You know, I thought I'd be having fun.
That was the last thought a teenager had as his face met with the equivalent of a ten ton truck packed behind a fist as his last thought ran through his mind.
A la chingada madre.
Said teenager becomes absolutely laid out as he lands, spread eagle and with one pupil dilated and the other closed.
The three observers flinch, familiar with the punch of Kazuma Kiryu. The intimidating man with a glare in his eyes wearing his outdated but iconic clothing as he brings his fist back and relaxes.
"...Did you kill him?" Asks Shinada Tatsuo, interrupting the silence, wearing a white shirt with a brown jacket over it and some jeans along with a worried look as he peers down at the unconscious teen.
"Well, if the Archivist is to be believed, he'll be fine." Shun Akiyama said, wearing a black button up shirt with a red overcoat and black slacks. Walking towards the downed teen, he nudges him a bit with his foot. When no reaction was given, he turned to the others and nodded, "Probably."
Masayoshi Tanimura, wearing a white button up shirt with a tie and a blue jacket over it, snorts, "Usually, I'd be suspicious of what higher ups tell me, but take a look."
The teen's injuries were healing at a visible rate. Akiyama whistles, impressed at the speed.
The teen's eyes blink as he comes to. Brown pupils showing mischief with something hidden under it, he wears a white shirt under a grey North Face jacket with baggy jeans and sneakers.
"Fu-ah!" The teen starts but he holds his jaw and rolls to the side.
"Yup, broken jaw." Akiyama notes as the teen flips him off while holding his jaw, causing Akiyama to smirk in amusement.
Soon, the jaw was fixed, the teen moving his mouth as he stands back up, "Fuck you." Cleaning any dirt that got on him from his fall.
"So, how's your stay in Kamurocho?" Asked Akiyama with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"I dunno," the teen starts, "I've been getting my shit rocked constantly that I feel like a punching bag."
Kazuma could only shrug, "Don't worry, that's how it always is, Ryunou-san."
The teen rolled his eyes, "C'mon Kazuma, call me by my name. Victor."
Now, how did this young man get here?
Well, like most stories, it starts with an accident that caused his death.
The last thing the young man remembered was dying.
Such an event was blurry to him, but the next thing he knew was that he was in a library.
It was a large one, with bookshelves filled to the brim, neatly arranged in a weirdly pleasing way.
Thank you. A simple voice stated.
Victor turned to see a man. Said man was all white. Or was it a woman? It's form changed constantly.
Don't worry. I can feel your confusion, feel free to look around.
Victor's confusion didn't dissipate as he numbly nodded, continually staring at the figure as he walked.
Straight into a bookshelf. There was no pain, only this sense of stopping when you were supposed to keep going. Turning he looked to see what he ran into when he registered the titles on the spine of the books.
He continued reading and noticed that all of these books were franchises from where he's from. Some are even fanfictions.
Welcome to the Archives, the voice started, These are all the world your world, the Origin World, the most normal world, has created. From every story uttered under their breath to some of the best works of fiction, all have come from this world!
Victor was incredulous but still confused. Why was he here then? And how is that world, the one he lives in, an Origin World much less a normal one?
I understand your confusion but all will be answered in one statement.
Do you know what DxD is?
So, that's his situation. He's currently training with these men, because that is what they are, to be able to have some edge in this unnatural world. In the form of gaining monstrous endurance and strength by being beaten up or normal workouts, like this one.
Victor ran with all his might, mind in a panic as he ran away from what could only be a walking wall of muscle.
Said wall of muscle has a name, Taiga Saejima, he wore a black shirt under a green jacket with camo pants and boots. He had a glare in place and hair in a buzz cut with brown eyes. He was a large man that's quite slow compared to the others but doesn't fall back when it comes to stamina.
Something that Victor lacked quite a bit. Something that wasn't really his fault since he hung out around people who smoked a lot at a young age. Specifically his brother and his friends.
Now that he's here, his body has cleared of previous ailments and he can breathe normally. He can also do what he's currently doing.
Running from Taiga. Taiga isn't doing anything else nor would he do anything if Victor just stopped running but Victor doesn't know that. Sometimes, the best way to motivate someone is to let their imagination run wild.
When one is being chased by a six foot man with a glare in place and the strength to break you into multiple pieces, the imagination tends to go wild. And so do one's instincts.
And, with little questions asked and little hassle, Victor was motivated to go on a long run with the help of Taiga.
Raising his arms, a worrying crack was heard as Victor winced in pain as he stared at the person in front of him.
Shinada Tatsuo, my first teacher and my first test as well. While not as dangerous as the others, he's still fairly unpredictable.
He stood up and got into his stance, resembling a boxing half-guard, and released a breath as Shinada did the same.
"Ready?" Shinada asked as Victor closed his eyes, his face the image of serene acceptance.
"No. Definitely not, but," he interrupts, a serene image interrupted as he opens his eyes, a flame in them as said flame was reflected in the small layer around his body radiating a comforting heat, "it's not like I'm ever. C'mon."
He grinned as he stepped forward into a side kick as Shinada grabbed his leg and pulled, trying to get him off balance, but Victor was quick and jumped up with his remaining leg and landed as he was in front of Shinada. Pivoting his leg, Victor began to spin as he cocked back his leg and spun as he was face to face with Shinada who was going for a jab as Victor raised his arm to block and Shinada did the same. Unfurling his leg as Shinada's fist came closer, Victor's leg went under Shinada's guard as Shinada's fist went under Victor's arm, and as one, Victor's leg hit Shinada's side and Shinada's fist hit Victor's cheek.
For almost an entire moment, nothing happened, then the impact set in.
Victor stumbled back from the weirdly strong impact from such a jab with a closed eye and Shinada coughed as he stumbled to the side, hand on the point of impact from Victor's kick.
Both of them gave each other one look and it was official.
No holds-barred.
Their feet hit the ground as they regain their balance and enter the fray once more.
Victor opens with a straight but Shinada ducks and retaliates with an uppercut but Victor leans back, barely avoiding the attack and retaliating with a punch to the stomach and following with a kick to the leg and a knee to the stomach as Shinada shoves Victor away with his shoulder.
Victor feels a fist hit his face as he leans to the side to evade the second one as he punches Shinada's side twice as he follows with a roundhouse to his back, only to have his head jerked by a kick to his face from Shinada only to feel him grab his shoulders and headbutt him as he's kneed in the chest and pushed into a wall.
Seeing an opening, Shinada goes in for a punch but finds his wrist grabbed as Victor grabbed it and kneed his back, shoving him into the wall as he finds his back kicked and Victor follows with a roundhouse to the side of his head.
Victor lands as he dashes forward and kicks Shinada's side as he follows with a stomp but feels his shin kicked as he steps back and Shinada gets back up.
Shinada dashes forward as he charges Victor in the middle of the street they were fighting in as he stops and starts looking for a grip on Victor's legs as his eyes widened but it was too late as he was thrown into the sky where he landed on his back and his eyes widen as he rolled away from Shinada's following elbow drop.
Getting back up, Victor leads with a kick to Shinada as he blocked and followed with a hook that he also blocked, he didn't expect for me to grab the arm being used to block and punching it down as I followed with a straight and then a hook to his stomach before spinning into a hook kick to the back of his head and an axe kick as he stumbled back, retaliating with something heavy and hard as Victor stumbled, checking his temple to find blood and looking Shinada to see a pipe heading towards his head.
"Woah!" Victor grunted as he blocked with his hand before ducking a swipe before finding his stomach kicked and the pipe finding his chest as the wind was knocked out of him.
Rolling away, Victor was forced into a dangerous dance as he had to continue evading and conserving his stamina while also retaliating with enough force to actually stop him. A dangerous dance indeed.
Blocking a swing, Victor retaliated with a kick to his side and followed with a spinning back kick as Shinada stumbled back. Stepping forward, Victor grabbed Shinada's shoulder and pushed him into a wall before following with a front kick to his stomach and then grabbing his head and forcing it against the wall before backfisting him as he stumbled away.
Victor spotted a pipe lying on the ground as he rolled and grabbed it and was immediately on the back foot as Victor was on the defensive from Shinada's onslaught with a dexterity only found in samurai movies.
Victor flinched when a certain strike hit a little too hard. Not a Samurai, they tend to finish things quickly.
Parrying an attack, Victor found an opening as he rammed his shoulder forward as their pipes met in the middle, their Heat flaring to life as they knew that this would be the last. Forcing the pipe down, Shinada steps forward as he looks to finish the fight but Victor spun, evading the attack and retaliating with a strike to the back of his head, finishing it.
Both heaved in exertion, Heat dying down as Victor fell on his ass, "So," he started, "how was that?"
Shinada heaved as he chuckled, "Good work kid."
Shinada raised a fist as Victor's smile was pure and full of life and pride as he bumped his fist against Shinada's.
Victor was at peace, nothing could interrupt the harmony he felt. Admittedly, he felt somewhat miffed at the fact that this peace was taken from him when he was brought back, but that was only for a second as he shrugged internally, it's not like he regretted it much.
In the end, he was happy.
That is, until his surroundings were taken into consideration along with the sudden drop in temperature he felt.
"Cold!" He yelled as he sat up, hands looking for sweet relief in the fur-lined pockets of his grey North Face as he looked around.
He was in a forest, covered in white from the snow as his breathing fogged up as it immediately touched the cold atmosphere. "Where…?"
Shivering once more, he got up as he looked around. He found a stream as he got a good look at himself. He was fit, far more than in his previous life with broad shoulders and taller than most people with muscles hidden under his sweater. He had brown eyes and hand-brushed brown hair with sharp features.
In his pockets, Victor found something weird in the form of a wallet and an mp3 player with earbuds.
Bringing them both out, he sighed in relief when he found the mp3 had all the songs he liked and the wallet had his ID.
Taking a moment, Victor closed his eyes, a film of green overcoming him, far stronger than the time he fought Shinada, as the Heat comforted him.
Though there were also the boons the Archivist mentioned.
He said they were given to him so he could 'fit in'.
Though Victor noted that it wasn't too obvious, he shrugged. "Now, the million dollar question."
