Massively Multiplayer

And you thought Lego Batman was the most ambitious crossover of all time.

Sounds of battle filled the air, and Aqua let out a cry of anguish as Kazuma died. For his part, Kazuma really wished she'd just shut up and get on with it. It wasn't like this was the first time.

"You know, I am getting way too used to this," Kazuma sighed as he floated above his dead body. "Though I admit the ghost stuff is new."

He sensed someone behind him, and Kazuma sighed, turning. "Yeah yeah, I get it, so sorry you're dead, blahblah, look, just wait and…"

Kazuma trailed off as he stared into the purple eyes of a young woman in a kimono sitting on top of a floating oar.

"Well, this is awkward," the girl said, rubbing the back of her head. "You see, you've died, and I have no idea who you are. You're not on my list anywhere. But they said you'd be here so..."

"Botan!?" Kazuma gasped. "No freaking way!"

"Oh! You know who I am?" the Grim Reaper of Japan asked, peering at Kazuma. "That's strange, most mortals don't recognize me. Who are you, exactly?"

"No stinking way! You're from Yu Yu Hakusho! Is Urameshi here? This is so cool, do I get to be a Spirit Detective now?!" Kazuma babbled.

Botan blinked slowly, tilting her head to one side. "How do you know Yusuke? Or about being a spirit detective… this world doesn't have those. Well, I see why Death was so eager to have me go collect you personally. Well, hop on then, I suppose we'd best go speak with the boss."

"This is so cool," Kazuma said, grinning as he jumped onto the oar. "I'm gonna get to meet King Yenma! Is he still a little kid with the pacifier? Best death ever!"

Botan turned around to start open mouthed at Kazuma as they flew off into the night sky. "How do you even know all this? Are you some sort of god like I am?"

"Eh, basically. I hang out with Aqua. How come I never saw you in the Divine Realm? Too busy collecting souls?"

"I've never heard of Aqua, if I'm being honest. Oh well, hold on, here we go!" the stars in the sky steamed to stretch and bend as the world twisted around Kazuma. The next thing he knew, they were flying out of a doorway into a neatly ordered graveyard, where lines of perfectly arranged tombstones stretched endlessly below a dark purple sky. All around them, neatly arranged doorways floated in the air, each labeled with a symbol, though Kazuma and Botan were moving too fast for him to study them carefully.

"Hey, this doesn't look like King Yenma's office, where are we?" Kazuma asked, peering around.

"Death's office, I was told to bring you straight here," Botan informed him, taking the oar down for a landing.

They touched down before a large desk, with piles of papers carefully stacked in ordered and labeled trays as a boy with dark black hair with streaks of white in his hair worked away.

"Death the Kid?!" Kazuma gasped, clutching at his chest. "I just...I can't take this anymore! This is too awesome! Yu Yu Hakusho and Soul Eater?! This is so cool! Where are Liz and Patty?! I have to meet them! Megumin is going to be so jealous, she loves Soul Eater!"

Death slowly set his pen down, looking up at Kazuma with hooded yellow eyes, a scowl on his face. "Botan, I take it, this is the first special mission?"

"Yes, and I have to say sir, he's very odd. He knows about Urameshi and claims to know a goddess named Aqua. Have you ever heard of her?"

"A goddess named Aqua? Well I'm sure there's some water deity floating around by that name. Just who exactly are you, boy?"

Kazuma bristled at that. "Hey, don't call me boy! I'm over 200 years old, and I am a god! I've saved two worlds from the Devil King now! Just ask Director Smith!"

"Director Smith?" Death smirked at that. "How droll. You actually think we have someone named Director Smith in the afterlife?"

"He's the Personnel Director! He was there, he did the roll back for Hapsudate after we saved it from the Lord of the Tomb!" Kazuma snapped.

Botan froze, her eyes going very wide, while Death's lips formed into a thin line. "Ah. You're one of Alucard's, then? Trying to infiltrate one of my worlds?"

