One-Punch DxD: NEO - Chapter 93: Not Quite Over Yet

While Issei was undergoing meditation and confronting his rebelling predecessors, out of everyone’s sight and notice, another scene was taking place within the prison beneath the Palace of Eternal Light.

Within the dungeon, two prisoners were stationed in two separate cells facing each other. Sycorax sat on a simple bed provided in her cell, patiently staring at the limbless Euclid who was nailed to the wall via organic spears of bone, his magic sealed by Norse curse runes etched into his body.

The silence between them was heavy, tense, very volatile, as if they were ready to break it and ensure violence against the other.

For Sycorax, it was mostly for what Euclid did, risking her people.

The cells were guarded by Fenrir of all things, Loki summoned Fenrir just to guard them. How Loki summoned Fenrir from Asgard, Sycorax did not know. The God Killer Wolf was outside of their cells, but it was out of sight. Even from there, Fenrir could sense the enmity in the air between them.

Not a single word was spoken between them. The unspoken intent exchanged between their eyes was thick, easy to tell.

For Euclid, Sycorax failed him and costed them their progress.

For Sycorax, Euclid betrayed her despite their pact.

And they both despise each other for it.

The aggressive silence between seems to escalate with no signs of stopping, until Fenrir’s growl broke the silence, catching their attention.

There was a roar, followed by heavy steps of the God Killing Wolf. The blue-furred beast’s bellows echoed in the halls. The two flinched when they heard pathetic yelps and cries, the sound of a large body slammed against the walls repeatedly unnerved them.

They heard frightened yelps, wet rips and tears, the air humming as if sliced, whimpering sounds and high-pitched cries following, both looking in the direction, sweat pouring down their skin as they waited for the cause to enter their sights.

Sycorax and Euclid blinked when the dark spot between their cells suddenly grew wider, before a shadow grew out, forming a familiar figure, standing between them.

“You…” Sycorax narrowed her eyes.

“Young master Djall!” Euclid’s eyes gained a sliver of hope upon seeing his charge.

Each hand held several fangs, blood fresh dripped down the white pristine fangs. It was not difficult to connect where he collected those teeth, something they both knew he would do if given the chance and whim.

The three-eyed black-haired young man threw one of them into his mouth as he crunched, chewing on the hard enamel, the sound of crunching bone filling the silence.

“Hmmmm. So this is what half-god tastes like.” Djall commented as he swallowed.

He flashed his teeth at Sycorax, his teeth gaining a similar hue to the fangs of Fenrir for a second.

“Young master! Good, now you can free me from this prison!” Euclid could not wait to get out and return from this hellhole.

“Hmmmm…” Djall walked towards Sycorax, and stood still, staring at the dark elf queen.

“…Is there anything you wish to say to me, Djall?” Sycorax asked calmly.

Even if she were to escape, it was too late. She had surrendered and must go through with the process per her duty as Queen.

“…I was watching, you know.” Djall answered.

So he was watching the battle.

“…And Euclid, this is why I am against your path. Sacred Gears are tools, tools can be broken or stolen… but you probably didn’t expect the Challenger to use your armor to repair his own. Even if you did manage to gain more strength, it means nothing if you don’t have the spark like he does.”

Euclid grit his teeth at Djall’s criticism.

“If you were watching, why didn’t you do anything?!” Euclid demanded.

“I don’t like wasting energy in pointless conflicts.” Djall answered. “You lost, you damaged your ties with Sycorax, and there is nothing else here for you. Other than The Tree… Which reminds me – Why do you still seek the tree despite having the power you seek?”

Djall regarded Sycorax.

Sycorax met Djall’s eyes as she closed and inhaled.

“…The Tree of Life is wise and ancient.” Sycorax answered directly. “It is a sacred miracle. The culmination of our efforts to forge a future for our people. Away from our stagnation.”

“…What do you hope to gain from the tree?”

“Power.”

“You already have power.” Djall pointed at himself.

“In order to stand on equal grounds with Asgard and Midgard, I will need more power.”

“Do you? Is it really because you are weak, or you truly believe you cannot rely on yourself to face the uncertain future you wish to tread? Are you sure it is because you are weak, or is it because you truly believe that your kind is powerless? Enough to ignore your kin’s potential?”

Sycorax perked.

It was the first time someone asked her that question.

“I think… that you are stuck in the mindset that you and your people cannot become something more than your flesh allows. No, even if the potential is there, you do not have the… courage? Yes, that’s the word…. Yes.” Djall nodded to himself. “You do not have the courage to find the strength to do so… You trapped yourself in Alfheim for many years. Yet you did not step out to see the outside because… is it because you are afraid to see how far everyone else is ahead?”

“…That’s…” Sycorax did not have the answer to that question.

“…I think it is not the power that you need. But the strength and insight to make the difficult decisions. And… the courage to move and take action.” Djall gave his opinion. “I don’t see a reason to answer your call because… it will not help you. It might give you what you want, but it won’t give you what you need. In a way, it will make you weak, I suppose.”

There was something in her that she could not describe… like she found something within her that was not there for a long time. Something she needed but couldn’t… or wouldn’t find if not pointed out.

In a way…

It felt like there was a burden inside that was lifted, a little.

“…Aren’t you a little too brazen to give your elders advice on the matters of life?” Sycorax teased with a smile.

Djall could feel none of the intent to deceive. It was an honest smile.

“I just pointed out what I see wrong and wanted to confirm for myself.” Djall gave his honest answer. “How you conclude what I said is up to you. Though there is one last thing I want to do before I leave. All of this trouble because of one magical tree… I want to see it.”

Euclid perked his head.

“Young master, if you wish to see the tree, I have an important request.” Euclid took this chance.

He was prepared to return with nothing, ready to receive punishment from Rizevim, but with Djall’s help…

“If possible, I wish for a small extract of the tree. Master Lucifer wishes for a pure potent essence of a developed World Tree for study! This is all I ask!”

Djall turned to Euclid.

“…Is it that important?” Djall asked.

“More than you know! I’ll make sure you’re rewarded for your efforts!” Euclid nodded.

“Now I am interested in seeing this tree.” Djall flicked his wrist at Euclid’s cell, firing a shard, a drop of his blood hardened, hardened into a bullet-shaped Aberration construct as it pierced through the cell lock and all of the magical wards with ease, the barriers shattering alongside the lock.

Djall pushed the door open, but stopped. He sniffed the air.

“…What did you sense?” Euclid asked, knowing his charge’s habits, the purpose and intent behind most of which he documented to this day.

“…It’s nothing.”

Djall felt that he was being watched… no, someone was watching him. Spying on him directly.

From the distance, Loki watched the young monster staring into his direction. Even invisible and shielded by the illusion magics, he did not expect the monster to notice him. Even Odin had a hard time detecting his presence.

The monster ripped the stake impaling Euclid to the wall out, tossing it aside as it clattered. Euclid gasped as he fell, wincing from the pain and the magic inhibiting his regeneration.

Djall knelt down next to the living limbless torso pressed his finger onto him, magic from the monster probing the runes etched into Euclid’s flesh.