"Onde me dejaron pinches cabrones!"("Where did you leave me, fucking bastards!") Victor yelled to the sky with frustration in his voice and face as he scowled at the sky.
Reason for said frustration includes five people and a certain promise of being at their mercy when it comes to being dropped off in random places once his training was over.
Huffing in frustration, Victor could only keep the facade going for a few more seconds until he slumped in resignation, "Not much I can do about that." He mumbled, putting on the earbuds as he scrolled through the song selection.
Perking up, he chose Nobody Speak by Run The Jewels.
As the music began to play, he placed his hands in his pockets and began to walk.
"Picture this, I'm a bag of dicks, put me to your lips…" Victor rapped under his breath as he was on the lookout for anything that stood out, unknowing to the watcher looking at him with an amused expression.
In the end, time passed as each step brought him close to what he hoped was civilization.
A warehouse is not something good to see in the middle of nowhere.
The lush forest was beautiful scenery but Victor's eyes were on the woman in front of the doors of the creepy warehouse. Said woman was also naked.
Probably the reason as to the blush that's reaching to the tip of his ears.
Though the term 'Stray Devil' floated through his head as he blinked, coming to something that resembles awareness as he clapped on both of his cheek, hardening himself to what he may become witness to inside.
Sadly, a certain reaction had to come to attention as Victor slowly looked down in disappointment, "Really? First Kuroinu, now this?"
Thankfully, nothing responded as he stared at the snow on the ground then up at the snow on the trees and the snow falling down.
Victor knew what he was going to do, but the question was whether he had the strength to do it.
Grabbing some snow into a loose snowball, Victor muttered gravely at the obvious bulge in his pants, "You made me do this, remember that."
In the years to come, even fate would not be able to tell what such an outlier will cause. But it does know that this outlier would do many things and change the fate of many.
His legend starts now.
"Hijo de su puta madre!"("Son of a bitch!")
By sticking his dick into a snowball to soften it.
What a way to start a legend.
But, is it truly the start of a legend if the person in question isn't doing something stupid?
Slowly and subtly. That is what is needed for anything that has to do with inspecting any area that is heavily suspicious and may have a supernatural freak in the midst of it. Not the most difficult task, but a stupid one in Victor's opinion.
Nothing against people like assassins, anyone who relies on the shadows, or anyone who fights in the backline, but when someone knows you're there, it's better to go in loud, that is what Victor believes. For many, an overwhelmingly loud entrance can be far more jarring than a precise surprise attack since everyone believes a surprise attack would be the smartest choice.
But, as the saying went, Victor was never in it for a long time, just a good time.
So, how does one loudly enter a warehouse?
Simple.
Kick down the doors and yell.
So, that's what Victor did.
The doors flew off their hinges as Victor yelled, "I am stupid and armed, so you better be ready!"
Yet, for some reason, the entrance didn't do much for the being in the warehouse, giving rise to conflicting emotions within Victor since he just blurted out something stupid.
Not like he was expecting something smart to come out of his mouth but honestly…
Embarrassment aside, he inspected the dark warehouse and noticed a certain smell. He couldn't place what it was but it wasn't good, that's for sure.
Victor tensed his shoulders as he began walking towards the middle, knowing he was walking into a trap. Once he was in the middle, he heard slithering as he turned around, guard up as he spotted the woman in all her unholy glory, "Well~, aren't you a fine specimen."
Her blonde hair was wiry and her eyes were unholy and terrifying, a human torso connected to the lower half of a snake. A lamia.
Any thought that even resembled how attractive she was gone. Lamia is something that is definitely not up Victor's alley.
"Sorry, but I'm fairly sure whatever experiment you have planned includes things that'd make even the Devil cringe." Victor retorts as he begins circling her and the woman hissed.
"As if your opinions matter, humans, so," Victor's eyes catch a glint of steel in the moonlight among the red of blood and viscera as his mind processes the connection between the awful smell and the rotting corpses, "weak" the lamia hisses with amusement and superiority, "and morally obligated."
When her tail snapped forward to grab Victor's leg, he was forced into the sky with nary a reaction but if the lamia paid attention, she would have found something that she should have feared. A spark of ingenuity and anger in his eyes.
The warehouse had a few sort of sections in it, sections Victor could run on along with sections of the above scaffolding that seem weak. Weak enough that if you pull hard enough it'll snap. Maybe it'll be sharp.
In the end, Victor had a plan as he reached towards a section that was hanging and pulled.
Soon, that piece broke off as he looked and noticed that it did in fact have a sharp end. His eyes widened when he noticed the magic circle on the woman's hand as he grinned.
Spinning the piece of steel, Victor cocks back his arm and throws it like a javelin, hitting the Stray Devil's arm and forcing the blade of wind somewhere else as the lamia's eyes widen.
Looking up, the lamia was face to face with what she thought was another weak human and came face to face with a flame burning bright as brown eyes glinted with madness, ingenuity and anger.
"Taste this!" He yelled as he cocked back his leg and spun into a spinning back kick as the force sent her head back and slowed Victor's descent as he landed in a crouched position.
"That feel weak to ya?" Victor taunted as he straightened up while the lamia struggled, "I'm no expert, but thinking someone's weak usually leads to your own death. Especially when it's a thought and not a confirmed fact."
"YOU-!" The Lamia growled as it lunged at Victor, forgetting the piece of steel on her shoulder in her adrenaline.
Grabbing said piece of steel, he forced her onto the top of the decaying scaffold and broke it as they both fell but Victor managed to yank out the sharp piece of metal and jab it into her throat.
Her eyes widened as she began struggling and successfully got Victor off, voice now gone and a hole in her throat. Turning to Victor with a glare, Victor did not flinch.
He's faced stronger, faster, sturdier.
He's faced better than whatever the lamia can bring.
Victor did not fear the lamia, but the lamia did fear him.
As if karma decided to work, she was caught in a trap of magic from one of her most recent victims. Exploding in flames as the lamia tried to yell but couldn't as Victor ran forward and jumped into a punch as the strength behind it sent the lamia flying towards the location of another scaffold near the corpses of her victims.
Heat is a symbol of concentration and elation. Of passion and strength given visual form with something else.
So, with Heat gone, he walked toward her while picking up a katana. Mundane and with little that stands out, Victor couldn't stop the sadness he felt at what he was going to do.
To kill someone with any positive emotion aside from relief would make one less than scum.
The lamia seems to notice his intentions but could do little to struggle as she finds her heart stabbed as she got one last look at Victor.
There was only steel in his brown eyes as she closed her eyes for the last time.
Removing the blade from the corpse, Victor sighed as he looked at the corpses, some with maggots in them and some didn't.
The only thing he could offer was a prayer, and even then, he's not sure what that'll do.
But, it's something, "Descansen en paz, y que encuentren el paraíso."("Rest in Peace, and may you find paradise.")
Internally, he continues praying in Spanish as he feels comforted.
Soon, he was done as he began looking for a way to make a fire when he heard someone, "Estas lejos de tu hogar nino, que haces aqui?"("You're far from home kid, what are you doing here?")
Turning Victor noticed a man. He had blonde bangs with black hair wearing what he believes is a yukata, he had a goatee with an average build looking like he's in his twenties.
Something nagged at the back of Victor's head that he should recognize the person floating in front of him but he couldn't since his memory is pretty iffy. He looked like a playboy but something told me that wasn't all he was.
But, he didn't seem like someone who would attack first.
Victor huffed as he rested his hands in the pockets of his sweater, "Nuthin much. Just chilling."
The man quirked his brow as he gave a pointed look to the corpse of the Stray Devil, "Didn't think killing mid-class Stray Devils could be counted as something that could be counted as 'chilling'."
Victor stared at the Stray Devil before adding, "Like a villain."
The man stared at Victor with an amused stare until Victor continued, "And I'm also trying to find out where I am."
"Do you have amnesia or something?" The man asked with even more amusement.
"Teleportation and a few years of self-isolation. And my masters are assholes." Victor shrugs as he looks to the sky and decides, just in case they were watching, to flip off the sky. And maybe some passing gods.
"Hm, then let me be the first to welcome you to Japan, the land of the rising sun." The man said with a smug grin and a flick of his wrist, showing off a fan he had with a simple red dot in the middle.
Victor only gave him an incredulous look that quickly bled over into understanding as he stared at the Stray Devil, "Makes sense. Obviously the country that created tentacle porn would have monster girls like these. The Japs sure have a weird taste for porn."
The man only huffed, "You sure have a weird sense of humor kid."
Victor only shrugged, "I've been through my share of major historical events. And the US is a fuckweird place."
The man just gave him a probing look as Victor only sat down on the floor, "Right…"
Victor only looked to the sky as the man just stood there in an awkward silence. The man decided to break the silence, "So, who trained you?"
"Hm? Ah, I guess…" Victor trailed off as he tried to describe them, "strong people."
"How strong?" The stranger asked with some interest.
"Strong enough."
There was a silence that stretched on for a while until the man interrupted it. "Kid, what's your name?"
"Victor...Ryunou." Victor responded.
"Then Ryunou-kun, how do you feel about staying with me?" Azazel asked as Victor paused.
"Huh?" Victor tilted his head in confusion as he gave the man a suspicious look once the confusion passed. "I just want to put this out there, but I'm straight. And even if I wasn't, I'm fairly sure you're not my type. Nor am I interested in finding out what my type is if I was gay." Victor warned as he cautiously stepped back from Azazel.
"Good, I'm only into the voluptuous type," he leaned to Victor with a perverted grin and whispered, "If you know what I mean~."
Victor did, but didn't mention anything, "Then, why?"
Azazel raised a brow and gave a laid-back grin, "'Cause you're interesting kiddo, isn't that enough of a reason?"
Victor could only sigh as he was stuck in between a rock and a hard place.
Well, not exactly, more like being stuck on a ledge. He could either refuse and jump off, leaving it all to chance and fate along with his own knowledge of the world and economics to come up, or get help in the form of someone who seems strong and stays safe.
In the end, Victor sighed as he extended a hand, "Fine, but keep me out of whatever you'll get up to. Unless I decide to stick my nose into it."
