Author notes: Holy Shit! This chapter gave me SO MANY problems! I would love to skip over physical descriptions, but it needs to be done. There are probably quite a few grammar issues here, but I'm too tired to check. I'll come back tomorrow to edit this long ass chapter.
The majority of IMPORTANT Author notes will be held until the BOTTOM. PLEASE READ the author notes at the BOTTOM before commenting, if you skip them and comment on something I spoke over there then I will send Truck-Kun to isekai your best friend and have them send you a postcard a year later with their harem. Thank you.
"Somebody speaking."
'Somebody thinking.'
"Spells" and "Messages"
"Alerts."
Disclaimer: I do not own harry potter, solo leveling, overlord, bleach, akame ga kill, danmachi, pokemon, one-piece, or any other anime/novel/manga that I may use.
Previously:
The two groans and the one determined nod (Akame) I got in response was music to my ears. Of course, I would have to join for the other nests, but for now, revenge is wonderful.
Present:
Training Montage Year 6: Part 1: Spiders, Love, and Maturation
July 1987:
Appearing under its neck.
{Slash}
Its blood spilled.
{Splash}
Stab behind.
{Thunk}
Dash forward and slice.
{Slice} {Thud}
Observe.
"*Phew* That should be the last one."
I took out a towel to wipe my face and calm my breathing.
I heard a crack of lightning and turned my head to see Yoru coming over.
"Hey love, did you finish?" (Magus)
Yoru jumped on me and attached herself to my back.
"Yup, my nest didn't have any leaders, how about you?"
"Same here, that means Bella or Akame got it."
I started petting her and made her purr.
"It might make Akame happy, but I think Bella is just about to get fed up with this job." (Yoru)
"Honestly, so am I. We have been destroying these spider nests for close to seven months now, and It's scaring me just how many of them we are finding. It's as if there was an entire country of them."
When I accepted this job, I accidentally used my canon knowledge of the world to decide. I never even imagined just how vast this forest outside Hogwarts really was.
The natives of this forest, the Centaur colonies, Unicorn herds, Giant tribes, Troll groups, Werewolf prides, Thestrals, Hippogriffs, and I even found a group of Three-Headed Dogs like fluffy from Harry's first year, have been at war with the spiders for generations.
It was due to these inhabitants and my friend that the spiders never left the forest, and no one realized how bad the problem really was.
In the beginning, I thought there were around a few dozen nests, but for every nest we destroyed, two more pop up. In every group of four nests, there was at least one elder spider from some kind of deeper nest.
After a few months of killing every spider we saw, we met up with the centaurs, who, after recognizing the amount of damage we were doing to their long-time enemies, stood up to join us in the fight.
From them, we met with the other inhabitants and became honored friends of the forbidden forest. There was even a pair of Dryads that were VERY friendly with me.
They explained the history and what had really been happening. About how all the inhabitants of the forest had a cease-fire agreement to deal with the endless spiders, and about just how long it has been going on.
Centuries! They have been fighting for fucking centuries!
The more territory the spiders took over, the more everyone else suffered, and that includes the forest since to hatch their eggs, the spiders suck the life force from the trees and plant life.
The Dryads wanted to show their thanks for freeing so much territory and letting the forest breathe again, but my girls quickly shut them down. Then the dryads offered it the girls, and I had to shut it down!
In the end, we put together a large map of the known forest and have been slowly making our way to the center of the spider's territory. I took the farthest end with my girls so I could release my summons without any strange questions being asked.
Cool that it is, it is a form of necromancy, and I don't think the Giants will be happy to see my own group of them. The only thing I showed was the Direwolves, but I made them believe it was a family spell of the Peverell's.
I didn't always use my shadows though. Just like right now, the girls and I have been using these spiders to refine our skills. Once we go through the Maturation next week, our physical abilities will rise tremendously, and it would be harder to train weaker skills.
If you are too strong and everything you sloppily slice with a sword gets killed, then it would be challenging to get the drive and willingness to refine your sword skill, and even then, it would be harder than when you're weaker.
When you are weak, you have to rely on skill and intelligence to survive. Combine those with strength, and you will be a beast.
"As gross as they are, I can't argue with how helpful having living opponents for us have been." (Yoru)
"You're not wrong. As nice as the forest inhabitants are, if this was not benefiting us, then I would have cut our losses and left."
"Oh~~ , You would leave those Dryads to die?"
"I have a very mischievous kitten I have to take care of, I know what my priorities are."
She was really enjoying my petting.
"Good, being kind is fine but don't try to be a hero."
"Ha, that would be the day."
Just then, Akame flashed in. She took one look at my work and then at Yoru, acting like a koala on me.
"Bad kitty." (Akame)
"I just finished a few minutes ago Akame." (Yoru)
"My nest was closer than this one, you could have helped." (Akame)
"I was worried about Magus and rushed over as soon as I was done~ " (Yoru)
Akame deadpanned at her.
"He has killed three times as much as us."
