Hello everyone, and welcome back to this absolute mess!
By the way, if you haven't seen the Season 4 Trailer for this wonderful fandom we're a part of, go and watch it. It's on Youtube. Just be warned, it's obvious that a different animation company is working on it, go in with an open mind.
With that out of the way, the reviews:
Josh100o: Thanks! Really does make me feel better writing this when I get reviews like this. Yeah, no 30 girl harems here. I think there's only going to be around like 5 at most. And as for your suggestions... at this point, I can guarantee at least one of them is will be with him.
Cf96: ;)
Tykronos: I've played with that idea, but I'm not sure how I'd make it work. Chances are, it won't happen, but we do still have one more chapter of training before the Rating Game, so maybe.
Oeschner0: Thanks.
Hitler's Moustache: Your name... by god your name... Thanks for reading this!
sonic: Thanks!
Yamato Minamoto: I tried to make it as fucked up as possible. Glad I succeeded. And as for the rest... we'll see.
desdelor97: Thanks! Will do!
Blaze1992: I guess I didn't go into as much detail as I should have, but let me make it a bit clearer. Imagine that for as long as you can remember, you've never had a father figure, and your mother, if she wasn't ignoring your very existence, berated and beat you for daring to talk to her. You want to be a good person, but things outside of your control twist and torture you until you finally break after the person you've tried to make like you burns down everything you've ever known and loved. Did that make it clearer?
Rowan Ren: ...What?
Alex The God Killer: Yeah, poor Roland. Those were the types of questions I was trying to raise with that scene! Glad that I succeeded!
grabblers: Probably not something exactly like that, but something close, ha.
RevansStories: I'm quickly finding out that I'm at least decent at writing banter, I'm glad that held true for this chapter! Glad you found it interesting too.
Rai of Bladeeage: It sure did, bud.
Blake Tourdner: Every time you review, you just have to pick on Roland, don't you? Kidding.
And with that, we've gone over the 100 review mark in just about 2 months. I've seen people who've worked on a fanfiction for years and only get half of that. Maybe I really am doing something right?
I have some things to say at the end of the chapter, so skip there if you want an update.
Now, on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own High School DxD
"Regular Speech"
Thoughts
"LOUD SHOUTING"
[Sacred Gear talking out loud]
[Sacred Gear talking to wielder]
…And you're… so much… like me…
I'm sorry.
My breathing still ragged and shaky, I sat on one of the chairs in the room Phobetor had made for himself what felt like a decade ago now. If I had known that what I had created… what I had written was going to become a reality one day… I would have never have written Kazuki. I could have given him any past, I had that power. I chose to abuse it, and now he's a broken shell, an abomination. And it's all my fault.
Phobetor had moved a chair next to mine, and had placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I tried my best to keep my composure.
"I-If I had known… I would have never…" I stuttered out.
"I know, boy. I know." Phobetor reassured me.
"I-I mean… trauma creates character, right!? Do you think I would have even gone close to the past users if I hadn't of lost control when I fought Freed? I wanted to write something that people would enjoy, something interesting, but I just always come up with the most horrifyingly tragic back stories when I create a character… And then I had one of those characters chase me down a damned burned hallway. I feel… guilty, ya know? Like I'm the one who put him in that position… like I'm the one who created him with the sole intention of torturing him to make him potentially more 'interesting'. Heh… it almost seems funny now. It's like a joke…"
Phobetor snorted. "If it is a joke, boy, then I don't find it to be very funny. Not at all. But do not worry, I do not blame you. There was no way you could have ever known."
I stared at the floor blankly, having come to a sudden realization. "…Hey, Phobetor."
"H-hmm?"
"Why did you send me to talk to him?" I swear… if he knew…
"I have never spoken with that boy. I never even knew his name until I searched through your memories." Phobetor instantly replied, as if he could read my mind and already had a reply ready and waiting. Oh wait, he can read my mind. "Kazuki never even activated me until after that tragic event involving his mother and that dog. And when he did, he instantly activated this Sacred Gear's forbidden move, and then he was a driveling mess. Mad people do not make good conversation, let that be my advice for today to you, boy. I am, however, sincerely apologetic regarding your near-death. If I could have foreseen that, then I would never have let you speak to him." He finished.
