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
Kazuma opens his eyes only to find himself before Eris and Thanatos. Both deities sat across from him with a concerned expression.
"Kazuma." A voice called out to him.
As the mortal turned his face to the left, he found Aqua sitting on a chair.
"... Did I die? Wait, Aqua can't die. What happened?" Kazuma asks the deities sitting before them.
"Aqua broke the taboo… sort of," Eris says.
"Oh…. please don't punish her. Aqua did it for my sake." Kazuma pleads as he fears the punishment his partner could face.
Thanatos raises his skeletal hand to stop him. "... I don't think you fully understand the severity of the situation. Divine beings such as us aren't meant to use our powers freely within the worlds under our jurisdiction without the proper procedure. We risk mortals' lives by doing things like this."
"I understand your concern, but Aqua did it for my sake. If someone must face the consequences, it should be me." Kazuma says as he gets on his knees.
"Kazuma, don't-" Aqua is interrupted.
"Silence, Aqua," Thanatos says. "Kazuma, it doesn't matter why she did it. She went against the rules."
"And I'm the reason why, so I'm as guilty as her. Please, all of this happened because we were working to become stronger and finally start hunting down the demon lords. We didn't mean to break the rules." Kazuma lowers his head as a sign of apology.
"Kazuma…. Thanatos-sama. Please, be lenient. The circumstances we're facing required some leniency." Eris turns to face her superior.
"I know….." The god becomes silent momentarily. "Kazuma, lift your head,"
Kazuma does as told.
"... I'll admit that Aqua didn't truly break the taboo. By offering you just a tiny percentage of her full power to defeat that enemy, Aqua didn't put the world at risk, but she can't do these kinds of things whenever she pleases. I'm telling you this just once: do not use that strategy again unless it is completely necessary. I'm vouching for this mission, and if Aqua were to break the taboo randomly, we'd all be in trouble. Do you understand my concern?" Thanatos asks the trio.
Everybody nods.
"Very well. Don't abuse this leniency, or I'll take matters into my own hands. I gave you the tools to succeed, so don't abuse my goodwill. Eris, I expect you to be more attentive to what these two are doing. You're the one that needs to keep them on track. Do whatever is necessary to complete the mission while not breaking the rules." Thanatos says.
Eris lowers her head. "I understand, sir. I promise to be more careful."
"Alright. You're dismissed." Thanatos says.
Everything goes dark as Aqua and Kazuma are sent back to their vessels.
Black Daggers Camp.
Kazuma awoke inside a large tent alongside Aqua. Both notice equipment for military operations.
Maps, mysterious items, armor pieces, and even weapons were stashed in an organized fashion while the two lay on top of field beds.
"Aqua," Kazuma called to his partner.
"Yes?" Aqua replied as she tried to hide her emotions.
"Thank you. I only survive that fight because of you. It was a massive risk, and yet you did it for my sake. I… don't know how to make it up to you." Kazuma admits.
The goddess shakes her head. "You're doing a lot already. It has been a mere few weeks, and you have pushed yourself so far to achieve this mission. I doubt I could ever find someone like yourself if I kept looking through the many souls I have brought into this world. Just keep pushing on, and that would be enough for me. Now, where is that scepter? I know that your body is not fully healed."
Kazuma seemed covered in many bandages, but the goddess knew that her treatment was far more effective than anything else in this world. Aqua got up and started looking for her weapon until she finally found it alongside his scythe with the rest of the weapons.
"Finally." Aqua summons the torso, which wastes no time in assessing the damage of Kazuma. "I'm still amazed at how you didn't scream while that dragon was crushing you. I know you were hurting, yet you didn't even plead for mercy."
Kauzma shakes his head. "That hologram wanted to see me suffer, and I wasn't going to give it to him. As long as I can feel my heart beating, I will push on as long as I need to."
Aqua sighs as she faces Kazuma. "That's the mentality of an insane person, but I guess it works for us. Just be mindful that I also face that same pain. I can still recall the cracking sounds of your bones shattering under such insane pressure. It was the thing of nightmares. I thought your eyes would pop out at any point."
Kazuma smiles softly. "But it didn't. This vessel, as you call it, is far more resistant than my old body. I can tell you that if it were my old body, I would have died in seconds."