Twin pistols suddenly formed in Death's hands, and despite knowing he was in danger, Kazuma couldn't help let out a gasp. "Liz and Patty?! Can I have their autographs?! Come on, they're so cool! What about Black Star? He's Megumin's favorite! Could I get a signed shuriken from him? Please? I'm like your biggest fan, man!"

The guns in Death's hands suddenly twisted to have the faces of young girls in cowboy hats.

"Boss, you really think we need to ice this guy?" the brunette asked.

"He seems nice, we should keep him!" the blonde giggled.

Death sighed and put up the guns, which vanished again. "Well, King Kai was very specific about you. Go get the other one, Botan, he should be showing up soon. Take him straight to King Kai this time."

"On it!" Botan said cheerily. "Good bye, whoever you are. I do hope you're not an enemy, you seem kind, if strange."

"Kazuma! Kazuma Sato!" Kazuma yelled as Botan hopped back on her oar and flew off through the door they'd come in by.

"Well, Kazuma Sato, come with me," Death said, turning and walking away from Kazuma, hands shoved in his pockets. "This is most irregular. Not symmetrical at all. Everything is out of order these days."

"Oh yeah, you're totally into the whole symmetry thing," Kazuma said as he jogged to catch up to death. "But seriously, I'm going to need a shuriken from Black Star. My girlfriend is a huge fan, and she'll never believe me if I don't take something back with me."

"You're dead you idiot. You're not going back, and you couldn't take anything with you if you did," Death sighed with a shake of his head.

"Meh, I've died like 15 times now, I'm not worried, Aqua always brings me back," Kazuma said with a shrug.

"WHAT!?" Death spun, his yellow eyes wide as he grabbed Kazuma by the shoulders. "Fifteen times!? That violates every natural law! I ought to reap you right now and dispose of your unnatural soul forever!"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down there dude. Relax, like I said, I'm basically a god. We die all the time, right?"

"No. We do not," Death huffed, removing his hands from Kazuma's shoulders. "I'm taking you to the top like I'm supposed to. I wash my hands of this entire thing." And to illustrate the point, he took out a small tube of hand sanitizer and squeezed some onto his hands, rubbing them together as he made for a door.

Upon seeing the symbol on the door, Kazuma began to let out a high pitched squeal.

"Will you stop that?!" Death demanded as he opened the door. "How are you even making that sound?! It's like a dog whistle!"

"Dragon Ball!" Kazuma shrieked as he bolted through the door. "I'm going to-OOF!"

No sooner was he through the door than it felt as though a great hand grabbed Kazuma by the head and shoved him straight into the ground, pressing down across his entire body.

"Hmm. Not used to the gravity here, are you?" Death said, an amused expression on his face. Then he frowned. "Wait. You're dead. A spirit. How does gravity even affect you?"

"Because it's funny. Those are the rules he operates by," a nasaly voice said.

"Oh my god," Kazuma moaned. "King Kai. This is so cool…"

"Hmm, yes. Well, let me just adjust that," King Kai said. A second later, there was a pop, and Kazuma found he could stand. He brushed himself off, grinning like a loon as he looked up at Death the Kid and King Kai standing together, watching him. "This is so amazing! All my favorite manga are coming true! What about Naruto and Luffy? Are they here? And Goku! I HAVE to meet Goku!"

"You said he did that because he thinks he's funny. He from That Woman's division?" Death asked King Kai.

"Yep. One of Haruhi's," King Kai affirmed.

Death let out a heavy sigh. "You never should have let Comedy break off from us. Half the mess we're in is because of what that lunatic chief goddess of theirs gets up to."

"Who's Haruhi?" Kazuma asked, frowning. "She like the chief goddess Aqua goes on about or whatever?"

Death shared a long suffering look with King Kai, then sighed. "I've got too much work to do to stand around and discuss theology. Botan will be back with the other one shortly."

"Other one?" Kazuma asked as Death stepped through the doorway, which vanished when he closed it. "Oh shit! Aqua isn't going to die, is she?"

"Probably not. It would be rather inconvenient if she did," King Kai said with a shrug. "Honestly I don't really know. We're in uncharted territory here. No, we're waiting on someone else."

