{|} Canto 24: Devil's May Chat {|}

Hovering above this desert of contradictions, where it was both insanely hot and nightmarishly cold all at the same time, was Maxwell. Floating without issue and sitting cross legged, the duke of hell looked on as his long time 'friend' and contractee, Vlad Dracula, was currently making himself look as if he was Satou Kazuma, in preparation for the momentary arrival of the boy's friends.

He closes his eyes and allows his senses to reach out to feel out their current location.

'Not long now. They'll be here in just a few moments more and then; we'll see how this will all...?'

He's drawn from his thoughts as he feels the presence of another having entered the bubble he had made to surround himself with; the purpose of the bubble to hide him from the eyes of those who would be down below himself. It only takes him a second to realize who it was that had suddenly joined him.

"Remind me, my... 'brother.' Isn't there an agreement that we dukes of hell made with one another years ago; a promise to never interfere with each other's personal business? You are aware that the little trick you played on Dracula earlier could be seen as interference with my business."

His words are met with joyful laughter which makes him look back, his eyes narrowing on the form of Vanir as he seemed to be quite amused. Once Vanir had finished with his little laugh, he walks over to stand beside Maxwell and says-

"Moi remembers that agreement. Moi also remembers that there is one exception to that rule, that being if the contractee of one was to start causing issues for the contractee of another; issues that could cause the other contractee to be unable to carry out their contract, then a little interference is permitted."

Maxwell considers Vanir's words for a moment before looking back, his eye specifically focused on Satou Kazuma's Lich form. After a second, he says-

"So, Satou Kazuma has a contract with you. Is that what you're saying, Vanir? Mind sharing the details surrounding this contract."

"But of course. In order for Moi to create and personalize a desired dungeon over in the mortal realm, Moi will need much capital in order to achieve this. To that end, Moi has made a contract with the boy in order to see items that are common in his world to be recreated in a world where such things have yet to be considered and made real. Until he has been able to craft the agreed upon number, the contract between Satou Kazuma and Moi remains."

"I see, that explains why you've been absent from down here for so long. And here we were all thinking you had started to get tired of all the lies your little band of troublemakers like to speak."

Vanir laughs again before taking a seat beside Maxwell. After a moment, Vanir asks-

"So, will you still be trying to help out your contractee here? Know that if you do, then Moi will also have to offer up some additional aid to his contractee in turn."

"... No, I don't believe there will be no need for me to do any more here. From this point forth, I will simply sit back and watch and allow fate to decide who will be walking away from this. Actually, seeing as your power is foresight, mind telling me how this is all going to end?"

Vanir laughs again before jovial saying-

"Moi COULD look but would rather stay in the dark in order to maintain the surprise. If Moi was a betting devil though, then my money would be on Satou Kazuma. He has a talent of getting himself out of tight spots... or having someone else show up at just the right time to save his ass."

Maxwell nods, letting the silence linger for a moment before adding-

"Tell me something. Seeing as you've been up there topside for a good while now. Can you confirm the rumors that have been going around. About the true state of that world."

Vanir didn't respond though Maxwell could sense a shift in his fellow devil's thoughts, making him then say-

"Do you think the gods know about it?"

"The upper brass definitely know. No question about that, not that they'll lift a finger towards stopping it. Moi doubts they'll even be bothered to alert the goddess in charge of the world of the situation. As for Eris herself. She's being kept too busy to have taken notice yet. But she'll take notice here before too long."

"So then... what are you going to do? Will you be a kinder person and give her a warning or... ah, they have finally arrived."

Maxwell and Vanir turn their attention back down towards the ground as Kazuma's newly arrived 'harem' had finally arrived. What follows was a rather entertaining scene as the Crimson Demon, not fooled by Dracula's deception, clocks the fallen king with one hell of a mean right hook.

"We'll continue our previous discussion later. For now..."

Maxwell snaps his fingers, making some food and drink appear. While devils technically didn't eat solid food or have a need to drink, that didn't stop them from doing either if they so wished.

"Let's sit back and enjoy the finale to this little dive into Inferno that they have all gone on.

{|} Canto 25: Megumin's Role {|}

"THAT IS IT. NO MORE GAMES HERE. I AM TIRED OF THIS. TIRED OF ALL OF YOU. I AM GOING TO END ALL THIS, RIGHT HERE AND NOW!"

roared Dracula aloud, making the gathered group take on a battle-ready stance with Cielo standing front and center, holding Shield Darkness up and at the ready. At her sides were Arnes and Hoost while Lynn hovered directly behind them and behind her, Megumin who was acting as the last defense between Dracula and Kazuma.

A dark, raging aura had enveloped Dracula that, along with the very force behind his voice, was creating distortions in the air around him. It was like the very world itself was quaking in fear of his fury.

It was so intense that glowing cracks had begun to form upon his body. But this wasn't like the cracks that had been on Kazuma's spirit body earlier, before he had gone full Lich. No, these cracks were seething with miasma that was very clearly leaking out. And beyond that, clear signs of arcana swelling within, building and surging like an unrelenting hurricane.

Dracula holds both his hands up and out before them as the cut like marks on his hands pulsates with blood that was pooling out into a bubble. He then unleashes a battle cry as the bubbles of blood burst outwards in a violent manner; packs upon packs of blood wolves and blood bats surging forth, racing out at the others.

Immediately, Cielo was the first to charge forth with Arnes and Hoost following close behind. The closest blood wolf lunges at Cielo only to be cut down by Cursed Lightning sent crashing into it from Arnes.

Hoost fires blast after blast of Fireballs at the other wolves, making them all burst and covering the ground in blood. The blood bats come flying in, trying to overwhelm their visual senses so the blood wolves could get in close enough to sink their teeth into their prey.

But this ended up being for naught as Arnes sends another wave of Cursed Lightning racing around the battlefield, arcing every which way as it cuts down the blood bats, leaving nothing left. Cielo blocks an attack from one blood wolf that had managed to get past the other defense and get in close to her.

Not that it mattered as she uses Shield Darkness to send the blood wolf flying back into the Cursed Lighting as it was passing by her. Cielo then sees a new set of blood made creatures being made. While looking wolf like in appearance, it was different as it stood on its hind legs, having more of a humanoid like appearance.

"Now this guy is trying to get us with a bunch of Lycan wannabes?"

said Hoost as he starts shooting some kind of cursed ice elemental spell to take them out before they could take any action. He manages to burst one of them but the other three that had been made manage to avoid being hit as they charge at everyone.

"Hoost, take that one on the left. I'll handle the one on the right. Angel girl, can you take out the central one by yourself?"

asked Arnes which makes Cielo scowl just a little as she responds with-

"What, think I can't handle myself in a situation like this? Make sure you keep one eye on me here so I can show you both exactly what it is I can do."

Cielo then charges forward towards her opponent as it comes at her fast before leaping into the air while bringing its massive claws the the ready to slash and strike her down. In response, Cielo brings Shield Darkness up at the ready to block the attack while also pushing it back just enough so Cielo could then leap into the air herself, sending her fist slamming into the blood Lycan.

Like all the other enemies, the blood Lycan burst like a bubble; partially coating Shield Darkness and Cielo's arms and clothes in the blood that had made up the beast.

"Ugh... that was unpleasant. Glad I'm a shield right now. You doing OK there, Cielo?"

"I will be once I can wash this stuff off. I think it's very understandable to say that being covered in blood that came from that man over there makes one feel like they've been violated."

Cielo then spars a glance over to Arnes and Hoost, seeing them finish off their blood Lycan's which results in them also being covered with a fair bit of blood. Cielo then turns her attention to Dracula, seeing that he had stopped his assault for some strange reason.

"What's wrong? Giving up already?"

Dracula glares at them for a moment before he smiles a more nerve-racking smile.

"Just wanted to make you feel that you were doing good here."

He then chuckles while snapping a finger. Immediately, all the blood that was covering Cielo, Shield Darkness, Arnes, and Hoost bubbles and turns into a horde of blood spiders that instantly starts crawling all over them and because they were technically a liquid like entity that could take a solid shape, they immediately began to move themselves into the clothing Cielo and Arnes were wearing.

Obviously, both girls give off a shriek as they could feel the spiders crawling into areas that they really shouldn't be crawling into. Because of this, both girls were quickly on the ground tossing and turning all over as they tried to do something to save themselves. As for Hoost, he was simply trying to keep the annoying pest out of his eyes. And of course, Shield Darkness was-

"Ah damn it, I should have saved using my Aegis mode until now so I could have an idea of what having spiders invading my body could..."

"SHUT UP, DARKNESS!"

both Cielo and Arnes shouted.

"This was your mistake..."

said Dracula, appearing above them with twin blood pikes in hand, one held over Cielo and the other over Arnes.

"And this shall be MY victory!"

He then sends both pikes downward to impale the two girls...

"Equilibrium."

… but his attacks never land as the sudden action of Lynn causes Dracula to become momentarily disoriented which makes the stab of his weapons just miss their mark. It was only for a moment, a second really, but it was just long enough to allow Hoost to come in and force Dracula back.

Not that it really mattered as he was quick to go back onto the attack within a moments time. Luckily, Cielo and Arnes, who had finally dealt with their personal problems, had been able to get back onto their feet so that they could also began their counterattack.

But before any of them could even take any other action...

"Dragon Slave!"

this was quickly followed by a ball of searing flame shooting past everyone and slamming into an approaching Dracula who, having been so focused on the others, had failed to keep his eyes on Megumin and her own personal actions. The result of which was now seeing him being blasted back by the sudden and unexpected magic attack. As they others look back at Megumin, they see the crimson eyed succubus pump her arms in success as she says-

"Didn't see that one coming, did you? Let that be an important lesson. Never get on the bad side of a Crimson Demon. Especially the most powerful from the clan... what?"

she said, looking at the others with a confused stare. Their response, following a quick pause-

"What the hell are you doing?"

This, naturally, makes Megumin do a shocked back take before saying-

"Wasn't it obvious? I was pitching in and helping you guys deal with punishing that asshole there. What, am I not allowed to also make him suffer after all that he's done to Darkness and her family and especially to Kazuma."

They all sigh before Lynn comes flying over and says-

"That's fine; understandable even. But THAT'S not your role here, Megumin. It's our job to keep that jerk busy and away from you and Kazuma so you can do YOUR job here."

"My job?"

Megumin was clearly confused, thus making Cielo then say-

"Yeah, don't forget. Your job wasn't just about leading us right to Kazuma but to also be the one to bring him back into being himself should he have gone all Lich on us before we could reach him. Given his current state..."

"You have a bit more work ahead of you. So hurry up and start figuring out how to get him to wake up already."

finished Darkness, making Megumin sweat drop from hearing that.

"Easier said than done. I don't have clue about how to go about doing that. Sure, Kazuma did say my name after we arrived but he hasn't said, or done, anything else since then. Unless you guys have an idea I can work with, then we have a little problem here. Maybe we should just take him back as he is and see if that Ego person can do something towards reawakening Kazuma. If not her, then surely Eris can..."

"What's this? Am I actually hearing this right. Am I hearing a Crimson Demon, who are usually known for coming in unexpectedly to steal the show is suddenly saying she can't do something for once. That we should find someone else to take the starring role here? Guess more than just the lowest level of Hell must have frozen over. I knew your Crimson Demons were all talk and no bite..."

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

roared Megumin in response to Arnes words. Any semblance of doubt and uncertainty were gone from her eyes, instead replaced with a look of defiance. Clearly, those challenging words had ignited a fire within Megumin, one that would show them what's what.

"Fine then, you all just stand back and keep that guy busy while I work on helping wake Kazuma up here. Bet I can finish my job before you can finish dealing with that psychopath."

With that, Megumin turned her attention to Kazuma while the others simply smiled before giving Arnes a thumbs up. The greater devil then says quietly to the other three-

"Sometimes it pays to know the nature of the ones you're talking to. Makes it easier to talk them into doing something."

"Case in point; when wanting to get someone who's a Crimson Demon to do something, simply challenge their clan's pride and honor. They'll give in without a second thought."

quietly said Shield Darkness. Just then...

"Hey, how much longer do you girls plan on just standing around like you are. I could use some help here already."

They all look back to find Hoost battling Dracula, which explained why Hoost hadn't said anything and why Dracula hadn't taken the opportunity to attack them while they had been distracted. Without waiting a second longer, Cielo and Lynn break away from Arnes to go join Hoost.

Arnes herself also goes to move as well but stops and looks back at Megumin, considering something while she hears Megumin mumble to herself.

"Seriously though, I really have no idea on what I should even do here. Wish I had some kind of clue to work with..."

"The answer lies inside you. Just like that crimson thread of fate binds the two of you together and because of that, you instinctively knew where to go and how to find Kazuma, you must also trust that it can help show you the path that will see him waking up here in the sooner."

Megumin looks back just in time for Arnes to place a hand on her shoulder while sending her an encouraging look. Seeing that made Megumin smile, feeling a little more confident now. Arnes then makes a serious expression as she says-

"I need to go join the others in taking that guy down. In order to give you a little extra time here, I'm going to use a powerful spell to seal the two of you away so he can't interfere. Once we're done, I'll release the spell and let you both out again, alright?"

Megumin wasn't sure she liked this plan but now wasn't the time for doubt. She simply gives Arnes a nod making the greater devil step back a bit before raising her hands and chanting out her spell.

"Void Cage."

Immediately, the world around Megumin and Lich Kazuma begins to distort until they were inside some kind of bubble with ripples moving along the everything with nothing else to be seen apart from each other. After a moment, Megumin turns her attention back to Lich Kazuma and says to herself-

"OK, now what is it do I actually do here? Come on, think Megumin, think. What would Kazuma do if our situations were reversed?"

Obviously, she didn't have an answer to that question, so she looks into Lich Kazuma's eyes while repeating those words. And then without warning, a strange kind of exhaustion came over her, like her mind was becoming heavy from a desire for sleep.

Her body lifted into the air, thanks to her succubi wings until her end of the thread of fate aligned with Kazuma's end. She then floated closer and closer until the point of contact met with one another and she found a strange and comforting feeling come washing over her entire being.

'Wha... what's going on? I-I feel...'

And then, her world went dark.

{|} Canto 26: She Strikes Like Lightning {|}

"Arnes, what did you just do to Megumin and Kazuma?"

yelled Lynn, having seen what had just transpired.

"As I told Megumin, I placed them inside a special prison like spell. Normally, it's meant to trap someone to keep them from getting involved with a fight or to make moving them from one place to another easier. However, it also does well at keeping someone safe... at least for a few minutes."

"Still, to think that you would use that particular spell. You do know that they won't be able to get out of there under their own power."

says Hoost, taking a moment to comment on what he had just heard. Dracula had also taken a moment to look at the sphere of dark energy before smiling at the others.

"Nice little trick but do you really think that will keep them safe from me? You underestimate me here. Nothing will stop me from getting to that Lich, severing his connection to his mortal body, and taking it for my own. And now... let's make this interesting, shall we."

