Chapter 01: Arise against the Darkness
The first thing to alert his to my situation was the sudden light upon his eyes. Sitting up as he cracked his sore back, he wondered how he'd gone from working on his computer to waking up in the middle of a forest.
...wait, what the fuck?
Looking around in alarm, his memories registered a total lack of recognition with his surroundings, not even helped by the backpack and sword beside him.
He had too many questions.
QUEST ALERT
Wait, What the Fuck?!
You have woken up in a strange place with no memory of how you got there. That must be corrected.
Objective: Figure out your identity and location.
Bonus Objective: Don't lose your sanity.
Reward: +1,000 EXP, +100 Gold, +Old Skill(s), +Job Allocation, +1 Gift Box
He... was not ashamed to say that he could do nothing beyond just staring.
Still, it was still the necessary kick he'd needed to get up and continue forward. Slinging what was apparently his pack over his shoulder and equipping his sword, he began to make his way through the forest until I reached a path he could now follow along.
As he did so, bits and pieces returned to him. So far, all he could remember was him being invited to a game online and he had accepted.
But no more after that...
After walking for a while, he was soon alerted to a commotion further along the road.
"AAAARGH! It's an earth dragon!"
"I didn't know they came out in highways like these!"
Feeling surprisingly little fear at the sight of what looked like a giant cockroach-like monster, he kept at his pace while unsheathing my sword. Dashing forward, a single slash deprived the creature of it's arm just as it swung at the two men and their carriage.
"I feel like I should be worried at how I can look at you with no worries." He muttered as the monster turned to face him, blood spurting from it's stump. Roaring loudly, it made to swing at him with it's other arm. "You sound reasonably upset."
Dodging the attack while leaping well above the monster, he came down with several deep slashes across it's body, which was well enough to slay the beast.
+1,000EXP!
"And done." Swinging the sword hard enough to flick the blood off, he turned about just as the two men he'd saved ran up to me along with a woman he hadn't noticed before.
"That was amazing!"
"You singlehandedly took down a danger beast!"
Danger Beast? That sounded familiar...
"It wasn't much of a problem for me." He replied while sheathing my sword. "By the way, this is the right path, right?"
"Huh?" The stocky man blinked. "What do you mean the right path?"
He took a cautionary guess at what his memory had returned to him. "To the capital."
The two men exchanged glances. "Yeah, it's the path. Just mere minutes from the gate, even."
...oh, no. Wait, he had to check out more. "Thanks for that. You guys seem more knowledgeable about it than me. Could you tell a guy the best place in there to make a name and some fortune for himself?"
The two men exchanged glances again, a lot more serious now. "The imperial capital isn't the place of hopes and dreams you might be thinking of."
"It's definitely lively, but's it's home to monsters even worse than that earth dragon." One of the man thumbed at the monstrous corpse behind him.
He played ignorant a little more, not liking the conclusion he had come to. "Are there danger beasts in the city, too?"
"I mean the people." The man clarified. "They may be humans, but their hearts are monstrous. The capital's crawling with them."
Damn it! By some freaky way he didn't remember, he got put into Luxuria!
QUEST COMPLETED!
Wait, What the Fuck?!
You have woken up in a strange place with no memory of how you got there. That must be corrected.
Objective: Figure out your identity and location.
Reward: +1,000 EXP, +10SP, +100 Gold, +Old Skill(s), +Job Allocation, +1 Gift Box
.
You have remembered Old Skill(s)!
Broadsword Proficiency: Your capability to improve your expertise and effectiveness in combat with a broadsword.
Culinary Proficiency: Your capability to create meals from various ingredients.
Metalworking: Your capability to create and repair useful items out of various metals.
.
You have gained the Job Class: Shadow Monarch.
.
You have won 1 Gift Box!
Item: Essence of Heaven(x5)
Class: A
Type: Potion
Five vials that contain powerful healing nectar that can revive from the drinker from all physical injuries and ailments, as long as they still live.
.
You have been allocated a Job!
Shadow Monarch
The Shadow Monarch is the Sovereign who rules over the dead, being able to call upon those who have fallen to join your army and create a path where your word is law. From this, you gain the Job Skills of Shadow Extraction and Shadow Preservation.
.
You have Leveled Up!
Level Up: 10 → 11
.
Name: Tatsumi
Level: 11
EXP: 0/1,199
Job: Shadow Monarch
HP: 1,100/1,100
MP: 1,100/1,100
STR: 130
AGI: 150
VIT: 91
INT: 60
SNS: 140
SP: 10
Money: 400 Gold, 234 Silver, 110 Copper
Ignoring the concerned looks of the men before him, he threw back his head and screamed: "GOOOODDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!"
Also, 'Tatsumi'? That was his name?
While he raged at the latest prompt that had appeared, the woman that had come with the men finally stepped forward while the two men retreated to their carriage.
"Ah, Player 1." The woman cheered, causing Tatsumi to gawk at her appearance. Compared to the definite humanity of the two men, this woman had whitish blue skin and flowing midnight hair that seemed to have twinkling stars in them. "Welcome to Luxuria!"
For a few seconds, Tatsumi just stared at the clearly inhuman person. The game was fantasy-based, but this woman clearly didn't belong in this genre!
"Are you going to get that?" The woman gestured to the earth dragon's corpse, causing Tatsumi regard it and now notice the strange shadowy essence drifting upwards from it.
From it, he could almost hear some sort of whisper or scream which got louder as he approached it.
Shadow Extraction can be used on this target.
Tatsumi stared at the prompt that had appeared before regarding the danger beast corpse. Didn't that earlier prompt say that he could basically summon up the dead?
