One Punch-Gamer: Chains of Fate

by SaintInfernalNeos

[Sequel of OPG] Time is running out. While the Fate of everything he holds dear is about to be destroyed, Kirito finds himself trapped in a strange and bizarre land. Can he, and his unlikely new allies, survive in a world where everyone but him has Superpowers? Or will the Chains of his Fate crush him before he can recover that crucial part of himself which he has lost...?

11. Chapter 7: Masked Valkyrie

Hi there everyone! Sorry for the delay with this chapter, several things got meshed together that made this month a bit slow for me: Got a new laptop so I had to transfer everything from the old one to this one, then four five series I actually wanted to watch started, four of which come out the same day, and then I got Red Dead Redemption 2 so…yeah XP

But well, here I'm again, my dear readers, brining you another chapter of this crazy even if not all that popular sequel! But hey, maybe now that Alicization is getting animated more attention will come to it? Who knows, but again, let me stress to not read this if you're anime-only because you're going to get Spoiled big time. Especially in this chapter, as we start it up with a lot of characters that don't get introduced until late-Alic…

On better news, though, I would like that, if you want, give a look to my profile and see something new I have posted there, under this story's section: OPG:CoF Opening 1! Yup, I loved Alicization's opening, ADAMAS (What a gloriously wonderful song), so much I decided to try my hand at making one of those 'Fanfic Opening' I sometimes see around, but decided to just post it on my profile so readers don't get annoyed by it in case they don't like it (I think it's quite silly anyway, but a friend convinced me to post it there :3).

With that outta the way, though, enjoy the chapter!

PS: Chapter Betaed by Pikatwins234! Thanks again, pal!

Disclaimer: Neither SAO nor One Punch Man belong to me. I only use the plot of one and the idea of the other for my amusement and everyone's enjoyment!

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Arc III: Knights of Despair

"I am willing to do anything to become more powerful. However…I can't picture myself coming even close to attaining Sensei's power" – Genos, the Ultimate Disciple.

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Chapter 7: Masked Valkyrie

20th Day of the 11th Month of the Human Empire Calendar, 379. Centoria, Central Cathedral. Evening…

Undeterred, the Golden Knight walked through the immaculate hallways of the Central Cathedral, purpose in every single one of her steps as she ignored the few scribes or apprentices that she passed by, either awe or fear filling their eyes when she did so.

No one even bothered to try and talk to her, though. After all, no one could just talk to an Integrity Knight for no reason, much less when they were so clearly heading somewhere important.

Finally, after ascending a final stretch of stairs, the imposing figure entered through a very specific, seeming nondescript, door.

An absolute and soul-chilling darkness greeted her, only the briefest hesitation seemingly in her steps for an instant before she kept going, the door seemingly having completely vanished from behind her, the black world around her seemingly 'rippling' in places.

She hated it. This…thing that she was traveling through. She would much more prefer to simply have come to the upper parts of the tower atop her dear Amayori.

However, for the 'meeting' she currently needed to attend, no less 'security' could be allowed, or so she had been told.

Finally, a new door, this one radically different from the previous one, opened before her, and the Integrity Knight found herself emerging out of the 'nothingness' and into a wide and ample room, mostly empty and only vaguely circular.

No trace of any door was behind her, once again. The thing that was the silent gatekeeper of Central Cathedral's inner walls had once again retreated 'somewhere'.

Her attention didn't remain on it for long, though, and not only because of her personal disgust against it. No, it was because, even if the room was bereft of furniture or anything eye-catching, it wasn't so of people.

If the likes of them could be called that, of course. After all, all of them, every single one of the armored figures within the room was one of the protectors of the Human World, those who had been called down from the Celestial Realm by the Highest Minister to keep order amongst humankind.

Indeed, all of them, the Integrity Knights, couldn't really be called humans anymore, even without their Blessings…

"Hey, look there, Blondie-chan finally showed up!"

"Fi-Fizel-chan, shut up, she will hear you…"

"Oh, who cares, Linel? I'm bored as hell, so that may actually be amusing~!"

Scowling heavily under her helmet, the Golden Knight looked to the side, towards the two only figures that didn't wear any armor at all, looking completely out of place amongst the rest of the Order.

After all, they both looked like children, no older than 10, and didn't give the impression of belonging in the room at all.

The outspoken one with straw-colored hair in a short cut and bluish eyes, Fizel, was grinning her way as if daring her to answer to her 'insult', something she obviously wouldn't do. Still, there was no denying that, more than her age, the prison jumpsuit with white and blue stripes she wore as only clothing, not even any footwear at all, was weirdly disturbing. Even more with the Ball and chain seemingly hanging from her left leg, which should be more than heavy enough to not let anyone of her apparent age or physical ability to move at all.

Compared to her, the shy one of pale light brown hair in two braids with droopy-looking eyebrows and eye corners on her grayish orbs, Linel, looked like the most 'normal' person in the entire group, with only a white lab coat covering most of the average church apprentice uniform she wore underneath. Once again, though, the Golden Knight found the square-glasses she wore to be unnervingly disturbing, specifically when they reflected the light at an angle that made her eyes invisible under the reflected gleam, as if her gaze were just 2 sinister squares of light.

And the recently arrived armored girl…completely ignored them and walked past, making Linel wince and Fizel to look shocked before her face turned into an annoyed look.

"HEY! You can't just go and ignore us! Are you listening to me?! Hey, A…!"

"Alice-sama!" called out a young man as he stepped before the Golden Knight, the smile on his pretty face looking radiant despite the lack of sunlight to reflect off it, clearly overjoyed by the newcomer's arrival. "I'm so glad to see you're back!"

For a moment, the blue-caped warrior regarded her fellow Integrity Knight, her eyes roaming over his tall form and his stunningly beautiful face with eyebrows that gave off a rugged expression, and long pale purple hair. Idly, she felt a tug within her that she easily shrugged off with a pull of her Will, but that caused a small bout of annoyance to fill her.

He may not have been able to control the 'passive' effect of his Blessing, but it was still annoying that her 'student' could be so careless.

"Eldrie, mind your smile, you're doing that again." scolded the Golden Knight with a cold tone, making the now named Eldrie freeze and cover his mouth with both hands, exploding in several apologies that she seemed to ignore. "And your concern wasn't needed. The Pit is probably the second most secure place in the Human Empire, me being there just makes it even more."

"…Alice-sama, about that…why do you continue going to that place just to see some lowly prisoner?" questioned the other knight once he had regained his composure, a heavy scowl in his face. "No matter what he did, he shouldn't be wasting your time like that! You should just bring him here and let one of the Sacred Arts' Experts take…!"

"Are you questioning my methods, Eldrie?" coldly asked Alice without even looking at him, making the young man freeze again and gulp loudly, his hand idly caressing the white whip on his hip as if trying to calm down. "…that's what I thought. What I do or don't do shouldn't worry, nor concern you, as long as I keep fulfilling my duties as an Integrity Knight. Something YOU should also keep in mind."

"Ye-yes, Alice-sama! I haven't failed on any of my duties even once so far!" repeated Eldrie while barely resisting the urge to bow, the Golden Knight nodding once at him and walking away, making him sigh in relief. "Ah…Alice-sama is truly strict…"

"Whipped." chuckled Fizel without a hint of shame, ignoring how a horrified Linel tried to shake her to silence, earning a furious glare from the whip-using knight. "Ooooh, what's wrong, pretty boy? Falling for me? That's one intense look you're giving me~"

"Don't tempt me to do it, child…" growled Eldrie while tightly gripping his whip's handle. "Or I swear…"

"Enough!" interrupted Renri's imposing form while walking between the two of them with raised hands, the fully armored 'guardian' scowling at them. "You're supposed to be Integrity Knights, not squabbling children, so start acting like…!"

"Oh, don't try and act all high and mighty with us, 'Guardian of the Capital'. We're not the ones who got beaten up to an inch of our lives by two nobody criminals." viciously retorted Fizel with a face that no child should make, something akin to sadistic glee, making the winged knight flinch in surprise. "Still feeling it on your left wings? Bet you were horrified when you thought you would completely lose them because no Sacred Art was healing them, right? If it wasn't for Her Excellency's mercy and divine powers, you wouldn't even BE here with us now!"

"I…I…" mumbled Renri at a complete loss, a clawed hand over his left upper wing at the phantom memory of having woken up in a world of pain and missing them, his gaze moving to Eldrie only to see him looking away, seemingly ashamed. "I just…wasn't expecting…"

"What? That your enemies would stand a chance against you? Heh, you almost even lost your Divine Object! What kind of sorry excuse for a knight are yo…!"´

"Fizel-chan. Stop. Now."

Those three simple words had come from Linel's mouth just as she gripped her 'friend's shoulder, but the voice coming out didn't seem even remotely like that of the shy girl from a moment ago.

This voice was calculating and cold, almost mechanical in nature, like that of someone who didn't consider themselves human. Combined with the way the light was currently reflecting off her glasses, it made both older knights feel thoroughly unnerved.

For a moment, Fizel scowled at her, as if trying to discern something within her friend's glasses, before her face settled back in that playful look she had before she had started talking with Eldrie.

"Okay then, Linel-chan! But only because you asked me, not those meanies!"

"…thank Heavens, yo-you shouldn't go around picking up fights for no reason, Fizel-chan…" mumbled the 'shyer' knight, her own voice and face having returned to 'normal'.

Silently, both Renri and Eldrie exchanged a quick look and walked away from them. Those two were just creepy to be close to, in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, Alice had walked past and ignored the entire exchange to head closer to the center of the room, giving a brief nod to the red-clad form of Deusolbert Synthesis Seven, the knight with the stun rods on his hips and the crimson bow on his back nodding back in acknowledgement, though not saying anything in return.

It was strange but, like every time she interacted with the weirdly silent man, the blonde felt a strange chill on the furthest corner of her mind, as if something she couldn't quite recall was trying to break free.

