piratefiction Chapter 65: Reviewing
Chapter 65: Reviewing
Chapter 65: Reviewing
I read the latest chapter of One-Punch Man... Shrunken Rover was bigger than I originally thought; and a wild Black Sperm appears! XD
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Wallachia.
More than a thousand years, and the land did not change that much compared to the rest of the world.
On his Pale Horse, the pale man inhaled the air of his homeland.
"Does the smell remind you of home?"
Behind the man was his retinue, a legion of them on horseback. One of them was demonic-looking, bearing golden-sulfur eyes.
"...All I smell is the air of my country." The pale man answered.
"Is it not home?" Another man asked.
"Home I need to see if it is still home." The man whipped the reins, his Pale Horse neighing as it galloped slowly towards the borders.
"Do you need company?" He asked.
"None, Iscariot. I would like to request a moment to myself." He denied.
"...Very well."
The man's black cloak billowed under the gentle breeze as his horse's hooves sunk into the grassy slope leading to the borders.
The cloak was something he took with him from his time in perdition, something he made for himself as a reminder of his time down there, a reminder of his trapping his wife there until they escaped.
Once free from that place's curse of immortality, he destroyed her as an act of mercy and he made her a part of him so that she would not fall to Oblivion and disappear forever.
The horse entered the borders, and he could already see the Danube rivers ahead.
It had been so long since then
He still could not believe that he was finally free. He had been in that wretched place for so long that he had truly forgotten what it was like to walk under the sun and bask under the kind warmth.
The nearest town was ahead He could not remember the name.
Silistra? Maybe.
It looked so different compared to before there were more buildings.
He could see the modern architecture, the rectilinear buildings clustering around the center of the city.
He smiled as a white mist covered the Pale Horse. His mount looked no different compared to a regular horse, disguised. He had heard that the local humans were not used to the supernatural.
He wished he could dress the part. It was good that there were valuables even in Malebolge he could use to barter for coins.
Having been seen riding a horse in the middle of civilization might have garnered unwanted attention. Thus, he dismounted his disguised pale horse and pulled the mount by the rein, as he began to trek through the locals milling around.
The locals paid him a glance or two, but soon ignored him for a tourist.
He inhaled the air. The town was rich with human blood, but he smelled the blood of his descendants mixed with the mortals. He could not remember the last time he smelled rich mortal blood.
He tried to keep track of the living world using the newly damned as his source of information, but the other factions value them as fresh targets of torture. The dead Devils would always be there first, outnumbering him and his retinue billions of times. By the time he managed to smuggle one out of their torture chambers, they were a babbling wreck.
He should try the food here. He had not eaten anything decent in years. Though this reminded him of a disturbing rumor in the living world regarding his descendants.
But first, he needed money.
Should he use hypnosis? No, he shouldn't, he was in the living world. He should find a pawn shop at least to trade goods.
Honestly, it would be better if he found someone connected to the supernatural he should have asked Ermias for more than just giving them physical vessels to inhabit.
There was only one thing to do.
He led his horse towards the nearest cluster of his descendants.
He meandered through the streets with his horse, navigating through the perpendicular maze, his eyes wandering from building to building until he ended up at what looked like a blood bank. He tied the reins around a metal post then entered through the sliding doors. He was surprised that he did not have to move the handle. He could not sense any magical powers running through the door and the walls - was this what this era called science? If so, then humans had truly gone far since his leaving.
"Welcome~"
Taking a brief note of the female tone greeting his entrance, he looked around.
"Ho..."
He marveled at the clean sterility of the room, such dedication to freshness unlike his era.
It did look too clean, however. The white colors and monotonous lifeless tone of the lounge was a bit unnerving, no life or artistic flair unlike his era.
He looked at the front, seeing two women in strange white outfits that seemed made for sexual appeal. White hats and pink skirts so short it revealed a bit of their lingerie white and black panties with garter-belts.
He approved of this fashion, very tantalizing to the eyes.
"Are you here to donate blood or something else, dog of Tepes?" Her tone grew a little hostile as the woman smiled, showing her fangs at him.
"Tepes that is my last name, yes." The man smiled at her as he approached her.
"Then please stay back, filthy man." She scowled.
"...I believe your antagonism towards me is unearned." The man gently dissuaded. "I apologize, however. It has been so long since I have spoken with women of class. I apologize for my unbecoming appearance."
He gently bowed towards them to their surprise.
"...Your pulse it's strange, but you're not lying." The other woman in front of the counter commented.
He was thankful that they still had superhuman hearing and they knew how to tell the truth or lie via heart-beat.
"What business do you have in the lands of Carmilla? Did you come here to purchase our blood stocks or raid our property?" The one behind the desk asked warily.
"Heavens, no." He shook his head. "I plan to dine in one of the local restaurants. I am simply here to ask if you have any modern currency. It is unbecoming to use our powers for petty theft to sustain ourselves."
"...I thought you were a noble, but turns out, you are a penniless vagrant." The other woman in front of the counter let out a condescending smirk. "...You also have the scent of our kin, yet you wish for human food - a hybrid, perhaps?"
"I have been away from my home for so long that it has changed too much for me to remember I still wonder if my mansion is still there, or if that blasted God tore it down just to mock me."
The women were then confused by his remarks.