Please select your command phrase for Shadow Extraction.
Tatsumi took a moment to ponder it, before his green eyes suddenly glowed blue with his next word. "Arise."
The whispers immediately cut off as the shadowy wisps coalesced into a shadowy xerox of the earth dragon it just pulled itself out off, silently bowing it's head to him.
Job Skills
Shadow Extraction: A Shadow Soldier is created from a body without life by taking out it's mana. The chances of failure increase the higher the target's stats are compared to you, and the more time that has passed since the target's death. (Extraction Limit: 30)
Shadow Preservation: Shadow Soldiers can be saved away into your shadow or any other shadow you desire, being capable of being called forth or dismissed wherever and whenever you desire. (Preservation Limit: 1/20)
"This is unbelievable." Tatsumi stared at the massive earth dragon that was still bowing before him, except that it's form had slightly changed. No longer cockroach-like, it now resembled more of a dragon in shape but with no wings.
Shadow Dragon
Rank: Elite Knight
Shadows ranked at Knight Grade and higher can be named.
"Huh? This thing was pretty strong? Well, I guess from the perspective of average combatants..." Tatsumi pondered as he thought over a name. "Boulder."
Boulder
Rank: Elite Knight
"Huh... Enter into my shadow, I guess..." Tatsumi said, blinking when the massive entity sunk into it's own shadow which then got absorbed into his own. "...I guess, that worked."
"Marvelous!" The woman spoke before gesturing to the carriage that had still been waiting. "Well, don't just stand there. Come, come, come."
Well, she'd have some answers at least for Tatsumi. Nodding along, he followed after into the carriage before sitting across from her while the carriage began moving again.
"Player 1: Tatsumi, young swordsman rising into prominence and the newly appointed Shadow Monarch." The woman began, sounding almost like a recital. "It is a great honor to welcome you."
"...um, thanks?" Tatsumi reluctantly replied. "Who are you?"
"Lady Akasha at your service." The woman bowed, introducing herself with the name of something definitely not human. As if her appearance wasn't enough to give proof of that. "I've been so anxious for your arrival. As you know, Luxuria is in grave danger. I'm counting on you to lift the curse."
"Curse?!" Tatsumi reeled in shock. "What curse? Shouldn't this be a game?"
"It's all documented in the letter you received." Akasha replied. "Perhaps you should read it once more."
"What letter- Eh?!" Tatsumi began to question, only to startle at the letter in his supposed-to-be empty hand. Completely lost for words, Tatsumi decided to at least do so, only to find images suddenly replace his vision like an unskippable cutscene.
"Several years ago, a great multidimensional rift occurred and expelled a foreigner into the world."
Tatsumi watched as something akin to a meteor smashed into a forest, evaporating rivers and obliterating trees on impact.
"Upon noticing none who could oppose his debauchery, he has set about sowing discord all over the lands."
The visitor was almost formless in his shape, but clearly massive at how he easily dwarfed houses and much larger things as he wandered about until he encountered and forcibly merged with a human man.
"Even in Luxuria's imperial capital, it has become a living hell of corruption and decadence. Wicked spirits in human form run amok, claiming everything as their own."
Suddenly, Tatsumi's view changed to that of falling gold coins while the laughter of greedy men echoed around. Then it switched to the horrifying sight of crucified victims being burned alive. Then it changed again into a line of people being hung and set upon by firing squads.
"So a desperate measure was made, especially after he managed to bring about more Monarch Jobs to fall upon the populace. Therefore, it is my great relief that you were the one to be blessed with a Monarch Job as well."
Tatsumi gasped as he was suddenly pulled out, blinking at the sight of the capital's gates a couple of meters away as the carriage approached it.
"Right then. This is where we part." Akasha perked up as they entered. "With the invaluable help of your future associates and budding Shadow Army, you shall defeat the Monarch and rid Luxuria of his continued existence. And I'm sure you'll want to get started right away, even with the lack of a time limit."
Tatsumi blinked. "Actually, I think-"
"Good luck! The fate of Luxuria is in your hands, Player 1!" Akasha cheerily interrupted Tatsumi, shooing him outside. "And remember: The goal for you, I'll recite in verse. Slay the Monarch, and the evil shall disperse. If you succeed in avoiding a Game Over from the Bad Endings, it's only natural that you shall win all of the blessings."
Tatsumi blinked, almost totally lost.
"Good luck! The fate of Luxuria is in your hands, Player 1..."
It was at this point that Tatsumi turned around and left, leaving what was looking more and more like a heavily customized NPC behind as she finally turned away while the carriage rode on inwards.
"Ah, and one more thing, Player 1!" Akasha shouted from the wagon at Tatsumi. "When the time comes, remember the Essence! To save the two trapped away from the luminescence!"
Tatsumi sighed before regarding the capital as he began walking about. The more he looked around, the more he was convinced of the game settings. Despite it being a fantasy genre, many of things he could see about were clearly created for more modern uses. The technology levels here were incredibly unbalanced, especially with what he could remember of his (apartment and) village home.
(God, mental merges were so troublesome.)
"Now, I should look about for a workplace. The original plan was to join the army and make a name for myself, but I clearly shouldn't devote myself wholly until I have an idea of where to catch that Monarch guy." Tatsumi absentmindedly muttered as he walked past a busty blonde, missing when she turned slightly to regard him. "Now, maybe I should change tracks a bit."
Could he become a mercenary instead? It was basically the same thing as becoming a soldier, but he would be sacrificing security for freedom. Hell, he and his friends had already been acting as such on their way to the Capital, even if only for Danger Beasts. If those men's worries were justified, that all but proved that there would be some criminals in the city with bounties.
