I didn't know she was gonna kiss me!" I explained, desperately.

"Then why are you so aroused!" Sarah screamed at my face.

"I'm not. Swear on Bryce's life." I replied, as calm as possible.

"Why me?!" Bryce squeaked.

Sarah looked down at the bulge between my legs.

Her face was so red it looked like she would shoot steam out of her ears.

"Oh. Uh. Erm..." I stuttered, as Sarah slapped me in the face.

"In the end of the day you're just a pervert!"

Could this get any worse?

Vicki cleared her throat, as she approached Robbie and did the same thing.

"YOU WHORE! AFTER DOING IT WITH AARON?!" Sarah rushed forward like a rabid animal, forcing Bryce to pull her back.

"Stop! Yo! Sarah! Calm yo tits! She's doing it for a reason!" Bryce tried to reason, before Sarah eventually calmed down.

Robbie stared at me after Vicki pulled away.

I wanted to give the kid a thumbs up, but I feared Sarah would probably just cut my hand off with Ygviil.

A few awkward minutes later, Vicki sat down on a rock across from us.

"Have we all calmed down?" She asked.

Sarah was still eyeing daggers at her, clutching onto me tightly and pressing her chest against my arm, as if she was marking her property.

Since when did the SS Ranked Outer Shadow God Killing Legend get reduced to his girlfriend's property???

"I'm uh... guessing you did what you did for a reason?"

Vicki tried to hide her blush but was failing, as she crossed her (very attractive looking, don't tell Sarah) legs.

"As an Outer Shadow to Great Demon Lord Loyce Hal, I have been blessed by my Inner Shadow with a Reality Anchor. It means I am passively immune to reality warping effects. And in addition to that, the blessing provided by Master Loyce allows me to be immune to narrative changing abilities. Master Loyce designed such an ability such that it could only be passed down through an action that greatly displeases me."

I blinked.

"So..."

Vicki looked at Sarah.

"Yes. The act of kissing or making love to men I do not love. It greatly displeases me. So rest assured, Auxiliary Shadow Ultear. I do not harbour romantic feelings towards your lover."

Sarah loosened her grip on my arm.

"I... I see... thank you. I apologize for... what I said."

Robbie looked disappointed.

Chin up, kid.

You'll find a girl eventually. When you're older...

"But if you didn't like it, why did you blush?" I asked.

Normally if I asked this to any girls I knew, I would get roasted, burned alive, beat up, or slapped in the face.

Or even all of the above.

But Vicki didn't look at all fazed. I guess that was typical to her personality, considering I heard a rumour that she always just left her panties lying around in the barracks and not caring if any of the other Outer/Auxiliary Shadows got their hands on them.

One time, she walked in on her colleagues after a shower completely naked, much to their horror, and didn't seem to care.

"Well... when I kissed you and Soldier X8... it sort of... felt like I was kissing... Yeling..." She muttered.

Ah.

I see.

That 5 foot 7 midget was somehow more attractive than me! That guy pisses me off!

Vicki shook her head.

"Regardless. By salivary transfer and the act, you now have the minimum to resist what I will tell you now."

The mood got tense, as Vicki regarded us with a serious expression.

"The reason why I held back revealing who that cult was, is the fact that even just mentioning or thinking about the entity, at least in this level of narrative, will lead to entity deresolution."

Entity deresolution?

"What do you mean by that?"

Vicki regarded me.

"What did that cultist make you see? Did he show you?"

A lump formed in my throat.

"I saw... what looked like millions of universes lumped together... then some dude with a paintbrush..."

"And he exploded into countless fragments, along with all the universe orbs. From within the emptiness, an impossibly tall entity with four horns approached you." Vicki finished my sentence.

My heart stopped.

"Y-Yeah... how did you know?"

Vicki clenched her fist.

"The cult that you encountered is known as the Solist Cult. Otherwise known as The Cult of Church Sol. They worship the Ancient Supreme Primordial Demon Aran Sol. An anti-narrative."

Vicki leapt off the rock, approaching the distance.

"What you see in the distance, is the decay of this world. The decay of the Champions Universe. Beyond the horizon, you will encounter a great nothing. Because Aran's presence has already rotted this reality away. Scientifically speaking, every universe is meant to expand. But when this particular Primordial is present, the universe not only decays, but depending on its fate, it will collapse altogether. Aran's sole purpose is to destroy entire realities, narratives, and worlds just by being present. That is the nature of his Primordial ability: Apokolereos - The End of Reality. A super sentient anti-narrative being, weaponized by Master Loyce."

Bryce choked.

"What the hell?! That's broken as fuck! You mean to tell me this dude destroys entire universes just by chilling in the corner?"

Vicki looked at him.

"Yes. And his ability doesn't just end there. Even just looking into him, or even investigating his trails, uttering his name, without the correct conditions, and without a decent reality anchoring ability, will lead to entity deresolution. You will cease to exist. And this... is the reason why your Master, Inner Shadow Jun Gasket, has been missing this entire time. And also... my Auxiliary Shadow... Twilight Bolt... being out of commission now. Bedridden. He was one of the few unfortunate enough to be in close proximity to this world's decay, as Millennium City is his home."

Sweat ran down my back, as I turned to my Auxiliaries.

They were all frozen in shock.

Just...

What in the hell were we dealing with?

I knew Loyce Hal was stupidly overpowered. Inner Shadows John Crassman and Jay Hellion had warned me.

But they didn't warn me of this.

"Master Jun..." I muttered.

Sarah gritted her teeth.

"If even Master Jun couldn't handle Aran... what chance do we have? This... this thing is on Loyce's side?"

"However." Vicki interrupted us, reaching into her utility belt and pulling out her holographic projector. On it showed Constantine Lupin, who was slaving away at his desk.

"Aran Sol is still a Primordial Demon. At least, this is what the evidence points to. The Primordials are the penultimate strongest beings in existence. The only known Primordials I know, after digging, has been my Master, Ultimate Primordial Loyce Hal, this anafabula, Supreme Primordial Aran Sol, and now..."

I watched as a heavy shelf slowly began to topple over in the hologram.

And to my disbelief, Constantine turned around, instantly materializing before the shelf and lifting it up with one hand, saving a young woman, a fellow intern from certain death.

The shelf looked like it was made out of steel. It had to be at least 200 kilograms.

Constantine put a finger to his lips, grinning, as the woman returned with a smile.

"Primordial Demon Kon Larum. A being who has lost his memories of what he is, but retains remnants of his old monstrous strength. Master Loyce transpires with Vala to kill Yeling... I... I cannot let that happen to him. If there is anyone who can stand up to a Primordial Demon, it has to be another Primordial Demon. They must have some level of resistance to the immense reality warping abilities of Master Loyce and Aran Sol. But things have not been working my way. Kon refuses to remember his past, perhaps it is something subconscious... but I'm not convinced he has completely lost his memories. If he can still access his old strength to this degree, no matter how small it is, that means there is still a chance the Great Demon Lord still exists.

"There is still a chance that the SS Ranked Member of the Dark Hexagram, The Knight still exists."

Vicki turned the hologram off.

"I know... I've been a burden to you all. And I don't have the right to ask for your help. But I cannot do this alone. Vala has Sakura Hope, your daughter, Dainsleif. If we can get Kon Larum on our side, we may have some fighting chance. As we are now, we cannot launch any attempt to rescue the young goddess. Not when Aran is a threat. And especially not when Master Loyce is a threat as well. Three beings who can tear reality apart... we need all the help we can acquire."

My heart beat fiercely.

Saki...

"Then it's settled." I reached out my hand.

"We work together to get this Kon Larum guy on our side. And accumulate as much strength as well can, through companions and our own power. To take down Vala and Loyce. And rescue my kid."

Hellsing or Jones

"How are we gonna recruit Kon if no one even knows he exists? Didn't Loyce destroy all figments of his memory from everyone?" I asked.

Vicki had her Shadows teleport us to Renaissance Centre, where some Heroes were standing idly by.

But compared to my last visit with Bryce, that number had dwindled down significantly.

"We can't. But there are workarounds. My ability, Timeline Anchor. It is magical in nature. I imagine by now, you've already figured it out, Dainsleif."

Vicki Harriet was capable of resisting the mass reality warping effects of Kon's memory wipe.

And fundamentally... magic was a means to warp reality itself - though highly restricted and rule based.

Meaning...

"There's a way to remember Kon, whatever he did here- through some magical avenue?"

Vicki nodded.

"There are currently two mages in the Champions Universe that exhibit the highest magical power and its encyclopedic knowledge bank. You are familiar with Archmage Robert Caliburn, yes?"

"Er... yeah..." My voice trailed away.

Vicki raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you sound uneasy?"

"Well..."

Bryce laughed.

"It's cuz he once tried to pimp out Caliburn's ex and blackmail him for free amusement park rides at Vibora Bay. I'm not kidding."

Vicki gave me an annoyed look.

"Of course he would. Why wouldn't he be in such abhorrent terms with 90% of his connections."

"Hey! In my defence, it was obvious the relationship wasn't going anywhere. Caliburn wasn't making any moves on her, and he was always mentioning his ex-ex to his... er... ex. Regardless, I doubt I wanna see that guy."

Vicki undid her chest wrap, causing Bryce, Robbie, and I to squeal in panic.

"AYO PAUSE! WHAT ARE YOU DOIN SHORTY?!?!?!" Bryce screamed.

I quickly looked away, glancing at Sarah to make sure she knew I was better than... whatever she currently thought of me.

Sarah gazed at the ground, her face steaming red with irritation.

"Do you not know shame?" She muttered.

Vicki looked confused.

"I am taking off my top. Why should I be ashamed? Do men not do the same thing in warm weather?"

Sarah became flustered, as her chakra aura spiked up violently.

"Wha-?! What kind of reasoning is that?!"

Vicki frowned.

"So it isn't the same if I take off my shirt?"

"Of course it isn't the same! What are you- four years old?!"

"I'm biologically 19. But through the maturation process of my species, I am mentally 28 years old."

I raised my hand.

"So you're a MILF then."

Bryce exhaled through his nostrils.

"Bro... Aaron man..."

Sarah buried her face in her hands, as Vicki changed into a sleeveless shirt which exposed her cleavage, tying her hair back.

"For the record. I do feel embarrassment whenever I undress. Usually when I am forced to do it against my accord, or if I do it in front of Yeling."

Sarah made a groaning sound from within her hands.

"C- Can we... just move forward with planning please?"

Vicki finished changing, leaving the guys in a daze.

"I want to split this group. One group visits Caliburn. The other, Scarlet. Caliburn perhaps will be easier to convince, as he is aligned with Defender's faction. Scarlet, not so much, as despite having been already defeated by this world's heroes, she is still affiliated with the Trey Kings. Her reputation for visiting Club Caprice and luring men to their deaths has not been positive. The team going to Scarlet will need to be stronger."

"Okay. Well, I'm for one, not going to Caliburn." I said.

"Good. Then I will be the one to visit Caliburn." Sarah said.

I stared at her.

"Wait, what?"

Sarah gave me a blank expression, the same one she always had back when she was the Hero to her world. The look of the Blank Saviour.

"I will spearhead the operation to recruit Robert Caliburn. His powers are angelic in nature. My powers are of a Hero's blessing, of a similar strain of magic."

"But... you don't wanna-"

Sarah grabbed Robbie by the ear.

"I will take Soldier X8 with me. I do not need your help, Dainsleif."

Why was she going back to calling me by my Black Legion codename?!

Was she...

I watched Sarah yank at Robbie's ear, dragging him along. Her body language...

She must have still been mad at the fact that Vicki had kissed me and I did essentially nothing about it.

Of course, it was to give me the protection from Aran's influence... but...

"Wait... Sar-"

"Shadows. Take us to Vibora Bay." Sarah commanded, as darkness surrounded the two of them, disappearing before I could even finish my sentence.

"Bro... your girl is pissed..." Bryce said.

"Thanks man. Why didn't you go with them? You really want to go with us? This bitch has demonic powers I heard. She struck a deal with the devil or something."

Bryce rolled his shoulders.

"Well. I ain't scared of no devil. I'm interested to see how well this devil she contracted with compares to my Ma. She's pretty damn strong too, you know."

Vicki sighed.

"We will avoid fighting if necessary. Combat to the level of S Rank will mean collateral destruction no matter how contained the fight is."

"Avoid fighting you say..." I smiled evilly.

"I don't like when you smile like that." Bryce grumbled.

Vicki frowned.

"What are you going to do?"

* * *

"The Cosmic Pimp: Aaron Pope." The man read my resume, before giving us the most disappointed expression ever.

I crossed my legs, blowing smoke from one of the cigarettes Vicki had lent me. I nearly coughed my lungs out. How Vicki was able to smoke an entire pack a week was beyond me.

I had a whole suit on, covering all of my bandages and casts. I ended up looking like a big overweight man. Perfect disguise.