That went quickly out of her head, though, her steps stopping a moment later as she looked towards the biggest figure present, sitting against the wall.

Scheta's inhuman gaze stared back, the four inhuman eyes of the Subterranean Queen fixed on her.

"…something the matter, Synthesis Thirty?" asked the humanoid creature while tilting her head, the black and thin blade in her upper right hand twitching slightly.

"No…nothing at all, Synthesis Twelve." replied the Golden Knight before moving on, closer still to the center of the room, her eyes fixed on a vaguely circular 'mark' on the ceiling.

"…you shouldn't try antagonizing Scheta, little Alice. It may end badly for you."

The almost 'metallic' voice had come from Alice's blind spot, out of nowhere, and would have made her jump forward and spin with a hand on her blade under any other circumstance.

However, she not only knew very well who the voice's owner was, she also knew that she didn't register to her senses because of her Blessing.

She also knew that this person didn't like her at all, for reasons she couldn't even begin to fathom. But that was fine, because 'getting along' with her fellow knights wasn't something she was required to do in order to fulfill her duty.

And so, she slowly turned around, looking towards the taller figure that also wore full armor, hers being a slightly purple color.

"…Fanatio-san." simply declared the Golden Knight before, almost casually, taking off her helmet, letting her blonde hair spill out and her blue eyes to gaze back towards the older knight, feeling the way in which her fists clenched slightly at the action, a very subtle burst of anger filling her silent form before it was gone equally fast. "I see you're doing well. Where are your subordinates, though? I thought all the Integrity Knights with a 'Blessing' were supposed to be here."

"…Dakira, Jeis, Hobren, and Giro are waiting on the dragon's roost and readying our mounts. Just because the entire Order has been reassigned to the Capital doesn't mean we can relax. The enemies of Humanity never rest." simply replied the armored woman while seemingly holding back whatever she actually wanted to say. "And truly, it's foolish for you to pick a fight with her, of all people."

"I wasn't doing anything of the sort. I'm just…still not used to her, that's all. And the fact that I can't ever figure out what she's thinking doesn't help." confessed Alice while briefly glancing towards the once again silently sitting form of Synthesis 12. "It took a while with Renri too, so I'm not expecting any miracles, but I'm thinking she may be impossible for me…"

"Yes, guess your valued ability to figure out others with just a glance to their faces doesn't work if they don't have a human one, eh?" snorted Fanatio while looking towards the center of the room.

"You would know that better than me, wouldn't you? You don't have one either, after all." calmly retorted the Golden Knight without missing a beat.

Immediately, everyone in the room could feel the tension skyrocket, every pair of eyes snapping towards Synthesis 2 as she bore menacingly before Synthesis 30, a hand over her blade and trembling before the unimpressed girl. Even more telling, though, was how a…black suitcase had materialized seemingly out of nowhere in her free hand, the grip around it so tight it would have hurt any normal being.

And from within her helmet, a single, ominous light seemed to shine directly over the blonde's face.

"Do you want to die, child?!"

"I'm an Integrity Knight, protector of the Human World, just like you, Fanatio-sama. You may be older, but that doesn't change anything. However, if you try to take my life…" as she spoke those words, Alice's form seemed to flicker in place, everyone else tensing as they knew what was to come next. "…I will answer in kind without hesi…"

"Now, now, why don't we all calm down instead? Hmm?"

Suddenly, it was the entire world had changed.

Outwardly, everything was the same, but every single Knight within the room felt as if a terrifying presence was pressing down on them.

And like announcing HIS arrival, came the sound.

Many had tried to put a name to it through the years. Some compared it to the drums of war from a forgotten age. Others said it was akin to the roars of beasts from the heavens coming to reap the souls of the unworthy. The bravest ones said it was the bells announcing their deaths, as they had been foolish enough to defy one who couldn't be beaten.

If a certain gamer clad in black and white had been there, though, he would have said it was more like…an engine.

All of it coming from the tall man with short iron-gray hair, slightly tinged with blue, who had just walked into the room. He was bulky, his impressive muscles and almost 2 Mels of height letting him tower over almost everyone else, and even the two that were taller (Renri and Scheta) felt minuscule before him. There was nothing but kindness in pale light blue eyes, and yet they held a power that no one else could defy. The many old wounds in his body, scars of countless battles he had always emerged victorious from, were a testament to that. And, as a testament of how important this meeting was, he was wearing his full armor sans the helmet, like everyone else but the girls that were too young to have one yet, despite how he never really needed to wear it.

He was the Strongest Man in the World, after all. The one who had first earned the title of 'Integrator' before any of them were around, before most of them were even born.

The Greatest Protector of the Human World.

The First Integrity Knight.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump…

And the ominous sound emerging from within his body, the most obvious characteristic of his Blessing, didn't stop even once as he calmly made his way to the center of the room, Fizel and Linel shrinking away at his passing, even as Renri and Eldrie stood straighter and saluted. Scheta rose from where she sat, giving a small bow of acknowledgment to the warrior as he finally stopped before the two females near the center.

They both spoke almost at the same time, as surprised by his presence as they were by being 'caught', apparently.

"Bercouli-sama…"

"Ojii…that is, Synthesis One-sama!"

"Yes, that's me." chuckled Bercouli Synthesis 1 as he calmly put a hand on their shoulders and separated them as if it was no big deal, like one handling children instead of warriors with the power to easily kill countless with little effort. "We were all called here for a reason, remember? Let's try not to kill each other over petty squabbles, ladies."

"…I wasn't really gonna hurt the brat. I was just trying to teach her some respect…" mumbled Fanatio while looking away, the suitcase having mysteriously vanished and the hand she had above her sword moving away, her previous air of a serious knight of the Human Empire having completely crumbled away.

"I-indeed, I was also me-merely jesting. Fanatio-sama is the second-in-command of the order, I-I would never face off against her for such a petty reason." excused Alice while crossing her arms and turning around, an embarrassed blush on her face, having also lost all of her previous cool and mysterious demeanor.

Truly, the power Synthesis 1 had to reduce any of the other Integrity Knights into embarrassed children was something fearsome.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and said something else, though…a quite unpleasant and careless voice echoed through the room, making all the knights blink and scowl.

"Well, it was, munch, about time all of you got here, munch, Integrity Knights!"

As one, everyone present turned towards the wall, seeing that 'door of darkness' open once again to allow a quite bizarre-looking person to enter, and given that the likes of Renri and Scheta were already inside said a lot about that.

After all, the 'man', if it could be called that, was not only dressed like some sort of clown or sinister harlequin, he was also so fat that he was almost spherical in shape. His stubby and flabby legs and arms didn't seem physically able to keep his body straight, yet he still somehow managed to walk with an almost comical jump in his steps towards the center of the room. And also, quite disgustingly if one may add, to throw several pieces of some sort of weirdly-looking food into his mouth from a simple bag that was carrying on his left hand.

Both his bizarrely comical and disgusting appearance made such a contrast with the imposing/strange/scary forms of the Integrity Knights that it almost hurt to look at him. The fact that none of the so-called defenders of the Human World was looking at him without at least a hint of contempt was also very telling.

And yet, no one made any attempt to talk or openly show any disgust or hostility towards the bizarre clown.

No wonder, when he technically was their superior, as absurd as that would have sounded for anyone who heard it.

"Chief Elder Chudelkin." greeted Bercouli with a slightly forced smile, even the infinitely patient knight clearly not liking the man's disgusting presence all that much. "I didn't know you would honor us with your presence."

"Much! Well, Synthesis One, that's because this is quite a special occasion." commented Chudelkin without missing a beat, stopping a moment to burp loudly and quickly ignoring the disgusted faces most of the Knights made as his action, just to continue talking. "After all, it's not every day that Her Eminence addresses the all of you, after all."

A moment of absolute, shocked silence filled the entire group, even the First Knight taking a step back with a look of absolute incredulity.

Then, as if it had been waiting for the words of the rotund Chief Elder, the strange circular depression on the room's ceiling opened, staring to descend like some magical elevator.

At once, every Integrity Knight stiffened, took a step back and fell on their knees. Even Scheta, as awkward as it was in her form, even the unruly and strange children, even Renri despite his wings or Deusolbert despite his weapons…every single one of them kneeled and looked down, their arms crossed before them as if saluting or praying.

Something akin to a throne was position atop the descending circle. And sat atop that throne, She stared down at the kneeling knights, at the strongest warriors of the world, all prostrated before her.

The woman sitting on the throne couldn't really be called human. After all, how could a simple human be so otherworldly beautiful? Her long silver hair, with a bluish-white hue depending on the lighting, seemed like someone had turned a piece of the moon into long strands. Her eyes were of a silver so clear they somehow seemed to reflect every color of the rainbow, no pupils visible inside them and yet clearly able to see everyone and everything within the room, even those that shouldn't be within her current line of sight. Her body was a thing that seemed out of a man's most forbidden and coveted dreams, voluptuous and curvaceous in every way that mattered, her skin of an immaculate brightness, and only a simple attire hemmed of silver threads, that was a step away from being completely transparent, covering it from the world. The fact that it had an unashamedly open neckline and that she was barefoot just seemed to hammer the fact that she had no shame or fear about exposing her body.

It was no surprise, though, at least not if you were one of those that stood within that room. Because her mere presence was enough to tell you, of how unworthy you were of laying your eyes upon her, of how pitiful you were in comparison to her, of how no other being within this pathetic world was worthy of gazing upon her perfection…

And yet, in all her boundless benevolence, she allowed it.

Because…wasn't that what a fair Ruler should do? And there was no ruler greater or mightier than her in the entire Underworld, after all.

"Administrator-sama." breathed out Bercouli without raising his head, the name in 'Sacred Tongue' sending a shiver down all the Integrity Knights' backs. "You…you honor us with your presence, Esteemed Highest Minister."