"First off, I should go find an inn. It's already afternoon, so I'll need to take advantage of a proper bed for once." Tatsumi decided before asking for directions from one of the people passing him by. However, Tatsumi soon thought that he might have taken a wrong turn at some point as he soon found himself getting lost.
By the time the sun was starting to set, Tatsumi decided that he would have to ask around again for help, only to find himself bumped into an alleyway and find a knife held up against his throat by the bumper himself.
"Alright, bumpkin. Here's the deal." The large man breathed as one large meaty hand clapped down on Tatsumi's backpack. "You take that off and leave it, or I slit your throat faster than you can draw that sword."
Not bothering words, Tatsumi instead reached up and crushed the man's wrist, his other hand clapping down on the robber's mouth to muffle his screams before he was suddenly judo slammed hard enough to break a few bones in him.
+50EXP!
Tatsumi huffed as he left behind the unconscious robber, walking back into open streets(and missing a few surprised looks from hidden observers). He'd only made it a few miles before running into another problem.
Namely, the blonde girl who suddenly ran into him with enough force to knock him unto his back, her breasts accidentally pressing against his face.
"...well, damn." Tatsumi muttered as he sat up to regard the girl now straddling him. She seemed like a pretty cute blone with blue eyes, wearing a white, black and blue dress. "Can I help you, gorgeous?"
"Ah..." For a moment, the girl looked all over him with badly hidden disgust before suddenly looking behind her as four thugs came rushing out from where she'd come from. "They caught up already?!"
"It's over, miss." The tallest of them huffed as he approached, pulling out a knife as he did while Tatsumi stood up to push the girl behind him. "Hey, bumpkin. In a rare moment of generosity from me, how about you buzz off? That pretty face of hers ain't worth the trouble that's about to happen."
"Unfortunately for you all..." Tatsumi smirked as he dropped his backpack, leaving his sword sheathed. "I'm no mere bumpkin. How about you losers leave the lady alone and fuck off?"
"You little shit!" One of the other thugs sputtered before charging forward with his own dagger glinting dangerously.
Unfortunately for him, Tatsumi easily saw it coming and launched a flying kick into his face with enough force to fling him off the ground and send him backwards a few meters until he crashed down with a painful groan.
+50EXP!
"And then, there were three." Tatsumi smirked cockily, a little giddy at how cathartic knocking out the thug had been. "Do you guys want me to keep reducing that number?"
The thug who had spoken growled before huffing and snapping his fingers, prompting the other two guys to pick up their fallen member. "The Capital's got all sorts of monsters left and right, and I definitely know which types not to mess with."
With those ominous words, the thugs retreated and left Tatsumi and the blonde girl alone. "Well, that was-"
"Thank you!" The girl cheered as she suddenly hugged Tatsumi's tightly, her breasts nestling his arm between them. "I didn't know a bumpkin could be so reliable~!"
"Your cute face hides quite the poisonous tongue, huh." Tatsumi reluctantly freed his arm. "If you really wanna thank me, just point me towards the nearest inn. I'd really appreciate that."
Just as he said that, a pair of uniformed men suddenly rushed out of the alleyway and shouted in relief at the sight of them. "Lady Aria!"
"Gaurry!" 'Aria' called out, waving at the approaching men while her other arm snaked around Tatsumi's again. "Can Tatsumi stay with us at my home?"
"Milady, not again." The guard called Gaurry groaned weakly.
"He saved me just now from those ruffians who separated us." Aria insisted while hugging his arm tighter. "I won't be ungrateful."
Gaurry sighed before addressing Tatsumi. "Excuse me, sir, but would you please indulge Lady Aria for your efforts?"
"...it's fine, I guess." Tatsumi replied. "Let me just grab my-"
The other guard moved to carry Tatsumi's dropped backpack, prompting Aria to pull him along while the guards followed.
Well, at least it ensured that he wouldn't lose any money tonight.
"W-Wow..." Tatsumi had known that Aria had definitely been wealthy enough to afford some guards, but the mansion that her family owned was definitely ostentatious enough. Along with one of their living rooms being large enough to fit a barn in, there was also the many priceless objects laid around.
"Oh... Aria's brought someone home again." The man that was Aria's father commented.
"My... What a habit." Aria's mother added. "I wonder how many this makes."
"Mother! This is different." Aria protested. "Tatsumi saved my life and possibly my dignity today."
"I only did what anybody else would have." Tatsumi said while his gaze got drawn to Gaurry and another guard standing at attention behind Aria's family. Considering Gaurry's prowess seemed to match him, Tatsumi guessed that it was because of guards like these that Aria's parents were so comfortable with him before them.
"Be at ease, Tatsumi." Aria's mother chuckled. "We are immensely grateful for your actions, albeit not as much as I bet my daughter is~"
"Mother!" Aria flushed adorably. "Stop talking!"
"I'm just teasing, sweetie."
"Still, if there's anything I can offer, please don't hesitate to ask." Aria's father offered. Encouraged, Tatsumi explained his situation to them while sitting down on the chair that had been offered to him. "I see. You seek a successful military career so that you can save your village."
"Yes, sir." Tatsumi confirmed. At first, he'd been reluctant about it, but by now with the mental merge complete, his worry for Sayo and Ieyasu eclipsed his reservations. If they were all gunning to join the military, he couldn't let himself be separated from them.
"What a wonderful dream." Aria smiled.
"However..." Aria's father placed down the cup of tea in his hand. "It may be peaceful here within the capital, but the homelands of three other races surround Luxuria."
Tatsumi wondered just how ignorant the man was of the capital's faults to declare it 'peaceful', considering that he knew to have guards.
