New chapter here and I'm going to aim to put one out at least once or twice a week in order to keep my schedule from overcrowding.
Training Matters
Inside the throne room on the next day, Zeabolos glanced a look at the new arrival standing beside Callum and Elma.
"Welcome Callum, I'm glad to see you're doing well." Zeabolos greeted. "So, this is the new human that arrived yesterday?"
"Yes it is Great Overlord." Callum replied. "This is Neo Tastsuji and I think he's got potential."
"What kind of potential?"
"Well from what I can tell, a bo staff and there's something strange about his scarf which no one seems to know except Neo himself."
Zeabolos hummed. "Hmmm, then let me take care of the following." He looked at Neo. "Welcome to the Underworld, Neo, are you well?"
"Y-yeah." He replied hesitantly. "I'm feeling better than yesterday at least."
"Good. Now then, do you remember how you arrived here?"
Neo tried to think long and hard. "It's a little difficult to remember, it happened so quick."
"That's normal, trust me." Callum said. "But please try."
"Okay...I was busy catching up on training with my staff, for you see, I'm a trained martial artist and have been for a few years. I also possess several other powers within me, but I don't think showing them here would be a good idea."
"That's fine, we will learn more about you in time." Zeabolos assured. "Baphomet, it is time to bring in the Overlords, send them here at once."
"As you command, Great Overlord." Baphomet replied as he left the throne room.
Zeabolos looked back at the young boy. "So Neo, when you say martial arts, do you mean you are an expect in physical combat?"
"Yes, Great Overlord."
"I see and as for your staff, when did you first learn to wield such a weapon?"
"That part is a little hard to answer, all I remember is picking it up for the first time and getting the hang of using it in a short space of time."
"Was someone there when you used it for the first time?" Callum asked.
"I think so...wait, I'm starting to remember now. It was awarded to me by my martial arts tutor when I was crowned the martial arts champion."
"A champion you say?" Zeabolos asked. "I'm becoming more interest about you, there may be an early sign that you could be stronger than Callum."
"I heard that!" Callum frowned.
Zeabolos looked away sheepishly. "Oh...I was hoping you didn't, but I guess that's your impressive hearing at work."
"Yeah, yeah...anyways, is there anything else?"
Neo nodded. "Yeah...I'm 16 years of age since I had my birthday on January 17th. Speaking of which, does this world have a calendar?"
"A calendar..." Zeabolos pondered. "...of course, I knew there was something I forgot to buy today. But yes you are correct, even the Underworld has to have a calendar."
"Now that I think about it, why didn't you mention that when I first got here?" Callum asked.
"You didn't ask."
Callum sighed. "Figures..."
Just then, the door opened and in came a large group.
"Great Overlord, all the Overlords are here." Baphomet said.
"Ah yes, thank you overlords for coming." Zeabolos replied. "I want to introduce you to our new arrival."
"New arrival?" Fegor asked.
"A new friend?" Perpell added. "Who is it?"
"This is Neo Tastsuji." Zeabolos answered. "He's a human who was trained in martial arts and wields a bo staff to match."
"Really, is that it?" Ruche asked a little rudely.
"Oooh, martial arts?" Mammon added. "I know what that is, sounds awesome!"
"So this is the new arrival you talked about, Callum?" Levia asked.
"Yeah, but don't crowd over him girls." Callum lightly warned. "Let him get used to this place in his own time, there's still a few things he doesn't know about."
"Hmhmhm, I suppose it's fine to give him some space." Ashmedia teased. "Awww, isn't he such a cute little boy?"
"Ash-tan, you're doing it again." Fegor intervened.
"What do you mean, I'm just saying that he's such an adorable human."
Zeabolos had to intervene. "That'll do, Ashmedia. Anyways, it's time you learnt about the Underworld, Neo. Allow me to explain."