'Administrator' simply smiled at the words, the Founder and Highest Minister of the Axiom Church, the One True Ruler of the Human World, gifting the knights with that simple gesture, which seemed to be enough to make their souls sing, an alien and foreign joy filling them all with just that.

Such terrifying power…was also what made it so obvious, that this being wasn't human at all.

She was someone who had Transcended from that realm a long time ago.

"There is no need for that, Bercouli. And you all, my dear Integrity Knights…you can stand up if you so wish to." spoke the otherworldly woman with a voice that felt like honey for your ears, though none except Bercouli and Fanatio dared to take her on her offer, and even then the second-in-command refused to look anywhere but the ground, as if scared of looking directly upon their ruler. "After all, the time to finally explain to you all why you were called back to Central Cathedral several months ago has come."

Every knight allowed themselves a brief moment of surprise upon the declaration, though none dared to comment on it or openly express their shock. After all, their sudden 'Mass Recall' and the lack of any clear explanation for it beyond the news that Renri had been defeated and seriously injured by a group of very dangerous criminals that had then managed to cross from Norlangarth to Eastabarieth through the Immortal Wall had been a constant presence on the back of their minds, especially as the months passed and nothing else of any notoriety seemed to take place in the capital. More than one of the Integrity Knights had even started to wonder if they should return to their previously assigned areas of the Human Empire, given the lack of further orders.

It seemed all their dubious 'patience' was about to be rewarded, though.

"As you all know, there was an incident in Norlangarth not long ago. A criminal was reported from Rulid Village, the northernmost settlement of the empire. The person in question had not only violated one of the Taboo Index's greatest decrees by crossing into the Dark Territory, but they were also reported to have an unusual Blessing. And that's when things took a, let's say, 'curious' turn…isn't that right, Fanatio?"

"…yes, esteemed Highest Minister." answered the woman without raising her face. "One of my direct subordinates, Dakira Synthesis Twenty-two, was in Norlangarth because of an errand she had just finished, so she was the one tasked with apprehending the criminal. However, upon arriving to Rulid…she found that the criminal had escaped, together with an 'unknown' that…hadn't been reported."

"Indeed. A boy that came out of nowhere without memories, a 'Lost Child of Vector', going by the report recounting the villagers' statements, who had 'saved' the village's chief elder when she was kidnapped by some goblins in the North Cave." continued Administrator with an almost chiding tone. "Thing is, none of them apparently knew the criminal in question, one Selka Zuberg, was one, or had even done such a thing. Apparently, the mysterious boy, this 'Anomaly', somehow had been with Selka Zuberg and not been reported. Despite the fact that we had also detected another criminal, one believed dead years ago, from around that area, who had apparently survived by awakening yet another unknown Blessing…"

For some reason, Alice felt her gaze moving to the side almost against her will, resting on the silent form of Deusolbert, the seventh knight almost imperceptibly seeming to move at the words, though his posture suggested he himself wasn't sure of the reason behind his own actions.

"Somehow, this unknown criminal wasn't detected at all despite clearly having violated the Taboo Index at least to some extent. Then, he took both criminals and fled Rulid before Synthesis Twenty-two arrived, as if he knew they would come." as she kept talking, the Highest Minister idly moved her right hand, as if grasping air for no apparent reason. "Their disappearance couldn't be fully investigated, though, because Synthesis Twenty-two's original objective, the reason she was in Norlangarth in the first place, had once again shown signs of activity: Two fugitives of the highest degree that escaped from a facility in Wesdarath, causing untold destruction and casualties upon doing so, and that managed to get through the Immortal Wall…"

The reminder of that particular duo caused a scowl to appear in more than one of the knights, others shuddering slightly. After all, the fact that two Cursed Ones had roamed free within the Empire for so long was bad enough, but that one of them was the only ever recorded 'Dragon-Level Threat' to have conserved her sanity was even more startling. The fact that, before her capture, she had apparently killed Synthesis 3, the second strongest knight in the order's history because of his Blessing, by accident, was just plain terrifying. It was also the reason why the hunt for her and her companion had been strictly restricted to be handled by Subterraneans, even if lately there had been some talk of sending a specific squad to finally catch and subdue them. Or even Synthesis 1 himself.

It was because they had stayed all but hidden since their escape and the debacle with the Wesdarath-Norlangarth Immortal Wall and that more, even if minor, issues had started appearing all around the Human Empire as of late that they weren't given a bigger priority, but then…

"You all know very well what happened, though. Somehow, the Anomaly's group made contact with these two fugitives and not only didn't end up killed, but they also managed to ally themselves with them, almost killing Synthesis Ten and actually crossing through the Immortal Wall towards Eastabarieth."

"…I once again offer my humblest apologies for that, esteemed Highest Minister!" all but shouted/pleaded Renri from where he kneeled near the middle of the group. "If I had known that they were with those two super-dangerous-fugitives and hadn't been killed, I wouldn't have underestimated them until…!"

"It's okay, Renri. We're all just glad that you survived." silenced him the smiling ruler with a tone and a smile that denied any argument against her words, the winged knight barely able to not collapse upon hearing her calling his name. "Still, the fact that they survived and escaped over half a dozen of Subterraneans Squads, no matter how much power they wielded, was more than shocking, even more when no trace of them was found afterward…though it seems this is because the Anomaly was even more so than we imagined. Reports by the survivors said he singlehandedly killed and delayed most of the deceased forces while giving his companions time to escape."

Scheta visibly shook at that, and more than one of the knights couldn't help but give her a doubtful/calculating look. After all, while little was known of the one called Synthesis Twelve, everyone was aware that it was from her 'Curse' that the main force of the Axiom Church…no, of the very Human Empire's defenses, spawned.

She was the 'mother' of all Subterraneans, in a way, so to know that a single person had suddenly killed more than anyone ever before had managed…

"But we didn't come empty-handed from that thanks to a very important and fortuitous action. The Anomaly was captured and incarcerated in 'The Pit', where he has been unable to break free from until now." as she kept speaking, Administrator let her gaze fall on one of the figures kneeling closest to her, her smile widening an imperceptible degree as she did so. "Alice, dear…has your prisoner confessed anything yet?"

"No, esteemed Highest Minister. The criminal refuses to reveal how he managed to do…whatever he did back then, despite having…no Blessing at all." finished Alice with a clear sense of frustration in her voice, as if recalling something particularly displeasing.

"Indeed, just as I thought. Now then, having reviewed all of this, my knights…I must confess something to you." closing her eyes, the Highest Minister suddenly seemed…worried, or at least something very akin to it. "The world's very balance…is in danger. I fear there is something out there that threatens to destroy everything we have protected…since the Axiom Church's founding."

The unexpected news made every single Integrity Knight present to look up at their ruler in shock, surprise and disbelief filling the faces not hidden by a helmet, even a hint of anger in some.

"So-someone actually dares…?!"

"Who could be foolish enough to…?!"

"Madness! As long as her Excellency protects this world and we…"

"The probabilities of such a thing are…"

"Who could be stupid enough to…?"

"SILENCE!" roared Bercouli of all people, his order making the entire order fall silent even as he took a deep breath, almost seeming to still himself as he once again looked at the face of the Highest Minister, who just continued giving that sad smile despite the knights' reactions. "Administrator-sama…do we know the nature of this threat? How can we deal with it before it can even dream of fulfilling itself?"

"Sadly, the details of it escape even me, Synthesis One. All that I know is that the threat exists, hence why I recalled you all back here as soon as something as unexpected as the defeat of an Integrity Knight happened. As you all know, the instance of this happening has only been once before…and never when in direct combat." explained Administrator while leaning forward, the gesture doing interesting things to her almost completely exposed anatomy, but none of the Defenders of the World seemed to even register it, their eyes never leaving their face. "I do suspect, though, that this unknown 'anomaly' Synthesis Thirty has been trying to get information from may be related to it."

"Wha-what?" mumbled Alice with clear shock, her eyes suddenly doubtful. "Him? But…he's not…esteemed Highest Minister, that criminal barely qualifies as a threat, even more if whatever power he exhibited back in the Immortal Wall was a limited thing, something I'm almost sure of or he would have tried to use it to escape. How could…?"

"As I said, dear Alice, the details of it all escape even me. However, we can't ignore all the 'coincidences' surrounding his appearance, and the fact that he refuses to answer your questions doesn't help. We can't risk the world's balance just because we're unsure of something." Spoke the ruler while making a grand gesture with her arm, the Integrity Knights suddenly felt as if something 'shifted' in the air around them. "You will go retrieve him from The Pit and bring him here to Central Cathedral as soon as possible. Our Sacred Arts' experts will then make sure he reveals everything he knows.

"I…yes, esteemed Highest Minister. Your will shall be done." declared Alice after a brief instant of hesitation, her gaze falling down once again as she crossed an arm over her heart.

"All for the sake of the Human World." spoke the Highest Minister with a radiant smile.

"All for the sake of the Human World!" replied every Integrity Knight without a second of delay, the words somehow echoing with Power that defined their very existences.

"You can depart then, my knights. Besides Alice, all of you are free until further orders are issued, but don't get too far from the Capital. Danger may come from where you least expect it, after all." finished Administrator as every knight bowed and left the room, being granted exit by that mysterious shadow creating entrances of Darkness for them once again…except one. "Hmm? Something the matter, Synthesis One?"

"…Administrator-sama…can I ask you something about what you just told us?" questioned the First Knight as he stood up and looked directly at the ruler.

"You dare question Her Excellency, Synthesis One?!" snarled Chudelkin as he all but bounced before Bercouli, a disturbing look on his pudgy face…even as he kept throwing those weird crackers in his mouth, munching angrily without pause. "Munch! You insolent little…!"

"Chudelkin, be silent." there was no change in the volume of her voice nor her tone, yet both men froze and almost felt themselves fall at the sudden pressure being exerted upon them. "…speak, dear Bercouli. As the knight who has been at my side the longest, you have earned that privilege. What troubles you about my words?"

