I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Natsume Akatsuki*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
Konosuba (Not): Thanatos Blessing Upon This Broken World
By Try Another Time
*Auhtor's notes: Church21, sorry, I can't do it. This is a broken world, and it won't get any better. As a dark souls-inspired fic, we are going all the way in. More traumas and more edgy references with just the right amount of comedy and a sprinkle of romance.*
Deep down.
"Why can't you return to school and be normal?"
The regrets were still there.
"Such a disappointing child. All the effort invested into raising into a proper man."
Expectations bound to regret and disappointment.
"I… don't have two sons anymore. You're my biggest disappointment."
Kazuma awoke panicking, gasping for air. His hands trembled as he recalled his father's words. "It's just a memory—a really painful one. Keep it under control, Kazuma. You can't let her see you losing it. You're the leader of this mission…."
His eyes started to inspect his surroundings. His eyes then found Aqua resting at the side of his bed while grasping his right hand. "Oh, for how long I've been unconscious?"
His left hand grasped the edges of her lustrous hair before caressing her sleeping face. "I have to admit, you're indeed beautiful. Dumb, prideful, useless in certain ways, but still beautiful regardless of all that. Your luck may suck, but I do feel a bit lucky with you at my side."
"Kazuma?" Aqua began to wake up as she sensed his touch. Her body froze in place as he noticed where Kazuma was touching her. "... Pervert. The face of someone like me shouldn't be touched even by you."
"Sorry, I just had to test it out once." Kazuma joked as he pulled his hand away. "For how long I've been asleep?"
"Couple of hours. I'll say it is around 3 AM. Darkness helped me to carry you here. You had many broken bones after she hit your chest with that magic blast of hers. Seeing you get up in such a state and finish the fight with such a spectacle was rather surprising. I won't lie, but I think Darkness peed herself as she surrendered." Aqua said with a smirking expression as she patted Kazuma's back. "Your performance was fantastic, but let's get real. How much do you remember?"
"..." Kazuma went silent as he recalled the fight, only to find pieces that seemed too blurry to recall. "Your voice whispered in my ear to get up and finish the job at some point, but I can't remember much more after things got serious."
Aqua nods. "I see. It is likely Thanatos' blessing. I said before, but this vessel of yours is not standard; Thanatos gave you the tools necessary to achieve victory, and what happened during the fight has to be related to it. You need to grasp how it works and not let it control you. It would be troublesome if you went on a killing rampage if you were pushed to the limit."
"Do you see me as some kind of bloodthirsty beast?" Kasuma asks as he raises an eyebrow.
Aqua shakes her head before she climbs into the bed with Kazuma. "No, but who knows what can happen in the future. Now, make some space; your goddess wants to sleep. Our previous room wasn't available."
Kazuma looks at her with doubt. "Aqua, we rented that room. There was no way-"
Aqua stops him as she places a finger on top of his lips. "Silence, mortal. Let me sleep." She then settles down into his chest. Kazuma's heartbeat had an unknown allure that she couldn't describe. When she was able to hear it, her worries seemed to disappear.
And like magic, Aqua was already snoring once more.
"... This will have to stop once we have our base. I can't have her doing this. There's a limit for any man, and mine could reach its limit if I don't do something. Lord Thanatos, give me strength!" Kazuma pleaded for strength as Aqua continued to snore while using him as a pillow.
The next morning. Darkness POV.
Darkness waited for Kazuma and Aqua in the dining hall of the inn. Her mind was going through what she wanted to say to Kazuma after accepting that he was far more capable than she initially believed.
Maybe even stronger than her as she recalled how much he scared her as he placed his scythe edge right next to her neck. Her body trembled with newfound unknown feelings as she recalled his words and merciless face.
"Mr. Reaper….."
"Good morning, Darkness. Sorry to keep you waiting." Aqua waved her hand with a joyful expression on her face, while Kazuma followed after her with a tired expression.
"Mornin' Darkness-san." Kazuma's face looked like he was about to fall asleep at any point.
"Kazuma? What happened? Didn't you get to sleep?" Darkness asks.