"Thanatos did make it to give you the best chance at victory. Mine is more like a prison that restrains me to limited powers. I can easily change the weather to suit our needs if you need me, but what I did during that fight required extra steps. I basically removed my very essence from the vessel before attaching myself to you. For the duration of that fight, you and I became one, although my power output was extremely limited." Aqua explains.
"And I thank you for that….. We shouldn't use it again, even if we're facing the demon lords, unless they have an ability that prevents us from winning. I want to put my hopes on the allies we gather and the skills we gain. These vessels should be enough if what Thanatos said was right, and I don't want to put you at risk." The reaper says as he considers the future and the consequences of breaking the taboo.
Aqua looks at the scepter within her grasp. "Is it really enough for you if I don't break the taboo? You had a taste of what I could do if I used my powers. You could be the strongest on the battlefield with my aid."
Kazuma shakes his head as he stands up while the torso continues to heal him. He approaches Aqua before he kneels and grasps her hands. "I won't risk you if it's not necessary. You're my partner and friend. A bit foolish and childish on some occasions, like when you want me to buy alcohol for you, but not once have you run away while leaving me behind. What happened against that dragon was my decision to ensure the team's safety, yet you came back for me, and I won't forget that at any point. So continue to support me like always, Dark Priestess Aqua."
Aqua seemed moved by his words as her eyes began to tear up. "Foolish reaper of mine. How can you have such a way with words?"
"That might be a talent of his." A voice said.
The pair turned their faces towards the source of the voice only to find the missing members of their party.
"Good to see both of you awake after so many hours. You two have been out for about 5 hours since we finished the dungeon." Megumin says as she walks inside the tent alongside Yunyun and Darkness.
The fallen knight was missing her armor as she approached the reaper to examine his body. "I feared the worst after the fight with that horrendous dragon. It was a nightmare to witness it while being unable to stand by your side. I…. felt so useless."
Kazuma shakes his head as he places his right hand on her shoulder. "Ensuring the survival of the team was my job. Never forget that. You're our shield, but if the odds are against us, I will prioritize everyone's safety before mine."
"You heard our leader. He won't budge if we're in danger. We should grow stronger to prevent situations like that one from ever happening again. It is the only way that we have to prevent his suicidal behavior." Yunyun says.
Megumin nods along. "We know what to expect if we ever find ourselves in danger from now on. At least this experience allowed us to grow stronger and gain a few valuable items. I confirmed that this ring decreases the energy that my spells require while also boosting their power by a decent percentage."
"My boots give me the freedom to fly without rest while also offering a speed boost and an easier time carrying allies. I confirmed why it was easier for me to carry Darkness while she wore such heavy armor." Yunyun followed.
"My weapon has a weird name. Based on the blacksmith of the Black Daggers assessment skill, it's called Daemon's Bane Prototype Zero. She said that it was a relic weapon from an old civilization, which was likely behind the creation of the artificial dungeon. Depending on which form is used, its two forms offer the user a boost to defense and attack power. The blacksmith also added that I can't pass it on to another user as it has registered me as its owner, which means it has a mind of its own. I don't know about these weird relics. That civilization really had a knack for odd things." Darkness then pulls out the pendant that Kazuma gained in the dungeon. "She confirmed what we expected. The pendant boosts your attack power while also having a passive ability that increases the chances of attacks piercing and hitting targets while ignoring any defenses or repelling skills based on how many attacks you make."
Kazuma grabs the pendant. "It will be beneficial, although it would put me in harm's way on most occasions. I'll need to actively attack if I want to benefit from the pendant's ability. Boosting my defenses may be something I'll need to think about."
"Already thinking about the future." A new voice joins in as a figure enters the tent.
Kazuma turns to face the figure. "Chris…. Good to see you again."
The masked figure bows. "The pleasure is mine. I'm happy to see that you haven't wasted the opportunity to grow within that accursed dungeon. Did it cheat?"
Kazuma smirks. "More than you can imagine. I didn't expect a hologram to be so devious and malevolent. It seemed completely insane."
