I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Roygun found herself back in her cell once more. It was small, ugly, and lacked many of the things she once possessed back in her home, but at least she had a bathroom, which many of the other prisoners didn't own in their cells.
Devils didn't offer mercy to those that betrayed or committed grave crimes. She knew that, and now that neither her parents nor peerage supported her, she was all alone.
Alone and with the blood of many former comrades in her hands.
"98 prisoners. Ninety-eight lives that I have taken with these hands. Did my father do this during the war?" Roygun asked herself as she checked her feet and the rest of her body.
She had evaded most fights during the civil war, and in many cases, her peerage had taken the task of eliminating the enemies that opposed her. Those around her had protected Roygun, and she could never claim that she had been close to dying.
Now, several scars covered certain parts of her body. None of the 98 prisoners offered mercy to her as they fought to escape the hopeless arena. Each one knew what being in that place meant as they had created it to take care of the so-called "opposition" that they needed to be gone.
Quite poetic.
Roygun saw no mercy from them as they even called her a traitor who sold out to Sirzechs and the other satans.
"You skank. Roygun, you betrayed us to save yourself. We gave you the tools to reach the top, and this is how you paid us?"
She could still remember the words of the first prisoner who had been the one that approached her in the first place with the king piece.
"I was an idiot. If I could only go back and tell myself…. No, it wouldn't have changed anything. I was too focused on winning. The praise, the glory, the cheers of the public, it was too good to let it escape my finger. I was close to the top, and my peerage supported me alongside my family, but I failed them." Roygun continued to care for his wounds as she reflected on the past.
A small bottle with a gooey green liquid sat on a small table beside her bed. Roygun reached out and poured the liquid on her wounds.
She bites her lips as the liquid burns her. "Blessed mother Lilith, this continues to be the most unbearable part of the treatment." After the injuries had stopped bleeding, Roygun put bandages around them.
With her injuries out of the way, the disgraced former king falls to her bed, Roygun covers her eyes as she tries to relax and fall asleep.
Yet fate had other plans in store for her. The loud sound of a metal stick hitting her cell forced her to get up. Roygun's eyes met the black mask of one of the guards that kept her under surveillance.
"Good job, Roygun. With this one, that makes 98 executions. So if you continue, we can put a good word for you. How does becoming an official guard and executioner sound to you? You get all the rights and benefits. You can go to the surface and even have your own house. The salary is not bad, although the place is not the most appealing." The guard said.
Roygun didn't feel confident about it. "I'm not sure. I'm still serving my sentence. I have ten more years under my belt, and even if I were to go outside, I doubt anyone would accept me." As she sits on her bed, Roygun looks at her hands. "I destroyed everything I made. My peerage, my fans, my family, all of them felt betrayed by my actions. I won't even be able to put a foot in one of the rating games ever again."
"Right, that does suck. You were one of my favorites back then. I supported you with all my heart. I felt proud that a female devil was rising in the ranks, but you screwed up big time. Was it that hard to admit a couple of defeats and try harder next time?" The female guard asks.
"I… I felt that I wouldn't be able to overcome the others. Many were more experienced than me. Many were stronger than me. I was barely in my early 30s and felt I had reached a wall." Roygun admits.
"That didn't mean that you couldn't climb the wall. You had a peerage that was there for you. You weren't alone, yet you chose the easy way out." The guard says.
"I know, and I regret it with all of my heart, but one can't change the past. I accept that it was all my fault. It was I who chose to take the piece and use its power. I won't deny it. I'm the one that destroyed everything around me."
The guard seemed curious about Roygun. "If you were to get a chance to return to the rating games and start from zero, would you take it?"
"I can't be a king, and nobody would join me if I got the chance to form a new peerage," Roygun says.
"I'm not talking about being a king. I'm talking about being a pawn. Will you join a newbie as their pawn and try again to reach the top? Can you support that newbie as a follower?"
Her eyes showed doubt, yet one could see the desires that lie beneath. "I don't know. The ranking games were everything to me, but I'm no longer worthy of standing up on that stage."
The guard scratches her head. "I hope your answer will change in the future. I'd like to see the new "you" trying to reach the top as a pawn. I hope that one day in the future, Roygun-san can stand up and show everyone that she has what it takes to make it back without using cheating methods. But that dream must wait; you have one more fight."
"But nobody else was scheduled for execution today," Roygun argues.