Djall’s eyes shifted colors and shapes as he analyzed the magical bindings.

“Hmmm… This will take a while.” Djall clicked. It was the first time he encountered such a complex curse. “Better to store you away first.”

“What do you mean ‘store?'” Euclid asked.

“I’ll undo your bindings later. There is a tree I need to see… ah, right. First, maybe some more of the canine’s teeth.”

While Djall was still preoccupied, Loki inwardly hummed from his spot until he decided to withdraw for the time being, smirking in anticipation of things to come. Though he did feel sorry for Fenrir… the monster showed no mercy in taking more than half of his god-killing fangs.

---

“Hm, he sure is taking a while, nya.”

Kuroka remarked as she and others were busy with the post-war relief. To be precise, Kuroka volunteered to ‘oversee’ the post-war relief effort while lounging on top of the ruins caused by the battle, lazily scanning over the elves milling around.

The need to treat the injured was nonexistent due to Asia’s existence. Her prowess as the party’s healer was exceptional. She did heal Azazel through Orochi’s violent beatdown, though Orochi probably enjoyed hurting Azazel through Sirzechs on purpose.

Sirzechs recovered from the battle, though his missing Bael power was still an issue not even Asia could resolve.

Kuroka watched Asia talking with…

Ladon.

Yes, Ladon – The Imsoniac Dragon, that Ladon.

After the fiasco with Orochi and Djall, after raiding Euclid’s base and defeating all of the enemies, witches, dragon clones, chimera made from Trihexa flesh…

They were reminded of Ladon’s existence when they left, seeing the poor tree dragon just lying there; so they decided to take the Insomniac Dragon prisoner.

Literally bound by whatever magical bindings they have with the help of Loki’s curses keeping Ladon’s power in check at the very least. The Trickster God was uncannily skilled with Norse Curses for some reason, they found.

Sirzechs and his Peerage were stationed alongside Asia as she talked with Ladon.

Well, more like listening to Ladon’s problems. The tree dragon was on the blue-grass plains, lying on the soft gentle flora, at eye level with the patient holy maiden.

“Ahhhhhh… And that is how I am here. To get away from the little monster… to subsequently suffer humiliating capture.”

Ladon was complaining about his current lifestyle, always living with the fear that he would be horribly maimed by the dragon-eating maniac that crawled around the main base. How he had to suffer hearing the cries of his victims being mauled no matter how powerful or evolved they became… and that Rizevim did nothing to stop the monster.

It was only recently that they received a reprieve after the Hero Faction took the monster away from the main base to somewhere else.

Asia nodded, listening to Ladon’s woes.

“Um… I have a question. Do you happen to know what happened to Stjarna when he… became Djall?”

Asia asked Ladon the most important question.

“Ah, that is a good question… I wasn’t there when it happened.” Ladon mused, “If you must know… I believe you’ll have a better chance with Euclid – he’s in charge of observing that monster’s growth, after all.”

Asia’s expression twitched into a sad frown while Sirzechs and his peerage exchanged glances. Getting Euclid Lucifuge to feed them information would be a challenging task, considering his reputation.

“You won’t get anything from calling out to Djall’s past. I’ve never seen a mind-erasing technique this powerful before, to be honest.” The tree dragon hummed. “I mean, Nidhogg tried to save himself the second time by confessing to Djall’s previous identity… The monster ignored him and continued eating him alive. I tried as well, but the monster only gave up on me because he found my barriers annoying. And he was too hungry to push through… though I’m not sure if it is because he is hungry or just enacting vengeance on us however he can.”

While the interrogation was underway, Kuroka’s eyes suddenly widened as her body shot straight up – her feline ears were on high alert as she sensed an ominous energy spike from where Issei, Azazel and others were supposed to be.

“Ise-chin?”

OxO

Within Issei’s room, Azazel jumped upon feeling an explosion of negative energy from Issei’s meditating form.

Issei was on his bed, sitting in a lotus position. Azazel was busy monitoring Issei’s condition with his magic, checking for his symptoms or any possible ailments he should offset.

“Whoa! What the hell is happening there?!” Azazel did not know how he could jump into Sacred Gears.

Despite all of his research studying the subject, he never found a way where he could enter another wielder’s Sacred Gear.

God made it so that no outsider could invade Sacred Gears or have them be tampered by outsider forces, meaning conventional magic and the like would not work.

If he could, he would have made much better progress in training the others and understanding the intricate systems for his research.

Within the realm of Boosted Gear, five dragons flew overhead, circling above the host and the red dragon.

They were merely observers – the souls of the dragons Euclid used as the power source of his Sacred Gear. Ones who Genghis Khan bargained with to join them in defeating the Welsh Dragon, albeit they were skeptical of the fragmented soul’s assurances.

Their agreement was that they would aid Khan if he proved himself able to stand against Ddraig. They did not move when the host interfered and showed his dominance over the rest, a worthier soul to bargain with.

But his transformation frightened them.

A dark, alien power, demonic in nature yet unfamiliar in origin, the human transformed into a demonic monstrosity, tearing apart the fragments, limbs ripped and flesh vaporized by lightning and fire.

Then facing the Red Dragon Emperor without flinching.

Ddraig braced himself as he lowered his draconic body.

Issei inhaled deeply and exhaled. His arms crossed and his left leg rose, then stomped down as his arms spread, entering his martial stance.

Belzard and Elsha exchanged glances. They knew that they should not interfere as they leapt back, flying away with their armor’s wings.

The Welsh Dragon looked down on the small demon clad in thick, almost animatic aura that bore a vague humanoid shape.

Without warning, two phantasmal wings spread, skeletal, the wings of death reached side by side.

Seeing this, Ddraig realized something. This was probably the first time the Welsh Dragon was taking responsibility for the Juggernaut Drive… in a twisted irony, no less. Throughout his memories, he could not recall him trying, or succeeding, in suppressing the curse… He was not sure if it was because he was free or… that maybe he was as irresponsible as the young monster accused him of being.

He never took responsibility for the suffering he caused to Tiamat if he did think about it.

Now, he was doing his best to return his host to his senses. No – not host… more like a brother.

His friend.

Issei’s demonic eyes stared at Ddraig, his body still.

Almost as if he was challenging the Red Dragon to cross the line first.

Seeing they were going nowhere, Ddraig decided to answer to the challenge and roared – a common custom for dragons before engaging a fight. His open maws then glowed, as Ddraig literally fired his first shot with his signature god-killing flames.

Issei’s pulse thrummed like an echoing drum, his right fist glowing emerald, as green as the jewel in Boosted Gear.

Ddraig barely saw it when Issei used this move against Euclid. He did not think that Issei could pull it off again here.

The world flashed bright when Issei threw the punch against Ddraig.

When Issei’s fist was in mid-motion, Ddraig’s instinct screamed that he had to dodge, so he did.

It was the first time Ddraig felt his mind screaming in fear in response to an attack. He never had this happen to him before when he fought Albion as he took flight, his gargantuan body nimble despite his size.

