Chapter 26: No Lies
- Cha Hae-In (Hunters Guild) -
Hae-In sat at home, glued to her television covering Mars' abrupt visit to Tokyo, to clear the humongous S-rank gate that spawned. At this point she shouldn't be surprised, as Mars was consuming high ranked gates like they were candy. Her guildmaster Choi Jong-In was even worried Mars would start stealing their guild's gates.
She remembered the rarely concerned Jong-In, according to him there was a very good chance Mars was creating his own guild. The Korean Hunters Association was quietly trying to fast track a new 'Shadow Guild'. Given the name and the fact there was only a single anonymous registered hunter involved, it was quite clear it was Mars' guild. Hae-In felt a bit of regret, feeling like she missed her chance to be in the same guild as him.
Well, there was another way she could join, she could just simply quit the Hunters guild. It sucks she would have to give up her signing bonus and all of her work perks, but she wanted to follow her heart for once. Hae-In did feel guilty for potentially letting down Jong-In if she really goes through with it, but in the end she just wanted to be with the hunter that's been on her mind constantly. Hae-In wanted to live comfortably, and she realized she never felt as safe unless she was with Mars. She wasn't stupid, Hae-In understood she had already fallen for the younger hunter.
Hae-In felt her cheeks redden the more she thought about him. Unfortunately she never got his contact info, but she remembered she could always contact one of his girlfriends Jinah or Song-Yi, who both followed her on Instagram.
Turning back to the television, her eyes went wide, watching the new development that hunters Hwang Dongsoo and Goto Ryuji are entering the gate. How could she forget when Mars humiliated Japan's best hunter in front of everyone? Any Korean hunter knew the dangerous reputation Dongsoo or his late big brother Dongsuk had in dungeons.
Please be safe, Mars.
- Mars -
"Welcome, Monarch." The calmed down Monarch of the Beginning greeted me with his monstrous voice, it was loud enough to ring out across the whole dungeon. "Hurry, free me of these chains... I know what the Rulers are planning. The other Monarchs must know, quickly!"
I slowly walk up to him, observing Legia, his sheer size certainly is worthy of the moniker the King of Giants. What is perhaps even more impressive is the Ruler's complex magic circle, keeping the manic Monarch confined in place. The massive black magical chains are grotesquely pierced through him, painfully forcing him onto his knees, while his arms are unnaturally extended outwards, leaving him with no proper respite at all.
The Rulers have no chill, but I remember they always seemed to have a rather cold-blooded view on some things, despite their decently unselfish nature. Assuming the Cup of Reincarnation has been used countless times, I wonder how long Legia has been stuck in these chains?
Name: The Monarch of the Beginning, Legia
Level: ?
Race: Monarch
Title: King of Giants
Thoughts about you: What's taking you so long, he wants you to free him from the Ruler's barbaric bondage immediately
Reputation: 40
Well I guess I can't completely blame him for being impatient, if I saw a ray of hope after centuries in confinement I would also jump at the rare chance.
"So, tell me, Legia. Just what are the Rulers planning?" I ask him, letting my shadow helmet disappear, revealing the fact I'm not Ashborn to him.
"You..." His big red eyes squinted suspiciously at me. "You are not the one I know."
I noticed his hands ball into fists, but his shackles won't budge an inch, as Legia fruitlessly tries to free himself. His veins look like they're about to burst after seeing him try to reach out to me.
"Ah, right. Let's build some trust first, shall we?." I give him a knowing nod, focusing on the ancient Monarch energy starting to possess me.
My eyes glow purple as I start to chant out a Monarch pledge.
[You have activated the skill: Pledge of Honesty (Deal)]
[Once the skill has been granted, both the initiator and the acceptor cannot lie to one another]
"Will you accept?" I offer him a fair deal, trying not to laugh as I can tell he's surprised as hell at the situation currently playing out.
"Yes." Legia agrees after a brief moment of thought. "Answer me, who are you?"