Azazel could only chuckle as he gripped Victor's hand and shook it, "That's fine."
Once that was over, Victor turned to the corpses he saw, "Then let's, at least, give the people here something that resembles a proper farewell."
Soon, the ashes rose to the sky, all of Victor's attention being pointed at the fire as Azazel noticed but didn't say much else.
The weapons would be returned to the family or sold, maybe their next wielder could use them better or they could protect their wielder.
In the end, Victor shook himself out of his stupor and sighed, not doing much else as he closed his eyes and leaned his head forward until the warmth of the fire seeped into his fur-lined North Face sweater.
The walk back was quiet and absolute suffering for Victor. At first, he was all toasty and warm from the lingering heat from the fire but soon, that heat was gone and replaced with a void of cold that had Victor internally fuming at the fact that it was cold.
Hell, he had to zip up his sweater to not be so cold.
"Choo!" Victor sneezed, polite enough to look away from Azazel as he sneezed his gut out from that sneeze, groaning as he coughed.
"You're not getting sick, are you?" Azazel asked with amusement in his eyes, wearing a yukata despite it being so cold.
"No." Victor responded simply as he gave a jealous glare to Azazel. "Fucking naturally warm people."
Azazel raised a brow at that, "You know, that's a fairly common effect that comes with being alive."
Without much fanfare, Victor reached his hand into Azazel's yukata and rested the back of palm against the nape of his neck.
Azazel's yelp brought a smile to his face as he laughed.
"What the hell? How are you that cold?" Azazel asked as he gave a suspicious look to Victor, "You're not a corpse, are you? You did say you've been through your share of historical events."
"Yup, but I am in fact not a reanimated corpse," Victor blinked before placing a hand on his chin, "I think."
"So, what are some of these historical events you've experienced back in the states?" Azazel asked, trying to probe Victor to try and find his true heritage.
"Well, I didn't experience them, but I went through a pandemic, riots happened, the White House was overrun, I was born and went through two stages of the four stages of life consisting of 'Childhood', 'Awareness', and am currently going through the third dubbed 'What The Fuck Is This?' before going into 'Death'." Victor listed off as Azazel only got more confused.
"Oh, and it snowed in Texas causing a state wide blackout." Now Azazel's confusion was greater. He's never seen it snow in Texas.
Sure, the White House has been overrun before, pandemics have swept through the world, people are born and experience life. But not once has it ever snowed in Texas. Maybe once, but that's it.
What a weird world we live in.
"Damn, seems like you've been around, huh?" Azazel mutters.
"I'm eighteen. Physically, mentally and spiritually." Victor responds as Azazel's eyes widen further. "Life likes to take crack shots." Was all Victor offered as an explanation.
"Hmm, interesting." Azazel muttered, his attention turned forward as he grinned lazily, "Well, here we are." Azazel started as they came out of the forest and into a park in the middle of a city, "Welcome to Kuoh."
Victor's eyes shined with excitement and anticipation as he followed after Azazel.
A dream of Victor's was to visit Japan. Or England. Or Russia. Anywhere as long as it wasn't America. Personally, Japan would be his first choice since it has the most historic and religious richness. Though, the ink on his body would catch the attention of many. Especially in hot springs.
Regardless, for once, Victor felt elated to be somewhere that isn't in America. Everything seemed so new yet familiar in a way.
Azazel couldn't help but huff in resignation at Victor's elation, that is until he noticed that Victor was swaying, "Woah, you okay?"
Victor himself didn't notice until Azazel brought it into attention, "Huh? That's weird."
For those in the know, it wouldn't be such a mystery as to why. Spiritually, he's been training for a long time with little time for a long break, physically, his body changed so suddenly that he's currently still trying to get it back into a good spot and he hasn't physically eaten for what may have been three years along with the fact that he used a lot of strength in the fight against the lamia, and mentally he just went through an ordeal that'd traumatize many.
While physically he's fine, mentally, spiritually, and physiologically, he needs to rest.
And first, he needs to feel some food in his stomach.
The Archivist kept his body in good condition. It's another thing since his body was forced to keep its form and state before suddenly changing to fit a larger and taller guy. The Archivist is in charge of the multiple paths that sprout from the Origin world, human physiology isn't in his repertoire of knowledge.
"Let's get you some food." Azazel said as he ushered Victor into a restaurant.
"Sorry…" Victor apologized as they seated themselves, unaware of the looks Azazel got and his subtle signal to not cause anything.
Though said hard look dissipated when he finally noticed the swaying and unfocused Victor who held onto the wall to keep his balance.
They were quickly seated and Victor apologized for the problem, "It's fine kid, just eat up, you're starting to look a little pale though."
Victor nodded as his awareness was skewed and didn't notice how their order was quickly brought up. Varying amounts of different food on it as he proceeded to nearly blank out but quickly caught himself and began eating as he used his discipline to stay up and control how he ate.
His mother always scolded him about his usual habit of eating quickly and not savoring his food.
Fighting down the feelings that came with those thoughts, he began eating as his thoughts returned to the food he was eating and Azazel also ate, surprised at the discipline he showed as he ate his own food at a much slower rate.
Once they were out, Victor looked slightly better as he yawned, clueless to his Heat fixing up his body and imbalance of hormones quickly.
His awareness was shot as he was already half-asleep and couldn't see the house he entered after Azazel, only spotting a couch and slumping on it, uncaring of doing much else.
Azazel only sighed as he looked at this stranger he picked up. A stranger who had the aura of the Dimensional Gap lingering on his body.
He proceeded to look the kid over physically before finding nothing out of the ordinary. He couldn't look into his soul without machines and he didn't have his magic unlocked. For all intents and purposes Victor is just a normal human.
A strong one but a normal one nonetheless, but…
Something was off. Like he was figuratively next to a dragon.
Azazel looks at the kid as a memory returns as he sees a man with what looks like a tiger behind him.
On rare occasions, humans can become strong enough that they embody a certain creature, like the Crane of Nazareth embodies a crane due to his grace and flawless technique.
How this happens is a mystery to even Azazel. He for one believes that the human soul separates and the 'core' of the soul stays human while the separated part becomes the creature.
Azazel couldn't help but smirk, before he brought the kid in on a whim, but now he's invested. Currently, the strongest recorded human is considered Vasco with the Crane of Nazareth a close second and the Owl of Romania a third.
To this day, as one of the only ones who saw what happened in their youth, he still can't believe that the reason they became so strong started off with a bet. Humans are truly motivated by the strangest things.
Yet, their eyes were all so different from each other. The Crane had steel eyes, unwavering and resolved. The Owl had a wise and intelligent look.
He wonders where Victor's path will take him.
For now, he has work that needs to be done in the form of investigative work on his new tenant.
Mornings are a pain to many people. Victor included. Especially Victor since he has to train in the morning.
It's like fate was going down a list saying 'fuck you' to everyone in the list pefore pausing and pointing at Victor's name and saying 'fuck this guy in particular' and continuing on.
Such thoughts were only reinforced when he heard someone laugh.
"Ezekiel, lleva tus pendejadas a otra parte."("Ezekiel, take your bullshit somewhere else.") Victor muttered as he turned around and snuggled deeper into the couch.
Wait, couch? Victor wondered within the mist over his mind that consisted of thoughts that center around 'hungry', 'horny', and 'groggy'.
He doesn't sleep on the couch. And the last thing he remembers is following Azazel.
His eyes widen as his memory returns as he just stares at the ceiling with curiosity.
His stomach growls as he gets up and stumbles into what he thinks is a kitchen. On the other side is a section that's probably the dining room with a dining table and chairs as he misses the number of people there, just staring at him as he opens the fridge and brings out an apple.
The apple crunches as he takes a bite out of it and just chews as he looks back and finally notices the three people staring at him and their peculiarities.
After gulping down the piece of apple he was eating and taking another bite, he doesn't break eye contact as the silence only continues. Neither side was willing to back down and two of them seemed more amused than anything.
"What?" He started, not finishing chewing before his eyes widened at the fact that he was being rude. Before they could answer he raised a finger and proceeded to swallow the piece of apple he was eating before muttering an apology and continuing, "Never seen a guy eat an apple?"
"Ah, it seems like the sleeping beauty has awoken." Azazel interrupts as he walks in, wearing a yukata once more as he gives Victor a relaxed grin and not unnerved by the strangers in the house.
"If being awake means I'm beautiful I'd rather be ugly and stay asleep, now…" Victor was now in a dilemma, he didn't know who these people were. Were they enemies? Allies? The previous tenants? Did Victor really just follow a stranger into a random house?
The longer he thought the less the answer became apparent until he gave up and turned to Azazel, "Where are we? Who are they? And, most importantly, can I be rude to them?"
Azazel and two of the others seemed amused, "In order, we're in one of my hideouts located in Kuoh." He started but was interrupted when Victor gave him a suspicious look and Azazel's voice became flat, "Now don't give me that look, I'm being honest here."
"Right~." Victor's voice drawled on as Azazel only sighed.
"Kids these days, anyway, I'm fairly sure they can introduce themselves. And yeah, you can be rude to them." Azazel finished as he sat down at the table and grabbed some food.
"So, I'd like to have names to give to faces instead of insults, so, moody," he turned to the white haired teen, "wanna go first?"
The monkey-like boy snorted and devolved into chuckles as Moody glared at Victor and sighed, "Vali."
The previously-named Moody upgraded to Vali in Victor's mind as he nodded, "So, Vali and who are you two?"
"Name's Bikou, it's nice to meetcha." The monkey-looking boy waved with a grin.
He finally turned to the voluptuous black haired lady with… cat ears.
How did he not notice that?
Her hair was in a weird hairstyle but it suited her with hazel eyes and cat like pupils while wearing a kimono meant for attracting attention with a yellow belt thing and an ornately designed headband.
Hell, the monkey-looking boy had a monkey tail.
Was he really that oblivious?
"Azazel, what was in that apple?"
"Oh c'mon! Why am I the one that's instantly suspicious?"
"Look in the mirror and maybe you'll find an answer to that question."