The Great Overlord went on to tell the story of how the Underworld came about, being marked one of the three realms in the dimension before it was nearly destroyed by the god of destruction, Trillion. He finished with telling how with all the power of the ring he was able to overcome Trillion and defeat it, bringing peace to the whole dimension. Callum then added his side of the story, telling Neo how he was able to bring peace to the Underworld as well when he defeated Andre and then Bartholomew.
"Wow! You must be very strong if you did that." Neo responded.
"Well, I pulled it off, but it still wouldn't have been possible had I not made friends with the Overlords." Callum paused for a moment, looking at Levia. "And especially my love."
"Callum..." Levia blushed. "...please do not mention about us so openly."
"Oh come on, he was just trying to be romantic." Ashmedia said. "After all, he is very dear to us and we care for him soooo much, hmhmhmhm."
"I'm so glad that I'm more than used to the way you speak." Callum sighed.
"Umm, if I can say something." Neo intervened. "I've already mentioned my name, but who are you girls?"
"Oh oh oh! Me first!" Perpell responded happily. "I'm Perpell, overlord of Gluttony, do you want some candy?!"
"Very well, I'm Ruche, overlord of Pride." Ruche added. "I once despised humans until Callum came along. As long as you're polite to me, we'll get along fine."
"I'm Fegor, overlord of Sloth." Fegor greeted quietly. "I love taking naps...zzzz..."
"There she goes again..." Ashmedia said. "...I'm Ashmedia, overlord of Lust. If you want any advice on love, just say the word, I'll be waiting."
Neo gulped.
"You'll get used to her behavior soon." Callum said. "Don't take whatever suggestive things she says literally, she's just a scared little girl."
Ashmedia glared angrily at Callum. "What's that supposed to mean, young man?!"
Callum feared for his life. "N-n-n-n-nothing, I-I-I was just kidding!"
"Dear me..." Levia sighed. "...I am Levia, overlord of Envy and happily in a relationship with Callum who I love very much." She smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, Neo."
Neo smiled back, glad that Levia seemed to be the most genuine so far.
"What's up, Neo." Mammon said. "Last but definitely no means least, I'm Mammon, overlord of Greed and number one in treasure hunting." She took his hand. "Hey, if you wanna go out on treasure hunting sometime, just say the word."
"Umm okay." Neo replied, accepting the handshake.
"Umm, you saw me yesterday, but I'm Elma, overlord of Gloom." Elma said. "If you ever get hurt, just speak to me."
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Cerberus barked.
"That's Cerberus, overlord of Wrath and I often spend time with him."
"Okay." Neo nodded. Although it occurred to him that a flying dog being an overlord was strange, he kept that to himself.
"There is one more overlord, but she is away on important business today." Zeabolos said. "She is Faust, overlord of Vanity and my first true love."
"True love?" Fegor woke up instantly. "Is she going to be your wife, Zebo-chin?"
Zeabolos blushed slightly. "Sister, why are you saying such a thing right now?"
"Fegor, please don't tease dear brother." Elma requested.
"You'll get used to this too, Neo." Callum said. "Sometimes, they like to go off-topic and act so casual, it's how we work together more or less."
"Umm okay, I'll keep that in mind." Neo replied. "Is there anything else you want to know about me?"
"No that will be all for now." Zeabolos answered. "You may go, however there is one thing I'd like to ask Callum for."
"Huh? What do you need me to do?" Callum asked.
"Seeing that you are the only other human in this world, I would like you to be his support for when he starts training."
"Training, you want him to go and meet the two trainers?"
"Yes, I will be expecting impressive results for I can sense a small amount of potential from within him."
Callum nodded. "Alright, we'll be leaving now. See you later, Levia." He lightly hugged and kissed her on the cheek.
"See you later, Callum." She replied, blushing.
The two humans left the throne room as they made their way to the training arena.
"So a martial arts champion, huh?" Mammon pondered. "Hmm, maybe he's the one who can help me..."
"Hm? Is something the matter, Mammon?" Zeabolos asked.