"Your eyes are not deceiving you, Legia. I am in fact the Shadow Monarch, I'm Mars Valentino, official heir to Ashborn. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." I smirk at him, watching him process the truth of my words.
"Finally?" Legia's eyes scrutinize me. "Who told you about me?"
"Ashborn himself has told me much about you and the rest of our fellow Monarchs..." I shrug at him, knowing it's impossible to duplicate the King of the Dead's macabre aura.
Legia never broke my piercing gaze, until he suddenly looked past me, where our meeting is rudely interrupted.
The supergiant is at the door, pointing at Hwang Dongsoo and Goto Ryuji. As if its asking Legia if it should attack them or not.
Tusk peeks his head through the door, asking me the same thing.
"Shadow Monarch, it appears we have a couple of uninvited guests." Legia announced with a cruel grin.
"It seems that way..." I break out into a matching grin, observing the two hunters who are about to learn a rather painful lesson. "If you'll just excuse me for a moment, Legia."
Name: Hwang Dongsoo
Level: 90
Race: Hunter (S)
Class: Brawler
Thoughts about you: Is he hallucinating? He just heard you speak monster tongue, he knew there was something shady about your powers
Reputation: - 40
Name: Goto Ryuji
Level: 89
Race: Hunter (S)
Class: Samurai
Title: Japan's Greatest Hunter
Thoughts about you: He can't believe you just killed that huge clan of giants so quickly, if there was a dungeon break Tokyo would have been completely destroyed
Reputation: - 85
"What the fuck is going on in here-" Dongsoo spat out at me, before they were both unwillingly launched to the ground, courtesy of my newly promoted Tusk.
His upgraded power means he can even treat these high-ranked hunters like they were mere bugs. Which reminds me...
"Oh, boy. You guys really couldn't have come at a worse time." I can't help but laugh at the two absolutely fucked S-rankers.
I lift my arm, pointing behind them as I use [Ruler's Authority] to slam the heavy doors shut, just in case we are rudely interrupted again. It's also good timing for me because Tusk snuck into the boss chambers, leaving the supergiant awaiting outside with the rest of my other summons.
If there's a sudden hostility between me and Legia I could kill him with the help of three my highest ranked shadows, before Legia's bodyguard outside could even react. Since my Monarch relative is in chains I shouldn't be too paranoid, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
"W-What is this?!" Ryuji questioned me, the realization he probably isn't leaving this dungeon alive is more noticeable on his sweating face.
"Shut up and wait." Tusk growled out at them, speaking his first words as a General-grade shadow soldier.
The two hunters flinched when Buryura emerged from in front of them, the whole boss room floor is covered with my shadow. My arachnid summon shot out its web, covering their mouths.
Patting the smug Tusk and Buryura for a job well done, I turn back to the waiting Legia, who seems to be amused more than anything.
"Sorry about that. Where were we?" I ask Legia, who gives me a nod of approval. "Ah, the Rulers. Tell me what they are plotting."
"They are trying to use me as a stepping stone for the foundations of the true war that is to come." Legia gave up the information easily, thanks to his near blind hatred for the Rulers.
Well, it's nothing I didn't already know.
"Your mana?" I recall, this gate's aura alone was unlike anything I've ever seen before. "So that's why the Rulers served you up on a platter for the humans..."
When Jinwoo defeated Legia and his avatar, an almost incalculable amount of magical energy was released into the planet, setting up the stage for the rest of the awakened hunters to fight the incoming monsters.
I tug on the faint mental link connecting me with Querehsha, and almost instantly, her green portal appeared next to us, before she stepped out with an impish look on her smirking face.
"The Monarch of Plagues?!" Legia shouts out in shock, looking at the two of us in confusion.
"Mars~" Querehsha greeted me with a flirty smile, licking her lips, admiring my new shadow appearance. "Oh look who it is... Little Legia is here to play with us~"
The busty Queen of Insects seductively strutted to me, kissing me deeply, pushing her tongue down my throat.
I instantly pull her away from me by her hair with force, where she only giggles, sticking out her slimy tongue out at the puzzled Legia.
