Commencing Second Cour of Chronicles of the Wayward Tome Hero.

(Still) Waiting for Season 2...

Finger Count: 5/10

Eye Count: 2/2

Arm Count: 1/2

Leg Count: 1/2

Sanity Meter: 45%

Death Counter: 36

Let's burn it all to the ground.


Epic 25 (For Reals): The Outbreak Part 1


Switching POV: Palomar Polnareff

"Hmm... What a bust that raid was."

The infamous (and only) sky pirate was ruminating over his botched raid on Q'ten Lo's merchant junks by their ports for some rare tea leaves that they were importing for the Siltvelt Royalties.

Granted, no one on his crew go hurt or killed, and the whole raid itself was proceeding as normal...

... If he didn't notice the fact that the whole Kingdom was suffering from a mass epidemic.

Much to his dismay, they were forced to dump their cargo into the sea and spend about roughly two to three months flying over the sea just so that they don't be held responsible for spreading said epidemic in the first place.

Palomar fancied himself as many things: Gentleman, Scholar, Inventor, Duelist, Adventurer, Vigilante, Lover, Father, and Badass, but not a carrier of lethal diseases.

"... Um, capitaine?"

"What is it?" Palomar greeted one of his helmsmen.

"... We got the confirmation on that 'epidemic'." The helmsman stated. "It's less 'epidemic' and more or less a 'curse'."

"How so?"

The helmsman looks through his papers before addressing his captain.

"... It turns out that the causes are mystic in origin rather than organic." The helmsman states. "We spotted traces of forbidden magic and alchemy in some of the infected cargo that you sent to the lab. Apparently, the curse itself is rather... peculiar on how it multiplies itself."

"How so?"

"... I don't think it's normal for plants to grow plumes of black feathers on its leaves, capitaine."

The helmsman then sets down a sealed jar of a flower with a massive crow feather growing out of its stem. But what it really made this abnormality really bizarre was how disproportionately large the feather was compared to the flower.

To put it into a literal perspective, the flower itself was a common dandelion, with a 1/1 crow quill growing out said dandelion.

"Hmm... Did you check to make sure that no one else on this ship is cursed?"

"Non capitaine." The helmsman stated. "Altitude is still too high for any of us to take off our suits, and we're running low on fuel to commence an autopilot back to checkpoint."

"... If that's the case, contact our dear 'Clock Man'. Oh, and be sure to remind our friend to put on a suit of armor that dispels all manners of the arcane arts, just to be safe."

"Oui capitaine."

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

... Okay, so let me recap what happened for the past roughly nine-ish months in this crazy-ass world.

First, I get isekaied to this place after my midnight restroom break, only to come out in my jammies (or the American equivalent), barefoot and with a steel brick chained to my wrist. After some artful BSing and subtle manipulating of the events surrounding me, I spurred myself into an admittedly-desperate gamble to test my luck at the middle of the night, killed a few scumbag knights and other cutthroats slowly gaining EXP, I name my brick/[Legendary Tome] Grimm, then more ass-kicking, then circus Eggman shows up and lets us into this circus tent of wonders (not), pick up two demihuman slaves/oath-siblings named [Garou] and [Fubuki], more EXP, skill, equipment, and title acquisitions, find a [Dungeon], inherit an entire underground vault left behind by my predecessors, all at the cost of my thumb.

After that, I go on a personal power trip (realized that after the fact), lose an eye from a [Manticore], nearly fall to my death from riding on top of an elderly [Roc], manage to subvert an entire tribe (or what was left of it) to my side, fought my first (and if I remember correctly, the world's second) [Wave], recruited a shitload of undead monsters and a friggin [Chimera], oh, and let's not forget my new party members, [Byakko], my faithful [Perfected Homunculus] butler and advisor, [Seiryu] and [Suzaku], the most unlikely of foster siblings (former's a [Tyrera] while the latter is a [Filolial]; do the math), both of them, which I just found out that they were born as runts (reason why I didn't acknowledge it in the first place was that in spite of their birth defected, they kick ass), and just to cortinate my very first victory over the [Wave], we celebrated with fireworks, with lots of property damage and me subsequently crashing Melromarc economy (I got C in my Economics Class, bite me), managed to bag an [Archangel] named Ishmael in the process, beat the crap out Moto-chan/[Spear Hero] and Malty/[Patron Goddess of Cutting Edge Bitches] out of principle, while at the same time, decide to join on the whole "Screw Over Naofumi" Game (personal reasons are still confidential), and to top the whole week off, I got another companion, an amnesiac [Gremlin] named [Genbu], which, BTW, has time-stopping powers that seem to forget using occasionally, and allegedly a lighter that doubles as a magical flamethrower.

... I might be having more fun then I should in this world, but hey, whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger, quite literally, in my case.

So anyway, upon realizing that my presence can drastically affect the whole narrative world of Shield Hero, I began taking my own initiatives to "fix" things. For Mr. Overcompensation/Moto-chan, I took his [Demon Seed], got a sweet [Alraune] plant-waifu named Strelitzia, for Emo-Kirito/Ren-kun, I take the [Dragon Emperor], Gaelion from him, kill his entire party off after they defend a bigoted villager that attempted to kill [Wyndia], a nine-year-old girl, then burnt the mountain village to the ground, had the little girl join my fold after giving her a taste of human blood (in hindsight, might've been a bad move, but long-term, might be worth it), raided a brothel, rescued all the demihuman and human slaves in a Kingdom that outlawed slavery (hypocrites), then concocted an elaborate con to make the [Four Heroes] do my dirty work while me and Wyndia bagged all the good stuff behind their backs, also nabbed a [Wyrmlich Empress], Yaelia, gave the four and their party members a near-death experience via Indiana Jones and powder keg-induced cave-in, and with all said and done, me and Wyndia went back home, with the knowledge of the orphaned dog-girl now having two dragons for foster parents.

... For the reason I haven't mentioned Itsuki, he's no threat. Just some whiney brat that needs to be put into his place someday. No need to rush. I already gave Ren PTSD, Motoyasu 2 circumcisions, and Naofumi a split opinion on me (not anymore; now leaning towards grim necessity).

Let's just say I plan to cook up something extra-special for the little baby.

Afterwards, my whole party decided to go on a vacation to Siltvelt (in hindsight, it was a terrible move), only to get shot down by a cannonball, crash into the last owned property of the fallen-Hakuko clan, got to talk to the patriarch, [Khronos Gaia Hakuko], met his wife/source of Aultcray's hate-boner, [Malva Gaia Hakuko nee-Melromarc], and their kids, [Fohl] and [Atlas]. As we conversed, we were rudely attacked by the Aotatsu, we fended off the vanguard, but by that point, the whole house was a lost cause, so in return for their hospitality, I whisked away the last of the Hakuko Clan, while turning their ruined manor into giant remote mine, ridding all of the evidence and eyewitnesses (hopefully). Then we pretty much traversed on foot, pick up a few more [Summons], disguised myself as a [Werepanther] and blended in with the other buyers, ran into a Japanese girl named [Rio Murasame]/Ren's girlfriend (now Ex-girlfriend), ran off, ran into Miraella Q. Melromarc/The queen of Melromarc herself, at the borders, told her about my current circumstances, gave her a reason to hate her own husband with a half-truth (although with things and how they're developing, it might as well turn out to be the truth), went off, fought a boss I [Hell's Ingle], got an [Ifrit] named Rubicante, [Teleported] back home, everyone else left behind got a lot stronger while I was gone, scout out the Kingdom before the third [Wave] began, gave a few people some scares, fought off the [Third Wave], took way longer than it should, ran into Glass, almost died for good after getting my soul raped, got back up, met L'Arc Berg/[Scythe Hero] and Theresa Alexandrite about half a year early, decided to screw with the canon even more by convincing them to join my party (while throwing Naofumi under the bus, again), destroyed Lugh Village (again), set off to the pig-who-shall-not-be-named's territory, but not before having public sex with my now-[Dryad] plant waifu, leaving behind several [Treants] and [Alraunes] back at base.

... And how many limbs did I lose during that incursion? Not a single one!

So during our travels, I intervened on the whole Melty-frame-up, taunt the old fart a bit, take Melty, have her reunite with her long-lost aunt and cousins, stumble onto Raphtalia's old hometown, camp out, find a secret cult base worshipping my predecessors, got a sweet magic gun/[Grimoire Heart], a sweet new left arm/[Sibylline], a brand-new magic eye to replace my old [Geas] (but why Dead Space-style ocular trauma?), and for the cherry on tip, the same [Cerberus] that killed Raphtalia's parents? Yeah. I went there. After that song and dance, we all then head off to the lesser Ganon's castle.

... And I won't even mention what happened to the pig, nor I shall acknowledge his name. He's dead to me, period.

After that? One more encounter with the so-called heroes, the remnants of the Melromarc military, the cultists of idiots worshipping the three idiots (figure it out), got a [Adamantortoise] named Kaido, a lot of my [Summons] evolved (special mention goes to Gaelion, now finally a [Bahamut Emperor] after months of hype), and as my special trophy, Malty, my new muse/torture doll (think Captain Flynt x CL4P-TP from Borderlands 2).

And all it cost me were my right leg, about several pints of blood, and about over 30 deaths in a row.

... Thank god for forbidden magic and [Effigies]. Might bite me in the ass one day, but might as well grow numb to the pain, amen.

So where am I after I blacked out from my, presumably-fourth blood loss?

Hell? Heaven? Really don't care.

Especially when there's an hallucination of BB-chan floating right in front of me, showing her panties/high-cut leotard underneath her skirt.

So senpai~! How's the constant near-death experiences treating you?

"Peachy." I replied. "Although getting my leg bitten off in exchange for nature's equivalent of a mobile ground fortress is sort of worth it."

