It was time for us to go to the familiar forest. When we arrived, I bolted away. I could hear shouts behind me but I did not listen. I had a goal and I only had a limited time. "Partner, are you sure about this?" Ddraig fretted. "Relax Ddraig. I have measures if things go south." I lied. I heard a sigh before it got quiet.
I hoped those fandoms and fanfics were right about her being here. I ran around looking all over for any signs of her being there but I got nothing. I had to kill some beasts that thought I was easy prey along my way which cost me valuable time. Hours passed by as I looked long and hard. When it was nearing the time I had to go back, I stumbled across a huge cave.
It was big enough for my target to live in. I flared my mana for a bit which gave the intended outcome. The ground began shaking as a large figure came out of the cave. A blue western dragon easily over a dozen stories high came out of the cave and its eyes immediately landed on me. The pressure it gave off was tremendous almost making me fall to my knees. "Ddraig, I see you have come seeking death. Or have you finally found my treasure?" the blue dragon said.
" Ah, Tiamat. It has been some time since we last met. I uh, unfortunately, did not come with anything. Rather, it was my wielder who came looking for you." Ddraig nervously said. "Ddraig is indeed correct. It is I who came looking for you. That is because I have a proposal for you." I said. " Oh, and what might that be?" Tiamat curiously said. " I possibly know the location of some of your treasures but I will only get it if you become a subordinate of mine." I declared with fake confidence.
It went eerily quiet when I finished my declaration. Soon though, the quietness was replaced by Tiamat who began laughing at what I had said as if it was a joke. When she calmed down she began to speak. " You are either brave or foolish but I find you interesting. Though, what is stopping me from just ripping the information out of you." Tiamat said. " I have contingencies but if all else failed, I have a kill switch you wouldn't be able to stop. Thus we all would lose in the end." I effortlessly lied.
Tiamat's amusement instantly vanished as she stared straight into my eyes. I was a bit scared of the situation but I did not let it show as I stared right back without wavering. I decided to push even further. " I'm sure it has been a while since Ddraig lost your treasure. During all this time, have you ever obtained even one of your treasures? Who knows how long it would take for you to get them back? That's if you ever do get them back. I'm offering you a chance. All at an insignificant cost. Someone as intelligent and wise as you should know this. So I shall ask once more. Will you join me for your treasures.?" I told her with a growing grin.
We continued to stare into each other's eyes for an unknown amount of time before Tiamat spoke. " I accept but I shall warn you now. If you do not hold up your end of the deal. You shall experience pain so bad, death would seem like a sweet release." she threatened. I only nodded at her words. With my acknowledgement, Tiamat began to transform into a humanoid form. When her transformation finish, I got to see her new form. She had pale blue hair, dark blue eyes and was wearing a navy blue skirt." Let's get going." I said before running back to the arrival location.
We arrived to find Rias and her peerage waiting around. " Jason! You can't ju-" Rias's sentence died off when she saw who I arrived with. " I-I-Is that w-who I think it is?" Rias stammered. " The one and only." I remarked with a shit-eating grin.
" I just came to tell you that I was leaving as my new companion over here can take us out of here without your help." I said before Tiamat made a magic circle for us to leave.
We soon made it back to my compound and I made sure everyone knows the importance of our new member. Once everyone was notified, I took Tiamat to my office for a more private conversation. When we were alone, Tiamat immediately spoke. " I see you have your own faction. Quite cute." she teased. " It's just the beginning." I remarked. " I can see. Anyway, when will we be getting my treasures?" She asked.
" Once my faction and I grow in power. You see, I have reason to believe that certain factions and pantheons may have your treasure." I paused for her to process what I had said before continuing. " Knowing this, we have three options to get the treasure back. Straight-up violence. Simple to understand. That though would get us all killed and you sealed into a gear. Next is diplomacy. This route requires those involved to be on an equal level so the other side doesn't just put us in a stranglehold with their power. Lastly, stealth. Either bribe our way through or steal the treasure. All of this requires both my faction and I to be of satisfactory levels of power." I finished explaining with a huff.
Tiamat seemed to process my words before determining her next comments. "Judging by the fact that you are aware of this, I'm assuming you have come up with ways to resolve these issues." Tiamat voiced." Somewhat." I vaguely responded. " Anyway. Get used to the place. I'll get someone to show you to your room." I redirected." Oh. So you expected me to go with you." Tiamat interestedly asked. " I like to be prepared." I replied.
Once she left I immediately slumped in my seat. She was quite an intimidating lady. I took a deep breath in and let out a relieved sigh. Just one step at a time Jason, just one step.
A week later...
" My emperor, they have arrived." a female gear user informed me. " Where are they." I asked. " They are a minute from the ambush location." she notified.
