Re-uploaded Chapter 16 is here.

Once again finally moving things into the next arc, slowly but surely.

Enjoy.

XXX

He sat silently as his Captain spoke for him in the office of one of the most important individuals in town. Well, at least unless one were to leave out the countless Familia within Orario, that is.

The aftermath of the...event, as some would call it, had been somehow on the better end of their predictions:

A couple of houses burned down thanks to the lighting bolts striking at the city and a few civilians had been hurt in the process, however none of their injuries had been life threatening, at the very least.

However, as for the financial repercussions…

"Four hundred and sixty Millions." Royman Mardeel said in an uncaring tone as he shuffled through the many reports he had gotten from the Mayor and other important figures within the city. He was an obese man, to say the least, and though for elven standards he was still considered middle aged he did not look the part: the many years as the Head of the Guild and the stress that accompanied said position showed on his wrinkled face. "Well...as this was an unprecedented incident the Guild can pay off most of the damage your Familia caused, unintentional as it was. However, you need to pay this sum yourself."

"...Sigh...Is there no way to bring that number down?" Finn asked with a sigh, sinking back into his seat as a headache started to make it's presence known to him.

"Unfortunately, no." Royman said, not looking up from his papers. "That…" He looked up for a moment, at Raiju in his small-dragon form, wrapped around Fuzen's neck and shoulders before looking back down. "Spell, as you called it, has not only caused physical damage to the city, but also economical ones. The couple of hours we needed to explain to the City that no threat was present had caused much of the economy in the city to remain static. From blacksmiths to agricultural work done by the Demeter Familia, to the countless small-business like shops and restaurants, all lost a lot of profit in the hours after...it manifested."

Finn sighed, in no small part because he knew Royman was right: Fuzen's unleashed Magic had caused many problems, to say the least.

"Hmpf. That sounds like a You problem, porky." Raiju voiced but a single moment later, throwing his long neck back in a gesture as if looking down on the elf. "How is it our problem that your fragile city and weak-minded inhabitants could not withstand my power, the power of my magnificent Master who will one day stand atop this whole world? If anything, you should get on your knees and be graceful my peerless Master decided to grace your filthy city with his glorious presence- Gah!"

Before he could finish a hand wrapped itself around his neck, the grip strong enough to almost crush his windpipe. "Put a lid on it, lizard. You've done enough already today."

"T-The truth...cannot be silenced...my Master! These...swines wish to...put Master to work! This cannot be allowed, my Master-Gah!"

"I said. Shut. Up."

"...Yes, Master…"

"...Anyway, as I previously said, the matter has been settled and the fires that broke out have been quickly contained, in no small part to your Familia's quick response for which many are grateful. I will have a Guild member come by your Familia later with a full report on the repercussions. That would be all."

"Understood, Royman." Finn nodded and stood up, Fuzen following his example. "Thank you again for dealing with everything so quickly and for your willingness to pay off some of the costs."

"It's no problem, Braver. Now, I still have much to do."

"Of course. I will be awaiting your report, then."

With a slight bow both Fuzen and Finn left the spacious room and then walked down the stairs to the Guild lobby, where all the Adventurers were.

Immediately, Fuzen's new-found fame could be felt: all eyes turned to him and the chatter between Adventurers and Guild employees died down as he and Finn descended down the stairs and into the lobby.

"Don't mind them." Finn whispered, but he hardly needed to. Though he felt bad for the houses that burned down, the Guild would pay for them at the moment, while Fuzen would go on to make profit and give it to the Guild. No one had been fatally wounded either, so overall, with the exception of the panic Raiju had caused not much damage had been done.

The matter had been quickly dealt with, and as such, he felt no need to feel bad or ashamed.

"...So that's him?"

"Yeah, some Level 2 from Loki Familia."

"And that's his Magic? The dragon?"

"So I heard. Brat's gotten lucky."

"Yeah, he will probably get pampered by his Familia for the rest of his life."

"Guys like that never have to work hard like us."

"Some surely have it easy in life…"

Though they tried to whisper and remain unheard, Fuzen nonetheless heard them loud and clear. It didn't matter for him, though. People always loved to talk about others as if they had lived that person's life for them.

They didn't.

However…

"Hey, maggots! Why don't you say that again?!" Raiju yelled as he flew away from Fuzen, shifting into his human form within seconds and slowly walking up to the two Adventurers who whispered among themselves. "What, dragon got your tongue? I said repeat what you just said if you have the balls, asswipes."

"Behave yourself, lizard." Fuzen commanded, fingers gently wrapping around the sheath of his sword. He would not have him go out of control two times in a day. "We are going."

"Master, how can you allow this to go unpunished?! These...weaklings, they could not survive one week in Master's shoes! They need to be punished for having the gall of looking down on Master-!"

"Raiju, I said behave yourself!" To even Finn's surprise Fuzen yelled back at the sentient Magic, not about to put up with anything anymore for the day. Between Lili's betrayal and the lizard terrorizing the city, he had enough events for one day. "We are going. Now."

Raiju tsked but nodded, walking behind Fuzen and Finn out of the Guild, however not before staring down at the two Adventurers one last time. To say they froze in fear...would be an understatement. "...Master, I do not understand. Why do you let weaklings like that talk down to you?"

"...Because they are not worth the time needed to enlighten them. They are weak, and I am stronger. As long as they simply talk behind my back and do nothing else, that fact will not change. Their words matter little."

"...Master. How can you become the strongest if no one knows you are strong?" Raiju asked.

"Did you not say you share my knowledge? You should know then."

"Master, I share your knowledge, but not your previous thoughts. I am a part of you. I am not you."

"...Sigh...Stop asking so many questions, you are annoying. Point is, stop picking fights for the dumbest reasons possible." Fuzen said with a head shake. Today had been too much for him and it wasn't even evening yet.

Only a couple of hours, six or so, had passed since Raiju manifested above the city, after all.

Luckily, if there was one thing Orario had in common with Fuzen, it was the city's love for efficiency. After he named Raiju and the matter was brought under control it only took roughly two hours for the whole city to learn that, firstly, the gigantic dragon was a Spell belonging to a Loki Familia member, secondly, that it was under control, and thirdly, that they were under no further danger.