"…this threat you speak of…are you truly afraid of it?" bluntly demanded Synthesis One without missing a beat, something undecipherable in his eyes as if he was asking for the mysteries of the Universe to be revealed. "I…I know you. I'm the only one who knows…the true depths of your power. At this point, even if the Dark Territory invaded…I know you could crush them all without any effort. Cursed and Blessed ones alike. Every single one of them. So…"

So, how could there exist anything that you could consider a threat? Those were the words Bercouli Synthesis One didn't dare to say.

Complete silence fell in the now almost empty room, as if the very air itself had suddenly forgotten of how to breathe…

…and then, IT happened.

Chudelkin fell to his knees, then 'flat' on his face, his massive form not rolling, but seemingly crushed against the floor, gasping for breath.

Bercouli fell to one knee, his armor cracking, oxygen having also escaped him as he did his best to not look at It, having trouble to even keep himself conscious.

He was basically on all fours as he felt It move until it hovered just before him, but he still forced himself not to look, knowing the consequences of doing so.

Something shaped vaguely like a hand, but made out of a thing that didn't belong within Reality, reached out and caressed the air just an inch from his left cheek, somehow making him feel as if something was reaching into his very soul, caressing it with just enough force to let him know how insignificant he was.

After all…what was the Strongest Man in the World in the face of the One True God?

"[Believe me when I tell you, Bercouli…that there are Truths about this world of ours that even you don't know. Things that would make you question your very life and that of everyone within it.]" spoke the Conceptual Being while looking down on the First Knight as he seemed to struggle just to breathe. "[So yes…you should take this warning of mine very seriously, for there are things outside of even my Absolute Power…for now. Soon, though…even the Outer World will belong to ME…]"

And then, as abruptly as it had started, it was over, and Bercouli was alone in the circular room, cold sweat and his damaged armor clinging to his body, not even the smallest hint that Chudelkin or Administrator had ever been there.

Even so, it would still take several minutes before the one called 'The Strongest' stood up again and left the room, his hand touching his right cheek, feeling how his skin was impossibly smooth and all scars had vanished from it, as if infused with new life…something he knew was only temporary.

And during that entire time, he never stopped feeling the eyes of God watching over his back, judging him…

---

22nd Day of the 11th Month of the Human Empire Calendar, 379. 'The Pit', Somewhere in Eastabarieth. Early Morning…

It was cold and silent within the dark cell.

Of course, for anyone who had been around that area long enough knew that the 'silent' part wasn't exactly accurate. After all, depending on the time of the day, one would either hear the sounds of someone running or…

"…91…92…93…"

"All the Gods above, will you please shut up?!" came a snarling voice from one of the nearby cells, even as a young man with unusual-looking muscles and skin, not to mention four arms, walked out of the shadows to glare murder at the farthest side of the hallway. "You do that every fucking day without pause and it's driving me insane! Why do you even expect to accomplish with it?!"

"…99…100!" grunted the black-haired young man within the last cell of the hallway, taking a deep breath as he slowly stood up and dusted himself off from the push-ups he had been doing. "Ugh…well, you should know by now, Fist Fight Djinn-san…"

"Raios! I have told you a fucking dozen times, my name is Raios!" growled the mutated young man of wavy blonde hair.

"…Fist Fight Djinn-san, that I'm training." continued Kirito as if he hadn't heard him. "Is literally the only thing I can do within this cell, so until I can get out, I won't waste my time doing nothing."

"…oh Gods, you really do think you will manage to escape from here, don't you?" snorted the other prisoner before his arms gripped on his cell's bars, the gesture quickly proving futile as an invisible force pushed him away from them, rather painfully. "Gah…! You don't get it, right?! This is The Pit! This is where those who can't ever be allowed outside again get thrown in! No one is ever going to let you get out, no matter what! Even I…even I who was a noble got thrown here, with my family not even trying to stop them…"

"Well, sorry to tell you I have no intention to rot away in here forever. Even if I must keep training for over two years just to get strong enough, I will get out of here, one way or another." calmly retorted the gamer before his gaze moved to last remaining cell in the hallway. "…maybe you both deserved to be here or not, but I know your friend didn't deserve whatever the hell happened to him."

As if he had swallowed a lemon, Raios stared at the empty cell opposite to his own, the signs that someone had been on it still visible despite having been empty for more than a month, as no one had bothered to remove the squiggles on the walls or the pieces of paper lying within.

"Humbert…we weren't really friends, more like acquaintances before all this madness, but…" shivering, the former noble looked towards the hallway's darkness, suddenly looking like some scared kid. "Whatever the hell they do to those they drag 'down below'… I don't want to know. I very much prefer this cell than facing whatever the hell they have down there. You…you have heard the screams too, right? When someone is taken?"

"…I have." somberly nodded Kirito as he looked towards the side of his cell, where his half-destroyed 'cape' hung from. "That's why I have to get out of here and do something about it…"

"…okay, seriously…just who the fucking hell are you?" borderline demanded the four-armed young man while putting his face as close to his cell's bars as he could without touching it, his narrowed gaze fixed on black-haired young man.

"…what do you mean?"

"Don't try and play silly with me! I used to be a noble and I killed someone else, yes, even if it was a mistake when my Curse first manifested. That's why I ended up here…but, despite that, besides the Subterraneans who feed us, no one ever bothers with me. I'm as much of a nobody as any other inmate." growled Raios while he pointed an accusatory finger towards the gamer. "You, though…just what kind of criminal are you that you get a fucking Inte…?"

The sudden sound of something coming from the hallway silenced the four-armed young man, his gaze snapping in that direction. Kirito himself let his eyes rise, though there was an almost bored glint on them now.

There was no need to doubt who was coming, of course. After all, Subterraneans didn't wear metallic boots that made that echo through the rocky walls.

As if he was a lizard running away from the light, Raios quickly retreated to the darkness of his cell, clearly terrified, and the black-haired boy could almost imagine him cowering in a corner while refusing to look outside his cell.

Understandable, he thought. For despite his pride and the talks about having been a noble, all of it became like empty words and dust in the wind on the presence of the golden figure walking towards his cell, almost seemingly generating her own light.

Raios may have been a 'monster', but the gamer knew that, despite how she looked under the helmet she now wore, the so-called knight now standing before him was a monster much more terrifying than he, Renri, or Eugeo could ever be.

For a while, there was only silence, Kirito's empty face seemingly squaring off against the undecipherable emptiness that was the Integrity Knight's helmet.

Then, after several minutes, the Golden Knight finally gave up and removed her helmet, clear annoyance in her face as her golden locks spilled down her back, especially when she saw the boy's previously empty face turn into a victorious grin.

Maybe they were petty victories, but he was proud to know his 'Saitama Face' never lost against her ominous and silent helmet-look.

"…I have come once again, criminal, to give you one last chance of answering my questions." spoke the girl as her sky-colored eyes scowled down at him. "Tell me how you did all of that back in the Immortal Wall despite not having a Blessing."

"I'm truly sorry, Blondie, but my answer won't change: I just punched really hard." nonchalantly replied Kirito without a care in the world, before turning around and walking deeper into his cell. "And once again, let me tell you back that is bad manners to not even introduce yourself when asking questions. I'm Kirito, as you know, but…"

"…I'm Alice Synthesis Thirty, Integrity Knight of the Axiom Church." clearly caught off guard at her unexpected answer, the black-haired boy's face snapped back, catching a brief glimpse of satisfaction in her own at his reaction. "And I'm only telling you this because this last negative of yours has put it out of my hands. I will be taking you towards the holding cells of the church's Central Cathedral in a few hours, criminal Kirito. There, you will speak the truth, whether you want it or not. That's all I had to say."

"…well, talk about disappointing!" shouted the gamer after her when she started walking away. "Here I thought you were supposed to be some mighty knight that protects the world, but all you clearly are is a lackey that follows any or…!"

Not even a quarter of the time it took to blink. Less than a fraction of a second.

Kirito idly wondered if that was how people had felt in the past at his speed when he found himself lifted a few inches from the ground, a hand within a metallic golden gauntlet crossed around his neck choking him while an artic-cold gaze seemed to try and murder him with just intent.

"Do not presume to judge me, criminal scum! I'm a Defender of the Human World!" snarled the blonde girl with clear anger. "And I don't know how or if you really are some threat for the order, but I won't have someone like you doubting my intentions for…!"

"Eugeo….Selka…Rulid Village!" spat the young man while glaring back into the Golden Knight's eyes, surprising her at the unexpected words, making her grip on him lessen. "Do any of those names…ring a bell within you, Alice?"

"…none at all. What nonsense are you speaking of, criminal?" demanded Alice with sudden interest, for she did know all of those names, as they had been mentioned in the report regarding the criminal before her. "What importance do they have? Why did you think I would know something about them?"

"…it's nothing. Must be just a coincidence with the name." sighed Kirito while suddenly looking incredibly resigned and harmless, shocking the knight so much at the latest change that she let go of him, the boy crashing butt-first on the hard ground. "Ouch…damn, that hurt…"

"…you're clearly touched in the head, 'Kirito'. Either that or you're really that foolish." snorted Alice while turning around and walking away. "I honestly don't know which one would be worse…"

"…Goddesses above, you really ARE insane, aren't you?!" whisper-shouted Raios once the blonde had vanished from view, staring at the black-haired boy as he stood shakily once again. "Antagonizing an Integrity Knight like that…I don't care if you have a death wish, but please, do that only when you're far away from m…!"

"Heh…I have no death wish, Fist Fight Djinn-san. I was just testing something out." replied the gamer with a small chuckle, the monstrous young man's usual response to his 'wrong name' stopping at his odd words. "And it seems I was right. Blondie there inherited Flashy Flash's speed AND his weaknesses too. Her thoughts can't keep up with her speed and instincts. Mine, however…"

Casually, Kirito opened his left fist, letting a small piece of blue cloth fall to the ground, Raios' eyes widened to the limit as he gaped at the thing.