Ahahahaha~! Oh my, for someone so smart, you sure are quite impulsive! And may I add, stupid~!

"As expected of BB-chan..." I remarked. "Still smiling like an angel even though delivering scathing remarks like scattering candy wrappers into the air."

Oh my~! Is senpai a masochist like Passionslip? If so, I have Melt-chan on speed dial.

"Bitch, I might be."

We then both share a small chortle.

"... So I been meaning to ask." I asked BB. "You're not exactly BB, aren't you?"

The so-called "BB" nods.

"Then what are you?" I asked.

Your insanity manifested into a comprehendible form.

"... Okay, that makes a bit more sense." I stated. "Although why BB?"

Well for one, your mind seems to associate this "BB" with batshit insanity. But why question it when there's no point of it?

"Dunno. Just insatiable curiosity."

You do know that curiosity killed a cat, right?

"And I already died 36 times." I pointed out. "I might be an addict for danger."

Wow, can't tell if that's badass or kinky. Might be both?

... Might be both.

I simply nod.

"So anyway, you think I did good?" I asked the projection of my own insanity.

Not bad, actually. But if I had one complaint, is the excess property damage.

Unless, of course, the aforementioned destruction of property is the endgoal, and if that's the case, go nuts, bucko.

"You're half-right." I stated. "Property damage is only one part of my endgoal."

So what's your endgoal, almighty schemer-senpai?

I grin.

"... Let's just say that I'm going to collectively rip Melromarc, Siltvelt, Shieldfreeden, and Faubley, a fresh new one." I smiled evilly. "But in order to do that, I need to cripple all four of their economies first."

Which is?

"Slave trading." I answered with rising glee. "Specifically, the mecca of all slave traders on this filthy rock, Zeltoble."

... Is it bad to say that I'm already smelling charred corpses an scattered ash in my nostrils when I mention that merchant nation's name?

... Yeah, you might wanna seek out professional help.

"I had help." I pointed out. "That's was before I was rudely pulled into this world. Hm, now that I think about it, I might be subconsciously making this world pay for my withdrawals for my appointments for my Shrink that my local Regional Center has provided for me. Am I doing that?"

... "BB" goes oddly silent.

"... Yeah, you're right. It's a stupid question." I chuckled out. "Gotta figure out that for myself, right?"

... To put it mildly, yeah, I guess.

"Welp, I had my fun." I stated as I stood up from the void known as my subconsciousness. "So, I should probably wake up back into the real world. Got my brothers, sisters, and a wife of my potentially badass plant-kids waiting for me."

... Sure, but one more thing.

Aren't you forgetting a few small things in your recounting of your journey so far?

"... Does it really matter at this point?" I spoke to "BB". "If it does, let's make that little journey of blood... Season 1."

So what's this whole "Season 2" mostly going to be about?

Once again, I smile.

"... Fire." I gleefully answered. "Lots of it."

I then spot a light shining within the void surrounding me.

"Welp, there's my exit." I stated. "Whenever I inevitably lose consciousness in the foreseeable future, via sleep, head trauma, or blood loss, I'll be expecting you, my dear kouhai."

"BB" simply waves goodbye.

"Talk to you later!" I stated as I ran towards the light.

Switching POV: Byakko

It has been roughly 4 days ever since they've acquired an [Adamantortoise] into their fold.

Travel was molasses-slow, but if anything, having a literal mobile mountain for mode of transportation was rather relaxing, smoldering villages and terrified screams of potentially innocent villagers notwithstanding.

Although to be fair, L'Arc and Theresa did try to give forward warnings towards other villages ahead, but only a third complied to their warnings, while the rest were either crushed underfoot, or burnt to the ground.

... Or a grisly combination of both. Not that it really mattered whether anyone outside of their fold to take the smart option.

But in hindsight, it seems that they don't have any sense of self-preservation. Made even worse, some attempted to scale their colossus, only to be met by the rest of his master's [Summons] out and about patrolling the perimeter.

... Sometimes, he often wonders if his master was overestimating the outsiders's collective intelligence. He may think that the rest of the inhabitants of Melromarc might be nigh-suicidal, but at that point, he'd be making assumptions.

... Even though they hold a lot of merit.

But really though, he's at least glad that he and the rest of fellow family got themselves a whole week's worth of vacation on top of a moving mountain all to themselves, with Byakko himself sunbathing with a pair of stolen mirrors and a deck chair fashioned from straw and branches.

Granted, the stench of rotting flesh and bone is ruining the relaxation, but maybe his master can potentially create more undead out of them.

... That, or the [Summons] eat them, messily.

"OI, YAKKO!"

Byakko lets out a groan before turning his attention back to Chi, his suit covered in more blood.

"... How many more?" Byakko asked in a tired voice.

"Eight since this morning, but that's not the point!" Chi pointed out. "Bossman's awake!"

Byakko then drops both of his mirrors and dashes into the woods where his master was resting.

Slowly stirring, his right leg now a bloodied stump from the knee-down, his master rouses from his unconsciousness on top of a plant-like pod.

"... Yo." His master yawned out. "... How long was out?"

Byakko composes himself before answering.

"... About four days, milord." Byakko answered. "Regardless, welcome back."

"Yeah..." Nan groaned out before he sniffed the air around him. "... Why does this place smell like an abandoned slaughterhouse?"

Byakko groans into his hands.

"... While you were gone, your [Summons] have seemed to gone on a binge-eating spree." Byakko told his master of the bad news. "Particularly that three-headed hound that seems to be getting a little rounder around its belly as of late."

"... Aw crap." Nan groaned out. "Can you piggyback me to where the Arkham Triplets are? I need to talk to them."

"On it."

Byakko hoists his master onto his back before running off to the cave on top of Kaido's shell.

Upon arrival, the stench of rotting bodies and cleanly-picked carrion overwhelmed their noses.

"... Holy shit, dude." Nan winced out. "I would vomit, but I haven't eaten shit while I was out."

Byakko does his best to not vomit-

*BLEGH*

... It failed miserably, not because of the corpses littering the place, but the mere fact that their [Cerberus Hades] now smells close to death.

"... Bud, Lou, Harley?" Nan called out.

The three-headed hound then approaches them, eager to finally see their master up again, their flaming canine skulls looking quite charming, if one disregarded the scent.

"... Look, I'm only saying this because I love you three, but for the love of god, take a bath." Nan winced out. "... Also, I'm putting you three on a diet. Can't afford to keep you all sluggish. That and you need to let the others eat, too."

The triplets bow their heads while giving a slight whine before conceding, pushing their pile of bodies towards the two.

"... Now normally I'm not the one to waste food, but these bastards are way past their expiration date." Nan stated as he casted [Dritte-Fireball], cremating the bodies. "Come on, you three. Let's work the grub off."

The three heads bark as the three/five of them walk out of the cave.

"... By the way, where the hell did you get those bodies?" Nan asked Byakko. "Isn't the nearest civilization around like a couple days away?"

"... Um, about that, milord."

Byakko then sprints towards the edge of a cliffside, revealing to his master of their... unique method of transportation.

"HOLY SHITSNACKS!" Nan screeched out ecstatically. "ARE WE ON A MOVING MOUNTAIN!?"

"... Close enough." Byakko answered. "Your new addition, Kaido, has been more than generous to let us, shall we say, travel in style."

"So wait, then those bodies are-"

Byakko let out a disappointed sigh as he walked away from the cliffside.

"The first village, was an accident." Byakko regrettably informed. "The second, we were turned away by literal pitchforks and torches when we tried to give our warning. The third heeded our warning too late. The fourth tried to kill us, both within the village and on top of Kaido. But after the fifth, it seems that the populace has wisened up, and quickly abandoned their homes upon hearing of our new family member's... unique application of geographic devastation. But alas, there are still the foolhardy that tries to scale our mountain, only to meet their brutal and painful deaths."

Nan then lets out a deep groan upon hearing the news.

"... Well, at least they're learning to some degree." Nan sighed out. "By the way, where're the others?"

"At the peak, we set up a temporary base camp." Byakko stated. "The rest of your [Summons] and servants have been patrolling the mountains on top of Kaido, still spotting those zealots from the [Three Heroes Church] along with the vagrant vagabonds, only for all of them to die the same."

A half-eaten carrion of a zealot fell from the treetops, right before their [Harpy] resumes devouring it from the ground.

"... Have their attacks been less frequent?" Nan asked.

"The opposite." Byakko broke the news. "Every one we kill, three seem to take their place."

"Those guys must have a death wish or something..." Nan grumbled out. "And moreover, how the hell are those guys still around!? I mean for fuck's sake, you can only kill so many people from a certain faction before they run out!"

"That's unfortunately, beyond my knowledge, milord." Byakko stated. "But if there's any solace, is that we haven't gone hungry for a while."

"Yeah, tell that to them..." Nan pointed behind his back towards the [Cerberus Hades].

As they slowly ascend towards the peak, the three/five slowly spot a wooden fort erected up ahead.

"BIG BRO!"

Running towards the three/five was Garou, a wolf-demihuman [Brawler] with a bloodthirsty streak, but remained one of the more steadfast and loyal party members.

"Sup champ." Nan greeted. "How're you and others been doin' without me?"

"Same old, same old." Garou heaved out. "But frankly, it's kinda their fault that they came charging at us dick-first, not to mention, their method of stealth was just pathetic. I mean, finding a needle in a haystack blindfolded was harder than spotting [Church Shadows] in the dead of night."

"Heh, true that."

Both then bump their fists together, a sign of blood-bound brotherhood.

"And the others?" Nan asked.

The gates of the citadel open.

"Oh we've been just wonderful."