"That's not the point! The point is romance! Rushing off to your love in the heat of battle. Saving their lives and stealing their heart!"
"Yoru, you already have my heart, and I was done when you got here." (Magus)
"Whose side are you on?" (Yoru)
"The side of logic, or whichever will benefit me more, which is also actually part of logic."
"*Sigh* You two are no fun."
She started pouting, but she made no effort to get away from my petting, Akame instinctually joined my actions to pet her.
"Akame, did you get the leader?"
"No."
She actually looked sad at that.
"Then Bella got it." (Magus)
As if on cue, Bella apparated in.
"I. HATE. SPIDERS!"
"Well, you're definitely proving that to them." (Yoru)
She snapped her head at me, or more accurately, Yoru on my back.
"I don't need your sass right now. I need the hot springs and some pampering."
She jumped on my front.
"Bella, love, as much as I love you, I am currently covered in spider blood." (Magus)
"We all are, it's gross but its life, and I want my hug, so shut up and hug me."
"There, there. Since none of us had it, how was the leader?" (Magus)
"You were right, the leaders are getting older with every raid." (Bella)
"It looks like we are getting the ruler's attention. It shouldn't be too long before we take on their main force." (Akame)
"And it's strength?" (Yoru)
"It's still around a stage 1 level 4 range. I think only the Ruler and maybe one or two others would have reached Stage 2 on their own." (Bella)
There are so few shadows in the darker areas of the forest where they are hiding that I can't get any good recon done, and they have so many numbers that my shadows can't force their way through.
I even got a couple spiders as shadows, but they were easily recognized by their race. Thankfully, they have other uses, so I kept them. I won't be using them for fighting as long as I can help it, they gross me out.
With the inclusion of the spiders and one other race I got, I completed my mission and gained another two shadow summon slots.
(AN: The above sentence is important info, please remember this for the end of the chapter.)
"I'm still just debating sending the basilisk in, it would have this done in a day." (Bella)
"We have been over this, there are no other magical beasts in this world that exist in so many numbers and are strong enough to be good sharpening stones for us. Let's discuss it again next week after our Maturation." (Magus)
"Ok, ok, let's just go home. I still want that bath." (Bella)
"Mn." (Akame)
"Agreed." (Yoru)
Putting a hand on Akame's shoulder, I brought us back.
*Line Break*
Peverell Island:
Mansion Courtyard:
We appeared covered in spider blood near the central fountain.
"Tom."
He appeared as usual.
"Yes sir."
"Can you bring over some towels and light snacks to the hot springs. Also, grab that herbal package I left out."
"Right away sir."
After getting a deeper understanding of herbology, I started putting together my own herbal recipes for different situations. Herbal teas, baths, remedies, food spices, and a few others.
I used them a lot in my previous life, but now with so many magical plants, it opened up a bunch of new doors for me to explore.
The one I asked Tom to get was one I prepared this morning. It's a herbal bath mix to help remove the stench of blood and use the mana leftover in the blood to soothe our bodies.
"What smell did you add to it this time?" (Bella)
"I went with lavender, I picked it from the garden before breakfast." (Magus)
"Mn, I really love this hobby of yours." (Yoru)
"Mn, I wish it learned it in my past life." (Akame)
We walked over to the hot springs, I expanded it since I first moved into the mansion.
Using materials that I put together from the unique trees in the courtyard, I asked the mansion to terraform the areas around the original hot spring into a series of them. Then I used runes to get different effects.
One was a Quiescent hot spring, or a calm surface hot spring that's just hot water and steam but with added minerals.
One was a Sulphurous hot spring, it had a yellowish color with heavy minerals and was great for killing bacteria and enhancing skin quality.
One was a Jet hot spring, with added minerals, and I used some low powered runes to create a jet effect.
One was a Salt hot spring, I made it after remembering my trip to the Dead Sea in Israel. It helps to increase blood circulation.
At the request of Bella, I added a Sodium hot spring. It has been used for generations as the so-called "Beauty Bath" for women by softening the skin by causing fat to emulsify.
Another was a calm surface type, but with a high hydrogen ion content, it helps with wounds and status ailments like paralysis and poison. With the elements of two of my women, I have had to use this one quite often.
The Final one was once again a calm surface type, but this one had special runes to spread any medicinal herbs I added throughout the water.
They were all rectangular shaped and made with different materials from woods, moss, stone, and clay to differentiate them but without ruining the scenery.
There was a rinsing and washing station to the side for before you enter.
And since they were a part of the mansion, the mana flooded through them and added its own healing and comfort benefits.
We all became addicted to using them, and we use them at least once, if not twice a day, in the morning and at night. The magical forestry vibe of my courtyard, the sounds it generates, the lights of the plants and insects, and the star and moon filled night sky creates a scene that you just want to see again and again.
We washed off, and I added the Herb mix Tom brought me to the bath before we entered.
"So, are you girls ready for the Maturation?"