" In position." the female said. " Then begin." I ordered before creating a barrier. Soon as I finished my order, a mass of light surrounded the two targets. While the targets were temporarily blinded, potholes were created making the two fall. While they were on the ground, two frozen spirit birds flew down from their hiding places and aimed ice spikes at the target's limbs.
The spikes hit their mark and the areas hit were instantly frozen over, trapping the targets to the ground. Four staring users popped out of their hiding spaces and shot at the targets, aiming for non-vital areas. One of the targets got pierced in the left leg and right shoulder while the other got hit in the left arm, leg and torso.
The final part of the trap sprang as four twice-critical users ran at inhuman speeds toward the trapped targets. They quickly reached their marks and instantly fell upon them. First knocking the targets out then disarming them. They finally cuffed the targets before removing them from their icy trap.
We returned to the compound and I had given my subordinates the day off as a reward. The targets turned captives were stripped and put into prison clothes before being taken to the cells. I decided to examine the reasons why we had new captives. The Excaliburs.
If I wasn't mistaken, Excalibur mimic and Excalibur destruction. I held Excalibur mimic and tried to use it. As expected, it did not work so I had to find users for the swords. I could also exchange it for something of equal value. While I was admiring the swords, a subordinate entered the room and stood patiently waiting for my acknowledgement.
I continued to admire the swords for a few seconds before giving the guy my attention. " My emperor, the new captives have woken up." he notified. I thanked him before I told him to get Ayaka then dismissed the guy. I decided to give a warm greeting to the new guests. My emperor. Hearing that still sent shivers down my spine. Ayaka suggested that everyone should start calling me that as the faction was getting larger.
I made it to the cells and heard whispers coming from inside. As I was about to enter, I saw Ayaka running her way to me. " Sorry, I'm late my emperor." I simply waved her apology off as she was actually earlier than I expected. I entered the cell and an immediate metallic odour hit my nose. I got Asia to heal them but we didn't clean the blood off them. The whispering I previously heard went to a dead stop. I saw the two girls acting as though they were still unconscious. " It's a shame. For that boy to have perished. Or did he? My memory these days haven't been the greatest." one of the captives with brown hair shot up as though possessed by my words.
" What happened to Issei?" There was a mix of feelings on her face. " I'll tell you. If you still want to know after your 'treatment'." I signalled for Ayaka to begin before heading for the door. " I don't know if they'll be ready in time for the rating game. I may need the help of some of our supernatural allies." I heard from Ayaka. "Do what you need to do. I just need them ready by then." I walked out of the room heading back to my room.
It was still weird seeing people from an anime in real life. At best, they should be mid-class. I'm sure they wouldn't give two powerful swords to anyone less than that power level and anyone stronger wouldn't be allowed to come here. " You know the church will send people possibly more powerful to look for the two. They already have a possible clue with the letter you sent about that girl's friend dying. " a draconic voice rang in my head.
" I doubt they would find anything and if worse comes to fruition then Tiamat will protect me. After all, I 'know ' the locations of her treasure. Things she had been wanting for decades if not longer so it should be fine. Maybe. I decided to take a walk around my compound to relax.
While walking, I saw just the person I was thinking of." I didn't take you for someone who liked flowers." Tiamat was crouching down looking at some of the flowers a subordinate liked to take care of as a hobby." They are quite beautiful aren't they? So unique and even graceful in a way yet so fragile." We both stood there. Enjoying the soft breeze and light scent of whatever flower was so pungent. " Jason. Do you know why I chose to go with you?"
" For your treasure." A small giggle left Tiamat's lips. Her giggle made it seem as though she had all the secrets of the world. Playfully hiding her answers just waiting for someone to ask what they were. " That's one reason, yes. But there are two more." She let her words hang in the air before standing up and turning to look me in the eye.
It was a bit intimidating but I still held her gaze. " I find you intriguing." She began to walk up to me with her hands behind her lower back, pronouncing her chest. I couldn't help but take a quick glance at them. A small smile appeared on her face but she continued to speak.
" When I'm interested in something, I can't help but obsess over it. Find out why I think it's interesting." She started to circle me, like a predator to prey. " And the third?" She stopped in front of me to look me in the eyes once more. " Boredom. Living as long as I have can sometimes be boring so when I have something potentially interesting, I can't help but latch on to it." We continued to stare at each other for what felt like forever before a small smirk appeared on her face.
" I do hope you make it interesting for me." She walked past me, practically prompting me to stare at her ass. " Oh, and don't die. I won't be helping you unless it has to do with my treasure and I won't save you unless I feel like it." A playful tone was in her voice but I could tell she meant what she said. Times like this reminded me of who she was. Tiamat, the chaos Karma dragon. A being who was most likely alive when Rome was still a baby.
I let out a sigh as I began to walk back to my room. I wanted to remark how I was her only way of getting her treasure back but something told me it wouldn't change much. ' She's an anomaly. An anomaly I couldn't say I didn't like.'