By this point, the only one who didn't introduce themselves was laughing, "Nyahaha~, the boy sure is interesting. Name's Kuroka." Victor didn't know what to think of her intense gaze, much less the way she talked and moved.
So, he decided to do what he usually did with females he had trouble interacting with, "Sure." Shooting them down bluntly, "Well, name's Victor Ryunou." There was a pause as he thought on his decision before shrugging, "But, you can call me Vic."
"Now that everyone's acquainted, let's get back to eating!" Azazel said as Vali, Bikou, and Kuroka followed and began to eat. Victor, on the other hand, needed to get freshened up.
"Maybe later." He said as he waved at the people in the dining room and went upstairs before he remembered something. "Azazel, you wouldn't have extra clothes, would you?"
Azazel huffs in amusement as he nods, "Yup just check in your room." Victor yelled a thanks as he walked up, peace generally returning with the clinking of silverware until Victor returned with a sheepish scratch of his head, "Um, mind if I get a tour?"
So, Victor currently lives in a two story house, the second story is filled with rooms and a bathroom while the first story has a garage with quite a bit of space. If you were to enter, there'd be a hall before going to the living room where a bunch of couches are pointed to the mounted TV. To the left would then be the small but adequate kitchen space and to the left of that is the dining room with a door to the right going to the garage while behind the couch is a set of stairs that lead to the second floor. There's also a backyard.
Victor couldn't help but notice how normal it is despite the abnormality of the situation. Yokai exist, so what else does?
Soon, he was naked as he stared at the ink on his chest. On his back was an image of an eastern dragon with maple leaves falling around it with red clouds passing it with its expression resembling an open-mouthed smirk while roaring to the sky as if mocking something, painting a serene but frustrating picture for anyone on the receiving end. The irezumi continued onto his chest as an image of a kitsune mask with red marking and maple leaves around it on the right side of his chest while having a skull on the left side of his chest, above his heart.
Weirdly enough, the only part that is inked with color are the maple leaves and the clouds with the background. The dragon, skull, and mask aren't inked.
Victor gives one last distant look before entering the shower to clean up.
In the end, Victor listened to music as he waited for his jacket to be cleaned wearing blue jeans with a white shirt. Now he was only wondering as to where he could get clothing. Or a phone. He doesn't have one.
Clicking his tongue, he continues bobbing his head to music as he stares at the ceiling, mind blanking out as he continues staring into the void.
Then, the void that was a ceiling tile became the sky as he felt the water gently envelop him as he idly floated in his own mind.
Little to bother him and even less to stop him from was-
A loud tone was heard as it knocked Victor right out of his meditation. It was the dryer telling him that it was ready. Taking out his North face sweater, he sees the need for extra clothes as he puts on the sweater, a lingering warmth comforting him as he walks out of the room.
Azazel left as he had something to do while the others were doing their own thing as Victor headed to his room upstairs, feet thumping against the hardwood floor as a shiver ran up his spine at an early memory of his.
Once he was at the top, he entered his room, consisting of a bed, a desk, a closet, and a bookshelf. The desk was next to the bed with a window pointing out as there was a black card with a note on it.
Thank me later.
-Azazel
Victor only shrugged as he threw away the paper and looked at the black card with his name on it. Something tugged at the back of his mind when he saw it and could only bite his lip as he always came up short before shrugging, "At least I can go shopping now."
Walking down the stairs before bounding over the last two, I called out, "I'm going out."
Bikou called back as he was watching TV but that's it.
Victor only shrugged as he put up his earbud and played Blue Suede by Vince Staples and walked around, looking for the shopping district.
Walking back, Victor had his hands in his pockets as he had a few bags in his hands consisting of shirts, some with designs, some normal, baggy jeans, a new pair of sneakers, a new phone and underwear. Basic stuff.
But he was still confused at the reactions some of the other shoppers had at seeing his card. They stared at him like he was some alien, which isn't too wrong since he is taller than most people only somewhat shorter than Taiga with a build similar to Kiryu's at his peak.
Staring at the road a memory came to mind as he could faintly hear the screeching of tires and the yell that came from Kiryu with the spanish curses that came afterward.
Being taught how to drive via street racing was an interesting event.
Looking to the sky, Victor thought he saw Kiryu with a grin and a thumbs up.
Once again, he flipped off the sky.
Feeling better, he returned home unimpeded with music playing in his headphones.
Now he's even more confused, he's resting in the bed of his room, now somewhat tastefully decorated with a multitude of posters, specifically, four since there wasn't any room for anymore.
Right above him was a poster of Rush Hour, his greatest shame since he never saw the full trilogy, to his spotty memory anyway, to his left was a poster of Twenty-One Pilots, the only band he could recognize at any moment, to his right near the closet was a poster of Noragami, an old but good anime in his opinion, while on the wall in front of him was a poster of DMC 5, a masterpiece of a game that is. And the ending will always be his favorite part. Though he did love the entire thing.
He stupidly grinned at the thought of the two Sparda siblings but quickly shook himself out of it. As much as he loves the Sparda siblings he has other things to think about.
Like Majima and Kazuma in Yakuza 0. Though he quickly blinked as he started drawing parallels from both of them.
It's weird that I picked the series where the main characters are the strongest in that universe and constantly have to go through obstacles to get to their goal while also having compelling stories.
Hell, you could see parallels between Nero and Kazuma and Majima being Dante in Kiwami 1. Nero and Kazuma are strong but Dante and Majima were stronger but Majima directly, or 'indirectly' helped Kazuma.
Shaking his head from those thoughts, Victor stared at the ceiling as he returned to the original topic in his head.
Said topic being forgotten in the maze that is his thoughts.
He brightened up as he remembered what the original topic was. The reaction of Vali's team when he said he bought normal stuff and their stiffness when he was telling the truth.
Weirdly enough, one of the arguments they gave was to point out the black card. Bringing it out, Victor gave it a steady glare, as if trying to find the answers of the universe and that those answers would be found in this little black card that has a weird amount of value.
In the end, he clicked his tongue as he got up and grabbed some basketball shorts and a blue shirt with his sweater as he got his headphones and changed into the clothing.
He has nothing better to do so he might as well train.
With that thought, he started to get ready to go out to train.
"So, why do you think Azazel picked him up?" Bikou asked as he waved away to their new housemate as he went out to train, "It definitely couldn't have been his ki reserves, Azazel doesn't know Senjutsu." He finished as he turned to Vali.
"Can't be his magic reserves either, he's above average but that isn't anything special either, nya~." Kuroka notes since his mana isn't activated.
Vali grunts in agreement as the other two start throwing out ideas as to why Victor was brought here, ranging from logical thinking involving Sacred Gears, though that was shot down, to more ridiculous thoughts involving him being his secret love child, despite it being so ridiculous, it made some sense but was still shot down.
Vali could only wonder as he remembered when they first met. He walked like a warrior but his eyes were different. A warrior's eyes would look at a possible enemy and size them up, look for openings or weaknesses that would be obvious in preparation for a fight.
But Victor's eyes didn't do that, instead, they sized him up and looked around, eyes taking note of certain objects before returning to them and then trailing off to different areas.
What's more is that his eyes show something normal humans don't, that is courage in the face of a stronger opponent. They reminded him of a dragon's, but unlike a dragon's, they were human as well.
"Maybe he has supernatural blood in him?" Vali decided to throw in his own two cents as the other two froze before turning to Vali with wide eyes. "What?"
"Damn, now we've got to figure it out if he has Vali's interest." Bikou joked as Kuroka huffed in amusement and Vali rolled his eyes.
With each punch, Victor's heart soared as the punches released a pressure that left indents on trees a meter away. With each passing movement of the katas he remembered his blood boiled as it kept his body warm from the biting winter.
Spinning back kick, axe kick, straight punch, hook, uppercut, every movement repeated over and over until his arms ached, until his legs thrummed, until his body was caked in sweat as his body changed to fit the soul. Each action familiar to what once was an unfamiliar body as the spirit remembered and so did the body as he began to remember.
His arms ached as he heaved himself up, groaning, "One-hundred…"
Only for his arms to give out as his body hit the ground, "Damnit Shinada, I can't just pull a thousand push ups out of my ass!"
Shinada only laughed as he continued doing push ups next to him, "Now now, don't give up yet." He grinned as Victor only stayed there as he sighed, stopping his own push-ups as he sat down.
"Hey Victor, do you have a dream?" Shinada asked as Victor stopped, only to shake his head.
"No, I've had goals, but I dreamt when I was younger." Victor responded as Shinada's eyes widened.
"That's no good, sometimes dreams are all we have, the only thing there to keep us pushing forward." Shinada said as he held a hand to his chin before he brightened up, "I know! Let's find one!"
"Huh?" Victor groaned towards Shinada in confusion.
"Let's find you a dream! Something you've always wanted to do! Something to give a reason to fight!" Shinada exclaimed as he got up.
"Impossible." Victor said as he rolled onto his back, eyes despondent as he muttered, "I stopped dreaming when I was younger."
Shinada only sighed, "That's a bad mindset Vic-chan." Victor gave Shinada a weird look at the mention of the weird nickname but shrugged it off, "Dreams are beautiful things. They are what give humans the strength to match gods! To fight the odds and come out victorious! And all you have to do is close your eyes." Shinada ends as Victor huffs before closing his eyes.
He didn't open his eyes for a while and didn't say anything until Shinada prodded, "So, what do ya see, Vic-chan?"
Darkness, that's what he saw, so he tried harder. He wanted to dream like he did when he was younger. Maybe it's stupid. Maybe it goes against everything the world stands for.
But, since when was a 'maybe' something worth pondering on?
"I see a house. It isn't too big. But it's a house. I see people I care about inside of it."
That's when it hit him, "My dream is to live a life I want, where I and everyone I love can be happy. To live a life where I make my choices according to my morals, not because it's expected of me."
Shinada could only smile, "That's as good a dream as any."
And with a dream, and the resolve to reach that simple dream, Victor finished a thousand push ups.
Soon, Victor finished a thousand punches, kicks, and a multitude of other movements on each arm. Body unaccustomed to the strain but quickly returning.