"You could be sent to fight on the borders." Aria's father warned.
"I'm fully prepared for that." Tatsumi said, clenching his fists. Besides, he was already from the borders.
"I see." Aria's father was impressed by his immediate answer. "Your determination is impressive. A splendid example of youth.
"Did you come from village by yourself, Tatsumi?" Aria asked, causing Tatsumi to gaze at the floor.
"No, there were three of us." Tatsumi replied, as his hand wandered towards the idol the village chief had given him before they left. Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu had possessed great skills that complemented each other and had aimed to use those skills for the sake of quickly rising through the ranks. "But we got separated on our way here due to some bandits, and I haven't seen them since."
"Oh my, that's awful." Aria's mother gasped slightly.
"They both match me in strength, so I'm not that worried, plus Sayo's the smartest of us all." Tatsumi leaned forward and fretted. "It's Ieyasu I'm more worried about, with his horrific sense of direction. Frankly, it'd be one hell of a coincidence if he made it here before me, even if he has Sayo helping him."
"Very well, then." Aria's father slapped the table. "I'll put in a good word with a military acquaintance of mine. And I'll request a search for those two, as well."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Tatsumi exclaimed, standing up and bowing once again.
"Sayo and Ieyasu, huh..." Aria smiled warmly. "I can't wait to meet them with you myself."
"Alright..." Aria's father said, as he stood up from his seat. "Why don't we leave it here for now?"
"Uh... Is there anything I can help with while I'm here?" Tatsumi asked, causing Aria to clap her hands excitedly.
"Oh!" Aria cheered. "You can be my bodyguard tomorrow, along with the others!"
"That sounds good to me." Aria's father said, turning to Gaurry. "Gaurry, I'll let you handle this young man's integration into our household."
"...understood, Sir." Gaurry replied stoically.
"Thank you for everything today!" Tatsumi exclaimed, earning a smile from Aria.
"It's alright. I'm just paying you back for earlier." Aria replied. "I hope we can get really close, Tatsumi."
"Me too." Tatsumi replied just as one of the guards arrived to escort him towards his room. Once Tatsumi found his room, he quickly climbed into bed.
He really was lucky for things to have turned out like this. Now, all he had to do was wait for Sayo and Ieyasu's safe arrival.
At some point, he must have fallen asleep because Tatsumi suddenly awoke to the sensation of a pair of lips sucking his cock. Blinking uncertainly while his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Tatsumi stared down to regard the large lump at his waist beneath his blanket that was steadily bobbing upon his groin.
Was this some hidden event he'd inadvertently unlocked? If it was, Tatsumi had no idea how to react to this.
On one hand, this was easily the most sexual event he'd ever gotten, his previous experience consisting only of some heavy kissing with a girl back home in his village. It wasn't like he knew whether his mystery bed partner was doing either a good job or a bad one, but he was still enjoying it.
On the other hand, Tatsumi wanted to rip off the blanket so that he could properly see who they were, but felt like startling them while they had his shaft between their teeth was plain suicidal.
Coming to a silent compromise, Tatsumi grabbed the blanket and slowly lifted it up. Beneath the blanket, Krista came to a slow stop as they made eye contact. For what felt like a whole minute, Tatsumi stared at one of the maids he'd earlier seen about following Aria's orders.
Then when she apparently realized that Tatsumi wasn't making any move to stop her, Krista gave a tentative lick to the underside of his shaft.
Tatsumi grunted at the sudden 'attack'. "K-Krista, not that I'm not appreciative of this, but why are you doing this?"
However, Krista seemed to deem speaking at the moment to be a negligible choice as she went back to swallowing his cock and bobbing down upon it. And sadly, Tatsumi enjoyed it too much to find any reason to complain. However, this also meant that his tolerance was utter shit.
"I-I'm getting close." Tatsumi warned, instinctively reaching out to hold Krista's head. While she'd flinched at it, Krista quickly continued to suck him off, making no movement to stop or pull away. So it was inevitable that he would finally cum, Tatsumi grunting between his teeth to hold back the loud grunt that would have echoed into the night.
Below, Krista swallowed his load, still sucking a little while he idly thrusted his hips a little. When she finally freed his cock and kneeled up, Tatsumi saw that she hadn't wasted a single drop escape out of her lips with her timid face bearing a huge blush now.
"W-Wait, why did you do this?" Tatsumi asked.
Krista regarded him silently before answering. "A whim. Maybe if you're lucky, the same whim shall maybe impel me again tomorrow night."
And that was all Tatsumi got before Krista left his room that night.
"Next, let's visit the store across the road!" Aria cheered, pointing out another store just up ahead.
"Please wait, Miss Aria!" The guards, who were carrying her numerous purchases, begged as they lagged behind.
"Her shopping trips aren't for the faint of heart, I see." Tatsumi muttered as he stared up at the rising pile of purchased packages being tagged along with Aria's carriage, the pile now larger than the carriage. "The sheer volume's getting ridiculous."
While he had agreed to join with her this afternoon, how could one girl find so much to buy(and afford it all)?!
"It's not just the young lady." Gaurry commented as Aria skipped into another store. "All women are like this."
"That's true, I guess." Tatsumi nodded in agreement. "But I really wonder if she'll even use all of this at least once. By the way, Gaurry. Can you tell me a little bit about Krista?"
Gaurry raised a brow. "So she really did visit you last night."
Tatsumi's eyes widened. "How'd you know?!"
"Do you think I missed how you two reacted around each other? You two couldn't look at each other without blushing. Well, it's not like it's my business to know exactly what happened with you two last night." Gaurry shrugged. "I'm just glad that you didn't maltreat her or something, especially for doing a dare."