"…are still more than able to, even if I have lost the speed."

"Is…is that…a piece of her…that's what you had her choke…?"

"That would be telling, wouldn't it?" replied the black-haired young man before turning back and walking towards his cell's depths, his gaze moving over the ragged cape hanging from the wall. "Now then…how many laps around this cell were ten kilometers in total again…?"

Ignoring the disbelieving look the other inmate gave him, as always, the Hero got ready to finish yet another day of training.

Every day, little by little, he got a little closer to his goal, after all.

---

Her name was Sortiliena Serlut, and, once upon a time, she was just a normal girl.

Or as normal as having been born in a 3rd Class Noble family, one of the highest echelons of Centoria's society, could be.

But besides that, she was surprisingly normal. She took pride in her family's style of swordsmanship even if others looked down on it for how unorthodox it was and how 'soft' its moves were. She always thought that the mix of almost dance-like stances to control the whip and the blade were beautiful and strong, though.

She liked flowers, something very normal in a young girl. Zephyria Flowers, to be precise, even if they only grew in a very specific part of the Human Empire, so she could never really see many of them after the trip as a child where she saw them for the first time.

One of her dreams was that, one day, she would own a small garden with a lot of them. Such a childish, yet still normal and peaceful dream…

…until she turned 13 years old. Until she saw something she shouldn't, opening her eyes to the cruel reality of the world. Until she tried to stop that atrocity and failed utterly, showing her how truly 'weak' she was, almost getting killed in the process.

And then a 'monster' appeared and offered her a deal. The power needed to make a difference in exchange for her humanity.

She accepted it with almost no hesitation, beyond some childish fear that she got rid of very fast. After all, what value did something as ambiguous as 'humanity' have before stopping what was clearly a horrible injustice?

That was the first time she killed something. And also the first time she was called a 'Hero'.

It had been over 6 years since then. Since her 'humanity' was forfeit. And now just her, and only her, knew the twisted truth…that these looks, the face and body of 'Sortiliena'…were just a mask for her true self.

People had it backward. They thought her other self was the mask…but that was her true nature. Always waiting. Always ready to answer her call, seeking to get free and unleash 'justice', to protect those that the Goddesses and the World itself had forsaken.

A protector of 'monsters', looking like some knight of fairy tale, and being in truth just an even bigger monster.

All it would take to change was one simple word…

"…Sortiliena-san? Are you okay?"

"…I have already told you, Eugeo, you can just call me Liena. I know my name is a mouthful for most people." muttered the beautiful young woman as she opened her cerulean eyes, standing from where she had been leaning against a decrepit tree. "Did you finish scouting?"

"Yes. Come, I will…show you the entry point while I tell you everything I found." replied Eugeo while nodding to the side, the unorthodox dual wielder walking through the dead-looking forest. After a few seconds of seemingly pondering something, Sortiliena followed.

Honestly, the undead sometimes found himself weirded out by the young woman. Which was saying something, given she probably was, after Selka, the most 'normal' out of everyone living in their 'hideout'. And that he was literally the guy who just couldn't die. Then again, maybe it was because he could never really tell what she was thinking. In fact, he often could almost swear she seemed to be staring and talking to something that wasn't there…or to her 'horse'. Which also happened to appear and disappear at seemingly random times.

In the end, though, that wasn't important right now. The facts were that, even if they weren't exactly friends, Sortiliena was someone he could trust, especially for an endeavor as important as this one. And that she was…more than strong enough. He had seen this for himself. Several times, in fact.

Those thoughts and more plagued his mind as he explained all that he had seen and deduced to the silent girl with the ponytail, Sortiliena nodding a couple times of making an inquiry as they walked.

Finally, though, they arrived atop the small cliff overlooking a half-hidden plateau, a forgotten piece of land in the already almost uninhabited place that was Eastabarieth.

No one wanted to be in the same part of the Empire as the East Gate that directly separated them from the Dark Territory as the world started turning weirder and more dangerous, after all. Which was probably the reason why the dark structure they saw down there, crawling with Subterraneans all around, would exist in the first place.

Nobody would be out here to help anyone, even in the miraculous chance a criminal managed to escape the sinister-looking prison. And even if they did, they would no doubt end up dead or recaptured long before they could reach civilization, unless they had a Blessing or Curse that allowed them to do so in the first place.

"…hey…can I ask you something?" questioned Sortiliena without turning to look at him, her gaze never leaving what was rumored to be the second most defended place in the entire Human World.

"…yes?" urged the green-eyed boy without taking his own eyes off the patrols of humanoid creatures.

"That boy…this Kirito…" as she kept talking, the young woman's cerulean gaze finally moved back towards the undead, looking sharper than he had ever seen her before. "Is saving him truly worth risking your lives like this?"

There was absolutely no hesitation when, after a brief instant, Eugeo answered, the image of a grinning caped figure telling them to go ahead shooting through his mind.

"Yes."

For an instant, silence reigned again as Sortiliena Serlut closed her eyes,

Then, when she opened them once again, her face had morphed into a tiny smile, her hands already readying the blade and whip she carried on her sides as she walked down the sharp path guiding to the plateau.

"That's all I needed to hear. Get ready to run…"

At that moment, on the opposite side of the structure, a beam of raw destruction suddenly shot out from the tree line, punching through the tallest point of the black building and erupting from the other side as if it was made of glass, absolute chaos suddenly erupting amount the Subterraneans.

"…you're the one getting inside while we distract them, after all."

"I know." nodded the green-eyed boy while thinking for a moment about Ronye, Selka and Tiese, all three of them by themselves on the other side. "…I will be fast. Just…hold on until I get out with him."

"Don't worry, Eugeo. Those girls are stronger and more capable than you give them credit for. As for me, well…"

Suddenly, Eugeo saw a familiar six-legged figure walking beside the young woman, before it was gone as fast as it had come, through the animalistic huffing still rang clear on his ears.

"Yes…I know I don't need to worry about you." nodded the one 'Blessed' as 'Zombieman' before simply jumping off the cliff, falling towards what would be a sure death for most people, readying himself so that his legs absorbed the full force of the impact.

He only had to drag himself forward for around a quarter of the way before his bones were already back in place and ready to go, after which he started to run towards the dark structure, the few Subterraneans that hadn't run to see what the hell had just shot a beam of raw destruction at the prison they were supposed to guard dying easily before his weapons, before they were suddenly busy with someone way scarier.

As he entered the dark hallways of the prison known as 'The Pit', cutting down doors and barriers as he went down, ignoring the shouting, screams or other sounds around him, only one thing was clear on the green-eyed boy's mind.

"I'm here for you…Kirito!"

---

The first sign Kirito had that something 'strange' was going on was when the entirety of the hallway shook under the distant sound of what sounded suspiciously like an explosion.

Then, the screaming and shouting and roaring somewhere above started.

"What the hell…?" mumbled the black-haired boy as he stood up, looking at the ceiling with confusion.

"Wha-what's going on?! What's all that noise about?!" shouted Raios as he ran as close as he could to his cell's bars, looking up just as Kirito also stared, seeing some dust fall off the ceiling after what sounded like something heavy crashing somewhere above them.

A few minutes of uncertainty passed…before a loud scream came from the furthest side of the hallway from them, the broken and half-frozen body of a Subterranean flying through the air and slamming against the mutated young man's cell, making him scream and back away.

Blinking in surprise, the black-haired boy stared from the corpse to the darkness of the hallway, a smile slowly creeping up his face as he heard the quick footsteps of someone running towards his location, a very familiar visage appearing soon after.

Panting, Eugeo's slightly roughed-up form stopped before the cell, his green eyes slowly fixing themselves on Kirito's dark ones, not a word being shared even as they simply looked at each other for an instant that seemed to last an eternity.

Finally, an annoyed look appeared on the undead's face, though it was ruined by the immensely relieved smile he also showed.

"You idiot…what happened with being 'just behind us'?" mumbled the green-eyed boy while his shoulders shook slightly.

"…yeah, well…there were complications." awkwardly mumbled the gamer while looking away, suddenly finding his cell's wall very interesting. "…I was still going to keep that promise, though. A few more months and I would have been able to escape this place…probably."

"Heh…heheheheh! Well…too bad, the girls were too worried, so I had to come and get your ass out of here." chuckled Eugeo while looking back at him, not a trace in his face of anything that he wouldn't have wanted anyone else to see. "…I'm glad to see you're okay, partner."

"…and I'm happy to see you, Eugeo."

"…EHEM, are you gonna bust him out of his cell or are you two just going to keep staring at each other like that the whole day?" questioned Raios with something between annoyance and disbelief, making the two boys blink out of their relief-induced trance. "Because honestly, this is starting to make me feel very uncomfortable…"

"…well, Fist Fight Djinn-san just ruined the moment, but he kind of has a point. Let's get out of here before we end up dead, partner." nodded Kirito before rushing to grab his destroyed cape, ignoring the 'My name is Raios!' shout in the background and putting it on as easily as breathing while his green-eyed friend cut through the bars as if they were made of paper with his Blue Rose Sword. "So…do you have a plan to get out beyond just busting through everyone in our way?"

"More or less. We have a way to escape, but we need to get out to the surface and regroup with the others for that. Until then, though…yeah, we have to bust through everyone in our way." sheepishly replied the undead while his resigned-looking friend walked out of the cell. "Don't worry, though, I can protect…"

"No need, I can pull my weight around." Kirito cut off, before walking towards the other cell, from where the blank-faced form of Raios was still looking at them. "Hey, Raios, I would stand back if I was you."

"I told you my name is…! Uh? Hey, you actually fucking said…!"

And that was as far as he could go before Kirito's fist lashed out with a tremendous sound, cracking and breaking the bar he had hit and the making the two adjacent ones slam out of their place, the Sacred Art that repelled the prisoner failing as they almost slammed against the four-armed Cursed one, who squeaked as he dove down and out of the way.