"Stop wasting time! Release me from my seal already! I promise I will help you, Mars." Legia pleaded, the desperation to be freed from his containment was clear in his voice. "We must not wait any longer! This world is already undergoing the transformation into the fated battlefield."
Forming a dagger of holy light, I sever the chain hanging from the ceiling that was painfully impaled deep into his ribcage, finally allowing him a bit of movement. His limbs remain shackled, the eager Legia was thirsty to be released from the magical bondage.
I move to free another shackle, pausing as he literally drools, ready to be liberated.
"I have another question before I can unchain you..." I drag out the conversation, peering into his eyes. "If I told you I was on the side of humanity, would you still join my side, willingly betraying Antares?"
Legia closes his eyes for a moment, biting his lower lip, obviously thinking about how to answer my question truthfully. The curse will literally not let him lie to me.
"Why are you so quiet, Legia?" Querehsha began to mock him, causing him to draw blood, his teeth digging into his twisted lip.
Walking around the caught Monarch, I tap on the bright pink magic crystal the Rulers embedded into his neck, the source of his unyielding malice towards humanity.
"What happens if I remove this mana crystal?" I taunt him, fully realizing it's too late to save him, the mana stone's orders in his head demanded him to kill all the humans.
Unfortunately he's just like any monster now, but if I kill him there's no chance for me to revive him. On the bright side, killing him will net me a shit ton of experience points.
Having finally lost his patience with us, he roared out in a fit of rage, trying his best to headbutt me with his limited mobility. I move out of the way easily, before I slap him across the face.
"RAARGH!" Legia growled out at me, his eyes seething with fury, Legia's now attempting to bite me.
Dodging the rabid Monarch's pitiful attacks, the light dagger in my hand morphs into the links of a chain, trying my best to copy the magical tethers keeping him in place. Using my telekinesis, I slowly wrap the light chain around his thick neck, tightening it at a turtle's pace.
"No matter what happens, I don't think I can trust you." I utter out in disappointment to myself more than him, beginning to choke the life out of him.
"Urgh... As the battles between the residents of your world and the captured denizens of the Chaos World become more intense, your world will turn into a harsher battlefield..." Legia coughed out, his voice coated with pure hatred, knowing full well he's about to die here like a dog. "I hope... That everything you wish to protect will burn into ashes in the conflagration of the War..."
Having heard enough, I form a light battle-axe, modeled after Iron's signature weapon. With a single powerful swing holding none of my power back, I behead the King of Giants, his severed head tumbling onto the ground unceremoniously.
You have defeated one of the Monarchs, Legia, the Monarch of the Beginning
Perk added:
[Giant Slayer]
You deal increased damage to all giant-sized enemies
An almost painful surge of energy floods through my entire body, feeling myself level up considerably after killing a fellow Monarch. The Rulers seriously just served him to me on a silver platter. As nice as it would have been for him to join me, I'd rather turn anymore future giants I meet into shadow soldiers. With enough giants under my command I can start my very own Rumbling-like cataclysmic event in whatever world I enter.
I am sorry, young Mars, it seems Legia was too far gone. He was never going to forgive the Rulers for keeping him captive this long.
Thanks Ashborn, it's fine. If I couldn't truly trust him, then he would really be better off used as a simple power-up. It also sends a message to Antares that I'm not afraid of a fight.
I can hear the muffled cries and shouts of the two subdued hunters, who witnessed the entire meeting turned execution.
Feeling the urge to take out my frustration on the two villains who dared to plot against me, I signal to Igris and Beru to cut free the two chains that held each of Legia's arms.
Tusk forcefully levitated the two scared shitless S-rankers, slowly wrapping the hanging magical chains around their necks.
Beru kindly rips off the webbing from their mouths, where both of them start to hyperventilate.
"Any last words?" I look up at the two suspended hunters, in varying stages of panic, thanks to the magical nooses tied around them both.
"I-I'm sorry!" Goto Ryuji begged for his life, tears falling down from his cheek. "P-please don't do this!"