This efficiency was mostly thanks to the Ganesha Familia who acted as the police force of the city. They had arrived at the Loki Familia Manor within minutes of Fuzen naming Raiju. With the group were Ganesha's eleven Level 5's Adventurers, led by their Captain Shakti herself. Though they said they simply wished to inquire about what was happening and why a dragon was seen on the Twilight Manor's perimeter, their drawn weapons were sign of their willingness for more than just a talk, depending on what Loki Familia had to say.

Luckily, Finn quickly handled the situation in nothing short but stellar fashion and the Ganesha Familia quickly spread through the whole city, using their large numbers to act as messengers. It was through their help that the mass-panic had been pacified before anything worse could happen.

...I should ask Loki-sama to be allowed to visit them and express my sincere gratitude to them...Wait what? Fuzen turned on his heels and faced Raiju. What...do you mean by...my previous thoughts? He directed his thoughts at the dragon. Based on his words, that could only mean…

Ah, yes, my glorious Master. His voice echoed in Fuzen's mind, the boy never before having felt so violated as at the current moment. Until my recent awakening, I only shared your knowledge, but now that I was able to manifest myself into the material realm, I can hear Master's thoughts, as well.

The lizard replied as a grin appeared on his face.

...You've got to be...fricking kidding me…

Of course I am not, my glorious Master! I, Raiju, would never lie to mine own Master!

"...Sigh...Of course…" He felt the headache intensify as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying his hardest to push these matters out of his thoughts, unfortunately to no avail.

"Fuzen, is something wrong?" Finn asked, having noticed the distress on his Familia member's face.

He turned to his Captain. "It's just that…" Then he stopped mid-sentence for the briefest moments, eyeing the Captain with a questionable stare.

I highly respect Captain Finn, but in the end, he is still but a man, and men are wicked. Like what Lily had just taught me, no one would put another above themselves, even one who is a leading figure. He has goals he wishes to achieve, not unlike me, and I doubt he would hesitate to use me to achieve said goals…

He then looked over to Raiju, who had the very same eye colour as him. ...The lizard is annoying, but I do know for a fact that he is linked to me. I also cannot kill him, and he cannot live without me. At the very least, I should not have reason to worry about betrayal from him. With that said…

"...nothing. It's nothing you need to worry about, Captain Finn." Fuzen shook his head and walked on, Finn by his side while Raiju following a step behind them. There was no need for anyone besides him and Raiju to know about their telepathic link.

After all, in case of betrayal, this link would prove useful even more so if no one knew about it.

"You know you can talk to me, right, Fuzen?"

"...Yes, Captain. With that said, I believe I am not in need of your guidance at the current moment."

"...Very well. Then, let's go back to the Manor. We will need to work out how to pay the money we owe to the city, as well as find out how to integrate Raiju in our formation."

"Pallum, it appears you are not aware of the facts: I only listen to my Master." Raiju replied, though at the very least his tone was much more polite when addressing Finn than other people.

"Lizard, I am nonetheless part of the Loki Familia. You will listen to Captain Finn, whatever you want to or not. Do you understand?"

"I will...not do any such thing." Raiju replied, arms crossed across his puffed-up chest. "As Master's Magic, I am second to none, with the exception of Master himself. I will do no such things as listen to the words of those beneath me. I refuse to follow any order that does not come directly from Master."

Fuzen felt his eye twitch, just barely able to contain his inner turmoil he was feeling at the moment. "...I just told you to follow any and all of Captain Finn's orders. Is that not an order in itself, or is your brain still in development in that empty reptilian head of yours?"

"Master, the Pallum could give me an order which would be in direct conflict with Master's morals. That is the reason I cannot accept any of his orders."

"So besides being a leech, you are also arrogant enough to dismiss the hierarchy of the Familia you are part of?" Slowly but surely Fuzen reached for his sword, fingers grasping the hilt. "Just so you know, I don't take kindly to unnecessary things in my life. If they are not useful to me, I cut them."

Raiju stared back, a look of reminiscence on his face. "I know, Master. I know…"

The dragon received a nod in response as the sword was slowly drawn. Before things could escalate any further, however, Finn moved between the two, hand holding Fuzen from drawing his sword further. "Now, now. Let's not cause another scene in the city." A head gesture followed and Fuzen looked around, the civilians going on their day having stopped and looking at them from a distance. "How about we get home first before anything else?"

Indeed, he had little interest in any more troubles than this, thus Fuzen sheathed his sword again. "...Understood."

With no further delay the three moved on, Fuzen feeling countless stares on his back. It has not been his intention to become a symbol of fear. However, truth be told, he also cared little that people began to fear him, in no small part thanks to Raiju's manifestation into physical form.

It had not been his original intention, but it served just as well.

As long as his name would become known to every breathing being on the face of the planet, half of his goal would be achieved.

Initially, he planned on waiting for that part of his goal until he became stronger. He was no fool, after all: though the Lighting Sword Style was somehow known in the Far East, few people outside the country knew of it.

Becoming well-known before reaching greater heights was simply foolish, for it was inviting strong, like-minded individuals to seek him out and challenge him. His honour would not allow Fuzen to run away from a fight, from a life or death fight, and if he just so happened to meet an opponent he could not defeat at his current level...well…

That would be the end of it.

But, that could no longer be helped now.

Raiju's manifestation drew the attention of the whole city on him, of that he was sure.

However, it was unknown to Fuzen just how much attention he would draw…

XXX

A couple of hours later, Babel Tower, top Floor…

The room was big and spacious, an air of superiority reflected in it's simple yet grandiose design. Furniture was scare but high-quality, the wall opposite of the large windows which offered a bird-eye view upon the city filled with bookshelves, each one of them neatly filled with works of literature from all corners of the world.

In the middle of the room, yet close enough to the windows to observe the city, stood a regal arm-chair of golden and red design. Upon it stood a Goddess, known to many yet seen by few: Freya, Patron Deity of the Freya Familia.

She was beautiful and peerless, in beauty and status both.