"...I do have items to barter, priceless ones given the extreme rarity due to their location. But I must ask. Our kind is it true that you have devolved to relying on blood for sustenance?" He asked.
His questions were alien. It was common sense that Vampires needed blood for sustenance as they could not eat normal food, yet this man did not know that.
"...What era are you from for you to question our diet?" She asked.
"...I suppose around the Age of Gods." He shook his head. "Once, during my time, we can enjoy the finest wines and meats with nobles and commoners alike. After all, Ermias told me everything about my conditions when I turned into the first Vampire." He gazed at them through his oiled, dirty black hair, his golden eyes.
"The ability to consume blood is not a luxury to indulge with gluttony. It is a supplement we use to strengthen ourselves to destroy our adversaries. Consuming too much of the crimson life essence would degrade our body, destroy our body's ability to consume normal food and pollute our minds. If we indulge too much it will become a genetic curse on our bloodlines."
At this point, the she-vampire on the reception was looking utterly bewildered at the story coming from the stranger before her.
"...Where did you hear this?" She asked, now giving the strange man her undivided attention.
"I was there, after all. Tell me, are you curious as to why we are weak to sunlight? To holy power? Did they not tell you that it is from the God I used to worship to spite me and my kind for turning to the Demons for strength? And I succeeded in hindering His plans so magnificently that He descended from the clouds to smite me Himself?"
They stared at the smiling stranger, confused yet enraptured by the man.
"He cursed me blood like he did with man long ago when Lucifer decided to rebel, when I decided to go against his scheme to further his religion by abandoning my country to the Ottomans in order to further spread his reach. Cursed to be weak under sunlight and those that bear his cross the garlic is but an unfortunate allergic weakness I had when I was still human. It is still embarrassing that those that share my blood still have it. I am working on absolving them even as we speak since I have returned."
"...Who are you to speak as if you're the founder of our race?" The one behind the reception desk demanded.
The man - Vlad Tepes III, also known as Dracula, smiled before he waved with his hand.
With a single gesture of his hand, the she-vampires froze as their blood recoiled under their skin. It was like it was recoiling from fear and recognition.
That day, The True Vampire Lord announced his return to his people.
Griselda was not smiling.
She was looking sad as she sat in Asia's room, Irina and Xenovia also there to talk.
"...I didn't know." Griselda hung her head.
The girls were talking about their current feelings regarding the matters of their religion, how they see it.
"...I am I don't know how I should feel. I watched movies about people reacting to how they knew everything they knew was a lie but" Irina was downtrodden, hugging her knees on the bed.
"We have been keeping this from Issei and the others. But Sister Griselda. How do you do it? Keep believing in Heaven?" Irina asked.
Xenovia was cross-legged on the floor. Asia was holding Rover, the dog whining with concern for his friend while Rassei cooed in her hair.
"...I don't know." Griselda looked at her lap. "I like to think that what God has built matters, what he left should be protected. At least His teachings uphold the good of all. Mercy, compassion"
"...But what if that is a lie?" Irina asked.
"...Even if it is it is something worth fighting for." Griselda shook her head. "I don't know what God is like in person unlike the angels but not all wisdom came from God. Our faith brought the best out of others, even if it is flawed. The lesson I think is that no one is perfect. Not even God and it is our duty to be better and better the lives of others until our last breath."
Irina, Xenovia, and Asia looked up to their superior.
"But"
"Even if God has things he must answer for It is up to us to confront him and our past sins. It is not good to live life under the dream of perfection. But not everyone can wake up from it and grow stronger."
"I see." Irina inhaled.
"...Give it some thought. It is not only our duty as those we serve the will of Heaven to do good, but also to become stronger as humans. Like Sir Issei." She smiled.
The girls smiled as well when she mentioned Issei.
"...Will you stay with us tonight?" Xenovia asked. She needed to check the progression of Black's corruption.
"Perhaps. I must be ready to answer Lady Gabriel's call at any time. What about your training, however?" Griselda's face turned stern, disciplinary as Irina and Xenovia flinched.
"Have you two been indulging in the sin of sloth?"
Both girls exchanged a brief glance, before Xenovia replied, "...We've been progressing."
Griselda raised her eyebrows, "Oh? In that case, perhaps I can make some time to see how far you have grown. Is there a place we can use?"
In response, Irina and Xenovia swallowed a small lump at the incoming hardships. They could only see the beatings and suffering under Griselda's sword, wooden or not.
"...Yes." Irina hesitantly confirmed.
"Miss Argento."
"Y-Yes!?" Asia perked.
"Would you like to join us in our training as well?" She turned to Asia with a sweet smile.
"U-um" Asia looked between Irina and Xenovia, who for some reason were looking expectantly at her.
"Y-Yes! I n-need to get stronger!"
Rassei poked out of her hair and flexed his tiny arms, while Rover panted in her arms.
XoX
In a few moments, they were within the secret training room in the basement. Griselda was holding the Sword of Duality, the sword of spiral black and white,.
Irina took out Houyi's Bow while Xenovia took out Joyeuse and Durandal.
"Hmmm are you sure you want to dual wield? The weight of each weapon is different..." Griselda noted. "And Irina, what happened to relying on your sword? Are you that reliant on Sir Issei's gift?"
Irina gulped. The real reason was that she had absolutely no confidence in besting Griselda with the sword and the composite-feathered holy bow was awesome. It helped her clear out a lot of evil spirits.