Elsha and Belzard felt the realm quake when the flames collided against the fist, and the flames gave in to the latter.

The fires of the apocalypse overpowered as the shockwaves tunneled through the dragonfire, swallowing Ddraig’s tail as the two strongest past users dropped their jaws at the sight.

Ddraig’s tail was… damaged.

Razed apart by both the shockwave and his own fire.

Ddraig landed back down and stared at his tail, seeing that the force shaved scale, hide, and muscle, exposing the bone underneath.

Stunned.

Speechless.

He gazed back at Issei, seeing that he was intact. His fist was not damaged like last time.

“…Shit.”

That was the last chance he could speak before Issei appeared before his eyes.

When Elshan and Belzard met Issei face to face for the first time, they could already tell that the boy would achieve great things..

They did not expect to see the boy to conquer the Welsh Dragon this soon.

For the longest time, Ddraig could not remember the last time his right cheek caved like this. Nor did his face slam into the ground with so much force that the rest of his dragon body below the neck lifted, tail facing perpendicular to the boundless white void sky.

Nevertheless, the Welsh Dragon had no time to wallow in his current predicament; he had a friend for him to return his senses to.

[Boost!]

Ddraig started boosting himself.

But Issei landed onto his face, fist slamming Ddraig further into the ground as he landed on Ddraig’s face.

It got even worse when Issei grabbed Ddraig’s horn.

And lifted the dragon’s entire massive body into the air. All of the giant dragon’s, lifted by the small human-sized Demon. And thrown across the dimensions as Ddraig tumbled and ragdolled in the distance.

“Okay… this is bad.” Elsha was now panicking.

Never before did a wielder of Boosted Gear lift and throw the Welsh Dragon.

However….

Issei’s visage suddenly flinched, froze, then trembled as if he was trying to struggle against the invisible force that binds his body.

OxO

“He is reacting to the presence around him.”

Griselda and Asia were the first to move.

Without delay, they surrounded Issei with their powers linked, angelic light pouring into Issei under Azazel’s watch, radiant light attempting to suppress the unique, shaped Aura surrounding Issei.

Kuroka sat on the bed near Issei, purple haze blew from her lips towards Issei’s demonized face. Honestly, considering the Trihexa factor, the mist she was blowing was lethal enough to kill a devil a dozen times. She was gambling with Issei’s innate poison resistance to save his life from his current state.

Vali and his team were also present, as well as Sirzechs and his peerage.

Kiyome did try to link into his mind, but all she received was a massive backlash of negative emotions that forced her to cut herself from him lest she shared Issei’s fate. Rossweisse was with Saitama, accompanying Queen Sinmara’s whims to partake in ‘royal talk’ with Titania’s family.

Though everyone knew that Sinmara was dragging the invincible Baldy to his newest, greatest enemy – Politics, which was tantamount to torture for the poor simple man, the way he trudged behind her as if following her to his Hell.

“He looks like he’s still approaching his berserker state. We might need to restrain his limbs…” Azazel surmised. “But he might react violently if we approach him carelessly. Seriously, this reminds me of the time he accidentally entered Juggernaut Drive the first time and nearly killed Vali, but without the dragon armor. Actually, Sirzechs, does this remind you of something?

“I don’t understand the question.” Sirzechs, however, was clueless of the similarities.

“…Heh, you really didn’t look at yourself in the mirror when you unleash your full power, did you? What about Ajuka? Does he have a ‘true form’ as you call it?” Azazel remarked.

“Why is Ajuka’s true form a matter of importance?”

Grayfia slapped the back of Sirzechs’ head.

“He means that Issei has achieved ‘True Form’.” The Silver Queen explained to her dunce husband.

“…Oh… What?! That’s impossible!” Sirzechs was astonished.

Only he and Ajuka achieved this stage of power, a level of power not even the original Lucifer could achieve. Yet this boy could do something almost every other Devil could not and so fast, further reminding Sirzechs of the curse the Demons placed on them.

“Ah, this is fascinating.” Matthers leaned forward. “This needs to be documented and appraised for our race. If my memory serves, I recall your report from Alichino. The imperfect demonic awakening… Does this mean that he is on the verge of achieving it?”

“It isn’t that simple. From what I’ve known so far from experience, Demonic Awakening isn’t something that anyone can master.” Azazel warned. “If he fails to break through this imperfect stage or break out of it, he will become a Fiend – a powerful monster dominated by his most powerful emotions.”

“How strong is a ‘Fiend’?” Griselda asked.

“Last time I saw one, it was when Michael was still attempting to genocide the Demons… and my wings weren’t black back then. She slaughtered many of the angels that accompanied Michael and then stood against him. And that wasn’t even a Demon Lord back then.” Azazel explained.

“And how dangerous will Issei be if he does become one?” Vali asked, curiously observing Issei’s condition.

“We don’t want to find out. A Fiend cannot be compared with your average Chimeras or Stray Devils, the difference between them is literally Heaven and Earth.” Azazel explained. “… But they can be saved from their condition. Don’t know how though, ironically.”

“W-Will Ise be alright?” Asia asked, concerned with a sad frown while still working her magic on Issei.

“I don’t know. Ermias never allowed any angel or devil to oversee the training to achieve the Awakening. I don’t even know how it is even triggered.” Azazel shook his head.

“Um, boys? I know you guys are a bunch of nerds and all of this is fascinating, but a little hel-AGH?!”

Kuroka gagged.

Issei’s arm reached out and held her throat as his eyes glowed crimson.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

He was moving. His eyes were now on them.

“…Oh, shit.”

Everyone was starting to panic when Issei slowly stood on his bed, his glare almost burning them with hate.

“I-Issei!” Asia called out as she stepped forward in front of him. “Issei, c-can’t you recognize us?! A-Are you still in there, Issei?! We are here to help you!”

Rassei poked out of her hair and started squeaking frantically, waving his tiny hands at Issei.

Issei’s growl lowered as his eyes laid upon Asia. His grip on Kuroka loosened enough for her to transform into a cat, hopping off the bed and transforming herself back, hacking while caressing her bruised throat.

He was slowly calming down the more his gaze lingered onto Asia. The maiden’s presence had a calming, soothing effect even on Stjarna, and it worked on Issei in this state.

However, Issei suddenly perked and raised his arms as if to defend himself. He suddenly flew towards the window, crashing through the glass panes as if knocked back – and from within his soul, Ddraig took this opportunity to subdue him from within.

He fell onto the roof of a lower floor as he shook the damage off.

Issei roared as his vision shifted back into the soul realm, seeing the red dragon again, charged with immense but temporary power.

[Explosion!]

Ddraig could not afford to hold back. He must do everything he can to stop his friend’s rampage as he raised his left arm and slammed it atop the demon.

Issei’s right fist glowed emerald as he uppercutted, striking the dragon’s arm as their might clashed.

In the material realm, Sirzechs and his Peerage moved first and faced off against Issei, greeted by the shockwave of Issei’s uppercut.

“Beowulf, Surtr, with me! Enku! Matthers! Bahamut!” Souji shouted as they moved.