"This one is special. It is an execution that could change your fate. If you kill this one, you'll be given your freedom. But if you fail, you'll stay here for another two years until something else changes. You'll have to fight with all you have because this one is unlike the others." The guard says.
"Who is this person?" Roygun questions the guard as she approaches the bars.
The guard denies her question with her finger. "No cheating. You know the rules. You get no information. You only need to go out and fight until your opponent is dead. No advantages to you."
Roygun feels the sharp glare of the guard. Not once had she seen her face, nor had she been too friendly with her. They would chat, and she would act as a listening ear for her but also scold her when she tried to step out of line. "I understand, Miss Guard."
"Good. Now take ten to get ready. I will send someone for you after that. Today might be the last time we see each other but give it your best, Gunny." The guard said as she walked away.
"Huh? Gunny?" Roygun reacted to the nickname she had used with her, but the guard didn't turn around. Roygun listened as the guard whistled and got farther away from her. "Emily! Emily, is that you?"
The guard didn't reply.
"Emily!" Roygun screamed the name, but the guard never turned back. The memories of Emily came back to her; the memories of her right hand, the queen that had stood next to her from the beginning. "Is it you? Have you been there all this time in secret? Your voice is not like I remember it. Your hair is not the same either. Why are you here? Why did you hide from me?... I missed you."
Many questions popped up in her mind, but none had answers, and they would likely stay that way for a long time.
Ten minutes later, Roygun's POV.
Roygun was brought back into the arena in shackles like any other day, but instead of an injured devil, she found a good-looking green-haired man with crimson crystalline horns and a trident tail.
"This is your adversary. Fight him with all you got. We have released the restrictions over your devil powers." The guards said as they removed the shackles.
"What?" Roygun seemed confused. Not once had she used her powers during executions. Her horns grew and became blade weapons, which was part of her physiology. Each time she snapped one of them, Roygun endured a large amount of pain as it felt like ripping one of her limbs.
"Is a special execution, so some rules are bound to change. Win, and you're free. Lose and is back in the cell. Your adversary won't hold back against you, so don't hold back either. Fight him with all you got." The guards finished with the shackles and walked back to the gate.
Roygun saw them quickly escape the arena, thus leaving her alone with her adversary. The man was nicely dressed in a black suit with patterns of golden branches.
The man was missing the coat of the suit. "It has been quite a while since we saw each other." The man said as he cracked his knuckles.
"I don't remember meeting you in the past. Just who are you, and why are you set for execution?" Roygun asked as she took a fighting stance. "He seems calm. I can't feel his power. I don't recognize his voice. His eyes are sharp. He has killed before I should-"
Roygun was forced to react as the man rushed forward; She sidestepped at the last moment and evaded his first punch.
"Good reflexes, but that's not enough." The man says as he twists his body and continues with a reversal kick.
Roygun lifts her arms to block the attack, and her body barely holds up as the ground beneath her cracks. Roygun coughs blood. "I need to get some space-"
"Don't run away from me, Roygun. Nobody will save you from me. Face me with all you got." The man continues with his tail which rushes forward and pierces her right shoulder.
Roygun screams in pain as the blood spills to the floor.
Rossweisse POV.
"He's not holding back with her," Rossweisse said as they watched the fight from the room where guards watched the prisoners.
"He's not one to lie about things. He won't let Roygun get away that easily. This fight is her trial by fire. What she does now will decide her fate." Gabriel said as she saw how Ddraig picked Roygun by the neck and smashed her to the floor. "I just hope he doesn't go too far."
Rossweisse then turns to a black-haired lady who is removing her mask. "Aren't you Roygun's ally based on what Grayfia said? How can you be so at ease with all of this?"
"Emily" smirks. "I asked for this position to keep an eye on her and prove that Roygun-sama could rise from the ashes. Everyone else gave up on her, and I understood their reasons; I was also angry with her but couldn't ignore her. She didn't trust us as her peerage, as she didn't trust her abilities as a king, but she could be so much more. I was her queen, her first peerage member. I was with her since the beginning, so I know that Roygun can be stronger and fiercer than most devils. She just needed this and someone to guide her. Reaching the bottom is the start of a new path for her. I want my former king to grow and climb the ranks once more. If she bleeds or loses a limb, so be it. Roygun needs this. I believe in her, and this one-sided fight is just another step."
