Chapter 26. The Chariot's aid

A battlefield lined with craters made up the room. There was not an inch of it unscarred by our clash. The time dilation I had put into place earlier allowed for an entire day's worth of battle stretched into three grueling weeks for our training. Well, more my training but Bahamut seemed to be getting a workout as well. Which is a bit insulting as I pulled myself together for the hundredth time.

"Are you getting levels from this?" Bahamut asked me, I didn't even need to check to answer that.

"No. This is just to experience pure combat, I'm no sword master, but Oryx is. I'm hoping to close that gap with a little more practical experience." I say, though the distance is still too massive to overcome that way. Oryx has eons of experience raising entire worlds, and leading his people to intergalactic genocide on every crusade.

"Well, are your friends getting any experience?" Bahamut asked me, as we were both exiting his room. It was only then I had left my summons in charge of them, for over three weeks since I had applied the dilation effect over the entire castle.

"Um...You know maybe I should check they're still alive." I told my partner. He rolled his eyes as I quickly made my way down the hall. Throwing open the door I walked on through, thankfully everyone was alive. Though they were in an exhausted heap right on top of eachother.

"Thank you for your restraint everyone. I appreciate it." I tell my summons, who made no effort to continue the training. I raised an eyebrow when Deathgun gestured for me to follow. Once we were out of earshot he released a bit of steam as he sighed.

"They aren't getting stronger anymore. They stopped at level 230." He bluntly told me. Of course I was a bit shocked, but there was a bit more than that.

"When did you figure that out?" I asked him, he looked to the side.

"After the first day." He admitted. I deadpan at Death Gun, which only grew stronger the more he avoided my gaze. He didn't even bother trying to come up with an excuse.

"Nokris's idea?" I asked, utterly deadpanned. Death gun nodded, and I sighed. Of course the hive prince would want to continue the hellish training even if there was no benefit. He may have abandoned the sword logic, but hive are still hive. Pinching the bridge of my nose I glance back at the sorted piles of tired devils.

"Just bring them back, and apologize for the excessive messed up shit. That goes for the rest of you idiots!" I drag those who tried leaving by their shadows. Norkis was less than pleased, Wraith however looked a bit too hungry to be trusted with this.

"Except you, go eat something." I tell wraith, unlike the rest of my summons. He needs constant food, otherwise he goes on a rampage. Those poor cows. With some grumblings my summons carry out my will. Once they had scrapped everyone off the floor and out the portal, I visited the hangar of AC. Thankfully it is nice and clean, unlike last time, my chariot is still being repaired though.

"You seriously wrecked this thing." A familiar female voice pipped up.

"In my defense, I didn't expect to be pulled into tight quarters against a god." I explain easily.

"And how's my future body coming along?" She asked me, I could tell she was floating by my shoulder..in my shoulder..mana beings are weird.

"Well enough, I'm only missing a few components. That and I've yet to ask you what type of body you actually want." I told her, the cloning facility was a relatively cheap add on. Though it doesn't have much use for me, since any clones I make of me end up rather mad and kill themselves, I'd rather not ponder what that says about me or my mental state.

"As long as it's female, and mostly human, I don't care. It's been too long since I had legs and other...items that I need." I raise an eyebrow at that murmured last bit, but I shrug it off. I glance at my wounded mech.

"He needs to be upgraded, regardless of cost." I murmur, sadly. Even with all my riches, I don't yet have access to the materials I would like. Though, I may have an idea on how to get those materials.

"You're grinning evilly again." She deadpanned. Well that brought me out of my idea.

"Hmm, you're quite the buzzkill ain't you Rosary?" I ask, I can feel her deadpan even as she doesn't have eyes.

"It's called being fairly normal. Anyway, it won't be fixed by your big fight with the king." She gave me the rub, I sigh but I figured as such. The guts inside my armored core were very screwed up.

"Just continue doing what you're good at, the body should be ready by the end of the day. Might even help your work, would certainly help me comfortably talk to ya." I say, she just giggles. I roll my eyes and give the lurking npcs a wave goodbye.