"Hmmmm. You two seem stressed. Should I seal my Balance Breaker for you girls?" Griselda offered, yet her smiling face was demanding that they do not take the easy way out.
Asia was in the rear as support. She was the only one unaffected by Griselda's oppressive aura.
"N-No need!" Irina inhaled.
Xenovia and Irina shared a glance. Then nodded as they moved, both running towards the strongest female exorcist as Irina shot an explosive holy sun arrow.
However, Griselda defected the arrow back to Xenovia.
But in return, Xenovia raised Joyeuse, the holy blade absorbing the arrow to Griselda's pleasant surprise.
Xenovia smirked as she launched the arrow her sword stored back at Griselda and then fired a wave of holy energy with Durandal the moment Irina fired three more explosive arrows at her.
They engulfed Griselda in a wave of holy and sun energy exploding on impact. The explosion was brief, dying quickly to show Griselda's holy barrier covering her entire body.
"My, I did not expect such a combination from the two of you. Your progress is remarkable." Griselda commented with a pleasant smile, "...But let's take this further as they say, shall we?"
The two felt a chill while Asia stammered and prepared Asclepius.
"I never got the chance to use this special sword so often. My opponents are usually many in number, too much quantity over quality." Griselda smiled behind her holy barrier as she raised her sword.
"...Balance Breaker."
"Asia! Enchant us!" Irina shouted as Asia yelped and started buffing the girls with magic, Strengthening, Greater Defense, Greater Aura, Holy Blessing, Swiftness.
That was all Asia could give them before Griselda finished.
Sword of Duality Balance Breaker - Celestial Sword Maiden Apostle.
After a brief flash, Griselda emerged, armored, armed, and beautiful.
It was also quite provocative as three girls were simultaneously stunned and blushed by her beauty.
Griselda was bedecked in slightly revealing holy armor, metal thigh high golden stiletto boots, her leotard armored in plates, a cutout around her womb area as her arms were covered in elegant white silken sleeves, her wings covered in sharp golden metal.
Her halo bore blade-like ridges around the outer perimeter, a floating dagger floating in the center of the halo, the tip aiming perpendicularly skyward.
She had a tiara with silver feathers, her hair flowing from invisible wind that seemed to add impact to her new regal look.
It was the complete opposite of Bernael's armor, a beautiful polarizing reflection.
"...Are you ready?" She asked with a gentle smile, a smile that seemed to hide her sadism.
Irina took out Clarent and she and Xenovia let out a frightened warcry as they charged at Griselda with the resolve to die.
Or brutally beaten by the person that instilled so much fear into them.
Asia joined in as Rassei squeaked and fired lightning at Griselda as support.
It took Griselda three seconds to dismantle her proteges and defeat them, leaving Asia the last one standing while Griselda smiled over her students.
"...Perhaps if you'd be so kind as to tend to their injuries?" Griselda asked as she dismissed her Balance Breaker.
Asia meekly nodded as she used Asclepius on them.
Irina and Xenovia groaned as they slowly picked themselves up, rubbing their heads.
"...How did we do, Sister?" Irina asked as she felt the pain in her body fading away.
"Hmmm. Your bladework needs polishing. The same with Xenovia, but nothing practice and experience can't fix." Griselda tapped her chin. "Oh, is Gold here by any chance?"
Xenovia and Irina flinched at the mention of Gold.
"W-Why are you asking for him?" Irina asked.
"He wants me to try out some new outfits he bought for me. They look lovely, and I want to try them."
It seemed that the road was still long for the two to save Griselda from the clutches of Black's evil.
Another morning in Hyoudou Household began with another morning work-out; and by work-out, sparring matches to see how far everyone had gone during the Summer Vacation.
"Never thought I would see you challenging me again after last time."
On the stage stood Issei and Rias - the latter had boldly challenged the former for the first round.
"I will let you know that I am not the same as before."
"Did you defeat a God in single combat?" Issei asked with a proud smirk.
She frowned at him.
Issei gave an apologetic smile and rectified, "Right, right, sorry. Still, are you sure about this? I'll be surprised if you can force me to use my offensive style."
"I will force out more than that. Prepare yourself!" With smiling anticipation, Rias focused the regulation of her demonic power to flow through her arms until energy gathered around her fingertips. Two crimson orbs accumulated on each of her hands swiftly, each quickly shot forward.
Issei deflected the shots with an ogee-curved swat, sending them toward the walls.
"Go, President!" Koneko cheered as Rias continued firing more and more at Issei.
While continuing to swat her attacks, he glanced at the wall, seeing pierced holes. It seemed she was practicing piercing applications of her power, something he could handle. After all, he endured much worse, and his skin felt stronger than ever, probably because it was from Stjarna's DNA.
Rias fired a few more condensed Power of Destruction orbs as she also began to close the distance between her and Issei.
Waiting, Issei watched Rias attempt a kick, but feint into a tackle when she moved her leg.
Issei knocked her down instantly as she rolled back to her feet.
"You're not the only one that got stronger." Issei reminded, one hand behind his back.
Rias simply smirked - she was far from over. The next round began with Rias cautiously making her way towards Issei, who simply waited patiently for her.
She had a devious plan in her mind. She visualized her approach as expected, trying to take him head on would end with her face meeting the grass. However, she had been practicing judo for this very moment.