Eugeo blinked in clear surprise, noticing how his otherworldly friend's hand hadn't 'changed' like back before they separated…and that the attack had been incredibly powerful for a 'normal person' despite that.

"How…how did you do that?"

"Been training, but a part of me can't believe it actually worked. Right now I should be about as strong as Saitama was when he first got his 'Super Costume', if this world's logic works as I think it does…" mumbled Kirito as he shook his slightly stinging hand, nodding to himself as he did so.

"…what?" was all that the clearly lost undead could say.

"Doesn't matter, we need to go now." answered the caped boy before looking down at the open-mouthed inmate. "You should get running too, Fist Fight Djinn-san, this place is probably gonna be crawling with guards in no time."

"Wa…wait, why did you help me?!" shouted Raios as he walked out of his cell in time to see both boys running as fast as their legs allowed them to. "I thought you didn't like me!"

"I don't! But I think you would agree in that none of us actually deserves to be locked here forever!" was the gamer's reply as he and Eugeo ran around the corner. "Good luck getting out by yourself, though!"

"…motherfucker…he actually just left me here." muttered the four-armed young man, before his face slowly morphed into horror as a dawning realization hit him. "…he left me here and out of my cell while there is a fucking Integrity Knight here! He-hey, you two, wait! Don't leave me! I will die right away if…!"

While he had been screaming, the Cursed prisoner had been running towards where the two 'criminals' had gone…only to stop upon seeing the many corpses of Subterraneans littering the next hallway and the faces (Or whatever they had instead of one) of several other prisoners looking either scared or demanding angrily to know what the hell was going on.

Slowly, a manic grin spread upon Raios face before, with a shout, he broke apart the bars of one of the nearest cells, the 'person' inside (Which looked like one big eyes with tentacles and nothing more, really) 'blinking' at him in shock, while everyone else in the hallway's cells froze to look his way.

"…who wants to get out of here?! If you do, follow my lead!"

The mutated boy's grin widened at the approving roars, even as the eye-thing floated up behind him and shot an, of course, eye-beam towards another cell, melting the bars and letting the man-crocodile inside free, who roared in approval before ramming his massive teeth against another cell.

Hey…maybe getting out of here would be easier than he thought! And he wouldn't need to beg for those two's help at all!

"…so, honestly, why did you let that guy out of his cell?" questioned Eugeo as they ran up the way he had come from, which was thankfully mostly deserted, the few Subterraneans that still crossed their path (Apparently also heading upwards) being almost carelessly dispatched by the green-eyed boy.

"Well, I was being honest with what I said…but I also figured we could use with leaving a big distraction behind us." shrugged Kirito with just the smallest hint of shame. "I mean, it may be a bit unfair of me, but as long as it distracts Blondie from finding us…"

"Uh? Who is Blon…?"

Whatever else the green-eyed was about to say was interrupted when the prison shook once again, more violently than it had done before, making several parts of the hallway they were running through to crack worryingly, both 'fugitives' almost falling on their asses.

"Wha-what the hell was that?!"

"Gah…I told Ronye like half a dozen times to only shoot a big blast towards the prison once! What is going on out there?!" cursed the undead before looking back towards his friend. "Okay, we probably should move fast before…"

An entire wall collapsing over a dozen Mels before them interrupted Eugeo yet again, Kirito's eyes widening as his instincts screamed at him to move, tackling his 'rescuer' without any hesitation and sending them both into a broken part of the wall.

From further down, whatever had caused the collapse of the wall revealed itself, an angry humanoid form wearing a massive cloak that largely obscured his features within its shadows.

What was visible of its arms, however, showed them scaled like those of a reptile, with demonic claws and spikes…and several reptile-like eyes seemingly growing all over them, like some cancerous growth, even as his hands lashed out and broke more of the wall, some angry cursing and muttering exploding from within him.

"Holy fuck…'Evil Eye'. What are the odds of having such bad luck?!" cursed Kirito while peeking out from where he and Eugeo were 'hiding', the green-eyed boy looking out with him and then frowning.

"It's just one, Kirito. If we both go at it, then surely we can…"

"No, you don't get it Eugeo, this thing is stupidly powerful. Even if the guy with that 'Curse' isn't as skilled with it as the one I know about, evil psychic powers is certainly not something we want to face agai…"

"Prisoner. Surrender and go back to your cell. I will only ask once."

Color faded from the caped boy's face as his gaze snapped back to the hallway, in time to see the Fluctlight that had been cursed to become the monstrous being turning around, staring angrily at the figure calmly walking down from the stairs that lead outside.

The Golden Knight, back in full armor, didn't seem fazed at all despite how the Mysterious Being towered over her, almost thrice her height.

Behind him, the gamer felt Eugeo stiffen, muttering the words that 'Evil Eye' was already screaming.

"Integrity…Knight! Damn…damn you and the Axiom Church!" roared the shaken and, by the sounds of it, clearly unstable Cursed man, raising his monstrous arms as the entire hallway started to crack, the psychic powers starting to tear it apart as if ready to collapse it on himself and the armored girl. "DAMN YOU TO THE DEPTHS OF…!"

All of a sudden, the former prisoner 'fell silent', and Kirito had grip tightly on his 'Inner Saitama' image to not scream as blood splattered everywhere, throwing himself back against the cracked wall and covering Eugeo's mouth, the undead's eyes wide as they started to see the powerful Cursed one falling apart into chunks of meat, as if he was made of butter and someone had just sliced him apart countless times with a burning hot knife.

"…insulting the Axiom Church, trying to bring down the prison and ignoring my warning…you only have yourself to blame for forfeiting your life, Cursed one." coldly declared the Integrity Knight while sheathing her somehow dry blade once again, having seemingly materialized just a few inches beyond the crack both boys were hidden in.

'Evil Eye' was unable to answer, though, the Divine Object-class Sword and the unholy speed of its wielder having killed him several times over before he could even complete his threat.

Within their hidden spot, cold sweat covered the pair's faces, Eugeo clamping down on the usual rage that blossomed into him from within his axe at the sight of one of the damned knights, both out of fear…and something else.

For some reason, staring at this golden one…made something inside his heart ache.

Kirito's feet suddenly moved and crushed a small piece of wall that had fallen near them. Eyes widening, both boys exchanged a terrified look as the Golden Knight froze, slowly turning towards them…before the sounds of screams and roars from deep within made her turn back again.

Eyes narrowing within her helmet, Alice Synthesis 30 blurred out of existence, the ground cracking as she shot towards the depths of the prison. After all, she couldn't let the prisoner she had specifically come to secure escape or get killed.

As once, the caped and the green-eyed boy rushed out of hiding and stopped holding their breaths, gasping while their gaze moved from the cracks on the ground to the corpse of the once mighty and terrifying prisoner.

"…wh-who the hell was that?! What kind of…what kind of Blessing did that Integrity Knight possess to do such a thing?!" demanded Eugeo while looking down the hall and holding his axe's handle so tight he feared it would crack.

"A very terrifying one…especially because now I'm sure that sword of hers isn't normal either, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to make such perfect cuts through this guy despite his psychic powers, bullshit speed or not." growled Kirito while looking back down the hall, guilt willing within him and almost making him turn back before another explosion outside reminded him Selka, Ronye and Tiese were out there waiting for them. "Dammit…let's go, Eugeo, we need to run before she comes back!"

"…hopefully, that 'friend' of yours will be smart enough to surrender on sight." was all that the undead could offer as they both ran as fast as their legs allowed them…

---

Being a Subterranean assigned to protect the prison known as 'The Pit' was probably the most boring work one of the creatures could get within the Underworld. Even watching over the capital's walls was more exciting, because there, at least, they usually got to patrol the actual city and the people would talk to them.

There in the middle of nowhere, however, nothing ever happened…

And then, of course, explosions had started. Chaos had ensued. A crazy red-haired girl with a cape had started to slaughter all the squads going to try and figure out where those beams had come from, always seeming to be a step ahead of their formations as if she somehow knew beforehand where they were going to emerge from. Something unknown had happened to the squads guarding the opposite side of the perimeter. And now, two unknowns, at least one of them clearly a prisoner, were running out from inside the prison and heading towards the slope that would allow them to rush out of the plateau.

Subterranean #4567 wasn't anyone special, but he knew it was his duty to prevent what was clearly the main reason for the current pandemonium. And so, he, his squad, and the other 3 still in reserve emerged from where they had been waiting underground and surrounded the pair, who stopped and looked at them in shock, before they stood back to back almost by instinct.

One of them raised a dangerous-looking axe and a beautiful blue sword. The other…just his bare fists.

If it wasn't because he had come out of the prison, 4567 would have laughed. As it was, however, his eyes narrowed while he signaled his comrades forward.

"Take them down. Priority is to recapture, but if they cause too much trouble…end them."

"…well, this is just great." growled Kirito while his eyes shot around the area, trying to find a hole through the almost 3 dozen enemies around them.

"What do you mean? We can take these guys. Just give me a few minutes and not one of them will be standing anymore." replied Eugeo with cold confidence, even as an icy mist seemed to surround his blade's edge, a low roar coming from his axe at the same time.

"Eugeo, we don't have a few minutes. When Blondie realizes I'm not in my cell, we're dead. She will be out here before we can count to three." quickly replied the frustrated caped boy while squaring his shoulders, seeing how the Subterraneans started to close on them. "Please, tell me that plan of yours to get us out is close."

"I…am not actually sure, but she should be…"

"Attack now, my bro…!"

"Step away from them, Subterraneans." Interrupted a strong yet melodic voice with an unreal conviction, making all the humanoid creatures freeze even as the two young men's eyes moved towards the top of the small hill they had been running through. "You won't be holding any more innocents prisoner today."