Behind the gates was a community sprawling with activity, party member and [Summons] alike were either maintaining their equipment, sparring, training, cooking, and other activities to kill time during their travels.

... Sans Malty, who was stung up from her ankles, bloodied, bruised, and clearly starved, currently being used as Fubuki's personal sandbag to raise her proficiencies in her [Gauntlets].

Byakko then hears his master clear his throat, knowing that he's about to speak to the their little hamlet.

"OI!" Nan called out to the community before they all stopped what they were doing and saw their leader.

"... What's good?"

A fair majority of them all gathered toward Nan on Byakko's back, each of them in their own states of elation.

"I'll leave the rest to you, master Nan." Byakko grinned.

... Hopefully, things are finally back to normal. Or as "normal" as they can get.

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

... You know, I finally get what "no place like home" really means.

Sure, we're practically several days away from the Archive, but in all honesty, it doesn't matter where I am as long as I have my surrogate family of choice.

To quote a very wise person from a certain manga involving fire, "Houses can be rebuilt, lives cannot".

Words to live by indeed.

"Okay okay, everyone, just chill for a sec." I called out. "... As far as I'm concerned, I take it that you've been doing rather well in my absence?"

"Surprisingly." Fubuki pointed out. "Although that red-headed bitch was a total pain in the ass before we stringed her up."

"Yeah, I had to hold Wyndia back from eating her." Rino pointed out. "I know it's not technically cannibalism on the virtue of them being not the same species, but it might set a bad example. That, and well, her meat might be tainted from all the semen that she drank through her pussy."

I saw Wyndia grumble and pout.

"Garou got to eat people..." She grumbled out.

"In my defense, I only bit their throats out for a quick kill." The wolf-demihuman pointed out.

I then saw the dog-girl pout next to a bearded man with snow-white hair and beard.

"... Uh, you with the girl, who are you?" I asked the bearded man.

"Oh come, can't you recognize me after all that hype?"

I then saw, right before my eyes, the man transforming into a [Bahamut Emperor].

"... HOLY SHIT, GAELION!?" I cried out in surprise before connecting the dots together. "... Oh right, [Emperor]."

"Thanks to your efforts, I've managed to regain my former splendor." Gaelion stated. "I still had my [Emperor's Core] within me, but after my defeat against the current [Filolial Empress], I was stripped of my powers along with my official title. But now, I have been reborn, stronger than ever, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude."

"Don't sweat it, bro." I replied. "Happy to help you out in the long run."

Gaelion then transforms back into his human form, a white-robed sage-like figure with flowing white beard and hair, his forehead jutting out a unicorn-like horn.

"It really does feel good to walk around with two legs again." Gaelion stated. "I mean, a big body was good and all, but really, constantly minding my surroundings and sitting still like a boulder wasn't just for me."

... Hmm, so if an Emperor can achieve a human-like form, then I wonder if Yaelia can achieve a human-scaled form as well.

Do I need to evolve her again? I mean, I would want to stab her with the [Sacrificial Dagger] to find out, but stabbing your own party members in broad daylight doesn't do wonders for overall morale.

That, and well, violation of common sense.

"... Um, before we can continue with what I've missed for the past few days, can I get a chair to sit on?" I asked. "Missing a leg and a pegleg, as one might put it."

"On it."

The butler then carries me to a wooden rocking chair by cottage porch before setting me down onto it.

"So, may I dare ask, if you guys built this place without me, why didn't you guys bring me here?" I asked my party members.

I then spot Strelitzia raising her wooden and flesh hand.

"... That's a fault on my part, darling." My [Dryad] wife spoke out. "You were bleeding out and we didn't have any bandages to stifle the bleeding, so I had to put you into a special healing pod to invigorate your natural healing factor. It was only after the outsiders that attacked us were carrying bandages with them, but thankfully, we managed to clot the bleeding in time."

I then sniff my arm, realizing it smells like fruit peels and lemon skin.

"... Well, at least don't have to worry about taking a bath for a while, if I could." I stated. "Regardless, I understand your intent, honey. Thanks for keeping my blood in my body."

"You're welcome!"

... You know, I'd assumed that I shut away my heart upon accepting the fact I've become a wanton murderer, but seeing the smile of someone I love always reminds me that I'm still somewhat human.

"... Anything else?" I asked the others.

"Well, about the aforementioned idiots that tried to kill us all..." L'Arc pointed out. "... We found these on the zealots and cutthroats."

He then hands me a stack of papers, with the topmost one bearing my new half-mawed visage, flipping off the viewer, and with a bounty of "330,000,000 Gold; DEAD".

Upon reading it, I then spot my new title, "The Demon King".

... I want to laugh, but something in the back of my head clearly disagrees with my guilty pleasure of indulging in my eighth-grade fantasies.

"Huh, my bounty went up." I remarked as I continued to look through the papers, all of them bearing my visage, until I ran into three different visages bearing L'Arc's, Theresa's, and Glass's faces.

For L'Arc, 950,000 Gold. Wanted Dead or Alive for: Accomplice of the [Tome Fallen].

For Theresa, 750,000 Gold. Wanted Alive for: the same thing (fucking pervs).

And for Glass, 15,000,000 Gold. Wanted Dead or Alive for: Leading the Third [Wave] upon the Kingdom of Melromarc, Destruction of [Lute Village], and Manslaughter.

"... For you three noble souls to be convicted alongside me, L'Arc, Theresa, and Glass, I apologize that I got you all entangled into this sociopolitical bullshit." I apologized to the [Heroes] from the Alternative World. "If anything, I kinda deserved my raise."

"... Um, Nan?" Theresa asked. "Apparently I heard that after this world's Second [Wave], you and your party allegedly robbed the kingdom's entire treasury after setting the entire palace on fire, and miraculously not killing anyone in the process."

"Point being?" I replied.

"You think the kingdom has enough liquid capital to enforce these bounties?" L'Arc pointed out. "I mean, my parents thought me early on that any stable nation needs money to run themselves, and you just siphoned a good majority of the kingdom's tax money..."

"... Meaning either that Melromarc's budgetary deficit is now through the roof, or the whole Kingdom of Melromarc is now in a state of a great economic depression." I smiled evilly.

Suck, my, balls, so-called "Sage King". First I took your money, then I took both of your daughters away from you, and later on, I'll be taking that moniker for myself, because I have every single right to be an ass.

"What's with the evil smile?" Glass asked.

"Oh nothing, just that my personal vendetta against that demented old fart is proceeding smoothly as a mountainside river." I replied gleefully. "An elderly king dementia has no right to wield such power and authority over his people, but instead of stripping him everything bare, I'm going to make him watch as he inadvertently burns his own Kingdom to the ground, and yes, he deserves it, every last thing coming for him, which I will be more than happy to offer."

"Is he really that much of a threat, even with the [Waves] still being around?" Glass pointed out.

"True, so that's why I'll... inconvenience him in short bursts." I pointed out. "The [Waves], the crumbling Kingdom of Melromarc reflecting his degradation, and his inevitable reunion with his long-lost sister, now taken by a demihuman, all leading up to his inevitable... well if I said tragedy, it would spoil it all, correct?"

Upon me belching out that statement, I spot Malva, Aultcray's older sister, and Khronos's wife approaching me.

"... I'm painfully aware that my brother's recent actions have been deplorable, particularly towards the [Shield Hero] and you, but is all of that necessary?" Malva pointed out.

I then let out a sigh as I began to explain myself.

"Tell me, Mrs. Hakuko." I asked. "What do you think a leader's greatest fear is?"

"... Never thought of that, honestly." Malva answered. "I mean, I'm constantly living half-scared out of the fear that I might lose my loved ones in some horrific accident."

"... I dunno." L'Arc pointed out. "I mean, before I became the [Scythe Hero], I was just coordinated into rulership of my own kingdom back home, so in personal experience, I really haven't gone that far to get an answer."

I simply answer.

"... It's the loss of faith from your own people." I answered. "A leader's power only exist because of the consent of the people that said leader is ruling over. So what happens if the mutual trust begins to crumble?"

Everyone else exchange confused looks with each other.

"Simple." I pointed out. "Complete, and utter, chaos."

I then look at Malva, who herself was bearing an utterly terrified look on her face.

"... To what end, Nan?" Malva asked.

I let out a small chuckle as I brought about my answer.

"Twofold, really." I pointed out. "First, I'm going to do something about the whole 'issue' between the humans and the demihumans. Pop quiz, just how do you tear down a philosophy, down to its basic fundamentals, and making sure that it never sees the light of day ever again?"

"... I get a distinct feeling that it involves a lot of killing." L'Arc gulped out. "Isn't there another way?"

"... If there was, the whole issue would've been solved in the first place." I retorted. "Over and over, I've been proven wrong that people in this world can even listen to reason at this point. HELLO!? WORLD'S ABOUT TO END, BUT YOU'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR FUCKING RACE WAR!?"

I slouch back on my recliner with a loud thud.

"... Here's how it's gonna go down." I stated. "Around the center of this continent lies a certain merchant-nation called Zeltoble, a crossroads between the four kingdoms, with imports ranging from grocer's goods, products of labor... and human and demihuman cargo."

"A nation where all the slave traders gather..." Theresa gasped out.

"Exactly." I stated. "So with that in mind, should the initial strike goes as planned, not only the economic depression will affect all four nations at once, but also, it'll send a clear message, which goes as the following or something close to it: 'The time for slaves and masters has come to an end. Anyone who refuses to comply will be destroyed'. So when the message passes, hopefully people will now think twice of racism and focus on the real issue at hand."

"The [Waves]..." Glass muttered out.

"Bingo, although there is a possibility that the message might not get through, be ignored outright, or worst case scenario, can be seen as a declaration of war." I pointed out. "But should that be the case... well, think of it this way, the people of this world are more of a threat than the [Waves], so hey, not my first time running through fire for the sake of my friends and family. Minus one leg be damned, I'll fight a war while wearing a fucking pegleg if I have to."