Though, once his training was done, Victor rolled his shoulders as he was in front of a tree and squared up in a boxing half-guard. Before, in the dimension, it was hard to tell how strong his mentors were since they'd change their strength to match his, but he knew one thing, they were monsters in their own right.
He cocked back his leg and threw it forward into the tree as the thing caved in and Victor's eyes widened at the fact that he was holding back and the tree basically bent.
Though the creaking that came from the tree about to fall quickly brought him out of it as he dislodged his leg and stumbled back.
As the tree fell down, Victor could only mutter, "Timber." As the only witness to a tree being brought down by a kick.
Putting on his headphones and putting his sweater back on as the moon came out, Spaz by N.E.R.D. playing on his headphones, he walked away as he was unprepared for what was about to happen.
"I'm home!" A voice calls out as he enters the house, the people in it turning as they see the weirdly tired teen stumble in.
"Welcome back," Azazel called while wielding a spatula, "you were out pretty late." Azazel notes with all of the passive-aggressiveness of a mother.
Victor grunts as he stretches, "I was pretty busy mom," he said that last part with a bit of a teasing tone of his voice as Bikou snorts and Kuroka giggles, sleeve hiding her mouth, "but honestly, you would not believe the type of afternoon I had." Victor groans as he sits down on the table, grabbing some food.
"A statement like that holds little meaning coming from a NEET like you, nya~." Kuroka teases as Victor rolls his eyes.
"Joke's on you, I am a NEET." The eighteen year old teen says with a weird amount of smugness in his voice.
"That's not something to be proud of." Azazel points out as Victor gave him a deadpan stare.
"Coming from your mouth, that statement means even less." Victor retorted as Kuroka was chuckling now while Azazel was rolling his eyes.
Victor took a bite out of his food before continuing, "Yup, so it started when I ran into this old woman when I was rounding the corner."
Victor blinked at the impact he felt before looking down at the person who he collided with. It was an old woman palming at her surroundings, wearing a jacket with jeans and shoes with greying hair.
"My glasses…" she mutters as Victor notices the glasses and goes to pick them up.
"Um, excuse me," Victor says to the old lady, getting her attention, "are these your glasses?"
Her eyes widen before she smiles, "Ah, thank you so much. I must have bumped into you, young man." She grabs the glasses but notices there's a crack in them but puts them on anyway.
"It's fine, sorry about the glasses." Victor apologizes as the old lady gets a good look at him.
"My, you're quite tall for a young man, you must be a foreigner then." The old lady notes as Victor shrugs.
"Training does that to ya." Victor explains as he looks around, "Why don't I help you get back home? Wouldn't want ya to slip on ice and fall." Victor notes.
"No, I wouldn't want to bother ya sonny." The old lady tries to refuse, "My eyesight might not be what it was but I can still find my way around here."
"It's not a bother at all. I insist." Victor insisted as the old lady seemed to want to argue but relents.
"Fine, you wouldn't happen to know a place called Mizuki Confections?"
Soon, Victor was standing in front of what is a two story candy shop with different types of candies lining the store, some he recognized but most were candies he was clueless even existed.
It reminded Victor of a little store he used to visit when he and his parents would go to Mexico for vacation.
Quickly, he stomped down the melancholy that came with those thoughts as the old lady started, "Here's fine son, thank you."
"No problem," Victor started as he looked around, "quaint little place you got here."
The old lady chuckled, "Thank you, it's something I have put a lot of work into. But kids these days are always on their phones, even the younger ones." The old lady seemed to be reminiscing.
Silence overtook the place as she hummed, giving Victor a look that was weirdly clear and intelligent for someone of her age. Specifically, the clarity of her gaze.
"Hey, son," the old lady started but Victor quickly waved it away.
"It's Victor, or Vic." Victor said as the old lady nodded.
"Then, Victor-san, call me Nana, tell me, have you ever managed a business before?" The old lady asks with a nice smile and a tilt of her head.
Victor on the other hand, froze as he blankly blinked at nothing. His mind tried to return to a normal state of existence as it rebooted itself.
When it finally did, Victor could only tilt his head and say, "Hol'up, what?"
"That's the story on how I became the manager of a confectionery shop in hopes of it becoming a safety net for the 'residents' of Kuoh." Victor finished as he took a sip from the soda he stood up to get in the middle of regaling his promotion from street thug to manager of a confectionery.
The others couldn't say anything and only Kuroka was able to, "At least he isn't a NEET anymore, nya~."
Vali rolled his eyes, unimpressed as he asked, "Is that all?"
"No, actually, there's more."
Once more, Victor listened to music as he continued his trek back home, somewhat familiar on the path due to his previous excursions. Hands in his pockets as he was still stuck on his previous promotion, sudden as it was, he agreed.
Now, he could only wonder what it is exactly he signed up for.
And once more, the tune repeated as someone collided with him as he lowered his headphones, "Ah, sorry, didn't see ya there."
He got a good look at the person he ran into, she was fairly short with fiery blue eyes with her blonde hair in twintails stylized as drills while wearing a purple victorian dress with a jacket on top of it, giving off a vet high-and-mighty vibe to her despite being short compared to Victor.
"Watch where you're going!" She exclaimed in crisp Japanese despite seeming like a foreigner as Victor raised a brow at her. She also didn't revert to English so she was either raised in Japanese or learnt it at a young age. Her clothing would suggest the latter.
"Ah sorry," he gained a sheepish grin as the fox in him compelled him to tease such an easy target, "you were so short I didn't notice ya." He teased with an amused grin.
Oh? Looks like I angered the little lady.
Her outrage was plain to see, "I'm what?!" She exclaimed.
Victor only shrugged, "Short, little lady," he said before continuing, "but so are many compared to me, so don't worry." He assures her with amusement heavy in his tone.
She puffed out her cheeks and glared at Victor as he chuckled while raising his hands, "Sorry, sorry. That said, what are you doing out here so late? Kuoh may not be Kabukicho but there are a fair share of gangs around here." Victor asks with genuine worry.
"Ka-bu-ki-cho?" The twin tailed girl pronounces slowly and unfamiliarity with a tilt of her head and confusion obvious in her face.
That answers a question, "Ah, you must be from Europe, your Japanese is really good." Victor compliments the blonde's confusion, expecting more teasing remarks but not a genuine compliment.
"Hmph," she puffs out her chest in pride, emphasizing her sizable but still developing breasts, "o-of course. It is to be expected of someone from the House of Phenex. It would be shameful if I couldn't hold a conversation with those of the lower classes."
Victor only rolled his eyes in good nature as he continued, "So, where are ya headed, little lady?"
She glares at Victor because of the nickname, reminding him of a pup trying to act scary but failing to do so, "My name is Ravel Phenex, a proud member of the Phenex Clan, you should be bowing in gratitude for being in the presence of someone of high standing such as I."
Victor could only stare at her before his lips twitch in amusement as he tries to hide the snort that was about to escape, "Of course Rav- I mean little lady. It is this commoner's greatest honor to meet someone of such prestige."
The girl was eating it up, nodding with smugness and pride radiating in spades as she puffs out her sizable, but still developing, chest, "Hmph, seems like someone finally knows their place. Now, shower me with praise befitting of someone of my stan-," she stops as what Victor said finally catches up to her and notices the amused looks being sent her way from strangers and Victor's shaking, not being in awe, but actually him shaking as he tried to hide the chuckles that threatened to come out of his mouth, "Hey! Stop laughing and call me Phenex-sama."
"O-oka-," he interrupted himself as he tried to stifle his laughter when he tried to look her in the eyes but devolved into chuckles when he looked at her embarrassed visage, face as red as a tomato with steam coming out of her ears and eyes a chaotic mess as she tried to assert her dominance but failing miserably. A very attractive look to Victor's eyes but far more amusing. "O-okay," he manages to wheeze out in between coughs as he calms down, "My apologies…" the atmosphere becomes tense as everyone waits for his answer.
"Little lady-sama." He grinned with amusement as she huffed in frustration and pouted before stomping away as Victor got ahold of his amusement, stopping the streams of laughs coming from him allowing him to stare at her receding back.
Now, if only his gaze went higher than waist level, then it'd be more respectable.
Damn, she's got a nice ass. I can see it through the dress, the way her hips swing and how tight it is despite her small stature all come together to make a wonderful image.
He quickly shakes himself out of that lust induced stupor and bites his lip in worry and fear that he'll have to resort to those tactics to calm down.
Regardless, her attitude worries Victor. People have gotten hurt for less. In the end, he decides to follow after her.
At this time, Azazel interrupts, "Wait, blonde?" Victor nods in confirmation before he continues, "Haughty attitude?" Once more, Victor confirms, "Hair in drills?" Again, Victor nods but with exasperation this time.
"Azazel, I can assure you she ain't the type you'd miss in a crowded street. My description was accurate." Victor assures him but Azazel leans forward.
"What about her tits or ass?"
"Those thoughts are for me to think and you to not know."
"Nyahahaha~! You've got balls eyeing her like that." Kuroka interjected with a laugh.
"Anyway, can I continue?"
Turns out, he was right. Victor tailed her for a bit until he rounded a corner and found her cornered by a bunch of thugs, said thugs mocking her way of speaking as one tried to grab her and pull her in.
Sadly, Victor was there, he grabbed the arm by the wrist and dug his finger into a pressure point, causing the thug to squirm as he tried to escape and turning to Ravel, "Really, little lady? I leave you alone for five minutes..."
Pushing away the fist, the thug rolls his shoulder, "Who are you?"
Victor only smirked, "God's greatest gift or the Devil's enforcer. In the same way one wakes up and decides what's for breakfast, I decide to be a nuisance to all and any in my way."
"Oh, we have a hero. Even thinks of himself as a funny guy." The leader of seven mocked as the other seven laughed.
Raising a hand, Victor dialed someone on his phone and waited for the tone to ring, "Hello? Yeah, can I get, wait," He turned to the thugs and began counting before returning to the call, "Eight ambulances. Where?" After telling the hospital where the fight was about to go down, he hung up and grinned, "There."
"Don't make fun-ugh!" A thug charged as he was interrupted by a side kick to the chest that many would refer to as 'clean'. The thug stumbles back as he coughs and finds himself kicked in the side before a hook kick impacts his face before Victor jumps into a spinning back kick to the forehead as the thug passes out.