At the current moment, she wore an excited smile on her plumb, cherry-pink lips. To her right, near the wall, stood a man of titanic size. Unlike the Goddess he was dressed plainly and nothing truly spoke of his status. Still, the man was none other than Ottar, Captain of the Freya Familia, and no clothes could ever hope to speak more of his status than his awe-inspiring presence itself.

In his hand he held a piece of paper, the very report Freya had asked for after the incident earlier that day. He was still in the middle of briefing her on the recent events.

"...after Loki and Ganesha Familia split up and contained the spreading panic, informing the citizens that the danger had passed, Finn led Fuzen Katsumi to the Guild where they discussed the matter with Guild Head Royman. Unfortunately, we could not gather intel on what the discussion was about." He lowered the paper and looked straight up at his Goddess. Their eyes did not meet, however, as Freya continued to watch over the city with great interest reflected in her eyes. "That concludes my report, Lady Freya."

"...Good work, Ottar." She gave a small nod. "And you say this dragon's name was…?"

"Raiju, my Lady."

Freya chuckled slightly at the sound of that name. It was not a secret that Deities could speak and read, as well as understand, all mortal languages. As such she understood what the meaning behind that name was.

Thunder Beast.

How cute. The Goddess thought to herself, the image of that flying dragon and the boy hanging onto his tail still vibrant in her mind. Such a childish name, taken at face value. Is that the sort of person that child is?

Freya herself has known of the boy since he came into town. His soul was impossible to miss, after all.

Still, maybe it was because of their wide-spread fame, or maybe because of something else, Freya did not know, however, the boy's first objective once within the city walls had been to contact the Loki Familia which he had joined shortly after.

With that, before she could even decide if she wanted him or not the boy managed to slip out of her grasp.

All things considered, her Familia could, most probably, deliver the boy to her if she so desired. Loki was the only Deity in Orario who could match her power, of that there was no doubt, but Freya knew for a fact that her Familia could win. It would be a close call, but it was possible.

And still…

"Ottar, what do you think of this boy?" It was not rare for Freya to call upon Ottar's thoughts on certain matters. After all, she was a Deity and there were things she had a harder time to understand about mortals than a mortal himself. However, what was rare was Freya asking for another's opinion on specific individuals.

Ottar knew this well, and he took a moment to ponder on his answer. "...We know little of him. He managed to keep a low profile despite being of the famous Loki Familia."

Freya gave a small smile, looking over at her Captain. "And what do we know?" Though she had kept an eye on the boy, if for no other reason than his soul and it's duality, she knew little of him as a person.

"...He is a swordsman from the Far East, my Lady. It appears he is part of a... school, called the Lighting Sword Style. Unfortunately we have no agents in the Far East and we know little of this school. Other than that, he seems to be part of Loki Familia's Second Group which consists of their Level 3 and Level 4 Adventurers."

"A Level 2 boy in a Group of higher Level Adventurers? Is he a Supporter?"

"No, my Lady. It appears he is part of the vanguard."

"Hmm...Why do you think Braver would allow a Level 2 to be part of the vanguard?" Freya asked, by now even more intrigued than before.

"...Most probably, he possesses a Skill or Ability which allows him to become stronger than what his Level would him to be. That is the only plausible possibility, my Lady."

Freya took a moment to ponder on the words then slowly nodded. It was not unheard of for Adventurers to receive Skills and Abilities which allowed such feats. However, said Skills and Abilities usually only allowed this surge of power to be tapped for a limited amount of time, seconds at best, and they usually had great cool-down time before they could be used again. Even if the Adventurer in question was spared the waiting, such Skills came with great repercussions at the very least.

Freya knew that neither Loki nor Finn were foolish enough to send a Level 2 as part of a vanguard if that was the extend of said individual's Skills, nor were they desperate enough or lacking powerful Adventurers to entrust the first line of combat to.

No, there had to be something more than that.

Something deeper, something more.

Freya stood up from her arm-chair and slowly made her way to the window, her arms crossed around her ample chest, index finger tapping against her arm rhythmically.

She had been here, in this very room, when the dragon manifested above the city.

She had heard it's intimidating roar and she witnessed it's ascend, ever higher towards the sky while a single, small boy hung onto it's enormous body, ever climbed higher up.

She had seen the roar of nature that was let loose upon the city, bolts of thunders descending onto the world below as the clouds danced and swirled above the city, their ashen-grey colour like a sun-eating blanket over Orario.

And then she had seen, just as the dragon had dissipated into thin air, a spark of brilliance overtaking the otherwise murky, dirt-stained soul before collapsing into itself and vanishing without a trance.

...Intriguing. At first, I had only been interested because of his duality. But now, it seems things are taking an interesting turn. Was it the spark of brilliance first, which got covered by the dirt-stained, murky crimson blanket over time? Or was it the exact opposite, and the spark only took form later as time passed?

...Either way, they split off now.

Her finger stopped tapping, and she chuckled lightly. "...How intriguing."

Ottar knew his Goddess had made up her mind and stepped forward by a single step. "Ottar, keep an eye on him."

"Understood, my Lady." With a nod Ottar excused himself out of the room, off to prepare for the task he had been given. Though Freya had only said to keep an eye on him he knew she meant more than that.

She wanted him to personally observe the boy and give his report on him to her.

It was not the first time he had been entrusted to do this, nor would it be the last.

However, he would also not waste his, and more importantly, Freya's time with a half-baked Adventurer.

He would observe how the boy reacted to unexpected situations and how he would handle them.

And if those unexpected situations would not happen on their own by chance then he would make them into a reality himself.

XXX

The same night, Orario, 7th District…

It was late and the pub had already closed some twenty minutes ago. Now all that was left was cleaning and then the waitresses could call it a day.

Still, there was little cleaning to do as few people had remained at the pub after the incident which shook the city only hours before.

Ryuu herself remembered running outside with the others after an ear-deafening roar shook the very walls of the pub, only to see a dragon, long and majestic, flying high into the air. At the rear-end of the dragon hanging onto it's tail was the boy Fuzen whom she had met twice until then.

Not one hour later, while she was preparing herself for battle and to protect the pub, members of Ganesha and Loki Familia rushed onto all streets of the city informing the citizens that the dragon was no danger and that it was the Magic of the boy himself.