"That, and we have the following." Byakko cut in. "A [Bahamut Emperor], an [Adamantortoise], a [Hydra], a [Pazuzu], a [Cerberus Hades], a [Wyrmlich Empress], a [Dryad], a [Seraphim], an [Iblis], a [Salamander], a [Doppelganger], three [Aerial Automatons], two variants of [Balloons], and not to mention, several [Liches], [Gnolls], [Ogres], [Elder & Lesser Mind Flayers], [Wraiths], [Bird Eyes], [Undead Locusts], and too many other [Summons] to list. Even more astounding, all that I've mentioned so far? That's not counting us, total badasses in our own right, and master's 52 [Daemons] inside of his [Lemegeton]."

Everyone goes completely silent upon my butler's status of our whole party.

"... Forget about a war. Nan basically has on-hands access to the entire continent's kill-switch!" Rio screamed out, in half-glee and half-horror.

"Since when did we become this overpowered!?" Fohl asked.

"... Now, I've seen everything." Atlas dryly remarked. "Excuse me, but I need to stone my bitch of a once-removed human cousin to take my mind off a few things."

"Don't kill her!" I called out as Atlas begun gathering pebbles in her skirt.

Glass then lets out a deep sigh as she approached/floated towards me.

"So you essentially have the power to make the whole continent bend to your will." Glass pointed out. "How's that supposed to help our situation that you promised that you'd aid?"

"That's step two." I replied. "Once I clean out this damn rock, the whole entire rock is basically free real estate. Like I said before, houses can be rebuilt, lives cannot. Better for you guys than the potential scumbags that live here now, right?"

"... Damn, you make a good point." Glass bit out. "But what makes it sure that the crazed goddess won't turn her attention towards this world?"

"Two things, really." I pointed out. "Firstly, as of now, the whore goddess, regardless of me throwing several wrenches to her ploys, she won't acknowledge me as a threat, for again, two reasons. First, she's simply a sociopathic bully who only wants everything to go her way, but appease her in ways that she doesn't expect, well... to put it mildly, for someone wielding power over all space and dimensions, she's a short-sighted idiot who can't help but play with her food. I'm just simply taking advantage of the windows that are open in her so-called plans, all the while, evading her ire while causing as much damage to her ego as possible."

"... So the whole reason why my home world wasn't destroyed in an instant-"

"- Is because Medea gets off on suffering." I pointed out. "Give her what she wants, she leaves us alone, but who says we can't mutually profit before inevitably stabbing each other in our respective backs?"

"Then how do you kill a god?" Glass asked.

"... Okay, matters there are going to get a little bit complicated, but still plausible." I stated. "But here's a question, just how do you think the so-called gods existed in the first place?"

"... I never thought of that." Glass realized. "So you're saying that the gods are-"

"- Are not exactly gods. Just a bunch of stuck-up living being who got too big for their boots." I stated. "Whether through an extremely advanced civilization or literally raising your level numbers beyond the Level 999 cap, a god's power is massive, but still finite."

"So what are you proposing?" Glass asked.

"... Hmm, I got a few ideas, all of them theoretical, but plausible when enough conventional laws of physics and spacetime continuum are raped beyond repair." I stated. "Either we can literally power-level ourselves to godhood and face her on even ground... Or we can go for the dirty option, and turn your adoptive world into a one massive chronospatial bomb."

"Wait, WHAT!?" Glass screeched out.

"Don't worry, the world will be evacuated before it goes boom-boom right in front of her face." I reassured. "Although as I traced it out it's theoretical blast range in my head, there might be a few... side effects upon detonation, which-"

Glass then raises her hand to my face.

"... My brain is about to melt." Glass groaned out. "Whatever you're planning, and how far you've planned, I am not dealing with this with another headache."

Before I can dismiss her, I suddenly pick up a faint smell of a freshly-burnt tire, which follows up with me seeing Glass blush and sway for a bit.

"So says the lady who gets drunk off the fumes."

"... How long were you up there, Genbu?" I yelled towards the ceiling.

"... Don't think I haven't noticed, lassy." I pointed out. "You avoid me like the fucking plague, twice-so when I'm taking my afternoon nip."

As for my [Gremlin] friend, he was literally drinking on the rooftop right now.

Even I can smell the fumes coming from his flask becoming more intense, now that stench evolving into that of an oil spill, and Glass's blush slowly became redder by the second.

"L'Arc, please take the kind lady elsewhere. I don't think that she enjoys Genbu's company." I requested.

"Party pooper!" I heard Genbu yell out as Glass was guided off elsewhere.

Well, a siesta first, then.

Haven't had that in a good while.

Switching POV: Garou

After big bro Nan dismisses everyone, Garou goes off elsewhere before he was caught by one of the Hakuko kids, Fohl.

"What do you want, kiddo?" Garou asked Fohl.

"Please spar with me!" Fohl requested. "I need to get stronger for the battles ahead!"

Garou thinks for himself for a few moments before replying.

"... Alright, just don't expect me to hold back." Garou answered. "Meet me by the training grounds whenever you're ready. Don't chicken out, kay?"

"I'll see you there!" Fohl stated as he ran off elsewhere.

With Fohl gone, Garou then looks for Byakko.

15 Minutes Later...

"Alright kiddo, whenever you're ready." Garou stated as he took up a fighting stance with a [Training Dagger] in his right and a [Training Gauntlet] in the other.

"Born ready!" Fohl answered as he banged his wooden [Training Gauntlets].

"Alright gentlemen, remember, this is sparring, so it's a learning experience." Byakko stated as the throw-in referee. "And god help you if I end up having to repair any broken bones."

Both nod.

"Well then, begin."

Both demihumans charge towards each other, with Fohl taking the first strike with a right jab.

Garou then dodges out of the way, ducks under, and swings his dummy knife under Fohl's armpit, making a mock cut, before making using own [Training Gauntlet] as a fulcrum to arc Fohl's entire body over his shoulder, swinging the white tiger-boy over his shoulder, before pointing his dummy knife to his throat.

"And that's enough." Byakko stated. "Good work you two. No one was hurt too badly, so less work for me."

"... Whoa." Fohl heaved out. "How the hell did you that?"

"Simple, really." Garou replied. "That punch was good and all, but you practically left the rest of your body open. Should I've been holding a real knife, I just would've rendered your entire right arm useless, or worst-case-scenario, lopped it off, and while I did finish you off with a jab to the throat, I could've easily gutted you like a carp, or a simple stab to the heart to make a quick kill."

"... So what if I was wearing armor?" Fohl asked.

"Two disadvantages." Garou pointed out. "One, you're adding weight, and if you want to use [Gauntlets] to their full potential, then I suggest you get good at dodging rather than tanking. And two, armor does provide protection, sure, but it doesn't protect the groin, back joints, or anywhere that has a gap in it, and my [Daggers] are small enough to fit through those gaps in the first place, allowing me to reach the meat underneath."

"So what if you can't aim for the joints?" Fohl asked. "What then?"

"Two options." Garou answered. "One, throw fine sand into their visors. The smoother, the better, since even armored knights still need to see. Or two, grappling."

Garou then grabs Fohl's arm, pulls it towards himself, twists his whole body until he sees him from his back, before tackling him to the ground and pinning him with his arm twisted to Fohl's back.

"Protection doesn't mean shit when they can't even move." Garou pointed out as he reinforced his hold on Fohl. "The arms, neck, and the upper back are the most ideal places to put your weight onto your target, and not to mention, the armored person's body is also straining itself to hold up that armor. That's why most people forgo full-body plate armor and just stick to breastplates and helmets. In close combat, the key is balance between agility and defense Neglect either at your own peril, understood?"

"I-I-I GOT IT! SO WILL YOU PLEASE LET-OW OW OW!"

"... Fine." Garou sighed out. "But remember next time, don't leave yourself open while attacking."

The wolf-teen releases Fohl, leaving him lying on the ground.

"Whenever you're ready, kiddo." Garou stated as he sat on the bench, drinking water from a goatskin pouch.

Another 15 Minutes Later...

"... Alright, that's enough."

Behind Garou was Fohl, flat on his face with his ass sticking up into the air.

"If there's one thing I can give you credit for, is that at least you learned how to attack while blocking." Garou pointed out. "Now, we're going to have cover on how to dodge."

Fohl muffles in the dirt.

"Just how long you're going to admire the dirt, kiddo?" Garou called out. "C'mon, up."

Garou then lifts the tiger-boy over his shoulder before heading off elsewhere.

"... I've been meaning ask, but..." Fohl asked.

"But what, kiddo?" Garou replied.

"You're so strong, so why do you keep training?" Fohl asked.

Garou thinks for a moment before answering.

"... Because of big bro Nan, I guess." Garou replied. "I mean, ever since he took me and my sis in, at first, I thought that the world outside the cage was about the same; cold, cruel, and everyone's out for themselves. I mean, ever since we were born, the only thing that mattered to be was my sis, so unlike other people behind bars, I had at least something to fight for."

"What changed?" Fohl asked.

"... Not much really." Garou pointed out. "But what I learned from big bro was that change doesn't need to be big in order to change yourself. Throughout the journey, I saw my bro get his thumb bitten off, got his eye shot out by a [Manticore]'s stinger, his arm sliced off by an [Archangel], and watched him nearly fall to his death several times over. Now he comes back, missing one leg."

"... So that's where that crashing sound came from back home." Fohl pointed out. "Wow, Nan must be really brave for a human to go through all that."

Garou lets out a sigh.

"... I really don't think it's because he's brave, kiddo." Garou retorted. "In fact, I think he's trying to show us all something."