Aurora, who's sitting closer to Emily, smiles wickedly. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? Seeing her bite the dust must be karmic for you. Your voice can't hide your enjoyment."
Emily turns to her. "I could have said the same to you. From one former queen to another, how does it feel to know that your so-called "King" has been eliminated? He tortured and abused you and likely did things to you that had lasting consequences. So how are you feeling knowing that he's dead?"
Aurora continues to smile. "I feel mad with rage because I couldn't witness it with my eyes. I became his slave, his plaything. I forgot who I even was. Yet I feel some peace knowing that he suffered at my "master" hands before dying. I could still see his blood dripping to the floor in my dreams. His screams of pain as he asked the Welsh Dragon for mercy. The "me" back then was afraid of losing Diadora. Still, the present "me" is enjoying his suffering every night."
"I see we can understand each other. Former peerage members want to see bad former kings pay for their past actions." Emily says.
"Indeed, my fellow former queen," Aurora replies.
Rossweisse could only watch their interaction with a mixture of feelings. "Would I feel the same after the fight between Odin and the Welsh Dragon?" The valkyrie started reflecting on her feelings regarding Odin and what he had done to her group.
Meanwhile, Grayfia was patiently waiting for the result. She had high hopes for Roygun since having someone with so much potential on their side would benefit them in the future fight likely coming their way. As she admired the girl getting up after being smashed into the ground, Grayfia saw the glint of a rising warrior in her eyes. "Come on, Roygun, show him your best. You have that potential; you just need the drive to push yourself beyond the current limits."
The group continued to watch the fight with many things going through their minds, which didn't exclude Ophis, who continued to admire her so-called "sword" fight without using his powers.
She felt scared about his possible injuries but trusted him enough not to interfere. But even all that trust couldn't keep her at ease when she thought about what awaited him in Asgard.
"Ouros, I made you, so keep him safe. That is your purpose. When the time comes, do what you must to bring my sword back in one piece. I trust you with his safety." Ophis said in a low voice as she caressed the snake around her neck.
The twisting spear reacted positively to its creator's desires as it focused its eyes on its wielder. It had a purpose, and it would accomplish the impossible when the time came.
5 Minutes into the fight. Ddraig POV.
Devil and dragon continued to exchange blows against each other. Ddraig's smile grew wider with each impact he received.
"It seems you wasted no time around this past year and six months. Tell me, Roygun, how does fighting with your bare hands feel? How does the prospect of facing death head-on make you feel? Are you scared? Are you trying to run away?" Ddraig questioned the girl as he grabbed her arm and threw her into the metal fence.
Roygun twisted her body and landed safely before she rushed forward to attack him again. Her eyes flared up with the desire for victory. Her survival instincts told her to continue.
The taste of the blood in her mouth. The pain in her limbs and broken ribs. All of it was pushing her forward at that moment.
"I'm going to take your head!" Roygun screamed as her horns grew in size. The girl snapped both of them without flinching for a second.
Roygun started to slash Ddraig away with two blades in hand with wild movements. She was like a rabid berserker trying to cut her opponent down, yet her attacks weren't easily connecting.
Ddraig was easily reading her and blocking most of them while evading others. Yet he could tell that she was becoming sharper with each second.
"98 executions. If they survived the whole gauntlet, it meant that each one was the best among the best of criminals. You faced each one and became victorious in the end, but that is not enough. Show me your will to claim victory in the face of total destruction. Show me that you won't run away." Ddraig steps back, and flames start to accumulate in his hands. "I will go for the kill as well. It is time to finish this, Roygun. You or me? Who's going to win this?"
Roygun watches the crimson flames and feels the imminent danger of the attack; her mind starts connecting the dots, yet her heart tells her to face him, even if it means death.
"A dragon? No, the Welsh Dragon. I will die if I receive the attack. I need to run- No, stop running, Roygun. If this is the day I'll die, I'll fight until the very end."
Roygun continues forward with the intent of using her power and blades to take the head of Ddraig.
Ddraig smiles as he sees her not backing away, even in the face of death. "Yes, I can see the determination in your eyes. Come at me with all you got, Roygun." Ddraig continues to accumulate the flames into two large fireballs.
Seconds go by until Ddraig throws both fireballs at her; Roygun watches as the two fireballs approach her while they devour everything in their path.