Despite having been an Adventurer herself it was not false to say Ryuu had been both shocked and confused to hear about this.

After all, not once in her life had she heard of Magic that manifested itself as a living being.

It was unprecedented.

Neither races with born with innate Magic, like elves, nor the long history of Adventurers spoke of any sort of Magic even similar to what the boy had unleashed.

"Ryuu, can you take out the trash?" Anya called out, two bags of the scraps and other trash which piled up throughout the day in her hands. By now only Ryuu, Anya and Lunor remained at the pub. Mia herself was out of town, having went to Melen to procure ingredients for the pub while Syr had the day off. Chloe had been here too, but a short while after the incident earlier she had disappeared.

Mia would not be pleased to hear about this, of that Ryuu was certain.

"...You could take it out yourself, Anya."

"Silly Ryuu. Meow know Cat People like me have sensible noses. Meow feel like throwing up whenever meow gets too close to the dumpster." The Cat girl explained smugly as if she were some sort of wise woman imparting her vast knowledge to those less enlightened than her.

Though not at the same level of Cat People, elves too had sharp senses thus Ryuu knew what Anya was talking about. The best course of action would be for Lunor to take out the trash, however the girl had volunteered to wash the dishes, the most time-consuming task, and Ryuu would feel wrong to ask her to take care of this, as well.

With a sigh escaping her lips she nodded and grabbed the bags of trash making her way outside.

Once outside, Ryuu fell into deep thought even as she went on about her duties. More precisely, the interaction with Fuzen a while ago when he brought an unconscious Chloe back to the pub.

What is justice, she had asked him. It was a question she wished to hear his thoughts about.

Simple. The boy replied, turning to face her. Justice is...strength. Thus, at the current time, Loki and Freya Familia are justice within the city.

Her lips parted and closed again. That was not what she had expected him to say.

It was...wrong, in her opinion.

...Is that...truly it?

Yes. His reply came lighting fast. Why do you question it?

...Because justice is...more than that. It's an...idea, and at the same time, a...calling.

I see. The boy nodded, slowly, mechanically, without emotion. And how would you enforce or back up this idea and calling without strength? Is there a way to do it?

Once again she needed to think. She had not initially thought this would turn into a clash of ideas, though she should have expected it.

...Justice is...standing up against evil. Even if one lacks the power to defeat evil, by standing up against it, the flame of fighting against evil will spark within others, as well. Then, in the end, evil will be defeated.

Her words were based on more than just fiction. A couple of years ago, when Evilus ran rampant throughout Orario in it's darkest years she had seen first-hand how the evil organization had been defeated by the city's Adventurers. Evilus had strong fighters on their end and many troops, but they lost in the end, nonetheless.

I see. Then, going by your words, your take on justice is to throw countless powerless individuals against an evil they cannot defeat until an individual with enough strength to do so will appear? Is that not...foolish, as well as a waste of life?

Almost immediately Ryuu felt the pain in her heart surface above the walls she had built herself, the memory of the city burning into flames once again taking form before her eyes. Countless civilians, dead. Countless Adventurers, dead. Her comrades...

She could not respond immediately.

Again, he was...not wrong.

If anything, he was more realistic about this than she had ever been. The events of the dark age of Orario were all in favour of his thinking.

Had her idea of justice truly been wrong?

The justice of her comrades?

Of her former Goddess Astraea?

Why...do you think that way? The question came out of her mouth before she realized it. She felt ashamed of her slip. Elves were very private people as a race and personal questions were never taken kindly unless asked by a person they were close to.

However, she had forgotten that and asked one such question of the boy she hardly knew.

...People who have never known peace have different values than people who have never known war. The boy answered her calmly. My personal opinion of justice has been shaped by what I witnessed and experienced, as well as by the reality which made up the world around me. It is probably...not entirely correct. But it is undoubtedly, not completely wrong.

Silence befell the two as they looked at one another for a moment longer before the boy turned on his heels and made to leave. Was that truly how he saw justice? Nothing more than...hard facts?

Could one not at least imagine a better world and fight for that vision?

...No.

That could not be it.

Then is there no chance for justice to ever win? She asked.

Fuzen turned around to face her, one eyebrow raised in confusion. What are you on about?

H-Huh?

He raised his index finger and pointed at the skies above them.

...Those who stand at the top can decide "right" and "wrong". They can define justice. Is there a chance for justice to win, you asked? Of course there is. Justice always wins. There has never been a single instance where justice did not win in this world.

His words confused her, more so that everything ever did.

She tried to rack her brain and make heads and tails of his words, but alas, she could not.

What do you mean? She asked a moment later, frustrated at her lack of understanding.

Simple. The strongest become justice. Fuzen replied, his finger raised up and pointing at the skies. And the strongest always win.

...B-But...that is wrong! She raised her voice, for whatever reason however she could not say. Going by that thought, then if evil would be stronger than justice, it would become justice!

Fuzen slowly narrowed his eyes, his head tilting to the side just the slightest bit.

Alas...we were discussing justice and not fairness. Mayhaps somewhere along the way you began to confuse one for the other?

W-What…?

What is fair is not always just, and what is just is not always fair. He answered her with a casual shrug. Anyhow, if you would excuse me I have to be on my way now. Please do take care of your colleague.

A bow later, waiting for no response to his farewell the boy was on his way leaving a confused Ryuu behind him.

That is how the two ended their discussion and ever since, she had not seen or heard of the boy until today when he became the hottest topic of the city.

Ryuu did not know whatever she had been wrong, or if the boy was wrong, neither did she know if she was right, or the boy was right. It was all so much more confusing after she talked to him about it.

However, there was one thing she knew for sure.

That boy was getting stronger while she remained the same.

She wondered...what was his justice?

What did it looked like?

What were it's morals?

With this new Magic he received, in the form of a dragon of storm and lighting, he has already surpassed many others…

At this pace he would keep on climbing higher and higher, always closer to the top. Did that mean that before long she would get to see his personal justice?

For reasons yet unknown to her: maybe it was simple curiosity, or maybe the hope of having her question answered through actions by the boy, she did not know, but she found herself desiring to see his justice.