"What is it?" Fohl asked.

"... It's showing us that we're not invincible." Garou pointed out. "No matter how strong we get, no matter how high our stats or levels are, it doesn't change the fact that we're mortal. Our bodies break, they bleed, they burn, but it's only through experiencing every sensation of pain that the world has to offer that we can grow strong enough to achieve our dreams."

"So what's your dream?" Fohl asked.

"Mine?" Garou remarked. "Personally, I just want to grow old with my sister and die peacefully in a small hillside cottage. If it means that I literally have kill every last person that's not on our side, whether god or mortal, I will if I must, or die trying."

"... Whoa, you really look out for your sister, huh?" Fohl pointed out. "Kinda reminds me of how me and my twin sister, Atlas..."

"I've been meaning to ask, but why is she stuck at Level 1?" Garou asked.

"... She was born cursed." Fohl stated. "Blind and unable to raise her levels, the rest of my half-siblings from my own family treated us like shit, all because we were half-human. It was only two year before we met that the house of Hakuko were besieged by the knights of Melromarc, leaving the entire Hakuko clan destroyed save for me, father, Atlas, and mother."

"... Yeah, now that I heard it, your whole situation doesn't sound so different from me and my sis." Garou pointed out. "With family being the only thing left in our lives, of course we would do anything to ensure that they at least die peacefully."

"Maybe that's why I asked you to train me." Fohl admitted. "Maybe I want to be strong enough to protect whoever's dear to me, and maybe, just maybe, you kinda reminded me of... well me."

"Heh, guess we're both becoming martyrs for our loved ones?" Garou asked. "Well, if it's anything worth writing home about, then you and your remaining family can consider yourself a part of big bro's family."

"Really? You think so?" Fohl asked.

Garou then puts him down on a bench next to Byakko's medical tent.

"Call big bro if you want to." Garou smiled. "Hit me up if you wanna spar later on, kay?"

"Yeah, sure." Fohl smiled back. "... Big bro."

The two bump their fists together before leaving.

Switching POV: Fubuki

"Oh, what are you still doing here?"

Fubuki watched the blind tiger-girl still throwing rocks at the bound Malty.

... And not hitting a single one.

"What's wrong, fleabag!?" Malty taunted, half-frightened, half-giddy. "I'm right in front of you-"

Fubuki delivers a chop to the back of her neck, knocking her out cold.

"Come on." Fubuki remarked. "There are better places to destress than being with this little witch."

Fubuki walks the blind girl to the mess hall.

"So tell me, how are you doing?" Fubuki asked the blind girl as they sat down.

"... I feel like Nan's being a bad influence on me." Atlas remarked dryly. "Every single day I spend here, I'm being tossed around by waves of positivity and negativity so frequently that I feel like I'm going to vomit from the fluctuations alone."

"Eh, that's life." Fubuki remarked as waved for one of the maids in the kitchen. "You just gotta learn how to deal with it in a healthy way."

"Does mindless violence fit the criteria of being 'healthy'?" Atlas pointed out.

"Is anything in this world be considered remotely healthy?" Fubuki retorted. "At least in the whole act of mindless violence, it's a way to take your mind off of the bad things in the world."

The two of them are handed a plate of crumpets and mint tea, all of its acquisition being traced back to the pig's manor which they've raided.

"... When you put it like that, it almost makes my curse more like a curse." Atlas bitterly remarked. "In place of actual sight, I can now only see into people's hearts and minds like an open, but all I can see and hear are nothing but pain, sadism, and utter insanity. The worst part? I can't shut it off, no matter how hard I try."

"Eh, call it personal preference." Fubuki pointed out. "I mean, I used to think like that before I met Nan, that the entire world is full of nothing but sadistic liars that will stab each other in their backs at a moment's notice. I mean, granted, not much changed, but Nan did technically teach us that there are good people in this world, or at least the ones that don't deserve to die slowly and painfully as others do-you get what I mean, right?"

"It's a miracle that you've learned your moral spectrum through the people you kill on a daily basis." Atlas snarked out as she munched on a crumpet.

"I'm not a very good conversationalist." Fubuki sheepishly pointed out as she drank her tea. "Just offering my two piece on the whole perspective."

Both bitterly chuckle as they both enjoy themselves.

"So..." Fubuki asked Atlas. "What's it like to have a family?"

"Don't you used to have a family of your own?" Atlas asked back.

"Apparently, me and bro were alone ever since we were kids." Fubuki pointed out. "Our mom died giving birth to both of us, and our dad was sold off elsewhere before the caravan was lost to a mudslide before we were born, at least, that's what the slavers told us at that time."

"... Oh. I'm so sorry." Atlas lamely apologized.

"It's fine." Fubuki waved her away. "Never saw em, so I really can't be afforded to be so broken up over it. That and well, Nan not only brought us in, but he also made a new family for everyone. ... Huh, family. Kinda has a nice ring to it."

"... Your heart doesn't lie. You truly believe that your party is like one giant family." Atlas pointed out as she drank her own tea. "... Now that I think about, I think the whole reason why Nan is going so far as he is that he can have a world where everyone can be a family."

"... You know, I want to consider you as my little sister-"

"Let's not get hasty." Atlas cut off Fubuki. "... But for now, I can trust you with my life."

"... It's a start then." Fubuki stated as she bit a piece off of her own crumpet. "And just like Nan said, we'll have the whole continent to ourselves, and to our family."

Atlas lets out a small chuckle before raising her teacup.

"... I might be going mad myself, but you know what?"

Atlas downs her lukewarm tea before slamming it down onto the saucer.

"To our families."

Fubuki smiles back.

"... To our families."

Switching POV: Malty

The past four days and nights were an utter nightmare.

First, she sees her own goons exsanguinate themselves right in front of her, which Nan claims to be an accident from some kind of weird-ass forbidden magic, then she gets kidnapped by the same lunatic responsible, used as a human shield against a giant-ass turtle monster, which they're currently not only riding on, but also built a settlement on top of it, being surrounded by both demihuman, and literal filth, now herself being soiled with the collective scents of blood, rotting flesh, and shit, and to make matters even worse, her captor wouldn't even give her the release of death.

If anything, the damn fleabag using her as a literal punching bag seemed like a close enough alternative of escape.

"... No. It's too soon to die." Malty thought to herself as she slowly opened her eyes. "You still need to live to take the throne, and right now, you're alive, and long as you're alive, you can still get out of this mess. C'mon, Malty, you can do this, you can-"

She is then greeted by the lunatic, currently looking at her with his red right eye, watching her like a hawk.

"... Please kill me now." Malty begged.

"Later." The lunatic replied bluntly. "But first..."

She then saw him pull out a silver [Musket] weapon.

A [Tome Fallen], using a [Musket].

"... The world has gone completely mad."

The gun fires, shooting an icicle blade through the rope holding her up, cutting her loose and landing on her head.

"Ow..." Malty groaned out as she nursed her bleeding head.

"Bring her to me."

Then several [Liches] surround her, grabbing her by the arms and legs, with their boney digits digging through her skin and breaking out droplets of blood.

"NO! GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME, YOU UNDEAD FREAKS!" Malty screeched out.

"You heard the lady."

The undead then lift her up, and toss her towards before rolling into the lunatic's sole foot.

"Good afternoon, Princess Malty Melromarc."

She turns her head, seeing the lunatic's red right eye glowing menacingly towards her.

"I suppose you enjoyed our accommodations here?" The lunatic replied. "But before you say anything..."

He then points outside the porch, with the [Dryad] watch in her like a bird of prey.

"... I suggest you watch yourself."

All Malty can do is grimace.

"Oh come now, Choco-Malt." The lunatic spoke out. "Why frown with such a pretty face?"

"YOU BURNT IT OFF, ASSHOLE!" Malty screeched out.

"Oh come now, I think scars add character to one's face, as misery would build one's character." The lunatic stated with a smile. "And besides, it's not like you're in any position to appeal to your vanity."

Malty wanted say something, but was then cut off by the sound of her stomach grumbling.

"... Hm, well, a person can starve herself for so long until she needs to eat." The lunatic remarked. "And FTR, no."

The red eye then shines at her, assuming control over her whole body's movements.

"C'mon, let's get something to eat."

Her body than piggybacks the lunatic, wobbling down the stairs with his heavy body crushing against her emaciated body.

"Hm, so this how you can control one person." The lunatic remarked. "Granted, this was after I learned how my eye works after killing all of your fanboys, but I'm honestly getting a little ahead myself."

Both Malty and the lunatic sit next to each other, with the [Dryad] watching them.

"Okay, shutting off."

She regains control over her body, only to be beset upon by waves and pangs of bodily agony.

"Get us something light."

The [Liches] then serve up two bowls of light brown porridge in front of them.

Malty can only stare at the steaming brown slop right in front of her.

"... What? First time seeing one?" The lunatic asked as he took a serving. "You do realize what position you're in, and not the one in the sack, right?"

"I'm royalty... and yet I'm eating peasant food." Malty half-chuckled. "... I'd rather eat pig shit."

"Well it's gonna be close to pig shit when it gets cold, so come on."

The lunatic then grabs her spoon along with the slop and shoves it into her mouth.

"Eat."

The steamy slop of moist wheat and barley burn inside her mouth, with the spoon still stirring in her mouth, trying to force the food into her mouth and down her throat.

Eventually, the slop goes goes down, and the lunatic pulls the spoon from her mouth.

"So, how's the taste?"

Malty can only gag and cough from the steamy morsel that she was forced to devour.

"Ugh, bunch caviar-eating rich people..." He muttered out.

... And for the life of Malty, she couldn't even make what the lunatic was muttering about.

The lunatic then looks her in the eye, right before eyeing at her portion.