Sirzechs landed next to Grayfia, observing Issei’s reactions.

Souji moved first as the attacker, Surtr and Bahamut second as the heavy tanks with Beowulf, Matthers, and Enku as the support.

Souji drew his blade, knowing his weakness. He would have to resort to cutting off Issei’s limbs if he must to subdue him, his speed carrying him first to strike the tendons of his legs.

However, Souji’s blade grounded against the True Form Aura.

His sword grounded sparks upon contact. The next second, his ribs shattered and his spine kissed the wall next to the window they jumped out, iron taste spilling through his teeth, lungs wheezing from the collapsed ribs.

“Souji!” Beowulf shouted.

[Promotion!]

Sirzechs instantly allowed Beowulf and Enku to promote to Queen status, increasing the Pawns’ power many fold as Beowulf moved with Surtr and Bahamut.

However, Issei moved in response, aiming for the great golden fish. Bahamut hardened his body with his Aura, his scales glistening with his primordial protections, but Issei’s fist gouged a hole through his body.

“What?!” Sirzechs and Grayfia shouted.

Beowulf was the next, unable to block the flurry of fists that broke his bones and sent him through the window they exited.

Enku turned into a red mist, but Issei’s fist still struck him as if he was solid matter, the red Qilin crashing next to Souji.

With his body torn into two, guts and innards spilling out.

“Shit!” Kiyome and Asia broke away in favor of saving Enku. The sacred beast coughed in pain as Surtr II’s arms flew – punched off his elbows to his shock as the severed limbs fell.

Matthers immediately concluded that whatever spells he had would not work on this Issei – a blow to his pride.

“Surtr!” Sirzechs shouted in worry as Azazel quickly descended towards Issei.

However, Asia’s Asclepius shone as it raised high, shining bright.

Souji’s wounds faded, bones, flesh, and spirit restored, Bahamut’s hole closing rapidly to the golden fish’s surprise, Beowulf feeling the effects despite beind indoors now.

Kiyome helped piece Enku’s halves together, sewing nerves, organs, bone, and muscles together with Stjarna’s, enough for Enku to feel his body returning back to one as his vitality returned.

Asia aimed Asclepius at Surtr, a golden ray of healing light striking him.

Surtr watched his stumps for arms regrew new arms from the healing magic.

“Ohhhh…”

The sight of such regeneration left Surtr stunned. He flexed his fingers and rolled his wrists, feeling as if his forearms never left him.

“Thank you, Asia! Grayfia, with me! Matthers, go help Souji and find Saitama!” Sirzechs gave out more orders.

Souji and Matthers exchanged glances. They fled inside the building without hesitation, knowing how little help they would do against the current Issei.

Back in Boosted Gear – Ddraig grunted; all of that built momentum, and all he received was the price of broken bones in his palm shattering on impact. Then his hand launched up, seeing that Issei punched it away as he extended his wings.

Ddraig could not react fast enough. His body was too big, and frankly, he was out of shape. He had not moved his body like this in centuries which was embarrassing.

Issei jumped, but his wings got caught by something before he fell back to the ground. He struggled, ignoring the armored form of Vali pinning him down by wrapping his arms around his wings together.

“Will you pipe down…! The hell’s wrong with you!?” Vali growled as he could feel Issei was slowly overpowering him, “…Arthur! Can you use your Excalibur Ruler to calm him down!?”

“One way to find out…” Arthur was already on his way towards Vali and Issei’s position – his holy sword aimed at Issei’s head.

If Ruler strikes the brain, he should have dominion over Issei, enough to reset him.

His blade thrust forward, but despite being pinned down, Issei shifted his head until Arthur’s blade landed between the demon’s snapping teeth.

And the holy blade cracked.

“What?!” Arthur and Vali were in disbelief, but their stupor gave Issei an opening to break free.

Issei yanked the sword, and Arthur, closed and smashed his head into Arthur, then slammed back his head into Vali’s helm, breaking the visor.

His right hand swiped Arthur’s sword and held it in reverse, ramming it through Vali’s armor and rib.

“Guhk…!”

Vali coughed out some blood, and he had yet the time to recover his stance when Issei turned around with a right hook aimed for his jaw.

“Not so fast, buddy!” Bikou came barreling on his Nimbus Cloud which rammed directly into Issei and proceeded to carry him away from the scene.

Said scene was filled with scared and confused elves who had been witnessing the fight for some time, looking from below.

Nimbus rammed into Issei like a train while Bikou was swatting Issei’s hands from reaching him with his Riyu staff, the monkey prince desperately holding on until he summoned the teleportation Senjutsu sigil to transport them away to the mountain where Euclid’s base was.

“Come on, come on… Yes!” He summoned the portal to that location.

However, when he looked down, the sight of Issei’s open maw and dragonfire swirling between his jaws greeted him, about to fire.

“Payback, nya!” The black cat that snuck onto Nimbus jumped and undid her transformation, her hand closing Issei’s jaw just in time as her other hand covered his nose.

Smothered with the most potent poisons she could muster right into his nostrils. Issei’s demonic form seemed to choke as he appeared to sneeze – or something close enough, before roaring at them.

“Nya? So you want some more~?” Kuroka smirked as this time, she grasped Issei’s head with her hands and rammed her lips on Issei’s – blowing as much as Youjutsu poison directly into Issei’s throat….

Only for Kuroka to gasp, breaking the lip contact abruptly when she felt a sharp pain in her sides. She looked down, seeing the sharp thumb of Issei’s wing pierced through her. Blood coughed out of her as her strength slipped away and she fell.

“Kuroka!” Le Fay caught Kuroka with her telekinesis. She hastily brought out her Phenex Tear and opened it, using it on Kuroka. She was never one to take the hits as much as she dealt them.

However, Kuroka’s concoction that went inside Issei’s system was enough to stun him as Bikou carried them through the gate.

Azazel, Grizelda, Grayfia, Sirzechs, and Le Fay followed them through the portal. Asia healed Vali and Arthur just in time for them to follow them as well, Kiyome following last.

They did not know that they caught the attention of a passing Thunder God carrying a barrel of Alfheim wine on his shoulders. He was smiling with mirth as he placed the barrel down with a clunk.

“…Looks like Saitama’s son is going through something fun.”

---

Saitama leaned back against his seat, his eyes looking distant at the empty space before him while the onyx stone crown dangled crookedly on his head.

Drool already dripped down his lips.

He wanted to go home. He wanted to enjoy a warm bath and relax in the living room, playing with Ophis and catching up with Cleria and Masaomi…. And yes, as much as he wanted to deny it, he also wanted to spend some quality time with Haruka.

He really was not suited as a king.

That crown looked more like a chain with a heavy ball tied to his head than a crown to the elves, shackled with the other end of the chain held by the Queen which was hilarious to Oberon.

Sinmara was enjoying herself too much, smiling dominantly as she sat beside Saitama, petting Rover in her arms. She shrunk herself to more human size, albeit still taller than Saitama.

Saitama knew it was because she liked to look down on him, still holding some bitter enmity for him being the main responsibility for her late husband’s death.