She shook her head. "Nah, it's nothing..."
A moment later and Neo and Callum had walked into the arena, the place itself had not changed and the two trainers were present.
"Hello Ragon and Ergo." Callum greeted. "Are you two around right now?"
Suddenly, the two trainers arrived as they were in the center of the arena.
"Why Callum, it is rare to see you at this time." Ragon said.
"Oh ho, looks like we've got ourselves somebody new." Ergo noticed. "So who's this guy?"
"This is Neo who I saved yesterday and it's a long story." Callum replied. "But to put it in simple terms, he has the potential to show off impressive physical combat."
"Physical combat ya say?" Ergo looked at Neo. "Say there, newcomer, why don't I show ya the ropes right now?"
"Uhh, okay." Neo replied. "B-but I've never had to train like this before."
"Don't cha worry, we'll take it step by step, starting with the basics."
"It is a good thing that we can be reasonable when training." Ragon said. "But if I may, I would like to observe his training in case there is a chance of seeing magic."
"Good idea." Callum agreed. "But how you handle the training is up to you I'll be watching as well since Zeabolos has instructed me to be his guide."
"Understood, now let's get this party started!" Ergo declared.
Callum and Ragon watched as Ergo guided Neo through the basics of how their training works before starting with a beginners level. Ergo launched a chained ball and Neo responded with equipping his spear and attacked the chained ball, denting it with a crack. Ergo launched a second one and Neo leaped high before diving towards Ergo who immediately jumped back to avoid the attack. A third chained ball came his way that was about to hit Neo, then suddenly, a small glow appeared underneath the hair covering his right eye. He instantly avoided the smash impact and then appeared from behind Ergo before launching a spear attack on the chained ball that pierced through it, breaking into two.
Ragon was the first to immediately sense a small portion of a hidden power that Neo was holding. "Hah!"
"What the..." Callum was speechless. "...h-how did he do that?"
"Woah there boy, I didn't expect ya to show up behind me like that." Ergo said. "Not bad, kid."
"Hah...thanks." Neo replied as he put away his staff. "I wasn't sure how far the training was going to go and I just reacted on instinct."
"Okay Neo, what in the world was that?" Callum asked. "How did you pull something like that off?"
"Umm...I'm not ready to tell you that just yet. Please give me more time."
"Very well, we will declare today's training over." Ragon said. "However if I may, I would like to assist you with my training tomorrow morning."
Neo looked up at him. "What kind of training do you work on?"
"Magic, for I was able to sense a part of that from you. I would like to see more of it myself and that is where my training will be of use."
"Okay, I'll make sure to be prepared tomorrow."
"Ho ho, you better be." Ergo said. "Ragon's magic training is no fancy picnic, ya hear?"
"Alright let's not go around in circles here." Callum intervened. "Let's go, Neo."
The two left the training arena, leaving the two trainers to talk more.
"So dragon face, about that teenager." Ergo said.
"You sensed it as well?" Ragon asked.
"Sorta, I didn't expect a human to have some kinda power like that."
Ragon closed his eyes. "Neither did I, but when it happened, I felt a surge of power that I have not felt for years."
"So what'cha sayin' is that kid could be just as powerful as those spunky ladies?"
Ragon folded his arms. "Indeed, although I believe that with his level of physical and magic combined, he could even be more powerful than all of the Overlords."
A sweat drop appeared on Ergo's head. "But that's just what'cha think on paper, right?"
"Agreed, it is only a theory for now. Tomorrow morning, I shall put that theory to use when I start his magic training."
The two nodded in agreement as they too called it a day with training for the time being.
Almost forgot, I'm thinking of changing the rating of the story to Mature at some point, cause I think it's time for Callum (my OC) and Levia to move on to third base if you get my meaning. But that isn't going to happen for a LONG while yet and other things need to happen in the story first.
NEXT TIME! Mammon asks Neo out to go on one of her treasure hunts on one condition...