"... You know that ain't gonna eat itself, right?"

Malty simply turns her head in a huff, until she felt a cold, metal hand touch her right shoulder.

"You wanna find out what happens when food is wasted?"

Malty gulps in place of her words.

"Glad I got through." The lunatic smiled. "Now eat."

She then began devouring the brown slop like if her life depended on it, ignoring the burns inside of her mouth, as the piercing gaze of her captor drilled into her very soul.

After a Really Slow Lunch...

... Her mouth felt numb from the burns, her tongue swollen from the heat, and her throat feeling uncomfortably warm from the food.

"Glad you enjoyed yourself."

Malty wanted to vomit at her captor's face to spite him, but something in her head scream that he might like it.

"... Here."

The lunatic then hands her a cup of water.

"... What? You'd expect that I'd splash you with it?" The lunatic remarked. "Oi, I may be crazy, but I have table manners."

"I'd find that hard to believe." Malty grumbled out as she drank the water, hoping that it was poison.

... Much to her disappointment, it wasn't.

"Now now, no need to be so dour." The lunatic spoke out. "After all, contrary to appearance, I very much have no intentions of letting you die."

"... Why?" Malty asked. "Why go through all this?"

The lunatic closes his eyes before answering.

"It's simple, really." The lunatic spoke out. "Out of all the scumbags that crawl upon this world, you're a... shall we say, an odd case."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Out of all the idiots we've slain, you seem to hold a unique kind of contempt that only a few people can stomach to muster, but you, among those few, breathe it out like air." He pointed out. "You hold no love, respect, trust, or loyalty to any person, institution, race, gender, or philosophy. In that little heart of yours, there's only enough room for you, and everyone else, including me, are nothing more than potential enemies to either eliminate, or manipulate, but towards what, I wonder? Is it the crown? The approval and respect you deserve? The whole idea of controlling this whole continent to sate your boundless ego?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"... Malty, I can literally read you like an open book, but your psychological contents are so rich with potential research that it can be done about the human ego. Malty, you're literally a treasure trove of psyche-majors everywhere! People would literally kill to cut your head open with a spoon and scoop out what's in your noggin like custard pudding!" The lunatic ranted out as he got too close to her face. "Malty, Malty, MALTY! Out of all the people and scumbags I had the pleasure of breaking, you're the cream of the crop. You're the apex of human scum! Not for authority, not for power, not for respect, peer or self, not for an ideal, not for a goal. You're literally living because there's no way to sate your bottomless sadism! A cesspool of sin and vice, all too under a hollow lie of you actually accomplishing anything in that complete and utter lie you call life."

"JUST WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"

"... I want you say it, from the bottom of your dead little heart." The lunatic stated. "I want you to say: 'I've wasted my entire life because I never grew up.'"

"... What?" Malty remarked in confusion.

"... Back in my world, there was a philosopher who went by Thomas Hobbes." The lunatic stated. "He wrote the book called Leviathan, where he goes over the basic idea of human nature, that everyone of us are always born entitled to something, and no matter what that thing is, it inevitably leads to conflicts with a fellow, man, eventually leading towards the conclusion that, being put into the context of this world, both you humans and demihumans are born to be self-entitled dickbags who'll never come to a mutual understanding, and that the only way that we can even stomach each others's existence and prevent our mutual self-destruction is through society and its institutions to be hardwired towards discipline. People will be in line under enforced order, and if done right, then all negative aspects of social order such as racism, classism, sexism, and every single '-ism' that brackets people into separate and unnecessary pens, will all be rendered obsolete. After all, if one's worst vices are conditioned to be suppressed in the name of common decency, then surely, people will then earn the right to live."

"Just what are you even saying?" Malty questioned. "Just what does an anarchist like you have to say about civilization?"

"... Don't you SEE!?"

The lunatic then grinds his forehead against hers.

"YOU ARE THE LEVIATHAN!" The lunatic barked out at her face. "YOUR MERE EXISTENCE IS BASICALLY THE VINDICATION OF HOBBES'S THESIS OF PEOPLE BEING BORN-SCUMBAGS THAT NEED TO BE PUT UNDER THE WHIP OF ORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE! YOU'RE EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THIS SOCIETY, AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW YOU FRAMED NAOFUMI OUT OF ANY PERCEIVED PREJUDICE BECAUSE OF THE STATE RELIGION! YOU DID IT OUT OF YOUR FREE WILL! AND THE WORST PART!? YOU'RE SO BLIND TO YOUR OWN FAULTS THAT I LITERALLY CANNOT DECIDE THE NEXT COURSE FOR YOUR FUTURE!"

The lunatic then stops yelling at her face before breaking away from her.

"... Which is why I'm also going to vindicate Hobbes's thesis, my way."

Malty was too afraid to even talk to the madman anymore. He was beyond reason. A gibbering lunatic who knew nothing he was talking about.

... But what he talked about surprisingly made sense, much to her great displeasure.

"You want to control this world, then that's fine. Do what you will." He spoke out. "But I'm going to destroy everything that you know and love first, so that you can't. But here's the best part. As the whole world that you knew? The same world where you were served hand and foot? The same world you can masturbate to other people's despair? The same world where you won every, damn, time?"

The madman's lips contorted into a perfect crescent.

"... You're going to watch, as I burn it all to the ground." He declared. "Still don't believe me? Well, I simply won't say that you'll be humbled to utter powerlessness by the end our little adventure, but who says that I can't give it a shot?"

Malty wanted to laugh. But she couldn't.

The [Tome Fallen] was the same Devil that she painted and slandered the [Shield Hero] to be towards the public.

A literal Devil-no.

An actual Demon King stood before her, smiling like a lakeside maiden, with the intent of a mad god.

"... Alright, I had enough." He stated. "Honey, if you will."

The last thing that Malty smelled was the faint scent of flower pollen before blacking out.

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

God, I love her [Knockout Pollen]. Instant sedation with a single blow.

After a good venting and a late lunch, I was escorted back to my rocking chair, with the fair maiden now by my side, in chains.

"Hey Grimm."

The [Forbidden Tome] shows up before me.

"... So what do you think of her?" I asked about Malty? "I mean, as both a human being, and an individual."

"... I really can't bring myself to care for her." Grimm answered. "I mean, I get that you hate her more than the others, so why spare her?"

"It's for that reason why." I replied. "She's unapologetically evil, for sure. But that's why I'm fascinated by her as such, more than I'd like to admit. She's still young, I mean, we're practically the same age of 19, but despite appearances, I think she kinda gave up on life."

"... So want her to show that there's more to life other then her own self-inflicted hell?"

"She only thinks that she's Kirei, that she has no choice but to be evil because it's in her blood. Her impulses." I pointed out. "And see it as a problem, so I want to fix that."

"... You know that she's the piece of the goddess that destroyed Glass's home world, right?"

"True, but killing her won't solve anything, now would it?" I pointed out. "I mean, looking at it from a macro scale, she's holding no hostages, no political power other than being one other ruler's daughters, already proven herself to be an utter incompetence, both to the public, and the [Three Heroes Church], and even if I did kill her under the assumptions that she's one of the pieces of Medea, she'll simply come back, just because. Remember, I have to deal with this with the utmost of prudence, for carelessness is a waste of action. And despite everything, I may hate her, yes. With all my heart, but that's why I want to save her. So she can become her own person, and hopefully, start from scratch."

"You know that it can be argued that you burning down several villages and a nobleman's castle wasn't solving anything."

"Un contraire, Grimm." I retorted. "I did. I'm starting to make them doubt the status quo."

"How so?"

I let out a small chuckle.

"You know how back at the castle, when we showed up through the ceiling, on top of Ishmael before he joined us?" I pointed out. "How we came in, bloodied, brutalized, and like total badasses?"

"... And how they took a step back when you took a step forth."

"It's a sign, Grimm." I stated. "They're scared of me, and eventually, all of us. The mere mention of us will make them shit their collective pants, and maybe, just maybe, they might start using their heads more, start questioning the world around them more, and eventually, the truth shall come towards them like a speeding buffalo."

"What is that gonna do?" Grimm asked. "Just how will making them scared accomplish anything?"

"Fear is good source of clout, Grimm." I answered. "Fear is motivation, fear is control, fear is the fuel that burns the fire known as change. The fear that their old world will fail them in the end, the fear that their lives were completely wasted under the delusion known as 'order', the fear of becoming obsolete, fear is what forces people to grow. Fear... is the ultimate truth."

"So what then? Scare them out of their minds til they can't take it anymore?"

"Even better, Grimm." I answered. "Through fear, I will condition them to conquer it. When fear, temporal, spiritual, primal, all of it, are conquered, enlightenment will be reached. People will stop fearing everything, and accept that it's okay to be and stay scared. Once the threshold is passed, then people will unite, people will begin understanding, each other without fear. A brave new world, where the strong, cunning, and brave prosper, while the weak, naive, and the ignorant suffer. That's my dream Grimm. A world completely liberated, from fear and stability that feeds it."

"... So basically a world literally everyone is a raving psychopath acting upon their own impulses, without exceptions." Grimm stated. "How's that gonna help?"

"Don't you see, Grimm?" I stated. "People only rationalize because of fear! The [Three Heroes Church], the [Waves], the dichotomy between humans and demihumans, all of it! They're all social constructs that hold people back from their full potential! So once I make them keep questioning everything until no more questions can be asked, then true liberation is achieved."

"... That somehow makes no sense, but at the same time, makes total sense." Grimm remarked. "Why don't you just say that you want to revert the world back to its primordial roots?"

"I gotta make sure that the people understand the whole package deal." I replied. "In order for complete liberation, we first gotta destroy the very institutions that defang the wolves that mankind are."

"The [Three Heroes Church]?"