"Before you presents an opportunity. I am a firm believer in opportunities. Emphasis on the firm." I said proudly, pointing at my "goods". If I couldn't win him over in my qualifications, I might be able to approach this in the humour department.

The man stared at me.

"Erm. You know. Like. Firm. You know? Like I'm firm." I tried explaining.

"I know what it means!" The man snapped, gesturing to his side.

From the side, one of the three girls handed the man a cigar.

"We have plenty of managers for the dancer girls in this club. Too many in fact. What makes you stand out from the others?"

I cleared my throat, gesturing Vicki.

"Sit on my lap." I mouthed.

Vicki glared at me, her face dark.

"Excuse me?"

"Just do it! Also give me a bigger cigarette!" I whispered, fiercely.

"You could barely handle the smaller ones."

"Sit or I'll sell your panties off to the dark web!"

Vicki scoffed.

"Like I care if you sell my underwear to strangers. You've already done it to Outer Shadow Frey."

"And... er... oh! I'll tell Yeling!"

Vicki's eyes went wide, as she quickly sat on my lap.

Hell yeah.

"A- As you can see." My voice was an octave higher than usual, but I continued.

"This one is a special dancer. Her techniques are impeccable, but she is loyal to me. If you want her, I come included."

The man still didn't look too convinced.

I had no choice.

Time to bring out the big guns.

I pulled out something from my coat pocket, putting it on the table.

The man's face paled, as did the girls.

"What... is this really-"

"Fully legit. Gold. This is how much my girl has been raking in. Is this proof enough? I can make you millions. Are you really ready to pass this up?" I asked.

The girls looked at the man, who appeared very lost in thought.

Jackpot.

"Dainsleif... where did you get that gold?" Vicki asked.

"I borrowed it."

"Borrowed? From who?"

"I forgot."

Vicki choked.

"You forgot? You didn't steal that gold did you?"

"Who cares. We're the Black Legion Organization. Even our name is shady. What are they gonna do, arrest me? I've fought off the entire military forces of NATO in another world for Master Jun before."

Vicki put a hand to her face as if she was seriously regretting joining forces with me.

A few minutes later, the two of us were hired on the spot.

I continued pulling out blocks of gold out of my pockets, until the guy finally caved in.

Vicki began changing out of her stripper outfit, undoing her hair and letting it tumble to her shoulders.

"Your methods are beyond questionable." She said, coldly.

"They work, don't they? Now we can infiltrate Club Caprice and find Valerian. Once we do that, we can extract information, and covertly get her to cooperate without any fighting."

Vicki and I left Club Caprice, as Bryce stood awkwardly by his own car, veiled to be futuristic like the other cars in the city and pretending to be the valet.

"Thanks for watching our car, Bimbo Ballsags." I said.

"You little shi-! Er I mean... always a pleasure doing business with you... Master Pope." Bryce grumbled, his fangs looked like they were about to pop out any minute.

I got in the car, as Vicki got in shotgun, and Bryce leaned heavily towards the front from the back of the car.

I glanced out the window. The man was still watching us.

Shit!

Erm...

I looked at the controls.

Right... out of park... to...

I stared at the knob. It had a bunch of weird ass lines and numbers. One through six.

Where the hell was the P and the D?!

What the shit was this?!?!

"Do you seriously not know how to drive a car?" Bryce asked.

"I know how to drive! I drive a bike! Where the hell is Drive?"

"Drive? Bro, it's a manual."

"A what?"

"Feet on the brake and clutch. Neutral wiggle just to be safe. Shift to first gear and let off clutch to biting point. Gas."

I did as he said, before a car sped past us and honked aggressively.

"You idiot! Why didn't you check the mirrors and blind spots!" Bryce yelped.

"What?! You didn't mention that!"

"What kinda moron doesn't check if its safe to leave?! This ain't Florida bro!"

Vicki sighed.

Celestial Scabbard - Memorias Freese

My mind lit up with memories of someone behind a wheel, chased by a horde of monsters, and executing extremely complex manoeuvres.

"Whoa! What is this?"

Vicki ran her hand across the back of my head.

"I've temporarily implanted my memories into yours."

My jaw hung open.

"You can drive too?! Seriously?"

Vicki rested her head in one of her hands.

"Yes. I taught myself to drive when I was twelve, then formally passed the driving exam at fifteen as required by law with a perfect score. I drove a manual transmission vehicle when I was twelve, but had to use an automatic transmission for my exam. Learning to pilot a vehicle is a prerequisite for most people. How you never learned to drive is baffling."

When I was twelve I vomited on the Goddess of Fertility.

We drove off as Vicki got out of the car.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

Vicki pulled out her phone from... her chest wrap...

"What the- where did you just pull that phone from...?" Bryce asked.

Vicki ignored Bryce's question, as she inspected something on the screen.

"Qwyjibo in fifteen minutes. I am needed on the battlefield."

"We'll come." I said.

Vicki shook her head.

"No. You will be sighted right away as you are beyond Cos-"

Vicki suddenly clutched her temple, stumbling. Her legs buckled, as I caught her.

"Vicki? Vicki, what's wrong?"

Vicki's eyes widened.

"Her memories... her... this has happened before... I..."

Vicki coughed a patch of blood onto the ground, causing Bryce to quickly look away.

"Shit! I can't look bro. I won't be able to help myself." He said.

I propped Vicki up on one of my shoulders, but considering I was still not recovered, the task seemed a lot more difficult than it seemed.

"I'm... I'm fine. Cascaded memories from my predecessor momentarily... flooded my mind." She muttered.

"Did Loyce never get that fixed?" I asked.

Vicki rubbed her temples.

"No. Because I requested to never forget what she was like. I have her face. And I have her body. But those memories... those kind memories from when she was loved by the people... that is what keeps me going as a superhero in this world. Even if they spit on me for being a fake Lens... this is the path I want to take."

I regarded her.

I guess The Millennium Medusa was a superhero here for a reason.

Though she was the complete opposite of the superhero who she used to be in a previous life, someone who was lovable and kind...

This version of Lens smoked cigarettes for days, and an alcohol problem, and was notorious for breaking the bones of criminals.

"In the meantime. You will stay at my quarters. Although you now have partial immunity to Aran's influence, I recommend you to stay away from Carlton, who is bedridden in the guest rooms."

Blood flushed into Bryce's face.

"Your... your room...?"

Vicki breathed heavily, clasping her head. Her face still looked pale.

I reached out my hand.

"Vicki, are you sure you're okay? You seem weaker than usu-"

"I am fine. Shadows. Take Outer Shadow Dainsleif and Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing to my quarters."

It shall be done. Lady Onyx.

I didn't say anything, considering Bryce was still here, and I highly doubted she would not be defensive.

But the things she was displaying... from fatigue, nausea... to her moodiness... The Vicki Harriet I had known and heard of was always renowned for her ability to assess situations in an objective manner. She was known as Loyce's most Complete Outer Shadow, because she had it all. Smarts, recon, sheer firepower, strength...

From the first time I had seen her during her mission to retrieve Kon Larum at Baja Industries, to now, it was as if she was a completely different person.

These were all common symptoms of something... I knew this much because I had investigated this before when I almost believed Sarah had gotten it too when we were... um...

Love makes people blind.

But was a mere crush enough to make The Millennium Medusa irrational enough to defect and act rogue against her own Inner Shadow?

This relationship she had with Yeling had to be something to the point where she would go to that extreme. And if my hypothesis was correct...

Bryce and I were transported in a penthouse-like suite.

"Ayo bruh... this place is FIRE. Bossman! Check it out! There's a hot tub over here in the balcony!" Bryce laughed excitedly.

"Yo! Bryce! Don't go too wild in here. We're guests. And also, Vicki shares this place with Carlton. Have some respect for other people's-"

Bryce peeked from behind the fridge door. In his mouth was a bag of chips and a pack of shredded cheese.

"Nachos?"

My eye twitched.

"Listen. You ain't gonna tempt me with-"

Bryce wiggled his hand, in it, was a bottle of Sriracha.

"Spicy nachos!"

Ah what the hell.

If Twilight Bolt found out we could always just kill him and hide the witness.

We munched on what I presumed to be Twilight's snacks (since Vicki's diet was literally her kills and scavenging from hunting). All the while, worry filled my mind.

"Relax. Bossman. Sakura ain't gonna be in too much danger."

"How do you know for sure?"

Bryce shrugged.

"I dunno. Killin Sakura ain't gonna do Vala much good. All it's gonna do is it's gonna piss us off. As if we weren't pissed off enough already."

I still wasn't convinced.

Sakura had nothing to do with this war.

All of the bad things that were happening to her were because of her progenitor.

She did nothing wrong, but was thrown into chaos.

We had to find Valerian quick.

Part of me wanted to just capture Valerian myself. It would have been quick and easy.

But then I wouldn't know what to ask her.

We had to wait until Vicki was done with her Cosmic thingamagigy.

"Feel weird yet?" Bryce asked.

"What?"

"We in a girl's apartment right now. And it ain't just some ordinary girl. It's Vicki's."

I glanced at the mess of underwear that was strewn all over the place, along with the used cigarettes that were thrown everywhere.

Then at the empty liquor bottles.

Poor Carlton.

"I dunno about that, Bryce."

Bryce munched on his nachos, as he eyed an open door.

"Hey. Ain't that..."

Bryce got up, approaching the door.

I followed him.

"Bryce, be careful. I think that's where Coleson is. Vicki told us not to get too close to him, even if we have the Anchor now."

"Come on. What's that lil young buul gonna do against me?"

"We don't know how powerful Aran's affliction is. I don't wanna take that risk."

I put my hand on Bryce's shoulder, but Bryce shrugged me off.

"Why are you still so concerned about me dude? I've become yo strongest Auxiliary. I've surpassed even Sigurd and Shiki. Ain't nobody got shit on me now. I ain't no one's bitch, and I'm certainly no bitch to no Primordial Demon."

"What???"

Bryce bared his fangs at me, in the form of a devilish grin.

"I ain't like what I was before. I'm High Tier S+ Ranked. Actually... come to think of it. Didn't I whoop Eliza Hellsing's ass? She was SS Ranked right? So wouldn't that put me on the same level as you?"

I was seeing red flags pop up left and right from this guy.

"Listen, Bryce. Just because you beat Eliza doesn't automatically put you at a higher rank than them. There are circumstances. In your fight against Eliza it was completely to your advantage. She was wielding literal blood constructs, feeding you power. There's a reason why you haven't reached SS Rank despite that."

Bryce tilted his head, his finger hovering over my forehead.

"I don't gotta hear that from you. You ain't got nothing right now, you're covered in bandages. I'm literally a Vampire God. Why aren't I an Outer Shadow? Why am I still taking orders from you? Ay. No offense, Bossman. I'm just sayin. You know?"

My hand clenched into a fist.

"Bryce... what's gotten into you? Why are you acting out like this?"

Bryce turned to the door.

"I went from a gamer kid, someone who got rejected by everyone in Philly, to being their Champ. We was gonna get stronger in our own ways. This included Sarah. But it's so obvious I'm far ahead of her now."

"You don't know how hard Sarah has worked, Bryce. You literally have no evidence behind that claim." I retorted, my blood beginning to boil.

Bryce's ego was starting to get inflated. And I didn't like that one bit.

Bryce crossed his arms, giving me an unconvinced expression.

"No evidence? I fought a Vala enhanced Tommy 'Fenrir' Riordan to a standstill. Vampire versus Werewolf. I fought him to a standstill. If he didn't summon his pals, I woulda bodied his bitch ass. Homeboy was at least SS Rank. And I nearly beat him. What was Sarah's excuse? She a Hero is she not? A Sword Hero? Why'd she lose to Andrew 'Tourmentus' Tengen like that then? She got saved cuz his hoe was arguing with him and he lost concentration. Don't you ever compare me to Ultear. You know for a fact that I'm better."

"This doesn't give you a reason to act out like this. You are still an Auxiliary because you lack the other aspects that are crucial to being an Outer Shadow. And don't you dare talk down to your fellow Auxiliaries like this. Sarah went through hell in her training in secret to master Chakra. Even behind my back, she worked so hard. At the start, she was barely able to use Chakra, but you heard it yourself from the cultist - her Chakra control has grown to the point where she can passively resist Aran's influence without an anchor. Something that I still can't do."

Bryce scoffed.

"Of course you'd defend yo bitch. You've been pounding her every night. Why wouldn't you play favourites to her?"

My eyes turned dangerously dark.

"Bryce. At the end of the day, I am still your Outer Shadow. Tread carefully with your next words."

Bryce clenched his fist.

"I am... a god now. Put some respect on my name. I'm yo strongest man and you know it."

"Even if you are my strongest Auxiliary, you have no excuse to put people down like that. And to be overconfident over someone like Aran Sol of all things? You need to face facts. Even if you are SS Rank, the implications of Aran's power might be beyond that-"

Bryce shoved me out of the way, putting his hand on the door handle.

"Shadows. Restraints." I commanded, as Shadows surrounded Bryce, gripping onto his arms and legs.

Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing... please listen to reason.

Sir Dainsleif requests it.

Bryce gripped the doorknob so tightly the steel warped in the palm of his hand.

"Kon Larum? What's so great about that guy? Just cuz he can shatter planets with his bare hands? I can destroy worlds too. All I gotta do is suck the life essence outta this entire planet and everybody becomes a crisp. SS Rank... Dark Hexagram... I'm strong too. You mean to tell me you'd choose a Primordial over your boy?"

"No one is saying that, Bryce."

What the hell was going on with him? Did he...

My mind suddenly flashed to our fight against those cultists...

Bryce had killed several of them.

He had chased them down.

Gimme yo blood! Bryce had said to them. Implying he had ingested their blood... their essence...

Was that what was causing my Auxiliary to act out like this?

"Bryce. Listen to me. You're not well. Let the Shadows take you to an infirmar-"

"Bitch get yo hands off me!" Bryce snarled, swinging his bat and causing the Shadows to dissipate into dust.

Bryce aimed his bat at my face.

"Seems to me you always been playin favourites. Ain't that right?"

I clenched my teeth. Was I?

It was true... wasn't it?

"It don't matter how strong yo Auxiliaries were. You was always playin favourites even at the start. June? Huh? All cuz she smiled pretty? Cuz she liked huggin her little teddy bears and actin all sweet up in there?"

"DON'T YOU DARE BRING JUNE INTO THIS." I snarled.

"I DO WHAT I WANT. I SAY WHAT I WANT." Bryce Jackson Jones roared, slamming his fist against the wall and causing the entire building to shake violently.

"And I can choose to spit facts if I want! You know it in yo heart. If it was anyone else, you woulda trusted them. You trusted Master Jun to handle Aran Sol. You trusted Sigurd to handle Aran Sol. Why don't you trust me? I'm yo strongest man now. I'm yo RIGHT HAND MAN, AARON."

My hand trembled, as I realized that I no longer had control of it.

My nerves... I was told I had suffered permanent damage to my nerves... but...

Did this mean I no longer have control of my own nervous system?

And that wasn't it...

Ever since my fight with Vala, I noticed I was blurting things out that I normally would never have blurted out. At first I thought it was merely just me being flustered... but that was the thing.

I rarely ever did something like this, unless it was for my pranks and antics...

From my body deteriorating like this... I don't even know how much time I had left to live.

And now... Bryce...

"And you. You ain't need no Kon the Worldkiller. You got a Worldkiller here. A Hellsing. The heir to Count Dracula. The God of Vampires. I bet I can whoop this Kon Larum's ass any day."

I had no choice.

I had to find a way to subdue him before he did something he was going to regret. Bryce wasn't himself right now.

I felt like kicking myself for not realizing it sooner...

"Bryce. I can't tell if that part of you has resurfaced or not. Hellsing or Jones. You're walking a fine line with me. So tell me this. What do I address you now, from here on out? Hellsing? Or Jones?"

"Too late. Man. Fuck finding Valerian and Caliburn. Imma take this operation in my own hands. Imma show you I'm an Outer Shadow too. If we wanna show the enemy what's up, we show this Loyce Hal that I ain't scared of no Primordial. Cuz I'm stronger. Way stronger. Imma body Kon... hell... I'll do way worse than that, homie."

Bryce bared his fangs, running his hand over the bat, leaving behind a trail of wispy red energy.

"Imma kill his ass."

Is that so? You would dare threaten my husband with death? A voice vibrated all around us, the furniture began shaking violently.

Bryce spun around, summoning his Uzi.

"Who's this bitch? You want the smoke?"

Bright white angelic energy swirled in the corner of the room, as I shielded myself, sliding back.

But Bryce held his ground, snarling from under his fangs.

"I will protect my beloved." A woman began to take shape from the light, stepping out. Her translucent white silk dragged across her legs like a dress, but her top was cladded with a demonic black armour.

"I gave my word. To protect him. Even if he does not even remember the one he chose to marry."

Her straight long silver hair fluttered and tumbled across her shoulders, as her eyes illuminated a bright white.

The woman looked at us. Her aura was blinding.

"I am the Ancient Great Celestial, Rya the Lightgiver. The current... Demon Queen of Konia. And you, usurper, would bare your fangs to my beloved Kon Larum. You have chosen to make yourself an enemy to our nation."

The air became tense.

This wasn't possible.

How were there so many powerful beings being introduced now?

It almost felt like yesterday that the second strongest Outer Shadow in the Black Legion was Shosuke Shiki, the Devil Monk.

But as I glimpsed at the overwhelming aura of this Celestial, it was as if my entire world was being flipped upside down.

It was as if I was peering into light itself.

The very aspect of light and divinity.

And Buck's readings couldn't possibly be lying. Facts and numbers never lied...

I had to admit that when I first heard that Kon Larum was SS Ranked, I didn't believe it.

To become an SS Rank, one had to be beyond extraordinary.

Their power had to be impossible.

But seeing the bride of Kon Larum standing before us...

I was starting to believe it more and more.

Demon Queen Rya the Celestial.

Elite Tier S+ Rank.

"Bryce. Listen to me." I seethed, my hand inching back and hovering over my gun.

"For once, just listen. You cannot beat Rya. And neither can I in this condition. We need to abide by her terms. As we stand, Rya can kill both of us even if we try to team up against her."

Rya regarded me.

"As expected, from The Joker of the Dark Hexagram. You are aware of the situation. However, this still does not excuse the behaviour of your Auxiliary Shadow. Whether he jests or not. I am not one to take the risk to see harm befall my now mortal husband."

Bryce smiled maniacally, charging his bat and submachine gun. His Eagles jacket fluttering violently from his blood aura, which began to grow and grow, contending with Rya's Celestial aura.

"I'll show you. Once I blitz through you? Kon is next. And I'll prove to all of you that I'm more than just some Auxiliary Shadow."

Rya glared at Bryce, as the two charged.

"Shadows! Now! Port us away!"

Yes, Sir Dainsleif.

The Shadows exited out of my Invisibilis spell, which I had cast in secret in a perimeter around the two.

Rya's face flashed with surprise.

"The Joker... I fell for his deception!"

Bryce glared at me.

"Do NOT interfere with my fight. I can take Rya on my own, do you hear me?! Do you-"

Bryce became flooded with the Shadows, warping away along with Rya. I stepped into the dark mass, as I began teleporting alongside the two.

Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing

KABOOM.

Bryce fired a barrage of energy which exploded on contact, sending Rya back. I watched the Celestial slam through a large mountain, dust and debris flying everywhere.

Bryce laughed crazily, taking out his bat.

"Who said you get to nap? I'M the one who puts you to sleep!"

Bryce swung his bat, unleashing a wide red arc, sending it to Rya.

But a white beam of light exploded from the mess, creating a giant vortex the size of a city.

From within the winds, a white light manifested, and the arc dissolved.

Rya tilted her head, her eyes glowing.

"A Celestial's body is sacred. Consecrated since the conception of the world. We uphold the balance."

"Like hell do I care." Bryce snarled, going all out and charging at top speed. Faster and faster, a mach cone forming in front of him.

Rya held out her hand, as her body became brighter and brighter.

A bright divine beam of light shot out of her aura, completely engulfing Bryce.

I opened my mouth to shout, but the beam had died down, revealing Bryce suspended in mid air. His body was smoking and charred.

"That... all you got?" Bryce wheezed, clutching his arm. It was bleeding severely.

Rya narrowed her eyes.

"The heroes of this world wield my power. They call their partially efficient spell, the Celestial Conduit. I have afflicted the pure power of my essence to you. And it is clear just how effective it was."

Bryce clenched his teeth, blood leaking from it.

"Stop the cap. That didn't do shit to me!"

Bryce descended on a mountain and roared to the sky, creating a vortex of red energy.

Surprise spread on Rya's face, as Bryce's wounds instantly regenerated, the eagle on his dark green varsity jacket becoming darker and blacker, and his black coat rippled viciously in the blood-red aura. All around him, plants and wildlife, the cacti, began to dissolve, turning grey.

Bryce was absorbing the life force of everything around him, adding to his strength.

"Talk yo shit. Talk all day. Keep talking bout how high and mighty you all are." Bryce snarled, glowing red veins arced across his face and his forearms, as his eyes began glowing a vicious red.

Bryce stomped on the ground, materializing before Rya, who's eyes enlarged in shock.

"Too fast!" She gasped, as Bryce wound his fist back.

TRICK PLAY - SB 52 PHILLY SPECIAL

Red energy exploded from behind, taking the form of a gargantuan eagle the size of a massive meteor.

"The more you talk highly of yourself, the better my accomplishment is once I beat yo ass." Bryce shouted, throwing a devastating punch and launching the eagle at Rya, unleashing a continental sized red explosion.

POINT BLANK SCARLET EAGLE

"Shadows!" I gasped, as the Shadows lifted me in the air.

I watched the explosion rip and tear away at the outer edges of the planet, creating a massive chasm.

"Foolish boy! You would... you would split this Earth in half?" Rya croaked, her body flying into the ground and smashing into it, levelling landforms everywhere and creating a country sized crater.

Bryce floated in the sky, looking down from above. Darkness flooded his body, seemingly eclipsing the sun from our perspective.

His aura had now caused black storm clouds to fill the sky, red electricity and thunder to boom all over the planet.

White light emerged from the hole, as Rya shot to the sky, appearing before Bryce.

Her wounds also had healed instantly.

"You are too dangerous of a threat. I cannot allow you to harm my husband. Whether directly, or indirectly from your recklessness. I see now that you must be eliminated. I will no longer hold back."

I shouted at Bryce desperately.

"Fall back! Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing! This is an order! She was holding back the entire time, if she takes this serious it's all over! Fall back and retreat now! Shadows, take Hellsing back!"

The Shadows began to wrap around Bryce, but recoiled.

Sir Dainsleif, Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing's aura is too overwhelming.

I had to do something, but before I could come up with anything, Bryce laughed.

"Oh yeah? No longer holding back? You sure looked like you were goin all ou-"

SLICE.

Bryce coughed out blood, as a starburst of red exploded from his chest.

Rya had pulled out a sword from thin air, slashing at Bryce with undetectable speed. Her eyes cold as ice, and focused on taking her opponent down.

No...

Bryce could NOT beat this.

Her speed...

Her speed...

Bryce aimed his uzi wildly, and fired a conical blast of energy, but Rya disappeared instantly, appearing behind him, as thousands upon thousands of white lines manifested all over his body.

Bryce exploded into blood, as he fell forward, but before he could even regenerate, Rya had appeared on the other side of the mesa, causing Bryce to explode in blood again.

I watched my Auxiliary free fall, but Rya appeared on the ground from where Bryce was descending, and manifested two enormous wings, flapping them and impaling Jones through the chest as he coughed out blood, his eyes wide.

That speed... It was so fast...

And this entire time, Buck had been feeding me information of her battle stats.

That speed was even faster than Goddess-Oni Hybrid Tokiko Marin, who was said to be the fastest Outer Shadow in the Black Legion.

I had promised Sarah to come back to her.

So we could get married.

I had no intentions to break that promise.

And I knew if I pushed myself at this state, I might permanently damage myself even more.

But even so...

Bryce was my Auxiliary.

I may have played favourites...

But Bryce...

That doesn't mean I don't care about you. You mean a lot more to me than you think!

I watched Rya slam Bryce into the ground, smashing through the mesa as she closed in.

Cosmic Celestial Magic - ANCIENT SMITE

Hundreds of magic circles surrounded Bryce, as his eyes widened.

"Bitch, you think this can beat me?!"

Bryce swung his bat, unleashing a torrent of red and black energy, but the circles remained, as Rya appeared before Bryce, face to face, her eyes wide with rage.

"I will destroy you. Because you threatened my precious Kon."

Bryce contorted with rage, the magic circles became brighter and brighter, unleashing a blinding white light.

"Why... after everything I did to get stronger... why am I losing?!"

His body began to burn up, but he was no longer regenerating.

Rya grabbed Bryce by the collar, his body charred and his breathing was now laborious.

"You regenerate through your vile, dark magic. But it cannot counter the burns of light. You can no longer heal. I will destroy you."

"Buck! It's time! INITIATE PROTOCOL 'CYBERKNIGHT'!"

As you wish, Master Aaron.

Buck widened, his earring form expanding and detaching from my earlobe, taking shape into several mechanical armor pieces.

A shoulder brace, mechanical arm and elbow armouring, and advanced cybernetic boots.

I dropped my crutches and pushed myself into the armour pieces, the Destreum equipment cladding onto my hoodie and jeans at my forearms, biceps, and feet until I looked like a cybernetic soldier straight out of a cyberpunk game.

I landed on the ground, as Buck shifted across my body, creating two overmolds around the sides of my face. A cyan targeting reticule forming around my eye, relaying battle parameters and information.

I breathed heavily.