"Yup! I already got my skills back up and renewed. Once I gain my physical strength back, It shouldn't impact me negatively. In fact, my elemental control should increase as well." (Yoru)
"Mn, same here, I have focused and refined my swordsmanship (AN: or swordswomanship?), my element is mostly in my control, I still need to find new ways to use it, but it won't be a burden. My training with Yoru has given me enough skill in different situations." (Akame)
"Ha! Yoru's devil training program took us far past 'enough skill,' if it wasn't for my occlumency, I wouldn't be able to live with-out being paranoid 24/7. But I agree, it has benefited us tremendously, I did all I could to get my physical skills up. My element is easily understood, and I have incorporated a lot of uses from the founder's items. After the maturation, I might focus a bit on the magical side again." (Bella)
"Good, we did all we could, and I think we excelled." (Magus)
"Well, there was one thing none of us managed." (Yoru)
*Groan*
We all groaned at that.
"Nothing I do makes it work!" (Bella)
"Mn, it is being stubborn." (Akame)
"Ugh, I have been trying it for a few years longer than you three, and I still can't manage it."
We have been trying to become an Animagus, and it refuses to happen.
"Maybe it really does have to do with the Maturation?"
"I'm not sure, we have tried everything else….."
I got cut off by a ping noise and looked at my [Alerts].
[Alert:
Message from Dad:
Hey son!
Congrats on the wives, we will celebrate when you finish that world.
Now I know I can be forgetful at times, but this will….this should…..I'm about 87% sure that this is the last thing I forgot to mention.
When you go through your Maturation next week, you will have to prove yourself to your Animagus form. This goes for the other three as well. If you fail, then you will receive a massive backlash. Still, success means the maturation will be complete, and your animal forms will always be available to you.
Good luck!
Love Dad.
P.S. I would give them your gift before it starts.]
'Damn it old man! This would have been nice to know years ago!'
Seeing me stop speaking and focus on something, the girls knew I had a new alert, so they looked over my shoulder to read it. Or in Akame's case, she just stuck her head under my chin.
Absentmindedly patting her head, I spoke to them.
"Well, this answers our question." (Magus)
"I know he is the embodiment of death and my father in law, but I really want to kick him." (Yoru)
"For the second time in my life, I want to hurt death, except this time, I want to inflict him with many different types of poison." (Bella)
"Mn." (Akame)
Akame just enjoyed my pampering and gave a simple agreement, but its hard to tell with her, her agreeing could mean anything from wanting to kill something to her just being hungry. We are slowly breaking her social awkwardness.
"Now, now, I have no doubt that Grandma already has us covered. She sent me a note a while ago telling me that she hacked my [Alert] system. Anything we see on it, she can see." (Magus)
We all gave off evil smiles at that.
*Line Break*
Somewhere deep in the multiverse:
{BOOM}
A door got kicked down in deaths office.
"MA! Why do you always enter a room like this! That's a door made entirely from Elder wood!"
"Its to make a special entrance of course!"
She stuck her non-existent chest out with pride with fanfare noises, a spotlight, and confetti appearing from the void.
Thanatos deadpanned.
"And you are here because…..?"
Nyx gave him a shark tooth-filled smile.
"Someone has been forgetting things again."
Death shivered in fear.
'No way! I made the Alert system!' (Death)
"I don't know what you're talking about ma, now I have to get back to work."
Thanatos tried to turn around, but a death grip latched onto his shoulder.
"You can't lie or run from your mother Thanatos."
"NNNOOOO!"
*Line Break*
Back to the hot springs:
"Yeah, we should just fine." (Magus)
*Line Break*
Next week:
August 1987: Peverell Mansion: 6PM:
To the side of the Central fountain in the courtyard, a large square platform was set up with intricate runes carved into it.
"Ok, we have done everything we could, and I set up a containment ward to funnel any excess mana into the hearthstone, we should be prepared for any cliché situation like a giant magical signal telling the whole world something happened." (Magus)
"I can't argue with that, our situation is already ridiculous, an anime situation is possible." (Bella)
We were standing to the side of the platform in only towels since we were about to be physically aged to around 19 years old, there was no point in wearing anything.
"I still think it would be funny to wear light clothing and have them explode when we transform." (Yoru)
"I would rather not have a magical girl transformation situation." (Akame)
"As interesting as that might be, I have to agree with Akame on this one love." (Magus)
"Now, in honor of this event, I think now is the best time to make a short family speech." (Magus)
I got their attention and cleared my throat.
"I do not know what kind of test we will have to prove, but just remember that your animal forms come from your soul. It's similar in essence to Yoru's old world with a zanpakuto, but much less vocal and conscious, let your instincts guide you and do what feels right." (Magus)
They nodded at that.
"Also, I have been working on a project since before I met Bella, and I think its finally time to show my results."
I got down on one knee, and their eyes widened in realization.
"Bella, Yoru, Akame, you three girls know everything there is to know about me, my mind was yours to see just as yours was mine, I feel as if you three have been an integral part of my existence for a long time and now we are eternally bonded for the rest of time.