"Every, damn, religion." I answered out. "The so-called 'truth' will no longer come like pre-packaged processed meat. It will come raw."

"Phrasing dude."

We both then share a chuckle.

"... But first, I gotta go and finalize the plan to fuck up the economy even more." I stated as I pulled out a map. "Zeltoble is practically swimming in capital from the revenue they get in slave trading. Imagine what happens if all of the gold mint gets melted into slag."

"... Then suddenly, money no longer becomes an object for everyone."

"Bingo~!" I snag out. "Up top."

We exchange a high-five, or a close approximation.

"Alright, enough resting on our laurels." I declared. "Time to bust out the comms."

I link everyone in my party.

[Everyone gather up for a strategy meeting in the next two hours. This is utmost of importance.]

Switching POV: Rio

She's heard too much.

Just listening to Nan talk about his dreams was too much to bear.

Nan wanted to destroy all civilization, so that everyone can essentially turn into madmen running about like wild animals.

It was wrong, very wrong, but at the same time, he was in a way, right.

Has she become no different from sheep when living a so-called "normal life"?

Was being a wolf part of her true nature?

Hell, is the term, "normal life" even real?

... Now that she thinks about it, SAO, in hindsight, was practically a dream come true for her.

Growing up in a strict society where someone like her was expected to finish school, graduate college, get married, and live out her "peaceful" life where she had little control over her own world?

In SAO, at least she got to choose how and when she died. It got her to embrace... the more primal side of her humanity.

It was addicting to kill those monsters that were trying to kill her, fighting for her life, every single day, all to live one more day for survival.

... In a way, she only felt truly alive when she put her life on the line for something that she values the most.

Maybe that's why she chose to be Ren's girlfriend, so she can keep on fighting under the pretense that she's fighting for something "important" to her.

Hell, when she and the others found out that SAO's lifelink was caused from an accidental glitch, and when she saw Ren get stabbed right in front of her...

She only felt... disappointment.

"... Just why am I... so empty!?" Rio gasped out as her back slid down agains the wall behind her.

She curls up into a fetal position, trying to rationalize with the existence with her inner beast.

"No, no. That was just a phase, Rio." She muttered to herself. "It was just a spur of a moment thing, they were trying to kill you-"

A crumpled up paper rolls to her feet.

She reluctantly picks it up, and unfolds it.

IT'S BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN TO FADE AWAY

... The beast that she birthed in SAO began to wickedly cackle within the depths of her very soul.

He knows.

He knows.

He knows.

He knows.

"... He knows all." Rio whispered out to herself as a single tear ran down her eye in utter horror. "We're all mere beasts in cages."

Then she hears a faint voice inside her head. The very same voice she'd spoken with at her time in SAO.

"only he can free us all"

"only he can free the whole world'

Switching POV: L'Arc Berg

He and the others were all gathered around the table in the cottage where Nan was napping at, with Nan now leading the meeting with the map at the center of the table.

Even after what Nan has said to his friend Glass, the kid was right.

This world was corrupt, and that it's own self-interests and greed are dooming towards its destruction, and at least Nan, despite his manic and destructive tendencies, he was at least, trying to solve the problem, with mixed results.

Better than no results, but hey, if a fucking cloud of fire and brimstone from a few nights ago ain't enough to convince the whole world that there's a bigger issue that needs to be addressed, then maybe this world needs to go through Nan's "Spring Cleaning".

... Granted, innocents will be caught up in this mess and will inevitably die, but in hindsight, he and his friends were doing the same thing when they came through the [Waves] to kill the other [Heroes]. So in a way, he's just as much of a murderer as Nan, not helped by his penchant for a good fight ever since he became the [Scythe Hero].

... Oh god, is Nan some kind of a magnet for battle manias like himself!?

Whatever, they were about to plan out an all-out attack against the continent's slave trade capital, so hey, it's not like anyone's gonna miss a bunch of racist slavers.

It was night, everyone had dinner, and morale was sky-high. They were ready, and ready to kill.

"So big bro, what's there to kill?" Garou asked while licking his lips ravenously. "Who are we going to kill?"

"Patience, patience, all in due time, little bro."

He then places a stone labeled "Kaido: Scale 1/100k" on a certain spot on the map, labeling the [Adamantortoise] that they were riding on as of now.

"Okay, a few things to confess." Nan stated. "First of all, I apologize for blowing my cover back at the manor. I meant to make that operation a bit more discreet, but I had to learn the hard way that me being a walking fire hazard can only have the subtlety of an erupting volcano."

L'Arc looked at Genbu, who himself was still drinking from his flask.

"How much does he even drink?" L'Arc asked.

"How much don't I laddie?" Genbu replied with a shit-eating grin.

So says the [Gremlin] who drinks like a whale.

"Anywho!" Nan cried out. "Let's go over how the whole city is laid out."

He then pulls out a smaller map labeled "Zeltoble."

"Zeltoble." Nan started. "Population roughly 25,000, 70,000 counting the constant influx of live cargo coming in and out of the city gates, declared a neutral territory for being an economic backbone for all four kingdoms. Even Faubley, a kingdom that's going an industrial revolution as of now, still relies on this kingdom to keep their revenue moving. After all, no matter how advanced the kingdom may get, they still need manpower to keep themselves moving whether through labor or pleasure... I'll give all of you a minute to vomit outside."

Rio, Rino, and Theresa all run outside and vomit.

"Okay, anyone else?" Nan asked. "... Because I kinda need to go too."

He then hops towards the window, opens it, and vomits on the porch.

"... Urp, alright, better now. I think." Nan grunted out. "Sorry, I can stomach bloodbaths, but any sort of human or demihuman trafficking kinda makes me lose my lunch out of sheer disgust."

L'Arc just sweatdrops at Nan's remark.

"At least he has standards..."

"Well, enough of that, time to lay out the reports." Nan stated. "I had several of my [Bird Eyes] and Aabidah do some reconnaissance, and we did manage to pick up a few things. Firstly, I'd hear that this time of year they're having a merchant carnival, where everything can be purchased at a discounted price, meaning more buyers from different kingdoms will come here to buy slaves, but also, more slaves will be put into the market in hopes of the merchants making a profit, including a certain clan of slavers that happens to run one of the biggest outfits in the business..."

So his plan so far is to cripple the international economy by attacking where all the slavers are gathered.

"Wait." Theresa spoke out. "If there are a lot of buyers, wouldn't that present it's own slew of problems?"

"I've already taken into account." Nan replied. "Yes, there are going to be a bunch of fat cats with fat sacks of moolah surrounded by a lot of bodyguards. Yes, the city itself is littered to the brim with sword-for-hires, and they're the best the money can buy, with several of them equaling some of us in strength, but also in experience and ruthlessness. But, I have my own solutions dealing with them."

He then flicks out a golden coin onto the table.

"Need I remind you that they're sellswords?" Nan pointed out. "I've stolen of all of Melromarc's tax revenue from its coffers, and the fatass we butchered several nights prior was also loaded with gold himself, not to mention, several pieces of treasure that he'd on him. No matter how ill-gotten they are, gold is gold, and sellswords are no different from whores when it comes to lining their own pockets."

"You're buying them out?" Malva remarked. "That's... kind of brilliant."

"And even if they refuse, whether out of standards or loyalty, I've already thought of that too." Nan declared. "If some sellswords operate out of some sort of personal code or standards, then either they're unaware of the more disgusting practices to their jobs, particularly more of the fresh-faced ones or more fettered kind, then perhaps I can have them join my cause. However, should I fail on both accounts..."

He then unsheathes his skull-emblemed dirk, pinning it into the map.

"... Then I can make them loyal." Nan stated. "Or at least their inner demon. At worst, they'll make a good distraction, assume it's someone's product gone loose, which in a nation like Zeltoble, is not uncommon, henceforth, the hired muscle."

"... Are you implying that!?"

"Yep!" Nan grinned out. "Imma start a full-blown slave rebellion in a city where the majority populace happens to be slaves!"

"You know that they're going to get cut down, right?" Glass pointed out.

"True, but two things." Nan retorted. "First, we're not talking about slaves that can be sold for cheap as some asshole noble's torture doll. We're talking about slaves who are high-quality, the kinds you buy as personal bodyguards, meatshields, support, skilled laborers, bred and trained to the best of their profession. And disregarding skill, there are also several feral [Beastmen] and monsters that I can simply let loose upon the population, and you do the math from here."

"... Discord." Khronos pointed out. "Both internal and external."

"First, a few party members will infiltrate the kingdom as buyers, with the gold we've accumulated and stolen from our disguises, we'll blend in with the crowd. Then, we'll set up an outside perimeter around the city-state, with Kaido hiding behind one of the mountains, ready to steamroll them if they must, but that's last resort." Nan stated. "Rubicante will set up a wall of hellfire around the city, cutting off any means of conventional escape, and even if they managed to escape via air, I have several flying [Summons] that can intercept them... one of them including a [Bahamut Emperor]."

"That's totally overkill." Rino gasped out. "... I love it."

"But keep in mind, the slaves won't be out and about on the streets., lest they be cut loose and run free, so they're instead held underground beneath a coliseum at the center of the city, so worry not of causing innocent casualties along the way, so feel free to go nuts on the city grounds." Nan stated. "But mind the grounds around the coliseum. We're not going to risk a cave-in, so be wary."

"You know that most of your attacks tend to melt the ground above and below, right?" Fohl pointed out.

"True, but I think Gaelion has a solution for that little issue." Nan looked towards the bearded sage-like figure with a [Monoceros]'s horn.

Gaelion lets out a small chuckle before speaking.

"... I'm part-whale, for a good reason." Gaelion pointed out. "Don't assume us [Dragons] to be all about just breathing fire and hoarding gold."