Master Aaron. All precepts and parameters operational. All systems in effect. Note that due to the absense of a power source, the main power that fuels these implants will be through your stamina. I recommend at most, five minutes of combat. Entering ten minutes will be fatal.

I gripped my Draugr in one hand and my MP7 in the other, gritting my teeth.

"I've always been known to do the impossible, Buck. And I ain't gonna let another Auxiliary die!"

I concentrated, letting my stamina channel into my leg bracers, the cybernetic lines glowing a fierce cyan, as I blasted into the air with an enhanced cyber jump.

Rya spun around, in shock.

"Joker...?!"

I aimed my Draugr and fired a round at Rya, who dodged it by moving her head to the side. But her eyes were wide in surprise as she clenched her teeth.

"You are still not in your optimal condition. I can defea-"

"I don't need conditioning to outsmart a celestial HOUSEWIFE." I snarled, as I flicked a switch on my Draugr.

"OBSIDIAN ROUNDS - ANTI-LIGHT SIPHONING."

Rya gasped, spinning to where the bullet had landed.

Only the thing I fired was not a bullet.

It was a projectile, and it had completely deceived the Celestial, who had thought I fired with the intent to hit her. The round expanded, taking the form of a cross. Light began entering it like a violent black hole.

I never miss a target.

I just choose not to hit it.

And this choice, was for a reason.

Rya stared at her hands, the aura weakening.

"What did you do?! My power is being siphoned away!"

"You're distracted. Ain't that a treat." I grinned evilly.

TRIGRAMS - SIX HANDS COMBINATION STYLE

I aimed my MP7, unleashing a magazine of obsidian rounds at Rya, who blocked it with her wings.

"Do not interfere! I have no ill will for you. My qualms are with the Vampire-"

Rya opened her wings, her face paled, as the barrel of a Caliga was aimed right at her face.

KABOOM.

Rya flew backwards violently, as I reached behind me, chucking dozens of disks at her direction.

The disks surrounded Rya, who was still trying to process what was going on, but the disks had already expanded, unleashing a torrent of electricity at her.

Rya grimaced.

"The Vampire could not sustain my power. The power of light. A mere human certainly will not handle it. I am sorry. But if you choose to side with the enemy, then you ARE the enemy!"

Rya unleashed a vortex of energy, but I had already predicted that, closing in until we were face to face.

Rya gasped, as I leaned in close to her.

"Don't you know how tornados work? They have an eye. At the eye is where the wind is the weakest. So if I want to counter your attack, I just have to get close. I don't need to be a vampire to do that." I said, aiming my Draugr, but Rya swung her sword with lightning fast speed.

"You would get close to an enemy knowing she is far faster than you? Perhaps I have misjudged you, Joker."

"Nah." I said, from the ground, as Rya spun her head frantically, realizing the thing she had sliced was a spectre grenade. Completely harmless.

I fired my Caliga, catching the Celestial in the chin as she flew upwards violently, the vortex disappearing.

I dropped the anti-aircraft rifle, immediately quick switching to my Ironsight and bombarded her with missiles, explosions rocking her back and forth.

"Buck. Lock on to her location."

Affirmative.

My vision lit up with a targeting reticule, as I immediately switched to my Spitfire AX5.

Rya screamed, materializing in front of me.

"DO NOT MOCK ME-"

I pressed the shotgun to her chest.

"Well, if you don't want people to mock you, maybe you should be less predictable." I chuckled, as I fired, slamming her back.

Rya skidded backwards, outstretching her wings.

"Do not mock me... do not dare! I am an ancient deity, a celestial being. From the first dawn, the first dusk. I was there. I watched over humanity. You do not know your place!"

Rya flew to the air, but several binds tugged her back down violently.

"What is this?!"

"Infinite Elastics, engineering courtesy of Master Jun Gasket and Moi. You sure like to boast about your speed. Hope you like seeing it backfire on you."

Buck generated another portal as I pulled out more orbs, tossing them all around Rya. The orbs expanded until it created a large sphere around her full of mirrors.

Rya was still confused.

As long as she was confused and disoriented, even a little, it was enough to launch my combination assaults.

But right now, my stamina was making me slower. There was a reason why I never unveiled Protocol Cyberknight. Buck the Destroid had no realistic power source anymore.

Everything was running off of my body's energy.

Thankfully, I had spent most of my time under Sarah's care.

And while I was recovering, I never moved or did anything too active.

All that energy had accumulated. Ready to go.

And though I only had at most five minutes to do this, it was plenty.

This was my trump card that I had been saving in case any drastic circumstances happened...

Bryce... for your sake, even if you insult me and your friends like this... you still mean a lot to me.

Your safety counts as a drastic circumstance.

Rya looked around.

"LET ME OUT."

"No thanks. You're cute, but you're scary. I don't like scary girls."

"I AM NOT A GIRL. I HAVE LIVED FOR EONS."

"Still act like one though."

"HOW DARE YOU."

Rya screamed, her body generating light, but the mirrors were reflecting them, compounding and redirecting them all into a concentrated spot.

Rya herself.

Rya stumbled, her body steaming.

"What is this? What is it now!" She exclaimed.

"I always found it weird. Why was a Celestial proclaiming herself a Demon Queen. Wouldn't that mean part of you is now darkness? And since you like to boast about being Kon's wife, that means you now have some Primordial Demon in you... er... not in a sus way."

I scratched the back of my head, but continued.

"I figured my obsidian rounds weren't gonna finish you off. You knew that too, but wanted to hide it right?"

Rya fell to her knees, desperately trying to escape her cage, but the more she used her light powers, the more it backfired on her, redirecting back at her from the cage of mirrors.

"But I can read people. And I knew right away from your subtle facial expressions and body language, that part of you is vulnerable to that light. Why did you wield your light through vortexes? In such a convenient way such that at the center you would be unharmed? So though effective, my obsidian rounds could never match an Ancient Celestial in power. But here we have it. A way to redirect an Ancient Celestial's own power back at her face. Ain't that funny?"

"No.... NO!! PLEASE LET ME GO! Joker... I beg of you! Please don't let him harm my husband! Let him hurt me, but not my beloved... I... I will never forgive myself..."

Rya sobbed.

I had won. Defeating the Elite Tier S+ Rank Lightgiver in three minutes twenty six seconds. The CyberKnight armour released from my body. My skin generated smoke everywhere, causing me to stumble from exhaustion.

Thank god I had my crutches....?!

My crutches! Shit!

I nearly fell on my face, but someone held on to me.

Bryce breathed heavily, leaning on one leg, but keeping me upright.

I stared at him.

"Bryce..."

Bryce looked down.

"How... I'm... I'm supposed to be stronger than you now. You... your entire body is in a cast, you're still recoverin from Jekyll... but how did you beat her and I couldn't..."

I sighed.

What was I going to do about Bryce? Something was clearly off about him. Something...

Bryce looked away.

"What kinda right hand man has to let his own boss finish the fight when he's covered in bandages." He muttered.

"I'm not expecting you to protect me in every circumstance, Bryce. That's asking too much of you, or anyone I know." I reasoned, but Bryce didn't look convinced.

"Bet if it was Sig you wouldn't have had to step in. Fuckin... Fuckin useless ass..." Bryce looked at his hands, which were still charred and burned from fighting Rya.

"Useless head ass... after everythin I had been through too-"

"Annelise wouldn't have been able to protect me against Rya. She would have tried to fight or at the very least, defend against an Elite S+ Rank as an A Rank Auxiliary Shadow. I'd be cleaning her parts off the floor and delivering them back to Master Jun for repairs while all the while she would be asking if I was okay."

Bryce clenched his teeth, walking away.

"That woulda been Sig before she started gettin upgrades tho. I'm different. I got no excuse, bro. I've done everything I can to get stronger and I'm still-"

"And? Don't you remember what happened to Annie when she fought against Shiki of all people? She got completely bodied by the Devil Monk. At the end of the day I had to fight him myself, then Bishamonten."

Bryce stopped in his tracks, as I held out my fist to his face. Bryce stared at my hand.

"You wanna be my right hand man so bad? Then you gotta start from the bottom up. You ain't ever gonna get stronger unless you learn from your mistakes, Bryce. That's how we all started out. That's how I started out. And if you really reached the point of being able to defeat an Elite Tier S+ Rank just from one encounter, then I'm seriously questioning the balance of this game. A B Rank Auxiliary Shadow fighting on the level of a Elite Tier S+ Rank in less than a month? That's broken as hell!"

Bryce pursed his lips.

"You're tryna butter me up."

"I'm just being honest. Let's work harder from here. Alri-"

Wait.

Why did Bryce move away from me?

"I... I can't..."

"Bryce? You good, man? If you aren't feeling well let's get you back to the Infirmary at Hakah's place. We can-"

"N- No... I..." Bryce clasped his chest, as I stared in horror at my Auxiliary Shadow.

From the mass of mirrors, Rya stumbled forward, her eyes full of horror.

"What... that aura... where did he get that aura from?"

"What do you mean? That's just Bryce's vampiric-"

"No! Stay away from him, Joker. That isn't your Auxiliary Shadow anymore!"

I turned back to Bryce, who's grip on the left side of his chest grew tighter.

"Ack... gah... I..."

Bryce's fangs elongated, but where his usual red energy had normally pulsated, was now replaced by a misty black.

The same black from those cultists.

"Aaron... I'm..." Bryce gasped.

I stepped forward, but Rya materialized in front of me.

"Joker, be honest with me. Did you or did you not encounter him."

"Him?"

Rya's expression hardened.

"The Supreme Primordial... the one who replaced Kon as Loyce's right hand man."

Supreme Primordial...

Aran.

"Bryce... he absorbed their blood. The cultist's blood and essence. But I didn't think-"

Rya's eyes went wide, as she turned to my Auxiliary, who's aura began pulsing violently.

No...

Bryce...?

"Sh- Shit... did I say... say all these things... man... Bossman, wish I could ask for you to forgive me... but..."

"BRYCE! HANG IN THERE!" I shouted, rushing forward, but Rya held out her hand.

"TO ME. TO ARMS." She shouted, as the heavens parted, revealing thousands of soldiers emerging from the clouds.

"YOUR HIGHNESS. THE BLADE OF KON. WE SHALL BEAR ARMS TO YOUR NAME." A chant echoed from the sky.

Hundreds of crosses appeared around Bryce, but the crosses dissipated instantly the moment they came within his proximity.

Soldiers stormed past us, trying to contain my Auxiliary, but were being disintegrated left and right.

Rya gritted her teeth.

"His aura has reached anti-narrative levels of lethality. Fall back!" She said, as several beings in heavy armour knelt before her.

"Your highness. The threat exhibits power similar to the Anafabula. We must contain the threat somehow."

Rya turned to me, panic in her eyes.

"Why did you bring the Anafabula here? Why did you endanger my husband like this?!"

"I... I didn't..."

"I did not attack you that day, because you showed no ill will to my husband. But now you have put him in danger. First with that Vampire God. And now with The Anafabula. That Primordial... how dare you!"

Bryce...

I spun back to my Auxiliary, my mind flashing to June.

"BRYCE. CONTAIN IT! CONTAIN THAT POWER!" I shouted, but Bryce looked at me with an expression full of defeat.

"Aaron... I didn't mean to say those things..." He said, weakly.

"I KNOW! WE CAN ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT LATER! JUST FOCUS! FOCUS!" I begged.

No...

Bryce...

This wasn't happening.

This seriously wasn't happening.

Not again.

Bryce yelled to the sky, generating an explosive aura which disintegrated reality around him in a devastating cylinder of destruction.

I rushed forward, but someone grabbed my arm. I spun around, to realize Vicki had appeared, her body still steaming from using her Obsidian Ordnance and Shadows. She had just teleported here, and she was looking grimly at Bryce.

"Aran has gotten him. I'm... I'm sorry, Dainsleif."

"NO! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT. LET ME GO, VICKI." I roared, shoving her arm away as I ran forward, desperately trying to save my Auxiliary Shadow, but the storm was blowing me back.

And from the corner of my eye, I could see superheroes and military choppers in the distance, making their way to our location.

Rya glared at me.

"I will protect my husband from all dangers. And now I know you are one too. He shall stay in this world no longer. I am taking him back to Konia. By force if necessary."

Vicki stared at Rya then at me.

"What did you do?" She said.

But I couldn't answer, my focus completely on Bryce, who was being engulfed by a power that was too much for him to handle.

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

Bryce closed his eyes, yelling in agony.

"AARON! I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY! DON'T BLAME YOURSELF, PLEASE. I'M BEGGING YOU!" Bryce roared.

I ripped the bandages off my body, summoning everything I had.

"Dainsleif! Your body and my blessing can't-" Vicki exclaimed.

COAT OF ARMS: EMBODIMENT OF WRATH - YAKSHA MODE

Chakra flooded my body, ripping apart my muscle fibres as I began to glow silver, my hair growing out and becoming wild, my ears elongating and horns sprouting from my forehead until I gained the appearance of a devilish Oni.

I stepped into the storm. Immediately I felt myself slipping away.