The heiress immediately ran towards Issei with full momentum.
Issei quirked a brow at her direct approach.
She jumped towards him, yet Issei moved away from her center, bumping his shoulder into her left leg while his right arm swatted her left arm and leg, sealing her attempt to lock him in a judo attempt.
She frowned, but she had a backup plan.
She could fly.
Devil wings spread, Rias corkscrew-spun into Issei's center, grabbing his face to his surprise And pulled him into a kiss before he punched her in the face on reflex.
"MMPH!?" Issei was blushing with shock.
Collective gasps were heard from the spectators, with Issei's mind stopped working for a split second, before he relaxed and reciprocated the kiss on instinct.
She tasted quite good. Actually, he took the first kiss of the alleged most beautiful girl in school. Should he feel honored? Though he could not feel the sense of victory given how much Rias was fawning over him was he actually popular? Issei should meditate on this later.
A few seconds later, the two separated. However, Rias did not expect Issei to literally bring her down to the ground.
"Ooph!" Rias had her air knocked out from her lungs. Her eyes were then met with Issei's amused smirk.
"...Okay. You actually got me good. And well Uhhh What's with the kiss, though?
Issei was not sure if he should mention the taste given the angry glares burning into his head from the sidelines. He held down the urge to lick his moist lips.
"Staking my claim." Rias replied with her smile returning to her face, "I've heard that you are giving the whole harem idea a shot. I simply want to seize the opportunity."
Issei closed his eyes and took a deep breath, contemplating his next words.
"...Alright, I'd be lying if I say I'm not at least attracted to you, but For your information I am still not gonna be a devil."
"Never expect you to. In fact, I don't care anymore." Rias replied as her hand went up to caress Issei's cheek, "As long as you don't mind having me and my having you. I am happy."
Issei stared at Rias' eyes before his lips crept to mirror her smile, "...Thanks. And-!"
Before Issei could have lowered his face to kiss her again, he was suddenly pulled up off Rias.
"N-Nooooo!"
It was Asia, she pulled him off with teary eyes.
"I-It's not fair!" Asia looked up to him. "I-I I want to be with Ise, too!"
Rassei poked out of her hair and gave Issei the cute googly eyes, pleading for him to give Asia attention.
The other girls were not surprised since Asia's affection for Issei was as bright as the sun above their heads, not unnoticeable. They did not expect the girl to be more forward.
Issei stared at Rassei's cute gaze. He smirked as he pet the Imoogi with his finger, eliciting squeaks.
"...Do you want to go somewhere for dinner? Just the two of us." Issei asked Asia.
Asia's face lit up. However, before she could have replied, Ravel cleared her throat.
"Lord Ise, may I remind you that you still owe me that date?"
"Yeah, I remember. You and I first, then Asia tomorrow. Is tomorrow alright for you?"
Asia blinked at the mention. She smiled and nodded.
"Y-Yes! I-I need time to prepare myself!" Asia agreed with a heartfelt smile.
Then Koneko tackled Issei's side and hugged him.
"...I got the third seat." Koneko looked up at Issei.
At this point, Issei was feeling like a true harem protagonist, along with the burdens as he saw Akeno's plastic, threatening smile warning him not to forget about her. There was also Irina as well, sharing Akeno's threatening smile and closed eyes.
"...Right, who's in for the fourth?
Akeno and Irina raised both of their hands at the same time. However, they blinked when they saw Xenovia raising her hand as well.
Everyone turned to Xenovia with silent questioning gazes.
"I have my own reasons." Xenovia simply replied.
Irina felt like she should probe Xenovia's reasons, but she already expected this for quite a while when they were alone tonight, maybe. She would not let Xenovia get away with it.
Issei did not expect Xenovia, but he was not surprised for some reason.
Should he be concerned? He had no idea how to juggle the affections of the girls unless he somehow got them all to get along. He remembered Motohama's outrageous rant about a dream harem scenario where the girls turn lesbian but yeah, too outrageous. Hot, he admitted, but unrealistic.
He should talk with his family about this Saitama was not reliable, though he was missing visiting someone abroad. He could confide in Genos, though it might be better to converse with a Big Bad regarding this matter since they have more direct experience in dealing with the opposite sex.
Speaking of which, where was Gold and the others?
Takamagahara.
The realm of Japan's heaven.
There was only one entrance, west of Kyoto, using the fallen bridge that connected Earth used as a waypoint to connect to the sacred realm using the dimensional gap.
However, there were other ways to enter that realm, at least to those that know the way, like a former resident.
Black lied to everyone when he said that Izanami left Platinum at Kiyome's mansion.
Platinum was above the Greater Goddess, but she had him at checkmate.
If he turned her into Platinum, the realm would be turned into platinum, and he would be trapped in the realm until he turned her back. Killing her would result in the collapse of Yomi, the realm falling into Oblivion, nothingness which not even Platinum could escape.
Which was why Platinum tried to bargain with Izanami and talked with the former wife of Izanagi.
Izanami had Platinum agree to one condition to release him.
The three Big Bads were in the grand celestial palace of Izanagi, surrounded by the metal statues of the Heavenly Guards and minor deity warriors.
On his throne, the Primogenitor of Shinto scowled at the intruders, "...May I ask the meaning of all this?"
"Simple. I spoke with your ex-wife."