While that was my only chore, I walked towards the cloning lab. I think I got it during the short lived high of defeating Crota and getting all my stuff back. It's logo was a tube with a skull floating in it, rather morbid but it works. I headed inside, no one came with the room. Only equipment and the manual for all the shiny red and blue buttons. I walk up to one of three empty pods, I pull open a small hatch and throw in some fallen angel feathers. I have an extreme surplus from the fight with Kokabiel and his armies, so I may as well use them. I pop the hatch close and hop into the chair by the terminal.

I turn it on and work through the procedures. It asked if I wanted to instill a mind into the body, I say no. The last few attempts, based on my clones, have not been successful, and I'd rather not see what type of personality could be created from a dozen different feathers. I set it up to create a female body, it asked if I wanted to be specific on how I wish the body to turn out. I leave that up to fate and set it to a randomized generation. I only like playing god so much in a day, and this is one of those lines I don't like to get up to. Once I made sure all the items were green and ready to go, I set it up and walked out. Only to get yanked off to the side into a new portal. Scrambling I try kicking whoever grabbed my arm, only to hear a familiar laughter.

"Ragnorak you ass!" I yelled, seeing it was in fact my gm. It's been a while since we last spoke, but that bastard still looks the exact same.

"Now, now. Is that anyway to treat your magnanimous GM?" He asked, giving an exaggerated bow as the portal spits us right outside my home. My hands shake as I resist the urge to strangle him.

"Alright, since you're here I can ask. Why the hell have they stopped leveling?" I ask the idiotic chaos god. He takes a random brick and creates a lavish chair, which he sits upon. Rolling my eyes, I entertain him and sit down in my own makeshift shadow throne. Creating a small illusion around us so neither of us could be see or heard.

"Balance reasons of course, you can't just expect I'd let you brute force them into being beyond ultimate level." Ragnorak explained, though the tone he used was much too light hearted given the situation.

"Since when have you cared for balance?" I deadpanned, he certainly didn't care when I stomped Riser into the ground, or when I brute forced myself to be stronger than the ultimate devils within the first few weeks of being here.

"Since I learned it's a lot more entertaining to watch struggles and hardships, it's rather boring if I allow you to amass a force that is powerful through little effort." He said. 'so this continues to just be about his entertainment. I'm not surprised.' I sigh mentally, leaning back into the fake throne.

"Don't worry, I won't mess with your growth, or of those tied directly to you. However, those of the canon cast who aren't in your system, those I will always keep a stop gap on." He continued, a smirk now present upon his lips. I really want to wipe that off, however I can't do that right now.

"Alright, that's understandable I guess. There's one last thing we need to talk about, how did Oryx cross over?" I ask, while he was very powerful in the game. Ripping reality asunder to cross from one fictional world to another is just absurd. To that, Ragnorak smiled.

"You left the door open, when you killed Crota." The chaos god's smile grew as he said that. He gets up from his throne and places a hand on my stunned shoulder.

"Opening the door to a different reality leaves a trail. It was how Crota's brood, and himself, found you. Ambushing you in between realities was the only way they could touch, they lacked paracausal might. Oryx, and his court however, didn't. Especially upon the discovery of one such as yourself. The discovery of the gamer system fed his worm far greater than either of us could've predicted." He whispered into my ears, of course the last part I knew was a lie. He can see any future, no matter how ridiculous the chances, I know that better than anyone.

"I can't wait to see how you fight this self made hurdle. As for what your friend's will say to their limited growth, well, you're smart. You'll figure it out, o gamer mine." He laughed as he said that, disappearing in a cloud of chaotic energies. I dismiss the lingering illusions and sigh into my hand. 'Well, if it isn't the consequences of my actions.'

"What time is it even?" I murmur, being in space for this long has really screwed up my sense of time. Thank god for Murayama for keeping an eye on Lily, only around 8 days left. 'Ugh, a fantastic use of my time truly.' I rolled my eyes at that. I walk through after a few minutes. Thankfully, the summons weren't utterly lazy and had at least separated the devils from their mounds.

"Your summons are sadistic." Rias surprised me with that. I had assumed she would still be out, but instead she's trying to stand.

"Now this sounds hypocritical coming from me, but try resting for once." I tell the scarlet haired girl. She responded by managing to walk past me.

