Subaru stretched his legs, craning his neck as he did so. Today is the day, the new Shop of Wonders is opening today. Subaru continued with his Radio Calisthenics as sunlight slowly etched in through the window.
He could already hear the bustle of other shops and stores opening. He didn't want to be late for the Grand Opening of his own shop.
Once he was finished he got to work on breakfast. Sophia was still asleep so didn't have to worry about her for the moment. Eggs and bacon were cooked with care and patience as he smiled brightly. A few apples (actual apples, not those appas) were brought out and sliced up for Sophia's breakfast.
As he finished his own meal he could here the tell tale sound of Sophia waking up. "Never fails." he muttered as the sounds of her whining reached his ears. He took the bowl of Sophia's breakfast in one hand, using the other to shove the rest of his breakfast into his mouth, before making his way to Sophia's crib.
Sophia cooed as she saw him approach her. He scooped the child up using Invisible Providence and began to spoon feed her breakfast. The infant giggling in between bites as he gently rocked her using Invisible Providence.
A knock at the door got his attention. Subaru quickly taking Sophia into his actual arms and walking down to the Shop level. He opened the door between his quarters and the Shop, making his way past the front counter, and walking through the expanse of the Shop.
He opened the door to find Rimuru at the door. "Hey, you're early." Subaru said as he raised a brow. "Yep, the early bird gets the worm after all." Rimuru responded as Subaru parted way too let him in. "We have a gift to you, to help celebrate the opening of the shop and the joining of our city." Rimuru said with a sly smile as he pulled out a small bag. "A gift, you shouldn't have." Subaru responded with embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck with his free arm.
Rimuru nodded as he fished a large potion out of the bag. It glowed with an incredible power, Subaru could just feel the mana flowing from it. Sophia seemed to agree as her eyes widened as she starred at the bottle. "Should I?" Subaru asked him cautiously. "When ever you feel comfortable." Rimuru replied as he put the bag back at his side.
"Where'd you get it?" Subaru asked. "We make them here." Rimuru answered. "Who... got me it?" Subaru inquired. "Many people of Tempest pitched in to help pay for it." Rimuru answered confidently. "I... don't think I deserve something like this." Subaru replied. "Still, do with it what you want, I'll be back in an hour for the opening ceremony." Rimuru said as he walked out.
Subaru waved him goodbye before he turned to Sophia. "Its special ain't it?" he asked her. Sophia gave a curt nod in response. "Think I should drink it?" he asked her. "Do you really have to ask a baby for advice on it." Kazuma's voice cut in. "Well, she can sense the value of it. Besides, I thought you left" Subaru shot back.
"Not yet, Rimuru wants me here for a few more days. Mostly just ironing out some of the details and shipping times for stuff." Kazuma replied as he looked over the potion. His eyes seemed to widened as he got closer to it. "You aren't taking it." Subaru replied, bringing it closer using Invisible Providence. "I wasn't going to, I'm just getting a closer look." Kazuma said as he raised his arms in a mock surrender.
"Still, what should I do with it?" Subaru asked out loud. "Drink some of it." Kazuma replied dryly. Subaru just turned to him; "No, I'll use it as hair conditioner. Of course I'm thinking of drinking it." he retorted. Kazuma just shook his head, putting a hand on the potion. "It gives off the same feeling as a healing potion, but better." he said cryptically.
Subaru just yanked it away and put it in his free hand. "Fine then, bottoms up." he said as he popped the cork off and drank a third of it. "Anything different?" he asked Kazuma. Kazuma just watched, slowly nodding as time crawled by. "We can never let Kumoko know of it." he stated.
"Indeed." Subaru replied as he physically gripped the potion bottle, with all five fingers. Subaru starred in half stunned silence as he flexed the appendages. "They're back." he stated in shock. "Wait." he said, quickly resting Sophia on the table as he took off the Star Gazer. He looked to Kazuma, only to receive a disappointed shaking of his head.
Subaru realized that the eye was still blind, his deff perception going too hell near instantly. "Well, worth a try at least." he muttered sadly before putting the Star Gazer back on. "Could you watch Sophia, I need to hide this." Subaru said as he took the potion in his hands. Kazuma just shot him a thumbs up as Subaru walked past him.