"Aqua didn't let me sleep in peace. She just had to invade my personal space." Kazuma admits.
"Hey, don't make it sound like I'm a pervert." Aqua glares at Kazuma.
"Explain why you had to lie about the room and get in bed with me." Kazuma glares back.
Aqua crosses her arms. "I don't have to explain my actions to you."
Kazuma shakes his head. "Darkness, you're going to share a room with her for as long as you're with us. I want to rest, and she won't let me."
The bystanders hid their faces as they listened to the conversation. Each word they said increased the rumors about the duo.
Darkness remained silent as she took all of this in before talking. "So we're a team now?"
Kazuma nods as he takes a seat alongside Aqua. "We are until we decide whether you are trustful enough to walk this path alongside us. Until then, we'll divide our rewards equally. I manage the team's finances, but I prefer not to get into unnecessary discussions about money with you, so we'll keep our finances separate."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't mind entrusting the finances to you." Darkness declares. "You don't seem like the type that would waste our money with the Succubi at the Red District."
Kazuma nods. "You're right about that. I prefer saving our money instead of wasting it on pleasure. I have an agreement with the guild to secure a base, so saving our rewards will pay off when the base is ours. The only positive note for Aqua and me is that we don't require new weapons or armor. What we got is what we'll use."
"I see. Either way, I'll entrust the rewards to you. If I need money, I'll let you know. The only thing I might need at the moment might be some repairs for my armor and weapons." Darkness says as she points at the multiple cracks around her armor.
"Your armor has faced many quests from what I can see. Can I see your guild card?" Kazuma asks before he presents his own. "We should have an idea of what each of us possesses."
Aqua proudly presents her own card. "Be amazed by my skills and stats."
Darkness presents her card. "Sorry for not having the most diverse arsenal. I only learned skills that allowed me to protect my allies in the rear while buffing my defense and attacks to a certain level."
Kazuma shakes his head. "That sounds great. I'm an attacker, and defense is not my suit. I can draw the agro of my enemies, but in terms of tanking damage, I suffer. Aqua's class as a Dark Priestess focuses on support and long-range magic attacks. Her skills lack holy attributes like mine, but we can face any kind of enemy either way."
Darkness nods before she starts to read the information. "Reaper and Dark Priestess, such mysterious classes…. Well, I'm not better. My own is called Fallen Knight. My skills combine the Crusader Class, Monk, and General. Wait, Aqua has the skill Forbidden Resurrection? How is that different from normal Ressurection?"
Kazuma and Aqua started to examine Darkness card.
Name: Lalatina "Darkness"
Age: 25
Class: Fallen Knight
Level: 32
Strength: 320
Health: 850
Magic power: 89
Dexterity: 80
Agility: 123
Luck: 34
Skills: High Magic Resistance (Offers passive resistance to all elements), Status Effect Shield (High chance of denying status effects), Aggro Tank (Increases strength while drawing all aggro to self), Debuff Counter (Upon being targeted by a debuff spell it will redirect said spell to the spell caster), High Shield Parry (Can be used to created openings among enemies which attack the user), Restless Anchor (User forsakes movement in exchange for massive defense boost), Zen Mind (User will remain calm under pressure. Minor attack/defense boost.), Minor Regen (Minor self-healing), Defiant Effort (When the user is at death's door, attack power receives a massive boost), Giant's Cleaver (Lethal Ax attack).
"Oh, she seems perfect for us, Kazuma. You can focus on attacking with her around." Aqua says as she sees the skills.
Kazuma remains silent until his eyes meet those of Darkness. "Any issues?"
Darkness shakes her head. "All of us seemed to possess our own uniqueness. Kazuma, your skills focused mainly on attacks such as Lethal Judgement (Scythe attack that can eliminate an enemy with a single hit regardless of passive skills) and Oblivion Edge (User delivers massive attack in exchange for all energy). Rather unique names, but their descriptions are clear. Your unique skills require large energy reserves, so having Drain Touch (absorbs energy from a target) seems perfect for you. But you also have One Mind (Can't be affected by certain status effects. Shared with Dark Priestess), Feather Steps (It allows swift movement and decreases the sound of steps), Minor Darkness (User can use dark projectiles), Steal, Minor Guarding Magic (Creates barriers for camps), Lockpick, and Presence Phantom (Eliminates user presence. Can't be shared). Did someone teach you some of these?"