"We don't have time, there's only two days left-"

"It's only been a day in real time." I deadpan. It takes a few seconds before she turns around.

"Huh?" of course she was surprised, not like I didn't expect that. I chuckle at the reaction regardless. The look on her face is priceless.

"Yeah, time manipulation magic is fun. What was a week for you, is only a day in reality. It's a little weird but you get used to it. Some reapers spend entire decades with only about a few weeks passing in real time." I tell her. She stares owlishly, jaw agape.

"How does anyone remain sane after that?" Rias asked me. I shrug.

"I didn't say they were sane. Though, there is something important regarding the training I promised you. How are you feeling anyway?" I decided to start with that. She, thankfully, decided to sit down and channeled a bit of her powers of destruction. It appeared to be more controlled, though I can feel it wanting to lash out of her careful control of it.

"Stronger, a lot stronger. It's a bit harder to control though, it's never lashed out like this." She said, I could tell that with a glance, but it's just mere growing pains, which will not grow anymore with what I know.

"Try throwing it at me." I chuckled, sadly, she must have been feeling petty after the training from hell and actually threw it at my head. Catching it like a soft ball, the power managed to corrode through my gauntlets and was eating at the skin. I split it apart before it could reach bone.

"Indeed, it is stronger, I thank you for holding back." I managed to crack a joke. Rias, who is used to my bullshit, leaned back into the chair.

"What was important about training you wanted to tell me?" She asked me. I quickly realize, oh shit I just can't tell them they can't grow stronger at the moment. That would not bode well.

"You, and everyone else needs a break. If I keep training you guys to the bone then you'll be too tired to even move. Hell you guys are at this point now." I gestured to the unconscious devils around us. Though some were starting to stir due to our conversation.

"We can't stop training, not now of all times. Weren't you the one who said we should be training until the last day?" She demanded of me. To that I shrug.

"I'm also the idiot that lost your older brother, so something even I agree is stupid is very stupid in comparsion." I explain lazily, trying very hard to not to tell her the real reason. I gotta think of something fast.

"Look, the real reason is that; you weren't supposed to have been training for a week straight under them. It was supposed to be segmented over the days to gradually increase power." I manage to sound convincing. Thankfully, I'm pulling from memories of reaper society for this so I do have some basis.

"What was wrong with the way they did it?" Asia asked, probably the least sore of the bunch given she was already standing normally.

"Well, it's quite simple. Drastically raising the power of something, while good in theory, is an extremely dangerous cause that makes the new power all the much harder to control, and taxes the body needlessly." I said. Pulling out a cup and a large jug of water from my shadow inventory, to further compound the point.

"By doing it gradually, the body has a chance to adapt and grow alongside it. Further refining control which in turn allows for greater amounts of power to be used at once." As I say this, I morph the slowly filling cup to become larger and the water flows to fill the ever expanding cup. They all seem to understand. I pour the water back into the jug.

"Now, this is what they were doing by not following the segmented rules." I say, and I just tilt the jug completely over and the water flows with the force of gravity right into the cup. Water splashes everywhere and the cup starts to crack from the force of it.

"It does provide power more quickly than the gradual method which is good in the short term, but. The longer this goes on, the more power is wasted by the body's inability to compensate with the ever expanding well of their own power. Wasting power to try and control the never ending flood, further straining the body until the power leaks out of it." The cracks in the cup start leaking water as I finish this, ever growing around the cup.

"Until eventually, the body can't take its own power anymore." The cup explodes in shards of glass. The devils cover their eyes as glass streaks by, I increased the pressure of the water to cause such an effect but the point was made.

"You in particular are very susceptible to this, given your powers of destruction. Weren't you saying, you were already having trouble controlling it?" That simple bluff inflicted the fear of god within the peerages, Rias was especially pale from that. It was a bit malicious to lie like that, but it was my only choice, other than telling them the truth. Though unlike other Gamers, I don't have the option to bring them into the fold.

"So, what's the plan now?" Rias managed to ask. To that I sigh, I haven't come up with anything clever.

"I suggest two things. Try to further develop control of your powers. I mean doing this gradually, remember the example." This was not directed at Rias, but everyone in the room.