"You should step back, little lady," Victor warns before getting into his fighting stance, Victor beckoning them forward, "C'mon, time's wasting."
At the time, while regaling his story, Victor began, "Then, I fought."
Expecting more details, they leaned forward, Bikou grinning in anticipation at what happened.
"Anyway, once the fight was over-."
There was a beat of silence and Azazel raised a hand, "Wait."
Victor stopped as he turned to Azazel, grin firmly set in place, "What?"
"How did we get from the beginning to the end in one moment? Where's the description, the explanation, the action?" Azazel asked as Victor gave a shrug.
"I don't remember." Victor admits.
"You-You don't remember?" Azazel asked as the others nodded.
"I went in, helped a damsel, beat up some thugs, and that's that. Shit's simple, so much so that I forgot what it was exactly I did." Victor explained as Azazel sighed.
"Ooh, found a video." Bikou said as he showed them his phone. He pressed it as the others leaned in to see the action.
Then they charged, a thug went for a hook but Victor grabbed his arm and pulled him into a wall as he found the back of his knee kicked in before being kneed in the side of the face.
Leaning back from a punch, Victor retaliates with a round to the face and another round to the side before a low kick interrupted his balance and ending with an uppercut, sending the thug to the floor where his face is met with the soles of Victor's sneakers once before meeting both as Victor bounced off his face and stomped with both legs.
Raising an arm, he blocks a hook before backfisting another punk and ducking the first's slow and sloppy hooks as he grabs the second's attempt at a knee and raising it as the second falls to the floor and Victor still has a grip on his leg. Grabbing his thigh, he shoves the second's leg into the crotch of the first when he tried to step forward before shoving the second's leg up and bringing the second leg up as he grabbed both legs from behind the knee and the waist as he raised him up and on top of his shoulder before jumping up and flipping forward, the heads of the first and second colliding and knocking both out as Victor lands in the front splits.
Another thug tries to kick him while he's in the splits but he blocks it as he leans back from another thug, the one he kneed at the beginning, tried to kick his head like a soccer ball. Still in the splits, he noticed the first had loose pants and grinned as he gathered snow in his hand and grabbed his pants from the waist band and pulled as he deposited the snow into his crotch as he howled like a monkey before being forced onto his chest by the thug he kneed stepping on his back, still in the split with little effort.
"You know, if you wanted to get kinky, you could have just asked." Victor joked as his forehead laid on his knee before shifting it so his toes are pointing to the side and sweeps his back leg forward, sweeping the thug off his feet as Victor straightens up and kicks up before kicking off a wall and flipping as he drives his shins into the thug's stomach, knocking him out.
The leader roared with a bat and swung as Victor stepped back and rolled on the back of the thug who still has snow in his pants before kicking him forward in the rear as he stumbles into the leader before grabbing the bat and pulling them in as he kicks the thug in the back and the leader in the side, forcing him to let go of the bat as Victor threw it away and grabbed the sleeves, yanking them down and pulling them in as he started tying them together in a nice bow that kept them together. Finally, he pulled them so they were in front of him where he shrugged and the leader charged at him. Victor turned and kicked off the pole behind him in a backflip as he kicked the back of the leader's neck, opening his mouth and falling into the pole where his tongue was stuck and the thug he was stuck with was knocked out.
Currently, there was silence once the video was over as they gave a look towards Victor as he smiled in pride before he continued the story in earnest.
Everyone could only stare in incredulousness as Victor clapped his hands, "Thank you, I'll be here all week."
Ravel was quick to come back to reality as she turned to Victor, "What was that?"
Victor only tilted his head, "What was what?"
"The way you moved, the way you fought, everything!" She exclaimed before pointing at Victor, "That wasn't martial arts but there were techniques involved. What was it?" She finished, curiosity in her eyes.
Victor could only quirk a brow as he asked, "That your first time seeing a brawl little lady?"
"A brawl?" She asked with confusion obvious in her voice.
Victor only rolled his eyes with light-hearted amusement in them, "Yeah, it's a fight where anything goes. No rules. Only a fight to win. People can be weirdly creative in one." Victor explains, unable to hide his pride at being one of those creative fighters.
Though he quickly relaxes as he asks Ravel, "So, little lady, where are you going?"
Ravel seems prepared to argue but relents with a heavy sigh, "I'm looking for Kuoh Academy. You wouldn't happen to know where it is?"
Victor looks around until his attention goes to a walled off area with what seems like a school, "You mean that obviously looking Western school at the other side of town?"
"Huh? Where?" She asks, standing on her tiptoes to try to get a better look at it. She isn't that tall so getting a good view is difficult, so, being the good samaritan Victor is, he does the logical thing, "Kya!" He picks her up.
"So," he starts, teasing grin in place, "can you see it, little lady?"
Ravel begins to struggle with a face flushed with embarrassment, "Yes, I can, so put me down!"
Victor sighs exaggeratedly as he does as she asks.
Ravel turns to Victor, face red as she starts, "I'm sorry to ask you this after you've helped me, but…"
Victor knew what she meant and decided to spare the poor girl, "Sure, I'd love to."
Ravel relaxes in relief as she turns to Victor, "Thank you, you shall be rewarded for your kindness."
"It's fine." Victor shrugs as he starts walking towards the school with Ravel in tow.
Though, suddenly, Victor asks, "So, who do you think would win a fight, a street brawler or a martial artist?"
"That said, I wonder, who do you think would win, a brawler or a martial artist?" Asks Victor in the current time.
"Martial artists." Bikou responded with absolute confidence.
The others shot down that confidence, "Brawler/nya~."
Bikou could only look like he was betrayed while Victor's smugness was off the charts.
"Anyway," Victor continued unabated, "this and that happened but it's unimportant."
"I dunno," Azazel starts, "you've been doing some interesting stuff while you were gone. Almost sounds like an odyssey."
Victor ignored him in favor of continuing with a more joking tone of voice, "And I'm not done, so sit your ass down and let me finish."
Once more, Victor continues his way home with a new number in his phone. Sadly, it wasn't Ravel's but still…
A number that's connected to a cute girl is still a number.
As he thought this through, his eyes trailed off to a storefront that caught his interest. As someone who was previously from America, Victor never tasted ramen that wasn't instant. Of course, there were places he could go to, but they were usually far away.
So, to finally be able to taste genuine ramen is a treat that Victor can't wait to experience. So, that's what Victor decided to do.
Entering, he noticed that it was moderately full but he managed to snag a seat on the bar as the owner continued moving. He had black hair with green eyes while wearing some simple clothing with age lines around his eyes, "Welcome, what can I get you?"
Victor could only bite his lip as he looked through the options before relenting, "I'll take your suggestion."
"One miso ramen with extra pork, coming up!" The man responded as he proceeded to move.
"You got ramen without us?" Azazel exclaimed, interrupting Victor's story.
"Yes, can I continue?" Victor asked before continuing without Azazel's answer.
Soon, the ramen was gone and Victor was sighing in happiness before speaking out his thoughts, "That was delicious."
The old man grinned, "Thanks, seems like I've still-." The old man's eyes widened and so did Victor's as a crack was heard in the stall and the old man crumpled to the floor.
"Shit, a-are you good?" Victor asked.
"Argh, my back! And right before dinner runs too." The old man groaned as Victor was fretting over him.
"Ah shit," Victor starts and continues before he can stop himself, "Is there any way I can help?"
"So that's how it's gonna go, nya~." Kuroka mumbles as Victor slumped forward.
The man's eyes glinted with mischief as Victor's eyes widened in realization, "Well, can you man the store?"
Victor pauses before he mutters, "Eh?"
"Look," the man starts, "it's easy, the noodles are all prepared so all you have to do is leave the noodles for as long as they tell you to and drop it in a bowl." Victor's gaze was reluctant, "They pick out their own toppings." The old man adds, as if that would influence Victor's decision.
"Well, why did you pick out mine?" Victor asks as it's the old man's turn to give him a flat stare.
"Because you were a newbie when you walked in, I could tell from your expression." the old man explains as Victor rolls his eyes. "So, what do you say?"
Victor bit his lip before sighing, "Man, I don't know."
"I'll pay you."
All reluctance was gone.
Walking away from Kuoh Academy was an entourage. Within this entourage was a whole swathe of attractive people and at its forefront is a pouting redhead with blue eyes and a buxom body with blue eyes and a uniform that accentuated all the curves. Next to her was a woman with black hair in a ponytail tied with an orange ribbon and purple eyes with an equally curvaceous body, if not more top heavy. On the other side of the redhead was a woman who isn't as endowed but quite attractive with her black hair in a bob cut with a more disciplinary attitude than the other two.
There was also the silver-haired maid next to her with gray eyes as she traveled next to the girls.
Now, onto the pouting redhead, for most, evidence would point to something having to do with an older figure, maybe an argument or something of a similar nature.
"Grayfia, why did you let them come here?" The pouting redhead asked the silverette as the silverette could only sigh.
"Milady, Riser, as your fiance-to-be, has every right to come visit you whenever he wants with supervision." The maid responds promptly as she continues walking behind them, "I'd be more worried if he didn't visit you."
Rias continued pouting as the maid could only sigh in exhaustion. Not like she could disagree with Rias' opinion on Riser.
"Now, now," the buxom black haired girl starts, "we're already here Rias, might as well drop the topic and maybe we can forget about his visit entirely. While enjoying some ramen."
Rias stops as she stares at the storefront before sighing, "Sure." She relents as she turns to the girl to her right, "Wanna join us, Sona?"
The now-named Sona nods, "Of course, I'd be delighted."
Rias nods as Grayfia steps forward and opens the sliding door for them, to Rias' slight frustration, as they begin to file in.
Though Grayfia and Rias were wondering what Noah was doing sitting instead of manning the kitchen.
The answer came in the form of a brown haired boy with brown eyes and sharp features with relaxed eyes as he bit his tongue in concentration.
Beside her, Akeno muttered under her breath, "Oh my~."