Kazuma nods. "Chris taught what she deemed as necessary for our survival. She said I could likely learn other necessary skills as I gain more experience."
"Without a master?" Darkness continues.
Kazuma nods. "It sounds weird, but my class is already abnormal."
"At least you admit it." Darkness then turns to Aqua. "Yours aren't better. Forbidden Ressurection might be the one that concerns me the most. I already experienced your healing spell, which is a nightmare by itself, but Forbidden Resurrection seems creepy. Have you used it before?"
Aqua shakes her head. "Not yet, but if Kazuma were to die, I know the spell will bring him back every time. It is a perfect supportive spell for someone so mysterious and edgy like him."
"I had no say in my class or the skills it came with," Kazuma claims as he crosses his arms.
"I know. I think that my class is likely this way because Kazuma's class is devoid of the light element. He might be weaker to holy attacks, although we have yet to test it. Do you know where we can learn elemental infusion spells?" Aqua asks.
"Like Flame on Blade and Icy Blessing?" Darkness counters.
Aqua nods. "Kazuma said we might need such spells since he lacks elements besides darkness. I have a few minor fire spells; later on, I could learn more elements, but Kazuma said we need all the help we can get."
Kazuma pats the head of Aqua. "Good job on remembering my suggestion. We need to be ready for anything."
"I'm not an idiot. I do pay attention." Aqua says.
Darkness remains silent as she thinks about it. "Those spells are relatively high level, and I only know someone who could teach them to you, but I don't know where she's at right now. Elemental Lord Yunyun is a B-rank adventurer who travels alongside Crimson Sage Megumin, an A-rank adventurer. Both are almost always on the move and don't join other parties unless a quest attracts their attention. We can ask Yunyun to teach Aqua if we find them, but I don't expect good results. Megumin is known for being somewhat difficult to approach; she considers almost anyone an enemy besides Yunyun."
Kazuma notes the two names for later. "We should keep it in mind for later. Until then, let's consider the future. If we make you a permanent member, we might need to gain skills to repair your armor and weapons. I have some skill points that I could use."
Aqua raises a hand. "Get a cooking skill. We need food that can support us in long dungeons."
Darkness nods along. "Long dungeons can take days to conquer, and cooking monster parts can be nasty if we lack such spells."
"We know." The duo says in unison.
Kazuma then smiles as he sees a clear team before him. "Darkness will be our vanguard; I'll be the main attacker, and Aqua will be our support. I can see a path forward with this composition. We might be almost unbeatable if we get a mage and another physical attacker to follow my attacks."
"If luck is on our side, another vanguard won't be a bad addiction either. Having two party members who can fulfill the same role can be seen as too much, but enemies are restless these days. Two mages can match their timing to continuously release spells while the dual vanguard covers the back completely. A supporter that focuses on healing and surveillance while the other focuses on boosting the party is a great combination that aids two attackers. A balanced party of 8 is a goal many hope to achieve, but the issue lies in the goals of each party member. Most large parties don't last so long because of diverging goals and, in many cases, money issues." Darkness explains.
"Like you and your previous parties?" Kazuma asks.
Darkness scratches the side of her head with a guilty smile. "I mean, they wanted money, and I have been looking for a party that's willing to go after that Spider."
"Talus... can you tell us why you have it out for that one of the four demon lords closest to us?" Aqua asks as she sees the need to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
"You likely asked Luna about me. Do you want the same tale again?" Darkness asks back.
Kazuma shakes his head. "We want to know the truth. Talus is one of multiple targets, and unless you're ready to go for the other eleven, you can't follow us."
"Is personal." Darkness replies.
"Is personal for me as well. I want all of them dead." Aqua argues with an emotionless expression.
"... Can I really trust you two?" Darkness asks the duo.
The pair look at each other. "Only if you're ready."