Izanagi was on a throne similar to the Chrysanthemum throne, bedecked in heavenly jewels. Gold was holding the bleeding head of Takemikazuchi, the warrior god scowling.
The other gods were either beaten to a pulp, but conscious enough to listen, or a statue in silver, gold, or platinum,
"Everyone in this room can hear me, even the statues. Your wife trapped me in Yomi. I couldn't kill her or I would die, and if I turn her into a statue, her realm turns into a statue as well. Did you know that your wife spent a century fusing herself with Yomi until there is no distinguishing? She invented a new Mystic Art just for the day she could repay you for your apparent crimes."
Gold threw Takimikazuchi towards the wooden dais of Izanagi's throne.
"We were at a stalemate. She was under obligations to trap me there, so we made a deal. My freedom to deliver a violent message to you and your realm."
The surviving gods who were still standing - Susanoo, Kagutsuchi, Bishamonten, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, narrowed their eyes on the trio.
"She wants everyone in this realm to know of your crime. You abandoned your wife to Hell, cast her aside. You left her to the darkness as if trying to hide your greatest shame, disavowing her, only to say that she went mad in Yomi. Yomi doesn't have the power to render the mind insane only the solitude it brings can."
Binbougami hummed from the corner, watching the scene with great interest. He did not know about that until now.
"...My liege." Binbougami appeared beside the fallen form of Takemikazuchi. "Mind explaining yourself? What did they mean about your last moments with Lady Izanami?"
Izanagi's face was stoic, his peerless white eyes gazing at the intruders.
"She knows that she cannot force her way here. After all, you deemed her mentally unstable and insane, triggering every resident here to fight against her. You used your propaganda well, making sure that no God can enter Yomi to confirm their suspicion. There are probably a few you confided the truth to, however."
Platinum continued.
Behind them as they purchased tickets for entry, the poorly disguised girls, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and the three Church girls were being hounded by the same petitioners.
"Oh, nice getup! You want to join my Peerage?"
"Join mine! We have accommodations and everything!"
They were not like the Kings Rias and Akeno knew. They could hear the hopeful, yet sad desperation in their voices, making them more like beggars than anything else.
"Rias, this is getting out of hand." Akeno whispered when another tried to call out for them.
"I know that my brother means well, but there should be guidelines to this." Rias whispered back as they all walked faster.
"...And President Sona wanted everyone to be able to play the rating games." Koneko commented.
"Yeah I should have a word with my brother after this." Rias made a mental note to discuss some policies with Sirzechs regarding training and educating applicants in the ways of the Rating Games.
After all, not anyone could become a King. There were rules for this, but the knowledge was reserved for the privileged. They were like children just grasping straws at this point.
Meanwhile, Ravel and Issei walked inside the halls, arriving at an intersection with signs overhead showing the directions. One led to the spectator seats ahead, while the other two led to the shopping mall section where spectators could purchase food or merchandise, Devil spectators walking around, hanging around, talking or moving somewhere solo or in small groups.
"Do you want us to buy something first to eat before going to the stadium?" Issei asked as he looked around, seeing a television screen hanging from the ceiling.
"Hm, I suppose we can watch the matches with some refreshments." Ravel concurred.
"You want to go or should I? Wait, I don't have devil money on me crap." Issei remembered.
Ravel giggled with a smile.
"...What do Devils use as currency? I think I still have Gold's credit card on me but"
"Well, we use Praems, derived from the Latin word for reward." Ravel answered. "Let me go purchase something! I know the Underworld better after all!"
Ravel chirped and skipped to the shopping section, leaving Issei alone to marvel at the surroundings.
There were many Devils in modern clothes, hoodies, T-shirts, jeans, and etcetera walking in and out. He felt odd being one of the only humans here, though the Devils around did not seem adept in sensing the human amongst them. Makes him wonder how much the Nobles were keeping them down under their heels
"Hey, you!"
Issei scratched his hair.
"Hey, you brown-haired bitch!"
"Hm?" He turned around.
He saw a bunch of familiar faces angrily glaring at him.
"...Are you talking to me?" He asked with a warning tone.
He swore he saw their faces before, the thug-like faces and biker jackets.
"...Wait, you're a guy?" The one with his face tattooed with a skull asked.
"Of course I'm a guy. Are you blind?" He asked.
"But I swore you're that brown-haired magical bitch"
Issei's memories clicked.
They were the hooligans that harassed him when he was cursed to live as Isami for a few days in the Underworld. Just when he finally buried the awful memories in the back of his mind...
"You mistook me for someone else. Now go away before you cause a scene." Issei dismissed them.
"Lord Ise!" Ravel returned with bags of snacks, nachos and a cup of juice with two straws in it.
"Thank you for waiting, and-" Ravel then paused when she noticed the group behind Issei and the trace of tension lingering in the air, "...Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's good, Ravel. Let's find a spot and dig in. They look delicious."
"...Now hold on a second."
Issei was about to escort Ravel away when the leader of the hooligans suddenly called out. His frown was quickly replaced with a coy smile as he and the other guys surrounded them.
"Sorry about earlier, but who knew you brought yourself a cutie here?"
"Yeah, and check her out. The way she dresses, she's probably a high-class devil." The other guy remarked while sizing Ravel up and down. "...A bit too short, but damn ain't she fine-looking."