"...The strongest becomes justice...was it?" She sighed a moment later and made her way back inside the pub.

...Why do I even care so much about him? Was it that one time he stood boldly against Mama Mia? Was I truly so amazed by that one small action?...Sigh...I do not know anymore…

As she opened the back door and stepped into the interior of pub one last question crossed her mind:

How would his presence have changed that bleak time when Evilus attacked the city?

XXX

A couple of days later, kingdom of Altena, unknown location…

The room was large and spacious with a ceiling many meters high into the air.

Marble pillars the same dark-blue shade as the floor were scattered symmetrically across the room, carved in the most intricate of manners. However otherwise it lacked any sort of furniture, testimony to it's scarce use.

In the middle of the room was a large, round table. Like the rest of the materials used for the room, it too was made of marble but it was otherwise plain and simple.

This was the country of Altena, known for it's great interest and promotion of Magic.

And at this very table stood the most influential individuals of Altena now gathered to discuss the appearance of something yet unheard of which happened in Orario just a short while ago.

"...Of all the things that one could imagine…" An older man, with hair of ashen colour and robes which reflected his great wealth said under his breath as he shook his head throwing the report in his hand back onto the table. He was none other than the well-known First Professor of the Altena Academy.

"Yes, I could hardly believe it myself when my agents informed me." A woman, young and gorgeous with strawberry struck lips and eyes like vibrant emeralds nodded in response, a puff of smoke escaping her lips. This woman was, despite her young age, the Spymaster of Altena, a title she had already held for years, more than most could say. "Do our libraries speak of anything similar ever recorded?"

"Not at all." The Professor shook his head as he fell back into his luxurious chair. "Not one sentence in all of our libraries mention anything even remotely similar manifesting in the past."

"My, my, quite the unique one then is he not?" Another man spoke, his arms resting on the table as he slouched forward.

He was young, looking no older than a sophomore or junior of the Academy with long hair of golden hue and eyes of honeyed brown. His stature was tall as even seated he stood taller than anyone else present. This man was no other than the Treasurer of Altena, tasked with all matters of financial origin.

"Her Majesty has heard of this and she is very interested in this individual. She desires more information on him." The next man spoke, a man of stoic expression and gaze of a hawk. He was the most feared man in Altena, Secretary and Advisor both to the Queen as well as her older brother.

"Understandable." The Professor nodded, rubbing his small beard. He too was very interested, after all.

"Mhm. Spymaster, what can you tell us about him?"

The woman lifted the dossier in front of her, and took out a sheet of paper, holding it with one hand as the other held her pipe.

"Fuzen Katsumi, approximately age eleven. He arrived in Orario a little over a year ago and immediate joined the Loki Familia. As far as my agents could dig from the Guild, he came from the Far East…" A sneer from the Secretary later the Spymaster continued. "...and calls himself a swordsman of a certain...Lighting Sword Style, it appears. He is Level 2 and has been since arriving in Orario. Other than that there is little else to him. His Magic first manifested on the day before we received the report of a dragon which unleashed thunder and lighting upon the city, and it appears that it can take human form, too, having been spotted always close to his...summoner."

"Eureka, human form as well?!" The Professor shot up to his feet, hands both slamming onto the table. "What else?! What else?!"

"Hmhm, calm yourself, First Professor." The Treasurer said with a laugh, amused at how the intellectual in the room closer resembled a child than a Professor.

"Calm myself?! Young one, never in the history of Magic has anything like this ever happened! A human, a boy no less, summoning a dragon through his Magic?! Not to mention it is sentient and can take human form, too?! How could I ever contain myself at such a revelation?!"

"Sit down, First Professor." The Secretary said solemnly and the Professor did as asked. Excitement or not, no one dared go against the order of the Secretary. "Still, Loki Familia was it…? It wasn't enough that they have Nine Hells Riveria Ljos Alf and Thousand Elf Lefiya Viridis, now that Goddess has someone like this under her thumb, too?" He sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He could hardly count the times his sister the Queen pestered him about sending an invitation to the two elves to get them to Altena so that she could question them on their Magic and to see it for herself.

It was only natural, however: all members of the royal family were obsessed with Magic and the pursuit of experimenting, understanding and developing it. It was also what their country was best known for, after all. "...An easterner, was he? Uneducated, warmongering peasants, all of them." He sneered, the memory of the time he visited the Far East on a diplomatic mission still vibrant in his mind. "How such a boy ever managed to manifest such Magic is beyond logical."

"Nonetheless, it is what happened." The Spymaster shrugged.

"...All things aside, her Majesty was even more...excited about this boy's existence and his unprecedented Magic than when she learned of the existence of Nine Hells Riveria. I doubt I can manage to redirect her attention to matters of the state unless her curiosity is sated. What are our options?"

"Haha, no need for such intense planning, Sir Advisor." The Treasurer replied. "He is a boy, is he not? A bit of money, some sweet words of praise, the offer of high social status and the boy will jump in our arms himself. He may be of the Loki Familia but he is hardly unreachable to us, unlike the Princess of the High Elves."

"...Then, can I entrust this matter to you? We cannot afford to start a war with the Loki Familia. Our armies and magic troops would have little chance against their Level 4's and 5's, not to mention their Level 6 Executives."

"Worry not, Sir Advisor. Even if he is of the Loki Familia a Level 2 could hardly hope to ever earn as much as we could offer him, and no individual is immune to the concept of money and wealth. And if that is not enough to reassure you…" The Treasurer turned his head, looking over to the Spymaster. "Then I will ask for a collaboration with our Lady Spymaster. Her web of agents and my connections and money will have no trouble in reaching the boy. What say you, my Lady Spymaster?"

"Hmmm…" The woman took a moment to inhale another puff of her pipe, exhaling the smoke and then smiling lightly. "Why not? It has been a while since I had to utilize my agents inside Orario. Might as well put them to use, just in case they were getting rusty."

"Excellent. We have an agreement, then. Will this suffice, Sir Advisor?"