I looked up at him, incredulously. "Did… Did you just apologize?"
Phobetor looked down at me. "Yes, I did. Is that really so surprising?" He said, nonchalantly.
"T-This…" I sputtered. "This… We've made history. Phobetor, do you admit you were wrong? When you sent me to talk with… Kazuki that is?"
Phobetor looked away from me and to the nearest wall. "I may have… misjudged the reaction that Kazuki boy may have had when I sent you to talk to him… And I admit I was a little slow in letting you back into this mind-space…"
"So," I said, a small smirk appearing on my face. "You admit it then. You were wrong."
Phobetor sighed. "If I do, will we drop this topic?"
"Deal."
Phobetor looked me in the eye. My anticipation was palpable. "I… was wrong."
"Ha… Ha…" I tittered.
Phobetor looked at me worriedly. "What has gotten into you now?"
I stood up, and pointed at Phobetor dramatically. "You… You…! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, fuck me! I did it! Yes! Yeeeeeeeees! You admitted you were wrong! One point to Roland!"
"And about a billion to Phobetor, brat." Phobetor deadpanned.
"No need to be a spoilsport, dog-head. Let me savor this moment!" I defended.
"I am not being a 'spoilsport'." He bent his index and fore finger as he said 'spoilsport'. "I am merely being realistic."
"Let me have this, damnit!" I pleaded, tempted to get on my knees and actually beg.
"You are impossible. You are aware of this, yes?" Phobetor rubbed his forehead. His doggy-forehead. It looks really weird.
"Admit it, you enjoy this." I smirked, sitting back down.
"Whatever gave you that impression? This is akin to torture." Phobetor sighed.
"Tsunde-"
Phobetor's eyes instantly lasered in on mine, actually glowing a faint red color. The look he gave me made me shrivel up and want to hide. "Did you think I was joking with what I said earlier, brat? Refer to me by that vulgar, depraved personality architype again and I shall toss you, screaming and kicking, into the darkest pits of insanity imaginable."
"S-Sure." I stammered. "No more tsundere teasing then… And I only just got started too…"
Phobetor, if it was possible on his doggy-face, looked to be smirking. "I am glad that we understand each other, boy."
"Yeah, yeah… punk ass voice…" I said, under my breath.
"You do realize that does not work when I can read your mind, correct?"
"Yes. Yes I know."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Well, I'm feeling better now, thanks. But still… the other two past users you were talking about…"
"I believe it would a good idea to wait on the next one. You still have plenty of time on this training trip of yours. Besides, I can see that that encounter has affected your state of mind somewhat, and there is no way I am letting you near one of them until you can truly handle it." Phobetor said.
"Hmm." I hummed. "How about day seven? Is that enough time?"
"I would be willing to try it again at that time, yes." Phobetor concurred.
"Good." I nodded. I looked around the room, nervousness clinging at my chest. "Hey, Phobetor, this next one… what are they like?"
"I believe it would be better to wait until you see them. If I told you who they are now, you may draw conclusions. Unlike that Kazuki kid, this one consciously volunteered, so I believe that you have a better chance at striking up a 'deal' or 'agreement' with them. If anything happens, I will get involved. I have learned my lesson after this time."
"Good to know, Phobetor. Good to know." I said, staring off into nothing. I wonder what the next wielder will be like? If they're anything like Kazuki… I don't recall ever making an Original Character besides Kazuki that wielded [Nightmare Masque], and if this was another one, I think I'd feel more guilt than ever. If I had hindsight, I would have never…
"There is no use thinking about what you could have done, boy." Phobetor's voice sliced through my thoughts. "Just try focusing on what you will and can do."
"You're… right, Phobetor. Maybe this one will be different. Maybe one day I'll be able to talk with Kazuki again, too."
"Let us not jump to conclusions just yet."
Third Day of Training
"On… my honor… Koneko, I will… defeat you… one day!" I said, between heavy breaths. We were in the forest on the third day of our training camp trip, and I was on my ass, again, with Koneko leering down at me.
"…You must not have a lot of honor, then." She monotoned.