Like a character from a fairy tale suddenly stepping into the wrong story, the girl calmly walked down towards them, all gazes fixed on her beautiful form.

Her hair swayed softly on the wind, styled in a way that vaguely reminded the gamer of his adoptive sister's ALO Avatar. The dark clothes she wore were simple yet practical, allowing her to easily move when needed. Her cerulean eyes were almost mesmerizing. Truly, the young woman seemed like the epitome of noble beauty, not someone that belonged in such a bizarre battlefield.

…at least until her eyes crossed with Kirito's for a moment, sending a shiver down his back at feeling something inherently wrong within them. Then, there was the fact that the blade and the whip she carried in her hands were dripping with blood, staining the grass at her sides.

Also, there was a six-legged horse huffing softly as it moved behind her, almost lazily, as if the unnatural beast was particularly bored.

Casually, almost without thinking, the girl's whip-carrying hand moved over her waist, Reality distorting around it to let a bizarre-looking…belt appear on it.

"Ride On!" announced the Belt in perfect English while a 'melody' started ringing.

Her face turned into an eager smile. The caped boy's eyes widened in utter shock.

No…it couldn't be…that wasn't any he knew…and why would such a thing be here?! That had…nothing to do with One Punch-Man, at least not directly!

So…it couldn't really…be…

"About damn time, Sortiliena." sighed Eugeo with mock-annoyance, though the relief in his voice was more than apparent.

And almost as if aiming exactly to crush Kirito's already shaky grip on sanity, Sortiliena answered by saying a single, all-consuming word.

One with the power to Change the World.

"Henshin."

In answer…what a part of the 'boy from another world' that had once been a Japanese child had expected, yet his most rational side (Or what remained of it after everything he had lived through since he was 14) had been expecting the least, happened.

The belt started singing.

With a distorted yet, for some reason, distantly familiar voice.

"[Enhance Armament! Enhance Armament!]"

There was no over-exaggerated posing. No dramatic shouts. No declaration of heroism.

Instead, the moment the words in 'Sacred Tongue' emerged from the belt, the World seemed to 'glitch' around the young woman, flames of Will exploding outwards and consuming, Overwriting her very existence with something else.

From one step to the next, Sortiliena Serlut vanished, having been replaced by a humanoid figure whose body seemed to be entirely made of white-silver armor, gleaming under the midday sun with purple accents finishing the unnatural color scheme.

Imposing horns grew straight up from the slightly elongated helmet, which combined with the strangely familiar runes over the body made Kirito realize the being's armor screamed Norse Mythology (Suspiciously similar to the Alfheim-like one, really) from every direction. The only characteristic thing that made it different being the massive and purple insect-like 'eyes' of the helmet, which seemed to stare everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

The weapons 'Sortiliena' had been carrying were gone, but replacing them a bizarre-looking blade-like one now rested on the armored figure's side, which 'she' reached out for without hesitation, slowly raising it up to bear.

Even before she did that, though, the attitude of every single Subterranean surrounding the two boys had already drastically changed, horror and shock filling them all as they broke formation and ignored their previous objectives in favor of pointing towards the newcomer.

"I-it's her! It's the Rider!"

"I thought she was a myth?!"

"No, imbecile, she has always been real!"

"W-we can't let her rescue the other two criminals!" shouted the first Subterranean while trying to calm down his brethren. "Quick, everyone, back in formation, the Rider can't take us all down before Synthesis Thirty-sama gets he…!"

Swish.

Kirito could barely see it happen. Not because of the speed, but because it was just…so bizarre, that seeing it made him question it for the instant it took place.

Whatever the reason, though, it didn't change how almost half the Subterraneans present lost their heads, all of them rolling away through the air while blood splattered everywhere as the humming edge of the inhuman-looking whip-blade finished its swing, retracting back into its owner's hand as she lowered the weapon, as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

Even Eugeo, who clearly had seen something like it before, seemed a bit unnerved by the action. The gamer, for his part, could only stare at the carnage around him, flabbergasted.

"Only those I protect get to call me 'Rider', dogs of the corrupt Church. For you…"

Maybe it was the realism of the Underworld. The fact that he was still not used to the sight of blood and gore. Or that she didn't seem to even regard what she had done as anything even remotely noteworthy, but, even if it was one he had never seen before, Kirigaya Kazuto could swear…

"…I'm the Valkyrie. Prepare to die."

…that seeing an 'evil' Kamen Rider come to his help was probably the most bizarre thing he had ever experienced.

In answer to his thoughts, the monster other 'monsters' called 'Hero' shot forward, raising her blade to protect by destroying…

---

…

…STARTING…

EMERGENCY LOG!

Warning! 'The Pit' has been attacked by Unknown Criminals! Integrity Knight Alice Synthesis Thirty is on-site. Priority to containment must be put aside. Recovering of the prisoner classified as 'Anomaly', self-referring to as 'Kirito', must be prioritized.

…warning! Sighting of the criminal known as 'The Rider' has been reported! Emergency raised to Level 10! Likeliness of prisoner escaping now judged at 89.67%! Attempts to contact with Synthesis 30 failing! The Knight must be currently at the underground levels of the prison!

The mystery of the Criminal's powers still undecipherable. No way of obtaining data of how she does what she does. Criminal self-referred as 'Valkyrie', identified as Fluctlight #100006, 'Sortiliena Serlut'…does not possess either a Divine Blessing or a Divine Curse.

Situation being monitored under maximum priority…

…

…

…the guide…is finally…before him…

---

Next…

In a world where the lines of 'Good' and 'Evil' are more blurred than anything…

Kirito: You…didn't even blink at killing them…

Sortiliena:…yes. Does that scare you?

Kirito: Maybe…but I was honestly more relieved you didn't use a 'kick' to finish them off.

Sortiliena:…what?

Where Heroes and Monsters are just defined by who holds the most power…

Uolo: Want me to be blunt? You really don't look worth it…not worth having risked Liena and the other four. What makes you so special?

Kirito: I couldn't tell you, really…then again, even if I could you probably would be biased. You're the one with a gatling gun instead of an arm, after all.

Uolo:…are you mocking me?

Kirito: No…I truly think that's insanely cool. If probably uncomfortable…

Someone that can make a difference…is a threat that must be eliminated.

Chudelkin: Rejoice, Integrity Knights, for Synthesis Thirty's failure has allowed us a majestic advantage!

Fanatio: Wait…you mean that…?

Chudelkin: Indeed! We have finally found where that damned Rider and her pests hide! A Raid led by one of you shall be formed at once!

Deusolbert: I see…is the capture of the Rider the priority, then?

Chudelkin: WRONG! On both accounts! This is a Total Extermination Quest, by order of Her Excellency herself! And the priority target is the 'Anomaly' known as Kirito!

Next time on 'One Punch-Gamer: Chains of Fate':

Chapter 8: What Defines a Hero

---

Author's Notes: 'Kamen Rider Valkyrie' doesn't really exist, in case anyone would try to Google it. Nor is she really what she may seem at first glance for Kirito. What mystery hides behind Liena-sempai's 'power', though, will be answered, at least in part, next chapter! (Also, if anyone is interested, her 'rider-weapon's basic shape and function are inspired by the 'Zabimaru' of Abarame Renji from Bleach, though with the color scheme and looks of her 'Rider Armor').

That aside, that was quite the chapter, eh? Gotta say the more I get into CoF, the more I appreciate Alicization's depth and complexity by re-reading key parts I need, it's truly staggering. Having to add OPM lore all over it just makes it crazier, but also a different kind of complex I have to deal with all by myself…but I actually have fun doing so XP!

Did you enjoy the Knights' scene? It was harder to write than I originally thought, but I still found it fun. And writing Adminbitch…brrr, same problem I had with writing Gilgamesh: I hate them but I just need to pound the magnificence, arrogance and, especially in this case, mind-fucking 'charisma' the characters possess and how that affects everyone that sees them…

On that note, writing Alice S30's most merciless side has been oddly fun. Especially with how the 'OPM-ized' Underworld has changed her too.

Oh, and Raios was here too. Nobody likes him, though, so got a shitty spot…and probably gonna meet a shittier and than in Canon if he doesn't do the smart thing and surrenders…

Anyway, next time, a full reunion of Kirito and his wayward otherworldly friends, where we will see how much things have truly changed for them…and all the while, the time keeps running out even as everyone starts hunting him down…

For now, though, enjoy today's RWBY's Omake :D!

---

Capes and Roses 7

The world of Remnant wasn't a place most people from your 'average' universe would call 'normal'. Then again, given it had been created by a pair of Gods, had an ongoing war between 'magical' forces serving the light and the shadows, was mostly overrun by creatures of Darkness, and its people had mastered the art of using their Soul's power as a shield and a weapon, not to mention tamed the use of the elements through a specific mineral, this wasn't so surprising.

Even if most of its inhabitants didn't really know about the first few things. Which made them…surprisingly skeptical to many things, for a world where, you know, no one blinked twice at girls turning into rose petals or people setting themselves on fire.

On one of Beacon Academy's several roof-areas (Coincidentally one Jaune and Pyrrha usually practiced at), such skepticism was being wonderfully displayed before a half-amused, half-exasperated Kirito, the Heroic Spirit looking as the members of Team RWBY and JNPR gave him looks ranging from disbelief to surprise, and outright awe in a very specific case.

"So…let me get this straight." started Yang with a face that couldn't decide if it wanted to grin or simply look at him weirdly. "You're some sort of Super Ghost from another world that has been magically called to our planet to stop some unspecific big bad thing from happening?"

"That's…a pretty simplistic way of summarizing everything I just told you, but…essentially, yes." sighed the caped Hero while shrugging.

Two declarations followed immediately.

"That's the coolest thing I have ever heard!"

"That's the dumbest lie I have ever heard."

Ruby and Weiss blinked, the partners looking at each other and exchanging a betrayed/suffering look, which made Kirito's mentally chuckle.