"The second is to try and relax. Which sounds impossible given the circumstances. However, and trust me on this one, letting the new power gather while you do what you normally would. Is the quickest way to mentally prepare yourself for war. It's also a fabulous way to catch up on stories." The joke landed as well as I thought it would. The devils go back to their blankets, except the kings and queens. I leave them to their private talks. I decided to follow my own advice for a bit and go up the stairs. I expected to be greeted by some soft snoring, but instead only one of them is asleep. Murayama is pacing violently, her fingers bloody from the amount of times she seemingly has tried to call people.

"Service down?" I ask her, she turns around so fast I expected her spine to snap from the force. She grabs my arm and pulls me to inspect her phone.

"Something's wrong. I haven't been able to contact Katase or the others; I was able to this morning but, but now it's just static. Not even 119 is answering. The city looks like it's on fire, and I-" She's hyperventilating at this point, and I place a calming hand on her head and that manages to quiet her down.

"Alright, the cell towers are more than likely down as officials are sending as much power as possible to warm up shelters and the still standing houses. Which is probably why you can't get in touch with anyone. Everyone is probably fine, scared out of their minds, but fine." With a calming voice, and even calmer presence, I seem to be able to guide her out of a panic attack. She slides to the floor, bringing me with, still holding my arm like her life depended on it. The moment she manages to relax, she passes out. Leaning against my shoulder for support. The moment she does I dispatch a courier of sorts, I garb the skeleton in my cloak and armor, glad I always wear casual clothes under the armor. Wordlessly it acknowledges my wishes and leaves out the window. I'd rather not have what I told her end up as a lie.

The sun eventually peeked over the horizon, a full day of training ended. Now, how to grow from this point. 'I suppose social links will be the quickest route, save diving into new dungeons.' I considered the idea. However, I should save the dungeons for now. I can always knock them out in quick succession. With a sigh, I picked up Murayama and tuck her into bed. I was waiting for when she would stop holding me in a vice to do so, which still hasn't happened. With a quick bit of separation, I slip a pillow where my arm is and add a small warming seal to the back of the pillow to simulate body heat. It works and I am free to leave.

"Big bro!" Only to feel my leg tackled by a small inbound missile. I pat the child's head and make my way downstairs.

"Did you have fun with Murayama?" I asked her as we went down. She looks up and nods.

"Where did you disappear to?" She asked me, I chuckled. Picking her up as we cleared the final step.

"Saving the world, what about you?" I ask, tickling. She giggles and leans into the tickling.

"We watched movies, and when the site didn't work anymore we played board games!" She said excitedly, I chuckle nodding along. So the internet's down as well. Note to self, once this shit's over. Buy Murayama something nice to thank her. As we went down, I noticed Rias waiting by the door, which of course peeked my curiosity.

"Say, wanna hang out with my friends for a bit?" I ask the child. She hums in thought and nods excitedly.

"Alright, but only if you promise we can play later." She said, sounding quite adamant. I nodded and put her down, patting the child before she ran off. Koneko glared at me as she was tackled by the child in a hug, I gave a cheeky grin before turning about to talk to Rias. She did a double take when she saw me.

"What, something on my face?" I ask, she shakes her head giggling.

"No, quite the opposite in fact. I don't think I've ever seen you wear casual clothes." She said, I give her a deadpan look.

"So why are you waiting in the corner of the door? Did Sona put you in time out." My tone was dry, and the zap of destruction was easily dodged.

"No! Just, mm. Akeno took Issie out before I could. I want to surprise him when he gets back." I look at the door, then I look back at the devil. I repeat this process twice just so I completely understand what is going on.

"...you're the type of person that thinks hand holding is lewd aren't you?" I say with the utmost deadpan. To that she lights up like a christmas tree, and starts sputtering. My eyebrows only rise higher as she tries to explain herself.

"Don't you, on the regular, sleep next to him naked? Yet this is how you want to surprise him?" I continue to deadpan at the flustered princess.

"Well, what do you suggest. Mister never dated before." She murmured; that hit closer to home than I wanted. I could Bahamut laughing at me to which I tuned him out, only to see Rias giggling now.

"I can see why you wear that mask, your face is pretty emotive." She giggles, I roll my eyes as I open the door and drag her out.