It was turning out to be a great day.
It was a solid week later that Kumoko would crawl her way out of the shop's basement. Giving any customer who saw her the shock of their lives. Subaru gave Rimuru a quick call using their new network of crystal balls, making him aware of the returning crawling disaster that is Kumoko.
They kept watch, making sure she didn't cause any actual trouble. Unlike her first world, Tempest had more than enough people who could hold their ground against her if need be.
Then she disappeared, probably setting up another Teleportation spot that didn't require scuttling out of the shop's basement. The people of Tempest breathed a sigh of relief when she stopped jumping out of alleyways and dark corners with no explanation.
Kazuma strode down Axel's streets, his Ross disguise reapplied. A small bag of healing potions from Tempest was at his side. He stopped as he felt the bag get one potion lighter.
"Hey Chris." He greeted her. "Hey." Chris replied as she stepped out from the nearby alley. "Just checking out the latest haul?" Kazuma asked. "Who'd you steal these from?" she asked. "For once, I bought them." Kazuma answered. "Don't lie, only nobles can afford potions of this quality." Chris shot back. "Ah, maybe here, but not in Tempest." Kazuma replied with a smug grin.
"You've been there?" Chris inquired. "Yep, cities pretty sweet. Honestly better than most places." Kazuma said. "Its a city of monsters." Chris said. "Monsters more civilized than most nobles here." Kazuma retorted. Chris just smiled; "I'd like to visit it one day." she said. Kazuma nodded.
"So, were you just going to steal from me or...?" Kazuma started. "There's an issue, they want you to put your quest against the Demon King on hold for now." Chris said. Kazuma raised his brow; "That bad?" he asked. "Its about the Waves of Calamity, You've heard them being called The Red Storms." Chris said. "With a name like that, I might as well worry." Kazuma said.
"You see, they started hitting one of the worlds to the far east. After each Wave the next would spread out further. This has been happening in random order since before the worlds merged." Chris surmised. "So, it's an issue that came from one world and making it everyone's problem." Kazuma replied. Chris just nodded; "Yes, the worst part is that the waves are even displacing beasts from the worlds. Tempest never reported it because their warriors are still far too strong for the Waves, but other places are being infested by unfamiliar beasts." Chris continued.
"What's the solution?" he asked. "The world that was first struck had four beings which they would summon to fight against the waves-" "Isekaied folks" Kazuma interrupted. "Yes, these four individuals are vital to fighting the waves, if even one dies then the waves grow more difficult." Chris explained. "So, you want me to find them, and get them in contact with heaven?" Kazuma asked. "Something like that, but the issue is... You have to travel using the waves." Chris said.
Kazuma stared at her for a second. "What?" he asked. "Yes, a Wave is going to strike near Axel in two days. I want you to travel along it and try to find the four people that had been summoned." Chric clarified. "Any specifics?" he asked. "They are known as the Shield Hero, the Sword Hero, the Bow hero, and the Spear Hero. you can guess why." Chris replied.
Kazuma groaned. "Heavens willing to throw in a free wish spell as payment for this." Chris replied. "Right, should I bring Kumoko?" Kazuma asked. "Bring everyone you think can be of aid." Chris answered. "Right... Thank Eris." Kazuma said as he left. "Thank you, Kazuma." Chris said before she disappeared, the potion in her hand returning to Kazuma's bag.
Eris breathed a sigh of relief as she returned to the heavenly realm.
"Come on, it's for the best." A whiny voice echoed out. Eris just threw her hands in her face and groaned. They had been at this for months, no one could agree on how to watch over the new world, what kind of system to give the people.
"No, panic would ensue if you did such a thing." A calmer voice replied. "But a visible system would allow people to better see their stats and strengths." The voice of Speaker D retorted. "No." Came the collective reply of two Divine Dragons. "I concur." A third voice spoke up. "To force such a thing would make us no better than... Him." The third voice continued.
Eris just sighed. The likes of D and Aqua were hard enough to bear, but beings like Od Laguna, The Divine Dragons, and the powerful spirits of other other worlds was just as exhausting.