"I-It was all this bastard Ryuji's idea!" Dongsoo pleaded, a noticeable piss stain forming in his pants. "Please, just let go!"
It's quite weird to me, I feel nothing, looking up at these humans, moments away from their death. Instead of seeing them like lives I'm taking away from the world I only view them as future shadow soldiers.
Well, I cannot forgive their plan, pathetic as it was, to kill me.
"You heard him, Tusk." I nod to my high orc shaman, a barbaric smile itched on his face. "Let go."
"NOOOOO-"
The sound of both of their necks breaking at the same time rung across the boss room, as soon as Tusk released his stasis on them.
"Well, that was a lot of fun~" Querehsha commented on the killings with a murderous glee in her eyes, but I can tell she's still not satisfied.
Name: The Monarch of Plagues, Querehsha
Level: ?
Race: Monarch
Title: Queen of Insects
Thoughts about you: She is pleased with your actions, watching you execute Legia and those pathetic hunters turned her on. She wants to taste you, now
Affection: 60
Well I should keep her happy, and honestly I think hate-fucking her right now will help calm me down.
She gives me a knowing and seductive stare, it keeps things interesting since we cannot lie to one another.
I grab her by the hair, dragging her towards Legia, where I throw her onto his headless body. She displays zero resistance, letting me toy with her as I please.
Without any sort of warning, I insert myself into her welcoming pussy, feeling her growing arousal, as I begin to pound her viciously right out of the gate.
"HARDER!" She yells out in a pained pleasure, getting even tighter as I wrap my hands around her throat, squeezing her neck with no regard for her well being.
The whole room amplifies my grunts and her moans, I can quickly feel myself getting carried away in the vulgar mood.
Judging by the frenzied sharp smile on her face, this is the way she likes it, preferring I thrust into her as if I was trying to kill her with my dick.
Querehsha slaps me across my face, peering deep into my eyes with a wicked perversion.
In response, I slap her back, a red hand mark appearing on her beautiful face right away. I infuse my holy lightning in my hand, slapping her even harder this time, keeping a vice grip on her face. She convulses uncontrollably thanks to my unexpected shock, her masochistic orgasm causing her to leak a sweet smelling liquid.
Ripping off her black armor, I pinch her nipples with no mercy. I flip her over onto her stomach, giving me even deeper access. I pull a fistful of her hair as I continue to relentlessly slam into her, I keep going until I feel my own finish approaching, shooting my load as deep as I could inside her.
I collapse on top of her, both of us breathing heavily. After a moment, I pull myself out of her, wiping the sweat from my brow as she sighs out in satisfaction.
Shit, can Monarchs get pregnant?
Feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me, I turn around, realizing a handful of my summons just watched me have a quickie with Querehsha.
My shadow shaman couldn't look me in the eye, as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
I look back to Querehsha, where she was already fully dressed, a glowing green portal ready to take her back to her nest. I'm glad she's not a cuddler.
"Well... I have to admit that was fun." I shamelessly admit to her, there's no way I could ever treat one of my maidens like that. "I guess I'll call you if I ever need you again."
"Already looking forward to it, Mars~" She blew me a kiss, sashaying into the gate, where I could see our combined juices flowing down her leg.
"Ahem." I clear my throat, walking towards the hanged hunters, lifeless as they slowly swung up high. "Arise."
Two new shadow soldiers dropped down, landing in front of me, before kneeling.
I study the much larger summon first, the muscular soldier was as big as Iron. The shadow formerly known as Hwang Dongsoo, was covered in bulky, pitch black armor, and he had a fractured, horned white skull covering his face. There was a large mane of glowing purple hair flowing freely thanks to the magical winds in the boss room.
"Do you have anything to say to me?" I ask him first, staring into his red eyes.
"My King, I was wrong..." The shadow brawler looked at me with clear admiration "Allow me to serve you for eternity as penance... I will do anything you order me to, so please, bestow upon me a name."
"Greed." I approvingly nod to him, before turning to the other newest General-rank shadow. "And you... What should I do with you?"