"Weiss?! How could you accuse Kirito of lying?!"

"Because nothing of what he said makes any sense!" retorted the heiress while raising her arms in the air, looking around for support everyone seemed quite doubtful in giving her. "Please, tell me none of you believed that joke of a fairy tale he just told? Magic and ghosts were absurd enough, but then he started rambling about other worlds too!"

"Okay, in the first place, that was a bit rude." nonchalantly commented the Heroic Spirit while shaking his head, ignoring Weiss' outrageous look. "In the second, why are the notion of magic and ghosts so 'unbelievable' when you literally have weaponized the power of your souls since ancient times?"

"That's different! Aura and Semblances are things that have been long-since proved and studied! They're a scientific thing!" replied the white-haired girl with the stubbornness about such subjects only one raised in the heart of Atlas and with studies that touched deep into such subjects could have. "Magic is just the stuff of children's books, not something you can expect anyone to take seriously! And if you were a ghost then I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to do anything of what you do!"

Then, as if to prove her point, she walked up to the 'boy' and squeezed his shoulder with a victorious smirk…which faltered slightly at noticing the steel-like complexion the boy's body apparently had under the stupid jumpsuit he was always wearing, the muscles she could clearly feel not only well-defined but also somehow feeling harder than the hull of an airship.

How the hell had he managed to get so fit despite being so scrawny?! And why would he wear a silly costume that purposefully hid all of that?!

"…Weiss…?"

"Se-see?! Solid! You're no ghost, just bone and flesh like any of us!" quickly answered the heiress while letting go of him and walking away, crossing her arms and raising her face in a way that would let her dissimulate her flushed cheeks.

"Like I said before, what I am isn't exactly a 'ghost', though Ghosts do exist…" beyond what he himself had seen in Summer Rose's tomb, he had probably seen hundreds of different types during his summonings. "But the point of me telling you all that wasn't really to get you to believe it. After all, any 'proof' I can offer you without issues would probably be dismissed as my Semblance letting me do it, right?"

"It's not that we don't believe you, Kirito, it's just…well, it's quite the tale." mumbled Jaune while looking away, even as his partner patted his shoulder.

"As Jaune says, it's not something we can just simply believe so easily. We have seen how strong you are, but…well, all of us can do things you clearly can't too." added Pyrrha while trying to sound polite, even if the doubt in her face showed her inner conflict.

She also never stopped patting Jaune's shoulder, Kirito noticed.

"Well, I believe him!" grinned Nora while raising her hand. "After all, who would make up such a crazy awesome story with such a serious face, just to trick us? Certainly not him! He's cool! Right, Renny?"

"…you said 'any proof that you can offer without issues'." remarked Ren with a strangely focused look, making everyone blink at the very specific wording. "Does that mean you could show us definitive proof but it would bring you trouble?"

"…you're quite sharp, Lie Ren." acknowledged the caped Hero with a tiny smile. "Yes, just as you said, I have two ways of showing you, but both would kind of…screw over my body if I tried them. That's part of the reason I wasn't around these past days, I accidentally did one of those back in the docks…"

Blake stiffened and everyone's heads turned to her as she drew a sharp intake of breath, worry filling her teammates' eyes. The Heroic Spirit couldn't really blame her, though.

Between calling for one of the members of his family to help from the Throne and revealing his 'True Nature' to the World, the latter was probably the most scarring for normal people that weren't expecting it. Blake's nature as a Faunus had probably made it even worse for her.

Doing the former would have also all but guaranteed his current vessel crumbled to nothing in seconds, though, so he was thankful he had enough restraint to refrain from doing so, even if he was getting a 'Restraint? You? Really?'-feeling coming from his connection to them right now…

"Hey, Blake, are you…?"

"So, back then at the docks, when Torchwick blew you up…that was the real you?" asked the black-haired girl without even seeming to notice Yang's question, her eyes fixed on Kirito.

"…partially. I shut that down pretty fast, and only released it as a small burst. I didn't even need it, I just…didn't want you or Sun to end up dead because I screwed up for an instant." admitted the caped Hero while looking straight into her eyes.

The fact that they would have only ended up dead because they explicitly ignored his earlier request didn't seem to factor in his words at all. All the cat Faunus saw was honesty, and that made her feel even guiltier for her reaction back then, despite her earlier apology. So…

"…then I think I believe you too. It's the least you deserve, despite how crazy it may sound."

"Are you serious?!" demanded Weiss with clear disbelief, even if it was obvious Blake wasn't going to back down.

"A-and I believe you too! I said it first, remember?" whined Ruby as if she thought that was going to be ignored, but the grateful smile the black-haired 'boy' sent her way seemed enough to cheer her up. "But…wait, did you say you didn't really want us to believe you?"

"Of course I do, but that's not the reason I told you all of this. I just wanted to be honest because I feel…it's time to change how I have been doing things." revealed the caped Hero with a tone that surprised many, as he suddenly sounded extremely 'adult' as he fully faced them and crossed his arms. "I was trying to keep myself away of everything you did, only keeping an eye out in case things got dangerous but not interfering directly with your everyday life…and we all have seen how that ended."

Once again, Blake shifted awkwardly, even if most of the gazes sent her way were sympathetic/comforting, even as Ruby recalled how he had been there to cheer her up that first day of classes at Beacon, wondering if he somehow had the ability to sense if someone needed him…

He had said he was some Super HERO Ghost, after all! She had gotten that part very easily!

"And what? Does that mean you're gonna start hanging out with us and disregarding even more how you shouldn't even be inside the school?" asked Yang with a playful grin, only to blink in surprise at the chuckle she got for answer.

"If you want to, but I meant more that I have decided to actively 'help you out' in a more hands-on way." declared Kirito while the rest tried to ignore the cheerful shout of Team RWBY's leader at the thought of hanging out with her first friend every day. "I'm going to train you."

Blinking silence was his answer, even as Yang and Weiss shot her a disbelieving look, Pyrrha looked awkward, Jaune hopeful and Blake…nervous? Well, that seemed about right.

"Hey…you know we're not exactly pushovers that need extra training, right?" asked the blonde brawler with a playful tone, though there was a challenging edge on it too.

"Train us? You?" was what the white-haired heiress said while huffing slightly. "What do you even know about training other people at anything?"

"…a fair bit, actually" retorted Kirito while ignoring the 'amusement' he felt from his link to his family, idling recalling way too many people that had called him 'master'. "But if you really think you don't need it, then you won't have any problems dealing with it, right?"

As he said those words, the Heroic Spirit made sure of giving them The Smile. That extremely sweet one with his eyes closed that he had perfect by watching Asuna do so.

He only felt slightly embarrassed at the surge of pride he felt coming from a very specific part of his link to the Throne, even as everyone else seemed to give a feeling of 'shuddering'.

Given how Blake's brow flattened almost into her scalp and she half-hid between a suddenly not-as-confident Yang, Weiss paled for some unknown reason and subtly moved closer to a shuddering Ruby, he could understand it. Team RWBY clearly wasn't immune to it.

On JNPR's part…well, Nora had all but glued herself to Ren's arm, the boy sweating lightly but still surprisingly maintaining a stoic face. Jaune had whimpered and leaned Pyrrha, suddenly afraid. Pyrrha, if clearly also somewhat shaken, had pretended to whimper too and leaned against her blond partner in the same way. Sly girl.

"U-uhm…I think…we can do it?" offered Ruby with a nervous smile, ignoring the betrayed looks everyone in her team suddenly sent her.

"Good! Now then, why don't we go to the Emerald Forest? We will start with something simple…I want you to come at me all at the same time to try and land a hit! And yes, that includes you without holding back, Pyrrha. I know you have been doing so in every combat class. That should be easy, right? It's 8 against one, after all!"

That day, two teams of Beacon Academy got their concept of 'absolutely useless' redefined.

By themselves.

Meanwhile, though, in the Kingdom of Atlas…a dark-haired man was staring intently at several screens with a noticeable frown. Then, the automatic steel door to his office opened and a young woman that bore an uncanny resemblance to Weiss Schnee, if much taller and mature-looking, entered, saluting as she did so.

"General Ironwood, sir. Did you want to see me?"

"Yes, Winter…do you remember that incident with the White Fang and Roman Torchwick in the docks of Vale a few days ago?"

"It…came to my knowledge, sir." replied Winter Schnee with a small frown. "Both because of the criminals involved and that Penny was close to the area, away from her established 'caretakers'…"

"Well…look at this. This is footage straight from Penny's optics of the scene." declared James Ironwood while turning the screens towards the Specialist.

Blinking, the woman looked in confusion at the frozen images of the docks all but exploding, chunks of concrete, crates of Dust and bodies of White Fang members hurdling through the air in every direction…and how all of them had a white-black blur rushing through them.

A very specific one, though, showed the 'blur' in a much more defined, humanoid shape, holding two terrified-looking teens (A girl with black hair and a clearly blond Faunus).

What the images had managed to capture of his distorted 'face', though, was nothing but ever-lasting darkness with two voids of white instead of eyes.

"What…what in the name of Dust is that…?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out as soon as I can." declared the general with a clear frown, knowing he would be calling his old friend Ozpin very soon. "What's more unsettling, though…is that when I asked Penny if she knew what it was…she actually had an answer."

"…what did she say."

With a very conflicted expression, the man all but in charge of the world's greatest military answered.

"She called it 'Friend Kirito'…"

---

Author's Notes 2: Oh boy, Kirito, you're not as unknown as you may have wanted anymore…and truly, how many of you had forgotten Penny was actually there to watch him pulverize the docks? And how many forgot that there ARE important people keeping an eye on everything Penny does (And sees)?

In other news, Team RWBY and JNPR's tortu…I mean, training, starts! With Kirito-sensei helping them out, things are bound to go in a very interesting way, don't you all think :3?

That's all for now, though! Next time, I will see you all on 'The Eroge'!

Until then, this is Saint, signing off!