This was the power of an anti-narrative, but I enforced the overwhelming surge of Chakra that was now channeling in my body.

I am Aaron Hope.

I am wrath.

The destroyer of gods.

I will protect the people I love and care about.

I reached out, my teeth clenched. I can't lose myself.

I refuse.

I lost Will and Nora. Then I lost Jessie. Then I lost June. Then I lost Sakura.

I made my way to the center of the overwhelming storm, my feet sliding back as I stood face to face with Bryce.

"BRYCE!" I screamed.

Bryce opened his eyes, gasping as he looked at me.

"B- Bossman..." He muttered.

"You're fine! Listen to me! You're my best Auxiliary Shadow! You got it?! The strongest. The absolute best! My right hand man! What kind of right hand man can't handle something like this? Right? So let's do it. Show me what you got! Control that power, dude! You got it!"

Bryce smiled.

"The best... huh..."

"Y- Yeah! Yeah! The GOAT. You are! Let's wrap this up... yeah? Let's wrap it up and go home. And I'll head to Philly, we'll have cheesesteaks all day. We can play 2K too if you want. I'll... I'll..."

"Brother... I hate seein you cry."

"Stop sounding like you're about to give up! You dumbass Auxiliary Shadow! Who said they were the Hero of Philadelphia?! The Scarlet Uzi! Are you not gonna honour your dad's wishes? Your mom's?"

Bryce's body momentarily flickered out of existence, as he gave me a confused look.

"What's... What's Philadelphia...?"

My eyes went wide, as I grabbed Bryce by the shoulders. I could feel my arms beginning to fade out of existence.

"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" I screamed at my Auxiliary.

I could face any threat I wanted.

Any threat... and I could beat them as long as I had a plan or a way to think things out.

But what could I do against someone who could literally warp and change the rules of reality?!

I needed... I needed help. Someone... anyone...

Anyone who could... who could help me at this level...

There had to be someone.

Someone, anyone.

I don't wanna lose another Auxiliary Shadow.

My eyes went wide. That was it!

"HAKAH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"HELP ME, INNER SHADOW HAKAH MAH! I BEG YOU!"

BOOM.

Thunder boomed, as the entire planet lit up purple.

WHO DARES THREATEN MY FRIENDS. AND INTERRUPTS MY BONDING TIME WITH MY BROTHER! A voice ripped through the skies and heavens from above. As I glanced up.

A girl descended from the skies, black robes fluttering, as the very heavens opened up, storm clouds and purple lightning emanating all around.

Hakah glanced at me, then at Bryce, who was fading from existence, energy ripping through his eye sockets and mouth.

"What is happening here? What did you do?"

"Hakah..." My voice flooded with relief.

"There's no time! Help me save Bryce! Please!"

Hakah raised an eyebrow, as she lifted a finger. Storm clouds formed over the torrent of anti-narrative, as the storm was overriden by the storms of Susanoo.

"Anti-narrative... Loyce, you would go to such extremes? Are you that stupid?"

The storm immediately subsided, as Bryce crumpled to the ground before me.

I rushed forward and cradled his head in my chest, trembling in relief.

Hakah descended before me, her eyes empty, as she glanced at us from above.

"Are you okay, Aaron?" She asked.

I slammed my forehead against the ground, so hard that it began bleeding.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Hakah... I... I... I'll pay you back. I promi-"

Hakah knelt in front of me, putting a finger to my chin and raising my head.

"Soh gwah. Who said you owed me anything?"

"You... you saved Bryce... you..."

I glanced at Hakah's side, which she was clutching. Now that I focused, her face was pale, and beads of sweat were running down her face.

"Hakah... you-"

Hakah laughed gently, getting to her feet and turning around.

From the distance, a man approached us.

He looked below average height, and his long hair was tied back in a ponytail.

Covering one side of his face, as something glowed from within his bangs. A golden light.

On his back was a large katana like sword, strapped over a black leather jacket with a white fur collar.

Vicki gasped, her face turned red.

"It's you..."

The man approached me until we were face to face.

But...

Something about him was emitting tremendous pressure. It shouldn't have been possible, but my body was treating him like a predator.

On high alert.

Hakah looked at the man.

"Ah. You caught me! In my defense, I was doing it to help out my friends."

"If you keep this up, you'll end up like your Outer Shadows, Hakah." The man said, as he held out his hand.

It was decorated with dark crimson tattoos. Symbols of the Hinokami.

"I am Yeling Mah. I heard a lot about you from my sis. Nice to meet you."

The OTHER Mahyako Descendent

"Go back to your barracks." Yeling told his sister, who wanted to protest, but Yeling shot her a glare.

To our surprise, Hakah recoiled.

I never saw Hakah act so submissive before. A sadistic part of me wanted to weaponize it.

But before I got any funny ideas, the blade that was strapped on Yeling's back hovered to my face.

"Wha-" Vicki gasped, as Hakah's eyes went wide.

"Goh goh! What are you doing?!" She yelped.

Yeling glared at me, his eye glowing cyan blue.

"I have a lot to say to you. From what you did to Marcela. To what you got my little sister involved in. You ran away after our first fight. Maybe I should continue it."

I returned his glare, my hand hovering over my Draugr. Vicki wanted to say something, but it looked like she was uncertain.

"Lemme set the record straight, Yeling. That last fight between you and I was a fluke. I fought and killed Nyx using a Black Bullet. I was drained and you weren't able to bring me down. Even when I am like this, I can still beat you."

Yeling's eye flashed murderously.

"I'm not like what I was before. A kid like you doesn't understand the world. The gravity of your actions have befallen on everyone around you."

I shoved Yeling's sword away, stepping closer until we were face to face.

"Kid? Understanding the world? Who the fuck do you think I am? I've seen plenty. I've lost enough people to know the gravity of my actions."

"And? What are you doing in response to that? Getting my little sister involved in more of your bullshit? You're smart. You know my sister is taxing her body heavily by using Level 1 Susanoo. You'd throw her into your mess? And don't even get me started with all you Black Legion bastards."

Yeling turned to all of us.

"Invading us like that. Putting Shia and Inoko, Shen, all of my friends comatose. Forcing Marcela into doing another taboo. Yet another family of mine torn apart. Breaking my little sister into tiny pieces and rebuilding her into this... this monster. I will never fucking forgive any of you."

Hakah yanked at Yeling's arm.

"Yeling! What's gotten into you? You... you were so happy when you were with me! Why are you acting so hostile? You were kind to Vicki too, surely!"

Yeling shoved Hakah's arm away.

"I am kind to the people who deserve it. But to this... Black Legion Organization? What's there to be kind to? A group of fuckin killers who got my family hurt? You think I'll be buddy buddy with these people?"

Vicki looked away, a tear ran down her face, but she tried to hide it.

My blood boiled.

"Hey. Asshole. Kindness is a two way street. Hakah has been helping us. Some of these circumstances are beyond our control. What happened to Hakah wasn't because of us. If anything, I extended a helping hand to her. The only reason why she isn't trying to kill your ass anymore is because I helped her."

Yeling gritted his teeth, his blade still hovering over my face, when suddenly, a voice called out in a distance.

"HEY! HANDS IN THE AIR! THIS IS UNITY AND NATO."

We turned to the source of the voices, to see legions of superheroes and military aircraft approaching us at high velocity.

"Shit! They're here. Vicki, do you have something to say?" I asked.

Vicki blinked, looking at Yeling.

"I... um..."

She was so flustered by Yeling that she couldn't even form a coherent sentence.

What the hell did she see in this guy?

"Hey. I'm talking to you." Yeling said, but I grabbed his sword, blood pooling from my palm, to his surprise, as I ripped the blade out of his hands and threw it to the side, stepping close until our faces were an inch apart.

"Watch. Your. Next. Words. I don't care if you're Hakah's big brother. I will fucking beat you into fish paste if you keep pissing me off like this. Do you understand? You may be a little stronger than you were last time, but I have gotten stronger too."

Yeling's eye glowed fiercer cyan, as the heroes continued pestering us.

"I'd rather it be like this. I'll kill you and everybody in the Black Legion. Once I'm finished, I'll kill Vala. No one will harm the people who love me ever again."

"HANDS IN THE AIR! DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?" A superhero called out.

"We don't mean you any harm!" I called back, but before I could finish talking, Yeling lifted his hand, pointing it at the legion.

Level 1 Hinokami

The tattoos on his body glowed crimson.

"What are you-"

The bangs on his face parted, revealing his scorched flesh and cybernetic eye.

He was going to kill them all without a second thought!

The face of the guy who killed his own family...

This was the face of someone who was truly broken... I had thought he had healed a bit mentally from being with those rag tag team of hooligans, based on what I had learned about the guy.

What exactly happened to him when he was with Hakah? With Vicki?

I knew Vicki and Riordan had ambushed Yeling and his friends...

"This world is full of people who turn a blind eye to people who suffer." Yeling hissed, his voice animalistic and dripping with murderous intent.

"The Dogma chose me to bring balance back. While the rest of the Level 1 Akuma Grade Dogma holders gather, I would begin wiping the world off those who aren't worthy."

"You don't know what these people have been through. How can you make such an assumption?" I asked.

Yeling's expression was cold, contrasting with the immense heat that was being emitted from his palm.

"I represent what the Akuma represents. This is why I will be at the top. To be strong means to suffer. To gain power means to give something away. The Black Legion aims to also resurrect the Akuma, but their top Outer Shadow can't even understand the Organization's ideals? You claim to be greater than the Contingency Initiative, but at least CI had their ideals well laid out. To me, you're just a ragtag bunch of idiots who are doing random ass jobs, killing whoever you want, not even understanding why you're even here. That's what makes me different from all of you. I am upholding my duty to bring this multiverse into a better direction. By killing all these trash."

My hand touched the handle of my handgun, but a flame raced across Yeling's arm.

"Reflexes of a Fire God, or the reflexes of a human. What do you think is faster, Aaron?" Yeling's voice emanated darkness.

SMACK.

Yeling dropped his sword, the flames dissipating, as Hakah had walloped her older brother in the head.

"That's enough! When were you like this, Yeling? Since when? When was my big brother such a cold hearted killer?"

Yeling turned to Hakah.

"I'm the killer? What the hell have you people been doing then? I'm-"

"Stop! Just stop!" Hakah grabbed Yeling by the ear, yanking it.

"I chose to help Aaron because he is my friend! What's happening to my body is because I chose to do so. I'm happy with doing what I'm doing. I don't care what you think. But right now you're being creepy! So stop!"

Hakah let go, as Yeling clutched the side of his face.

"Hakah... I..."

Hakah wiped her eyes.

"Yeling... I'm... I'm so happy to see you. After so many years. I thought my Goh Goh was the greatest person ever. Even when I've been healed from my trauma... that hasn't changed. You mean so much to me. And it's because of that do I not want to see you walk down this dark path. Our objective isn't to resurrect the Akuma, it's to defeat Vala. I... I know what you've been through. Because your Mama and Baba who died that night were also my Mama and Baba."

Hakah buried her head in Yeling's shoulder, causing his flames to dissipate completely, and his tattoos to return to normal.

"You need to see the good in people. You may have had friends, but you're still broken, just like I was. And Marcela... it was my fault."

"No! It isn't! It's because you got brainwashed and-"

"IT IS. It is... all of the pain you're going through, it's partly my fault. And I'm so sorry. So so sorry. Goh goh. But right now... you need to see these people as your allies. Aaron Hope is not an enemy. Do you understand? And Aaron, Yeling isn't your enemy. He's the one we need to protect from Vala!"

Some of my anger left my body.

"Wh- whatever. I'm getting out of here. I have to take Bryce to the infirmary."

Hakah glanced at Bryce.

"He is suffering from the aftereffects of anti-narrative... I can nurse him back to health with Shakujin."

"How long is it going to take?" I asked.

Hakah looked uncertain.

"I'm not sure. But... I can take him to my Barracks. He will be safe there."

"Thanks. Thanks so much Hakah. Also, I... I'm sorry I got you to use Susanoo again."

Hakah smiled.

"And I will do it again. As much as you need me to."

Please don't.

Yeling sighed.

"I will come with you-"

"Nope."

"Heh?"

Hakah pushed Yeling as he stumbled, crashing into me.

"HEY! WATCH IT YOU IDIOT!" I snapped.

"HUH?! You're the moron who stood there as I stumbled! I thought you had incredible reflexes for being a gunman!"

"Are you pickin a fight?!" I shouted, as the two of us faced each other off, growling like rabid dogs.

"Quit it!" Hakah said, as Shadows surrounded her and Bryce.

"Goh goh. I am doing this for your own good. You and Aaron will be friends. Kay?"

Yeling's eye twitched.

"WHAT?! I never asked for this!" He growled.

"Me neither! Hey! Hakah! Don't go stealing my Auxiliary and leaving me with this angry replacement! HEY!!!!"

Hakah disappeared with Bryce, as Vicki, Yeling, and I stood there, awkwardly.