A dare? Is that what Krista had meant by a 'whim'? "Who dared her into giving me a night visit? No matter how you look at it, no sane girl would do stuff like what she did with somebody she barely knows."
"She does know you as a boy who saved Miss Aria from some hooligans with no care for a reward, which puts you miles and leagues above several of the men in this Capital." Gaurry explained. Looking upwards, he then gestured up at the massive building that had towered over everything in the Capital. "Speaking of which, take a look at that. That right there is the imperial palace, the heart of the Capital."
"It looks even bigger than when I could see from the Capital gate." Tatsumi exclaimed. "The Emperor really lives in such a thing?"
Was the Game's big bad in there as well, sowing corruption within his court as an anonymous official or servant?
"Not quite. It's a little different than that." Gaurry cast a wary look around before leaning closer. "The current ruling Emperor is only a child, being nothing more than a puppet for the Prime Minister. And he's why this country's rotting from the inside out."
"The Prime-" Tatsumi choked at Gaurry suddenly muffling his mouth.
"Don't say anything suspicious." Gaurry warned. "You never know who hears something they find unpleasant before heads start rolling."
"Then... That's why my village's been suffering from such unbearable taxes recently?" Tatsumi muttered through grit teeth after Gaurry released him, his fists clenching tightly.
"And why Krista visited you last night. In a place as rotten as the Capital, it's a mere fact of life to enjoy the good things you encounter before they're inevitably lost. It may surprise you, but you've at least given her a good memory last night." Gaurry stepped away, pointing towards a nearby wall. "But there're also people like those."
Tatsumi's eyes followed where the guard was pointing. Attached to the nearby brick wall were a few wanted posters. "'Night Raid'?"
"They're a group of assassins that have been terrorizing the Imperial Capital." Gaurry explained. "As the name suggests, they attack their victims under cover of night. They mainly target high-ranking executives and the Capital's upper-class. Prepare yourself, just in case. Compared to the guys you saved Miss Aria from, these guys are extremely dangerous."
Which in turn meant that by game logic, he'd be encountering them sooner or later. "Y-Yes, sir."
"Also, could you lend a hand over there?" Gaurry pointed at something behind Tatsumi.
"Huh?" Tatsumi turned around to see Aria skipping back towards them, the other two guards struggling to hold up a massive box. "Where did you even buy that?!"
Many hours later in the night, the sharp sensation of killing intent catapulted Tatsumi from sleep immediately. "What's going on?! Murderous intent?"
Putting his gloves and boots before grabbing his sword, he rushed through the mansion's halls with Gaurry's warning echoing through his head. He'd kinda expected it, but would Night Raid really be attacking right on the same day he'd learnt about them?!
Apparently, the Game logic had decided so. Coming to a skidding stop, Tatsumi looked out the window and saw at least five shadowy figures standing in the air upon what appeared to be wire threads, with a blood moon granting them an ominous backdrop.
"Night Raid? Well, props to them on the intimidation features." From here, even he could tell... that every single one of them were stronger than him in various levels. Damn, he both loved and hated how his SNS stat! When Tatsumi lowered his gaze, he spotted several guards running out to face the assassins. Should he help them? Or defend the house?
"Ah, Krista!" Making his decision quickly, Tatsumi rushed towards the servants' quarters. Kicking it open, Tatsumi ignored the shocked screams of the already awake but worried eyes of the few maids inside as he focused on Krista. "Night Raid is attacking."
Those four words were enough to bring a swift silence to the room, so Tatsumi took advantage of that to give his next words. "Just to be on the safe side, I think it's best that you all leave through the eastern side, as I saw them attacking from the west. Hurry!"
Finally, that sent them all into a kind of controlled chaos. A few of them carried small bags that already seemed to have been prepared while many others changed their clothes and rushed out with those alone.
Tatsumi turned to leave when Krista suddenly grabbed his arm. "Eh? Krista, what is it?"
"Come with me." Krista begged. "I know that you want to go fight them, but you'll die."
QUEST ALERT
To be Dutiful or Loving
You are forced to either repay Aria and her family for their kindness with the incredibly likely chance of death or follow after Krista who wants to save the most innocent person within these halls.
1st Path: Leave Krista to her fate and rush to help the dwindling guards against the overwhelming forces of Night Raid.
2nd Path: Leave Aria and her family to their fates and follow after Krista, the two of you starting anew elsewhere.
Note: You may only select one choice, which will progress the Game and have major benefits and consequences later on.
This was... new. Tatsumi's first mission since the tutorial. The world had actually frozen in time, leaving Tatsumi flooded with reservations on what to do. There was no doubt either choice was potentially devastating in it's consequences.
Plus, the wording of the Quest itself was strange. What did it mean by Tatsumi being the most innocent person in the house? What about Miss Aria or her parents or the staff? No doubt that the guards at least had to spill blood sometimes, but they'd have clearly done it for the sake of protecting the household.
You have chosen to be Dutiful!
Time resumed in a snap as Tatsumi grabbed Krista's shoulders, words flying out of his mouth with unnatural ease. "I can't, Krista. I'm quite terrible at running away."
Before she could protest, Tatsumi took a risk and leaned forward to kiss her. Thankfully, she didn't pull away. If anything, she grabbed his shirt to hold him close until he managed to pull away and stare into those sad blue eyes. "I'm not going to die."
And neither would she. "Boulder."
The Shadow Dragon immediately rose at his call, the darkness-composed beast filling up the hallway with it's sheer size. Thankfully, there was nobody but Krista to shriek at it like she seemed seconds from doing. "This is Boulder, he'll protect you on your way out."