Dracula then pulls away while slicing his own chest open before looking towards the ground as a massive amount of the blood looking substance begins to pour out of him, pooling upon the ground and growing larger and larger in size as if it was wanting to become a small lake.

Hoost and the girls take to the air in order to avoid making contact with the forming blood pool, watching it bubble and churn before something starts to rise from it. It wasn't a whole bunch of something's either but one single massive beast. And as it gets bigger and bigger, rising from the blood pool, they find themselves pulling further back as their eyes go wide from the shock they were feeling.

"A dragon. This guy is actually making a giant blood dragon to send against us."

The blood dragon then begins to move, and it was unexpectedly fast at that, moving from the place it was born at up to the group with insane speed. Everyone barely has time to dodge out of the way as it sends one if its massive claws slamming down upon the ground.

Without any hesitation, they take to the sky and quickly realize that while their opponent was indeed dragon like in appearance, it didn't appear to have any wings upon its body. Either it hadn't had a chance to develop its wings yet, there wasn't enough of the blood like substance to allow it to make a pair of wings, or it was supposed to be one of those wingless dragon variants that are said to exist or did exist at some point in the past.

"Looks like that guy can't fly. Gives us something of an advantage which is good to have."

pointed out Lynn. A moment later, the neck of the dragon ballooned out before it spewed a massive amount of blood like it was breathing fire at them though they were just able to dodge before being saturated in the attack.

"It may not be able to fly but that doesn't stop it from being able to hit us from up there."

said Cielo, her mind already considering her attack options. Would striking it directly be a smart decision or should she focus on finding objects laying on the ground to use as projectiles? She quickly begins scanning the ground for any large rocks or boulders that could serve her needs in the moment.

"Hey, anyone else noticed that when it tried to spray us with its blood breath, its body shriveled up a little? That has to mean it can't do that to much otherwise it would end up taking itself out, right?"

Darkness did have a point. In using the very blood that made ups its body as an attack, it had actually produced a negative effect upon its body. If they could force it to repeat that action a few more times, then they wouldn't need to...

As if in response to that very discovery, all the blood that the dragon had unleashed as a weapon, that now lay splattered onto the ground, suddenly began to move towards the dragon before being quickly reabsorbed back into its body, restoring it to its previous state.

"On second thought... forget what I just said."

"Yeah, we need to try to take it out from a distance. Hey tag along; time to do some long-ranged attacks don't you think? Come on... didn't you hear me?"

Not getting a response from either Arnes or Hoost, Lynn huffs before flying over to them and begins pulling on Hoost ear while yelling at them both to stop zoning out. And in response to this-

"Say, annoying pixie. Can you see what it is we're seeing here?"

asked Hoost, making Lynn cock her head to the side, confused. She then turns towards the point that their eyes were focused on which was Dracula. At first, she didn't spot anything unusual but then...

"Wait, is he...?"

"You idiots, don't just stand there like that."

yelled Cielo as she comes flying in, pushing both Hoost and Arnes away while grabbing Lynn as another blast of blood comes shooting up at them. Cielo herself just barely managed to avoid taking a hit in her actions before pushing them further away and yelling at them for letting themselves get distracted at such a bad time. To that, Arnes says-

"You're right. That was stupid on our part. But look... Can you see what we're seeing."

Arnes then points to Dracula, making Cielo focus her attention onto him. Like with Lynn, she couldn't see anything strange at first, apart from the fact his body had plenty of glowing cracks upon it. Cracks that... were spreading out more and more while arcana...

"He's taking in a lot of arcana right now. I know he, like us, is a spirit being at the moment but is it safe for someone who isn't either a devil or a demon to take in that much?"

asked Lynn. Hoost was quick to reply by saying-

"No, it's not safe at all. Even an archduke wouldn't dare try to draw in the amount that guy's going for. If he keeps at it for too much longer, he's going to undergo a massive change to his very being. So much so that he won't ever be able to return to the mortal realm if that is still his end goal."

"Regardless of what his plans at the moment, we need to stop him quickly. If he's allowed to continue absorbing all that arcana into his very soul and he does manage to transform into... whatever it is he'll eventually become, then I don't think we'll be able to fight and win against him."

"Then let's stop wasting time talking and start kicking his ass."

said Darkness though the group was forced to separate in order to avoid being soaked in another round of blood.

"After we take care of that annoying oversized lizard, of course."

said Lynn before racing down towards it to see if she could affect it with her Equilibrium spell. To make it easier, Hoost and Arnes start sending spell after spell raining down while Cielo flies over to a fairly decent sized boulder and hoist up up before sending it flying at her target.

The spells sent at the dragon don't appear to do any harm to it. Instead, it looked like it had instead absorbed them. The Equilibrium spell also didn't appear to have any effect as it had no trouble spinning its body around to smack the boulder Cielo had thrown in the direction of Arnes and Hoost.

The two denizens of Hell quickly dodge around the boulder as it goes flying past, however-

"Arnes, behind you..."

shouted Hoost, making the greater devil turn quickly only to have a blood pike shoved through her chest. As she begins to bleed, Dracula, who had used the fact they were focusing on his creation to get in close, smiles as he says to Arnes-

"You know, it pains me to wound a woman with such a beautiful body like yours. But seeing as you are also causing me trouble..."

"Don't you even think about it."

shouts Hoost as he comes in fast, forcing Dracula to break away. Hoost then cradles Arnes, asking her if she was doing OK here.

"Ugh... he got me pretty good but nothing I can't handle. Don't worry, Hoosty. This isn't my first penetration and I doubt it'll be the last."

"The fact you can joke about this must mean you'll be fine."

Hoost then pulls the blood pike free and allows Arnes to take to the air on her own though he does make sure to stay close to her as they go to face down Dracula. Meanwhile, Cielo and Lynn were still busy dealing with the blood dragon with Shield Darkness who wasn't exactly helping.

"Cielo, a little to the left... no, I said left. Are you not listening to me."

"Oh, I can hear you alright, Darkness. How about instead of asking me to get more into the line of fire, you actually give some good advice about how to better avoid being hit."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"Seriously, even at a time like this... Can't you ever take anything seriously in life, Darkness?"

"Guys, now's not the time for-GAAHHHH..."

Lynn's attempt to rebuke the quarreling duo was cut short as the blood dragon suddenly does another spin around, this time being successful in landing a direct hit upon them that sends them slamming into the ground. Because of this, they were suffering a stunned moment and would be able to avoid the incoming blood attack from their foe.

"... say, Arnes... Hoost, now would be a really good time for some assistance here."

"They're too busy dealing with Aldarp or whoever he really is. Guess we're screwed, huh?"

"Could be worse when you think about it. I mean, it's only a little blood bathe, guys..."

"NOT ANOTHER WORD, SHIELD GIRL!"

both Lynn and Cielo shout as the dragon's neck balloons out as it opens its mouth to attack.

"Light of Saber!"

came a shout as a massive bolt of lightning comes raining out of the sky, slamming straight down onto the blood dragon with an intensity they had neither expected nor seen before. It was so intense in fact that its whole body was ripped in half, the two halves exploding violently just a moment later.

And because of this, the three girls ended up being soaked in blood anyways; just in a different way than what they were expecting. While Darkness laments not being able to have experienced that moment more, given her status as a shield, both Lynn and Cielo look to the air with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity towards the new arrival.

Hovering in the skies above them, a confident smile on her face, was Yunyun who lands on the blood-soaked ground beside them and asks-

"So, did I make it in time?"

Cielo and Lynn's response was to immediately start yelling at a now panicking Yunyun over the need for her to learn how to NOY make such a mess on people when she's trying to save them. After a few moments of that, a now calmed down Cielo then asks-

"Putting that aside, are you really YOU, Yunyun? Are you OK to be here?"

"Yes, I'm back at one hundred percent and I couldn't just not come join you guys, knowing that there was something strange going on. So... here I am."

"And how exactly did you get down here anyways? And what's with that weird get-up? I mean, just what exactly are you supposed to be anyways?"

asked Lynn, making Yunyun become all sheepish before she begins to explain everything.

"... and with that, me and lady Eris proceeded to pass through the various realms of this place in order to catch up with you all. Anyways, where's Megumin at and have you both found Kazuma yet?"

"Hold on, lady Eris came here with you? If you're here, then where's she at?"

"Where's she at? She was right... huh, I wonder where she disappeared too?"

Back with Hoost and Arnes; they were still going toe to toe with Dracula, but the fight was quickly falling out of favor for them. It was bad enough that Arnes was injured and needed time to heal herself, which she wasn't being given but also because Dracula seemed to be growing stronger and stronger here. Was it because of all the arcana he was taking into himself?

If so, then what was his end goal for doing something so dangerous? Did he even have an end goal in mind or was this the action of a desperate soul who wanted to secure the win no matter what sacrifice he personally had to make to achieve it.

"Dark of Saber."

"Cursed Lightning."

they both shouted. Dracula effortlessly dodged past Arnes spell while tanking Hoost spell like it was nothing to him now before retaliating with a swarm of blood bats. It wasn't much but it was enough to distract the two locals long enough for Dracula to come in fast and hard, belting Hoost in the face and sending him falling back against Arnes. Before either could recover, Dracula sends a powerful kick into both of them that sends them crashing onto the ground.

They groan as they try to pick themselves up only to hear the dark chuckle of Dracula come their way, making them look up at him with glares.

"So, this is what Hell has to offer in the way of a demon and a devil in terms of power. I have to say I am so disappointed. And to think there was a time I considered selling my soul in exchange of having an invincible army of the damned. I'm glad I made the right choice when I asked Maxwell for his personal assistance instead."

Dracula then forms two very large and very long pikes in his hands; readying them to be sent down at his fallen foes. Arnes sneers at him and says-

"You aren't going to win this, no matter what you're thinking and feeling right now. Even if you kill us in the moment, we'll revive eventually not that us coming back for round two means anything as you'll already be..."

"I'm sure-I'm sure, my dear. Sorry to tell you this but I think I'm going to be just fine. So long as I have Maxwell at my beck and call, the other archdukes can't do anything to me and if you both represent the best of the best for your kind, then I will have nothing more to worry...?"

Dracula's speech comes to a stop as he feels someone tapping on his shoulder. Curious, he looks back to see a girl with long flowing violet white hair wearing a purple-colored dress. This girl offers him a surprisingly kind smile before saying-

"Have you ever danced with the devil by the pale moon light?"

"Come again?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. Just a rather memorable quote I heard one time when me and Aqua had a movie night with a bunch of our fellow goddess's. Not exactly MY style when it comes to quotable lines, but I can't help but like the ring of it."

The girl... no, the goddess Eris' expression then goes from smiling to being a serious one as she immediately plants her fist deep into the stomach of Dracula. Her fist, covered with blazing divine power digs in deep, making Dracula scream out in pain as Eris shouts aloud-

"God Blow!"

Her attack digs in deeper and deeper till Dracula's eyes go dead white while Eris' fist puncture through his body, coming out of his back. The spiritual body of Vlad Dracula convulses horrifically as Eris allows the anima that fueled her attack to ravage the man's insides for a few moments more-

And then she pulls her fist out quickly, creating a small explosive burst of light from her actions that causes the more parts of Dracula's form to be vaporized, barely leaving anything of his arms and legs attached to him as he falls onto the ground with a loud thud, no longer moving once down.

Above him, Eris sends a dark, angry glare his way before saying-

"That was for all the people you hurt and wronged and stole away their lives. That was for my friends and... that is because I seriously needed something to help me vent!"

(AN: looked forward to a future arc, currently titled 'These Memories from Arbel' for the full story of the mortal life of Eris and her loved ones)

Eris kept her eyes on the falling Dracula for a few moments more, till she could no longer see any sign of movement or even life within him... in a manner of speaking. While she knew that, as a spirit being at the moment, he would eventually heal and reawaken, it would probably take at least an hour for that to happen. More than enough time to collect the others, retrieve Kazuma's soul, and see them all safely back to the mortal realm.

She then turns her attention to the demon and greater devil that had been fighting against Dracula; landing on the ground before them with a wild look in her eyes. Like with many of her kind, she wasn't quite fond of either type of entity which is why she said with a scary sounding voice-

"Now, what should I do with you two?"

Both Hoost and Arnes couldn't help but shriek in terror as they not only begged for their lives, but also called out to the others to come save them from the, as they saw her, psychopath of a goddess.

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{|} Canto 27: The Fears She Carries {|}

Slowly, the girl opened her eyes. She found herself laying on an empty field covered as far as her eyes could see with what looked to be poppy flowers. She couldn't be sure though as she sat up and looked around, finally taking notice of something rather strange.

She was in a monochrome world, no colors apart from black, white, and gray. Even when she examined herself, she could only see in monochrome. She gets to her feet, looking around some more for any sign of where she was currently at. All she could remember was...

"Kazuma... that's right. I was trying to figure out a way to reawaken Kazuma from within his Lich self. So why did that lead me here?"

Megumin then began to move around. Not going too far in any one direction, just enough so she could gain a better grasp of this strange place she had found herself in. She couldn't deny there was a growing tension within her; a nervousness and fear though she didn't quite grasp the reason as to why.

And then she felt a strong and cool wind brush past her, making her reach up to keep the two strands of hair that she allowed to dangle down along her front from being blown all over the place. It was then she felt it; a pair of eyes coming upon her which makes her quickly spin around towards the source.

In that moment, her eyes go wide as the image of Kazuma standing a ways off in the distance finally came to her. He was looking at her, a smile on his face and a look that made her feel like he had been waiting for her to arrive.

"Kazuma, is that... really you?"

said Megumin as she felt tears forming in her eyes. While he doesn't say a word, he does give her a nod before suddenly turning and walking slowly down the path he was standing on. Without any doubt or hesitation, Megumin breaks into a run so she could join up with him.

"Kazuma, wait. Give me a moment to reach you and we can walk together."

she cried out, putting everything she could into running as fast as she could. Despite that, the distance between them only seemed to grow as Kazuma seemed to slip further and further away even though he was just walking while Megumin was running like she had the devil himself was hot on her heels.

It was then she became aware of another aspect of this place; the fog that was present in the air. Kazuma's visage passed through a thick patch of the fog with Megumin passing into it moments later and as she emerged, she found the fog along one side of her take on strange humanoid shapes.

It took Megumin a moment to realize what it was she was seeing. Girls from back in the village; fellow attendants of Red Prison Academy. None whom she had known personally as they had been upper clansmen one or two years ahead of her. She couldn't even recall their names, assuming she had ever bothered to learn the names of anyone outside her class.

'I was pretty focused on my Explosion magic training back then so I'm sure I could be forgiven for not taking the time to learn.'

Megumin then saw a smokey version of herself running past those girls, heading out of the academy onto the open field where she proceeded to immediately start taking on pose after pose, occasionally shouting out 'Explosion' while doing so. The older girls walked over to the window to watch her, their faces turning into frowns and sneers of disappointment.

"Geez, is she really wasting time with doing THAT again."