"...Just get the job done. There is no time limit but do it as fast as possible." The Advisor replied with a wave of his hand. "Then, onto the next matter…"

XXX

Unaware of everything he set and would set into motion Fuzen woke up, once again back in his room at the Manor, and got out of his bed.

It was as always morning, early enough that the sun did not yet rise on the horizon.

"Get up." He stated, neatly doing his bed before grabbing a change of clothes better suited for every day activities than his sleeping garb. "I said get up." He then proceeded to put on his boots and then fasten both of his swords at his hip.

Everything together took less than three minutes and then with a sigh, he turned around and looked down at the floor before bringing his foot backwards and then forwards, neither too powerful nor too mild.

Just enough to wake it up.

"Gah-...Hmm…? Ah...mornin', Master." Raiju greeted as he looked up, his eyes barely open. Then he turned to his side, back facing Fuzen. "Good night, then..."

In response Fuzen brought his foot up and then stomped on Raiju's ribs, this time around with enough force to leave some damage. "When I say get up...you get up."

"...I'm sleepy. Lemme sleep now, Master. You're too stuck-up. Master should sleep some more, too. Otherwise you'll remain short like that and never grow up. You can't grasp the Heavens if you're a shorty, ya know?..."

"...You absolute lazy piece of useless lizard…" He had barely gotten up from bed and already his eye was twitching as a nervous response to his inner anger which he barely managed to contain and temper.

Raiju did not lose the chance which came as a few moments of inactivity from Fuzen and he was already back to snoring lightly on the floor, comfortably placed between two blankets, the tip of his tail which was uncovered sweeping left and right.

This was the morning after Raiju manifested above the city.

Having reached the Manor after their talk with Royman, Fuzen followed Finn into the meeting room where the executives gathered to discuss the matter at hand.

First was Raiju's introduction, which was less than stellar.

Lizard, introduce yourself. Fuzen ordered as he stood in front of the table at which the Executives and Loki sat.

Very well, then. Raiju took a step forward, arms crossed on his chest. I am, per my Master's wishes, called Raiju. You may all call me Sir Raiju, Lord Raiju or my Lord. Though usually this would also need the procedure of having you all bow to me whenever I am in your presence I am a kind individual and shall leave this decision to you.

The hell are you on about? Fuzen asked.

It is simple, Master. I am part of Master, and thus I am made of greatness. Though I do not expect total obedience the plebeians need to at least show respect towards their superiors.

...Get your head out of your butt, lizard.

I shall do no such thing, my Master. Master is the individual who will grasp the Heavens and as I am part of you I cannot allow anyone to look down on me, and by extension, on you. Not humans, nor Gods.

...God damn it, lizard, why can't you even introduce yourself properly?

Hmpf.

Long story short it had taken quite a while before they could proceed with more important matters, Raiju's stubbornness and arrogance knowing no bounds. Why he had to put up with such an annoying leech, Fuzen could hardly hope to guess.

Was it fate or simply just how arduous the path of power was?

He didn't knew but by now he felt like someone was behind all of it, guiding him through hardship after hardship, letting unlikely events happen around him like a writer plotting his script.

...It doesn't matter. Fuzen shook his head, grabbing Raiju by the leg before leaving the room. All I need to do is endure. Same as always. Endure and win.

From there on he resumed his usual routine: walk down the stairs, let Raiju hit his head on every step of the stair, go to the kitchen, prepare breakfast, eat breakfast, scold Raiju for eating Tiona's pudding, scold him again for only wanting to eat sweets, go to the garden and train for a couple of hours until the time came for him to descent in the Dungeon.

"Go, Master, go!"

"…"

"You can do it, Master!"

"…"

"Nice form, Master!"

"Shut your trap already, I can't concentrate!" Fuzen shot back, his head snapping to the side where Raiju was lazily laying on the bench under the tree side-wise, his head resting on his hand. "And why are you just laying around doing nothing?"

The lizard looked genuinely confused by the question. "Hm? Are you perhaps still half-asleep, Master? It's because it's comfortable, why else?"

"...You keep on blabbing about how you are part of me yet you submit yourself to the concept of comfort and sloth…At least train before doing so, lizard."

"Train? I don't need to train, Master~" Raiju replied with a toothy smile.

"And why not?"

"Because I am already immensely powerful, my Master~ Even more powerful than you, after all."

"...What the frick did you just say?"

"Hm? I said I am more powerful than you, Master. Since it's the truth."

"How about I deep-fry you after cutting off your lazy useless head?" Again he felt his eye twitch uncontrollably in response to his rising anger, already having walked half the distance towards Raiju, sword drawn in his hand.

He knew that letting anger overtake him was...not good.

He also knew he should simply ignore the lizard. But...he found it very difficult to do so. Ever since yesterday he found himself having a very, very hard time controlling his inner self.

Raiju himself did not show any emotion as Fuzen arrived near him, his sword slowly rising. Maybe he simply knew he could not be killed, or maybe it was something else. Nonetheless, he simply stared blankly at his Master.

"...Fuzen?"

"Hm?" The boy turned around. "Alf-sama. What is it?"

"...Finn said it's time. Let's go."

"...Very well then." He nodded and looked over at Raiju. The lizard sighed but got up to his feet, following shortly behind his Master.

It had been decided in yesterday's meeting that they would go to the Dungeon first thing in the morning to observe Raiju's power.

Fuzen expected this: he knew the lizard was a Magic unlike any before. Naturally, they would want to know the extend of his power...and as a bonus, his weaknesses too, no doubt.

Fuzen no longer took matters at face-value: Finn, Riveria, Gareth, the other Executives, as well as the Second Group and then Lefiya, all fully geared and ready for battle.

This many high-Level individuals, all accompanying him to the Dungeon just for a display of power?

They weren't there just to observe.

No, far from it.

They were there to put him down if things got out of control. After all, if Raiju somehow took his dragon form again defeating him would take a long time even in the confined space of the Dungeon.

Dealing with Fuzen would be far faster.

He realized this the moment Finn proposed this sudden departure for the Dungeon. He had no hard evidence of this being the case, but he knew it to be the case.

Even now, a day later, just thinking about it…

Of course they would do this. Every single one of them…

His eye once again began to twitch without his realization.