I have already said this once to Bella, but I can't give myself to you because I am me, I cannot possess you three because you are yourselves, what I can give you is a promise and an oath that I will love you, stand by you, and be there for you whenever you need me."
I took out a box from my inventory and opened it to show three shining rings and a fourth simpler one behind them.
"These rings are the project I have been working on in secret for the last year.
I wanted to create something that can be with you as long as we exist to symbolize our bond.
Using alchemy, I was able to make a tiny amount of Adamantium and Mithril that I used for the core and outer layer respectively. It was not easy, but I engraved your names on your respective ring and used the mana charged crystals from the dragon cave.
(AN: Check author notes at bottom)
[For Bella, I used an emerald surrounded by pure jade with a base of clear quartz, the emerald is also called the 'Stone of Successful Love,' it opens and nurtures the heart.
You were my first love, and just like an emerald, your soothing presence has brought freshness and vitality to my soul. It embodies the meaning of the words 'unconditional love'.
The jade surrounding it symbolizes my desire to protect and support your loving heart, and the love you make me feel every day. ]
[For Yoru, I originally wanted to use sapphire to symbolize your past as a noble, but since we have new lives, I used a Tanzanite surrounded by pure amber with a base of clear quartz.
The Tanzanite symbolizes wisdom, dignity, truth, and spiritual mastery.
You have experienced life longer than the rest of us and have gained wisdom that you use to aide us. You carry yourself with grace and dignity that mesmerizes me whenever I look at you.
You are never shy to call us out with the truth, no matter how we may react whenever we mess up to help us learn. And you have incredible control over spiritual energy and are so in tune with your spirit that your inner cat is always on display.
The amber symbolizes my desire to preserve your spiritual purity and draw out any negative taint that tries to approach you.]
[For Akame, I originally wanted to use ruby to symbolize purity and passion, but it didn't capture your essence, so I used Heliotrope, otherwise known as Bloodstone, and surrounded it with Onyx on a base of clear quartz.
It symbolizes the ability to bring love into any situation and to ground out any negative energy surrounding that issue.
Out of all of us Akame, your past weighs heavily on you. You never enjoyed taking a life, but you would do anything for those you care for and eliminate any negative emotions to show those you love that everything was fine.
You put all your love for us behind each swing of your sword, and you bring us joy just by existing.
The Onyx symbolizes my desire to protect you from yourself, to take in any negative emotion you try to bottle away and support you during times of stress, confusion, grief, or sadness.]
The clear quartz acts a mana focus instead of a silly thing like a wand, and by using space enchantments and my limited understanding of space from studying my inventory, I made the rings into space rings that freeze time.
Thanks to some advice from grandpa, I bathed the rings in my blood to create a telepathic link between us. As long as your wearing the ring, we will always be able to talk to each other.
And finally, the rings are enchanted to be invisible if you don't want them seen."
Finishing my long speech, I took a deep breath to get some air back in my lungs. I had been preparing this for over a year now, and it was NOT an easy project. Just to get the metals for the rings, I had to use a quarter of all the gold I had to alchemically produce enough, not to mention how complicated all the other steps were.
I looked up to see their reaction and found them all staring at me with tears falling from their eyes. It looked like they wanted to say something, but they weren't able to form words.
All at once, they disappeared from their spot and tackled me to the ground.
"Oof!"
'I did not expect to almost crack a rib when I did this.'
"""Magus…"""
While getting the life hugged out of me, I did my best to hug them back to soothe them and let them get themselves under control. They exchanged looks and spoke with their eyes before deciding, and Bella spoke first.
["Magus…Thank you for finding me… for saving me…... for healing me…for loving me… You have shown me more affection and care in these two years than I received in my entire life.
I didn't know what to make of you at first, some kid who randomly appeared and saved me from my hell. The first year we got to know each other and exchanged our memories, I saw the real you. I saw a man so carefree, loving, intelligent, and alone.
Your shadow seemed to hover over me and keep me safe and sane. I fell in love with the real you, I wanted to share the happiness you allowed me to feel with you and never allow you to feel alone again.
I love you Magus, I love you now and for eternity."]
Yoru spoke up second.
["When your father saved me from reincarnation and Nyx spoke to me, I was a broken woman.
Everyone I had known, all my friends, juniors, seniors, and my entire world was gone. I didn't even want to live, but then Nyx showed me yours, Akame's, and Bella's memories.
She asked me if I was willing to live again, but this time for love.
I saw your lives, I admired your personalities, and I wanted to see if love was all it was made up to be. I agreed, and I met you, and you have spent the last year proving that decision right.
I love being in your presence, I love your caresses and your attention, I love goofing off with you and playing pranks, and I love the way you make me feel every day.
I have lived for over a century Magus, but it was only after I met you that I felt truly alive for the first time. I love you, and I will never betray you."]
Akame spoke last.