And to an extent, she could see why. He wore a short sleeved shirt so his arms were visible to all with lean muscles that looked solid.
"Milady, those muscles aren't out of hobby, they have purpose." Grayfia notes as everyone else begins to sit down and wait for their turn to order.
Rias couldn't help the slight grin that twitched on her lips as she said in a scandalized tone, "Grayfia! Staring at another man when you're already married? How shameless."
With no twitch in her face, she said, "Preposterous."
Rias huffed in amusement as she turned towards the owner of the small shop, "Hello Noah."
The now-named Noah smiles at them before standing up and bowing out of respect. He was about to say something but he was interrupted by the young man, "If you can bow, your back is fine old man. Get your ass back in here!"
"Aw come on~," Noah retorted as he turned towards the young man, "You wouldn't force an old man like me to work when his back is hurt, would you?"
"Yes, I would." The brunette retorts without missing a beat and with little in his tone to signify he was joking aside from the fact that he never stopped working.
"C'mon, Ryunou-san~." Noah drawled on as he grinned at the brunette whose brow twitched.
"And I already told you, call me Victor!" The brunette retorted once more as he continued working.
Noah laughed as he turned back to the Rias and Grayfia and said in a quieter tone, "It's good to see you all in good health, Grayfia, Rias, and Sona."
Sona stepped forward before bowing towards the old Devil, "It is good to see you once more, sir."
Noah slumped forward as a cloud formed over him, "Not you too~. You used to love hearing me talk about tactics and such. I can still hear you call me uncle…"
Noah is a Devil under the employ of the Gremory family, he used to work as the caretaker of Rias and also Sona when she was around. Now, he's a guard in case of any problems that happen to put Rias or Sona directly in danger. It was supposed to be a secret but it didn't last.
Regardless, Grayfia ignored his mumblings as she asked while pointing at Victor, "So, who is he?"
Noah stopped his mumblings as he straightened up, "Someone I hired-."
"Emotionally blackmailed." Victor grumbled as he continued working.
"To work for me." He finished as if he wasn't interrupted midway through."
Grayfia only eyed Victor as he paused and looked her in the eye without looking back while his mouth and hands didn't stop. "Is he dangerous?" Grayfia asked as the teen returned back to looking at his hands because he nearly missed placing the noodles in the right bowl.
Noah held a finger to his chin and hummed, "Hmmm," he continued pondering until he started, "you know, I always found it interesting how humans can be so strong despite living such a short lifespan. Like the Crane," Noah huffed in amusement, "the first time I was out maneuvered, by a human no less. Shows me how much I know." Noah muttered.
"What are you getting at?" Grayfia asked with a tilted head.
"Grayfia, I don't know. It's hard to tell." Noah admitted with a shrug, "All I know is that he can be dangerous. Though, I feel like the question should be who he can be dangerous to. His strength already seems to surpass your Rook, Rias."
"Impossible!" Rias exclaimed, slamming her hands on the table as her actions caused a silence to fall over the restaurant as she sheepishly apologized before everything returned to normal.
Noah rolled his eyes as he sent a karate chop to her head as she exclaimed in pain and crouched while Noah tutted, "Rias, I believe you have been lacking in tactics a little too much pride. Just like your brother when he was younger."
"Uuuu." Rias moaned as she rubbed her head since Noah did in fact hit her solidly enough to shake her up a bit.
Akeno stood forward and rubbed her head, "There there Rias." As the Queen of Rias' peerage rubbed her King's head, she turned to Noah, "With all-due respect sir, I still find it hard to believe that a human teen could match Koneko. Especially with her… situation."
Noah stared at her before huffing in amusement, "Then you should be glad. It means you haven't had to experience what we did."
In the end, everyone enjoyed good ramen as Victor sighed in relief, "Finally, it's over."
"Good work Victor." Noah grinned as he patted his back and Victor slapped it away.
"Whatever, so, where's my pay?" Victor asked as Noah sighed while shaking his head.
"Fine~, here." Noah passed him an envelope as Victor gave a slight nod before grabbing it and pocketing it, "Not gonna count it?"
"No, I don't really care enough about it, long as I get paid enough I'm fine. Besides, you don't seem like someone who'd go back on their words." Victor says as he stretches and puts his North Face back on.
It's not like he didn't gain anything, he felt like his hands became more dexterous and his multi-managing skills improved. To serve the ramen, he had to control the crowd and be light-footed.
His thoughts became interrupted as the revving of engines were heard outside, "Get out here you old man!" A voice rang out as Noah clicked his tongue.
"Having a little trouble?" Asked Victor as he kept his eyes outside and Noah sighed.
"A little." Noah mumbled as he bit his lip and looked at the group of highschool students.
Victor noticed and sighed, "Then give me a minute."
Victor walked outside, grabbing a stray foldable chair on his way out as Noah grinned, "I suggest you all look outside," he turned to them as he joined the students, "you might just find something interesting."
Outside, Victor was walking outside and looking at the thugs outside, a motorcycle gang if the bikes were any evidence.
"Who the hell are you?" The leader sneers as the others rev their bikes and some get off, brandishing pipes, swords, knuckle dusters or knives.
Victor didn't back down, he continued on and kicked one of the bikes, causing a chain reaction as a line of seven bikes fell, "Hey!"
"You're being nuisances," it's now that they noticed the chair being held in one hand as his grip tightened in preparation, "So either leave or learn how it feels like to be hit by a chair."
They stared at the teen as some started to snicker as some exploded in laughter.
Then, Victor started to chuckle, the hearty sound coming from him causing the thugs to stare at him as they noticed his dangerous grin, "Good," he started, "I need some help brushing up on my skills."
And already two of the thugs fell as Victor swung the chair, still intact despite the strength used to hit the two.
The crowd of thugs stepped back as he grinned, and on their life, they swore up and down that flames began to radiate from his body, green flames that would have been comforting if the person emanating them wasn't looking to kick their teeth in.
And he dashed forward, holding the legs of the chair as it collided against one of their stomach's before he spun, catching another member's cheek and smacking him to the floor.
They snapped out of it as they ignored the visual hallucinations and one stabbed only to find his arm in between the back of the folded chair and the seat as Victor side stepped and jerked the chair and disarmed the punk before swinging at his legs then his head knocking him out.
Someone jumped on his back as he began struggling as he noticed someone was coming as he unfolded the chair and placed it on the ground before kicking it forward, sliding on the floor as the charging thug was forced on it as Victor tilted his body to block a bat with the thug on his back before grabbing the bat and side kicking the thug who held it, forcing them to let go and retaliating with a thrust to the chest by the base of the bat.
The thug on his back was already off as the seated thug tried to get up but a kick to the back of the head forced him back on it before Victor backfisted a thug and followed with a kick to his side before alternating to a back kick to a thug behind him before sweeping his leg under a crowd as they fell on the floor. Spotting an opportunity, Victor catches a kick towards him before jerking it to the side, causing the thug to spin out of control and to kick the thug back into the chair.
He kicks off a trash can as the thugs see his clear eyes as their own eyes widen. Then the wind is knocked out of them as Victor sends punch after punch at their downed forms, alternating between three of them before ending with a back fist to the stomach of a standing punk and a low sweep kick to another, grabbing their arms and adding them to the dogpile before, getting up and running up a wall and flipping back before landing on them, knocking them out.
The chaos continued as Victor stepped on the toe of another before kicking behind him and then using that momentum to kick at the back leg of the thug, forcing the to their knees, before kneeing them in the face.
Punch, backfist, kick, Victor went through the movements as he continued destroying the thugs.
Finally, a motorcycle revved as Victor finally kicked off the thug that was stuck on the chair and turned to see the leader charging at him with a pipe.
Victor rolled his eyes as he grabbed the chair, the bike only getting closer, and he proceeded to shove it forward, right beside where the bike was going to go through.
The leader got closer as it was too late to dodge and all Victor did was stand on the chair, tilting his leg as he spun into a low spinning hook kick that collided with the leader's helmet and sent him flying off the motorcycle as Victor flinched.
Everyone in the restaurant was floored to one extent or another. The most affected were the newer Devils while Grayfia and Noah were impressed.
The silence was only interrupted as Koneko, a short white-haired girl with a gold eye color and a kitten pin on her hair, muttered, "I didn't know Bruce Lee was reincarnated."
At that, many of the Devils chuckled.
"And that's about all that happened." Shrugged Victor as he placed his plates in the sink.
The others could only stare in shock and amusement at the human as he was cleaning up his own plates at his pace, though only a few missed the tinge of nostalgia and sadness that was quickly forced down as he went through the motions.
"Well, I'm going to pass out. Night." He said as he waved them away, proceeding to go upstairs, take a shower and pass out on the bed, ignorant to the stare on his back.
A certain black cat stares at him with an amused grin, "Hmm, so he's the one that released that aura~nya." She hums for a second before nodding to herself, "He's not bad-looking so, maybe I should help him~nya. It'd be bad if the hunk lost himself doing something stupid~nya."
Once more, Victor opens his eyes as he curses reality internally, wondering when his suffering would end as he stares at the time on his phone, in the end, he could only groan as he gets up.
His room is the same as yesterday, his situation the same as yesterday, and his irezumi the same as yesterday.
Looking at his fists, he felt something in his soul spark as the warm green flames returned, confusing Victor greatly. Heat is the visualization of fighting spirit, or ki, something that isn't real, in a way, but the film of green flames feels too solid. Like as if Heat became an actual thing instead of just fighting spirit.
In the end, Victor decided to ignore it and get to training in the form of a simple workout.
Granted, it's far from simple but to Victor, it is.
So with lofi playing on his phone and blank mind, Victor proceeded to meditate in the form of thinking of nothing and only the task at hand, said task being push-ups.
Time passed and Victor was in the zone as he started to notice something.
He was sensing something, it wasn't something nice either. It was malicious to the core as Victor began noticing flames. No, it was auras in the form of flames.
Victor couldn't make heads or tails of them, but he felt a menacing aura around him as he was brought out of his stupor before continuing his workout, ignorant to the note that was left next to his phone.