"And here they've been saying that she was a real prodigy. A potential to become the greatest our clan has ever produced. To think that she would want to waste her time on learning THE joke spell."

"Well, you know who her father is, right. The village pariah who somehow won the heart of the top mage from his generation. You know, the master of hypnosis."

"Wasn't her mother also said to have come from that family that was cursed to forever be underdeveloped?"

"The whole family's cursed if you ask me. I feel bad for her new little sister. Imagine having to grow up with an older sibling like that to..."

"GGGAAAHHH, shut up-shut up-shut up-SHUT UP!"

screamed Megumin as she lunged at the smoke only to pass through it. It took her several moments of heavy breathing before she could calm herself down. Once she had, she got back onto her feet while her mind was racing with many thoughts. Specifically...

"Those damn bitches; having the gall to say stuff like that behind my back. It's bad enough to talk about me but I can let that slide. But to say anything negative about my parents and especially my little sister. Just wait you guys. When I'm next back in the village, I WILL be paying you lot a little visit, and we'll see what you have to say about me and mine then."

Once Megumin had finished making a mental note, she continued her chase after Kazuma who despite having not stopped walking, at least as far as Megumin assumed, hadn't moved any farther away than what he had been at when Megumin had suffered her little distraction before.

She then sees the image of Kazuma pass through another dense patch of fog, one she tries to go around once she had reached it only for that dense patch of fog to suddenly move so as to force her to pass through it. Once she emerged from the other side, she comes to a stop as a new image forms around her.

It was Arue, Funifura, and Dodonko. Nerimaki might have been there too; she wasn't sure exactly. Judging from the way the three of them looked, this was a more recent event. Perhaps even happening when they had been visiting the village not too long ago.

"I can't believe it. Megumin... actually showing an interest in a guy. A freak'n GUY. What the hell happened to her when she left to see the outside world."

"Yeah, it is strange. We're talking about Megumin, who never had an interest in romance before, suddenly acting the most girly of us all. You don't think that guy seduced her by any chance."

"It's possible. Given how things went down in class when miss Panyatopi had him use his special skill on all of us. Maybe having experienced that a few times was the ticket to change Megumin's viewpoint."

Both Funifura and Dodonko nod as Arue's words.

"Yeah, that must be it. There's no way Megumin would ever want to have an intimate relationship with someone without a little push. And I have to say... that was one hell of a push he gave us all."

Megumin, hearing this, was shaking from the anger she was feeling. Did they really have such a low opinion of her when it came to stuff like romance. Sure, she had never shown an interest before leaving but it wasn't like she was incapable of feeling romantic love either. She just hadn't found the right person until she had met Kazuma is all.

"You think that guy will choose her in the end? I mean, with Yunyun also being with them and having the more mature looking body and I'm guessing that Cielo girl is probably rocking a hot bod under her clothes, I can't see Megumin having much of a chance unless that guy is into loli types like Megumin?"

'WHAT WAS THAT?'

"I'm sure she has a chance, assuming she's fine with sharing that is. I know I wouldn't mind joining in though I confess I really just want to be able to look at that cool and curious looking sword of his again."

"LIKE HELL THAT'S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN!"

shouted Megumin, finally having enough and using her hands to disperse the fog that was making these images. As Megumin stood there, huffing and puffing, a new thought came over her. A question really. Was everything she had seen, and heard, so far real? Had these things actually been said or was it all representations of her personal fears she had felt throughout her life so far.

Truth was that she was afraid. She was afraid that the people who had looked to her with hope filled gazes would one day feel contempt towards her. She feared her friends from school would look down on her and not believe she would be incapable of achieving anything that didn't revolve around her love for Explosion... and that her life would be ruined because of her love for Explosion too.

And she feared her parents and little sister would...

In that moment, a new set of images appeared; taking on the very appearance of the three people she had just thought of. Megumin begins to shake her head, saying the words "No-No-No-Not them too." in an ever-increasing louder tone.

"So, she really did choose to follow the path connected to that joke spell. Where do you think we went wrong with her, honey?"

"I don't know. We always tried to allow her the freedom to do as she pleased. Maybe that was the problem. Perhaps we should have kept her on a tighter leash. Perhaps that would have more her see the folly in walking such a dead-end path."

"Maybe. Guess we'll never really know for now. At least she did do one thing right with her life. Finding such a helpful guy. Because of him, we're pretty much set for the rest of our lives and little Komekko will have a better future awaiting her."

"Speaking of... Komekko, will you do something for your mommy and daddy?"

"Sure, what is it."

"Make sure you never make the same mistakes your sister made. Never focus your attention onto just one spell."

"Actually, just the one is fine so long as it isn't any of the joke spells. I know, we'll have your new big brother teach you an amazing spell. Would you like that?"

"You will, yay."

'No, even you... that wasn't real, none of this can be real. It must all be manifestations of the fears within me. No way would my parents...'

And then the images in the smoke changed again, this time taking on the visages of Darkness, Cielo, Lynn, Yunyun, and Chris. As they began to speak, Megumin quickly covered her ears; ignoring the words they were speaking as she goes back to running. She tries desperately to catch up to Kazuma, the one positive source she has had in her life.

That's how she felt anyways as Kazuma had never looked down on her or said anything negative, at least as far as she could recall at the moment. OK, there was that incident back in Arcanretia but that had been directed towards all of them and it had been well deserved.

And there was what happened when Sena had come for Kazuma following the Destroyer incident when Kazuma had been accused of being a terrorist. And the encounter with the Tranquility Princess, and...

As more and more things began to come up, Megumin felt herself begin to slow down as if she was trying to carry an ever-increasing weight upon her person. More and more negative moments were suddenly coming to mind; so many that they all couldn't have been real... right?

"Kazuma... Kazuma... wait, please. Don't go... come back..."

she tried to cry out, but he never once stopped nor did he look back. He just kept moving further and further into the distance until he could no long be seen at all. By now, the tears were falling from Megumin's eyes, no longer able to feel anything other than grief and shame. In her mind, she had failed him. So many times had she failed him that she didn't feel worthy of the feelings she had for him.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

she repeated over and over as the fog began to gather around her, becoming thicker and thicker as if to consume her until nothing of her could be seen nor heard. And it was like this for a few moments until-

A small point of light could be seen cutting through the fog, one that grew brighter and brighter in intensity till it exploded outwards in its radiant shine. And then, as the late faded, a figure had appeared; a guy if appearances were to be believed. He had a ever so slightly tanned skin with deep penetrating azure eyes and short yet bushy red hair that had a tint of pink to it. He was carefully holding Megumin in his arms, his gaze looking upon her as he says-

"Looks like I needed to step in and save you after all, huh... Realm."

{|} Canto 28: The Connection {|}

Megumin opened her eyes, finding herself inside a bedroom for some reason. Her eyes take a moment to look around as she wonders just where it was she found herself now. And perhaps even more importantly than that here; why was it that this room felt so familiar.

["Sleep-sleep-sleep, my baby. Close your innocent eyes and sleep my angel."]

The voice she heard caught her by surprise, making her turn to see a girl with a youthful appearance laying in the bed, sitting up while cradling an infant in her arms. 'How did I not take notice of her before?' wondered Megumin as she walks over to get a closer look.

When Megumin's eyes were finally able to see the baby, she felt her heart... no, her whole being, start to melt. It was obvious that this infant must have been born recently, perhaps only being a few weeks old from just how tiny it looked to her. Without realizing it, her hand reached out on its own with the intention of touching the baby but all she managed to do was see her hand pass through the small life.

'Huh, what's going on? Am I a ghost right now? Guess that must be the reason why that girl with the baby hasn't responded to me yet. Maybe that's a good thing now that I think about it.'

Megumin's eyes couldn't stop looking at the infant. She couldn't help but find it to be so precious and adorable. Very few in the village knew this but Megumin actually loved babies. So much that she was the one who spent the most time taking care of Komekko after she had been born. Furthermore, it had been Megumin who had taught her little sister how to walk and talk, trained her on how to use the toilet and all the other things one would need to know in order to live a normal life.

In other words, it wouldn't be entirely wrong if you said that Megumin had been more of a mother to her little sister than their actual mother. It wasn't that Yuiyui hadn't been there for Komekko. If anything, Megumin had kind of forced her mother to let her do the bulk of the work when it came to raising her little sister.

Another fact about Megumin, a little detail that no one apart from her knew about, was the fact that Megumin had always dreamed about becoming a mother one day herself. While her dream to become the greatest mage in history and master Explosion was still the priority now, she did think of the future and that future did involve not only having a lot of kids but finding just the right partner to help her with that secondary dream.

And luckily for her, in her own humble opinion, she had found the perfect partner in Kazuma. All she needed to do is to swallow her pride and work up the courage to tell him how she truly felt directly to his face. And hopefully, he would be fine with having a large family with her as well.

Megumin then hears a sound coming from the infant; a sound that made Megumin think of some kind of grumble or perhaps a whine which she can't help but smile about. She then hears the mother say-

["Are you getting hungry? Or are you about to need a diaper change? Oh, I know what's wrong. Don't worry little one. I'm sure daddy and aunt Krys will be here very soon."]

Megumin finally takes her gaze away from the little bundle of joy and now gives the girl who was clearly the mother her attention. The girl had a soft and kind looking face with black hair that had a red sheen to it. Her most striking features though were her eyes; her yellow cat-like eyes.

'Wait, her eyes... I've seen eyes like those before. That's right, those are the same kind of eyes that my master had; lady...'

Megumin's thoughts are cut off as the door to the room opens and a man comes walking in. He was a tall fellow, sporting a thin and neatly trimmed beard. He was sporting short red hair with a pinkish tint to it and eyes of azure. He walks over, leans down and kisses the girl deeply before planting a quick yet gentle kiss upon the forehead of the baby. Clearly, this guy must be the father and husband to these two.

["Sorry for being late, love. Had to take the long way when it came to getting back."]

The girl gives him a nod, saying-

["Eh, these things happen. So, how did that special quest to 'stick it to the faith' go down. And where's Krys at? I would have thought she'd want to stop by so she could fawn over our little one here."]

["Eh, she wanted to get in a bath first. Also wanted to have a little check-up with the doctor. Secret sharing time. She thinks she might be... you know."]

The girl was silent for a moment before a big goofy grin came across her face. She then says with no small amount of excitement in her tone.

"You mean, she might finally be... (gets a nod from the guy, making her then get a mischievous grin as she looks down at the baby) Guess what, little kitten. You may be getting yourself a sibling sooner than expected."

The guy tells the girl to calm down, that it was too soon to start celebrating yet. He then takes a moment to look around the room before asking-

["Is Eris not here with you and our little kitten?]

["She was here earlier but had to return to her room in order to rest. Even though the air of this place has done wonders for her health, she still has those periods when she feels 'tired'."]

'Huh, did I just hear then name Eris? Are they talking about the goddess... no, that can't be it. Probably just a girl who happens to share the same name.'

{"Speaking of, do you think she's made her decision about that offer made by that Pathos guy yet?]

["If she has then she hasn't confided in me. In any event, I'm sure you'll have a better chance than I would at getting her to talk. Anyways, on a related topic, I think it's time for us to give our little girl her name, don't you think?"]

["Hm? You haven't given her one yet. That's unexpected seeing as you always love to give anything and everything a strange name."]

["Hey, I take offense to that mister."]

'So, she's a lot like me then. Someone who's good at giving someone a name that others would find strange. I feel your pain, sister, I do. I wonder what name's she could come up with?'

["Anyways, do you have any names in mind?"]

["Hm, how about Chomusuke."]

Almost immediately, the infant began to cry bringing the girl to start making calming noises and motions. The guy smirks as he says-

["As expected, she definitely does NOT like that name. Sorry about that, little kitten, but your mom has this weird habit of coming up with the strangest names for anything she sees."]

["You're lucky I have our daughter in my arms right now or I would be seriously throttling you right now, honey. If my naming conventions are so bad, then what name would you give her then?"]

["Hm, let me think... How about Nia?"]

["Eh, that's way too simple. She needs a name with a little bite to it, don't you think. And saying that, I think I have the perfect name in mind for here."]

["Let me guess, this name was the one you wanted to offer up right from the get-go. You just said that super weird name in order to push me into going with this other one. Am I wrong?"]

["I have no idea what you're talking about."]

The girl averts her gaze as she says that while the guy simply sends her a deadpan look before he says in a flat tone towards the baby-

["Fair warning, little kitten. Your mom is full of shit."]

["Hey, language!"]

'Yeah, what she said. Even I wouldn't swear when in the company of a child. Anyways, what's the name. Tell me.'

The girl then smiles as she looks at the baby with love in her eyes.

["Alright, no more holding back. The name I want to give her is..."]

She then motions for the guy to lean in so she can whisper it into his ear. Megumin also leans in close to hear as well. As soon as she hears the name, she finds herself being taken aback as her eyes go wide as she takes on a stunned look. 'Wait, it can't be. Are you telling me that this small life is...?'

The guy then leans in and the girl passes the baby to him. As he carefully cradles his daughter in his arms, he also smiles with warmth as he happily says-

["Guess that's going to be your name from this point on little kitten... no, not little kitten..."]

["Wolbach!"]

(PING)

Once again, Megumin opened her eyes. It took her a moment before her senses came back to her and the first thing she took notice of was the fact that she felt like she was resting upon a liquid like surface. Slowly, she picks herself up, taking notice of the ripples made on the liquid surface she found herself on.

And then she took notice of something else. Despite the fact she felt like she was resting upon water, everything beneath her looked like a sea of stars in the sky. Confused, she found herself looking up only to take notice of the fact that the sky was also filled with stars as well. It was like she was inside a world where everything above, below, and all around was stars and nebula and other such things.

["Great, now where am I? Can't I just go ahead and skip all this side stuff and arrive at where Kazuma is at already."]

"You already have, Megumin."

Megumin jumped from the sudden voice she had heard. She then turns her body only to find the guy she had seen in that... whatever it was from before standing beside her. Well, he wasn't quite the same as before. He was half a head shorter, no sign of any beard, and his hair was a little bushier now. In other words, he was now looking like a younger version of himself; perhaps being around Kazuma's age or close enough to it at least.

The guy then holds his hand out and after a moment of hesitation, Megumin understood what he was indicating so she takes his hand and in turn, he helps her back onto her feet. Once she was standing again, she didn't waste any time with asking the big questions.

["OK buddy, just what is going on here? Where am I? Who are you and where's Kazuma at... and why does my voice sound so strange at the moment?"]

"Slow down-slow down a moment. Geez, even in this lifetime, you never change do you. Always asking a million questions all at once then expect everyone to remember each question without issue. Still though, that was one of the things that made you so..."

The guy stops when Megumin sends him an annoyed and impatient glare which makes him gulp. He then looks away nervously while saying quietly to himself-

"Seems like that part of you came along for the ride too, the whole little miss grump face. I feel sorry for my other half."