"Ya know, for such a little girl, you have some massive brass BALLS!" I shouted, suddenly shooting up from my lying down position and surprising her. I finally decided to take Kiba's advice and wait for them to get close to me instead of me getting close to them. I grabbed her by her shoulders, flattened her against a tree. I cocked a fist back.
I gathered demonic power, like I did that time with Akeno, Issei, and Asia a couple days ago – only much faster - and coated my hand with it. Purplish-red energy surrounded my fist as I took a swing at Koneko's face.
Luckily for her, she dodged it. The tree I had flattened her against wasn't so lucky.
Demonic power relies on imagination, like Akeno said, and with this attack, there is only one thing I want to do: Deal as much damage as possible in as little time as possible and make my enemies lives as fucking miserable as possible.
This basically summed up into one thing: a painful explosion.
As soon as my fist collided with the tree trunk, an explosion ripped through its bark, snapping it in half, sending bits of bark and wood everywhere, and making it topple over to the side. Leaves and branches came falling to the ground as it did so.
The explosion does no damage to me, thankfully, and when I tested it on my test dummy (Issei) it doesn't explode flesh, only gives an extra 'uumph' to an attack. Although something tells me I should still be careful.
Koneko looked at me, with that same expressionless mask from which no emotion can escape. If anything, she looked annoyed.
"…Impressive." I felt a foot collide with my stomach. "But not good enough."
I was sent flying back as my face twisted into an expression of absolute rage. I said some things that shall not be said again.
[You're almost there, boy. Mastering demonic power takes time, but you have a good start here. As always, your worst aspect is your lack of speed, but even that is being mitigated somewhat. That nekomata barely dodged that punch.]
"FUCKING DIE, PHOBETOR!" I screeched as I tumbled through the air, and landed in the branches of a particularly large tree.
"…Okay, I'm serious. Who's Phobetor?" I heard Koneko's monotone voice even from my high position in the trees. Thanks, heightened devil senses!
"He's a punk ass voice in my head, that's who he is!" I shouted back to her, struggling to get myself out of the tangled mess my body had found itself in in this damned tree.
"…You're hearing voices?" She deadpanned.
"It's my Sacred Gear, you fucking DWARF!"
[…You just do not learn your lesson, do you boy?]
Shh! I have a plan!
An icy shiver raced down my spine, as I heard soft, but certainly audible footsteps walk slowly to my branch-prison. Please… do what I think you're about to do, Koneko.
"…Roland-senpai." That voice would make Issei cower in fear. It would make any man want to run for the hills. "Do we need to have another discipline session?"
"Come and get me, table top tits!" I yelled from the branches.
[You really do know how to make any girl blush, boy.]
I have to get her really pissed off somehow, right?
All I heard was silence for what felt like minutes. Not even the sound of birds or the rustling of leaves could be heard. Then I felt the tree I was in begin to quiver and shake as the sound of wood being torn apart and broken was heard.
"…I'll be sure to send your remains back to America, Roland-senpai." Koneko's voice held just a trace of the absolute fury she must have actually been in. I shivered as I heard it, but I don't regret what I said, not by a long shot.
[You bring shame to me.]
Fuck you.
[You're not my type, boy. Those fallen on the other hand-]
I've heard enough, shut up! I don't want to hear about your fetishes!
The tree I was in began to lean, as I untangled myself from the last of the branches, and prepared to jump.
"…Time to die, Roland-senpai." Koneko's voice was eerie as the tree fell, almost like a ghost.
"SURPRISE!" I shouted suddenly, springing myself from the leaves and tackling Koneko to the ground. We rolled around on the ground until I came out on top. Her eyes were… actually glowing. Glowing yellow. Damn, I must have really pissed her off, huh? Nevertheless, she stared up at me, as I had her pinned on the ground. I didn't even wait, I let go of one of her hands for a split second, cocked it back, and instantly punched her in the gut, my hand already coated in demonic power, creating an explosion and dealing even more damage.
Thankfully, Koneko didn't cough up blood. She did cough up a lot of spit though. I held back a bit, I admit, but still, I put no small amount of power into that punch. I didn't wait for her to recover. I grabbed her hand, stood up, and threw her into the tree line. She disappeared from my sight.