Goto Ryuji's shadow slammed his forehead into the ground, kneeling in a full dogeza position.
"My Emperor..." The soldier clad in a shadow trench coat with a shadow katana begged for forgiveness. "Please, forgive me for daring to act against you. I feel it now, your boundless powers have given me a second chance. Allow me to pay for my past transgressions in my life by serving you in my death..."
"Okay. I forgive you, Samurai." I accept their apologies, quite satisfied with gaining two new powerful shadow soldiers.
Well, now I have to deal with this mess, honestly it shouldn't be too hard to get away with their murders. I'm strong enough now that I'm not even worried about dealing with Thomas Andre or his guild, in case he correctly blames me for Dongsoo's death.
Oh, well. That sounds a lot like a future me problem.
Opening the doors to the hall, my group of shadows were waiting patiently for my return. Thankfully, it looks like Legia's avatar vanished into nothing, as soon as Legia was slain.
Before I leave the dungeon, I summon every soldier at my disposal, where I can really see how far I've made it. Metus and Balthazar surface from my shadow as well, my two liches float behind me, admiring my Immortal Army at our current full strength.
The newly promoted Kaisel and Cyclops come closer to me, wanting to greet me for the first time since becoming General-rank.
"My Liege." Kaisel softly called out to me, cooing happily as I scratch behind its ears.
"My... King..." Cyclops huffed deeply, hot steam exiting its nostrils as it bows down as low as it can, allowing me to scratch underneath its chin.
I seriously can't help but laugh out loud like a maniac, gawking at my army filling up the giant's corridor.
Name: Mars Valentino
Level: 151
Race: Fallen Ruler-Human Hybrid
Class: Battlemage (Holy Lightning Attribute) lvl. MAX
Title: Shadow Monarch Gamer
Perks:
Compassionate Commander
Demon Hunter
Ferocious Loyalty
Friendly Face
Giant Slayer
Lover's Link
Querehsha's Kiss
Skills:
Gamer's Mind (Passive) lvl. MAX
Monarch's Domain (Passive) lvl. MAX
Physical Endurance (Passive) lvl. MAX
Shadow Preservation (Passive) lvl. MAX
Hand-to-hand Mastery (Passive) lvl. 59 (Adept)
Magical Endurance (Passive) lvl. 81 (Master)
Spear Mastery (Passive) lvl. 77 (Expert)
Shield Mastery (Passive) lvl. 69 (Expert)
Holy Lightning (Active) lvl. MAX
ID Create (Active) lvl. MAX
ID Escape (Active) lvl. MAX
Observe (Active) lvl. MAX
Ruler's Authority (Active) lvl. MAX
Shadow Extraction (Active) lvl. MAX
Bless (Active) lvl. 5 (Novice)
Flight (Active) lvl. 57 (Adept)
Heal (Active) lvl. 6 (Novice)
Holy Light Manipulation (Active) lvl. 50 (Adept)
Power Bestowal (Active) lvl. 11 (Novice)
Shadow Exchange (Active) lvl. 4 (Novice)
Spiritual Body Manifestation (Active) lvl. 9 (Novice)
Taunt (Active) lvl. 35 (Apprentice)
The Ancile (Active) lvl. 69 (Expert)
Shadows:
General (S+):
Beru
Igris
Tusk
Kaisel
Cyclops
Greed
Samurai
Elite Knight (S):
Jima
Tribal Chief
Groctar
Baruka
Iron
Kang
Tank
Buryura
Giants (31)
Treefolk Centaurs (33)
Orc Generals (4)
Hyakki (24)
Yetis (8)
Giant Ants (36)
Knight (A):
Naga (50)
High Orcs (450)
Golems (12)
Centipedes (25)
Winged Ants (8 100)
Assassins (10)
Mages (10)
Archers (10)
Infantrymen (19)
Bears (30)
Tribal Warriors (400)
Orcs (200)
Baruka's Warhorse
Elite (B):
Jackals (20)
Familiar:
Cerberus
Level: 1
Race: Demon (Canine)
Oof, I'm almost lightheaded reading my shadow legion in it's entirety. And that's not even counting my demon forces, or Balthazar and Metus' undead armies.