They were in the royal conference room with Titania, Oberon, and the two princesses.

Little Mushroom was standing on Celiphrana’s head. The mushroom thing refused to leave Celiphrana’s side even when they returned to Andlang.

It looked a little silly, like a mushroom was growing out of the noble princess’ head.

“…Psss, Rossweisse.” Saitama called out to his Valkyrie escort, who blinked at him in return.

The other Valkyries were busy keeping an eye on Thor and Loki to make sure they would not cause an incident. Though the girls were not sure who to prioritize since they were both infamously hard to keep in check.

“Get me out of here.” He whispered as low as he could.

Though everyone with sharp hearing could hear him loud and clear enough.

Oberon was already breaking into silent laughter as he laid down on the table, his body trembling from the sheer mirth and amusement; while Titania was more exasperated by her husband’s reaction than Saitama’s reluctant behavior.

“What do you mean-? I… I can’t do that.” Rossweisse whispered back.

Sinmara continued petting Rover, pretending as if she did not hear it. It was too funny to stop as the corners of her mouth crept upwards.

“Please, anywhere but here. I want to go home!” Saitama pleaded.

“An escort does not have the authority to escort a King. You have more authority than me.” Rossweisse argued.

Saitama’s face slammed the table.

Sinmara could not hide her reaction as she slowly broke into silent laughter as well,

“Kuhuhuhuhu… I… I apologize… No, I would be lying if I said that. Haaaahhh… Well, I am embarrassed, I forgot what I wished to say.” Sinmara giggled as Rover barked in her arms. “But please, don’t let my King’s shenanigans affect this meeting.”

Oberon already started to breathe heavily in his mirth, laughing to himself.

“I also apologize for my husband as well… I am elated that I am not the only Queen with such a troublesome king.” Titania smiled back at Sinmara.

“Oh, I have neglected his training for too long. I should’ve kept him in Muspelheim, but alas, I couldn’t keep the man away from his family. So I shall bring his family to my side and whip him in his home.”

“Please don’t.” Saitama’s voice muffled through the table.

“It seems your life has become… interesting.” Titania could not reflect her perception with her words.

“Yes, just like Alfheim. Since my dear king decided to send most of our armies here in this realm and provide support, I suppose an alliance between Royalty is in order. And if you wish… possibly form a union through marriage.”

Sinmara ignored Saitama’s glare directed at her.

“I beg your pardon?” Ikala blinked.

“I am afraid my daughter is currently taken.” Titania smiled in understanding.

“…And my kid is also taken.” Saitama reminded.

“Oh, it is a simple suggestion. After all, polyarmories are prevalent amongst royalties.”

Saitama rasped into the table.

“But don’t let this innocent suggestion dissuade this offer. You will need all the assistance to open Alfheim’s borders to the Realms. Or at least, just enough to safely reintegrate.”

“Indeed. So much has happened… my people are still too wary of outsiders after all that has happened.” Titania understood.

“I suggest you bring something… from Midgard to your people. Slowly introduce outside products of outside culture first.” Sinmara replied.

“Like porn?” Oberon asked, in which he received a good smack to his head from his Queen.

“Ignore him.” Titania quickly amended, “But instead of simply receiving outside culture… I am considering sending one or two of my people to learn more about outside realms, as an ambassador.”

“Oh? Dare I assume that you made your selection?” Sinmara asked with an intrigued tone.

However, the door was slammed open before Titania could answer.

“Halt!”

Souji entered the room, the royal guards holding the Devil’s waist as Souji and Matthers struggled to breath.

“Pardon my intrusion – Saitama! We need your help! Your son is in danger!”

Immediately, Saitama sprang back to life.

“…I see.”

His way out was here. His face was serious, alive. Without warning, he bolted towards the door and grabbed Souji, leaving his ‘Queen’ and Rover behind so swiftly it was absurd.

The monarchs in the room blinked at the empty spot where Saitama was earlier, then to Rossweisse, then to each other – trying to process what just took place.

Heaving a sigh, Sinmara broke the silence, “…Let us continue this conversation for another time. For now, let us have a look at what is happening-”

Before Sinmara could finish, several booming noises and a wave of ominous aura washed over the room, alerting everyone.

“…And apparently Saitama’s urgency to leave this room might be warranted.” Sinmara commented as she left the room, with Rossweisse and the rest of the elves in tow.

---

He landed somewhere unfamiliar.

The dragon was annoying inside him. He felt annoyed yet he did not want to kill the creature so he destroyed half of the dragon’s wings with one punch.

His second punch broke his hind leg, bones jutting from hide and scales, only for him to see the others hitting him on the other side.

Who are these people? All he saw was a shadowy visage; he knew them, but for some reason he could not really remember. It was like answering a multiple-choice test but none of the options were the correct answer.

All he could do was react in turn, but it was difficult.

Dividing his attention like this was annoying, jumping from one side to the other, forced to focus only on one side of the coin and not both.

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Bikou blocked Demon Issei’s karate chop.

For the first time in his life, he heard his beloved bo staff crack like Arthur’s sword

“Oh shit, shit, shit! Guys, I need help! He’s on Saitama juice or something!” Bikou panicked as he was brought down to his knees, then forced back down to the grass, then his arms started to give in as the force cracked his arm bones and ribs.

Anyone that could break Holy Swords and otherwise deserved that much fear and panic.

The hand grabbed Bikou’s staff with both hands, raised it and Bikou while the monkey’s hands still gripped the shaft, then smashed it with his knee, Bikou’s chin landing on it after his staff was smashed in two, the monkey prince flying into the air before Vali caught him,

“Oh, shit.” Azazel cursed when Issei held the two broken halves of Bikou’s staff, with the jagged sharp ends aimed at them.

“This is bad. Very bad.” Azazel could not help but vocalize his distress.

“I don’t need to hear you cursing to see that. Is there anything we can do to stop him?!” Grayfia shouted at Azazel.

“I’m kind of afraid that he might be able to break my Sacred Gear at this point, but…” Azazel was not sure how to handle this.

His scientific mind warned that his Downfall Dragon Spear might explode if Issei CAN break it before Fafnir was coughed back to the world. His instincts warned him that he should create more clones to take the damage if wanted to remain intact.

“…I will do it.” Griselda offered herself as she landed on the grass, staring at Issei firmly.

“You will what now?” Azazel asked.

“…My Balance Breaker has the ability to purify all supernatural afflictions.” Griselda inhaled. “But I will need assistance. My incomplete Excalibur might not be enough.”

“Then what if it is complete?” Arthur landed beside Griselda.

Griselda turned to the young man. She was shocked to see Arthur handing the sword to her, the final excalibur fragment.

“It’s already damaged, so I am afraid you’ll have to make do.”

Griselda eyed the damaged holy sword for a second before she received it with a nod, “…This will do, thank you.”

“I guess the only thing left now is to keep Ise still and give Griselda an opening.” Azazel stretched his limbs a little, preparing himself for another tussle. “Are you ready, Arthur?”

“I hope you will not use any of us as your… Bikou, what would you call a man that receives damage in their stead?”