Holy shit I can't believe I just did that.
[Congratulations. You're already adapting to your lack of major speed. Although, I feel like I should mention-]
Mention what- HOLY FUCK!
A tree hurtled toward me, an actual fully grown fucking tree. It was thrown like a javelin, and I just barely avoided it impaling me through the chest. I looked at it incredulously for a moment, before I slowly looked at where it came from.
There Koneko stood, looking slightly scratched. Her clothes were torn, but it didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. She just looked at me. Glared at me, really. Her hand was on another tree trunk.
"…I'm done taking it easy on you, Roland-senpai." Was all she said, as she uprooted the entire tree.
Phobetor.
[H-hmm?]
When I die, tell Ise that I always thought he was kinda a cool guy.
[I will be sure to tell him, boy. No matter how wrong you are.]
Fourth Day of Training
Day 4: Koneko still hasn't forgiven me. Please, send help.
[Who are you talking to, boy? You are speaking in your mind but it sounds like you are writing a diary entry.]
I'm sending mental messages in a bottle, Phobetor. Someone must hear me.
[…That may just be the dumbest thing I have ever heard you say.]
Fuck you.
[Clever. Did you come up with that all on your own? I am impressed.]
Punk ass-
[Those words never had much weight, and now they have even less so. Just hurry up and find that bestiary in this library you've gotten yourself lost in.]
I'm not lost!
[You've gone past the same bookshelf about five times now. If that doesn't qualify as 'lost', then I do not know what does.]
The amount of snark coming from you today is off the charts. I can literally feel it pulsing off of you like an aura-
[Focus!]
Fine! But damn you, this isn't over!
Yeah, I was in the library of this absolutely massive mansion. It was quite large, and Rias has been spending most of her time in here. Studying, most likely, trying to research strategy and crap like that. I was never really good at that, doesn't mean I won't try though. Despite what Phobetor had said, I wasn't lost, I was just having trouble finding out what a 'bestiary' might be called in this place.
"…Let's see…" I said idly. "100 Ways to Cook a Minotaur… Never Piss Off a Dragon… Devil Physiology… H-Hopeless Romantics #3: The Power of Love!? The fuck is this doing here!?" I picked said 'novel' off the bookshelf. On it was a picture of a busty chestnut-haired woman and a handsome, jet-black haired man staring deep into each other's eyes, with the background of a starry night sky. Based on how thick it was, I'd say it was some sort of… light novel…
"…For future research purposes." I noted to myself, putting the light novel under my arm and continuing my search. "…This is all crap that I don't care about- FINALLY! …And it's literally called 'Bestiary of Supernatural Creatures', I really am hopeless, aren't I?"
[I am glad you finally realized it.]
I hate you.
[No, you do not.]
It's not too late to initiate that 'plan' of mine, Phobetor.
[You cannot keep using 'that' to threaten me into silence, brat! I am impervious to your idle threats!]
Oh, are you? Then what am I thinking about now, facsimile?
[…H-How!? What kind of perversion have you been hiding from me this entire time!? You make the past user's thoughts look like puppies when you dare to even begin to think of that-! How is it possible!?]
Anything is possible, Phobetor.
[Y-You-! You will not get away with this! How is it even possible for a mind such as yours to conjure such debauchery!?]
You'd be surprised. I can be quite creative when I need to be.
I ignored Phobetor's sniffles as I sat down at a table near the entrance of the library, and opened the bestiary. I also placed that light novel I found on the table. It's for research purposes, I swear!
[It certainly has nothing to do with the title of the novel being you boiled down to your basic components, brat?]
Don't tempt me, facsimile. Remember, anything is possible, even 'that'.
[…]
I paged through the massive tome. It was set up a lot like a dictionary, being organized in alphabetical order. Thankfully, it was in English, or I wouldn't have been able to read it. I'm not even going to question why it is. It's best not to question things such as this.
"H… H… H… Okay, here are the hellhounds. Might as well check that first." The picture on the page for hellhounds was a large, spikey-haired dog with ominously glowing red eyes.