"...ah." Krista weakly muttered. "You... You have... an Imperial Arm?"
Imperial Arm? What was that? Well, if it was a convenient way to explain it away without having to reveal anything... "Sure, that's right. Boulder will keep you company and protect you from all threats."
With no need for a vocal order, Boulder's massive form sunk into Krista's shadow, a pair of glowing blue eyes briefly looking out from the incorporeal darkness.
"Now, go!" Not waiting to hear her replies, Tatsumi turned about and rushed back towards the nearest door leading outside. Soon enough, he finally found Aria with another of the guards heading towards the storehouse. "There you are!"
"Tatsumi!" Aria exclaimed, a look of relief spreading across her face.
"You came at a good time." The guard sounded similarly relieved. "We'll take shelter within the storehouse until the Capital Guards arrive. You fend them off until then."
"Alone?! That's suicidal-" Tatsumi was cut off at the sound of somebody landing directly behind him, spinning about to regard Akame. Seeing her beyond the black and white of her wanted poster, Akame appeared to be a pretty girl around his age with blood red eyes and long black hair.
And was practically radiating the most danger Tatsumi's SNS had ever detected, even back when he'd seen Night Raid all together. "I guess I have no choice!"
"Brown-haired swordsman dressed like a bumpkin... not a target." That was all Akame said as she rushed towards him, comically using his shoulder as a springboard to continue sprinting towards Aria and the guard.
"Damn it!" The guard yelled as he opened fire on Akame, the bullets unfortunately failing to land even a single graze upon the swordswoman.
"Target..." Once she was close enough, Akame's sword easily tore through the guard's midsection with enough force to disembowel him. Moving on, Akame raised her sword in preparation to decapitate the terrified Aria. "...eliminate."
"Hold it!" Tatsumi knew that shouting as he slashed at her was probably a bad idea, but it at least forced her away from Aria.
"You are not a target." Akame stated stoically. "There is no need to kill you."
"But you intend to kill this girl, don't you?" Tatsumi hefted his blade as he stood between her and Aria.
"Yep."
"'Yep'?!"
"If you get in my way, I'll kill you." Akame warned. For an assassin going after the upper-class, she seemed rather professional with how she was content to try and warn him away.
Still... "That doesn't mean I can just leave her."
"Is that so?" Akame raised her blade once more, the steel glinting ominously. "Then I shall eliminate you."
Plague Monarch Akame, Sovereign of Vampires recognizes you as an enemy.
Wait, what?!
Another Monarch?! No he had to focus!
After what he'd seen just a mere minute ago, Tatsumi wasn't sure he could beat her as he currently was. And that wasn't including her companions, on top of Akame apparently being a Monarch as well. He would need support that Boulder couldn't provide at the moment, even without it's current job of guarding Krista.
A lot of support, no matter the quality.
"Miss Aria, start inching towards your right as slowly as you can." Muttering as low as he could so that only the blonde could hear him, Tatsumi casting an appraising eye at the fallen guard was enough for Akame to charge at him.
Tatsumi charged forward as well, the two locking blades. Noting their close levels in strength, Akame immediately disengaged and dodged his horizontal slash with a powerful flip that lifted her into the air and allowed her to kick at Tatsumi's shoulder.
"Crap!" Tatsumi righted himself just in time to suddenly get stabbed in the chest, the shock of it causing him to drop his sword.
"Tatsumi!" Aria screamed as she watched Tatsumi collapse backwards towards her and the guard's corpse. However, Akame kept her distance.
"Heh." Tatsumi chuckled as he slowly got back up. "I figured you'd take me for dead and come closer, but no."
"It didn't feel like I cut into flesh." Akame replied as she kept her katana steady.
"Well, I guess I owe the chief one for telling me not to sell this." Tatsumi grinned as he pulled out a damaged idol from his clothes that had luckily taken the stab for him. Plus, he'd finally gotten close enough. "Arise."
Both Akame and Aria froze as the second of Tatsumi's Shadow Army tore himself free of his corpse, shadowy wisps pulling together into a black-and-blue clone of the dead guard.
Shadow Guard
Rank: Elite
"You know what to do!" Tatsumi shouted as he charged at Akame again, almost taking her by surprise as he went on the offensive while the Shadow Guard ran off. However, Akame was now staying on the defensive for some reason, not as willing to attack him as she was before.
"Wait." Akame suddenly spoke with a raised hand the next time they disengaged, surprising not just Tatsumi and Aria, but also a blonde woman with pantherine features that had approached. "Tatsumi, I believe? I would like to call for a ceasefire."
"If you're trying to bribe me over, that won't work." Tatsumi replied. "I won't let you kill you an innocent girl."
"But she is not." Akame replied, causing Aria to flinch. "Neither her, nor her family, are innocent people."
"Oh, I've never seen you like this, Akame." The blonde woman stated as she walked over to them, her tail swishing curiously.
"Not only is he the one we were requested to spare, but he's also a Monarch." Akame replied, causing the blonde to startle in shock before she regarded Tatsumi in wide eyes. "Leone, I'd rather not make a fellow Monarch my enemy, even if he's weaker than me."
Was that last part necessary to be said?!
"So you're a Monarch, too?" Tatsumi replied. "But what does that have to do with Miss Aria and her family not being innocent?"
"Oh, you think you're defending an innocent person?" Leone walked over the storehouse before kicking the locked doors hard enough to destroy them. "Will you be able to repeat those words after seeing this?"
Leone stepped aside, so that Tatsumi could look into the storehouse. "Take a good hard look."