He then looks back at Megumin, seeing that she was still glaring at him which forces out a sigh. Once he had recomposed himself, he finally begins to answer the questions asked of him.

"First, you ask what is going on? In order to reach the place Kazuma was at, you had to undergo a little trial in which you were forced to endure the fears you carry within you. I believe Kazuma also had to suffer such a trial when his Lich powers were fully awakened. And like with Kazuma, a little help from within was needed to see him make it out of that trial. And also, much like Kazuma and 'the other' who came to his aid, my coming to help you out triggered a memory from the past... from your past."

["Huh? What are you talking about. My past? Sorry, but what I saw wasn't anything from my past. Of that I am sure about."]

"Maybe not your past as 'Megumin' but instead another past; a past life if you will. From when you were a 'goddess of destruction' or something like that, don't you think?"

'A memory from a past life; from when I was a goddess of destruction? Is this guy being serious?'

Megumin shakes her head to clear it then tells the guy that they can discuss that topic later. For right now, she wanted to have the answers to her other questions.

"Very well. My name is Linear, and I am the fragment of your soul mate made manifest before you. Also, side note, Linear wasn't the only name I went by in my life. I was also called Ritu because... well, that's a long story and as such, maybe it would be for the best to save telling it for another time."

["Huh, you said you are my soul mate. That's impossible. I know who MY soul mate is and you're definitely NOT Kazuma."]

At hearing that, the guy suddenly began to laugh which makes a vein pop in Megumin's head. She then screams at him, demanding to know what it was that he found so funny.

"Sorry-sorry. It's just funny for you to say that, is all. Me not being Kazuma, I mean. You see, I AM Kazuma I guess. I am what he looked like in his previous life. Just like the girl you saw in the memory was you in that same past life."

["HUH?"]

The guy named Linear, and Ritu apparently, sighed before saying-

"Yeah, I know. Real confusing stuff. In all honesty, even I still don't understand the full mechanics behind it all. Anyways, that can also be talked about another time. For now, let me take you to where Kazuma is currently at."

Megumin was confused, obviously. This guy said he would take her to Kazuma but that he was also Kazuma and some sort of soul mate fragment or something. While she was undoubtedly the smartest of her clan, she still didn't have any idea as to what was being said by this guy nor how to process it. No matter as he was going to take her to Kazuma so she could wait for now.

As they walked, Linear continued with the rest of the answers to the questions Megumin had asked.

"The place we are currently in is known as the Heart of the Soul. It is said that this most sacred land is what lies at the very center of each and every soul in existence. It is believed that this may be a representation of eternity, our true home and the point of origin for all souls. I believe my current self, Kazuma, has visited this place at least twice before. The first time after he nearly turned into a Lich before and the second after he nearly died when saving the village from Medusa."

"And as for the reason YOUR voice sounds so strange here in this place? Honestly, I have no... ah, we're here."

Linear comes to a stop as does Megumin as she looks to the spot he was pointing. At first, she couldn't see any sign of Kazuma. Just more of the same she had seen so far. And then, there was a ripple in the air and faster than the eye could blink, the form of Kazuma appeared from out of nowhere, laying upon the strange water. And at his side was the girl from the dream-vision-memory thing, kneeling down and with her eyes locked and focused solely onto Kazuma.

Linear makes a whistling sound which causes the girl's head to jerk up in surprise. She probably wasn't expecting company to show up in this place. The moment her eyes locked onto Linear's, a look of excitement comes over the girl as she quickly gets to her feet and runs at Linear before throwing herself into his awaiting arms. Her impact causes them both to spin around a few times before their lips meet in a deep and passion filled kiss that lasted a good minute or two.

Megumin, embarrassed to be here watching them in what must have been an important reunion, could only turn her attention away as her cheeks blush like crazy. There was a time she found such displays of affection to be annoying to see but now; they just made her feel all kinds of weird inside.

Finally, Linear and the Gothic clothed girl break from the kiss and her eyes fall onto Megumin, who doesn't fail to take notice that the girl seemed to be checking her out. After a moment, the girl looks back at Linear who nods and says-

"Yeah, that's her. Your current 'YOU' there. Between you and me, not much of a difference."

Linear and the girl then turn to face Megumin properly as Linear says-

"Megumin, allow me to introduce you to... well, you. Your previous self. This is Realm."

The girl, no... Realm, does a military like salute for some reason towards Megumin, who honestly didn't know what to say or how to respond to all this sudden input and info she was being given.

["Um... yeah, nice to meet... me too, I guess. So, can you... no, wait. I don't have time for this."]

Megumin had been so caught off guard by all that was going on that she had forgotten about the motionless Kazuma for a moment. Remembering him now, she turns away from those two and quickly moves to Kazuma's side, getting down onto her knees as she reaches out and begins to shake him.

["Kazuma-Kazuma, it's me; Megumin. I'm here so please open your eyes. It's time to go home."]

"No-no-no, that's not at all how you wake someone up, girl. (Megumin looks up at Linear while saying "Huh?") Come on, Megumin. Surely you know how these things work in the old fairy tales. Sure, it's usually the guy waking the girl up in these sorts of scenarios but details-details. Come on, you know what it is you have to do in order to wake him up here."

At hearing that, Megumin blushes deeply as she knew exactly what it was she was being told to do here. 'Well, I suppose it will be alright if I do it seeing as no one else is here apart from those two.'

Megumin then positions herself over Kazuma as she then begins to close the distance between them two of them; her face drawing closer and closer, their lips becoming closer and closer. Off to the side, Linear and Realm await the big moment with bated breath, and then...

["OW-OW-OW (x?)"]

Kazuma, finally awake, cried out in pain as Megumin was pinching and pulling both his cheeks with unforgiving force. Off to the side, the two watchers could only stand there in their deadpan sweat dropping states.

"Hm, I guess the fairy tales Crimson Demons read must play out a bit different from the norm, huh?"

Realm nods in agreement at Linear's observation. After several more moments where Kazuma was kicking and flaying about, begging Megumin to stop already, she finally does as she releases his cheeks with a snap like sound. Kazuma sits up then begins to rub his sore cheeks while sending Megumin an annoyed look. In turn, Megumin looks rather dumbfounded by this as she says-

["What?]

["You know, a kiss is usually the traditional way of waking someone. At the very least, a simple pinching of their upper arm."]

["Really? That's such a strange way to go about doing it. I feel the methods used in the old Crimson Demon fairy tales are more effective."}

["Yeah, you would say that, legal dwarf."]

["What was that? You want to throw down with me, Kazuma? Even in paradise, I won't hesitate to throw down with anyone if they get on my bad side."]

With that, Kazuma and Megumin begin butting heads and bickering with one another for a few moments before the sound of laughter fills the air. The two of them stop and look to see both Linear and Realm were laughing; hard as they hold their sides as well. This causes Megumin and Kazuma to blush nervously before they look at each other, smile, then join in laughing as well. After a moment, the laughter comes to an end as Megumin begins to tear up as she says to Kazuma-

["I'm really glad to see that you're OK now, Kazuma."]

["Yeah, I am too. And I'm glad to see you too."]

With that, the two of them get back to their feet and look at Linear and Realm. After a moment of silence, Kazuma asks Megumin-

["So, how did you find me here in this place anyways?"]

Megumin points at the crimson thread of fate that was clearly visible at the moment going between the two of them. She then says as she looks back into Kazuma's eyes-

["It was thanks to this thing here. Because of that, I was able to lead the others through Hell in order to find you. And because of it, I was able to make my way all the way to this place so I could wake you up and we could return to the others and finally go home. Honestly, there's still a lot I don't understand about all this. Like, just what is this thread of fate supposed to truly be?"]

"Perhaps I can answer that question."

Kazuma and Megumin blink before looking at Realm, who had been the one to talk. Kazuma's attention was especially on her as he says-

["Wait, did I just...?"]

"Ah, so you can finally hear MY voice now, can you. I wonder if it's because of my current 'me' being here as well or if it's a sign that you are getting closer to... never mind that for now. About what the thread of fate truly means... how do I explain this. Ah, I know. I'll use some good old visual aids here."

Realm then kneels down and scoops up some of the surface liquid before standing again. The liquid in her hand then begins to float before her, taking on the form of a bubble.

"Now, imagine this bubble here as being a soul. Now..."

She then makes a motion with one of her hands, causing the bubble to split into two bubbles.

"From the understanding our teachings imparted to us, back in the beginning when THE god released all souls that exist from within himself, some of the souls for one reason or another suddenly split in half: going from being a single soul to being two souls instead. When this happens, we get the phenomena that is known as soul mates."

Linear then steps in and says the rest.

"When soul mates appear, they are forever linked to one another, destined to always seek one another out so that they can be together again. Even if that means they have to cross whole worlds to achieve it, soul mates won't stop till they can find each other and be together once again."

To symbolize that point, Realm makes a small line appear between the two bubbles. There was no need to explain that part for the meaning was obvious. The thread was the thing that kept the two souls connected from the moment they separated and would be the things that helped them find one another again and again, as long as it was needed. Realm then says-

"We were told that it is possible for a thread to be created between two independent souls so long as the love they have for another is indeed pure and strong enough. But a true thread of fate, like the one that binds the two of us and, by extension, the two of you is something truly special and cannot ever be severed. Also comes with some sweet perks."

["Like what?"]

asked Megumin with Realm replying by saying-

"Well, there's obviously the ability to find each other no matter the distance as well as helping you to know that you're missing something important; something you need to find which is each other. And also, it helps you both to better understand and link with each other; to know each other's thoughts, how you both think. And... on a more personal note. It can also make CERTAIN activities SO much spicier because it helps us to feel what the other is feeling that builds up over and over in both power and intensity."

"In other words, it'll make sex so much more visceral and better than it would be if you were doing it with someone else. Trust me as I can attest to that. Realm wasn't my only lover, but she was by far the most..."

["WE DON'T NEED TO BE HEARING ABOUT THAT!"]

shouted both Kazuma and Megumin together, having gone red in the face. Realm herself was shyly looking away with her own blushing features. After a moment to calm themselves down, Megumin says-

["Look, while I'm sure there's plenty more to talk about with you two. I think it's time me and Kazuma were on our way here. After all, our friends were busy dealing with that Aldarp guy and..."]

["Actually, he was never Alexei Barnes Aldarp. His real name is Vlad Dracula. Long story."]

["Save it for later then. The point is we need to hurry up and get back already. Not only because of that whoever guy but because we are on a time limit here."]

"Hm, good point. Alright, one quick exit coming right up."

said Linear as he snaps his fingers. A moment later, a glowing swirling disc of light appears hovering in the air above them with Realm then saying-

"OK you two, just take to the air and fly into that light and you'll find yourselves back in control of your spirit bodies. Oh, one last quick thing. Now that things have reached this point, you should know that eventually you both will reawaken all of your old memories from the time that you were... well, us. Not sure how long that will take before it happens, but it is going to happen eventually. Look forward to that."

Kazuma and Megumin looked at each other, not sure if what they had just been said was a good thing or a bad thing here. They then look back at Linear and Realm who had taken up positions before them as their bodies start to glow. They both smile as Linear walks into Kazuma and Realm into Megumin, causing their bodies to glow as well for a moment before the light fades.

{Insert Image 2}

["So, ready to go back home?"]

["Yeah, I am. One thing though, Kazuma. I'm already home. Wherever you are is home for me."]

Kazuma smiles as the two of them begin to lift into the air, moving closer and closer to the disc of light.

"So, you guys are really going to leave without saying anything to me here?"

They both look back down quickly, seeing an older girl; one that Kazuma recognized as the mystery girl he had talked to when he was last here in the Heart of the Soul. She was looking up at them, her face now fully visible. A face that Kazuma couldn't help but feel was familiar.

["It's you. Say, your face... you... are you...?"]

And beside him, Megumin looked on as her jaw dropped and all she could say was-

["She... that girl down there looks like an older version... of me."]

That girl smiles up at them as she says-

"I look like an older version of you, huh? Must be a reason for that. Tell you what, Kazuma. Next time you come down here, I will spill the beans on all of it for you. So, look forward to that. Oh, and tell Ego that I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again."

Kazuma and Megumin try to say something, calling out to the girl in order to ask her some questions. But they are pulled into the light before they could receive any reply. And then, they found themselves returning to a familiar scene.

{|} Canto 29: Together Again {|}

"... and then Arnes used some skill she knew to keep Megumin and Kazuma protected so she could do something about reawakening Kazuma while the rest of us tried to take out Aldarp once and for all."

Once Cielo had finished her explanation of everything that had happened to them since their arrival in Perdition, Eris lets out a sigh before turning her gaze to the two locals of Hell, giving them a stone-cold glare which makes the two shake badly while cowering in fear.

"You know, it is my personal MO to slay any and all demons and devils that I come across. No exceptions made."

Arnes and Hoost gulp as Eris begins walking towards them while the others stand in place, uncertain on if they should try to talk Eris out of doing what it looked like she was about to do or to keep their mouths shut. Yunyun, not surprisingly, was having a panic moment as she still didn't fully understand just what was going on here.

Eris stops just a few steps before the two locals, her steely eyes remaining fixed on them before letting out another sigh. She then does something unexpected by holding out her dominate hand towards the two which turns everyone's expressions from fear, worried, nervous, and doubt into total confusion.

"Sigh I must be going soft or something. First letting that Vanir off the hook and now these two."

Mutters Eris beneath her breath though she was just loud enough for everyone to still hear her. She then addresses the two directly as they slowly get up from their cowering positions on the ground.

"For helping my friends and for playing a part in seeing them to Kazuma's side as well as your assistance in dealing with that man pretending to be Alexei Barnes Aldarp, I... I... I thank you both."

Everyone could see it quickly forming on Eris' face; that look of sheer embarrassment. Clearly, her saying positive things about the children of Hell, thanking them on top of that, must have been the hardest challenge she has ever had to endure. But she was swallowing her godly pride which said a lot about her. Not only as a goddess but as a person in general.

Hoost and Arnes' reply with to take on sheepish looks as they shake hands with the goddess, obviously never ever thinking that a day would come when they would not only see a Heavenly being thanking a child of Hell, but actually shaking their hands in gratitude.

Once the handshakes were done, Eris quickly returns her hand to being close to her as she says-

"Once again, I thank you... now please do me a favor and leave the rest to me. It's taking every bit of self-control I have to not give into my personal urges here and I would feel bad if I ended up losing control of myself because of those urges and killing you both on the spot."

"We appreciate that kindness, ma'am. But are you sure you'll be OK without..."

"Shut up, you fool. Don't forget that she's a goddess. A GODDESS! There's nothing either of us could do that would help if any new trouble arose that she couldn't deal with better. Let's book it while she's still letting us leave intact."

Arnes then grabs onto Hoost by throwing him into a choke hold, quickly taking him into the air. She then takes a moment to look back down at Cielo, Shield Darkness, and Lynn as she says-

"Not sure about you all but we sure had fun over these last few hours. If we ever meet each other again, let's hang out for a bit and have ourselves a party."

"DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK!"

screamed Eris, her fist already starting to glow with anima empowered energy. Arnes lets out a very audible "eep" before racing off with a still being choked Hoost in tow. Once they were out of sight, Eris allows herself a few moments to take in a few deep breaths to help calm herself down.

"Forgive me for saying this, lady Eris, but... was that really the best way to deal with those two? I mean, then did help us out a lot. In fact, we've met quite a few nice locals since coming down here. Much nicer than some of the people we've met back up above, like the Duchess of Kessex."

Eris turns to look at Cielo who had walked over to her and responds by saying-

"I know-I know, I should have been nicer to them. I can't help it, treating all demons and devils like that. It has to be a quirk that comes from being a divine being. Anyways, where's Megumin and Kazuma right now?"

They all look back to see that the Void Cage was still present and active which meant those two were still trapped inside. Eris walks over to it and places her hand against the shell that made up the surface of the 'cage'. After several seconds, she says-

"I can break this but it's going to take me a good while, an hour at least. Did that succubus looking devil say how long it will take before it goes down."

Cielo goes stiff as she recalls something important. It was Shield Darkness who answers by saying-

"Actually, I think Arnes is needed to bring it down when the danger had passed. At least that's what I think she said about it."

Immediately, a vein pops on Eris again as she shouts out loudly-

"Hey you damn devil. Get your ass back here and break this damn spell already. Hey, can you hear me?"

Both Cielo and Shield Darkness just sweat drop as they watch their goddess throwing a temper tantrum over this sudden discovery.

Meanwhile, Yunyun was finding herself becoming quite flustered and nervous as Lynn kept buzzing around her, checking her out for some reason, making Yunyun ask-

"Um... Lynn, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, really. Just trying to figure out what kind of entity you were turned into when you got down here. With that fancy cloak you're wearing, I just can't quite figure it out right now."

"Oh, well... I was turned into a succubus. See, I have these horns and such."

Yunyun then pulls off the hood of her cloak to reveal the small horns on her head and then opens her cloak to reveal the skimpy attire she had on underneath. She was really embarrassed with letting others see her in this state of dressed but it would be fine if only another girl saw her like this.

If any guy saw her though, she would surely die of embarrassment. Yunyun wasn't even sure if she could handle Kazuma seeing her dressed like this and Kazuma was the one guy she would be fine with for most things.

Lynn lets out a whistle which makes Yunyun blush like mad as she quickly covered herself back up.

"Hot damn, that IS quite the revealing number you have on. In fact, it's just as revealing as the one Megumin was forced to wear. I wonder which of you has it worse though. We'll need to have a quick look check with the both of you once Megumin gets back with Kazuma to be sure."

"No, we can't. We won't be doing anything of the sort. How could you even... wait, Megumin was really turned into a succubus too?"

"Yep, that's right. She became a total succubus. Heh, can't help but wonder what that means about what technique she's going to use to help reawaken Kazuma. Being a succubus and all, she has oh so many options to go with right now."

"EH?"

"Lynn, that's enough with the teasing. We need to be on alert for any other threats while lady Eris does her thing with breaking the Void Cage."

said Cielo as she came walking over to join Lynn and Yunyun. Once she was standing beside them, Shield Darkness then asks-

"By the way, Yunyun. Just how did you and lady Eris get her so quickly. You must have started following after us shortly after we left in order to have arrived here so soon after we did; the seventh realm I mean."

Yunyun takes a moment to think about it before saying-

"Well, not really. In fact, I think it's only been an hour or two since we arrived down here in Hell. You'd need to ask lady Eris herself though as my mind was focused on other matters."

"Seriously, one to two hours? Damn, that's not fair. Can't be helped, I guess. I mean, having a goddess at your side must have made getting around each of the realm trials rather easy."

said Lynn which made Yunyun cock her head to the side in confusion while asking what that meant when they talk about trials. To answer, Cielo says-

"Well, in the first realm; there was the danger of having our faces stolen away and with that our memories. The third realm saw us try to ignore our growing hunger and our greed in the fourth. And then there was the battle lust that came from the fifth realm and having to deal with the headache that was the heretics living in the sixth realm."

"And don't forget about those crazy sex fantasy's the second realm brought down upon us. It may have all been in our heads, but damn did it not feel good."

added Darkness making Cielo and Lynn go stiff. Yunyun herself blushes like crazy before asking for more details about that second realm's trial specifically. However, neither Cielo nor Lynn seemed interested in talking about it so instead, Darkness says-

"I'll tell you more about it later, once we're back in the mansion. For now, tell us how you and Eris managed to get around having to deal with those trials yourselves."

Yunyun thinks about it for a moment before saying-

"Actually, we never had to face any of the trials. We just flew high over the realms at high speed. To be honest, I think the trip from one to another is faster when going through the air. Eris said something about land travel has some kind of enchantment that makes the trip take so much longer than a fly over."

"Ugh, you have to be kidding. Can't be helped, I guess. I mean, having a goddess who can make the trip easier like dealing with those invisible barriers that would normally prevent doing such a thing."

"Actually, I was the one who dealt with the barriers."

said a now very nervous Yunyun who had started to fidget as the girl's give her a deadpan look.

"Come again?"

"Yeah, I was the one who took out those barriers; thanks to having Light of Saber."

There was a pause as the wind blows past them before the three stunned girls all scream out a rather obscene profanity, one that a makes Eris jump in surprise and shock as she looks back at them.

"OK, mental note everyone. Once we get back home, force Megumin to learn Advance Magic. No questions, no debate."

"Agreed." (x2)

Eris chuckles nervously, now worrying that Megumin's ability to choose her path going forward was in serious danger. Then, just as she begins to turn her attention back to the Void Cage...

She is forced to jump back as the tip of the bone scythe comes tearing through the 'cage' before slicing in a circular motion which causes the whole thing to start cracking and distorting before finally shattering like it was glass.

The others quickly come running over to join Eris as the images of Megumin and Lich Kazuma comes into view. They then just stood there in nervous silence as they wait to see a reaction from either. Waiting-waiting-waiting-

Megumin then opens her eyes and gives them all a strong, confident smile while also giving them a thumbs up.

"Megumin... are you... is Kazuma...?"

"See for yourself."

said Megumin in confidence as she looks to Lich Kazuma. After a second, he finally moves as he turns his head from one side to another, then looks down at his bone scythe before bringing the handle up and smacking it against the skull that was his face hard; hard enough to leave the skull cracked.

And the cracks begin to grow and spreads quickly until the skull shatters, revealing the familiar face of Kazuma that they all know and love, albeit a little pale. Like, albino pale like. Kazuma then opens his eyes as well before saying-

"Well, that was an experience. Hey guys, miss me?"

"KAZUMA!" (x4)

Without warning, Kazuma found himself being tackled by Yunyun, Cielo, and Lynn. If Darkness wasn't a shield, she surely would be doing the same. Megumin have a little tick present in her eye, making it obvious that she wanted to yell at them for piling onto Kazuma like they were though she was surprisingly holding her tongue her. And Eris just smiled happily at seeing Kazuma looking OK. Well, as OK as he could given the circumstances.

After a few minutes, the girls finally got off Kazuma. Once he was back onto his feet, Eris walked over to him and gave him a surprisingly deep hug. While the others probably did see it, Kazuma could feel it; an ever so light shaking coming from Eris as he also felt a tear fall come into contact from the goddess.

"I'm really glad you're OK."

she said in a soft whisper only he would hear. In return, Kazuma brings his arms up and hugs her back.

"Sorry for worrying you. Sorry for worrying all of you."

Once Eris had pulled away from Kazuma. He looks around and says-

"Well, when I first found myself arriving in Axel, I never would have guessed I would have found myself experiencing an adventure all the way down in Hell of all places."

"It's definitely a first for all of us."

agreed Cielo. Megumin then goes to say-

"So, how about we get ourselves out of here before..."

"Kazuma-Kazuma, have you noticed it. The naughty outfit Megumin dressed herself up in for your rescue. What do you think of it."

Megumin quickly goes stiff as Lynn had flown back over to Kazuma, pushing his head towards looking at Megumin. Megumin quickly tries to cover herself as best she could as Kazuma gives her a full check over.

"Well, I can say that my opinion of your particular taste in clothing is undergoing a change at the moment."

"No, wait. That's not... there's a reason behind why I'm dressed like I am. I swear this wasn't my idea."

"Megumin, I can't believe you would be going around this place dressed like that. I-I thought you had better standards than this."

said Yunyun, shocked at what she was seeing her friend and rival was wearing. Lynn then gets a devious face as she flies over to Yunyun and before the introvert girl could react, grabs onto Yunyun's cloak and forcibly removes it making both Kazuma and Megumin to stare blankly at Yunyun who was now trying to cover herself up as well.

"Ah... why did you do that, Lynn. Kazuma-Megumin, please don't stare at me like that."

"What was that you said before, Yunyun. How can you criticize me when I find that you are also going around wearing such a skimpy and revealing attire. And where did you get that cloak from?"

"Um... miss Ego gave it to me."

said Yunyun as she manages to cover herself with the cloak once again. Megumin then comes in close to her and grabs onto the cloak-

"Give that cloak to me... RIGHT NOW!"

"No, I don't want to give it to you. I don't want anyone here to see me dressed like I am."

"You think I want to be seen dressed like this? Stop being such a spoiled child and give that cloak to me right now."

"I refuse. It's fine for you to stay looking like that. I mean, you've already come this far dressed like that so what's wrong with staying to that look a little longer?"

"What did you say?"

As the two of them continue to bicker, Cielo walks over to Kazuma and says-

"Kazuma, aren't you going to say something to them? They're making a scene after all."

"Fine, I'll take care of it. Megumin... Yunyun..., get over here so I can burn your succubi attire into my brain matter so I can make some kinky sleepwear for the two of you to sport around the mansion once we get back."

Cielo and Eris shake their heads in annoyance while the two crimson eyed succubi immediately run over to Kazuma and start smacking him with their fist. Lynn and Shield Darkness, on the other hand, just laugh at the whole scene at play. And then...

Kazuma's body jerks violently, making everyone come to a dead freeze. They find themselves experiencing shock and horror at the sight of a glowing hand having shoved its way through Kazuma's chest; specifically ripping through his now breaking chain of mortality. Kazuma turns his head to see the source of this backstabbing his eye coming to look upon a familiar figure.

"Fools, you shouldn't have let your guards down. Now, Satou Kazuma... DIE!"

{|} Canto 30: A Most Evil Soul {|}

It was if time had frozen in place as the girls could only stare on, unable to act or even think in this moment after having seen what just happened happen. It was Aldarp... no, Vlad Dracula having already recovered from the injury Eris had given him which shouldn't have happened so quickly.

But something was different about him. Very different as he no longer looked like himself really. Any actual human features were gone from his being, instead he now had the appearance of a mass of pulsing arcana energy from head to toe. And what's more, the pulsing was becoming faster and faster.

Higher up and still concealed behind their veil of invisibility, both Maxwell and Vanir went from their sitting positions to now standing, a look of concern now present on both their faces. Vanir then sighs and says-

"Can't be helped now, can it. Looks like we'll need to get ourselves involved after all."

Vanir goes to move, to exit the veil of invisibility, only to be stopped by Maxwell who simply places a hand onto Vanir's shoulders.

"Wait, brother. While I'm in agreement with you. I still can't do anything yet nor can I allow you to do so. Not until his transformation is complete and as a consequence, my contract with him has come to an end."

Vanir looks at Maxwell for a moment, then back down at Dracula and takes a moment to study him.

"So, he's really about to become a..."

"Yeah, no doubt about it. He was already absorbing a tremendous amount of arcana into his being, far more that even entities like us would ever dare to take in at any one time. That combined with the injury the goddess Eris gave him was enough to send him into a chrysalis like form, one that he will be emerging from momentarily. And when he does, he will have become the worst kind of devil that Hell can produce..."

"A Satan-morph!"

Back down below, Kazuma's body spasms again as he lets out a horrendous scream of pain, which was enough to bring the others from out of their shocked states. Immediately, both Megumin and Yunyun try to take action to save Kazuma only for Dracula to suddenly spin around, using Kazuma's body like a mallet, slamming it into them and sending them flying back.

"How dare..."

roars Eris as she and the rest come moving in closer in order to retrieve Kazuma only from Dracula to say in a strangely dark and monstrous voice-

"Another step and I'll rip him into pieces."

Naturally, this makes everyone stop their actions, unable to do anything more after hearing that threat. Meanwhile, whatever action Dracula was doing to Kazuma continued as his spirit body continued to jerk while the essence that his body shined with started to grow weaker and weaker.

"That's right boy, don't try to fight it. All that precious arcana within is already mine. What a surprise though. Who would have thought that this energy would be so..."

Dracula's words stop as he feels it; a deeper power present within Kazuma. A power like nothing he had ever felt before. Something so strong and potent that it made all the arcana he had flowing around inside his own body seem irrelevant in comparison. A power that he would claim for himself.

"That's right, don't try to fight at all as I take everything from you. Even this curious powGAHH."

Dracula screams out suddenly as his whole body jerks and his arms go flaying all over the place. Kazuma's body comes sliding free from being penetrated by Dracula's arm and is sent flying across the field before crashing onto the ground in a rather violent way.

Immediately, Megumin and Yunyun had ran over to his side, kneeling down before Kazuma. Eris was with them only a moment later, rolling Kazuma onto his back in order to properly examine the chain of mortality while Cielo with Shield Darkness and Lynn also join them, but they keep their eyes firmly locked onto Dracula.

"Kazuma... Eris, please... will he be OK."

asked Yunyun. After another moment of examination, Eris says-

"Good news, Kazuma's chain of mortality wasn't completely destroyed. Bad news, it was badly damaged though. We need to hurry and get him back to his body. If the rest of his chain goes while down here, then even I..."

"Then take Kazuma and get him safely back to his body. We'll be right behind you... after we deal with this guy."

said Megumin as she slowly gets back to her feet, a wild and dangerous look in her eyes. There was no question that Megumin was mad, furious even. In fact, it could be said that Megumin had never felt so much anger and hatred for anyone in her life as she was feeling in this very moment.

Yunyun also gets to her feet, a similar look also present on her face as well as she her body began to glow with arcana. Cielo cracks her knuckles and Lynn her neck as Darkness says the words they were all thinking in that very moment.

"Let's go fuck that guy up!"

After a few moments more, Dracula had finally appeared to recover though he was looking at his arm, the one that had been piercing Kazuma's body just moments before.

'What... what was that? When I reached out and tried to take hold of that strange power I was feeling, it lashed out at me with a force I have never felt before. Just what was that you have hiding inside your body, Satou...'

His thoughts are stopped as a sudden surge of pain racks through him. Was it the lingering effects of whatever that was that had rejected him? No, it was something else. Something better. He smiles, understanding what that pain had meant. He was ready to be reborn.