Apparently, when fully grown, a hellhound can be as large as a small horse. Well… I'll have to build/buy a dog house for Cujo soon, or find someplace for him to stay other than my dinky apartment. Fucking hell! A small horse!?
[Good luck with that, boy.]
You talk too much.
[I can speak whenever I wish, boy.]
You're just mad still because of that 'thing' that I might do.
[You are damn right I am! What kind of heathen would think of something such as that!?]
Me.
[Touché.]
Since I'm here, I have to look up 'that' as well, shouldn't I? I might not come back here again after today… I paged through the 'H' section of the bestiary, looking for that single creature… the one the familiar master mentioned that one time.
…
…
…
…Oh.
Oh.
[So this is what you have been hiding from me...]
Oh, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Raiser, yo-h-h-h-ou don't know what's comin' your way you playboy fuckhead! This… this is gonna be fun!
"…Well…" I whispered to myself, smirking slightly. "Ain't that interesting?"
"What's interesting?"
"HOLY MARY MOTHER OF-"
The bestiary nearly fell off the table and fell to the ground with me as I comically launched myself from my chair and ended up face first on the floor on the other side of the table I was sitting at. If I had a penny for each time I've been jumpscared in this universe, I'd have about 50 cents. Screw you, I could buy a gumball with that! Well, maybe…
I heard giggling. "You really are a jumpy one, aren't you, Roland?" It was Rias.
"Gee, what gave it away?" I replied, getting up off the ground and rubbing my face. It didn't hurt, but damn did I feel embarrassed. "If you guys aren't careful, I may just have a heart attack at this rate…"
"It would take a lot more than just being startled to give a devil a heart attack." Rias said, smirking. "What are you doing here, by the way? I haven't seen you here during your break time."
I pointed at the now closed bestiary on the table. "Been looking up creatures I could turn into. My knowledge is a bit more… limited than I'd like."
"Hmm." Rias hummed. "Well, I'll leave you to that-" She was making motions to walk away, probably to a different part of the library, when she spotted the light novel I had picked up earlier. "H-How…?"
"Oh, this?" I said, picking it up and looking at the cover. "Yeah, found it somewhere over there." I pointed at a part of the library absent-mindedly. "It's a bit strange to find this here, though. Most of the books in this library are more sophisticated than…" I shook the book slightly. "…this."
[You were going to read it. Admit it.]
Shut it!
[No! I refuse to listen to someone hundreds of years younger than me!]
Rias was… blushing profusely." "I-I see." She held her hand out. "T-Then I'm sure you won't mind if I take it to a more appropriate place? I'm sure it's just a slight mix-up."
…How stupid does she think I am?
[Not nearly as much as she should.]
Fuck you.
[The creativity you provide in your insults is staggering.]
"I dunno, Rias." I said teasingly. "This seems like it was left here deliberately at some point. I mean, this is a Gremory-owned mansion, and you are a Gremory… Maybe… this is yours, isn't it?"
It looked like steam was about to start coming out of her head. "N-No! That's not mine!" She denied, looking away. "I-In fact, I've never even seen that 'novel' in my entire life!"
"Oh, really?" I smirked. My inner troll is coming out~! "Then I'm sure you won't mind if I dispose of this-"
"No!" She turned back around and took several steps forward. "Don't do thaaaaat!"
"Ah, so this is yours!" I smiled triumphantly.
She looked down at the floor, her face as red as her hair, embarrassed and defeated. "Y-Yes… the last time my family came here for a vacation… I left that here… I looked for it for weeks…"
Well, now I feel like a fucking douchebag.
[To be fair, you are.]
Burn in hell.
[It only hurts because you know it's true.]
I had an image in my mind of a little Rias, clutching this book to her chest in her room, reading it over and over again, hoping that she could have something like that-
Damnit, why do I have to be so sentimental?
"…Alright, here." I said, placing the book on the table, looking away guiltily "Sorry."
She instantly swiped the book off the table, and… it fucking disappeared? It… It literally disappeared! What kind of black magic was that!? "Thank you, Roland…" Was Rias' near emotionless reply.
"Yeah, no problem…"
We just stood there, staring at each other awkwardly.