"Ah Eris, I assume your idea was a success?" The voice of another powerful Creation Spirit asked. "Yes, as we speak he's making plan to find the four Cardinal Heroes." Eris replied. The spirit nodded before turning back to the large business table sprawled out in front of them. "Can we really trust your undead boy toy?" D commented snidely. "Of course, the fact that he didn't join the Demon King fully despite his circumstances proves it." Eris replied.
"Still, he may be resentful and unwilling to uphold his end." One of the World Spirits pointed out. "He hates Aqua and the reincarnated Mitsurugi, not Heaven." Eris quietly replied. "Enough of this, we have the ball rolling, let us put some faith in the mortals and return to more pressing matters." It was Od Laguna who spoke up. "Namely, giving all beings in this world a visible system." D spoke up.
Eris could only groan as the Divine beings at the table began to argue once more. "For what it's worth, I am thankful for your support." Spoke one of the World Spirits as it looked away from the arguing gods. Eris just nodded, preferring to let the others tire themselves out before making a decision. "Though, I fear it may be difficult to get them all to work together." the Spirit continued. "We'll have to work together, for everyone's sake." Eris replied as an angle walked in with a stack of paperwork. The angel dumped the pile unceremoniously in the middle of the table before walking out, leaving the gods to groan at the next set of paperwork to go through.
'So, what am I doing with you again?' Kumoko asked as she walked alongside Kazuma. "We're being paid with a wish spell to find four heroes in one of the other worlds to help fight the Red Storms." Kazuma gave an abridged answer. 'And how are we getting there?' Kumoko asked. "We're riding the Wave, how else." Kazuma retorted.
"'Hold up, what you're saying... is that we're going to ride some monster spewing storm of Calamity and hope that it spits us out near one of these heroes?' Kumoko clarified. "Yes, we're being paid with a wish spell." Kazuma replied. 'Oh, of all the things I could do with a wish spell.' Kumoko rambled. "Of all the things you can't." Kazuma replied. Kumoko just laughed as she imagined what she could use the spell for.
"Anyway, in about ten minutes or so a Wave is going to start near Axel. Just be ready." Kazuma said as Kumoko turned to him. She nodded before laying down. 'Might as well nap.' she thought as she closed her eyes. Kazuma just shook his head and checked his bags to make sure nothing was loose or ripped.
Subaru was walking down the streets of Tempest, enjoying the fresh air for the time being. Sophia was next to him, taking steady first steps as he trotted. A firm grasp was on his hand as he led the infant along the busy walkways of Tempest. She would excitedly point at whatever had caught her eye, rather they be shops, pedestrians, or random items.
A fair wind blew up his neck and he turned to face it. Its seemed to beckon him, but he paid it no mind.
Then an alarm sounded. "Attention all Citizens of Tempest, a Red Storm has been sighted. I repeat, a Red Storm has been sighted. Please go to your homes and lock your doors. The army and Executives are arming themselves as we speak." Rimuru's voice echoes through the newly installed array of "speakers".
Subaru pulled Sophia close as people began to clamber and panic. Merchants quickly locked their shops, people ran to their homes. Subaru followed the message, taking Sophia in his arms as he ran home. He could see Orcs in full battle armor marching out behind a now armed Geld. Benimaru and Shion were just ahead of them with Rimuru in his human form and a large coat over his self.
He slammed the door shut of his shop before using Invisible Providence to bar the windows and lock the door. All around him his extra arms braced the building for whatever may try to hit it. He made a quick decision, taking both himself and Sophia to the basement and stepping onto Kumoko's teleportation spot.
Only to have nothing happen.
Subaru began to sweat, Sophia was already panicking. The spot refused to activate, he wasn't leaving. "Come on, come on." he begged the room. "We can rebuild, but I don't want to die." Subaru muttered. He looked to Sophia; "Don't worry. I won't let them hurt you." he comforted her, pulling her close. She buried her head into his shoulder as they began to hear an intense storm above.
