You know, when I wake up, I like to wake up to some peace and quiet you know?

I wake up, stretch some of my limbs for moment, head to the bathroom, and get ready for the day. Normal stuff like that.

But on this day where I was staying at a city where people are not only assholes, but whorship a lazy con artist of a goddess, my "morning" was met with a night sky and a FUCKING MOB TRYING BUST MY GODDAMN DOOR DOWN!

What the fuck have I just woken up to?!

I got up from my bed quickly and looked around.

"Ah Tsukiyo! For fucks sake, you're finally up!" Kazuma said as he and Darkness were trying to hold the door from getting open.

It seems that everyone was here in the room that me and Kazuma shared.

Wiz was in a panic, Megumin looked like she was having Vietnam flashbacks, and Aqua was bawling like usual.

"I go to sleep for a couple of hours and everything has gone to shit, what the fuck did you guys do!?" I said as I tried to help keep the door shut.

"A couple hours!? It's been a day and a half since you last woke up, are you some kind of narcoleptic freak!?" Kazuma complained, "Aside from that, this is all Aqua's fault!"

"I-it's n-n-not my f-f-fault!" Aqua bawled.

"Not only did she purify the water in the Hot Springs, twice! But she tried to proclaim her goddliness to everyone, making everyone hate her. Because of all the shit that made people hate her, when the Hot Springs water turned poisonous everyone turned to us thinking we're the source!" Kazuma complained.

"Goddammit Aqua!" I also complained.

"Why is everyone blaming me for this?! I'm Innocent!" She bawled again

After another 5-10 minutes of the cultist trying to force open the door, we were able to get a breather after we propped the door closed with a small bookshelf, a coffee table, and the frames of me and Kazuma's bed.

"Ok!" Kazuma said as the 6 of us gathered up, "We need some kind of plan to get out of here!"

"We can't leave my people to be poisoned! All of them might be killed off!" Aqua said trying to persuade us to help.

"So what's the problem with that?" Me, Megumin, and Kazuma said in a trio.

Aqua screamed in horror as she heard our response, "What's wrong with you people!? Don't you know my goddess powers will diminish if my followers are all dead!? I expected this much from Tsukiyo and Kazuma, but not you too Megumin!"

"You have no idea the horrors of what I saw yesterday, I'm ok with this place burning down..." Megumin said in a dark voice before she returned to getting her flashbacks.

"Megumin!" Aqua said as she was shaking Megumin's shoulders violently

"A-Aqua, please calm down…" Wiz said submissively as she tried to calm her down.

Aqua instantly turned to Wiz for some kind of reassurance, "Wiz!" She said in false hope, "The Axis cult took care of you in this room while you were knocked out, you'll support my decision on this, right!? RIGHT!?" Aqua pressured

"W-well…" Wiz said as she hesitated to give Aqua an honest answer.

Aqua fell to her knees as she wept quietly, "My Kingdom is about to collapse as its people are trying to kick me out ...and I'm in a room filled with people who couldn't care less…."

You know, for all the shit I give Aqua, and for good reasons too, seeing her like this in a broken down state where she's lost all hope of possibly saving her people...

...is kinda amusing….

Now I know what you're thinking, and I want you to fucking stop! This does not make me a sadist by any terms!

With Aqua acting all high and mighty most of the time, especially very recently where she and Kazuma grew the fattest of heads, you could say that this is something like Karma.

"Aqua," Darkness spoke up as she crouched down to Aqua's level, "I'll help you save your people. Don't worry, we'll stop the poison before it kills anyone!" she said hopeful and bright.

Aqua looked up to Darkness and saw a glimmer of some kind of hope for her people, she instantly launched into Darkness arms and thanked her while sniffling a lot.

Considering Darkness' nature, even if she is from a different cult from Aqua, a Crusader still has the job of protecting the people in need.

I sighed to myself as I sell my soul to the Devil, or at least something close to it, "Alright well, if Darkness is going to get rid of the poison, then so will I. She doesn't have her armour so I'm gonna have to make sure she doesn't get hurt." I proclaim.