"...And she's mine." Issei warned as he interposed between them and Ravel. "I am gonna say this once. If you don't want your ass kicked, move somewhere else." Issei warned.
The hooligans were about to retort, when they stopped when they saw Issei's eyes turning crimson red.
"...Nice color trick." The skull-tattooed leader remarked. "...But fine. A King of a Peerage must maintain his image, after all."
The couple stared at the hooligan.
"...You? A King?" Issei pointed at him.
"Yeah? You got a problem with that?" He asked.
"No, it's just wow. Kings are meant for the qualified, and well, you don't look like one of them." Issei honestly answered.
"You!" The hooligans were angered.
"Um, Lord Ise" Ravel called out.
"...But fine, suit yourself." Issei sighed. "Go ahead and see how big the ocean is yourself. I won't stop you from fighting for your dreams."
Issei took Ravel's hand and led her away to the arena, leaving the 'Peerage' behind.
"...I think you went a bit overboard with them." Ravel whispered.
"Honestly, I think they need to clean up their act first before thinking of becoming a Peerage." Issei rolled his eyes.
He saw a screen overhead, showing a live recording of the arena and those in it. Issei stopped when he saw a familiar face up against a long line of Devils on the screen.
In the screen, he saw Sairaorg Bael decimating a group of Devils with a punch, sending them flying out of the arena.
He smiled as they walked towards the arena.
When they arrived at the bleachers, Issei and Ravel saw Sairaorg calling out.
"Come!" He gestured to the next group, four devils, one female Devil mixed in with the males as they spread out and surrounded him.
They were hesitant to charge at the man at first.
"Please take care of us!" But they steeled their resolve. They shouted a war-cry as they charged towards the noble Devil head-on.
As expected, the level difference between them was too high. One of them crashed beside Issei and Ravel, groaning in his mangled seat.
Issei and Ravel only had to wait for a few minutes until the match was over with Sairaorg's resounding victory, followed by a break announcement. The King then walked to his corner, where his Queen and the rest of his peerage were waiting with towels and refreshments.
"Should we say hello?" Issei asked Ravel with a smile.
"I believe so, I am a member of the Phenex household. I should not act like a stranger towards a fellow high-class devil, considering we will eventually stand on the same stage in future Rating Games." the girl nodded.
Taking a sip from his drink, Issei and Ravel then made their way towards Sairaorg's peerage as they hopped from the stadium and trespassed the arena.
Ravel was the first to step forward and spoke her greeting first, "Greetings, Lord Sairaorg Bael."
Sairaorg just finished wiping some sweat off him when he noticed the new arrival, "Ah, Ravel Phenex, correct? I see that you have come here to look around. Forgive me for greeting you like this."
"It is alright, Lord Bael. It was an impressive display of might you had there." Ravel amiably replied.
"Yo, muscleman." Issei waved.
Sairaord stared at the most famous human in the underworld.
"Ah The Red Dragon Emperor." Sairarog greeted with a slightly feral grin.
"Not my title, honestly." Issei snarked. "So, what's with the line?" Issei pointed at the line of civilian devils chattering amongst themselves.
"I am here to help educate the new Peerages and show them the taste of the Rating Games. It is a new experience. They are weak, but I don't blame them. They were not groomed for the Rating Games like most of us are." Sairaorg smiled.
"By beating their muscles Saitama-style?" Issei snarked.
"Of course. I did learn under him for a while."
Issei's smile fell for a moment.
"...Wait, what?" Issei picked his ears.
"I can see your surprise. I respect your father greatly. We met when I was away in the Human world on a trip. I was surprised when I saw a bald man in a ridiculous costume punch a tornado without a care in the world. After that, well"
Issei imagined his father internally panicking at the sight of a young Sairaorg begging him to be his teacher. He puffed his cheeks and broke into snickers.
"Pffft! You you do know he sucks at teaching, right?" Issei held his stomach with laughter.
Sairaorg replied with a good-natured sigh, "I cannot deny that one, but his strength is still undisputed. Despite the poor teaching, I can still gain some insight by spending time with him. For that, I am content."
However, Sairaorg suddenly tilted his head, "...Forgive me for asking, but have we ever met before? You look. Familiar, for some reason."
It took a second for Issei's brain to click - shit, I was not myself when we first met.
"That's your imagination." Issei waved Sairaorg's question off. "May I ask you something?" Issei asked.
"Yes?"
"...You want to show them what real combat is like?" Issei smirked, pointing a thumb at the line waiting for them.
Sairaorg only stared at the boy for a few seconds before his lips spread into a grin, "...What do you have in mind?"
Crunch
He could not remember the blood tasting so sweet, so syrupy and tasty.
Snap
The calcium was new. The marrow inside was rich, so he sucked out of the juices inside.
Crunch
He did not leave anything to waste. He must have more. His body demanded it.
Gulp
He swallowed the last piece of his meal; however, they were not enough. Not enough life essence, not enough nutrients, not enough power, not enough quality.
There was not a choice, but he must bide his time with this inferior meat. It was strange, now that he thought about it. Was this what being Chimera was like?
He did not feel like a Chimera, yet he had the hunger of one. He did not recognize that he had already fallen to insanity when he was still a Devil, driven by unrequited lust, hatred, and more recently, despair and vengeance.
He wanted vengeance above all else. However, he was still dying.