"Not… not Eri?" Kazuma asked, his heart feeling sick. "She's just a little girl…"

"She'll be fine," King Kai promised. "That, I can assure you. Though for how much longer, who knows. But they should be arriving… now."

"I am here!" a familiar voice proclaimed. "And very confused! Young Kazuma! I am...sorry. You died well."

Kazuma turned to see All Might standing there, grinning. "What, the gravity here doesn't affect you?"

"Hmm? Oh, it does. This would be an excellent place to train!" All Might laughed. Then he turned serious. "Kazuma, are you not afraid to be dead?"

"Dude, I have died so many times I feel like they owe me a free sundae," Kazuma complained. He glanced at King Kai, frowning. "So, what? Why are we even here? Aqua's just gonna bring us both back."

"Because this was a good chance to give you both a warning, so listen up," King Kai said sternly. "Ainz Ooal Gown's forces are already on your world. They're dangerous, but they're not the real threat. No, the real threat goes much deeper than that. You see, your reality is not the only one."

"Sorta figured that out already," Kazuma sighed. "I mean, I've been to like, four worlds now. Five if you count the Divine Realm."

"You don't understand. You've been to different worlds, Kazuma, but you're also one of the only beings to exist in two different realities. You see, you are from the Comedy Division. All Might is from the Shonen Division. Your realities operate on fundamentally different principals."

All Might only blinked in confusion, but Kazuma barked out a laugh. "What, like genres of manga and anime?"

"Exactly like genres of manga and anime," King Kai said grimly. "You mortals tell yourselves those stories, because they're the same stories that the gods tell as we shape the universes. What you see as fiction is a reflection of differing realities."

"But, life is not merely a story," All Might said, frowning. "There is comedy, yes, but also tragedy, romance-"

"Oh we'll get to your romance," King Kai interrupted. "Haruhi insisted. She's obsessed with 'shipping.' I never really cared personally, but this is her show too, so I'm fine with it. Look, All Might, you're from my reality, the one I shaped personally with the aid of the minor gods. It's called the Shonen Division because I value personal growth, valor, and triumph by strength of will and feats of combat. That's how the rules of your world work. If you grow and show strength and fight, you'll succeed. The world will bend itself to make sure you do. I create worlds for heroes."

"That is… but what of the villains? Do you make those as well?" All Might asked. "I had… well, since I realized gods were real, I have wondered about evil. Is there some dark version of Aqua?"

Kazuma winced, and King Kai grimaced and jerked his head in a nod. "There are. The Dark Gods. For where there is creation, there also destruction. They have their own warped and twisted realities, and they bleed over into the world the gods have created. Right now, most of our problems come from a single Dark God: Alucard."

"What, Dracula?" Kazuma asked, surprised. "The devil's a vampire?"

"One of the devils. And he is far more than a vampire. He is a Dark God. And he's attempting to destroy Comedy," King Kai explained. "Haruhi is young, for a goddess. And inexperienced. She was lured into a bargain with Alucard, one that gave him an opening. Then, when things turned sour, she tried to fight her own battles. But Haruhi is the Goddess of Comedy, not of battle. She lost, badly."

"The Lord of the Tomb," Kazuma gasped. "He… he's Alucard?"

"No, merely one of his servants, though an unknowing one. Him and the Godslayer. Gods do not make war directly. But, I found out Haruhi was in trouble. And so, I sent her help. Forty-two youths, from one of my newest and brightest worlds. True heroes."

"Midoriya. You sent him to the other world?" All Might guessed.

"I did. Though don't tell Haruhi that. She'd be embarrassed. I used her favorite child to do it as well."

"What, Aqua? She's this Haruhi's daughter?" Kazuma asked. "Because if she is, Haruhi is a terrible mom."

"Like I said, Haruhi is young. And, well, daughter might not be the right word. But she is Haruhi's creation. Aqua is a part of this isekai craze all the younger gods are on about right now," King Kai said, shaking his head and sighing. "I don't really understand it, but, well, I'm glad they're excited about something. So, I isekai'd a few heroes of my own to help my pupil."