"Fuzen, you ready?" The Captain asked, standing in front of the group who would accompany him, all ready to go.

He managed to hold back a Tsk from escaping his lips and simply nodded in response. Without further delay they moved on, towards the Dungeon.

Master, how much of my power should I unleash? Raiju's words echoed inside his mind.

Don't...do this. It feels gross and violating.

Sorry, Master. But going by how Master's mood is, I thought you would want to have a private discussion.

I don't want anything except you going away for good. You're leeching off my Ki and I'm trulynot happy about it.

Sorry, Master, but no can do. I'm here for the stay~

...I will have you transform in your small-dragon form and I will deep fry you then eat you with rice and soy sauce.

...Eww, that's gross to imagine.

Your cold, oily and slick scales are even more gross than that so just shut up and put a lid on it, you useless leech.

...Whoa, you truly are moody today, Master. Are you hitting puberty, mayhaps?

I am not moody. Now shut up...or I will, without fail, smash your head against the ground so many times your annoying smug face will turn to fricking mash!

Oh, shiet, yes you are moody all right, Master.

"I said I'm not-!…" Looking around him Fuzen quickly realized his slip as all eyes turned to him, confused at his sudden scream. He sighed and face-palmed himself. "Nothing. Yes, nothing is wrong. Please walk on and pretend this never happened. Please and thank you."

"...Oooo...kay…." Tiona replied, just as confused as anyone else. Nonetheless they did not pursue the matter further and simply walked on.

...Great job, leech.

Hey I'm not the one who lost himself in the moment, Master.

...God's above who have not descended, what have I done to deserve this…?

Gods can't hear you, Master. Only I can~

...Master?

Master~?

My Master, are you ignoring me?

Master? Hey? Hey, hey? My Master?

...Holy crap. Master has...managed to unlock some sort of enlightenment and he no longer needs to think! He's in a completely different plane of mental existence! I, Raiju, am in awe at Master's new achievement I shall cheer you on, Master! Go, Master, go! You can do it! You're short but you can do it!

Shut the hell up!

XXX

They had arrived on the 24th Floor, the group's first stop in the Middle Floors, where Finn wanted to see Raiju in action.

Naturally, as Fuzen expected the Monsters up to this point provided no challenge for the lizard as he defeated them with simple kicks which caved their skulls in.

As they approached the 17th and 18th Floor Raiju began to use the power he was named after: lighting, crackling untamed around his body. A single touch with a finger and all and any enemies were fried to death, without exception and without fail.

And every time he used said lighting, Fuzen felt a chuck of his Ki being sapped away, 'flowing' towards the lizard against his desire.

...Fricking leech.

"No incantation, and no staff or medium through which to direct the magic...Truly, this is incredible…" Riveria muttered under her breath, observing Raiju with great interest and every now and then exchanging words with Lefiya and the other mages.

Yeah, no. It's because he's a leech who saps away at my hard work. Don't be so amazed by useless bums, Alf-sama.

Hey, that's harsh, Master.

You go back to fighting before I come over there and give you one myself.

...Tsk...Master is moody…

Go the frick back to fighting!

Yes, Mom- I mean Master.

Now on the 24th Floor, the group stopped in their tracks for a while as the Amazon sisters were sent out by Finn to gather monsters and direct them back to the group.

"You've done well in one-on-one, Raiju, but how do you think you'll manage against a large group of enemies?" Finn asked.

"Hmpf. Don't you underestimate me, Pallum. Be it one enemy, a thousand, a million or the whole world, all will be reduced to ash and smoke in mine Master's name." The lizard replied, his chest puffed-out, at least until Fuzen walked behind him and began to beat him with the sheathed sword.

"Show. Some. Damn. Respect. To. The. Captain. Already!"

But even as he curled up in a fetal position, Raiju refused to do so. "Noooo! I refuse!"

"I wasn't asking, leech. I was telling you to do so."

"...Never! Why should I?!"

"Why you little…!"

"Hey, hey." Finn jumped between the two, grabbing the sheath in his hand. "It's all right, Fuzen. Don't worry about it."

"...It's a useless leech who can't even show respect for the hierarchy. I do not understand why you are stopping me from disciplining it."

"Ahh...you'll understand, probably sooner than later." Finn laughed, slowly releasing the sheathed sword from his grasp.

"...Anyway, I can feel the two Amazons making their way back here both chased by large groups of Monsters." Raiju informed, standing up to his feet. "Time for action."

"Can you take them?" Fuzen asked next.

"I can. However, if I unleash my power, this forest here might burn off. Pallum, your thoughts?"

"Hmm...don't worry about it. It will grow back. And just in case, we have both Riveria and Lefiya who can use Ice Magic."

"Very well then…" Raiju nodded, popping his nape then turning to face Fuzen. "Then, Master, draw your sword."

"...Why should I?" Fuzen questioned, arms crossed across his chest as a frown took form on his eyebrows.

Yes. Sooner or later. Finn chuckled lightly, overseeing this exchange of words. It was adorable in it's own way, how his member failed to notice just how similar he was to Raiju, both the dragon and the boy using the same gestures and words.

"Hmm...to unlock my power, Master."

...What do you mean?

My form is held through your Magic Power. However, Master is a unique individual who possesses both Magic Power and Ki. One is what allows me to manifest in physical form, while the other is what I use for my attacks.

So you are a double-leech...You've already stole an enormous chuck of my Ki, why do you need more?

Master...your Magic Power has just awakened. It's barely more than a spark of energy compared to your vast pool of Ki which you expanded over the years. In order to manifest I needed to use your Ki for both manifestation and power, as Master's Magic Power is still way too little in quantity.

...I hate you. Truly.

...I know, Master. I know...

"...Sigh...What do you need me to do, exactly?" Fuzen asked after a long sigh, hand reaching for his sword.

"I am still Magic, my Master. And Magic is most powerful when used with an incantation."

"You want me to say the whole incantation for you?"

Raiju laughed in response, something which greatly angered his Master. "Haha, no, Master. I have stages, after all. Not unless you wish me to take my true form. Just the last line will be enough for now."

"...Sigh...Will my blade shatter again?"