["When my sword broke, and my soul was collected as payment, I was tired. I wanted it all to end. I fought, and I bled, and I killed to save anyone that mattered to me.
I wanted to be the one to bleed in place of others, I wanted to be the one to take away their pain, but they kept dying right before my eyes…. At the very end, when it was finally over, all my friends were dead, and I was the final one to leave.
I wanted to close my eyes to rest and be with them all again. And then I was sent to Nyx, I was to serve the creator of the sword I used until she was satisfied.
Instead of ordering me to do anything, she just showed me your, Yoru's, and Bella's memories.
She asked me if I wanted to pick up my sword once more, but this time for my own happiness. If I wanted to fight for love instead of friendship.
Seeing the core of who you all were, I felt my friends telling me to stand up for myself, I wanted to feel real love, something I was never able to have before.
I agreed and met you, and the last year has shown me how much I never knew about love.
You make me smile, you bring me happiness, you give me anything and everything I could ever want without me saying anything, you understand me, and you are willing to suffer for me just as I have for so many others.
I love you Magus, and I want to spend the rest of my existence by your side."]
We laid there, holding each other and staring into each other's eyes.
When I died, and I was told to find three lovers, I accepted because I was interested in feeling love. I never knew just how special it really was. A life lived for love is a sad thing because your life loses meaning without love, but a life filled with love is an incredible thing. These girls have filled my life with so much love that I would gladly walk by their side for the rest of my existence.
I broke the silence and decided to move things along, we didn't have much time left.
"Thank you girls for existing, and thank you for loving me. I wanted to give you these rings right now to tell you that no matter what happens in your battles, I will always love you and stand by you. Now come on, let's get out of these young bodies."
I kissed their foreheads and stood up with them hanging off me.
"""Mn."""
Their smiles at this moment dazzled me and made my breath catch in my throat.
*cough* 'Damn, that's not good for my heart.'
They each took their ring and put them on.
"Drip a drop of blood on them to bind them to you."
They did so, and the rings flashed before resizing itself to sit comfortably on them.
Bella was smiling while looking at it, Yoru was playing with making it visible and invisible, and Akame was rubbing it with her finger with a small smile.
I put my own ring on which was just a simple ring made from Adamantium and mithril with small clear quartz shards embedded in it. It was our new mana focuses, I was sick and tired of wands.
"Come on girls, we will have more time later, but for now, let's take our positions."
They nodded, gave me a kiss each, and entered the platform. I called out to Tom before we began.
"Tom."
"Yes sir."
"Please activate the islands full wards, I want this place locked down until I give the signal to lower them."
"Right away sir."
I watched as the wards of the island rose up and activated before we sat down in a square formation, and I activated the wards on the platform.
Almost immediately, I felt my blood begin to act up and boil. An alert popped up without me prompting it to.
[Alert:
MATURATION BEGINNING.]
'That was really helpful information dad!'
My mana grew agitated, and my shadows exploded around me with a mind of its own.
The element of each of the girls exploded out of them similarly, and then my shadows extended toward them and created spherical eggs around them.
As the shadows did the same for me, and I began losing consciousness, I had one final joke to think about.
'So, this answers the age-old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.'
*Line Break*
Bella POV:
Looking around, I found myself in a savanna with tall grass.
'After the shadows covered me, I blanked out and woke up here, but what am I supposed to do?'
"This is supposed to be a test against my inner animal, right?"
'This means I shouldn't have to go far to find my target, and there is only an endless field of grass. That means it's in the grass.'
My eyes widened, and I quickly dove under the grass while something flew by where my head used to be.
'Right, whatever my animal is, it's in my nature to bottle up all my ferociousness and desire to rip apart my opponent and wait for the opportune moment.'
I started releasing poison into the air to mess with the animal's senses and to paralyze it.
"You want to wait to strike? Let's see who has more patience."
*Line Break*
Yoru:
A very different situation was happening with Yoru.
"Oho, so its tag then?"
{RAWR!}
"Bring it kitty."
*Line Break*
Akame:
Akame was…facing a unique situation.
"Hello."
{…..}
"Are you me?"
*Nod*
"Can I pet you?"
*Nod*
"Mn, soft."
And that is how Akame finished her test.
*Line Break*
Magus POV:
I appeared inside of a clearing in a dark jungle and took stock of my situation. The moon was out and was at an angle to cast shadows of mostly everything in sight.
'For the first time in over five years, I don't have the HUD. What a weird feeling.'
{Hisssss} {Growl} {ROAR} {RAWR} {Screech} {HELP} {Squeek} {Caw} {Chirp}
'What the fuck?'
All around me, noises of different creatures began screaming, and I couldn't tell where any of it was coming from.
'I have no idea what my animal is, but from my Patronus, I know that it's around ten feet tall, stands on four legs, and has a long tail. Let's get under some cover.'
While rushing to the shadow of a tree next to me to hide, I almost had my head taken off when an object launched itself from the shadows at high speeds.
"Woah!"
It vanished back into the shadows, and all I could catch was that it was covered in shadows.