Rya was at a distance, her armies retreating, but she was glaring daggers at me.

"For as long as you stand in this world, my husband will never be safe. I will take him with me. I will do it by force if necessary."

I turned away.

This was bad.

We just lost a potential connection to Kon... and I knew Vicki was not gonna like this.

"Dainsleif. What did you do?" Vicki asked.

"I... Bryce... Bryce ended up being consumed by Ar-"

I turned to Yeling.

Shit! Was Yeling immune to reality warping?

Yeling scowled.

"I am an Akuma Grade Dogma Holder. I'm resistant to Apokolereos. And Alogigenesis, mind you."

Damn showoff!

We could compare sizes any day.

I was taller than this guy by over a head.

And I bet in other places too!

"This is bad. Very bad. I... I just hope Rya does not get through to Constantine any time soon. Not until we have explained the situation to Kon. We still need-"

"Hey. Vicki." Yeling interrupted her.

My eyebrows raised.

Vicki was never interrupted before. We were all afraid of her. I half expected Vicki to judo throw the guy, but to my surprise, Vicki stopped, turning away and blushing.

Oh. My. God.

She was into that kind of relationship?!

No wonder!

Only this foul tongued sociopath would talk to Vicki like this!

"Y- Yes... Yeling..." Vicki fumbled with her words, her legs buckling shyly.

This guy!

"Matt... Matt's regained consciousness. He wants to see you."

Vicki blinked.

"Vistara wants to see me of all people?"

Yeling nodded.

"Yeah. I already spoke to him. But... you know. He's never forgotten everything you've done for him. When I told him you were here, he was overjoyed. You should pay him a visit. Leave Valerian to us."

Vicki looked down.

"All I did was give him harsh treatment as his teacher. I'm..."

Yeling touched her hand, causing Vicki to make a girly sound that I never would have believed if anyone told me.

"If that was all you were to him, he wouldn't have been so overjoyed. And the Matt I knew, the one you created, never ever showed joy to that level."

Vicki turned to us.

"I... Alright. Very well. Yeling, take over this operation. Do not let Dainsleif get ahead of himself and ruin it. I will return shortly for an update. Please keep me informed."

"AYO WHAT?!" I squeaked, raising my hand.

"Why am I the one who you think is gonna ruin it?! I'm the most tactical one here! I'm the strongest and wisest and-"

"The youngest, from what I hear." Yeling said.

"HUH?! SAY THAT AGAIN YOU LIL SHIT!" I sneered.

"You're the youngest. Vicki is twenty eight. You're nineteen. If anything, you act like you're still in high school based on your freakouts and reputation."

"Oh yeah? And how old are you supposed to be? Probably twenty. Thinking you're hot shit being a year older tha-"

"I'm twenty six."

"GAH!!!"

Yeling smirked, as Vicki dissipated into the Shadows, her face uncertain.

"I will keep a leash on you. You do as I say. Talk only when I tell you to talk. Understand?"

"You lil shit. I'll talk whenever I want to! You can't tell me what to do. I've interrogated people before!"

"Oh yeah? Then let's run a wager then. You talk for five minutes and if we don't get chased by the Trey Kings then maybe I will consider you more than some six foot steroid abusing high schooler." Yeling said.

I brought my face close to his again, a vein popping on my forehead.

"Deal. Prepare to be mesmerized by how the SS Ranked Dainsleif of the Black Legion does things."

* * *

"Why the hell is this happening to meeeeeeeee?!?!" I wailed, chased after an entire army of Trey Kings across Vibora Bay.

"GET HIM!"

"KILL HIM FOR WHAT HE DID TO OUR BOSS!"

Yeling flew next to me, his arms and legs trailing red flames.

"What did I tell you-"

"SHUT UP!!! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" I snapped.

I revved my Warpath engines, as gang members chased me left and right.

"Why do you hesitate in killing them? They're nobodies. Lowlives."

"If I kill them, it'll cause another international incident! My reputation with Defender is as low as it can possibly get! Now I'm known as the Valerian Cleavage Sniffer! Fuck me!!!"

(Three Hours Ago)

The Shadows had transported Yeling and I as we appeared from the inside of the ventilation unit in Club Caprice.

"Interesting." Yeling remarked.

"What?"

"Vicki's Shadows aren't as... traumatized as yours."

"Traumatized?"

"I don't know how to explain it. But I can sort of feel what they feel. Hakah's Shadows have a sort of kinship with Hakah, maybe because they were all she had at the time. Vicki's Shadows are a lot more obedient and disciplined, like soldiers. But yours... it feels like every time they are summoned they're scared of what kind of weird shit you're gonna put them through."

"Talk any more and I'm transporting you into the bottom of the Pacific Ocean."

We watched guests left and right.

But just as I expected... they were lifeless husks, going through the rhythms.

This place felt like a wasteland.

"According to the Outer Shadows, Aran stepped into this reality for no longer than a second. And to think that this would be the magnitude of his brief presence. It's terrifying." Yeling said.

For once I agreed.

How were we going to defeat someone who could literally shatter the fabric of reality just by standing there?

We heard voices, as several girls walked past.

"Have you heard of the new girl?" One of the girls said.

"New girl? You mean the blondie?"

"Yeah. Apparently she's one of the new manager's girls, rumour said that she's so good at pleasing men that they gave her literal gold bricks as payment."

"Seriously? There's no way she's that hot is she? What's her name."

"No idea. But I got a glimpse of her sitting on the manager's lap. What a slut."

"Ugh."

I glanced at Yeling, and his face looked as sinister as ever.

"I hate women like that." He said.

"What do you mean?"

Yeling's one functional eye flickered with a red flame.

"The ones who switch up. The ones who aren't loyal to one man, and the ones who complain about being objectified when their actions speak otherwise. I hate them."

"They're strippers though. It's their job. I'm sure if it wasn't because of that they would be-"

"I'm just saying... whatever. You wouldn't understand. Considering your love life has been smooth sailing."

I was going to say something, but Yeling's body language gave me second thoughts.

He was older than me by almost seven years...

Given his history and his reputation as The Tidalflame, I could only imagine how shitty his dating life must have been... if even had one at all.

But that didn't make me want to mess with him a lil.

Heheheheheh.

"What do you think about that gold bar girl?" I asked.

Yeling irked.

"She disgusts me."

I smiled.

"Cool. Just keep that in mind."

I waited for the coast to be clear, before grabbing the grate and carefully taking it out, then reaching out with my legs and slowly dropping to the ground.

Aspectum - Radial Radar

My vision lit up. No spies nothing.

"Coast is clear. Come down, Yeling."

Yeling glanced at the ground, hesitating.

"Come on, dude. Just hop down."

Yeling slowly moved out of the section, awkwardly, before emitting a small blast of flame to cushion his hilariously terrible fall.

"Bro. You're gonna alert everyone here!"

Yeling scowled.

"I don't do stealth."

"Yeah. I can tell."

Yeling glared at me.

"Maybe I should just burn everything here, including you. Then tell Vicki something went wrong and Valerian died."

"Remember now. My name is Aaron Pope. The Cosmic Pimp. And you're... um... Buddy... Sanders..."

Yeling raised an eyebrow.

"Buddy Sanders."

"Just roll with it. You're my assistant. An... intern. You're studying the way of the pimp."

"For someone who supposedly has 210 IQ you sure come up with the most questionable cover stories."

"Shut up! Listen. The story right now, is Vicki is currently under the weather. Um... was... serving dudes out in the open and caught a cold. Yeah. Let's go with that."

Yeling shrugged.

"Whatever you say, Outer Shadow Dainsleif."

Was that sarcasm?!

Yeling reached into his pocket, and pulled out a phone, swiping up and tapping something.

Was he recording me?!?!

We tailed one of the women who was chatting up some guys. Her robes were white, with red accents, but I recognized her right away under her disguise.

Valerian Scarlet.

"I've noticed you had your eye on me this entire time. Has your girl not been satisfactory?" Valerian asked me.

"I have an eye for talent is all." I replied.

"Hmm." Valerian turned around, regarding us.

"Aaron Pope. You sure have a keen eye, if I'm one of your prospects." Valerian smiled.

"How about I come visit you, so we discuss some more." I said, trying to keep a straight face. She actually called me Aaron Pope. If she called me the Cosmic Pimp I swear I'll break down.

Valerian frowned, glancing at Yeling.

"Who is that? Your personal janitor?"

Yeling's eye widened in rage.

It took everything I had to try not to laugh.

Valerian Scarlet. Real name: Valerie Hartwig.

A descendent of the Hartwig family.

A young mage who struck a deal with the devil, Kerathios for power.

In exchange, she lived a life bringing souls to the devil. She would carry this out by luring men at Club Caprice to their doom.

It was the perfect cover story, given her charm and looks.

And as Valerie led Yeling, me, and several other men to her limousine, I could tell just from her body language...

She was dripping with murderous intent.

"Hell yeah! We get to spend the night with the Beauty of Club Caprice!" One of the guys said, pouring liquor to his buddies, were in high spirits, completely oblivious to the fact that they had fallen right into Valerian's trap.

I glanced at the guys who were sitting at the outer edges of the limo.

The folds of their clothes suggested they were concealing numerous firearms.

I was too focused on the mission to even realize Yeling had been inspecting me the entire time.

"So you like to use your head a lot, huh." Yeling observed.

"What?"

Yeling tapped his temple.

"You analyze your surroundings. You learn as much as you can, in case something happens you can come up with a solution right away."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Huh. So you're not all brawn after all, eh?"

"Hard work is all I have." Yeling said.

"A Fire God literally lives inside those tattoos of yours."

"A Fire God that took my family away and burnt my little sister to a crisp, forcing her into a life she never asked for. Everything I have done has been an exchange. The greater the power the greater the sacrifice. Yet before the Dogma approached me, I always fell behind everyone else. Do you know how that feels?"

I watched the city start to transition to Vibora Bay, as we entered the bridge. The sounds of the men partying and laughing becoming distant, despite them sitting literally across from us.

I could hear the gang members, who were pretending to be Valerian's bodyguards, casually discussing about random stuff, under the impression that this was business as usual, bring in idiots who thought they could have a shot at spending a night with Valerie to their imminent demise.

YOU need to see the good in people. You may have had friends, but you're still broken, just like I was. And Marcela... it was my fault.

I glanced at Yeling again, his eyes listlessly following the street lights that were making patterns across the inside of the limousine.

His bangs had momentarily shuffled to the side, revealing his ruined right half.

"Level 2 Intangibility." Yeling said, catching me glancing at his face.

"Uh. Sorry. I didn't mean to stare." I stuttered.

Yeling brought a hand to his face, stroking the scorched skin.

"Level 1 Hinokami took my family. Then Level 2 Intangibility took half of my face. The reason why the Dogma believed half of my face would be sufficient for something like the ability to be untouchable... was that I believed I didn't have the appearance to be loved by a woman. I always did my best to take care of my face and my personal hygiene, as well as doing everything I could to improve my attitude and personality, in hopes it would attract someone. Anyone. But it never worked out. No one gave me the time of day."

Yeling's bright, cyan eye glowed in the darkness, but it was shrouded by his shades.

"When I joined the Contingency Initiative, I was told that my path as The Tidalflame would be one filled with bloodshed. The Dogma told me I would never have been loved by anyone even if I didn't join Squad Four because my traumatic past would be too much for anyone to really accept in a partner. I was stubborn... and asked for a different exchange for my Level 2, but in the end, I was tricked by the Dogma into allowing half of my face to be taken away. When Level 2 became implanted into my body, the right side of my head caught on fire, and I lost my hair. When I looked in the mirror, and realized that... that thing was me, I wanted to kill myself. All chances of me finding love were completely gone if this was what I had become."

Yeling removed his hand, the bangs momentarily revealing his entire face. Half of it was normal. But the other half was corroded, deformed and wrinkly. Running down his right cybernetic eye was a nasty scar, even larger than mine.

"'You will be loyal to me. Yeling Mah. For in exchange of the gift of invincibility, I shall take from you. Half of your face. No man shall see you for who you are, and no woman will ever wish to kiss upon your ruined flesh. That will be your fate.' Those were the Dogma's words. I still remember them, verbatim. Heh."

Yeling smiled at me.

"It's funny how some people can become so strong in this world, without going through what I and probably many others did. This is the so called "Hope" Vala has brought back when she killed the Akuma. This. Right here."

Yeling pointed at his face.

"And to imagine the gall of these... human TRASH. To try and defend Vala? To try and defend her and bring her back over the Akuma? For a time, I thought my reasons to join CI were invalid, after I met with Shia Inoko and Shen. But... even in the end, there is nothing for me now. They will go about their own separate lives. I wasn't meant to be with them, and when I was attacked by those two Outer Shadows that day, and I watched these people fall because they couldn't keep up with me at Stage Four, it was clear as day. I couldn't stay with these people anymore. I had no place even amongst my own friends."

So Hakah...

This must have been why you brought him to me.