"Of course, Master." The lizard nodded with a smile on his face.

"...Why?"

"...Alas, that's a matter for another time." Raiju shrugged, a smug look on his face. Oh, how Fuzen wanted to wipe it off by smashing his head through the wall…

"[...Awaken, and with your deafening roar, shatter the Earth and conquer the Skies: Ikazuchi Jigen Bussei.]"

As expected his blade shattered into thousands of pieces as Raiju's body began to crackle with electricity.

"Kehehe, yes...This is it, this is it! This addictive surge of power!" The lizard shouted as he spread his arms to the sides, inhaling and exhaling with an ecstatic look on his face. "I am...Raiju! And I'm the stronge-!"

"Get the frick back to fighting, leech!" Fuzen ordered him as he used his scabbard to hit the lizard.

"...Master, you need to learn to read the mood…"

"Shut up and make yourself useful. Tiona and Tione are already here." Fuzen pointed off in the distance, where the two Amazons were dashing off towards them, a group of some sixty to seventy Monsters behind them.

"Very well then." Raiju nodded, placing both hands in his pockets as he slowly walked towards the two Amazons, sparks of lighting flaring to life all around him.

"They're all yours!" Tiona said as she dashed past him along her sister coming to a stop behind him, watching with great interest.

Then, I'll unleash an attack on the higher end of my capabilities, Master.

...If you dare to lose control and run rampant, I'll cut your head off.

Yes, yes...Here I go…

The Monsters came ever closer, fifty meters, twenty, then ten. At the last moment, just as the first Monster got close to him and raised it's arm to attack, Raiju raised his foot and slammed it into the ground.

What followed was a scene which would make every epileptic person get a seizure: a show of pure flashes followed by the crackling and zipping sound of lightning being discharged everywhere in front of Raiju.

It was bright, so bright the ones observing from the back could hardly keep their eyes open. It went on and on, moments, seconds, then a dozen seconds. Finally, slowly but surely, the flashes began to die out as the attack came to an end.

"...Well...shit…" First to break the silence had been Tione, letting go of her lady-like persona as she watched what followed after Raiju's attack.

"Yeah...no joke…" Her sister agreed.

Ash and dust.

From the trees, to the grass to the Monsters and to the ground, everything was pitch black in wake of Raiju's attack and nothing managed to retain it's form, or even a form resembling what it once was.

"...Sorry. It looks like...we don't need to worry about a fire spreading out. It appears that…" Raiju said, a smug grin taking form on his face as he slowly lifted both of his arms to his sides, T-posing before the whole group. "...I am so powerful, I cannot manage to execute a weak attack, even when I wish to do so."

...Roughly ten percent of what he had left.

That is what Fuzen's final calculation pointed at after Raiju finished his attack. Ten to fifteen percent off all his Ki, for which he would need to execute at least four or five Techniques to use up.

Naturally, he did not mean the Ki pool he had received after his third Ki awakening.

No, that was now but a sweet fleeting memory having been devoured by the leech upon his manifestation.

He had lost his power, that was the sad truth.

Raiju took more than half of his Ki when he manifested, Ki which did not regenerate slowly over time as it would usually do.

That was Ki which he would never get back, probably not until the leech was dead something which he already tested out and realized was impossible.

At his current state…?

He was no more powerful than when he first joined the Loki Familia. All his hard work and it's gains over the course of a year, devoured by an arrogant, smug, lazy leech.

Yet another individual who spit in his face.

Worse still, an individual he could not even cut up.

If he did, his Ki would automatically transfer itself to Raiju to knit him back together.

A lose-lose situation, no matter how he looked at it.

It was always a fricking lose-lose situation.

Every single time.

He closed his eyes, feeling the twitch once again manifesting against his will.

All of them, all standing in my way...Gnawing at all that I am, and all that I strive to be...Every single one of them…

It didn't matter.

He let out a tired sigh and shook his head.

It didn't matter.

He knew his goal was nothing short of nigh-impossible.

It was also the very definition of blasphemous. Of course life and reality would get in his way.

It didn't matter.

It never mattered.

He would endure, and succeed.

Not all was lost, after all.

I lost my Ki, and thus most of my power. That is my reality. Then, what do I do? Simple.

He nodded to himself as he followed behind the group, all of them going on about Raiju and his capabilities.

I'll simply Level Up. That will make up for my missing power. Level 3, 4, 5, 6, even god damn Level 10 if I have to.

Naturally he knew it would be hard to do, even twice as hard as usual for him. There was a good reason why he barely saw any improvement in his Status, and it was all linked to him being a Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style.

How long would he even need to Level Up to Level 3…?

Screw that. I don't have time. I need to get strong fast. So far I somehow, to my own shame, taken it slowly since I arrived in this city. I even let others dictate how to train and when to train. No more.

Finn, Riveria, Ais, even Loki herself, he would not let their words distract him from his goal any longer. He was here to become the strongest and grasp the Heavens.

Nothing less than that was acceptable.

Thus no more delay would be accepted, either.

Fuzen nodded to himself, his mind already made up. He looked over to Raiju still boasting about his strength as he walked in front of the group.

You want to use me? Very well. In exchange, I'll use you, too. I don't take kindly to freeloaders, after all. Oh, I'll use you however I need to for my own gains, alright...

And then suddenly his mind felt clear, no longer overtaken my anger.

He also felt lighter.

Did he drop something on the way?

He looked over his shoulder, behind him: there was nothing there.

Had it been his imagination?

...It didn't matter.

He gladly accepted the clarity of mind.

He would need it for what he was going to embark on.

XXX

Ey.

Like I said in this AN in the original post, he is slowly starting to descent into...something.

That clarity of mind at the end might be confusing for some.

I'll summarize it this way.

If you are tasked with a mission, then what exactly counts as a burden upon your mind?

The responsibilities, right? The morals. Priorities. Your own humanity.

"To successfully bring this mission to an end I need to do X and Y while keeping Z alive, all while keeping everyone else out of harm's way, etc, etc, etc."

So then, if those things are the burden upon your mind, then what would cause you to get a clarity of mind?

Hope that's not too confusing.

Kay bye.