“Damage sponge.” Bikou rubbed his jaw with a hiss.

“Yes, damage sponge.” Arthur quipped.

“Don’t worry, I made some Dark Warriors beforehand to take it for me. At worst, I’ll be your damage sponge…” Azazel gulped.

He was not sure if he was ready to take the punch from a Saitama-juiced berserker Issei.

Without warning, Issei moved.

Everyone reflexively reacted, but Issei threw the sharp ends at the sky, the two halves of Bikou’s weapon now flying out of orbit before Issei started… flailing around.

As if fighting something that was not there.

“Ddraig must be keeping Issei busy from his own end.” Azazel summarized.

Then Issei jumped high into the air before he landed. He started punching something on the ground in their eyes, shockwaves blowing up waves of dust from the battle-scarred lands each time.

For Ddraig, Issei dragged his head down and started to beat the shit out of him one-sided.

“Everyone! Are you ready?! Once we go in, we’re gonna take all of the aggro this time!” Azazel

Griselda summoned her other Excalibur. Then without hesitation, she fused the two swords, a complete Excalibur now in her hand as she summoned the Sword of Duality in the other.

Meanwhile, Vali was plummeting on the unforgiving ground after receiving another blow from Issei – barely defending himself to keep him in fighting shape.

He had a trump card, but it was sealed by Azazel so that his body could adapt to his potential over time. Not even Issei’s full potential developed instantly since birth.

[Divide!]

Vali finally decided to use Divide as energy pulsed from his hands. He had a hunch that Issei did not have access to Boost.

As he predicted, Issei’s form staggered for a brief moment from the sudden loss of power, albeit he quickly moved to battle another invisible figure. However, there was no noticeable increase in his power levels either.

However, the power Vali received was tremendous, the energy within him was more than what he could output. Another Divide would cripple his armor.

There was only one thing he could do. He did not have [Explosion], so he must do the chant.

Vali began the chant – and Issei did not react, which was good.

“I, who am about to awaken, am the Heavenly Dragon who lost all to the principles of supremacy. I envy the “infinite” and I pursue the “dream”. I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy… And I shall take you to the limits of innocence!”

[Juggernaut Drive!]

Vali’s armored form was enveloped in a bright light. When the light faded, Vali’s humanoid form was replaced by the sight akin to a dragon donning the Scale Mail of Divine Dividing. The fully realized Vanishing Dragon then proceeded to rocket towards Issei.

Vali approached by thrusting his large draconic palm forward, in which Issei met with his own punch; the clash created a powerful shock wave that devastated the landscape and knocked everyone away. Then Vali slammed his other draconic hand atop of Issei, pressing him into the dirt standing as the two contested their might.

However, while Vali had allowed himself to wield the raw power of the Vanishing Dragon for a limited time, he also had made himself into a bigger target for Issei to attack.

[Divide!]

However, that did not matter as long as he could Divide Issei’s strength to oblivion, weak enough for Griselda to purify him.

With each Divide, Issei’s strength waned as Vali caught his other fist.

Issei growled as his power rose fiercely in retaliation against Vali’s Divide.

Vali had no idea why anyone related to Saitama could regain their strength like this, like the man-fish creature back at the house.

Griselda took this opening as she went in, celestial maiden armor of gold as her wings spread, shining brilliantly as she ambushed Issei from his blind spot and brought her Excalibur Dual into Issei’s chest before the latter could have reacted.

A roar bellowed in response as he glared at her.

“Please, Sir Issei!” Griselda pleaded as she attempted to purify him, remove all ailments and strengthen Issei’s spirit.

However, Issei growled as he grasped the blade lodged into him with his bare hands, and smoke came from the skin that made contact with the enchanted blade as Issei’s ominous aura flared to react against Griselda’s.

“Is it working?! This bastard is still… stubbornly strong!” Vali grunted as he struggled to push Issei down.

OxO

“Now!”

Within Issei’s soulscape – Ddraig, Elsha, and Belzard acted and slammed Issei down; the two predecessors kicked the back of his legs to force him to his knees and held his arms from behind.

Ddraig then looked around; noticing the fluctuation in the ominous energy that Issei was exuding. He sure hoped whatever was happening outside would put an end to this debacle.

Back to the material plane, Issei looked up at Vali as his crimson eyes glowed.

[Transfer!]

Vali was caught off-guard at the sudden shift in the flow of energy.

Within Divine Dividing, Albion sensed something dangerous touching the imaginary borders of this realm.

As for Vali, he could not believe it as Issei stole the power he stole from Issei instantly.

Was that Transfer? He knew the feeling of that technique, but to upgrade and weaponize it, that was extremely unfair.

[Soul Transfer!]

Then the demon decided to get greedy as he pushed back both Vali and Ddraig, against Elsha and Belzard, rising to his feet.

Ddraig sensed it. The dragons that Euclid imprisoned in his faux sacred Gear sensed it.

Ddraig had never sensed Albion this close ever since they were sealed.

In Divine Dividing, a breach opened for the first time in centuries, a foreign influence infiltrating this Sacred Gear.

From the breach in reality, a massive titanic hand reached out – a phantasmal skeletal framework composed of power the likes Albion had never witnessed.

And it was nearing towards him.

“Don’t tell me…!” Albion could not believe it.

[Vali! VALI! I hope this isn’t just my fear thinking for me… but I think Issei is trying to take me!]

Albion immediately casted Divide from within. Here, he could at least fight back in this domain…

[Transfer]

However, the hand took the power back on reflex.

Albion’s first response was to fight, but his instinct roared at him to stay away.

But the hand lashed out lightning fast and grabbed his body.

[VALI! HE’S TAKING ME! He’s actually trying to take me away from Divine Dividing!]

“What?! WHAT?!”

Vali noticed it. A ‘hand’ touching someone critical inside him, within Divine Dividing.

“Shit, SHIT!” For the first time in his life, Vali panicked – feared for his life, no, for his future.

Issei’s hands crushed the Juggernaut’s gauntlets into powder, before he reached out and plunged his claws into Vali’s dragon chassis, ripping the dragon shell and exposing the soft cambion filling inside, a panicking Vali.

Then Issei grabbed his face and plunged his other hand into his chest.

“Wait, wait, wait! Stop! Isn’t the copy enough for you!?” Vali flailed as he struggled to free himself, firing magic at the demon, ice, lightning, fire, anything, only for the demon to ignore his attempts.

Griselda moved first since she was the closest. She broke off from purifying Issei in favor of helping Vali. Channeling the power of Excalibur Destruction, Griselda swung her blade, prompting Issei to intercept the swing.

However, he did not take into account the resulting shockwave that launched him away from Vali’s Juggernaut form.

“Sir Vali, are you well?” Griselda asked while keeping her eyes on Issei’s demonic form.

“Albion, how are things in there?” Vali asked as he took a few deep breaths.

[It was a close call… But the sister managed to prevent the transfer’s completion. We will be fine as long as the Red One does not repeat the same technique on us again.]

At this point, everyone else has regrouped with Vali and Griselda, regarding Issei who had become still again while glaring blankly at them.