Megumin joined in as she also wanted to help, "While I would like to see this place burn and not come back here ever again, I can't let a friend of mine go out and face danger alone, Count me in."

"UGH! Why are you guys throwing away your sense of reason!? They're trying to kill us outside, and you want to save them?!" Kazuma complained.

We all stared at Kazuma awkwardly until it made him uncomfortable, "Stop! Stop! Stop! Fine, I'll help you guys out, but you owe me big time!"

While we would've loved to continue to chat more and bond as a fami- I mean party, we weren't given that kind of luxury since one of the rioters threw a molotov, yes a fucking molotov while magic exists in this world, towards us as it crashed threw our window.

"Holy shit! The rioters are getting more and more crazier, we need an actual plan before we burn to death!" Kazuma said as he panicked.

He used his 'create water' to put out the fire before it was able to spread to anything extremely flammable.

Aqua, after finally regaining her composure from bawling her eyes out, spoke out with a plan.

"If I remember right from what the Inn owner told me, the water source of the Hot Springs is behind the Main base of the Axis cult on a mountain. If we can get there without much trouble I could purify the source and clean out all the poison." She said as wiped some of her tears away.

"Ok, there's our plan! Any Objections?" Kazuma said in a hurry.

"Well yeah. How the hell do we get out with the entire town outside ready to hang us?" I questioned him.

He stayed silent for a while before having a look of an idea in his eyes.

He came over to me with a straight face and innocent-ish smile, "I need you to be our bait." He said confidently.

"Excuse me but what?" I questioned.

"Ok, hear me out on this, this might be a really good idea!" Kazuma said with much more confidence.

"Might be!? I'm being voted to be bait for you guys, if I get crucified by them you know I'm gonna-" I was cut off by Kazuma as he tried to persuade me.

"Please do this Tsukiyo, you're the only person out of all of us who can be bait, please, please, please!" he started to beg.

Aqua started to beg with Kazuma too, "Please Tsukiyo, it's for my people!"

Man, fuck your people! I'm only doing this for Darkness since A) I like her a lot, B) she doesn't have her armour that she would usually bring, and C) I don't feel like having a 10 mil. bounty on my head if anything happens to her.

It was at this time that Darkness was joining Kazuma and Aqua in persuading me.

"Tsukiyo, just for this one time please do this. For me?" She pleaded innocently.

….And now she takes our relationship for granted as she does this…

...doesn't mean I'll reject it though..

"...ok fine." I said sheepishly.

"Wow, so easy." Kazuma said

"Very easy indeed." Aqua chimed in

"Too easy." Megumin added- hold on, she didn't even add anything in this conversation! Does she even have a right to say that!?

While I would've loved to smack each of them in the side of the head for saying that, we were running on borrowed time.

"Ok...how do you want me to be bait…" I begrudgingly said.

"Oh that's easy, the Axis hates everything unholy so you being yourself is just fine. If you really want to drive them away, then you might wanna use your demon form." Aqua said acting as if she didn't say anything wrong.

"So you want me to go into my 'Demon form' (Devil Trigger) to distract them and take them away from here?" I said trying to make sense of this plan.

"See? You already know the plan from start to finish, you really are the perfect bait for this job!" Kazuma said innocently.

I'm this close, THIS CLOSE, to bitch slapping him.

"Ok, let's say I go out there and you guys managed to get away from them, how am I gonna regroup with you guys?" I asked

"Don't worry, the Hot Spring source itself is massive so you can't miss it." Aqua said reassuring me.

"...ok, so worst case scenario…" I spoke up once again stalling for time.

Aqua seemed to have snapped a bit since she was in a hurry to save her followers of con artists, horrible people, and people I'd rather not save, "Just get out there and get their attention!" she yelled.

"Ok fine, fine!" I said as I got up.

Before I turned on my Devil Trigger and busted out through the window, I took off the Red Queen and handed it to Darkness.