He then feels it, the incoming presence of danger which makes him turn to see Cielo and Lynn coming at him. He goes to move only to instead be forced to dodge away as a Light of Saber spell comes raining down from above towards him. It had come from one of those mages while the other was in the middle of chanting her own spell. But before that spell would be ready, he would have to deal with several attacks from the angel looking girl and likely more magic attacks as well.

At least he would if it wasn't already time for his newest rebirth. He cracks a smile as his enemies get closer and closer and...

"For everything that you have done to us, for what you have done to all those innocents, and especially what you did to Kazuma, we will all make you experience true pain."

"I know that's what you want, but..."

And then it happened, the pulsing arcana body he had suddenly grew unimaginably bright, blinding everyone including Eris in the moment before a massive explosive blast filled the area and forcing them all back.

It took only a moment for them to recover, and they looked and waited for the smoke to clear so they could continue their assault against Dracula. However, a low chuckle came from the smoke as it finally started to clear, revealing a most horrifying sight; one that left them all with shaking knees.

The figure they saw was tall, perhaps twelve to fifteen feet. His entire body was like that of molten brimstone. He had cloven hoofed feet and long pointed fingernails. A strong defined chin along with other angular facial features and massive ram like horns that seemed to be a few sizes too big for his body yet there appeared to be no trouble with that fact for the creature. He then examines one of his hands before saying-

"So, this is what true power can feel like. Heheh, it looks like I won't been needing you're help any longer, old friend. I have now become a being that surpasses even an archduke."

Off to the side, Eris, who had been busy trying to stabilize enough so that she could take a moment to help the others with dealing with Dracula once and for all was now staring at the thing he had become with wide eyed horror. While she had never personally seen one in the flesh before, she still knew what it was he had allowed himself to become.

"That's a... Satan-morph. The most dangerous of all Hell's children. Even the eight archdukes couldn't..."

"You think becoming something like that will give you an advantage here. We still have both strength in numbers and in power. There's no way you will win against us."

shouts Darkness while Lynn cast Equilibrium on Dracula and Cielo goes in to punch him. Yunyun had also repositioned herself so she could send a Light of Spear right into Dracula's backside while he was focused on the frontal attack.

"No, stop everyone. You can't win against him now.'

screamed Eris but it was already too late as Dracula chuckles before giving Cielo, Shield Darkness, and Lynn and says-

"Domination!"

Immediately, their whole bodies go rigid and stiff as they quickly fall onto the ground, unmoving. Domination: a spell that was similar to that of the Lich skill Apathy, but even more powerful. While Apathy only impeded a person's movements, Domination actually overwhelmed all of the target's senses, rendering them unconscious and leaving them in a drooling pile of a mess. And worse, it could take whole days for anyone hit with Domination to recover from the attack.

The attack was so powerful in fact that it could even fell angels with little trouble and as for gods and goddess's; it could impact them in the same way the Lich skill Apathy influences anyone hit by it if the divine wasn't careful and prepared to resist it the moment it was cast.

"Light of Spear."

shouts Yunyun, sending the spear shaped swelling of magical energy at Dracula. The attack comes in quick and is just about to hit Dracula, but he manages to shift his position just enough so that it goes sailing past him off into the distance. He then looks at the part of his body that had almost still been hit then, after a moment, says-

"Interesting spell. I've never heard of it before. Had that hit me, it might have caused some damage. Nothing major... but still."

He then turns his attention back to Yunyun who was already building up for another spell. Dracula then suddenly goes from where he was to standing before Yunyun, baring and glaring down at her with his intimidating eyes, which causes Yunyun to falter for just second due to fear.

"Domination."

says Dracula again, taking the chance to incapacitate Yunyun too. He watches as she also falls onto the ground, and he allows himself a moment to study her. Seeing what having taken this new form meant for him, perhaps he should take time to break these girls here and now, make them want to stay down here with him as his personal slaves.

'Yes, that may be something fun to do... but first.'

He then turns to look at Megumin, seeing that she was nearly finished with her own spell preparations.

"Don't think you have won, monster. Let me show you what a reborn god of destruction can do. Explo..."

Megumin didn't finish as Dracula suddenly appeared before her, much like what he had done with Yunyun. But unlike with Yunyun or the others, he didn't hit Megumin with Domination. Instead, he just sends a powerful punch right into Megumin's stomach, causing the crimson eyes succubus to cough up some of the blood like substance before she collapses forward onto the ground.

"That was all too easy. Tell me, goddess. You just going to stand there and do nothing while I hurt these girls."

Eris scowled at Dracula's words. She wanted to go at him right now, but she needed to focus on Kazuma first. Just another minute and she would be done, then she would show Dracula what a goddess's wrath could really look and feel like.

"I'll deal with you momentarily, I promise. Once I'm done here, I'll..."

"I understand. Wanting to ensure his survival makes sense as he is the one in the most danger at the moment. Or rather... (devious smile forms) he WAS the one in the most danger."

And then, without missing a beat, Dracula turns and brings one of his hooved feet down onto Megumin's back. That alone was enough to earn a cry of pain from the girl but before Eris could even react to that, Dracula had managed to grab onto Megumin's wings and without any effort needed, rips them clear off her back. Megumin's scream of pain echoed across the realm.

"Damn you, you bastard."

howled Eris, quickly getting to her feet and charging at Dracula. Her rage at what she had just seen driving her and influencing her better judgment would prove to be a big mistake as her attempt at hitting Dracula with a God Blow not only failed but left her open to receive an elbow blow to the top of her head, sending her crashing down beside Megumin in a daze.

'Damn it, I shouldn't have lost my cool like that. I need to recover here... and quickly. Before that guy can...'

"So, that's the famous power of a god level being? Have to say... I'm not impressed. Oh, I have just come up with the most pleasurable idea. Want to know what it is, goddess?"

"Not... really..."

Dracula smiles before leaning down... and scooping Megumin up into his arms. Not any of the other girls nor Eris herself, but Megumin who, while still appearing to be conscious, looked like she no longer had enough energy to resist. Probably because of the experience of having her wings ripped off like they had been.

"Here's the deal, goddess. I'm going to go take this girl here somewhere fun and more private. I suggest you hurry up and recover quickly so you can follow after because once I arrive at the spot I have in mind, I'm going to go ahead and start having a little fun with her. She'll have the honor of being the first one I'll break in and become my devoted slave."

"No, wait... stop..."

said Eris weakly but it was too late as massive wings emerge from the back of Dracula, allowing him to take to the sky before flying off with the captured Megumin. Eris tries to pick herself up off the ground only to fall back down; finding herself just barely having the strength to keep her eyes open.

{|} Canto 31: The Coldest Place in Hell {|}

'Darkness... darkness... everything is darkness. Why is everything darkness right now?'

For Satou Kazuma, everything had suddenly changed. One minute, he was with everyone as Eris was preparing to see them out of Hell. And then... he had felt something come into contact with his back and then the nothingness, total darkness and silence. Like he was the only thing that existed.

'Where is everyone? What's going on? Why is it I can't seem to be able to move or speak? Someone... anyone, please tell me. What's happened, what's going on?'

And then it came, something that was able to cut through the silent darkness. It was a scream, and it was Megumin's voice. Megumin had screamed but why?

'Megumin... what is it? What's happening? Why did you need to scream like that?'

Unable to see or hear anything else and with nothing else he could think of now, Kazuma puts all his focus onto Megumin; letting her voice replay in his ears and seeing her face within his thoughts. It came to him slowly, but the image was clear; a scene from the outside, showing him what was going on.

And what Kazuma saw filled him with dread for he saw some creature; a monster unlike anything he had ever seen before reaching down and taking Megumin into its arms. He then was able to hear the words said by the monster.

"Here's the deal, goddess. I'm going to go take this girl here somewhere fun and more private. I suggest you hurry up and recover quickly so you can follow after because once I arrive at the spot I have in mind, I'm going to go ahead and start having a little fun with her. She'll have the honor of being the first one I'll break in and become my devoted slave."

'Wait, what did it just say. No, stop. Don't touch her. If you do anything to Megumin, I swear I'll...'

Kazuma then watches as he sees the monster sprout wings before taking to the sky, flying off with Megumin as he captive. Another detail then comes to mind. Where were the others. Why weren't they doing something to save Megumin or had that monster done something to them first before stealing Megumin away.

An anger and power begin to swell and arise from deep within Kazuma as he begins to struggle with all his might, his form beginning to glow with an eerie light. Kazuma's face contorted into one of pure rage as his muscles started to bulge and his body shook violently.

'Move-move-move, damn it... I said MOVE!'

"That's right, you must move, Satou Kazuma. You have to move. If you want to save her, then you need to move right now."

'Entropy? Do me a favor and don't just go spouting the fucking obvious here. How about you help me here, damn it.'

"Very well, since you asked so nicely. Besides, I can't stand to see you suffer so... and on a personal note, that thing actually dared to touch ME before and no one is allowed to do such a thing. No one... except YOU. And now Kazuma, say it. Scream the words out loud..."

Eris watched, still unable to properly move while also fighting to stay conscious here.

'Damn it, this is bad... very bad. I need to get back to repairing Kazuma's spirit body and I need to see to the others and save Megumin while dealing with that thing. There are so many things and yet here I am just laying here trying to keep from fading. I really need help here before things get any...'

Eris didn't get a chance to finish as she feels it filling the air, a sudden rush of incredible levels of arcana. Arcana so thick and potent that it could even give the beast that Dracula had allowed himself to become was giving off. And then she heard the monstrous roar, and it was coming from Kazuma.

Good news though. This sudden turning of events had helped her to overcome the desire to fall under.

Eris picks herself up and turns her full attention onto Kazuma who was rising from the ground, his body surrounded by surging arcana. And then the hole in his chest that Dracula had put into him begins to glow and all the while, Kazuma's raging scream grew louder and louder till it started creating visible distortions in the air. And then the scream turned into two simply words; words shouted aloud with such power and force behind them that one would think all in Hell must have heard them spoken.

"LICH REAP!"

With those words, all the arcana flowing around Kazuma explodes outwards, forcing Eris to cover her eyes and look away for a moment. When she is next able to look back, all the anima flowing through her freezes like blood at what she was seeing.

Kazuma had once again gone full Lich, with scythe in hand and an aura of pure dark arcana flowing around him. His eyes were especially brimming with power before letting out a sound that must have been a battle cry before he shoots into the air, following right after Dracula and the kidnapped Megumin.

"Kazuma... no, wait for..."

yelled Eris though her words failed to reach him. Well, either that or he had just ignored her words. Either way, Eris found herself being left with a choice to make. Either stay here and see to helping the others get back on their feet or risk leaving them behind where they could be attacked by vengeance demons while in their most vulnerable state just to make sure Kazuma and Megumin made it back from the showdown with Dracula.

Luckily for her, the answer to this problem was given to her as two figures come to land on the ground close by. She looks, seeing the figures of Vanir and Maxwell and after a moment of pause, her face shifts to one of pure anger and rage as she says with venom in her tone.

"You two; the one that was working with Dracula and the guy who tricked Kazuma into making a contract with him. Have you both been here all this time? Have you been watching instead of doing something about this mess. I have half a mind to..."

Vanir stops Eris while raising a hand up while Maxwell says-

"Do YOU really have time for this, GODDESS Eris? Instead of having words with us, you hurry on up and go chase after those two who are so important to you. If you're worried about this lot, then leave them with us. We'll make sure they're kept safe until we can get them back on their feet."

"Like hell am I going to trust two archdukes, especially after..."

Vanir suddenly lets out a laugh, making Maxwell send him a confused look while Eris has daggers in her eyes. Once Vanir had finished his quick laugh, he points at Eris and says-

"Little miss goddess with too many things she feels she needs to do, hear the words of this devil with the gift of foresight. Know that Moi can foresee that if you do not hurry along and help those two right now, then you will find that you have lost them both. Lost them... eternally."

Hearing that makes Eris clench her fist before she takes to the air herself. She then says to the two-

"Alright, I'll leave them in both your cares. But know this, if anything happens to them that I don't like, then no matter where you try to hide from me within creation, I will find you and I will make you both suffer some REAL hell."

And with that, Eris turns to also give chase, leaving Vanir and Maxwell to tend to the others.

"Huh, that went much better than I was expecting it to."

"True enough. Moi has heard that she's one of the most agreeable of her kind."

With Dracula, he raced across Perdition, quickly finding himself leaving the desert like region and passing over what appeared dome shaped rocks that had a metallic look to them.

"So, these must be the Chambers of Fraud I was told about. The 8th Realm of Perdition. Perhaps when time permits, I'll come back around and see what it has to offer. But for now..."

He then looks down at his captive prey, the crimson eyed girl. From the looks of it, she was still mostly out of it, but she was starting to come around as she was showing more signs of resistance; signs of her trying to struggle and put up a fight in order to escape.

He then looks ahead as the scenery beneath them changes again, becoming that of a massive and deep hole that didn't seem to have any visible bottom to it. He then begins to move straight down into the hole, going deeper and deeper and deeper and as he goes, the air begins to become really cold.

Colder than cold, in fact. So cold that absolute zero would feel like a hot summers' day in comparison. And then, after what felt like an eternity, he emerged into something he wasn't expecting.

A winter wonderland like place; a world of never-ending ice and snow. No trees or other signs of life could be seen. Just frozen lakes, snow covered earth, and icy mountains or perhaps glaciers. And the air was so cold that he could already see ice already forming upon him and the girl, threatening to quickly consume them both if they stayed to long in this place.

"Hm, I had heard this was the true Hell, the original Hell with the other realms being add-ons from different points in time. Honestly, I was expecting to see fire and brimstone all over the place. Hah, the church lied to me. Now, what to do with you..."

"How about... you let me go, you creep."

said Megumin, finally having recovered enough to not only begin some serious struggles to see herself free but to also talk back. Dracula smiles evilly down at her as he retorts-

"Are you so sure you want me to let you go NOW? If I do that then without those wings of yours, you'll fall straight down onto the ground and having now experienced this lowest of realms, I have a feeling touching the ground here is a very BAD thing for anyone."

"Heh, better that than to stay in contact with you any longer."

"Well, if you insist. Just remember, little girl. You chose..."

Dracula didn't finish as he felt it coming fast, another power that seemed to be comparable to his own. Just as he was about to turn in the direction he felt the incoming force's approach, his body jerks as something impacts against his back, cutting deep into him. Had he still been his previous self, it would have done some serious damage to him, possibly even rendered him unable to act.

But because of his new form and the powers that came with it, it was nothing more than a mosquito bite to him now. He closes his eyes and focus' his power directly into his back, causing the scythe to be pushed out of him and sent falling onto the snowy ground below. He then turns around just in time to see Lich Kazuma's arrival.

Kazuma immediately tries to attack Dracula while taking Megumin back into his own arms only for Dracula to successfully dodge past Kazuma at the last moment. Dracula then makes some distance while Kazuma turns to face him and go to move for another attempt.

"Wait, boy. Make another move and I will drop this girl. Do you know what will happen to her if she hits the ground here in the ninth realm."