Because you believed me as someone who could change people, just as I had changed you...

I could change Yeling, and make him see hope, see light in the end of the tunnel, huh.

"Yeling, I-"

"AYO! We're here! Yes!" The guys piled out, as the guards kicked us out of the limo. We were escorted into a fancy looking castle like house.

"I hope you all enjoy your stay." Valerie smiled.

"Come on, honey! Show us what's under that hood of yours."

Valerie approached one of the guys, purring down his neck.

"Tonight, when it's your turn. I'll let you see everything."

Steam seemed to exit out the pervert's nostrils like a Thomas the Tank Engine if his life had went downhill and "off-the-rails".

I hopped off the car, but nearly stumbled.

"Ack! Gah..." I breathed heavily.

"B- Buck... My braces..."

Master Aaron. I highly recommend you avoid Protocol Cyberknight. You do not have the stamina to fuel the power requirements for operation.

"Th- That's fine... I just need something to brace me up in case a fight breaks out. My body is still injured."

Very well. Initiating Protocol Cyberknight at 10% operation parameters.

Several forearm-elbow bracers appeared before me, as I slipped them over my arms and concealed them under my blue hoodie. The foot bracers cladded my boots, slightly going up my black jeans.

"If you're having a hard time moving around, I can handle the fighting." Yeling said.

"I can handle it-"

"Wouldn't want you injuring yourself any more, especially when you're recovering. You'd make your friends worry."

I stared at Yeling, who gave me a nonchalant expression.

"You-"

"Contrary to what you think about me, I still have a heart under there." Yeling grumbled, putting his hands in his ripped baggy black denim pockets.

"And I wasn't lying when I said I got stronger, by the way. Hakah taught me to channel my powers, and my Anarchy Form. And I honed in my technique with Tatsu."

I blinked.

"You mean Aelienne's Tatsu? Wasn't that sword cursed to be unwieldable by anyone who wasn't her?"

Yeling smirked, tapping his backpack, which was the magical disguise he had used to conceal the katana hybrid longsword.

"Well. My flames are partly hers, you know."

We were told to wait in a room, as someone would call in each person one by one.

"Oh man! I can't wait!" One guy said.

"My life has been nothing till now. Now I get to tap that Valerian Scarlet! I'm the luckiest man alive!"

This was pretty sad to listen to. But...

We had a mission to do.

One of the guys laughed a perverted laugh,

"Once I smash Valerian, I'm gonna have so much confidence that I'll smash every girl I see. Whether they want to or not-"

"Human trash." Yeling muttered.

The guy spun to Yeling's direction, as did I, my eyebrows raised.

"HUH? The hell did you just say you lil Chinese punk?" The man approached Yeling, glowering down at him from above.

But Yeling didn't look at all fazed.

"If having a night with a paid prostitute is the source of your self worth, then that confidence you gain walking out that door will be fleeting." Yeling said, coldly.

"You tryna pick a fight? Who else gets to brag that they get to smash someone as fine as Valerian?!"

"No one."

"Exactly! Then what-"

"Because it isn't an accomplishment. Pay hundred bucks for a night with a prostitute. Is that really an achievement? Everything she says to you is because she was paid to do it. If you think anything that comes out of a hooker's mouth is genuine, then you might as well burn to death right here and right now." Yeling glared at the man, as his buddies came to his side, crowding around Yeling.

"Hey. You better watch your mouth, kid. Before we zip it for you."

"Who the hell do you think you are? There's no cops around here. Imagine what kind of shit we can do to you and get away with. You're probably in the same boat if you came here to her house. Hell, I got a wife back at home but she doesn't do it for me. She isn't anything like Valerian."

Yeling grabbed the man by the neck, lifting him in the air, his one eye began glowing, and the shades beginning to melt off his face.

"I oughta just kill you right now. While those guards are away. The new world has no place for failures in life. Let me guess. You spent your younger years having the time of your life, neglecting education, people who love you, and hard work. Now your life has gone downhill in a dull, boring, hastily arranged marriage, you're looking for the easy way out. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, if someone like you is gullible enough to fall for a prostitute mid service."

My eyes went wide.

"Yeling, you idiot! Stop! You're gonna-"

Yeling's eyes flashed murderously.

"I will burn this world to the ground. Along with people like you. You want an easy way out so bad? I can give one to you for free."

I grabbed Yeling by the collar and yanked him back.

"AAAH! Sorry about that! He's just an intern after all! Hahaha! You know, kids these days right?"

The guys calmed down, but Yeling looked like he was seconds from bursting into flames.

"Kids?! I'm older than you by seven years you dork!"

"Shut up! I don't need to hear it from a five foot seven Stage Four Arsonist!"

The men came in, and pointed at me.

"He goes first."

Two guys approached me by the sides.

"Can I bring Buddy?" I asked.

"Ummm... what?" The guard said.

"You know. So he could... ermm... watch?"

Yeling made a disgusted face, as did the guards.

"Uh... I guess... you do you..."

Thank god none of my Auxiliaries were here to see me like this! I would definitely be a laughing stock for a whole month in the Black Legion!

The doors opened, revealing Valerian in her room. She was still wearing those white robes. The whole place looked expensive, with silk and curtains everywhere.

"What a beautiful night." She said.

I gulped.

It was now or never.

"Yes." My voice squeaked, as I put a hand to my mouth.

Yeling raised an eyebrow, clearly trying not to laugh.

Valerian ignored my voice cracking, as she turned around, slowly taking off her hood, revealing auburn brown hair tied back in several braids.

She was stunning.

"Why are you frozen? Did you not want to speak to me about prospects? Or has my appearance allured you. Pope. Or perhaps that is not your name."

How did she...

"Surprised? Of course I would recognize you. The Hangman. The 'Lecher of Millennium City'. Your reputation is notorious."

Where did the second one come from?!

Scarlet tilted her head, laughing evilly, as her eyes glowed a devilish yellow, as she twirled a set of keys around her finger.

On it was a fob that said:

"UNITY: VALERIAN SCARLET"

"I was a hero once too, you know. But it was oh so boring. When everybody around me is so weak. That includes you, by the way, and your freak of an accomplice."

Yeling looked like he was about to turn Valerie into ashes, but he restrained himself.

"Uh. So. Um..." I stuttered.

Scarlet looked at me inquisitively.

"You still have questions? Most of the men who enter my chambers fear for their lives. You know."

"Well. I mean... I kinda already know you're evil."

"Great! Then let's get this over with. I don't have all the time in the world. Trey Kings!"

The doors burst open, revealing numerous cultists wielding pitchforks, scythes, and knives.

"Wait!" I said, holding up my hands to the horde, including Yeling.

"Before you suck our souls. Let's have a proposition. Look, we got stuff in common, you know."

Scarlet scoffed, turning around and putting the key back on her nightstand, as her body shimmered with light, transforming into her classic dark garments, angelic golden shoulder guards, and golden tiger stripes decorating her thighs.

Cursed nephilim energy dribbled from her sleeves, as a red scarf covered her face.

"Such as?"

"Well! Err... I mean, we both got fired from UNITY."

The Trey Kings began making grumbling sounds, some even hissing.

Huh?

Did I say something wrong?

Valerian glared at me.

"I did not get fired. I left. You got fired, somehow. Imagine being fired from this clown show of superheroes. We are nothing alike, and if you continue to insult me, I will move ahead with the soul siphoning procedure."

"Ah. Okay. But we were both former heroes here, yeah? Yeah. I can't see your face under that hood and scarf... but I'll take that as a yes."

Yeling rolled his eyes, as he pulled out his phone, tapping on it.

Take this seriously you moron!

"Look. I just want answers. I figured if I approached you, you would never give me the time of day."

"That's the most accurate thing you have said all day."

You damn bitch!!!

I cleared my throat. Focus, Aaron. Focus.

"Just... tell your boys to back off for a minute, okay? Let's just have a short chat. You don't attack us, and we won't attack you. Are we okay with that?"

Valerian glanced at the Trey Kings, who were more than ready to throw hands.

Yeling put his phone back in his pocket, glaring at the gang members, his facial expression murderous.

The Trey Kings looked uncomfortable, as Yeling smiled sadistically.

"I love psychopaths. They make me look so normal when I roast them alive." He whispered.

I can't tell who needs therapy more, the psychopaths or you!

"Leave us. For now." Valerian said, as the cultists left, closing the door.

I threw Yeling a glare.

"No funny ideas you fire slinging lunatic!" I mouthed aggressively.

I sat on the little table across from Valerian, who crossed her hands and her legs.

"You would be the first man who, instead of running away with his tail between his legs, wanted to talk. I can't tell if you're already crazy, but your soul must be delicious."

Hartwig licked her lips.

"Er... Shadows, make sure Sarah Ultear isn't watching from some weird magical outlet." I whispered, quickly.

Y- Yes... Sir Dainsleif. We will take extra precautions to ensure your wife is unaware of your affair.

"Wait! No! This isn't an affair you stupid Shadows! Hey!" I whispered fiercely, as Valerian raised an eyebrow.

"So the Hangman also has henchmen of his own. My opinion of you has improved!"

Aw stuff it, you wench!

"I wanted to ask you about... The Primordial Demons." I said.

The air turned incredibly tense, as Valerian was silent for a few seconds. Her face studying me intently.

Even Yeling dropped what he was doing and turned to us.

Suddenly, the evil smirk and flirtatious aura Valerie had a minute ago melted off her face.

"Why do you ask." Her entire tone had completely changed.

"I... um..."

Valerian leaned forward, putting a hand on mine.

Yeling raised his eyebrows, his phone sliding out of his leather jacket pocket.

I heard his finger tap on the screen.

HEY!!!!

YOU BLACKMAILING MAHYAKO BRAT!

Valerian grasped my hand tightly. A bead of sweat ran down her face, as her yellow eyes were wide in...

Fear?

"Aaron. Has another Primordial Demon stepped into this world? Answer me honestly." She said, her voice tense.

"I... I don't know. I'm not sure. I just wanted to know."

Valerian clenched her teeth.

"If it's true, then this world is done for. But what will you do with all the information I'm going to tell you?"

"Uh..."

Valerian looked around frantically, rushing to her magic bookshelf, flipping through multiple books. From their magic circles, and from what I learned from Sarah when I studied magic under her tutelage, those books were 100% black magic.

"I will tell you everything I know. But please. Promise me this, Aaron."

Valerian looked at me.

"Promise me you have a means to dispose of this Primordial Demon. Because if it is true there is one living in this world, there is nothing we can do to stop it. This world will be destroyed. The destruction of this world will vastly eclipse even the Apocalypse that Lord Therakiel had once attempted on this plane of existence. The level of destruction that a Primordial Demon can unleash....

"Is multiversal."

The Apex Species

"Before mankind, there was another."

Valerian spread her hands, magical runes and particles surrounding us, as I peered into the patterns, my brain automatically and subconsciously linking the lines together until my surroundings warped. An illusion of a world surrounded the three of us. And Valerian's voice had become nothing more than a narrator in the background.

"A species that was the first to display intelligence and superiority. True, absolute intelligence. Not the type of intelligence that humans have. We were beings who embodied evolving intelligence, but these guys were the real deal. From the very beginning, they conquered. The first ever species to ever be known as the apex species. We've always been taught that at the beginning of time, there existed good. And evil. Angel and Devil. But there have been no accounts as to where the Primordials came from. And that is the thing.

"The Primordial seemingly willed themselves into existence. As if they chose to exist on their own accord. Not by fate. Free by choice. Without the limits of a higher power on a higher plane of existence, or a narrative. The Primordials, neither through heaven or through hell, existed."

I watched as an entire legion of mages readied themselves.

"History books have branched the magical families of this world. The magical community divided. The Duquesne Family, the Hartwig Family, the Caliburn Family. But on one day, we stood together to defend a threat that was so frightening that we collectively decided to keep buried in the past. To never surface again."

I stared at the horizon. There was massive... gargantuan hole. It had to be at least 250 thousand square miles large.

Surrounding its perimeter, were countless magical runes. A large gathering of magic practitioners, continuously weaving hand signs.

Yeling's face was grim.

"They're containing something in that hole."

Valerie nodded.

"Anti-magic. Anti-fate magic. Combat nullification. Hexes. Curses. Black Magic. We used it all. From the righteous magic practiced by Asim Ka, the ancestor of Doctor Ka, to the magic practiced by the Duquesne family - The Circle of the Scarlet Moon. The sheer amount of mana that was spent trying to contain this threat... as you can see..."

BOOM.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

"Ready yourselves!" Asim shouted at the mages. At least several million in number, who populated the entire perimeter of the hole in massive hordes.

A ripple of magic circles formed, a wave of light rippling through the crowd, as a demonic green light ripped through the hole.

"Hahaha. Is this the sheer power of this world's magic? You all..."

CHOOM.

The entire world rumbled in response to the monster's green light, a beam shooting to the sky as a dark figure slowly ascended.

It had a physique as built as Ironclad.

And a face as bestial as Grond.