My assembled force looks at me, as if wanting to hear a speech from me.
"Shadows..." I clear my throat, feeling my edgy Shadow Monarch persona take over, proudly looking at each shadow faction. "We've already taken down the Monarch of the Beginning, and we have the loyalty of the Monarch of Plagues. We will not yield until we have conquered the remaining Monarchs... The conflict has only begun!"
Igris and Beru rise up first, leading the shadows in a deafening victory cry.
- BONUS -
- Go Gunhee (Korean Hunters Association) -
Tokyo, Japan
Gunhee stood patiently with his Japanese counterpart, Matsumoto Shigeo, waiting for young Mars, Goto Ryuji, and Hwang Dongsoo to exit the S-rank gate at any moment. He rushed to Japan, having a strange gut feeling that something was going to go wrong. Best case, there would be no problems. But if something terrible happened, he wanted to be ready to support Mars at any moment.
After everything he's been through so far, he thought he would stop doubting his young apprentice. If Mars successfully completed the dungeon, then the whole world wouldn't be able to ignore his potential, as the general sentiment online was mostly Koreans claiming Mars was a true National rank hunter. To have two S-rank gates cleared in a matter of days would be truly undeniable.
He felt he was justified in his concern, however as the S-rank gate was the strongest he's personally encountered. He wanted to rush in, but at the same time he wanted to show faith in Mars' abilities first showcased in Jeju Island. The report from Woo Jinchul should have only strengthened his trust.
The wild gate begun to fluctuate intensely, startling the anxious chairmen. The dungeon boss must have been defeated in that case. After a short wait, the small group surrounding the entrance flinched, as a steady line of S-rank giants began to emerge, proving instantly why this gate was measured as one of the most dangerous ever recorded.
"He did it!" Gunhee cheered to himself, recognizing the distinct aura of a shadow soldier. "These are Mars' summons!"
What disturbed him was the fact that each giant was carrying its own corpse, dropping it close to the entrance. His jaw dropped as there seemed to be no end to the giants marching out of the gate, a growing pile of dead giant monsters blocking the road.
"If there was a dungeon break..." Shigeo said to himself, completely white-faced in horror. "Chairman Gunhee, I must thank you, for agreeing to send Mars."
"Don't thank me... It was all Mars' decision." He admitted proudly.
Eventually, the continuous line of shadow giants stopped, each S-rank summon looking towards the gate expectantly, until a sweaty Mars stepped out, accompanied by Igris, Beru and that giant-sized orc mage. The stormy gate closed behind them with a flash, the two late arriving hunters nowhere to be seen.
"Where are hunters Goto Ryuji and Hwang Dongsoo?!" Chairman Matsumoto shouted out nervously, running towards Mars, until Igris stopped him, a clear warning to not get any closer to Mars.
"They shouldn't have entered after me." Mars said with a grim look on his face, holding out two bloody, ripped apart garments. "If they were going to accompany me they should have entered at the same time as me..."
"Those are..." The color completely drained from Shigeo's face, recognizing what Mars was holding. "That's Guildmaster Goto's trench coat... And that was the jacket Hwang Dongsoo was wearing..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't have time to save them. There were just so many giants... As soon as they entered the dungeon, they were ambushed by a pack of giants." Mars revealed, his tone deadly serious, handing the last remains to the panicked Japanese chairman.
"Are you alright, Mars?" Gunhee worriedly asked the young hunter, hopefully there wasn't any lingering trauma.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired, do you think you can take care of the fallout from here for me, sir?" Mars asked exhaustedly. "I can meet you back in Korea, answer any questions you have after I get some sleep."
"Of course, Mars." Go Gunhee reassured his most valuable hunter. "Leave it to me, go get some rest."