Sounds of battle and the cries of unknown creature hit their ears like thunder. "No one will get to you, I promise." he said, grabbing a sword from the nearby wall. He kept his eyes to the stairs, his sword ready in his free hand. Invisible Providence flared outwards, ready fo counter anything that got close.
Then it all stopped, all the chaos and battle just stopped. He felt as though the World slowed down around him.
Before a cloud of Deep Crimson crashed into the shop overhead, seeping into the basement. "Not again." Subaru shouted, getting flashbacks to the fog of the Great White Whale. He could feel it pull to him, trying to drag him in.
He tightened his hold on Sophia, pointing his blade to the growing cloud. Then his foot slipped, he felt as though he was being pulled into sand. "Sophia." he yelled, pushing the child away with Invisible Providence. He attempted to use the other arms to brace himself, only for them to sink further in. He slashed at it with the blade, breaking it on the ground below the cloud.
Sophia could only watch from her new ledge as Subaru was pulled in and disappeared.
When Rimuru checked the shop, all he found was a crying Sophia in the basement, and a broken blade of a sword.
'Holy shit, its massive.' Kumoko commented as they rushed towards the Wave of Calamity. "And full of monsters." Kazuma followed up as he watched beasts fall from it. 'Then how do we get in?' Kumoko asked.
A strong breeze blew around them, a faint beckoning call could be felt. 'This thing is just plain weird.' Kumoko deadpanned. "Yep, well let's get this over with." Kazuma said as he readied himself to jump. 'You're just going to jump into it?' Kumoko asked. "Unless you can fly, jumping may be the only option." Kazuma said as he pulled a potion from his bag and stretched him legs.
He chugged it down as he turned back to Kumoko. She seemed to be occupied just watching the Storm. 'Should we be worried about it?' she asked. "Not really, the adventurers will be here soon so we should get going." Kazuma said as he prepared to jump.
The effects of the potion kicked in as he lept from the ground. Clearing the surrounding trees several times over as Kumoko leapt across spatial platforms at incredibly speed. The wind of the Storm picked up as they got closer.
Kazuma quickly grabbed onto Kumoko as they were enveloped by the clouds of the Storm.
Subaru was falling, falling straight into a town. Monsters were everywhere, people were panicking, and people were dying. He began to struggle as the ground grew closer.
Finally he used Invisible Providence to spring himself off the ground before breaking into a roll. His back slammed against the side of a house as he landed. He let out a groan of pain as he staggered back up.
He still held half of the sword, most of the blade was broken off, but it would still work. He checked himself, finding only bruises and soreness. A woman ran past him as a large Goatman gave chase. It readied its fist, fully intent on smashing Subaru into the ground as it passed him. Subaru quickly put the blade into one of his hands from Invisible Providence and thrust it right between the Goatman's eye.
The monster fell, blood spilling forth from the head like a river. The woman gave her thanks before continuing to flee. Subaru just gave a small wave before he turned back to the Goatman. He used Invisible Providence to pull the broken blade out of its head before turning to the rest of the town.
He sighed, knowing it was do or die. "Never a moment of peace." he muttered. 'I'm sorry Sophia, I couldn't protect you this time, but I'll be back.' he promised in his mind as he rushed towards the next monster.
Kazuma flailed wildly as he fell. He had been separated from Kumoko as they were traveling through the Waves, luckily keeping his arm this time. He gave a small prayer of Mercy for where ever she ended up as he met the ground.
His body let out a loud splotch as it hid the ground. He could feel himself fall to pieces, most of him breaking into manageable parts rather than becoming red blotches. He couldn't feel pain, but he knew he was stuck until someone helped him.
He looked around, seeing his torso with a massive rock stabbed through the chest. "Son of a-" he started as he looked further down. His head was still attached to the rest of him, but all his limbs were gone. Liquid had begun to leak from his bag, most likely the various potions he had brought along.
"Sir Naofumi, Sir Nagamo!!!" A female voice shouted. Kazuma could only look up before he found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. A white-haired boy with one eye starred him down. He could see that another boy was near by, one with a predominant Shield on his arm.
"Uh... Hey." he greeted, trying not to seem weird. This didn't work as several of the others that he couldn't see began to scream at the top of their lungs.