"I'm not sure if you guys are gonna run into trouble, but I'll at least give you this to protect yourself. Stay safe, ok?" I said.

She took the Red Queen in both hands and was surprised to see it weigh a bit more than her normal broadsword.

"Yeah, I will. You stay safe too." Darkness said as she hung the sword on her back.

I turned on my Devil Trigger as I busted the window open and used my Snatch ability to bring myself to another building that was nearby.

This caught the attention of some of the rioters but most were still focused on the building.

I started to build up my voice as I shouted from the rooftops towards the ground, "Hey Axis cult! You're goddess is a good for nothing alcoholic bitch with nothing going on for her! In fact! Let me fix this statue for you guys!"

I ran from rooftop to rooftop heading towards the square where the Statue of Aqua was, and by the time I was close enough to 'renovate' it, I pulled out my the Blue Rose and fired off all 3 shots on the Statues face.

Not only that, but I also used my Devil Arm to destroy the top half of the statue by summoning the bigger spectral version of my arm to punch the ever living shit out the statue leaving it a crumbled mess.

While I was a good distance away from the Inn the rest of the party was staying at, I could strangely hear Aqua's shriek of horror and shock cleary as if she was standing right next to me.

Saying that I've kicked the hornet's nest nest was an understatement when the Axis Cultists saw what I did. No, what I did was basically grabbed the hornets nest, curb stomped it, and yeeted it towards the trash (where it belongs. -Konran.)

I'm not gonna lie, that was pretty fun.

But what isn't fun is the fact that the entire town is now after my head and then some.

Ok, Part one: Get their attention, Done. Part two: Don't get Crucified…

I started running my ass off as in the street as I was getting chased by the entire town. While I would've used Snatch to jump on the rooftops to escape, all the buildings were made similarly where there weren't any ledges to grab onto.

It also doesn't help that a lot of them were chanting 'Turn Undead' and summoning the runes ahead of me hoping I'd step on one, so now I'm zig zagging my way across the street.

I ran for what seemed like forever and made my way through the streets only end up running through the slums of the city where, not only were there dark spots, but also some spots that were tight and hard to reach (Giggity, I swear that wasn't planned.)

I was somewhat able to hide my body as I turned off my Devil Trigger while staying inside a broken down building where some of the windows were boarded up.

"Man...they're really persist-" I said while panting before shutting my own mouth up. I held my breath as the mob started to search around the area to see where I'd gone.

"Search the Area! Don't hesitate to burn a building down if you feel like he's there!" One of the angry rioters said.

I didn't move an inch for a solid 20 minutes before finding some old cans and rocks and throwing them towards other buildings to try and throw the cult off my trail.

Of course my spot didn't last forever as some people were trying to shine some light into the building I was at.

Moving away from the boarded up windows and doors, I slowly made my way inside the building going upstairs and away from the windows.

It didn't help that the stairs were squeaking with each step that I took, giving away my position.

It didn't take long for the Axis cult to start lighting up the building with more fire and 'Turn Undead' spells.

I was able to get to the roof and parkour my way from rooftop to rooftop hopefully thinking that the cultist were convinced enough to think that I was burned alive in that building.

Since I've ran from one side of the town to the other, I was twice as far from the Mountain than I originally was when I had to make myself bait.

I stopped jumping from building to building and fell on my knees from exhaustion to try and catch my breath.

~ ~ ~ ~

Don't slow down. I feel a heavy presence of demonic energy coming from- no wait, there's multiple of them...

What?!

Trust me, one of those energy levels is much higher than the rest, maybe a boss, but the rest are small fry compared to him.

You think they might be lesser demons?

Possibly, but there are multiple patches of them throughout the mountain.

If they're just regular demons, then Aqua should have no problem taking care of them, but I don't know how long she can last.

I have to hurry.

~ ~ ~ ~

I picked myself up and made a mad dash towards the mountain top while ignoring the burning sensation that pained me in my legs.

After hopping from one rooftop to another I finally managed to get near the mountain and follow the trail that lead up the Hot Spring's source.