“Damn… Now the window’s closed again.” Azazel cursed, providing the first opening for Griselda was already a very tall order.

Now it was safe to assume that Issei would be more guarded around them…. Whatever the hell was happening to him.

However, before anyone else could have spoken, the tension was broken by the sound of rumbling thunder, followed by flashes of lightning coming from the clouds above.

Issei immediately sensed someone was descending on him as he immediately leapt away to avoid a lightning strike destroying the spot where he stood earlier.

When the dust settled down a few seconds later, everyone was greeted by the visage of the Norse’s most powerful God of Thunder.

“Gahahahahaha!” The newcomer’s mirthful laugh bellowed like thunder, powerful and full of vitality.

Electricity danced across his purple hair as he smiled at the demonic form of Issei Hyoudou.

“I hope it isn’t too late for another! My, you have changed! Is this another form of yours?!” Thor grinned his teeth.

Everyone was surprised yet again.

“Whoa…” Kiyome was stunned. She did not expect to see the Thunder God joining the chaos.

But Azazel was worried. He was not sure if Thor could stand up to this Issei.

In terms of might, Issei surpassed Orochi, though that snake was holding back at his master’s behest.

Issei roared at the newcomer, breaking free from Ddraig’s hold with renewed strength.

No, his strength had increased from the conflict as he closed the distance and struck Thor directly in the abdomen.

“Thor!” Sirzechs and Azazel shouted as the shockwave traveled through the Thunder God and kicked a wave of dust behind him.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Not bad! My turn!”

Issei found himself feeling confused; but his confusion died soon enough when Thor struck Issei’s face, thunder exploding on impact as Issei flew into the remains of Euclid’s base.

The base shattered as the plateau shook, rumbled from the impact. It fell into pieces and sunk into the earth as if it was sinking into quicksand.

“…What?” Vali and the rest gawped.

The Thunder God, in contrast, overpowered Issei with surprising ease.

“Are you amazed by the fruits of my training?!” Thor turned around and greeted their shocked faces with a smile.

“As Son of Odin and sworn Brother of Saitama, it is my duty and honor to surpass the Egg God! HAHAHAHAHAHA! And he took that hit well!”

The ruins of the base erupted, stone and debris flung into the sky like a geyser.

Something jumped out of the cloud of dust and landed before them, Issei glaring at them, with a fresh crack in his organic armor.

To be Continued….

---

Bonus Special

Deep within the underground cave system, were a party of five youngsters walking in a formation. From their get-ups and inventories, these five were not your average explorers – they were adventurers, a group that braves through the unknown for the sake of discovery, thrills and glory.

The air was moist with stone-trapped dew, the sound of dripping falling from stalactite to stalagmite, their steps muffled under their boots.

The sole male in the middle – a young man with spiky brown hair clad in a simple red robe, was holding his staff that was conjuring a ball of light to provide the party a better vision of their surroundings.

“Have you sensed anything ahead so far, Xenovia?” Issei the wizard asked as he stood in the center of the formation.

Xenovia the Paladin, clad in armor complete with a sword and a shield, replied as she was the vanguard of the party, “Nothing so far, Koneko?” She asked her comrade who stood a little behind her.

The petite barbarian was sporting a two-handed axe that was nearly twice her size, clad in what appeared to be a set of cloth wrapped around her chests and private areas, and a cloak made of animal fur – a bear in particular, as the head of the bear served as the hood covering her head.

“Hmm…” It was her usual ‘Dunno’ response.

“Alright, but stay alert for traps and enemy scouts.” Issei then addressed the ranger of the group, “Irina, how’s your ammo?”

“Still fresh – we didn’t run into many enemies earlier.” Irina nodded as she had an arrow tucked on the quiver, ready to be set loose.

“Asia – how many miracles can you use today?”

The healer of the group, Asia – stood at the rear near Irina, “I can still use some minor heal, purification and holy light.” She sounded understandably nervous.

The party had been tasked to investigate a site where several people had been reported missing; earlier investigation indicated there was a cave that might have led to a nest of creatures that could be responsible for the disappearances.

After nearly an hour of trekking, they stopped at a sizable space within the cavern, with the sight of a fork in their path.

Now they must make a choice.

Left or right.

Which would they take? They must choose wisely.

“…How should we do this?” Xenovia asked.

“Coin flip?” Irina chimed.

“Really?” Issei scoffed but he procured a coin nonetheless. “Alright, heads or tails?”

“Heads.”

“Tails.”

“Hea-…eh?” Asia felt a sharp pain piercing her from behind.

Everyone turned to Asia… seeing a small shadow lurking behind her, which was revealed to be a short green humanoid creature lodging a dagger through her back.

“Asia!”

“Goblins!”

Xenovia quickly moved to kill the creature who backstabbed Asia, which was done easily enough, however…

Koneko and Irina were the first to notice several presences making themselves known, lurking out from several dark spots within the cavern.

They have failed to perceive the hidden tunnels and crevices around them in the darkness as well as the fork in the road behind them.

They walked into the ambush.

Spears, daggers, and cackling laughter sprang from the darkness.

Koneko tried to rage, but the goblins had the initiative, and she was pelted with arrows and thrown stone, one striking her temple.

She was stunned, leaving her open for the next attack, forcing Irina to cover her and herself as she began to fire her arrows at the nearby enemies.

Xenovia was covering Issei who attempted to heal Asia using a potion.

“Come one, come on…. No! Why isn’t this working?!”

Issei yelled in frustration at the sight of Asia’s wound closing, yet the cleric was not showing any signs of recovering. In fact, her face was pale and she appeared to have difficulty in breathing.

Issei then had a quick look at the dagger that stabbed Asia earlier, and he managed to notice the murky substance mixed with Asia’s blood on the blade.

“Shit, it’s a poisoned dagger! Does anyone have any antidotes!?”

“None! We didn’t have enough money to buy antidotes!” Xenovia replied while busy fending off a pack of goblins.

In a fit of desperation, Issei then casted Rejuvenation, in order to keep Asia alive, “Come on, Asia… Stay with us! Breathe!’

Then an arrow struck Issei’s arm, causing Issei to grunt in pain as he turned his focus on a goblin wielding a bow.

Issei then growled and aimed his staff at the offending creature, “Carbunculus… Crescunt… Iacta!”

The goblin then was caught in flames.

“Yes!” Issei could not help but feel elated at his first successful spell.

Kyakakakakaka!

However, the rest of the goblin cackled as more arrows flew from the darkness.

Irina desperately attempted to fire back, but a stray arrow snapped her bowstring.

“Nooo!”

Several more goblins rushed towards her with wicked smiles, drool dangling from their tongues as their oily, creased skin leaked sweat from the anticipation alone. Soon, Irina found herself screaming and kicking at the goblins pinning over her frame.

OOBLAK!

Then Issei was blasted, his head shot by a spell of Force energy, sending him flying back. He broke his ankle on the fall, leaving him prone as he hissed in pain. In the darkness, a goblin shaman casted a spell in return, calling upon the powers of its chosen God to give it strength.