I tried summoning my shadows, but it didn't work.
'Looks like I'm on my own for this one, this is why I am glad I fight on my own and don't leave everything to my summons.'
I observed my surroundings and reached for another shadow, and just as expected, the attack came again.
'Not this time bitch.'
I pulled out my knives, ducked, and sliced.
{ROOOARRR!}
A pain-filled roar filled the space, and I noticed movement across the clearing.
"So, what am I?"
Rising out of the shadows, a massive beast came into view.
"Ok, not what I expected, but holy shit is this badass."
Standing at ten feet tall with the head and body of a lion, a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, the wings of a dragon, and a tail of a scorpion. And all in a dark shade of black with deep azure torch filled eyes, tipped claws, and tipped wings.
'I look like one of my own shadow summons with an actual body, but more importantly….'
"I'm a Manticore! Or a Shadow Manticore? That is…interesting."
'Manticores are usually a sign of ill omens, but I am the son of death itself, so I can't imagine I'm all sunshine and daisies. According to what I remember from mythology, they are known as 'Man-Eaters' because they never leave anything behind when they hunt, and they are known to mimic the voices of others.
When I hunt, I don't leave anything behind as well, I take their soul and cut up their bodies for meat and materials.
I also rule over my shadows as the monarch, but I'm not precisely a kingly type like a real lion. I'm lazy and carefree, but I get really excited about my hunts. They make my blood boil in excitement, but I keep a rational mind.
I am a man of the shadows, just like the manticore tried to attack me from the shadows with its tail, it shares my ability to shadow apparate.
But it's different from the legends. The face is entirely lion with a mane of soft-looking hair, the body only has scales around the claws, but the rest is black fur, the wings are pretty big, and the tail is not hairy and hook-shaped like a scorpion but smooth up to the end which has a sharp bladed tip.'
Seeing it just standing still and observing me, I figured out a test didn't have to be a fight.
'It's born from my soul, so what would I want to see in myself?'
"What . Do. You. Want?"
"What the fuck!? You can speak? And was that Morgan Freeman's voice?"
It just stared at me, and even though nothing changed, I felt it was mocking me.
'What do I want?'
"Love and affection?"
Nothing.
"The power to crush my enemies?"
Nothing.
"To be the very best, like no one ever was?"
Nothing.
"Three more wishes?"
Nothing.
"World peace?"
I got a yawn.
"Endless stamina for *cough* reasons."
Oh! I got a nod that time, but it just continued staring.
'So, my test is self-reflection?'
I sat down, closed my eyes, and decided to think about what I wanted.
'It's honestly a simple question and yet quite a difficult one at the same time. Desires born from sin does not come from my core. What do I want at the deepest level?'
I thought of my loves, father, grandfather, grandmother. I thought of my mother trapped in my shadow. I thought about my identity, about who I am and what makes me, me.
"I want…..I want peace, I want happiness, I want freedom, and I want to give those things to those I love and care for.
Those are my core desires, and I willing to do anything to achieve it. Resources, power, wealth, those are all just tools to achieve my desires."
I opened my eyes and found the Manticore right in front of me.
{RRRROOOOAAAARRRR}
It roared in my face with a mouth of deadly sharp teeth. The sound was deafening, and yet, I didn't flinch.
I understood what it was telling me.
"I won't be led astray."
It nodded and started sinking into its shadow. The last thing I saw in its eyes was determination.
Its shadow pooled into me, and I felt myself changing.
My form melted into the shadows, and I felt myself start growing. My body grew larger, wings sprouted from my back, a tail poked through my tailbone. I felt my teeth grow longer and sharper, and my senses spread out around me.
I could see farther and clearer, smell more than I have ever before, hear sounds I have never heard before.
I was, a Shadow Manticore.
*Line Break*
Peverell Island: Courtyard: Ritual platform:
3rd person POV:
Two hours after the Maturation began, a huge mana explosion spread out but was thankfully prepared for and absorbed through the wards and sent into the Mansion's hearthstone, unknowingly speeding up the awakening process of the mansions spirit.
Off to the side was four well-dressed house-elf butlers waiting patiently, or at least one of them was, two were nervously looking at the platform and the third was strangely calm while holding a giant banner that said: "Keep Calm and Smoke On."
On the platform, you could see four shadowy eggs pulsing and giving off a visible fog of mana.
The pulse increased in intensity until all at once, they began to crack.
Like a chain reaction, cracks covered the shells, and they swelled in size to cover the entire platform.
{ROAR!}
{RAWR!}
{RAWR!}
{RAWR!}
(AN: Author here, I legit don't know what other sounds effects to use.)
Four massive beasts appeared as the shadows faded away and gave off a mighty roar.
On one side, you had a ten-foot-tall pure black Manticore with blue torches for eyes.
At another, you had an eight-foot-tall Lioness with a tail of a snake that dripped venom from its fangs.