It was the middle of the day and Victor was coming out of the shower with baggy blue jeans and a green shirt as he sighed in relief after the workout he had. Face set in a dopey grin as he stretched, groaning as pops were heard from him and he chuckled.
"Damn, that was a good workout." Victor muttered as he neared his phone and paused.
Next to his phone was a note written in Japanese. It said to go to a certain clearing for 'training' as to 'not do something stupid again with his new power' while having a great undertone of a threat.
So, Victor did what any good boy would do.
He stared at the paper and blinked as he threw it away.
He had other things to do, like breakfast or coming into Mizuki confections.
"See, it's not so bad." Nana said, smiling large and eyes unfocused as Victor gave her a deadpan stare as he looked at the numbers that came after the first business cycle.
"Nana, I have no experience here and even I can tell these numbers aren't good." I sigh as I show her the papers, "Face it, we're stone cold broke."
She gives Victor that smile that grandmas are good at giving, the same one that would relax any child down to their bones, "Come now child, it isn't that bad."
Her smile became absent and haunting as she continued unabated, "Broke would mean we gained less than the acceptable amount of money. That didn't happen."
Silence reigned in the small office above the original Mizuki confections as Victor stared at her resigned expression, "You're right, we couldn't even reach that." Victor muttered as his head hung in depression.
"If we got a loan, we could advertise, hire staff, improve the building and furniture, but then we'd be in debt." Nana listed as Victor hit his head against the wooden desk with a groan.
"And with the amount we'd need to get the ball rolling, we'd be trapped to our knees in debt and the bank grabbing us by the balls." Victor muttered under his breath, "Off the top of my head, I can name a few people who I'd let have me by the balls like that," Victor started, ignoring the pointed look Nana gave him at his vulgar language, "for some reason, the Chinese Triads are at a higher spot on the list than the bank."
"Well, what can we do without the money?" Nana asks as she looks over to Victor with hopeless eyes.
Give up.
Logical people would do that, they'd throw in the towel and hope for a second chance, maybe use the money they'd get from selling the place to get another chance.
But Victor Ryunou wasn't normal. He was taught by legends and he kept one thing from his past.
A man keeps his word.
So, Victor leaned back and hummed, "We get money."
"How, Vic?" Nana pleaded as she sighed, "We have no investors so we have no money. And I'm fairly sure you don't know any oil barons."
Victor huffed in amusement and rolled his eyes about to agree, when suddenly, his eyes widened.
"You're right," Victor admits, his grin expanding, "but I do know someone better."
On his phone screen, the words, 'Ruval Phenex' stood out as he clicked the number.
His mind begins to wander as he remembers how he got the number of the Devil.
"It's obvious a street brawler would win! They're called street brawlers for a reason." A masculine voice rang out as a blonde stared at his usually unsociable sister in an argument with a stranger.
"But, Martial artists are experienced as well-." Ravel tried to rebuke but Victor shook his head.
"In a spar, not in the streets with dangerous objects all around." Victor brings up as he looks at the blonde waiting in front of the school. His hair was slicked back with blue eyes as he wore a simple and tasteful suit. "Is that your brother or…?" Asked Victor as Ravel's eyes widened in recognition.
"Ruval-nii-sama, obviously a martial artist would beat a street brawler, right?" She asks as she runs up to him and Victor follows.
"In a street fight? No way. You're excluding too many details little lady," Victor turns to Ruval as he asks, "c'mon man, help a brother. The brawler would win, right?"
Now, Ruval was in a conundrum, he could agree with Victor or agree with his sister.
Agree with a stranger or his sister, who's totally wrong.
Decisions, decisions.
In the end, Ruval decided to make it a learning experience for Ravel, "A brawler would obviously win."
She looks horrified as Ruval couldn't help but smirk in amusement at her sister's reaction before being brought into a handshake-turned-hug by the stranger, "My man!"
In the end, Victor's eyes widen as he gives a sheepish grin, "Sorry, I forgot Japanese don't like to be so informal."
Ruval shook his head, "It's fine, I'm not even Japanese myself." He extended a hand towards Victor, "Ruval Phenex, it's nice to make your acquaintance. Thank you for bringing my sister as well, I was beginning to get worried and was about to go look for her myself."
Victor grabbed the hand and shook it, "Victor Ryunou, but you can call me Vic or Victor, I'm not Japanese either so you don't have to be so formal either. And don't worry about your sister, I'm just glad she's okay, feisty firecracker she is." Victor jokes as Ravel glares at him and Ruval chuckles.
"Please, let me show my gratitude somehow." Ruval said as Victor shrugged.
"I don't know man, I don't have anything right now." Victor says as his eyes widen. "Then, how about your phone number, in case I need it in the future."
Soon, once both males traded phone numbers, Ruval bowed, "Thank you, once more."
Victor tried to wave him off, "Dude, it's fine. No problem at all."
Ruval turned to Ravel as he gave her an amused look, "Come now Ravel, you haven't forgotten your manners already?"
That seemed to knock Ravel out of her stupor as she coughed into her fist and said, with a flushed face, "Thank you."
Victor only gave her a simple smile, "No problem."
Soon, Ruval is humming in understanding as Victor asks, "So, you get the situation?"
"Yes, I do, and you really believe I could say no to a story like that?" Ruval asked from the other side of the phone.
"So…?" Victor started with hope in his voice and Nana grinning broadly.
"I still owe you for Ravel, so sure, but," he starts, causing me and Nana to pause as we were about to celebrate, "I'll do it under three conditions."
Calming down, Victor listened as he said, "Alright."
"The conditions are simple, your company cannot go in the red, if it does, I'll make proper arrangements on my end. I also want your company's Share Price ranking to be in the top 100 by the specified date. Finally, I want that little confectionery to be the crowning jewel in Kuoh, to be a top ranking company." Ruval listed as Victor nodded, startling clarity in his eyes.
"You've got it. Let's do it." Victor agreed with little doubts.
"Are you sure?" Ruval asked to confirm.
Victor smirked, "Definitely. Let's do this!"
Victor couldn't keep the goofy grin off his face. The company wasn't in the red no longer, they had a chance! After the money came in, it became a breeze as the money eased it all, from advertising to furniture.
While it isn't a complete fix, it's sufficient enough to hold on.
Right now, Victor was heading towards the clearing that Kuroka told him to go to.
A bad idea overall but Victor is the king of them, rarely having a sane idea.
Though he did enjoy the cold a bit, chilling his limbs as he stared at the white snow in the clearing.
Wait, this scenery feels off.
And now Victor was dangling from his feet as he is in front of the catgirl who currently has a menacing aura conflicting with her pleasant smile, "Took you long enough," she started sharply, "did no one ever teach you not to keep a lady waiting~nya?"
Victor could only try to struggle as he looked around, "You know, a lady usually doesn't stare at a guy when they're working out."
Victor jumps as she suddenly appears in front of him with little warning, an amused look on her face and mouth curled in a teasing smirk, "Then you have a lot to learn about us, so-called, ladies~nya."
"Hmm," Victor hums in interest as he tries to keep his cool, "I hope that's what we're here for."
"Hmm?" She hums, running a finger from his solar plexus up his torso, causing Victor to grit his teeth as he tried to hold back the pleasurable shivers from the action as her teasing grin only intensified, "As interesting as such a conversation would be," her finger became a hand, nails softly raking against Victor's abdomen as his pleasure only intensified before inserting her thumb into the waist of his jeans, causing him to struggle only for roots to hold his arms, and pulling as she trailed the waist to the front but stopping at his thigh as she smirked, "that's not the reason why we're here~nya."
"You know," Victor started from his bound position, "I'd feel a lot better if I was looking people in the eye when talking to them."
"Why?" Kuroka started with a teasing grin still in place, "Don't like being toyed with? I know Gods who would kill to be in your place~nya."
Despite this, she did what he asked as he grinned, "Thanks."
She didn't expect for him to flare in a light of green as he reared his head and brought it forward into a headbutt at the frozen catgirl.
Using Extreme Heat Mode isn't anything special to Victor, he becomes swifter and stronger and his hits become better while he becomes more durable. And a headbutt usually hurts the one hitting and the one being hit.
What doesn't usually happen is a flying victim from a simple headbutt.
Victor exclaims as he falls to the floor, grunting as the snow hits his face and Kuroka's body hits the ground simultaneously.
Victor gets up and scratches the back of his head, cautiously walking towards the downed form of Kuroka as he couldn't help but shiver at the catgirl's forehead, "Oooooh, that's gonna leave a mark."
To this day, Victor believes that the retaliatory gut punch was a bit too much.
A/N:45. That's how many pages this is without this little section. 45 pages. With the 'To Give Meaning' section being added it may be 46. Anyway, it may be even longer when I return to edit a bit, maybe shorten a few descriptions, extend some, dialogue seems to need to be tweaked a bit, regardless, welcome to Supernaturally Unpredictable: Limit Break!
Seems like Victor's back and his first meeting goes a little differently, I think I rushed the romance a bit, but I want to fix that a bit here. Some of the fight scenes are better, in my opinion. So, the first fourteen chapters will basically be the same as the original with things added here and there.
So, due to a lack of development in the original version of the next chapter, I'm looking to get to maybe 20k words( don't worry, writing this beats paying attention in class) to make sure the characters are developed enough. Now, onto Fun Facts:
The harem has been somewhat decided, consisting of: Koneko, Ravel, Kuroka, Rossweisse, Le Fay, Yasaka, and Xenovia.
Victor's build resembles Majima's but a bit more built.
To Give Meaning: The File to be Finished
In a library that is everywhere and nowhere, easily accessible and impossible to access, so large it breaks the human mind yet so small it's one book, a place that is not actually a place, a paper appears as the Archivist picks it up.
How interesting.
The Archivist, in all its forms, raised a brow.
It's chuckle brought nothing but misfortune.
With abilities like that even I'll find myself hard pressed.
"What's this?" An accented voice spoke as he looked at the paper with four other figures looking at it, noticing the picture on the file.
"It's blank." Taiga notes as the others nod.
The Archivist only waved it away.
It is only empty until someone begins writing on it. See?
Already, the writing was beginning to clear as the others hum.
Simply wait, and we shall see something interesting.