When he looked up, a swarm of goblins with clubs ganged up on him and started beating his face with their primitive weapons. In the midst of the beating, Issei then witnessed his comrades being overwhelmed.

“No! Stay back!”

Xenovia had been bereft of her sword and shield as multiple goblins tackled and pinned her to the ground, followed by a couple more who proceeded to dismantle her armor and equipment. One goblin managed to wrench her chestplate off before undo her chainmail with a jagged dagger, revealing her breasts; and another goblin was dismantling the lower-half of her protection.

“Nyaaghk-!”

Koneko was robbed of her weapon and a goblin pulled her down to the ground while clinging on her back – its arms wrapped around her neck and its legs were trapping her arms against her torso. The other goblins were already in the middle of ripping away her cloak and clothing.

Asia was too weak and helpless as the goblins savored her, one ran her tongue across her cheek with wicked eyes gazing into her, while the other took its time to tear her clothing away.

“Noo!”

Irina herself was already stripped of her minimal armor and her clothes, with the goblin standing by her crotch slowly pushing his erect meat rod against her slit.

As Issei was assailed by clubs, one raised a dagger over his head with a triumphant cackle.

“Wait, wait, stop! Time out!”

Then, the world around suddenly stopped, as if frozen in time before the view glitched away.

OxO

“…Goblins don’t do that! Where the hell did that come from?!”

Issei shouted as he pointed at Black, who was holding the Dungeon Master’s Book.

Everyone – Irina, Xenovia, Koneko and Asia, was sitting around a table in the living room, a map drawn on paper laid on the table, characters made in their image but all wearing fantasy clothing standing on a certain section of the map, along with several unique-looking dies.

In short, they were playing Dungeons and Dragons.

“Yes, they do! That’s what the guide says!” Black replied to Issei’s remarks.

“They don’t in real life! And seriously?! Tone down the R-18! This ain’t right, man!” Issei gestured to Irina and Asia. “It’s better to just kill and eat our corpses! No need for this shit!”

“Hey, again – that’s what the guide says about Goblins! The default is R-18! What the hell do you know about goblins, anyway!?” Black returned.

“I met them in Alfheim, and they do NOT violate women! Only orcs do that shit!” Issei shouted back.

While Black and Issei were arguing, the girls were engaged in their own discussion about the session so far.

“…I underestimated this game.” Xenovia remarked with a small sigh.

“Uuu… If only I were more vigilant…” Asia said while holding her head down.

“It’s fine, Asia… I was supposed to be the scout in the group, yet I failed the perception check.” Irina consoled while she was also disappointed with herself.

Koneko was looking a tad dejected, yet she also glared at the die, as if she was blaming the small object for her failed perception check that led to their ambush.

The twenty sided die was now her enemy.

The die that rolled natural 1s for everyone in this group.

“…The dice is wicked,” Koneko muttered loud enough for the girls to hear.

“Is it? We got to kill several goblins and Issei also managed to cast some spells.” Xenovia replied.

“Anyway!” Black finally declared the end of the game and argument session, “Y’all up for another round or what?”

Issei glared at Black. He was wearing that damnable evil smile again.

“…Fuck it. But we’re changing the dice.” Issei blew his hair. “…I’m choosing to be a Dragonborn Dragon Blooded Sorcerer.”

“Another spell-caster? And you just changed your racial-class.” Black remarked.

“Wanted to see what being a Dragonborn is like. I’m already a fighter in real life, so… Yeah,” Issei said.

“Hah… Aight, aight. What about you gals?” Black sighed before he asked the girls.

“Um… I think I’m fine for now.” Asia meekly replied, since she was still new with the game.

“Same here.” Xenovia also replied.

“I’m good.” Koneko as well.

“Hmm… I think I want to try something cuter, like an elf, maybe?” Irina mused.

While everyone else was having fun in setting up another session, the door was opened, revealing Vali and Saitama.

“There you are.”

“What are you guys doing?”

“Oh, dad, Vali.” Issei greeted while filling in his new character sheet, “We’re just playing some Dungeons and Dragons, care to join us?”

“Dungeons and Dragons? Ain’t that a western game for geeks?” Vali asked.

“Hey, it’s fun!” Black shouted in protest. “And besides, since the DnD game was a huge success, and the kid binged through the game with the gals, the girls wanna try out the tabletop version.”

Saitama hummed and stared at the table filled with maps, dies, and several small figures and pawns. He then turned to look at the DnD guide books and eventually shrugged.

“Eh, sure. Why not? I’m kind of bored myself, anyway.” Saitama said as he joined and took a seat between Koneko and Black. “So? How are we doing this? Who am I playing as?”

“Well, you need to build your own character first for this game. That’s how this works.” Black answered.

Saitama blinked, “…Wait, what? So no characters ready for me to use? Don’t these games usually come with all characters ready and stuff?”

“That’s the main charm of this game, baldy. Instead of making do with characters prepared for you, you get to build your own character. Here, for now, fill this form – you get to choose your name, your race, profession, powers, etc.”

“Eeeh….” Saitama slightly grimaced at the paper, feeling lazy already.

“Come on, dad.” Issei called out. “If there’s a time where you can show us you can do things without Uncle Genos, now’s that time.”

“Hey, I filled in my application forms for my Hero job back in the day, okay? I know what I’m doing here.” Saitama defended as he took the pen and began reading his character sheet, “Let’s see…. My name and personal information, easy enough… Character backstory? Hey, can I just use my own backstory?”

Issei and Black exchanged glances before the latter shrugged, “Knock yourself out, bud. Um, Koneko, mind helping the baldy filling his character profile? I think he’s gonna need some extra hands soon enough.”

Koneko blinked at first but she wordlessly obeyed as she scooted closer towards Saitama, overseeing his paperwork.

While Saitama was agonizing over the fact that his character sheet has two pages of detailed information he had to fill out, Vali was watching with disinterested gaze.

“Well? You want to give it a shot or not?” Issei asked with a knowing smirk.

Vali regarded his rival and best friend for a few seconds before scoffing, “No, I’ll pass. I have better things to do than playing some role playing games.”

“Like what? You’re already role playing in real life, so what’s the difference?” Issei scoffed.

“Screw you.” Although Vali refused to rise to the bait any further.

“Actually, thinking about it, there’s no way you’ll last a turn knowing how you like to roll the dice in life.”

Vali then narrowed his eyes at that remark, “…What do you mean by that?”

Issei simply shrugged with a smile, “Oh, nothing really. You can go if you don’t want to play, I guess this game is too advanced for you.”

“Oh, is it?” Vali quirked an eyebrow, unamused.

“Mhmm.” Issei smirked at his ‘rival’, “It’s okay, Vali. Nobody’s judging you for being unable to play a game or two.”

The two maintained a tense stare-off for a moment.

“…Give me the rule book.”

Black then handed it to Vali with a knowing smirk. He glanced at Issei who held a peace sign towards him, much to the dwarf’s approval.

---

Tbh, the bonus segment was something I pulled out from my ass. Thoughts? XD