"It went mad with time. Its creators are no longer around to fix it, but our only grace is that its madness is contained within its walls. As long as nobody goes inside, there will be no more victims. Maybe one day someone will get to destroy it properly, but until then, feel proud of having bested the madness of the dungeon." Chris said with a proud tone.
"It said that it would await for our descendants to challenge it. There was a timer before the main entrance when we left." Darkness said.
"Descendants? I don't have any children." Kazuma says as he looks at the rest of the team.
The girls blush as they look away.
"It likely spoke about the future. Rust said that the timer accounts for at least 50 years. Lots of things could happen in 50 years. Don't count your chickens before they hatch, or that's what I heard from my fellow Black Daggers. Even my followers have time to make families while remaining active members within the organization. But we can talk about that later. We have other issues at hand." Chris takes a seat in the empty bed. "Talus's location is close to this camp, and my agents are preparing everything for the attack, but enemy reinforcements are on their way as we speak. We're going to have to move our plans ahead. I know it will be a lot, but I want you to rest for today and get ready to attack by tomorrow night. We can't let Talus get away now when we have it exactly where we want him. We even got extra forces by recruiting strong adventurers for the mission."
Kazuma looks at his teammates. "Can we do it? We barely finished a dungeon not long ago."
Megumin chuckles. "You think we can't turn away now? We're hunting a damn demon lord. Fear won't keep us from finishing one of those bastards. We waited years for such a chance, and there's no way that we're running away."
"We can be ready by tomorrow evening. We're not missing this opportunity." Yunyun adds.
Darkness faces him as she grasps his right hand. "I waited years for this moment. As long as we stand together, I know we can achieve victory."
Aqua stands up. "We trained for this. It is now or never. I doubt we'll get a second chance at taking Talus down. The demon army likely fears what could happen if Talus is taken down. They gained control because they had their massive cannon to take any forces down before they could act."
"And that's why our optional objective is to disassemble that weapon and take it for ourselves. I want to use it against a particular flying base and a den of demons to the east." Chris stands up and approaches one of the maps before she spreads it out on top of the bed. "If we take control of the cannon, we can bring down the Geldas's base and open a path to Romeo's factory of demons. If we take these two down, Fulcan is as good as dead. He took over the capital because he had the support of the other three."
"Sounds like a plan, but can you really take over that cannon?" Kazuma questions Chris.
The masked leader of the organization laughs. "I gather agents capable of the impossible. Talus took over that massive relic, but we can disassemble it with him gone. I only want the cannon and nothing else. Take care of Talus and leave his forces and the cannon to me. I know your team can achieve it."
Kazuma sighs. "Alright. I won't argue anymore. I'm following your plans, and I doubt you'll be careless about this. Is there anything else we need to know about Talus?"
"Where to start? Talus, the Machine Man, was an adventurer who became known for its curious ability. He would attach pieces of metal and any valuable relics to his body to strengthen his offensive and defensive skills. It was a one-man army, with the only issue being that there was a limit to how many items he could attach to his body and how long he could do it for. Any relics he used on himself would break after constant use. You can imagine why the influence of the other demons so easily corrupted him." Chris says.
"Power and ambition. He was likely offered all of it and felled for the temptation. People will turn on anyone when offered more benefits…. I had acquaintances who discarded me when offered higher positions and salaries. It doesn't surprise…. Can I expect similar circumstances with the other demon lords?" Kazuma asks.
"Likely. Each one of them betrayed this world as they joined the demon forces. Not a single one of them deserves mercy from you or your allies. Don't doubt Kazuma, and let your scythe pass judgment on each of them. None of the demon lords deserves your mercy. They had killed and corrupted thousands, if not millions, of innocents. You need to remain cold and blind to their pleas as you sent them back to where they belong." Chris's voice didn't hide her complete animosity against the traitors who turned their backs on this world.
"I won't. I know my mission." Kazuma looks at his hand. "I came to get their heads, and peace was never an option. I won't doubt as I swing my scythe. I promise to end each one of them."
The girls nod at his words. None of those present had any mercy left to offer to the beings that pushed this world into its current state.
This was a war for survival, and mercy was long abandoned as one side pushed the no-return button.
Later that night.
Kazuma observed their target in the distance with the aid of a pair of weird-looking binoculars.