Truth told, Dracula himself didn't exactly know what would happen but he was confident something would happen if such a thing were to occur to any of them right now. It didn't matter as his words did have the desired effect on Kazuma as the boy stopped his actions and just hovered in place.

For the next moment, as a sudden blizzard suddenly started to assault them yet Kazuma and Dracula just floated there; staring each other down while Megumin continued to struggle and free herself from being a damsel in distress here.

"Kazuma, I know you're worried about me and doing anything that could see me hurt as a result. But don't just stand there and save me already. Preferably before this guy decides to try something perverted with me."

"That's right, boy. Do something and see what that something will cost you both here."

Dracula grins evilly as he watches Kazuma closely. While he couldn't get a read on Kazuma's potential thoughts because of the unchanging nature of the skull that was his face, he still was confident that the boy was brainstorming ideas on what he could do.

However, this waiting game was starting to get boring. And also; it was fucking cold. Too cold for even Dracula's current self. As such, he decides that it was up to him to make the next move and just as he was about to act...

Kazuma himself finally does something by suddenly thrusting his arms outwards, his hands opened wide. This sudden and strange action confused Dracula for just a second before his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Was he planning on using some kind of spell against him? A foolish move.

"What did I say, boy. Now, see what fate you have brought upon this..."

"STEAL!"

Dracula blinks, confused as to what using such a skill as that would achieve. It's not like he currently had any item on his person that could be taken with such a skill and he doubted the girl did...?

He looks down, having taken notice of something missing for indeed something was; the captive. His head shoots back up to looking at Kazuma, seeing the girl now in his arms and being held close to his body tightly.

"Kazuma, how did...?"

"Did you forget, Megumin. Whenever I used Steal on you, I actually steal all of you. Not just something that's on your person. Now, grab onto me tight so that guy can't get you back."

"I'll never let go of you, Kazuma. NEVER!"

said Megumin as she hugs him as tightly as she could. Kazuma smiles at her before turning back just in time to see Dracula coming right at them. This time, it was Kazuma's turn to do the dodging as Dracula gives chase and they proceed to fly all over the realm.

"You think you two are going to get away from me? You are both fools..."

shouted Dracula as with every attempt he made to catch Kazuma and Megumin, each time failing yet each time also saw him coming closer and closer to grabbing onto Kazuma's leg. And then, he finally succeeded as he held tight while taunting his now captured foe.

"That was... I'd like to say fun while it lasted but this was actually annoying. But no matter, I think it's time I..."

Before he could finish, Kazuma shifts his body around enough that he was facing Dracula. He was keeping a tight hold on Megumin with one arm while the other was stretched out towards Dracula enough that Kazuma's index and middle fingers were touching the Satan-morph.

And then came the glowing light, the buildup of power. One Dracula was quick to recognize. Despite his current state, a look of fear and horror came over Dracula as he looked again at Kazuma who said to him-

"Funny thing about being in the lowest realm of Hell. Being able to gather enough arcana to use this again is very-very quick... CERO!"

Before Dracula could let Kazuma's leg go in order to avoid the blast, Kazuma's Cero is unleashed; hitting with enough force that it sends Dracula blasting back further and further away. As this happens, Megumin looks on with wide eyes

"Was that your personal skill, Kazuma. What was it called again... Cero? Gotta say, that was pretty cool."

"Not as cool as what I've seen you unleash but yeah, it is pretty cool. By the way, Megumin. Feel like doing something we haven't had a chance to do since your birthday."

"Huh, my birthday, what are you... oh, oh you're right. Why haven't we done it any more beyond that one time?"

"No time like the present, right Megumin. Anyways, here's the plan..."

Meanwhile, Dracula raged as he was still being pushed further and further back away from those two. And with his building rage was power which finally allowed him to twist his body just enough to see the Cero pass by him, flying on into the unknown.

He then examines himself. Not only had it left a noticeable crater like impression on his chest, but a part of one arm had been blasted off when he had twisted his body to force the Cero to pass by him. His eyes then filled with fury as he turns back in the direction those two would be.

"Damn you, damn you... DAMN YOU! I've been far to kind with you two. That ends now."

He then races back towards Kazuma and Megumin with plans on ending them on the spot. They then come into view, and he sees Megumin was now being held differently than before with both her hands held out before her body while Kazuma still had the one while the other was keeping hold of her.

Not that any of that mattered as all he needed to do was reach them and...

"Ready Megumin?"

"Yeah, let's do this Kazuma... EXPLOSION!"

"Explosion!"

they said together, the energy they had been building up being unleashed right at Dracula. Now, a smart person would have tried to dodge the combination attack being sent their way, but Dracula was so angry, so filled with rage, that he didn't care if he was hit by their attacks. He was confident that no matter how powerful it was, it would be as nothing to him and he would come out of it without injury.

The twin explosions went off, turning the blizzard into a gentle snow fall though the wind was still enough that the smoke hiding Dracula was quick to be pushed away. While his confidence at first seemed to be justified as there appeared to be no damage done to him beyond some areas of his body smoking, it had still been enough power to force him to stop his advance at the two in order to cover his face with his arms.

He then lowers his arms while saying-

"OK, have to admit. That was a little more impactful than expected but as I'm sure you can see, I am still..."

"Dragon Slave!"

shouted Megumin, sending the flaming ball of fiery power racing down at Dracula. In response, Dracula brings his arms up again and grabs onto the attack and goes to crush it which makes it explode. As the next wave of smoke is blown away, he once more turns his gaze towards those two and...

"Apathy... Hex!"

said Kazuma, having used the Dragon Slave as a distraction in order to get in close so he could hit Dracula with his Apathy Lich skill and quickly following it up with casting the Hex Lich skill. And then Kazuma moves himself and Megumin back away from Dracula as Megumin was already chanting her final attack and Kazuma focusing on drawing in enough arcana for one final Cero.

"What was that? Do you really think me so weak that using Apathy on me will stall me in any way. Fool, now's it's my turn to... what?"

Dracula goes to move only to find his body stiff and unresponsive. While he could move... sort of, it was slow and sluggish. Try as he might, he just couldn't seem to get himself fully mobile again.

"Confused? It's simple really. I used Apathy to stall you in the moment, despite knowing it wouldn't hold you for more than a second or two. Rather, my Apathy was meant to give me time to use Hex on you, cursing you with both petrifaction and paralysis. Wasn't sure if either would work on you but hey, now I do know."

"And now, see the power of the greatest of the Crimson Demons... and her man."

"HYPER EXPLOSION!"

"CERO!"

{Insert Image 3}

Dracula watches, finally feeling true horror in this moment as the two attacks came towards him. He could see the power behind the two and knew what being hit by both would do to him if they hit. He wanted to move, he needed to move. If he didn't, then...

'Damn it, I should have finished you both off when I had the...'

He didn't get to finish his thoughts as both attacks make contact. The explosion and the power that made it up was so intense that Kazuma was unable to avoid being thrown into an insane fast-moving spin though somehow, he and Megumin were able to avoid being pulled apart. Furthermore, they were able to avoid being sent crashing into the ground.

Once Kazuma had been able to stop his out of control spinning and reorient himself and Megumin, they both look at each other and ask one another at the same time-

"Good?"

They smile at one another before turning back to look at what had become of Dracula; seeing the remains falling towards the ground. His arms and legs were gone. In fact, all of his lower body had been blasted away and even his face had a hole where one eye should be.

"To think... after all these centuries of success, what actually brought about my end would be..."

Dracula doesn't finish what he was saying as the very moment his body touched the snowy ground, it was immediately turned into an ice sculpture that looked like what had been left. Upon further inspection, Kazuma noticed that there were many such sculptures upon the ground. Perhaps others who had been foolish enough to come her or maybe...

"Kazuma, is it over? Is that guy..."

"Yeah, he's been put on ice... literally."

Megumin rolls her eyes before saying in a deadpan tone-

"Seriously Kazuma, a pun of all things at a time like this? And here I thought you were better than that... though I guess it was still a little funny in hindsight. Anyways, this place is really cold so can you hurry up and get us out of here already."

"Yes ma'am."

With that, Kazuma focuses the remainder of his power into his feet, sending himself and Megumin flying higher and higher into the sky. Seeing as they came in from above, it made logical sense that heading back up was the way to go in order to escape the lowest of realm's They climbed higher and higher and higher until...

A sudden rippling in the air assaults Kazuma's sense of sight and with it an immediate feeling of sheer exhaustion came rushing over him. After a moment, he realized he was no longer moving higher into the sky but was now starting to slowly descend back down towards the ground.

'What was that? What's going on here? Why aren't we continuing our ascent; why are we heading back to the ground and... why do I feel so tired all of a sudden?'

"Kazuma, my... my heads starting to feel funny and I... can't seem to keep my eyes open. I'm so tired all of a sudden. What's... what's happening to... us..."

Kazuma knew that Megumin had fallen asleep, something he was also in serious danger of doing. He tried to fight back against it, knowing that if it happened then they would both be screwed. And so he struggled, fighting against the desire to close his eyes and let sleep take him too. He tried with all his might.

"Can't... can't let myself fall... If I do, then we'll both... we'll both..."

It was no use. Try as he might, this desire to close his eyes and sleep was just to strong and unrelenting and because of that, his eyes finally closed as well as the two of them drifted closer and closer to the ground where they would join Dracula in becoming Hell's newest residents.

"Looks like I made it just in time. Guess this is what that annoying devil meant when he said I needed to be here in order to save you two."

A bubble of light had suddenly appeared, taking Kazuma and Megumin into itself alongside Eris who kneels down beside them and places a hand on both their faces. After a moment, she sighs out in relief before shaking her head a little.

"The both of you... can you go one lifetime without causing me any troubles and worry. I suppose if you could then that would make things a little boring for me, huh? Now, what happened too..."

Eris takes a moment to look around, her eyes quickly falling onto a very noticeable shape of ice that she sends a scowl towards then says-

"As fitting an end as one could expect for someone like you. I guess it's true what they say, people really do choose their own personal hell in the end though I don't think that statement was meant to be taken so literally. Anyways, time to go collect the others and head back home."

And with that, the bubble of light that held Eris, Kazuma, and Megumin shot into the sky and out of the lowest of Hell's realms.

{|} Canto 32: Back to the Normal... For Now {|}

Cielo was the first to open her eyes, the sight of the amethyst ceiling greeting her once her vision had cleared. She sits up and finds herself inside the Sacred Vessel, the hidden chamber within the Erisia Cathedral that existed for the sole usage of the lady Eris.

Looking around, she finds Darkness and Lynn also waking and sitting up as well. She then looks around the room, finding Megumin still sleeping like a baby alongside Chris and that Ego person all looking at them. Chris was smiling happily as she asks-

"Hey, you doing OK there, Cielo?"

"Yeah, my head is hurting a little but... what's going on Chris? Why are we still here inside the secret room? I thought we had all stepped inside the portal that would..."

"Yeah, about that. Turns out that... that there was no need for you all to go down there as the moment you started walking into the portal, the goddess Eris suddenly arrived and... well, let's just say a bunch a crazy thing happened."

"Crazy things, like what exactly? And was the goddess Eris really here in this room?"

asked Darkness, having joined in conversation the moment the name Eris was mentioned. Chris nods as she gives a different take on events to everyone gathered. In a nutshell, Eris had arrived and did a reverse portal to bring everyone back which had an unexpected side effect of knocking them all out until just this very moment.

It was a lie of course but seeing as none of them appeared to remember their little misadventures down into Hell, maybe it was for the best it stayed that way. Once Chris had finished, Cielo and Darkness nod as they accepted the words Chris had spoken without any doubt or hesitation. Lynn, on the other hand...

"Are you really sure that's how it all went down, Chris. Forgive me for being a doubting Thomas here, but something about that story just doesn't add up with me. It feels like there's some details you're clearly leaving out from the telling."

Chris begins to sweat upon hearing those words, something Lynn doesn't fail to notice as she leans in closer to give Chris the same kind of eyes a mother would give to their child in order to make them break and admit to having done something naughty. Darkness then grabs onto Lynn and pulls her away from Chris while berating her for being so mean and untrusting towards her best friend. Chris sighs in relief while Cielo takes another look at Megumin and asks-

"Any reason why Megumin hasn't awakened yet? And also, what's Kazu..."

"KAZUMA!"

came a surprising voice that makes the three girls jump. They then quickly turn their attentions to the source of the voice, seeing Yunyun come into view as she was quick to get back to her feet before rushing over to Kazuma's still sleeping side. She then reaches out and touches him before looking at Chris and asking in a worried tone.

"Kazuma... will Kazuma be OK? Oh yeah, and Megumin too."

"Don't worry all of you. Those two are going to be just fine."

said Ego Aqua, her mask keeping the others from seeing who she really was. Chris then adds-

"Because Megumin was the first to step into the portal, she will need a little more time before she regains consciousness. I'd say another hour or so and she'll be waking up. As for Kazuma, it seems his time down in Hell, while brief, was still a troublesome experience. He'll need a couple of hours more than Megumin but he'll be waking up soon too. Of that you have the assurances of the goddess of fortune herself."

"Really, that makes me feel so relieved."

"Yunyun, wha... when did you get here?"

asked Lynn, making Yunyun cock her her to the side as she thinks about the question.

"Hm, when did I... I'm not sure. I remember getting here, meeting the goddess Eris, and then..."

"Wait, you actually got to see the goddess in person?"

both Cielo and Darkness shouted, making Yunyun nod with no small amount of nervousness. Both girls then let out a groan while complaining about Yunyun's luck with getting that experience. Chris then claps her hands together to get everyone's attentions onto her again. Once they were looking at her, she says-

"OK everyone, that's enough of that. Yunyun, if you would; use your teleportation magic to send yourself and everyone else back to the mansion so Megumin and Kazuma can have the comfort of their beds awaiting them when they both wake up."

"Understand. Should I also teleport you as well, miss Ego?"

Ego Aqua shakes her head while Chris says-

"There's a few more matters I need to attend to, including a quick word with Ego here. I'll see her out of here after you all have left then I will come by the mansion before I head back out. Lady Eris has given me some new tasks I need to go take care of."

'Like making another trip back down into Hell to collect the souls of all those poor people Dracula screwed over when he stole their bodies. And I need to find a few devils and have some 'choice words' with them.'

"No rest for the wicked, huh Chris. Does it ever get tiring to always be busy with work even if it's work given to you by the goddess?"

asked Darkness.

"Absolutely but I wouldn't have it any other way. Anyways, I'll see you all again in a month or so. I'll be sure to be back around in time for the Eris Festival."

The girls nod as Darkness picks up Kazuma while Lynn helps to get Megumin onto Cielo's back. Once they were done, Yunyun activates Teleport to send them all back to the mansion. Once they were alone, Ego Aqua pulls off her mask while saying-

"Well, that was a fine bit of acting. Tell me, is it a good thing or a bad thing that they can't recall anything about their adventure's down in Hell."