At another, you had a seven-foot-tall black Panther with electric blue lines traveling down from head to tail and electric sparks flashing off its skin.
And at the final side, you had a seven-foot-tall giant dark blood red fox with nine tails with black tips, blood-red eyes, and cursed black flames burning on its tails and paws. (AN: Check authors notes.)
They all finished and looked at each other, then at once, they all began to shrink.
Coming out of the fox was a 5'7, young woman with smooth black hair and red highlights that fell like a waterfall down her pale skin. She had blood-red eyes, a slim body, round C cup breasts, and her body was giving off small black flames as if she was made from fire.
(AN: Check authors notes.)
From the panther came a 5'8 slender, dark-skinned woman with long purple hair with black highlights that reached the small of her back, bright golden eyes, a pair of enticing legs, and perky d cup breasts. She had a wild aura, and strands of electricity were dancing around her body as if she was a bolt of lightning ready to strike.
From the Lioness came a 5'8 noble-looking fair woman, she had curled midnight black hair with obvious green highlights at the ends. Her hair fell down the front of her body, framing her delicate pale face with poisonous green eyes and ending at her full DD cup breasts. She had a green mist coming off her body that was quickly eroding the very ground she stood on.
From the Manticore came a 6'3 muscular man with tan skin, with the body of a male Adonis. Well defined cut muscles that looked like they were chiseled from marble and a nine-inch package. He had a head of long silvery-white hair that fell down his head and looked like a lion's mane and gave him a dangerous but approachable look. He had wine-red eyes, a determined look on his face, and his body leaked shadows as if it was water.
All four of them matched eyes, took in the naked figures around them, and the intensity levels quickly rose. The fox woman's eyes sharpened, the Panther lady's body bent forward ready to pounce, the lioness coiled and prepared to strike, and the man's mouth morphed into a bloodthirsty smile.
Off to the side, a pair of elves who were about to shout out to their lord were kicked to the ground by the third one who lit up a joint, took a deep hit, and nodded at the sight on the platform before walking away with the disbelieving looks of his two friends staring at his back.
Back on the platform, the intensity levels kept rising, and finally, all at once, they moved.
The man dropped into his shadow like an anchor, the lioness vanished with a crack of air, the panther disappeared in a flash of lightning, and the fox vanished in a burning flame.
The only one left in the area was an old butler named Tom.
"*Sigh* It looks like I should go pick up a few extra mattresses for the master bedroom."
*Line Break*
Peverell Mansion:
Master bedroom:
8AM:
The morning sunlight poured in to show a destroyed room.
Broken furniture, a stunned owl, and miscellaneous items were thrown around the place like a tornado came through, had sex with a tsunami, and gave birth to an earthquake.
And on the remains of what was once a very large and high-quality bed were four bodies tangled up as if they never wanted to be separated.
The lone male began to stir.
Magus POV:
'Ugh, my head….and my groin….'
Opening my blurry eyes and waiting for my brain to turn on, I looked around and remembered what happened.
'Four days. It took four days for the combination of excess mana from the Maturation and our heightened unstable emotions to wear off enough for us to lose consciousness and stop mating like beasts.'
I looked down at my women to see the most content smiles I had ever seen on their faces.
'I honestly fear for my safety if I try to move right now. Oh, right, I never checked the [Alerts]. I slightly recall hearing a couple pinging noises, but I was VERY distracted.'
[Alert:
Maturation Complete!
Congratulations!
Benefits Gained:
[Magus E Mor:
Mana: 5000/5000
Animagus Form: Shadow Manticore – Wings and tails can be freely summoned.
Unit: Erza – Major Strength boost
Unit: Fenrir – Major Stamina boost
Unit: Basilisk – Minor poison resistance
Unit: Raiju – Minor paralysis resistance
Unit: Pheonix – Minor regeneration
Unit: Sea Serpent – Water breathing
Unit: Dragon – Minor damage resistance
Unit: Shadow Owl – Minor mental boost
New Unit: Boggart – Fear resistance
New Unit: Acromantula – Reflex boost
Units: House elf, Wizard, and Kneazle – Minor mana boost]
[Yoru Mor:
Animagus Form: Electrobolt Panther (AN: check authors notes)
Unit: Erza – Minor strength boost
Unit: Fenrir – Minor stamina boost
Unit: Basilisk – Minor poison resistance
Unit: Raiju – Major lightning boost + Paralysis immunity
Unit: Pheonix – Minor regeneration
Unit: Sea Serpent – Water breathing
Unit: Dragon – Minor damage resistance
Unit: Shadow Owl – Minor mental boost
New Unit: Boggart – Fear resistance
New Unit: Acromantula - Reflex boost
Units: House elf, Wizard, and Kneazle – Minor mana boost]
[Isabella Mor:
Animagus Form: Chimaera: Model: Lioness + Snake tail – Snake tail can be freely summoned
Unit: Erza – Minor strength boost
Unit: Fenrir – Minor stamina boost
Unit: Basilisk – Major poison boost + Poison immunity
Unit: Raiju – Minor paralysis resistance
Unit: Pheonix – Minor regeneration
Unit: Sea Serpent – Water breathing
Unit: Dragon – Minor damage resistance
Unit: Shadow Owl – Minor mental boost
New Unit: Boggart – Fear resistance
New Unit: Acromantula - Reflex boost
Units: House elf, Wizard, and Kneazle – Minor mana boost]
[Akame Mor:
Animagus Form: Nine-tails: Model: Hellfire – Tails can be freely summoned
Unit: Erza – Minor strength boost
Unit: Fenrir – Minor stamina boost
Unit: Basilisk – Minor poison resistance
Unit: Raiju – Minor paralysis resistance
Unit: Pheonix – Major regeneration + fire boost
Unit: Sea Serpent – Water breathing
Unit: Dragon – Minor damage resistance
Unit: Shadow Owl – Minor mental boost
New Unit: Boggart – Fear resistance
New Unit: Acromantula - Reflex boost
Units: House elf, Wizard, and Kneazle – Minor mana boost]
All four bodies are physically aged at 19.