"No space under. I need to fly over the two fireballs." Roygun thinks as she spreads her wings, yet the fireballs increase in size, leaving no space for her to evade them. "They change!? How? Fuck! How am I supposed to pass?"
Roygun sees no way to evade the attack, and her heart beats faster as the feeling of imminent death starts to take over her. Her memories flash through her eyes as she sees the wall of flames coming her way.
"I have so many regrets in this life. So many things are still incomplete. Is this my final stand? Will I die on this day? I- Why am I still moving forward? Why am I not running away? Why haven't I asked for someone's help?"
So many things were going through her mind, yet her body pushed on. Her eyes looked for a way past the flames until they saw a small opening right in the middle of the wall. Small enough for a child to go through.
It was suicide, yet her heart was telling her to do it. Her demonic powers surrounded her body, and Roygun jumped towards that small opening putting all of her fears behind. She doesn't even close her eyes as she passes through the middle of the fireballs. Her body spins until she finally ends on the other side.
She falls to the floor with crimson flames covering some parts of her body. "I'm dead." She feels the heat increasing as the fire starts to eat her attire. She hears how the flames consume everything behind her in an expected explosion. Death was imminent.
"No, you're alive," Ddraig says as he approaches her. "Why didn't you run or ask for mercy? My flames mean certain death. Your body and soul will get consumed, yet you jump. Those blades are still in your hands. So why do you have that look on your face? Why do still fight, Roygun?"
"I couldn't run away. My mind told me that it was suicide, yet my heart told me that I needed to jump and defeat you. I have to kill you to be free, my lord. To be free once more."
"Lord? Damn Excalibur. Anyways, freedom, you say? Why do you want to be free? There's nothing for a coward outside. No parents, no family, no peerage waiting for you."
"I'm not a coward. I'm not going to run away. I will prove everyone wrong. I'm not afraid anymore!"
"Even if it means dying on a long-forgotten battlefield?"
"I will fight no matter what."
"Even in the face of gods and endless hordes of enemies?"
"I will. I will stand up and carve my way through their corpses with these hands of mine." Roygun stands up with her body covered in flames. Blades in her hands, she takes a few steps forward with the intent to take Ddraig down.
"She has changed. I feel your determination. I can accept this." Ddraig smirks. "So, you're not a coward anymore; then you win this one." Ddraig grabs her wrists and starts to absorb his flames back.
"Eh?" Roygun watches in surprise as her body is left completely naked with no visible burns.
"What? Didn't you find it curious that there was an opening in the middle of the fireballs or the fact that you didn't get consumed by the flames? I have much more control over my flames these days than I did in the past. This so-called attack is child's play." Ddraig says in a cheerful tone.
Roygun blushes as she sees herself being exposed in front of the dragon. "I'm going to kill you, my lord." So she tries to set herself free from his grasp.
"Drop the blades, Roygun. Being naked should be the last of your problems right now." Ddraig increases the strength behind his hold of Roygun, making her drop her blades. "You have nothing waiting for you outside, and I would have let you rot in this place, but I can see you have changed. I acknowledge this current you, so I offer you a chance to get out. Join me; I will ensure you become a warrior worthy of climbing the ranking games."
"How?" Roygun's eyes grow wide after hearing his words. She's still blushing, but Ddraig's voice captures all of her attention. "You have no place in the ranking games."
"But I know someone that can. Rias will join the games one day, and Sirzechs wants you to be part of her peerage. I disagreed with him in the past, but after seeing your actions today, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I won't approve of any coward in her peerage. Rias needs allies willing to fight beside her, no matter the situation. If you join me, I'll train you, and one day you'll climb the ranks once more. Show your former peerage and family that you have what it takes to get to the top. What do you say?" The dragon questions the girl.
Roygun grows quiet as she reflects on his words. "How can I be sure you're not lying? Why would she accept me?"
"Roygun, Rias has a lot of trust in me and Sirzechs. She'll happily accept you if you have our support and show her what you can do. Trust me; I tell no lies. So what do you say?"
Roygun's eyes couldn't believe the chance that it was being offered to her. Her freedom was within reach, and the opportunity to join the ranking games was even closer. With all of this into consideration, she only could say something."I… accept but please give me some clothes. I won't be able to get married if people know about this."
"Are you serious about this? Clothes? We're in the middle of a serious conversation." Ddraig questions the girl.