But before I could get to the main mountain, I was stopped by two guards who were guarding the entrance of the source.

"Halt! None shall pass from this point on!" One of the guards yelled out

"You don't understand you gotta let me through!" I tried to persuade them, but they started to get their guards and point their spears at me when they saw my arm.

"What's with your arm? Doesn't look too healthy to me. Almost looks like a demon-" One of the guards stopped what he was saying and had a look as if be realised something.

"W-wait, are you not the person Lady Dustiness mentioned before!?" he said as he started to put his spear down, "A young adventurer with the arm of a demon, are you not Tsukiyo?!"

"Yes, that is me! Now you have to let me through, I have to get them asap!" I said in a rushed tone.

"Right! Let me get the gate open!" One of the guards said, but the other one wasn't convinced since he still had his spear up.

"How do we know you're not not someone else, prove that you're Tsukiyo!" the other guard said.

Are you fucking kidding me!?

I barely know this man and he's trying to say, 'Oh well if you're the real Tsukiyo, do something only the real one would!', like motherfucker! I'm on borrowed time! I don't have time to deal with this shit!

I took a breath in and tried not to explode when I pulled out my adventurer card and walked up to him, "You want proof? Fine! Look! Look at it! Look at the name, that says 'Tsukiyo Fucking Nakano'!" I said with gritted teeth.

The guard that still had his spear up was starting to get really anxious when I started walking closer to him, "Hey, Hey! Step back!" he said scaredly as he started to get really aggressive.

The other guard who believed me started to try and calm down the guard who was freaking out, "Calm down! This is the Adventurer that Lady Dustiness told us about, we have to let him through!"

The other guard still had his spear up in defence, and at this point I really don't care anymore.

"Ok, well I'm just gonna hop the fence. This dude's either on some drugs or he's just really fucking dumb." I said as I walked away from the guard with his spear up.

"H-hey! Halt I say!" The guard with his spear up said as he tried to block me.

"Jesus dude! What the hell do you want-" I was just about to bitch and moan at him until the guard in question was tackled by something lanky and deformed.

"Agh! What the!? Ah! AHH! AAAAAHHH!" The guard started to shriek in pain and fear as what tackled him used it's praying mantis like arms to continuously jab and stab his face.

"What...what is that thing?!" The other guard said as he started to raise his spear towards the thing.

Whatever this fucking thing was that attacked one of the guard, it was fucking cursed.

The easiest description I can give this...thing...was a human sized deformed and demonised praying mantis.

I honestly felt sick just looking at this thing, with all the bulged out and bone thin spots it had in its body, the most disturbing feature probably would've been the fact that it had 3 human heads fused together with some pincers as mouths (Empusa, the most cursed looking lesser demon)

~ ~ ~ ~

This might be what's swarming the mountain, I can feel the demonic energy coming off this thing.

Take it down now so we can exterminate the rest!

~ ~ ~ ~

While I did reach for my pistol and aimed at the humanoid bug, my hand started to tremble as my heartbeat started to rise.

Part of me couldn't pull the trigger no matter how much force I put in my fingers.

~ ~ ~ ~

What are you doing?! Pull the trigger now!

~ ~ ~ ~

My mind started to race as memories from two months ago of me killing those guards started flashing back in my mind.

While the humanoid bug demon would've impaled me at this point, the guard protected me with his spear, blocking the arms of the demon from stabbing me.

"H-hey! Snap out of it, I have to call reinforcements while you head to where Lady Dustiness is!" The guard said as he struggled to keep the bug demon away.

My demon arm moved on it's own as it aimed the Blue Rose towards the demons head and fired off all 3 shots.

The demon fell back and died as if it was a regular bug with its arm and legs closed to together while laying on it's back.

"T-thanks for that," The guard said as he turned behind him and opened the gate that lead towards the Hot Spring Source, "Here, you go on ahead. I have to call the capitol for back up!"

The guard ran down the mountain only leaving me by myself.