Two horns the size of its arms sprouted from its head, as its clothes, ancient and primal, resembling the shamans in the Canadian Wilderness, fluttered viciously in response to the tremendous mana the monster was emitting.

Valerian's face darkened.

"Unlike the classifiers that we historically used to quantify the threat level of beings, it was clear that this was not enough. President John F. Kennedy had initially classified this threat as Cosmic. And we had at least twenty of the top trained superheroes come together to take it down. But all it took was one glance, and every superhero within the vicinity of the creature instantly vaporized into dust. After investigating the remains, Asim realized, to his horror that the creature never used a single spell."

I watched as the magic circles shattered. One by one. Leading to a wave of shouts and frantic yelling.

"His mana surpasses even Anti-Magic? How is that even possible!"

"Stand firm! Stand firm!"

Yeling watched the scene, his one eye grim and emotionless.

"He killed them. With just the aura of his mana. The tremendous magical power that this creature has... is enough to disintegrate lesser beings."

"Precisely. A power that surpasses Cosmic Level Anti-Magic. Cosmic Level Fate Magic. Cosmic Level Nullification Magic. That day, it didn't just take the entire magical community to hold back the tremendous might of this Primordial Demon, it took everyone."

"His mana is at 10 percent! We can take him!"

The Primordial chuckled.

"Can you?"

"RAAAAAH!" Several heroes blasted forward.

"ENHANCE ME!" One of the heroes shouted, as thousands of magic circles covered his arm.

"Take the full power of a punch capable of shattering entire continents! CREATURE!" The man roared, throwing a punch at the Primordial.

Wind blasted outwards, flooding the entire battlefield and pushing everybody back.

But to my disbelief, the smoke cleared, revealing the man's fist, encased by the hand of the Primordial, who smiled evilly.

"No magic. No narratives."

The Primordial closed his fist, crushing the man's hand as he screamed in agony. The thousands of runes and magic circles that had contained him shattering.

"SAVE HIM! PROTECT HIM! USE ALL YOUR PROTECTION SPELLS, EVERYONE!" The mages yelled, as I watched the Hero glow blue.

"ALL TOGETHER! HIT HIM IN EVERY DIRECTION! HE HAS TO HAVE A WEAKNESS!"

The heroes all closed in, as did some of the battle mages, and magical projectiles shooting towards the Primordial.

"Is it wise... for you mages to use offence, when you should be protecting your hero?"

The hero grabbed the Primordial's head.

"You will not prevail. It will take the force of at least forty trillion tons of TNT to even graze me. I am known for being the sturdiest tank in all of America. I am the Iron Sentinel."

The Primordial raised an eyebrow, as attacks and spells bombarded him left and right.

But he was completely unfazed.

The Iron Sentinel's face became slightly uncertain.

"Forty trillion tons you say? Four times the kinetic energy of your orbiting moon. That is surely quite... unfortunate. These attacks, from your so called... defenders of this world. It equates to twenty eight times that number. Yet..."

The Primordial smiled evilly, closing his fist even more, causing the Sentinel to irk in pain, his eyes wide in fear.

"I CAN BARELY FEEL IT."

Chills went down my spine, as did Yeling, who slowly took a step back, forgetting that we were literally in a simulated world.

Valerian regarded the two of us.

"In this world, nothing is real. Nothing can harm you. Yet even this... this is enough to fill your body with primal fear. Can you imagine the fear we all felt that day?"

I was at a loss for words, as the Primordial continued laughing, raising his finger at the Sentinel's forehead.

"Forty trillion tons. On an unblessed body of this world's so called 'sturdiest tank'. With the thousands of blessings enhancing your defence. Hmm... I can sense... at least five thousand Auras of Radiant Protection. Thirty six thousand Auras of Primal Majesty. One thousand eighty six Inertial Dampening Fields. And what's this? Protection Fields... and Mental Bubbles. They really do not seem to have faith in your durability, Little Sentinel."

The hero clenched his teeth.

"I AM NOT AFRAID." He shouted, throwing a punch with his free hand, which contacted the Primordial's head.

But the Primordial didn't budge. His neck didn't even move a millimetre. His face was blank and empty, his stare...

It overflowed with intimidation.

"You should be."

The Iron Sentinel gasped, as the Primordial's finger hovered a hair's thickness away from his skull.

"My name is Dasc Osa. I am a Greater Primordial Demon. I have lived my life oppressed by my own kind for being the second weakest of my evolution. And for eons I yearned for a world where I could boast superiority. But now... I understand. Just how boring being the strongest can be. For this does not entertain me. Your fear does not bring me joy. Not anymore."

Dasc flicked his finger, as the Iron Sentinel exploded into millions of tiny pieces, the runes all around him dissipating to the utter disbelief of everyone in the battlefield.

Dasc then turned to the rest of the legion, his body swirling with a green aura of pure mana, causing everyone to fall from the sky, clutching their ears. From within the crevices of their fingers, blood leaked out for each and every single hero who was afflicted.

My ear suddenly had a pinching sensation, as if the eardrums were about to tear apart.

Yeling clasped his ears as well.

"Gah... how is his aura so powerful that it can induce a placebo to this degree...?!"

Yeling was right.

This was 100% a placebo... but it felt so real.

So so real.

Dasc then raised a finger to the sky.

"Begone. Defenders of the Champions Universe. You will cease to exist no longer."

ACHRONOLOGIA - UNIVERSAL ACCELERATION

A green magic circle covered the entire planet, turning the entire sky a devilish green.

Storm clouds surrounded Dasc, as green lightning ripped the ground.

I watched, hero after hero, beginning to shrivel and shrink. Their bodies and faces aging.

"Time manipulation magic to this level..." My voice trailed away.

"How in the hell did you guys survive this...?!"

"Keep watching." Valerian instructed me.

I turned back to the site.

The wildlife all around us began corroding, the buildings aging and becoming abandoned, as did the city.

The entire planet becoming an apocalyptic wasteland. But...

Dasc suddenly lowered his finger, as the magic circle dissipated, along with the storm.

"No." He said, turning around and ripping a portal through the fabric of space and time.

"It is beneath me to destroy this world. I now see what Sena meant. This is not worth my time. To destroy this reality... will only lower myself even further."

I stared at Dasc, my eyes wide.

"What... What did he just... did he just give up?"

"No. He spared us. Because to him, destroying a universe of our calibre is so beneath him that he would rather spare it than lower himself even further." Valerian answered, as she closed the hologram.

Yeling and I collapsed on the ground, sweating profusely.

Dasc Osa.

A Greater Primordial Demon. The second weakest of his kind...

If that was true...

If that was true...!

Just how fucking strong was Loyce?!

"Are you terrified?" Valerian knelt in front of me, handing me a towelette.

I grabbed it, wiping my face off the sweat.

"If he didn't... if he didn't... didn't spare you guys... none of this would have existed. None of you guys would even be alive!"

Yeling panted, taking a towelette himself.

"Yet you chose to keep this a secret? Are you all idiots?!"

I glared at Yeling.

"If word got out of the possibility of having another Primordial Demon attack to this extent, just what kind of state of panic would this induce on the world? Chaos would break out left and right! No shit they had to cover this up!"

Achronologia.

A power to manipulate the time flow of an entire universe.

And this guy was the second weakest of his kind.

This implied each and every single Primordial Demon had the ability to not just destroy worlds...

They had the power to destroy the reality of entire universes.

Suddenly, Loyce catching my Black Bullet with his fingers made a lot more sense. Aran putting Master Jun out of commission made a lot more sense.

These Primordials...

They were not something you wanted to mess with.

"Judging from your reactions." Valerie sat on her bed, glancing at the window.

"You have no plan to combat this new Primordial Demon threat."

I clutched my chest. I was hyperventilating.

Master Aaron. Awaiting approval to alleviate your hyperventilation.

"P- Proceed..." I gasped.

A temporary surge of relief flooded my body, as I stood up.

I took a deep breath.

"I... I can see why you were freaking out earlier. These guys are no joke. And yeah. I'm... I'm terrified." I admitted. My hand wouldn't stop shaking.

How the hell were we supposed to beat Loyce?

How the hell were we supposed to beat Aran?

How...

When I talked with Hakah, we chose which hurdle to tackle. It was a threat beyond SSS Rank - Vala. Or a threat that was Elite Tier SS+ Rank - Great Demon Lord Loyce Hal.

But at this point I couldn't tell what was harder. Or if either threat was even possible to neutralize.

No matter what...

I guess being someone who thinks a lot was a curse at this point... because everything was telling me the chances of winning were pretty much zero.

I...

I closed my eyes.

Guys... I'm so sorry for putting you through my-

"Pathetic." Yeling growled, slamming his fist on the ground.

Valerian and I turned to Yeling, surprised, who continued punching the ground. Sweat dripping from his shoulder length hair and peppering the ground. But his eye wide in rage.

"I'm so... fucking... pathetic. Right now. But..."

Yeling made a fist with his other hand, getting to his feet.

"Only now. I will get stronger. Stronger and stronger. No matter what it fucking takes."

Yeling glared out the window.

"Dainsleif is scared shitless of this threat. If no one wants to take this job, then I guess it was always mine to take."

I stared at Yeling.

"What are you saying? Didn't you see, that dude was-"

Yeling's glare redirected to me.

"And that was enough to scare you? Is being smart the same as being a coward? In the end, this was never a job for mere fodder to take. We are the last line of defense. If no one takes this job, who will? If it means becoming strong enough to kill a threat like this, then I will push myself to this level. This is not an excuse."

A flicker of flame rippled from his eyes and tattoos, as Valerian gasped.

"You... you made a contract with a demon too?"

Yeling smiled evilly, his body emitting red flames.

"No. You and I... are nothing alike."

The flames illuminated his face, revealing the right half, causing Valerian's eyes to become distraught.

"You made a contract with a lowly demon. I made a contract with the Devil herself. I am... The Devil's Flames. And through this... demonic flame..."

Yeling inspected his tribal tattoos, which glowed a fierce red.

"I will BURN every Primordial Demon to the ground. I will be the one to defeat Loyce Hal."

I choked.

"What the hell are you saying?! Did you not piss yourself looking at Dasc? The dude was a Greater Primordial. You're saying you can beat Loyce on your own? Are you stupid! This is beyond-"

"Impossible?" Yeling cut me off, his face sinister.

"They told me I could never defeat Urca the Slicer. It took me four years, but I surpassed the Leader of Squad One easily. They told me I could never go beyond Stage Two. I unleashed Stage Three, then later, Stage Four. They told me I couldn't defeat Aelienne, yet I was the one who cut her head off. Then they told me I couldn't reach an Outer Shadow in power... but..."

Yeling's mouth contorted into a smile.

"Why don't you... measure just how powerful I am, Destroid?"

Buck began calculating, as Yeling's flames became more and more violent.

A Rank.

A+ Rank.

Low Tier S Rank.

S Rank.

Elite Tier S Rank.

S+ Rank.

Buck's readings were still going up, as my eyes went wide.

Yeling stood before me. He wasn't even in Stage Two, his flames were so controlled that nothing was burning, but the tremendous pressure emitting from his aura was terrifying. So terrifying, that Valerian Scarlet of all people was petrified at the sight.

"The Devil's... Flames..." Valerian's voice trailed away.

Master Jun's voice boomed in my head.

First it was Hakah surpassing Stage Five. Now it's her older brother Yeling going past the theoretical limits of an Akuma Dogma Holder with Stage Four. There's something going on with the Mah Clan. And I want to figure out why. How are the Mah siblings so powerful?

Yeling Mah...

If he was older than Hakah...

Then in theory... his power would be...

My eyes went wide, as Buck's readings had stabilized. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

It felt like only yesterday that the Yeling Mah that we knew only matched the C Ranked Shadow Yuyan Zheng, the "Transplant".

But... whatever Yeling had done with Hakah during our time away...

The improvement was beyond drastic.

It shouldn't have been possible.

Standing before me, he wasn't even in his upper Stages in his Hinokami, yet...

Here stood the Devil's Flames.

The Tidalflame.

High Tier SS Rank.

I gritted my teeth.

"Yeling... are you serious about killing Loyce?" I asked.

Yeling's flames died down.

"Oh believe me. It isn't just Loyce. I plan on killing Vala too."

This guy...

Yeling approached me, holding out his hand.

"And if you... or anyone in the Black Legion, plans to harm my little sister even further."

Yeling's eye flashed evilly.

"I won't hesitate to kill you all too."

I smirked, taking his hand.

"You're on. Because I have no plans on losing to an Auxiliary Shadow of all people."

"Bet."

Valerian looked at us.

"Wait. So you two have a plan then? Are you going to get this kid to fight this Primordial with his flames? He's clearly not from this world. That much is certain."

"Hey! I'm plenty strong too!" I protested.

"Oh really?" Valerian gave me an unconvinced look.

"Yes! Just the other day I was stronger than this doofus. Look. I know my rep at MC isn't the best but I'm still the greatest gunman ever."