"I'm still a lady, my lord. Unless you're willing to take me as your bride, get me some clothes now." Roygun said with her blushing face becoming far more intense with each second.
Ddraig sights as he releases her and starts to take his shirt off. "Here, take this. I'll need to teach you how to ignore stupid things like these. In a fight, losing your clothes means nothing to the enemy. Enemies don't care about your boobs, ass, or any other part of your body."
"But I do." Roygun takes the shirt and covers herself. "Is not big enough. My boobs and ass are far too big, my lord."
"Idiot." Ddraig picks her up over his shoulder. Roygun tries to fight back, but Ddraig quickly slaps her ass to stop her. "Grayfia, Aurora, Rossweisse, Gabriel, Ophis, we are leaving this place. We have preparations to take care of."
"My ass! How could you do this to me?" Roygun grabs her ass in pain while completely forgetting about her broken ribs and other injuries.
Some minutes afterward, the entrance of the prison. General POV.
Roygun found herself now dressed in an outfit similar to Aurora's. "You knew this was going to happen?" Roygun asked as she turned to Grayfia.
"I wasn't going to let you out without your uniform. He's your superior now, so you must play the part." Grayfia said with a smile.
Everyone was present to say goodbye to Roygun. All of the guards in charge of her were present to see her off.
"It was a pleasure having you as an executioner, Roygun. Take care of yourself and make sure not to make the same mistakes as before." The guards said as they bowed to her.
Roygun was surprised by their words, but her former "queen" quickly drew her attention. She couldn't see her face, but she knew it was her.
"Emily." Roygun tried to approach her.
"Stop," Emily said. "I'm a prison guard, and I ask that you respect the boundaries. You should respect the rules even if you have gained your freedom."
"But-"
"Ms. Roygun, there's nothing to say between us. No words will fix the damage done; only actions speak louder than words. So go and prove everyone wrong. Climb the ranks with those hands of you. The Welsh Dragon will make you a fine warrior, so listen to him." Emily said.
"Emily… Alright. I promise to come back one day. Please wait for me." Roygun says in a sad tone.
"No tears. I'll be here alongside the rest of these guards. Show me the results, Ms. Roygun." Emily said.
"I will. I promise." Roygun says as she holds the tears back.
"Time to go, Roygun," Ddraig says as he waits for her.
Roygun turns around and takes off with them. "I'll come back. I promise."
Emily watched her depart with a smile on her face.
"I'll be watching Gunny," Emily says before she turns around and returns to the prison.
26 hours later. Grigory.
Ddraig and Tiamat sat together on one of the many balconies of Grigory. Tiamat was dressed in a tight black suit similar to those they had used in the mission where they rescued Gasper and Valerie, while Ddraig had his standard armor. The purple scarf around his neck signals that Ophis is sleeping inside of him and wouldn't act in the mission.
Ouros was resting on his left hand as his designated weapon for the mission.
The dragoness leaned on his right shoulder, enjoying the peace before the storm.
"Dear, are you alright? You seem stressed out." Tiamat said.
"I have to be. There's a lot in play. One mistake, and I'll regret it. I need to do my best. Issei won't forgive me if I fail." Ddraig said.
"Issei won't forgive you if you get yourself killed. Keep your mind clear and trust others. Serafall, Grayfia, Gabriel, Roygun, and Aurora will draw the attention of most of them. You only need to focus on Odin. Do keep an eye on them but also let them do their best. You're not alone in this mission." Tiamat reaches out and kisses him.
"You need to stay safe as well. Avoid as many fights as possible. Go in and get out as fast as you can with the team. I won't accept if any of you die in this mission." Ddraig said in a concerned tone.
"We'll be alright; I promise to bring everyone back," Tiamat says as she rests her head on his shoulder again.
The pair enjoy their moment alone before departure.
Location: Endless dream of Buddha. Issei POV.
His eyes opened up only to see the faceless heads of clothed figures watching him.
Their bodies were completely white and lacked many features, yet they resembled humans.
The figures backed away as Issei sat up. His eyes wandered around for a bit as he analyzed his surroundings. The area seemed like the interior of a temple—many sacred scriptures hung from the room's walls while sculptures of Gautama could be found in each corner.
"I die once more," Issei said as he analyzed his right arm.
The rosary beads around his right arm had grown heavier.
"Each time you fall, the pain will increase. You need to stop."