"What you did was dangerous," All Might rumbled, his brows drawn down in a scowl. "You should have sent experienced heroes, such as myself. Not children."

"Those are the rules. Besides, they all succeeded, better than even I hoped for," King Kai laughed.

Kazuma shook his head. "This is all nuts. You gods are all crazy."

"Hey, don't talk about my friends that way! Some of my favorite people are gods!"

A tingle ran down Kazuma's spine, and he nearly wet himself in excitement as he spun around, a look of pure ecstasy on his face as he beheld his one, true hero. "Goku!"

The tall man in an orange gi with wild black hair sprouting from his head paused, cocking his head to one side. "Do I know you?"

"I'm your biggest fan," Kazuma managed, feeling as though he could die of sheer happiness. "Let me have your babies!"

Goku flinched back, a look of confusion and disgust washing over his face. "Er, no thanks, I'm married. King Kai, who are these two? That kid seems weird, but that one…" Goku turned to All Might, a smile spreading over his lips as his eyes shone. "That one seems strong."

"Goku, you're not supposed to be here," King Kai sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"I dunno, got bored I guess. I just felt like I needed to come check up on you." Goku grinned at All Might. "Feel like getting in some training? Maybe go a round or two?"

"I don't know," All Might said, studying Goku carefully. "I don't normally spar with strangers. People can get hurt that way, and-"

"All Might!" Kazuma cried, rushing over to his teacher. "You HAVE to do this! Oh man, Midoriya is going to cream himself when he hears about this! Please, this is like, everything I have ever dreamed of! I'll do anything! I'll make Aqua do her homework! I'll never be late to school again! Please! I have literally waited all my life for this! A real life Dragon Ball Z fight! Come on dude, you can at least make him go SSJ1!"

"I'm interested as well, actually," King Kai said, folding his arms behind his back. "Two of my greatest creations, fighting for honor and glory. I think I'll even things out a little even. Here."

King Kai walked over to All Might, placing a man on the giant's chest. A glowing aura surrounded All Might, and he let out a gasp as his muscles rippled. There was a high pitched whine, but that stopped when everyone else gave Kazuma a concerned look.

"There, that should refuel you to your strongest point. You were a bit lacking on the power after you passed on your quirk to Midoriya, even after Aqua healed you. x It's impressive what Aqua did, actually. She shouldn't have been able to recreate a shonen magic system from the ground up, but I suppose she's spent enough time around Midoriya that he rubbed off on her just as much as she did on him. Now though, I've given you access to just as much strength as you ever had, and sprinkled in a bit more perhaps."

"I feel...this is incredible!" All Might flexed, grinning broadly. "I feel like a new man all over again! Even if I am dead."

"Great, we can fight now!" Goku said.

All Might still hesitated as Goku grinned and began to stretch, so Kazuma pushed the big man forward. "Dude, come on! Are you curious to see if you can take on the greatest hero of all time?! This is Son Goku! The greatest Shonen Hero!"

"Well, I suppose a little sparing wouldn't hurt anyone," All Might agreed. He smiled suddenly. "You look like quite the experienced fighter, sir. A hero, I take it?"

"Eh, I'm just a guy who likes a good fight. Sometimes, that involves saving the world," Goku said as he rolled his shoulders, then fell into a fighting stance.

Kazuma scrambled over to King Kai, his fists balled in eagerness. "This is going to be the most epic thing ever."

"Hmmm," King Kai said. "I sort of feel bad for you, Kazuma."

"Huh?" Kazuma said, glancing at King Kai. When he looked back, Goku and All Might seemed to have vanished. He could only hear the crack of fists and feel the rush of wind from the exchange of blows as the two fighters went at it full throttle. There were sudden blurs of motion, on the ground and in the sky, but Kazuma couldn't see a damn thing.

"This is so unfair!" Kazuma ranted. "Two amazing heroes are battling, and I can't see a thing! Slow down you two, this is some BS!"

"Relax, here," King Kai said, putting a hand on Kazuma's shoulder.