My arm started to glow for a bit as Vergil came out of there and slapped me across the face, "Why didn't you pull the trigger! If that guard hadn't saved you, you would've been dead by now!" He said harshly.

I finally regained most of my senses as my face started to sting a bit.

"That demon...it looked human and I-" I tried to say, but Vergil cut me off, "-Hesitated. You hesitated because it looked human." He said coldly.

"Demons will take on many shapes and forms to get you to hesitate from killing them. That's why they're demons. They could take shape of you best friend, your loved ones, even your own mother, but that shouldn't stop a demon hunter." He continued.

"We exterminate when no other can, that's why we're Demon Hunters. It's best to let go of these feelings when facing them. When you hesitate, they won't." Vergil said as he fused back into my arm.

~ ~ ~ ~

Change of plans. Go meet up with your team and avoid all demons getting there, if you can't fight, then go hide and run away.

~ ~ ~ ~

While those words did sting, I had to ignore them for the time being and meet back up with Kazuma and co.

As easy as it sounds, the mountain path had clusters and clusters of those things spread throughout the path.

Thankfully thought, I was able to catch up with the rest of the party as they fought off the bug demons.

For the most part, it seems that Kazuma and Darkness did a good job at keeping them away while Wiz used some of her magic to kill them, but this couldn't go on longer since it looked like they were exhausted and was getting surrounded by them.

I pulled out my pistol once again, and just like what happened before, my hand trembled as I struggled to pull the trigger.

~ ~ ~ ~

I'm not gonna pull the trigger for you this time. This decision is all yours.

Let them get overrun and watch helplessly, or steel your nerves and save them?

The answer should be obvious.

~ ~ ~ ~

Vergil's words echoed in my mind.

He's right, the answer is obvious...

...And here I am being useless and hesitating while my party get overrun.

While I was busy blaming myself in my head, I heard a cry of pain/pleasure come from the group.

Darkness was there holding her left arm as there was a medium gash while some of her clothes were tattered.

Once again, just like a couple months ago back in the village, I used my Devil Trigger out of anger from the fact that I was always too late to do something before someone got hurt.

Because of the sheer amount of power I was exerting from the DT, all the demons' attention was turned to me as they started to ignore the party.

With the Yamato in my hands, all the Demons dashed towards me like an army of ants towards a picnic basket.

It's a real shame that all of them rushed towards me at one time, it didn't matter how many of them were there since I was cutting them down Mercilessly and Quickly, exactly how Yamato was meant to used.

With all the demons surrounding me, I made one swift horizontal slash all around me as some heads came off of the bodies.

It didn't take long for me to go all out as I used my demon arm to grab some of the demons legs and slam one onto others, and grab a couple of their heads just to execute them with the Rose.

I didn't even dodge their attacks when they tried to swipe their claws at me, I usually braved the hit as I grabbed their arms, tore it off, and used it to stab other demons in their heads or body.

I went on an utter rampage as I sliced, diced, shot, and literally tore demons apart from the seething anger I was going through.

I guess you could say that I was the true demon from the way things were looking,

From getting overrun to blatant annihilation, I decimated every single demon that stood in my way using my anger as a means of motivation.

By the time I was done with killing all the demons that overran Kazuma and the others, I was completely soaked in demon blood and didn't feel any better than how I felt before.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Sorry for posting this chapter late, I just finished watching the new Danmachi movie cause it made me sad in the end, like I was expecting any feels from that movie!

Other than that, it's been a pretty rough couple of weeks for the Internet.

So much shit going on from Etika, to the Camps on the border, to the pretty bad 4th of July experience, along with more stuff that I'm probably forgetting.

Aside from life and Internet stuff being toxic and shitty, I might not be posting an update on the 27th/28th since I won't have my laptop on me for a week because of family gatherings.

Next chapter might be the Vol. 4 Finale, so look forward to a couple of changes.

Wasn't much to respond to since most reviews seemed to be a, well, review.

Well that, or I was probably too lazy today to write down some responses.