He pulled the head off the shoulders and cracked it open. The brain was exquisitely juicy and he scooped out the gray matter and slurped it.
He was lucky that everyone was too busy dealing with the Undead for them to take notice of him residing in a large mountain.
He needed isolation, and the location was a natural ward against evil spirits in general.
"How is my progress?" He asked one of the spirits he found while hunting for flesh.
It was a good find at least, a good scientist. The scientist was bound by dark sigils engraved on his soul flesh.
Joachim Mrugowsky - He was a Nazi scientist that died during World War II.
His sins were the experimentation of unwilling humans testing the human limits before they expire, freezing, altitude, diseases, and he died believing he was without crime, his sin committing atrocities for the greater good of the few over the many.
He was in great pain, his ethereal form showing the tortured scars he felt when he was in Hell, a place where humans were nothing more than prey to the strong, cursed to never die in that place.
"Y-You your condition" Joachim wheezed, in great pain, tortured into servitude. "Your strange body is slightly recovering but your cells are still cannibalizing themselves to maintain cellular stability. I Your body it is nothing I've seen it's as if each cell got rabies and grew teeth to gnaw on each other" He wheezed.
Diodora Astaroth continued chewing. This human soul had learned the ability to diagnose others thoroughly on a cellular level, which was unique.
He kind of respected this former human, mostly for his penchant for cruelty for the sake of eugenics, an invention of man that worked well with the Devil society.
Diodora continued chewing on the hapless human he caught, hiding in a cave around what the humans called Mt. Fuji.
"How much do I need to eat until my cells are satisfied?" Diodora asked before he moved to the skull, biting off the bone.
"It might be terminal" Joachim rasped.
"I'm prepared for it. Is there a way to stave off my condition long enough, for a week at least?" Diodora could not enact vengeance if his body threatened to destabilize itself.
"I don't know Wait Maybe if you have a steady supply of rich nutrients constantly injected into you." Joachim suggested.
"Hmmm. Interesting proposal." Diodora continued eating the skull bone. He needed equipment for that, but he was without many of his resources.
He hoped Khaos Brigade marked him as dead, otherwise they would've destroyed his secret bases.
He could not hunt around these bases, the world was on high alert.
"I would need some equipment. You. You're a former Nazi. Tell me, are there any secret bases you know I can ransack?"
"...Yes" Joachim weakly answered. "...We delved into the supernatural contracted with Devils for the cause."
"A worthless cause. You better not lie, or else I would send you back to Hell. Your precious Hitler might be back there by now, tortured by the others. You don't want to join him, do you?"
Joachim shook his head weakly.
Diodora Astaroth grinned, "Good. Show me the way, insect."
To be Continued.
Omake: The 'Strongest' of the Gap
"...What am I looking at?"
Saitama asked Ophis.
"...Home invader."
They were in the chaotic polychromatic realm, no floor, no walls, a realm where the untrained could be lost forever.
The Dimensional Gap, home of the most famous Dragon in history.
The Great Red, the Dragon of Dragons, a being so strong, so grand, that it inspires awe to all in the Nine Realms.
Or at least it was according to the texts.
What Saitama saw was an overgrown lizard playing around in the vacuum realm, making sputtering noises as if he was revving a motorcycle while doing corkscrew spins with his massive, red dragon body.
"...Home invader?" Saitama pointed at the thing with a dragon's body.
"Yes." Ophis nodded, shifting on his shoulders.
"...I grew up listening to stories about Dragons, how awesome they are, how many of them are like final bosses and stuff but What is this?"
It was like hearing great things about a movie, only to end with him demanding a refund for his wasted time and money after seeing it.
This was one of those moments.
The dragon and Saitama suddenly met eye to eye.
"Huh? What are you staring at, boy?"
Saitama's disappointment grew exponentially. The dragons sounded like a punk with a voice that was wasted on him.
"...I thought dragons are supposed to be dignified or something."
"You want a piece of me, punk?!"
Saitama's face twisted with more disappointment.
"...Saitama. Please beat him up for me." Ophis cutely pointed at the Great Red.
"...I kind of don't feel like it."
"Why not?"
"...I was expecting a fight with a final boss-like dragon but all I got is. this."
His remarks triggered the Great Red.
"You got something to say to me? You want to die?" The Great Red threatened with the mannerisms of a juvenile delinquent.
Saitama sighed with dejection.
"...Alright, you know what? Let's just get this done and over with, so I can go home." Saitama muttered under his breath, "What a goddamn disappointment."
Saitama flew towards the Great Red. He could fly in the Gap thanks to Ophis' enchantment. This was different than getting a power-up snake because he needed a way to travel through a realm where there is no floor for him to walk on other than trying to break the gap just to move.
"What, you want to fight me? Go ahead, you little baldy. Try it and see if you can-"
BOOM!
The red fist struck harder than a meteor, a concave indentation in the right side of the Dragon of Dragons.
"BLEGH?!"
"Oh!" Ophis perked with genuine emotion for the first time in her long life. "Y-You got him! You hurt him!"
Ophis shouted with genuine surprise, a pleasant emotion she hadn not felt since forever!
Saitama's fist smoked as he watched the dragon flail and flounder.
"OW! OWOWOWOWOWOWOW! What the shit?! What the fuck?! OW!"
Saitama was slightly surprised.