... Part-whale? What, is he now some kind of mammalian-reptilian hybrid?

"Alright, that enough with the briefing, now onto party composition." Nan stated. "Me, Genbu, Garou, Fubuki, Rino, and Glass will go into the city. Genbu and I will chat up with the mercenaries to see if they're interested, Garou and Fubuki will sneak into the coliseum and proceed towards general sabotage, basically if you find anything that looks important, break it when no-one's looking."

"Works for me." Fubuki nodded.

"Got your back as always, sis." Garou reassured.

"As for Rino and Glass, I want you to remain out of sight." Nan ordered. "Glass being a [Phantom] means that she's part-[Ghost], so surely, stealth is natural for you, correct?"

"... About that." L'Arc points out.

"Goddammit." Nan bit out. "How bad?"

"A drunken fat man has a higher chance of not being spotted than her." Theresa stated. "And that's when she's sober."

"... You know what, Glass, accompany me and Genbu in case things go to shit." Nan ordered. "Rino, you're okay on your own, right? If not, I can have my [Stygian] accompany you."

"That'll be great." Rino nodded. "But what about an escape plan? You know, in case if everything goes wrong?"

Nan smiles.

"... Then that's where the rest of the party comes in." Nan points out. "An enemy will only expect an exit strategy from their opposition as long as they have their own."

He then looks towards L'Arc and the rest of the gathered party members.

"Your job is to make sure that no one gets in or out of Zeltoble." Nan stated. "I want no witnesses escaping, lest an entire army flanks and besieges us from behind. If anyone so much as approaches or leaves Zeltoble, cut them down right where they stand. They're not our friends, regardless if their men, women, or children. Unaffiliated or otherwise. And army scout or a bandit too big for its boots? All will die, without exception. And that'll be my ultimatum against this whole damn rock that I'm going to clean out. Am I clear?"

"Anything the master says, I'll will do without hesitation." Byakko declared as he bowed. "It'll be done with the utmost of my abilities."

"Let me fill em full of holes." Chi cackled manically as he cocked both of his guns. "Time to go to war, bitches."

"Enforcing discipline?" Beta remarked as she twirled her [Thunder Coil Mace] like a baton. "Much obliged."

"I'll gladly feast on their entrails..." Alpha giggled out as she caressed her [Scythe]'s shaft against her cheek. "... Blood will rain in the name of our master."

Everyone murmurs in agreement, much to L'Arc, Theresa's, and Glass's shared dread.

"... The kid planned for literally everything." L'Arc thought. "He's dead serious. He's going to kill them all."

L'Arc tried to come up with a counterargument, but he couldn't.

He was already branded a criminal, along with Theresa and Glass, so no one was going to take them in, and they'll end up fighting against the whole world on their own. At least with Nan, they at least have a chance.

"... Why, Nan." L'Arc asked.

The whole room goes quiet upon hearing his question.

"... Just why are you willing to do all of this?" He asked.

Nan sighs out before responding.

"... There's a saying back in my world from a certain, shall we say, rebellious prince." Nan stated. "When there's an evil that even justice cannot defeat, would you taint your hands with evil to defeat evil? Or would you remain steadfast and righteous, even if it means surrendering evil?"

L'Arc couldn't must up any words to rebuke Nan's claims.

"Change will never come about if you don't make it happen." Nan declared. "In order to defeat evil, I will become an even greater evil, because if I stop now, then all the blood I've spilt throughout my journey will be in vain. Nothing will come of nothing, and you sure as hell can't change anything without getting your hands dirty."

L'Arc's knees grow weak before they hit the floor.

"... Two hours." Nan declared. "Zeltoble will be reduced to cinders before the next dawn. If you want to stop me, be my guest, but I assure you, hurting you is at the very bottom on my list of priorities."

Nan was then carried out of the cottage by his butler, leaving behind L'Arc, who's completely broken, with only Theresa and Glass as company.

"... Theresa." L'Arc asked.

'L'Arc, it's okay." Theresa reassured. "I'm sure Nan didn't mean anything-"

"No, Theresa."

He then began to think about all of the people both in his world and this world that died because of their intervention.

... All the while calling himself a [Hero].

He resolved himself to destroy this world in order to save his own, but upon looking at it again through a different perspective of him being bestowed upon the knowledge of a goddess's existence, he realizes that he's changed nothing.

Only delaying the inevitable, as a [Hero-, no.

... As a simple murderer.

"... Why did I become a [Hero] in the first place?" L'Arc lamented. "Just how many more innocents have I killed for nothing?"

[Cursed Series] Unlocked

[Despair Scythe 5] Unlocked and added to the [Cursed Series]


To Be Continued...


Author's Notes: An extra, extra-long chapter to keep you all fulfilled.

So yeah, now Nan's plans have escalated to a bigger scale, with him burning planning to down the entirety of Zeltoble, amass an entire army of ex-slaves to join his cause of "Liberation", slowly becoming the "Greater Evil" as he declared.

So with that, here's the summary of Nan's Plans (so far):

- "Spring Cleaning" on the entire continent through force.

- Save the inhabitants of the other world by brining them to the current world to rebuild.

- Find a way to kill the Goddess responsible in the most badass way possible.

- Reform Malty by enforcing a "Misery Builds Character" method onto her in the most extreme way possible. Basically, put her through an ordeal that Naofumi went through, but more tailored to beat the haughtiness out of her.

Plans are convoluted enough for you readers? If so, then the plan itself is working.

And yes, I went there.

I made L'Arc fall into a despair event horizon and made him unlock his [Cursed Series] on his own, without any stabbings involved.

Oh, and as for Rio's inner beast, I based it off of a small subplot involving the whole Golden Apple Guild murder mystery arc, where Griselda was murdered by her husband out of fear that she'll become too bloodthirsty to resemble the woman he'd loved (yeah the whole motive was bullshit).

... Thought I give it a crack at it. After all, if Ren is literally discount Kirito, then why would anyone date him other than pity?

Try and connect the two and two together, and see if it makes any sense as much as the context.

But enough of the darkness and gloom, let's talk about the good things that happened for our pack of fanatics!

Byakko got to enjoy himself for a few days and took up sunbathing, the two twins, Garou and Fubuki, along with Fohl and Atlas, begin to form rapport with each others, Nan finally gets some adequate sleep, and oh, "BB" at the beginning played the role of Pedro from My Friend Pedro, the weird-ass 2D Shooter game with the talking Banana.

Remember, folks, Nan's no [Hero], nor is he a villain.

He's something else. A vision, a purpose, a different world.

After all, things that don't change are destined to go extinct. And it just happens that the whole continent that the story takes place has been marked for death.

Please enjoy this live-cooking show of the entire continent brought to you by Nan and Company. The rock itself is the hot iron flattop, and the people living on said rock are the ingredients.

The new world will be served as Teppanyaki, and the cooking oil has been set.


Current Party Members:


Name: Nan Hon-Jah

Class: [Tome Fallen]

Level: 72

Affinity: [All Eight Elements] & [Ten Primordial Sins]

Alignment: Chaotic Mad

Equipment: [Forbidden Tome, Grimm the Heretic], [Grimoire Heart], [Lemegeton], [Sibylline], [Necromancer's Robes], [Mire Boots], [Wight's Rune of Spite], [Silver Wolf's Maw], [Bandit's Silver Thumb], [Visage of Madness], [Mystic Geas: Puppeteer], [Portable Dragon's Hourglass]

Attack: 86 (+195)

Defense: 81 (+10)

Agility: 80 (+25)

Luck: 73 (+85)

HP: 620 (+95)

MP: 730 (+305)


Name: Garou

Class: [Slave Brawler]

Level: 77

Affinity: [Dark]

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Equipment: [Assassin's Leather Armor], [Nightshroud], [Blade Gauntlets], [Primal Claws], [Katars]

Attack: 98 (+50)

Defense: 62 (-20)

Agility: 100 (+65)

Luck: 50 (+20)

HP: 820 (+20)

MP: 300 (-100)


Name: Fubuki

Class: [Slave Monk]

Level: 77

Affinity: [Ice]

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Equipment: [Twilight Gunstaff], [Darkbane Gauntlets], [Twilight Cloak], [Twilight Hunter's Hood], [Mana Medallion]

Attack: 89 (+45)

Defense: 56 (+30)

Agility: 91 (+25)

Luck: 87 (+20)

HP: 570 (-50)

MP: 930 (+100)


Name: Genbu

Class: ?

Level: ?

Affinity: None

Alignment: ?

Equipment: [Wayward Nomad's Garbs], [Silver Pocket Watch & Chain], [Silver Shortsword], [Silver Buckler], [Fafnir's Flametongue]

Attack: ?

Defense: ?

Agility: ?

Luck: 9,999

HP: ?

MP: ?


Name: Rino

Class: [Slave Assassin]

Level: 66

Affinity: [Earth]

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Equipment: [Brave Compound Bow], [Spark Dagger], [Steel Throwing Knives x20], [Assassin's Cloak], [Shadow Mufflers], [Silent Step Sandals]

Attack: 69 (+80)

Defense: 40 (+10)

Agility: 87 (+120)

Luck: 86 (+90)

HP: 360 (+40)

MP: 300 (+40)


Name: Glass

Class: [Phantom Fan Saint]

Level: 91

Affinity: [Dark]

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Equipment: [Sacred Fans], [Kimono of Mourning]

Attack: 105 (+50)

Defense: 84 (+50)

Agility: 123 (+50)

Luck: 51 (+50)

HP: 790 (+200)

MP: 830 (+200)


So, what do you guys think of this Epic?

Please leave a comment or a review, for I'd love to know what my readers are thinking!

Also, watch out for COVID-19, and don't forget to wash your hands!