…
…
…
I really need to find a way to get rid of this awkward silence. I know!
"Hey, boss."
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to know… about Raiser's pieces? The strategy that he'll use? What you can do to stop some things from happening? I'm here. I can tell you. Hell, we could do it now, if you'd want. I'm perfectly fine with it." I shrugged. "In fact, I'd be glad to help you."
She looked at me curiously. "…What brought this on?"
I was silent for a moment, searching for the right words to say. "…Because I just want to help you." I confessed. "I can plainly see that you don't like that asshole, and the way he looked at you, and at everyone else… I just really hate overconfident, egotistical, holier-than-thou dickheads like him, you know? Kind of a pet peeve on my part. No matter what medium it's in, I hate people who act like him. So… knowing that, would you like to know? How it's going to go down and what you can do? Like I said, I'm perfectly fine telling you."
Well, that and the fact that you aren't as close to Issei in canon, Rias, and I'd rather some things be different from your victory than have you marry that yakitori sunuvabitch. Butterfly Effect, for the win! Fuck my life!
Rias looked at me for a moment, mulling over my words. "I'm flattered by your offer, Roland." She said, smiling. "But I'm afraid that I must decline."
Whodawaht!?
[What kind of gobbledygook just came from your consciousness!? I've never even heard something close to that in all my years!]
Fukyu!
[You truly are hopeless, you are aware of this fact, yes?]
"U-Uh…" I muttered, stunned. "May I ask why?"
Rias closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. "I want to beat Raiser fair and square. Trust me, Roland, it is very tempting to take your offer, it really is, but If I can't beat Raiser with my own hands, with my own head, then it won't feel like a victory. It would feel like a farce, a show. It just wouldn't feel right to abuse something such as that, for me at least. I want to beat Raiser, but on my own terms."
…I can't tell if that's inspirational… or incredibly stupid… But fuck me if she isn't prideful. She's a devil, alright.
[A she-devil, to be more precise.]
Quiet, you.
"Well…" I trailed off. "When you put it like that…"
She nodded. "I am grateful for the offer, Roland, I really am. But I must refuse, for my pride if nothing else."
I looked away, thinking. I can still help her, I know I can. In fact, this could be advantageous for me. If she doesn't change up her strategy much because of her already knowing what's going to happen, then I'll be more effective! But still… I still want to help her here, somehow…
"…Would it be fine if I help you… study strategies? Y'know, we could come up with something together. We could learn from each other. Even if I'm… not especially good at it…" I proposed.
[Smooth.]
Why do you even talk, Phobetor? I mean, really?
[Because your anger and sarcasm give me life.]
…What?
She gave me a warm smile. "Now that doesn't sound too bad. Why didn't you propose that instead? Yes, of course. It would be a pleasure to speak with you about that."
…
[Your heart just skipped a beat again. What is going on with you, boy?]
…Don't judge me…
[I am afraid it is too late for that.]
"O-Okay, well… before we do that, can I ask you one more thing?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Can you…" I paused for a moment, trying to put this as eloquently as I possibly can. "Can you teach me how to fly?" I failed.
Sixth Day of Training
"DAMN YOU, KIBA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!" I shouted as I did an uppercut with the wooden sword that I was given. Kiba blocked it easily. He did it easier than last time, which I can only assume is because of all the training we've been doing. He's gotten stronger as well, which isn't good for me in the slightest.
"I've already been there, Roland-kun." Kiba said nonchalantly, as I felt the sword he was using tap against my shoulder. "And you've lost an arm."
"No, I haven't," I said, flexing said limb as I did so. "It's still here, and now I'm going to KILL YOU WITH IT!" My biggest advantage is the element of surprise, and I've used it to the best of my abilities since the first day. I used it against Koneko a few days ago, and now I'm using it against Kiba, to see how it works.
It worked, but not as well as I would have hoped. I successfully hit him, in the face, sending him reeling. I was going to aim for chest, but from the way his sword was positioned, he would have easily been able to block it, so I changed the course of my fist. I used the arm that had the sword still in it to strike a downward blow to his head, trying to knock him out.
He blocked it, the bastard.