"Can you see it?" Darkness asks the reaper.
"I can—a machine which combines flesh and metal. The first of the twelve….. Could I ask how your life was before that event, Lalatina?" Kazuma asks as he puts the binoculars away.
Darkness remains silent for a moment. They were all alone in this spot outside the camp, so the time to talk was now or never. "Lalatina Ford Dustiness was my name back then—the only heir to my family and single daughter to my parents. I was a noble back then, one who didn't care for the responsibility of the title. I was always looking to serve within the armed forces of our nation. I sought to become a proper knight and maybe even serve the royal family as one of its trusted generals. I was never a proper lady, and that saddened my father. He wanted me to be like my mother, who was remembered as a sweet lady with a strong attitude. I couldn't… the dresses, dances, and tea classes, none of which fit with me, and I told my father many times that my future lay elsewhere. Our last conversation was a sad one as he saw me leaving our home to join the academy….. I never got to see him again after that day, as Talus's attack eliminated any possibility of us ever talking about the future of our family."
"... Do you want to revive your noble house after all is said and done?"
Darkness shakes her head. "There are no more nobles or royals left in this continent. Someone can try to revive the kingdom, but its time has ended. I live for myself now, and that's alright with me. My ancestors might disapprove, but what can a single noble house do when the country is in shambles? There's no territory to go back to. There are no more riches to use in my favor. There's no more servants that would follow me. There is no king or queen to follow either. I'm only me now, a fallen knight who seeks to end this war and give a brighter tomorrow to the ones who remain and those yet to be born. Is it wrong for me to have discarded even my last name?"
Kazuma shakes his head. "A last name has meaning as long as you give it one. You said yourself you're not the heiress to a noble house anymore. You're the adventurer Darkness, and that is fine before my eyes. I like the present Lalatina, and I doubt I could connect so well with a heiress to a noble house."
Darkness blushes as she listens to his words. Her right hand slowly reaches out until she interlocks fingers with his hand. "... I also like the present Kazuma. The reaper who faces so many challenges while not turning back." She pulls him closer to her. "I don't know everything about you, but I can wait until you're ready. I want us to be closer. So don't push me away. Let me support you as much as you do for me."
Kazuma's heart increases its rate as the distance between them shortens. "Lalatina."
"Kazuma." The blonde calls out his name.
The pair approach each other as they let their growing feelings guide their actions, but a voice interrupts them before they can seal the deal.
"They are here!" Megumin shouts.
"Damn it!" Darkness throws daggers at Megumin as soon as their eyes meet.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want to play fair," Megumin smirks as she approaches the duo alongside Chris and the rest of the team.
"You two were doing perverted things again, weren't you?" Aqua asks the duo.
Darkness looks annoyed before she grabs hold of Kazuma's neck before she pulls him into a deep kiss.
All girls froze in place as Darkness releases the dizzy Kazuma with a winning expression.
"Happy now? We were having a moment. Couldn't you wait a few minutes to come to bother us?" Darkness questions the girls.
Yunyun blushed as the words couldn't escape her mouth.
"You're such a perverted lioness," Aqua said as she glared at Darkness.
"I… will get my chance. I promise I will take that step." Megumin said as she took Darkness's actions as a challenge to her own femininity.
Chris said nothing as she approached Kazuma before she patted his shoulder. "You're doing great. I promise to train those future kids as proper agents of the organization."
Kazuma looks at her with an undeniable blush. "Who said anything about having kids?"
Chris shrugs as she moves past and stands at the edge of the void that separates them from their target. "Enjoy these moments and what the world has to offer, Kazuma. Our path will take us to the doorstep of each of these demon lords. You'll have time to decide your future, but until then, don't discard all the possibilities. This world can still offer beauty to those who embrace it. Work with me to bring back that lost beauty, Reaper from the Beyond. This world doesn't need a hero in shining armor; it needs you and those willing to end this menace."
The team remains silent as they stand together as the sun goes down on the horizon. As darkness takes over, they prepare themselves for what is coming.
*Marilyn Manson- Warship My Wreck*
The time for the hunt was starting soon, and no matter how hard it was, Talus's head would be cut by the scythe of the reaper who descended upon this world.