"Huh. You're still conscious. Alright, I'll take back some of what I said." Saitama meant to knock the guy out with a single punch, yet the thing was sturdier than he believed.
The delinquent dragon glared and scowled indignantly at the baldy.
"That hurt, you mofo! Ow! Alright, you want my full attention?! You have my full attention! You'll get to see the full power of the True Dragon of motherfucking Dragons, Baldy!"
Saitama wished the dragon would stop talking. He really didn't want the guy to destroy his image of dragons he nurtured for so long any further. It was too depressing.
"Eat this! Thousand Exploding Suns!"
Saitama widened his eyes when everything around him went white.
A thousand explosions erupted into existence, a cluster of miniature novas clustering as close to the small man as possible as the Great Red watched his work, one of the attacks he imagined while doing his thing in the Dimensional Gap.
"Ahahahahaha! This is the power of the Great Red! The Dragon of Dragons! This would've been enough to incinerate an entire universe, and it is what you get for starting this you you. Eh?"
When the explosion faded away the polychromatic colors of the gap superseding the overwhelming white, Saitama remained there, unfazed by the Great Red's seemingly ultimate attack.
Saitama looked over himself and sighed, "That actually kind of scared me. You're lucky that Ophis made my clothes sturdy, otherwise I'd have been pissed over losing another suit."
"...What?" The Great Red was baffled.
How was Baldy still alive? He put everything in that attack.
"Then again, a universe? Really? I read and watched an entire show that ended with people that said that they could wipe out a universe. Only one guy did that in the end, the others, not so much. You are the kind of guy that just likes to brag, all hot air." Saitama's voice of disappointment annoyed the Dragon of Dragons.
"Hot air? You think I'm just hot air?!"
"Do you even know how to fight?"
"Of course I know how to fight! I'm a dragon! A true Dragon!" The Great Red shouted.
"Alright, since when was the last time you had a real fight?"
The Great Red opened his mouth for a moment. He blinked his big reptilian eyes as he worked his mind to recall.
"...A real fight. Uhhhhh"
"Like two people duking it out for real." Saitama answered.
"I had fights!" The Great Red defended himself.
Saitama quirked a brow.
"I I uh hmmm." The Great Red closed his mouth. "...All I remember are little bugs nagging to fight me do they count?"
"No."
"...Shut up!" The Great Red then unleashed another attack - similar to the previous one, but he concentrated the white flame to engulf Saitama's immediate location.
"Then how about this!? The densest, most concentrated fireball in existence!" The Great Red shouted as he concentrated with all of his might, summoning and converging all of the heat and energy into the baldy until he became a miniature sun.
"This will continue until you're erased from existence, Baldy! Feel the raging heat of a thousand suns and-"
The white flame suddenly died out, blown away by the baldy's fist as if flicking a candle.
"...Eh?" The Great Red stared at Saitama.
"In a fight, don't talk too much. If you want to show how strong you are, show it, don't say it. Like this."
Saitama flew into the Great Red's stomach like an arrow, plunging his fist into the Great Red.
The damage was like a supernova exploding inside his gut, the force exploding into and out of the Great Red as the Dragon of Dragons coughed out his true dragonblood and spittle before the force launched him away like a tumbleweed
"AAARRGHHHH!" The Great Red rolled left and right in pain, holding his stomach.
"If you've been in real fights, you should know what it's like to feel pain. You're tough, but you're not strong. A real strong person would know how to overcome something so simple as a struggle." Saitama lectured as he flew towards the Great Red.
Consecutive Normal Punches
Saitama continued raining down punches on the Great Red, breaking through his legendary scales that could repel any attack, turning him into a poor punching bag.
Due to the Great Red's sheer size, Saitama ran around the giant's body while punching him to hit every single angle he could.
Saitama finished his combo with an uppercut to his great dragon jaw, breaking some of his teeth as the dragon flipped once into the void from the force, his massive size sent flying.
"This is what it means to be in a real fight." Saitama finished his lecture as Ophis looked at the Baldy with eyes of sparkling awe and amazement.
Saitama waited for the dragon of dragons to retaliate against him for the damage.
However
Saitama blinked when he saw tears dripping down his eyeballs.
"...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Both Ophis and Saitama were caught off guard.
The Great Red was crying.
The Dragon of Dragons was truly crying.
Saitama did not think that something that big could reduce himself into a bawling fit.
"...He's actually crying." Even Ophis was amazed.
"...Do you want to leave?"
Ophis stared at the Great Red in contemplation.
At one hand, she could get him to evict the Great Red out of her home
On the other hand, she was conflicted now that she saw her home invader turn into this.
"...Would you beat him a little more first?" Ophis asked.
"...Nah. Do you want some sweets when we get back?" Saitama offered.
Ophis pondered for a moment as she pouted. Her greatest enemy was under her mercy, but. For some reason she was not feeling any sort of joy whatsoever.
Disappointment was all she felt. Was it worth it now, to reclaim her silent home like this?
Though a part of her wants Saitama to continue beating up the Great Red for causing her so much trouble.
"...I want ice cream." Ophis conceded.
Midgard was probably not as bad as she thought when she recalled the delicious foods there.
"Alright. I'll get your favorite as always."
Saitama reached up and rubbed his passenger's head.
She blushed as she teleported them out of the dimensional gap, leaving the wailing giant behind.
...Ta-daa!