- Mars -
"Thank you, sir." I shake Gunhee's hand, bowing to him and Matsumoto Shigeo slightly, putting on a show for all witnesses and cameras watching my every move.
I instantly cast [Shadow Exchange], not wanting to stick around the site for a second longer. I find myself back in Seoul, on top of the hospital, where I left a shadow assassin for an easy exit.
Thankfully, my trustworthy general Go Gunhee was there, even if my story didn't make the most sense, he wouldn't impede me from leaving so quickly, especially if I played on the fact I've been grinding non-stop since Jeju. So far he's been perfect, with a single text he had already started the paperwork for my new guild. I'll finally have some time to create the lair, I wonder what perk I'll get for completing one of the few remaining goddess quests. I'm rather curious how fast it would take my ants to build an acceptable headquarters for the debuting Shadow guild?
Knowing I'm all alone now, the smirk I've been suppressing since exiting the gate reveals itself. It's rather fitting, taking a page from Dongsoo's shitty big brother Hwang Dongsuk, his lizard gang was notorious for committing serious crimes in dungeons. They got one thing right, the easiest place to murder someone is inside a dungeon, and I certainly don't feel any guilt for taking out the trash.
There's no turning back now, I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas Andre comes knocking on my door once he learns Dongsoo died in the dungeon with me. It really is a shame I can't resurrect any Ruler vessels.
I pull out the key that's been burning a hole in my pocket.
Item: Cartenon Temple Key
Item Class: ?
Type: Key
This key allows the user to enter the Cartenon Temple. This key can be used on the appropriate gate. This gate's location will be revealed after a predetermined amount of time
Time Remaining: 12 hours
Just you wait, Architect, you're not ready for what I've become.
AN (more spoilers ahead?): Here's 26, is it weird that I just wrote this in a couple of hours in a caffeine induced haze? Anyway, we're super fucking close to DxD once Mars has his showdown with the Architect.
Regarding last chapter's plea for help: Shoutout to all of you guys who chimed in regarding my janky ass power levels. If there's one thing I've learned since I've started this fic is if you want the right answer on the internet, it's easier to just post the wrong answer.
Here's my improved (and hopefully slightly less scuffed) merged system:
*These are more for a general power scaling reference, for example there could be a higher ranked exorcist or magician*
Level 0 - Regular base humans
Levels 1 to 9 (E-rank) - Enhanced humans (magicians/exorcists)
Levels 10 - 19 (D-rank) - Weak ass superhumans (devils/angel/fallen/youkai)
Levels 20 - 29 (C-rank) - Low class
Levels 30 - 39 (B-rank) - Mid class
Levels 40 - 49 (A-rank) - High class
Levels 50 - 99 (S/S+ rank) - Ultimate class
Levels 100+ (National+) - Monarchs/Rulers/Seraph/Satan(Maou)
Levels x and over - Superdevils: Sirzechs, Ajuka and Rizevim - (Thanks for clearing that up y'all)
Levels xx and over - Legendary beings
Any sacred gear users can jump between any tiers, depending on things like race (e.g. human vs reincarnated devil), balance breaker, combat experience etc. Since I've noticed DxD power scaling is completely fucked in general above Ultimate tier I'll just go ahead and say gods/dragons/other special exceptions will be anywhere from ultimate to legendary. I'll have to look more into that top 10 list down the line. Fuckin author should have made a clear and concise power ranking so I wouldn't have to worry about it :P
So yeah, I'll try not to obsess too much about perfectly matching the Solo Leveling and Highschool DxD universes, since there's obviously a ton of nuance involved. I also dropped the Monarchs and Rulers down a peg.
If anyone is wondering about who's jumping to DxD from Solo Leveling with Mars: for now it'll just be his shadow army, undead and demon forces. I suppose Ashborn too if that counts, consider him the Ddraig to Mars' Issei. Because I'm not fully completing the SL universe before world jumping, Mars will end up returning to take care of business and the rest of the Monarchs after spending some time in Kuoh. So it won't be a farewell to any SL characters.
Thanks to everyone, I'll see y'all next time.