"I'm going to say it's a good thing. There are some experiences, even if they weren't bad ones, that are better left forgotten. To be honest, I forgot that any soul that enters Hell while still having a living mortal body will see their memories of their times down there sealed upon returning to their bodies."

"I guess I can agree with that. Anyways, I need to be getting back to the others as we have things to start preparing for."

"Before you go, Aqua. I want to ask a few more questions if I may. For clarification's sake."

"Alright, what are they."

"First, let me reaffirm that you and your group will be coming to collect our Kazuma on the final day of the Eris Festival which happens to also be his birthday, correct."

"Yes, for what we need to do with him can only be done on his birthday. Specifically, the one-minute time that represent his moment of birth into the world as Satou Kazuma."

"In order to retrieve 'her' from within his soul. Any ideas how she ended up in there to begin with?"

"Not-A-Clue. I doubt we'll ever really have an answer to THAT particular question. Am I right in assuming that you are wanting to be present when we do our thing with Kazuma?"

"Would you NOT want to be present if the situation was reversed. While I am willing to trust you and yours for the moment and I now understand what it is you are seeking with him, the fact remains that I need to protect our Kazuma just as much as you would need to protect yours."

"I agree with that. Having you there won't be a problem for us. If anything, having you there will mean things should go even better with doing what needs to be done. You can add your power to our own. Anyways, what were your other questions?"

"Just two more really. The first is I know now that you are Aqua from another timeline but what about the rest of your team? Who are they behind their mask and fake names?"

"Behind the mask of Passion is our Darkness, though that should have been obvious. Even as an adult, mature woman, she stills has her perverted side though not as obvious as it once was. Shy is actually Yunyun, and she hasn't really changed that much from her younger days. Glutton is Megumin's little sister, Komekko. And as for Complex, you won't know the name because she was never born into your time-line for some reason, but her true name is Iris; former princess of Belzerg... before Entropy nuked everything."

"And what about my counterpart? Or... am I not part of this group you're leading?"

"Huh... oh right, don't worry. Our Eris is also involved in this but I can't reveal where she is right now as she found a little loop hole that's allowing her to interact with Kazuma in a more direct manner than what we are technically allowed to do here... though our Komekko has made it clear that maybe there was never a reason for us to worry about such things as she has interacted with Kazuma a few times, once in Arcanretia and another during these most recent events; Darkness being brainwashed I mean."

"Alright... now for my final question. I need you to tell me everything you know about Entropy."

"Ah... right, that thing. I had a feeling that question was coming. To be honest, we don't know all that much ourselves as it was because of Entropy's arrival that our timeline went all to shit on us to begin with. Despite our best efforts, we have yet to learn where it came from or what it's truly after. But we have come to these conclusions..."

"And those would be?"

"It's after Kazuma because every time-line it has appeared in has always seen it stealing away that time-lines version of Kazuma. More than that, in several timelines where versions of myself, Megumin, and Darkness... sometimes others too, had been known to have been especially cruel to Kazuma, like abandoning him and such, have seen them killed by Entropy in the most brutal of ways. We don't know who she is and what her desire for all Kazuma's is yet, but she is obsessed with Kazuma... ALL the Kazuma's and I personally believe she won't stop until she has them all in her clutches."

Hearing that makes Chris clutch her hands tightly. Maybe that's how it had been in the past, but there was no way she was going to let this Entropy creature take their Kazuma away from them. Even if it cost her own life to do, she will keep Kazuma safe.

(Elsewhere)

Resting in his chair while a smile forms on his face, Rubrikt turns the viewing images off before reaching out and taking the cup of wine into hand then brings it to his lips to drink the last of what was in there. Once done, he claps his hands together while saying-

"Very good-very good, indeed. You all performed as expected. Especially you, Satou Kazuma. That power that had been within you ever since your encounter with the Dullahan has now become yours to do with as you so wish. Now... you are finally ready to play the role have need of you to play in the coming events."

Rubrikt then gets to his feet, leaving the room he was standing in as he proceeds down a darkened hall. As he goes, he muses in his own thoughts aloud just a little bit.

"Hm, there's still a little over a month left before the Eris Festival arrives and with it, the next major phase of my plans. Perhaps I should let the boy have that time to rest and relax as what's coming and what will follow shall be quite the trial he'll have to endure and overcome... however..."

Rubrikt comes to a stop as he turns his gaze to the ceiling of the hallway. After a moment, says-

"But before that, I should give you one final test. One that shall see how well you can control your newfound powers. But what would make a fitting test for you? Ah, I know what we can do here. If memory serves, one of my failed experiments is still out there, causing trouble in her home timeline. That could be fun to watch... and it will also bring you into contact with your long lost 'sister' as well. Sorry, Satou Kazuma, but it looks like you'll be taking a little trip into another time-line for a little bit."

With that, Rubrikt pulls out his special key, the one that could open doors to almost anywhere. Not just the almost in a world but also to other worlds and other timelines. He then snaps the fingers of his free hand to summon forth a door from the ground.

He then inserts the key into the door before opening it, allowing himself a few minutes to travel to a certain timeline so he could begin making preparations for Kazuma's next big adventure.

(the mansion)

Kazuma groans as his eyes open and after taking a moment to allow his vision to clear, sits up and looks around to find a familiar sight. All the girls were here in his room and all of them were currently asleep. Both Megumin and Yunyun were right at his side with Cielo and Lynn sitting on the floor leaning against each other while Darkness was dozing while sitting in a chair. And Anna was floating in a laying pose in the air, like she usually does.

He smiles as he considers if he should do something to wake them up or just let them sleep for a few minutes more. Just as he makes his decision, Kazuma feels something jump onto his shoulder, making him smile as he turns to find Chomusuke there who quickly starts giving him plenty of affections.

"Happy to see you too, Nia. So, what do you think? Should we wake these lazy girls up or should we let them sleep for a bit more."

In response, Chomusuke hops down from Kazuma's shoulder before making her way over to Megumin and Yunyun, taking a moment to nibble on both of their fingers which was enough to make them stir. They slowly sit up, asking Chomusuke what the deal was before they saw that Kazuma was awake which leaves them both wide eyed. Kazuma then gives them a 'Yo' like gesture before saying-

"I can't help but notice you all like sleeping in here with me. Maybe we should just knock out a wall or two and have ourselves one giant harem bedroom where we can all sleep together. What do you say?"

"KAZUMA!"

they both cried as they through themselves forward at Kazuma, pulling him into a tight hug. This, of course, causes the others to finally wake up. After a few minutes of celebratory hugs going on, they had retreated down to the dining room where they were sitting and allowing themselves a moment to eat and drink. In other words, they were having themselves a bit of a party.

Chris had finally shown up midway through the party and after she had given Kazuma a hug of her own, she takes a seat before asking-

"So, I heard you girls ended up falling asleep at a particularly bad time..."

hearing those words makes them look away with no small amount of embarrassment. Chris grins at her own teasing antics before looking at Kazuma and asking him-

"So, mister hero, what about you. What's the last thing that YOU can remember about recent events?"

Kazuma takes on a thinking pose, mumbling "So you guys can't remember anything, huh?" to himself before saying-

"Well, I can recall facing off with Aldarp inside his little castle-looking hideaway. Correction, I should say Vlad Dracula... his real name. I'll explain later. After that, I can recall he tried to body swap with me, and everything went dark and when I woke up... I was here in the mansion with you guys. What happened anyways?"

The girls all blink, having failed to catch Kazuma's quiet mumbling with Lynn saying-

"Seriously, you don't remember anything...actually, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Agreed seeing as we can't recall anything either, right everyone."

said Cielo, getting a nod. Yunyun then looks at Kazuma and asks-

"Do you really not remember anything, Kazuma?"

"Hm... nope, not a thing. Glad to see you're doing OK now, Yunyun but... shouldn't you be back in the Crimson Demon village. I think your mom said those curse breaker guys were going to want to examine you over the next few days... wait, how many days has it been since we went to Dracula's place? Was I really out of it for that long?"

"Hm, I wonder... what do you think, Kazuma?"

teased Megumin with the others quickly joining in to have their own bit of fun. Before anyone knew it, they were all having a bit of fun with one another with plenty of teasing over this and that going around. Only Chris remained silent as she kept her gaze locked onto Kazuma.

'The others I believe don't remember anything about what happened. But you, Kazuma? I don't buy you not remembering everything for a second. Maybe you don't recall some things but all of it... what are you wanting to hide from everyone here, Kazuma?'

Chris decides to not press the matter right now. She'll wait till she and Kazuma can have some proper alone time together and then she'll grill him for all the details he wasn't sharing with everyone now.

"By the way, Darkness. What happened to Walther? Shouldn't he be here celebrating with us?"

"Huh, Walther... of crap, I forgot."

Darkness quickly gets to her feet and makes a run to the front door.

"I need to check in with him and father. Make sure everything is going OK with the investigation as well as let father know that I'm doing OK and see if he's doing better."

"I guess I'll come with, at least until we get inside Axel. I want to see if dad's gotten back from his latest adventure."

"And I should make a quick trip back home to check in with mom while telling dad, the village doctor, and the curse breakers sorry for being so willful."

"I'll come with you, Yunyun. I don't know why but I feel I need to have a talk with my little sister about something. Hopefully, I'll recall 'the what' of it by the time I see her."

With that, Lynn, Yunyun, and Megumin get up and join Darkness with getting ready to head out. They all then say that they'll be back in a few and ask Cielo and Chris to keep an eye of Kazuma for them. Once they had left, Cielo looks at Kazuma and Chris and asks-

"So, anyone want to play a game of...THUMP!"

Kazuma and Chomusuke's eyes go wide with shock as Chris reaches out and touches the back of Cielo's neck, causing the girl to pass out on the spot. Chris then gets onto her feet, walks over to Kazuma and leans in close as she says in a dead serious tone-

"Now SATOU KAZUMA, let's you and I have ourselves a little talk here. Is that OK with you?"

Kazuma gulps nervously as Chris leans in even closer which makes him start to sweat.

"Hah-ah... sure, can't be helped I guess..."

That night, Kazuma was still recovering from the lengthy talk he had suffered with Chris. In a nutshell, he could remember that he had been down in Hell and that he had been overwhelmed by his Lich powers. He could recall his multiple rounds of fighting Dracula... sort of. Beyond that, it was all a little spotty for him.

He then leans his head up and looks at the sleeping Chomusuke before reaching up and scratching her ears a little earning a light purr.

"Between me and you, Nia. I think that hour I spent with Chris while Cielo was taking an extended nap was far more terrifying than what I had to put up with down in Hell. Oh well, at least I can have this moment with you right now. Don't you agree?"

Chomusuke purred again as Kazuma continued to rub her ears. And then, without warning, Chomusuke opened her eyes before she sent a glare at his bedroom door before hopping off his chest and moving off Kazuma over to the table beside his bed where she continued to glare at the door.

A moment later, he hears a knock at said door which makes him get up and walk over. Once he opens the door, he stairs blankly at what he was seeing before letting out a sigh, now understanding why Chomusuke was looking so annoyed herself.

"This scene seems very familiar. So, you two here for the reasons I'm thinking you're here for?"

Standing outside his door in the hallway were Megumin and Yunyun, dressed in the usual pajamas instead of the sultry adult attire they had worn during their last night raid on him. And both of them looked very nervous.

"You two are wanting to sleep with me tonight?"

They both nod; Megumin's nod having some nervousness while Yunyun's was on the meek side.

"And is it safe to assume that you put the others to sleep again?"

Again, they both nod which makes Kazuma sigh.

"You know, I'm beginning to worry about you two. Maybe hanging out with me hasn't been a good thing for you both after all. Oh well, can't be helped. Sure, you both can come in and sleep with me. Just so you know, if we get caught AGAIN, I will say that you both used Sleep in me, understand."

Both girls nod while smiling happily as they enter Kazuma's room. He then closes the door behind them while adding-

"And just a quick warning; if I end up touching either of you in places that you'd rather not want to be touched at this time... know that's it's going to be totally both your faults."

{|} Epilogo: A UFO Over Axel {|}

Night had fallen over the Kingdom of Axel. In the city of Axel, it was around midnight, and most had long since turned in for the night. Most... but not all.

Currently, an adventurer who was known as Dust, was currently stumbling his way across the streets of Axel. He was dead drunk, from the way he swayed back and forth, the half wake look in his eyes, the strong stench of bear coming off him, and there was the fact he had a a bottle of beer in each hand.

He and his teammate, Serena, had finally gotten back to Axel, having successfully added Serena's childhood friend, Melissa, to their team. But that wasn't enough for him. He wanted more girls to join his harem... I mean, his party. Something he had been quite vocal about when he had been inside his favorite tavern which he had just left.

Sadly, and to his greater annoyance. His two current female party members had declined to join him.

'I need to make sure the next girl I bring into the party likes to party as much as I do. Hm, I wonder if Lynn would be interested in leaving Kazuma's party and joining up with me again? Next time I see her, I'll ask.'

Dust finally comes to a stop, feeling a need for some drink sliding down his throat so he takes one of his two bottles, pops the cork off it, then throws his head back as he starts to chug the contents down. And because of that, his eyes were perfectly lined up to allow him to see it.

The strange sight floating in the skies above Axel.

Dust stops his drinking but forgets to move the bottle, allowing the contents to keep pouring out onto his face. Instead, he was too focused on what it was he was seeing. It was too high up to make out clearly, but it was definitely a humanoid shape. Glowing lines could be seen running along it and the face... was that a skull that made up its face?

Before he could do anything else, the unknown creature then finally makes its move, flying off to the west of Axel. Once it was out of sight, Dust allowed himself a moment more of looking into the sky before turning his eyes onto the now empty bottle of beer which he drops onto the ground. He then looks at the other, still full bottle before popping the cork off.

For a second, he considers just dumping it all out onto the ground as maybe that had been a sign from God that he needed to give up his life as a total booze hound, to say nothing of other things besides. Instead, he simply shrugs before chugging down the contents before wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket.

"I'd rather be drunk than sane."

He then continues on his way, to find a place to hole up till morning, and the destined hangover, came for him... as well as the Knight Guard most likely. After all, he had dipped without paying again to say nothing of having 'borrowed' those two bottles he had with him.

{|} Arc 8: End {|}

Image 1: A wild and crazy eyed Eris looking down at the terrified Arnes and Hoost

Image 2: Kazuma and Megumin sharing looks with Linear and Realm

Image 3: Kazuma and Megumin as they unleash their combined Explosions, Kazuma using Cero, and Megumin casting both Dragon Slave and Hyper Explosion

Next arc: With Kazuma on a one-month mandatory rest leave, the girls decide to take on a special quest from the guild. One that seems simple enough for them to do without their trusted leader, hunting down the strange MUC that has gotten the citizens of Axel in quite the tizzy. Meanwhile, Kazuma... and Anna too, believe it or not, find themselves having their own little adventure when a mysterious girl comes falling from the sky, seeking Kazuma's help with saving her home from...?

Be here for Arc 9: [Redacted]