"Roland-kun," Kiba said, turning his head back to face me. The side of the face I had hit had a purple bruise on it, and I could see a little bit of blood at the side of his mouth. "That was a good punch. If it had been anyone else but me or Koneko, it could have knocked them out. Unfortunately…"
He quickly unlocked our wooden swords and went to aim for my legs again.
I stopped that from happening. I could tell he was going to try and do that again from the way his arms moved and the way his body was positioned, something I would not have been able to do 5 days ago. I was almost impressed with myself as I did that, it was almost like an impulse reaction.
Kiba's eyes widened, and then he smirked slightly, retreating. "You learn fast, Roland-kun. How about we take a break? It's almost time to eat."
Are you sure you don't want to fix…" I rubbed my cheek. "…that first? It looks pretty bad…"
"I'll be fine. I've gone through much worse than this." He chuckled.
"Hmm." I hummed. I just remembered Kiba's backstory, and what he said was completely true. Fucking hell… not looking forward to that part of canon, at all. Probably one of the darker moments in the series, honestly.
Hang on… just remembered, I wanna ask him something.
[How could you forget it? You were really excited to ask him since you had that little victory against the nekomata.]
Stop. Now.
[Why should I?]
"Hey, Kiba!"
"Yes, Roland-kun?" He turned around.
"I have an idea." I began. "For a sword you could create…"
Seventh Day of Training
I went to sleep on the night of the 7th day of our little training trip, fully expecting the room I would be in once I did so. Didn't mean I was overtly happy to be in this room, though.
"Why do you find this room to be so distasteful, boy?" Phobetor asked, irritated. "I put quite a bit of effort into making it."
"It's not so much what it looks like." I said, sitting down. "It's the… memories that I have here."
Phobetor stared at me blankly for a moment, before nodding. "I suppose that is true. My apologies, I was just a bit confused."
"So," I said, leaning back in the chair. "It's the 7th day."
"Indeed, it is." Phobetor agreed, looking off at nothing in particular, idly drinking out of his teacup.
"You know what that means, right?"
"I do."
"Then, what do we do?" I said, a bit impatiently. "Where's this next user? Do I go through that door again?" I pointed at the door I had used to come into this room so long ago, and the one I had gone through to meet Kazuki.
"You will." Phobetor, sitting up straight and looking at me dead in the eyes. "Just a bit of a warning before you do, though."
I facepalmed. "Not this again… Look, I remember what you said last time, alright? My memory isn't that bad…"
Phobetor's doggy lip twitched. "I do not mean it in that way, boy. This user is different from the child you saw previously."
I shivered slightly, the image of the abomination Kazuki had turned into flashing across my mind for a moment. "Well… go on, then."
"If the user attacks you again, like the kid did last time, just wait around. Don't try to open the door. It is very likely that you won't be able to open it this time."
I titled my head. "Why not?"
"Because this user is stronger than that Kazuki kid." He explained. "They have greater control over their powers, and the mind-scape they have built for in the Sacred Gear is far more stable and controllable by them then the one you went to previously. So, if they attack you, merely call my name, and I shall stop it before they can erase your personality."
I gulped. "That's what happens if they… 'kill' me while I'm here?"
Phobetor nodded. "Yes, why do you think I was so apprehensive in letting you speak to them in the first place?" Just do what I instructed if things go awry, and I will stop it and bring you back here. I did not lie when I said it would be a shame to lose you, boy."
"Aww, Phobby cawes abowt meh!" I said teasingly, getting up and walking towards the door. "But seriously, thanks. For letting me do this, if nothing else."
If it is possible, I think I saw Phobetor smile. "Do not worry about it, boy. Remember what I said."
And with that, I grabbed the door handle, and opened it.
The instant I did, it was like I was walking into a jungle. The air was humid, and even through the tiny crack I had made while opening the door, I could see plants. I could hear the distant chirping of birds, the sound of a babbling brook could be heard nearby, and the sun shone through the leaves of the large trees.
All in all, definitely a more welcoming place then I was used to. I stepped through the door completely, and it instantly closed behind me. That immediately put me on edge. That happened last time, and if what Phobetor said was true, then I think I have the right to be a little more nervous and cautious this time around.