"... Give me time." Darkness replies. "We'll see if we can truly be a team."
Kazuma nods. "Alright. Let's eat something. We should try to get your equipment fixed today before we take another quest on."
"Yeah." The girls shout.
Meanwhile, West Region.
A titanic structure moved across the land, terrorizing anything that crossed its path. Its structure combined flesh and metal. Its shape resembled a spider, but its scariest part was the weapon that sat on top of its body.
The Titanic Spider stopped its movement before several anchors were released to lock its position. The area went silent for a few seconds before the beast released steam as the giant cannon in its back came to life.
"Lord Talus. Lord Talus. Lord Talus." A massive army following the spider started to chant as the Spider took aim with its enormous weapon.
Several magical circles appeared as the weapon began to charge its attack.
The ground started to tremble as the power of the Spider was compressed into a single destructive projectile.
But then, a different magic circle appeared right on top of the spider.
"Trembled before us. Pray for thy sins accursed enemy of us. Remember this crest as our crimson rage consumes you. Explosive Crimson Cannon."
A devastating magical attack descends upon the spider's location before incinerating everything in its wake.
The attack barely lasts 10 seconds, but its power is enough to erase any rock formations within the area of the impact.
No demons are left alive as one observes the area, but something arises from the charred wasteland.
The Spider Aberration cries in anger as it stands up with visible damage. The monstrous creation charges its gun before it starts to fire at random.
Everything found within a 10-mile radius is erased as Talus fires for at least 30 minutes until it goes silent. Several demons begin to exit the structure before they start to repair any damage received.
Chris POV.
"Confirmation. Talus remains, but he has been weakened. Its range has decreased to barely 10 miles. We can see this as a victory for us. Prepared for the next phase. We shall observe from afar and look for any openings in its body. We need to go inside to finish the job." Chris orders as she puts her binoculars away.
"Yes, Madam." Several agents disperse as they move on to achieve their orders.
Chris then turns to the remaining people—two spellcasters covered with red robes. "Good job, Megumin, Yunyun."
Megumin, a girl in her early 20s, looks angry as she uses her magic staff to stand up. "We failed to kill it." Long strands of red and black hair reach out to her lower back. She wears an eyepatch tightly secured to the left side of her face. A tight black witch dress covers her figure with matching boots and a tiny top hat with horns.
"Megumin, we knew about its tough exterior. There's nothing we can do about it." Yunyun says as she tries to get up, but her exhaustion prevents her movements. Yunyun has black hair with a few strands of white. Although she's the same age as Megumin, one can see where most nutrients are regarding growth. Her attire is opposite her partner's; a white skirt with red cat patterns covers her lower body, and a matching blouse and jacket cover her upper body and breasts—a small beret sits on top of her hair.
"Yun, you know what it meant to us. If we take one down, then…. We…. can avenge them." Megumin expression breaks down as the memories of the past return. "Our people…. They didn't deserve that."
Yunyun held in her pain as she tried to calm her partner down. "Megumin… we can still try again."
"Oh, don't worry. You'll get your chance. I want you two on the team that will hunt the demon lords, but you need to take a break for now. Go back to Axel and look for a certain adventurer who goes by the name Kazuma. He's preparing the team as we speak." Chris says as she faces the pair.
"Kazuma? Who are you talking about?" Megumin asks.
"Go to Axel. I promise you won't regret it. The Wyvern is ready, and it should take you 3 days at most to reach the town of Axel. Tell this to Kazuma: One month, he has just one to get his team ready for the first hunt. By then, we should be prepared to infiltrate the spider's inside." Chris says.
"... I'm not going to believe in your words until I see it with my very eyes. I'm an A-ranked adventurer; if I can't achieve it, I doubt this Kazuma of yours has what it takes." Megumin approaches Yunyun before she helps her to stand up. "We'll see about this famous Kazuma."
"Take care, you two. Enjoy the flight." Chris waves her hand as the duo departs. "I told you, I'm ready to help you, Kazuma. Let's start moving our best agents for the sake of the future. The hunt is about to begin."
The time to push the demon hordes was coming soon.