He blinked, and then, he could see it. The two men, one in orange, the other in red, white and blue, dodged and weaved, hit and blocked, and moved like the wind itself. Kazuma admittedly knew nothing about the sort of fighting they were doing, preferring to fight dirty when he had to, and avoid direct conflict at all costs.

This also wasn't the sort of fighting Darkness did, not even now that she was better and blocking and dodging. Kazuma had heard fighting described as a dance before, and he'd previously thought that was romantic nonsense. Most fights were more like a bunch of drunks stumbling into one another at top speed in his experience. This though? This was art, on the same level as what Aqua did. Both All Might and Goku were clearly masters at their craft, reading one another's movements, planning their own correspondingly many steps ahead, and

yet at the same time improvising on the fly.

Interestingly, there were no special techniques or ki attacks: Goku seemed to intuit that All Might had no such abilities, and restricted himself so that they were fighting on even terms. He didn't transform either, which Kazuma found slightly disappointing, but even he had to admit that as strong as All Might was, going Super Saiyan was probably complete overkill.

After watching for what felt like a few minutes, it soon became clear to even Kazuma that Goku had the upper hand. He was taking hits, true, and All Might was clearly skilled, strong, and fast, it was just that Goku was so much more. To All Might, this was a duty, a job, something he did so that he could protect others and be a hero. But to Goku? This was life itself. The thrill of conflict, the rush of battle, to push himself even further beyond, that was what Goku lived for.

And so, All Might backed off, taking a knee. "I yield. You are clearly the victor. I might be able to defeat you, if it were not so obvious you were holding a great deal of your strength back. Perhaps back when I was in my prime I could have bested you, but that time is passed."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, you fought well! That was fun, good match," Goku said, extending his hand to All Might. Grasping Goku's arm, All Might went to his feet, and the two titans of battle shared a firm handshake, smiling at one another.

"Well, I must say, for someone who just died, I feel rather alive!" All Might laughed. "Thank you, Son Goku. Your world must be well in hand, to have a protector such as you."

"Eh, I guess. Like I said, I'm just in it for the fights!" Goku laughed. "But I suppose your world must have some strong villains too. Hey, King Kai, think I could go to his world and help fight those villains I've heard about? You know, that Al guy you talk about."

"To send you against Alucard's pawns would be an escalation of the conflict that would allow Alucard to send his own strongest champions. There are worse things in the universe than Ainz," King Kai said grimly.

Just then, Kazuma felt a familiar tug. "Ah man, looks like I gotta go. You feel that, All Might?"

"Yes, Aqua contacted me a while ago, I merely paused time to let the match finish. You two return to life. Remember: enemy agents are already in your world. Be cautious, and ready for anything. Even I can't see the outcome of what will happen. Good luck."

"Well, at least I've always been lucky," Kazuma sighed, and returned back to life, leaving King Kai and Goku alone.

Once they were gone, King Kai turned to Goku. "Get Vegeta. I'm sending you two on a tour. If this doesn't work, we're going to need all our heavies on this one."

Goku's eyes widened. "That bad?"

"Yes. Haruhi had no idea what she was doing when she agreed to a crossover with Alucard's worlds. Tanya and Ainz are brutal, and effective. The My Hero Academia world has a chance, but if they fall, Alucard can then invade any of my worlds, and he will. And not just Ainz. This is a dangerous game I'm playing, but it's the only way to save Comedy."

"So, I take it I'll need Luffy and Naruto at least? Anyone else?" Goku asked.

"I'm going to introduce you to Saitama. He stayed here instead of going with Haruhi, that was a mistake. We'll also need the Joestar family and Gintoki for starters. This could turn out to be an all out war between the gods. I'm going to speak to Vash in Seinen and Usagi from Shojo. Maybe even CC in Mecha. Alucard has gone too far this time. If it comes to the End of All Things and the War in Heaven, he won't find Shonen sleeping."

Goku nodded slowly. "What about Berus?"

"Believe it or not, he's on our side," King Kai sighed. "I hope. Come on. If we're lucky, Kazuma and Midoriya will succeed."

"And if we're not?" Goku asked as he put his hand on King Kai's shoulder to teleport them.

"Then it's the end of the age of gods."