"Prayer shall release you."
"Path of carnage and destruction will bring you."
"Accept our help."
The figures tried to help him, yet Issei didn't want any of it. Instead, the dragonoid started to walk towards the exit as the faceless tried to make him understand that he would only get hurt.
Each step he took meant he was bound to repeat the same cycle that had run its course since he arrived here. The faceless were trying to stop this as they felt sorry for their fellow human.
*Tokyo Ghetto- Eve*
"My path is that of a dragon, Gautama. I know you're hearing me. I can't betray my partner. I choose this path of flames. No matter how much I need to bleed. No matter how many scars I gain. I am the Welsh Dragon. Nothing more and nothing less. The "me" now is my true self." Issei said.
Once outside the temple, he found waves of faceless that pray in silence while bowing around the temple.
"Let go of this path, child. Only destruction awaits those outside this sacred city."
"How many more times do you need to die?"
"How much longer can thou endure in the desert?"
"A dream this is, but the consequences are real."
Issei ignored the pleas of the faceless and began to make his way outside the city. The faceless continued to try to offer him salvation, yet he ignored them.
After minutes of endless walking, he finally arrived at his destination. A sword and spear awaited him in the sand at the city's entrance.
"If you take those, the cycle will repeat itself."
"It doesn't matter. This is the path I choose. The present, future, my current family, and the alliance keep me alive." Issei replied as he grabbed his weapons. "Without them, I lack purpose, as there's nothing else to return to."
"You're burning your soul into ashes. Nothing shall remain."
"I have always been burning alive; if my fate is to burn alongside Ddraig, so be it. I'm a dragon." Issei said as he stepped into the desert.
"You're a human with the potential to achieve enlightenment. Do not sacrifice yourself, child."
The faceless called out to him, but Issei didn't turn back. His path couldn't let go of what he held dear. The standard way of a buddha didn't match him.
His path was covered in flames, and Gautama was trying to understand it.
"Thus, the cycle of the burning Buddha restarts once more. Tell me, boy, why have you readily accepted the godly task of slaying Trihexa? Do you feel nothing in the face of such a creature?"
"Fear won't save anyone. A dragon shouldn't run away in the face of danger if he wants to protect those he cares for."
"They are important to you, but what if it was all lies? What if those that claimed to care for you are lying to you?"
"I'll continue to fight until it becomes a reality. I'll move forward until they genuinely care for me. I have nothing left besides them."
"You sound desperate."
"And you sound like someone that is trying to complicate things. What is so hard to understand? Why can't you accept this as my path Gautama?"
"Because you are walking into the mouth of the beast, a god can't defeat Trihexa."
"Then I, as a dragon, will do it."
"Again, with that. Issei, do you understand what this all means? You're willingly putting yourself in harm's way for Ddraig."
"I know, and I accepted it."
"You're supposed to be a human. Not a dragon that is at death's door."
Issei stops himself and looks at the night sky. "A human? Gautama, has a human my age done so much as I have? How many humans can claim to have created an organization such as I have? How many humans have killed as many as I have? How many humans have formed a family as I did? I stopped being human and following human expectations for a long time. It is time that you accept it; I'm the Welsh Dragon. I will walk this burning path of mine until the very end, until my soul shatters into a million pieces. I don't need salvation. Accept and stop trying to change my mind."
Issei said before he continued to walk forward, yet his footprints were burning hot this time. Gautama seemed surprised by this, so he decided to continue questioning Issei.
"You believe in your words with all of your soul?"
"My determination won't waver, Gautama. I'm the Welsh Dragon."
Gautama felt something growing inside of Issei, something that maybe was planned by Shiva. Humans reaching Buddhahood wasn't uncommon, but reaching it this way was far too unusual. The age of Issei, the lack of a normal basis for enlightenment, all regarding Issei was uncommon, yet Gautama couldn't stop it from happening. Issei was already on the path, and his will was unwavering.
"Very well. I'll see this until the end. If a burning Buddha is his path, I will see it to fruition, Shiva. Continue forward, and burn into nothing remains. I only hope that you have no regrets when the time comes."
In this hopeless desert, an unusual candidate for Buddhahood continues forward with his blazing feet on a path of blood and flames.
*Author's notes: So we have arrived at the start of the Asgard Arc. We might get one more chapter by Monday or Tuesday. Pray to Buddha for this miracle.*