Tatsumi walked up to the storage shed, and gazed inside... an action that was immediately regretted. The storage shed was filled with mutilated human bodies, most of them hanging from the ceiling and missing limbs. The entire space reeked of decaying bodies and bodily fluids.
"This is what lies in the shadows of the Imperial Capital."
"Wh-What the hell is this?!" Tatsumi gasped at the gruesome sight. God, he could still see some people alive in here despite their horrible states.
"They lure people from the countryside with honeyed words, only to treat them as playthings and torture them to death." Leone explained, crossing her arm underneath her chest. "That's the true face of this household."
Tatsumi said nothing more as he focused on a familiar body hanging amongst a mass of similarly naked and brutalized bodies, numerous cuts and bruises littering her flesh while one of her legs had been cut off. "S-Sayo...? Hey, Sayo...!"
"Was that someone you knew?" Leone asked while Aria started to sneak away, only for her clawed hand to grab her by the head. "Hold on. I don't think you deserve to walk away after this, missy."
Tatsumi paid little mind to them as he leapt forward and sliced off Sayo's restraints, cradling her body as he took the full brunt of their fall. Unbelievably, there was still a miraculous spark of life in her, just frighteningly tiny at the moment. But to be reduced to such a state... "The people of this household did this?"
"That's right. And since the guards kept quiet, they were just as guilty." Leone confirmed while keeping Aria in place. "It was a maid here that hired us to deal with them, on the condition that we leave the servants and you alone."
Tatsumi turned to regard the assassins. "Me?"
"We were asked to spare the 'brown-haired swordsman dressed like a bumpkin'." Akame clarified. "That is why I declined against attacking you initially."
"Who did it?!" Aria shouted, slapping Leone's hand away. "Who's the fucking maid that ratted us out?!"
"It was me, Aria."
All of them turned to see Krista approach them, a sad expression on her face. "I was the one to hire Night Raid."
"Krista...?" Tatsumi questioned. Why was she still here?
"You bitch! Even after I gave you a job as my handmaiden despite you being Father's illegitimate child, this is how you repay my kindness?!" Aria ranted, her face looking almost demonic in her rage as she approached Krista.
An approach that was immediately halted when Boulder manifested protectively behind Krista, looming above them all with a silent growl. "Are you so deluded that you forget that your mother had me kidnapped from my own home and had my own mother killed? And your kindness equated to humiliating me many times. It's only by luck I ran into a Night Raid informant and passed my request to them while we'd been separated yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Tatsumi and Aria's eyes widened. Was it during the time he'd saved her?
"Indeed." Krista confirmed with a sad sigh. "Tatsumi's presence had changed a lot, especially with how you were reacting to him, to the point that I had to rush back and ask that he be spared."
"Wh-What are you talking about?" Tatsumi asked as he stepped forward, carrying Sayo with him. "What do you mean, Krista?"
"Both Aria and I fell for you." Krista replied, which caused Tatsumi and the others to blank out a bit, even Aria herself stilling in disbelief. "I don't think she realized it herself at the time, but the circumstances of you saving her seemed to fulfill a fantasy of hers. If she hadn't, she would've had your meal drugged right from the first night. Along with that, she's always so clingy to you whenever she can get away with it, isn't she?"
Tatsumi couldn't... He just couldn't.
"Tatsumi... It's you, right, Tatsumi?" A weak voice called out from a cell to Tatsumi's right. Turning, Tatsumi's eyes widened when he saw his other friend Ieyasu locked in a cage, the boy's naked body was covered in blood and sores. "It's me..."
"I-Ieyasu?!" Tatsumi exclaimed in a shocked tone.
"That girl... is right... Aria invited Sayo and me... to her home... Just like she said, we got drugged right from the go... And it was in here that we came to..." Ieyasu grabbed ahold of the bars of his cell, bloody tears falling down his cheeks as he grit his teeth. "Th-That bitch tortured Sayo to death!"
Ah... This was... just...
"What's so wrong about that?!" Aria suddenly shrieked. "You're all worthless bumpkins from the countryside, along with my halfbreed sister! You might as well be cattle! I should be free to do whatever I want to the lot of you!"
The expression on her face was now too demonic to resemble a humane visage. "Not to mention, that bitch dared to have the silky smooth hair I'd always dreamed of, while I struggled with mine everyday! That's why I made sure she suffered as much as possible! She should be grateful that someone as esteemed as myself paid that much attention to her!"
"A family of sadists disguised as humane hosts." Leone snarled before looking at Krista. "I don't suppose you'll be interfering in our work here?"
"No." Krista shook her head. "I just wanted to see Tatsumi, one last time."
Akame merely unsheathed her sword. "Eliminate."
"Wait." Tatsumi called out, his head bowed low as he looked down to Sayo still in his arms.
"Don't tell me... You still want to defend her?" Leone asked.
"Boulder." Tatsumi said instead, the massive Shadow Dragon moving to his call. "Chew."
Aria's eyes widened as she was suddenly plucked up by giant claws, shrieking incessantly as Boulder held her up to it's maw before dropping her in.
The girl's shocked expression lasted for a second before her face contorted into one of absolute pain as the jaws closed upon her body, fangs greater than her limbs crushing and tearing through flesh, bone and blood with negligible resistance.
Then Boulder's jaws opened again with the sound of pulverized flesh filling the air, just wide enough to expose the remains of Aria's somehow still alive body before they snapped close again with an audible crunch.
DRAMATIC FINISH!
+100(x6)EXP!
+New Skill: Bloodlust!
After one more sickly munch, Boulder spat out Aria's nigh-unrecognizable carrion before sinking back into Krista's shadow.
"Good dragon." Tatsumi muttered into the silence.