Full Potential Unlocked.
Bodies have reached the limits of humanity. ]
[Alert:
Message from Dad:
Congratulations son! I'm proud of you for completing the process and that you have once again become a man! It's a proud day in a …...*Crash* *Smash* MOVE! *Boom* Magus! This is your grandmother, congrats! Remember, if you really want to make me happy, then I want great-grandbabies!
Love Grandma and your father, who I kicked into the one-piece world somewhere. (AN: I want to make an omake of Death landing on OKAMA ISLAND.)]
'RIP dad, but damn these are some nice improvements, it looks like grandma was right, each of my summons gave me something, and the more unique ones gave better gains.'
Taking another look around, I noticed something different among the mess, and my eyes widened.
'My owl! Why is my owl stunned?'
Memory check processing . . . .
'Ah….. yeah, she interrupted when it was Bella's turn, and the lioness was not happy.'
Yoru was on my chest, and my arms and shoulders were taken by the other two, I tried to begin sinking into my shadow to escape to the bathroom but half a second into the movement, Yoru's body sparked, Akame's grew hot, and Bella's gave off a mist.
'Maybe I'll just stay still for another hour, well, back to sleep.'
"Yoru, we just finished a four-day marathon, get your hand off my dick."
"Are you sure ?"
Its 8AM and sex marathon or not, that's morning wood.
"Fuck me, no I am not."
"Good, and with pleasure ."
The purr in her words fully woke up the other two.
'Rather than an hour, it might take another half a day.'
*Line Break*
Omake:
"Hey Magus?"
"Yeah?"
"Now that you got those spiders, are we done hunting for more magic beasts?"
"Almost, I only have one more that I want, and then we can relax."
"When will go get it?"
"Ah, no worries, I ordered this one."
"You… ordered it?"
"Yeah, from Amazo….*Cough* I mean, from Diagon Alley, it's perfectly legal to buy, I had Tom set up a P.O. box for us off-island."
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise . You will find out in a few days."
*Line Break*
[Alert:
New Summon Gained:
Race: Acromantula x 2
Description: eight-eyed giant black-haired spider capable of mimicking human speech to hunt; usually inhabits dense jungles.
Abilities:
Silk production: Using its web making abilities, this unit can produce high-quality mana infused silk.
?: (AN: Open to vote)
Race: Boggart
Description: A shape-shifting creature that takes the physical form of a person's worst fear, its true form is unknown, it is repelled by laughter.
Abilities:
Worst Fear: Takes the form of its target's worst fear. It cannot injure anyone physically and magically. (Warning: depending on one's worst fear, this unit can mentally scar people for life.) ]
*Line Break*
Author Notes:
Please read these notes very carefully and think before you comment. If anyone comments on something I just stated and points out that its different from canon then you will be ignored, and I really hope English is not your first language or I fear for your IQ levels.
- Magus will NOT be making lots of adamantium or mithril. He sacrificed shit tons of gold to alchemically produce enough for 4 rings.
- Grandpa gave Magus a sleeping cap if he wants to contact him for his birthday back in Year 1.
- All stone for the rings used meanings found online, if you disagree with them then argue with the internet.
- Akame's form is from Pokemon Ninetails, not Naruto – Kurama, it's a hellfire/cursed nine tails.
- Yes I changed the heights of characters for my own pleasure, Ban from seven deadly sins was actually almost 7 feet tall.
- Yoru's Electrobolt panther was inspired from the novel 'Coiling Dragon'. It was actually the first webnovel I ever read back when it was still being translated and webnovels were not as popular.
- I am opening a vote for the second spider ability. it cannot be a combat ability. I have zero plans to use them for combat. I hate spiders.
- And finally, yes I rip canon apart and put shit where I want it. If you are still reading this novel by this chapter and you are expecting things to go like canon, for me to care about real world logic, or for my MC to get a fourth girl in this world then you are in the wrong place.