I stepped through the dense greenery I found myself in now, hearing the snapping sound of twigs and the creaking of grass. If it wasn't so fucking humid in here, I'd think that this place would be a great area to live. Unfortunately, I've only been here for about a minute and I'm already sweating enough to have dark spots on my shirt.
It was also just a bit too bright for my liking. Being a devil makes you more sensitive to crap like that.
It was about couple minutes in that I found the first body. It was covered in foliage, but it strangely didn't look like it had rotted at all. If it wasn't for all the vines and shit covering it, I'd think it was just sleeping. It looked vaguely humanoid, but that's where the similarities end. It had massive pincers for hands, several mandibles for a mouth, red compound eyes that stared into nothing, and bluish-grey colored skin. Really, it looked more like an insect than anything even closely resembling a human.
I looked at it for almost a full minute. It was unnerving just looking at the damn thing. So, I continued on. Only, that wasn't the only body I found. And that one I had found out had been the least damaged.
There were several bodies on the path that I was following, some were nailed to trees, some were splayed out on the ground with several swords sticking out of them, all of them were either deformed in some way, or they were so mangled and torn apart that it was impossible to see if they were. The more I soldiered on, the more I wanted to turn back. This was getting creepy as fuck. And if this was the 'mind-scape' of the user I'm supposed to talk to today, then I'm pretty sure, based on the bodies, I know who it is.
My suspicious were confirmed when just before I came upon a stream, I saw a small, but definitely an adult, form sitting cross-legged on a rock. Several alarm bells started ringing in my head as I stared at them. I was tempted to just leave. My courage was already wearing thin, and based on the bodies, this fucker wasn't in their right mind at all.
Unfortunately, I never got the chance to turn back.
"I know you're there." Said a husky, but still distinctly feminine voice. "Approach."
Damnit! For fuck's sake…
I did so, getting closer to the stone platform the cloaked figure was sitting on. As I got closer, the figure got up. She was small, maybe about 5'2 or 5'1, not very intimidating. When I was just behind her, she turned around. Most of her features were still hidden in the shadow of her grey cloak, but I could clearly see the pale skin of her face.
"So, you have come." She said, a small smile gracing her lips. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to be so foolish as to come here, alone. Then again, you have turned yourself into an arrogant bat, have you not?"
"If that's how you speak to everyone when they've come to visit you, then you must not have a lot of friends." I shot back. Well, that 'bat' comment basically confirmed who this is, if nothing else at this point has.
"I don't need friends, bat, and I don't intend to speak to you long. It pains me to do so for as long as I have so far." She hissed, grabbing for something underneath her cloak.
I should have expected this.
"If you don't want to talk, then why did Phobetor say you were willing to?" I asked, forcing my face into a stoic expression the best I could.
"Even if that foolish false god isn't a devil," She spat the word 'devil' out as if it was poisonous. "He's about as idiotic as one. To be expected, if he's befriended someone such as you."
"Oh, you're a funny one, aren't you?" I laughed, a very fake laugh. "Then what do you want? I could just leave-"
She pulled a small sword out. A rusty, horribly chipped sword. Despite how it looked, I wanted to run away as fast as I could as I saw it holy fuck what the hell is that!?
The girl began tittering, as she pushed the hood off her head, revealing blonde locks of hair, and deep blue eyes, that looked as if they were piercing my very soul. I recoiled as I saw the most definable feature. A large, ugly scar that trailed from the left side of her forehead to the right side of her jawline, marring her otherwise cute and pretty face.
"My name is Lucy," She announced, her voice reverberated across the entire jungle. "And I shall be your executioner."
Dun dun dun! Cliffhanger! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry.
Okay, so, when the Raiser arc is finished, I plan on taking a bit of a break, and during this break I think I'll 'clean-up' the chapters, so to speak. Fix errors, make conversations flow better, edit some of the spoken dialogue, that sort of thing. Nothing major.
Oh, and also after the Raiser arc, I plan on writing a Fanon page for Nightmare Masque. I know I said that I'd do it after the Fallen Angel arc, but I never got around to it. I'll finish it this time, though.
Well, I have nothing else to say, so good night!