"Nice one, Tatsumi! I don't know where you got that beast from, but that just made my day!" Ieyasu cheered as he slumped down with a toothy grin. "You sure know how to send a bitch off-"
Ieyasu suddenly coughed up a worrying amount of blood.
"Ieyasu!" Freeing Ieyasu from his cage, Tatsumi laid him down next to Sayo on the cool ground. "What's wrong?"
"It's the final stages of Lubora." Krista explained. "The lady of the house enjoyed drugged her victims with various sicknesses, wanting to see how far they could each last to the point that she would document it in her diary... I'm sorry, Tatsumi, but it's progressed to the point of no return."
"T-Tatsumi, Sayo..." Ieyasu struggled to speak between coughs as he reached to touch her face. "She never... gave in to that bitch... You should've seen it... No, wait... That would've been bad... if you'd gotten drugged with us... Still, it's great that I held on this long... Now, the great Ieyasu... can make you proud like she did..."
"When the time comes, remember the Essence! To save the two trapped away from the luminescence!"
"...no." Heeding Akasha's words as they returned to mind, Tatsumi shook his head. Reaching into his Inventory, he pulled out two of his five Essences of Heaven. Underneath the moonlight, the liquid glowed ethereally within their vials. "Neither of you two are dying if I can help it. Somehow, Sayo's still alive. And as long as you both have even the tiniest spark of life, these can save you."
"Sayo... she's still...?" Ieyasu teared up, swallowing weakly as Tatsumi helped him drink one of the vials while Krista silently helped with Sayo, the ex-maid having to use mouth-to-mouth for the unconscious girl.
To Tatsumi's immense relief and the others' great shock, Ieyasu and Sayo were immediately cured of all their injuries and ailments, Sayo's missing leg even reappearing as the two victims fell asleep.
"What the hell?" Leone weakly muttered.
"It's a strange turn of events, but our mission has come to an end." Akame spoke up. "I wish you luck in your future endeavors, Shadow Monarch."
"Yeah... You too, I guess, Plague Monarch." Tatsumi replied uncertainly before turning to regard Krista. "Just so that we're clear, I don't hate you, Krista. I won't pretend to know your circumstances, but let's start over."
Tatsumi extended his hand for a shake. "I'm Tatsumi, an aspiring swordsman who's need of lots of money to save his village from overtax and is still pleased to know you."
Krista chuckled a little, a tear dribbling down herself as she shook his hand. "I'm Krista, an ex-maid who's in dire need of a new job and extremely grateful to know you."
Akame regarded them for a little while before turning away. "Let's go, Leone."
"Hey... Why don't we bring them with us?" Leone asked before walking up and grab Tatsumi and Krista by the back of their shirts. "We could always use extra hands at our hideout..."
The two stopped to regard the pile of guard corpses that had apparently been solely built up by the lone Shadow Guard currently standing at attention beside it.
"Oh yeah... I wanted to make more Shadows to fight you guys..." Tatsumi remembered, shaking himself free and walking over to them. "Arise."
At his call, the familiar inky substance came into view as they formed into existence. Before long, Tatsumi and the others found themselves regarding ten Shadow Guards before him.
Shadow Guard
Rank: Elite
.
Shadow Guard
Rank: Knight
.
Shadow Preservation: Shadow Soldiers can be saved away into your shadow or any other shadow you desire, being capable of being called forth or dismissed wherever and whenever you desire. (Preservation Limit: 12/20)
Tatsumi should've guessed that he'd be the strongest of them all. For all of their faults, Aria's parents had ordered their best to look after their daughter. "Welcome back... Gaurry."
Gaurry
Rank: Knight
The shadowy version of Gaurry only gave a very slight nod with his usual stern expression, his form slightly bigger than the others as he stood before the Shadow Guards like the leader he was in life.
"Oh, look!" Leone threw an arm over Tatsumi's shoulder. "More helping hands~!"
"Wait, you're still taking us?!" Krista exclaimed. "I'm not even a fighter like him."
"But you're good at chores and the like." Leone spoke in a way that Tatsumi immediately recognized as somebody striving to skip out on bothersome tasks. "And frankly, we kinda need that too."
"But what about Sayo and Ieyasu?" Tatsumi protested, only for two of his Shadow Guards to carry them while one more ran into the house to gather his possessions.
+706 Gold, 423 Silver!
And pillage it, apparently. "Nevermind."
"You're late!" Mine exclaimed as Akame and the others finally returned, her gaze turning to Tatsumi and Krista. "And what are... those?"
"Our new comrades." Leone replied, causing her to look at Akame in shock.
Akame nodded in confirmation, much to Tatsumi and Krista's distress. "Give up. Once Leone's made up her mind, nothing can sway her."
"You know me so well." Leone petted the stoic girl's head, Akame not emoting how much she enjoyed it as she now turned to Bulat. "Bulat, I'll leave him to you while I carry Krista."
"Sure." Bulat easily picked up the protesting Tatsumi and held him in a single arm. "It'll be okay. It only hurts at the start~"
Tatsumi blanched at Bulat's poor choice of words. "W-What does?"
"Mission complete. Time to return." Akame declared before leaping off, the rest following after her into the darkness.
Behind them, the Shadow Army dipped into the gloom and trailed after their Monarch.
Luxuria Giggles, Take #01: Left Behind
"Mission complete. Time to return." Akame declared before leaping off, the rest following after her into the darkness.
Behind them, the Shadow Army dipped into the gloom and trailed after their Monarch.
Well, almost all of them.
Stepping onto the roof they were supposed to reconvene, Sheele blinked in confusion at their absence. "Eh? Are the others running late?"
KingVessel: Just a starting point. Let me know your opinions.