"What! Where are you taking me?" She squawked, utterly surprised. I shrug, still pulling her along.

"You obviously need help when it comes to romance, as a friend it's my job to help." I tell her, she hasn't pulled away and glancing back she actually seems to be laughing. I noticed her arcana reached 7.

"So, where should we go?" Rias asked me, truth be told I was winging it at this point. However, I had a few ideas.

"Why the perfect place to discuss dates and getting boys, the mall!" I proclaim, five minutes later we were eating salted pretzels in a food court.

"So, what's your best idea. I've already seen your worst." I say after drinking some lemonade. She takes a moment to think, she pulls up her phone and shows me a rather familiar scantily clad devil outfit.

"Okay, so once he's back I float down the stairs wearing this to try and seduce him." She said so self assured, I pressed my hands together and sigh loudly.

"Better than the door, but don't you think that's a bit of a jump from not dating to trying to seduce him, and even if he agreed what happens next?" I ask her, she blushes and looks away. I facepalm once it hits me.

"Oh wow you really have it bad." I sigh, it wasn't unexpected but I did not guess it would be at this level. She blushes harder.

"My. My mother suggested that I try doing that." I spat out my drink, coughing after I heard that.

"And you would've listened to her? If Issie wasn't such a hot blooded pervert, that would scare him off." I tell her, she squirms in her seat.

"Well, what would you do if you wanted to get someone's attention?" She asked me, I take a moment to ponder the thought.

"Well I'd start by asking if they wanna go somewhere, movies, dinner, coffee, or out to a festival if one is around." I say, she nods. Writing notes, I was going to say something but I kept my mouth shut.

"And after that? Do you seduce them?" She asked, now it was my time to blush, I cough into my fist and shake my head no.

"Definitely not after the first date. For me personally it'll take some time before I'd try anything like that." I try to change the subject, but Rias wants me to continue.

"Then when, after you got married?" She asked teasingly, now it's my turn to cover my face. Really missing my mask about now, I can hear her giggling even over my embarrassment.

"Oh my, your so innocent. It's adorable." She laughed, I sigh and just go with it.

"I prefer the term cautious myself, miss gremory." I say in a teasing tone. It earned me a poke to a nose as she leaned over the table.

"It's Rias, not miss gremory, and it's not princess either." She said, pouting. To that I lean back in my chair and chuckle.

"You sure don't like it when I call you your title or last name." I muse, she sits back in her chair and crosses her arms.

"It's less personal that way, I hate that." She murmured that last part. Shrugging I stand up and pull her up. She gives me a questioning look.

"Cmon, I have an idea. How about we shop around for an outfit that is approachable and can seduce that idiot you're infatuated with." She becomes redder than her hair, but manages a smile and leads the way. When I was human and young, the prospect of spending hours shopping for womens clothing drove me mad. I always saw it as a waste of time that can be spent progressing storylines in games, and catching up on the latest episode of spongebob. Yet now, with a friend who is having trouble choosing between a white and red dress for a hypothetical date; as the world collapses around us. I can't help but want these moments of peace to last eternal.

"No the reaper hierarchy is not like the soul society, though he does act like Death from Soul Eater some days." I tell Rias as we walk around the mall.

"Damn, does that make you like Kid then?" She teased. I deadpanned at the girl.

"Of course not, I don't care about symmetry in the slightest." I proudly say, for all my faults. That was not one of them. She hummed in thought and looked up through the glass roof of the mall, she frowned at the sobering sight above. I didn't even need to look to know what she was staring at, a scar in the sky where the Dreadnought emerged and where her brother was stolen off to. Thankfully only supernaturals can even notice the scar in the sky, the remaining satans managed to memory wipe just about the entire town to stop a panic. For all the lives lost in the crisis, well they used every excuse in the book, and then some.

"Do you think they have any idea what's happening?" Rias asked me, her eyes never leaving the scar.

"I hope not, otherwise that would considered among the height of torture." I tell her, she flinches at the cold words but nods all the same. Sadly I'm not in the mood to spin a beautiful lie right now. Besides, it's not what she needs to hear.

"Do you think we can actually win?" She asked me, to that I smiled.

"Well, the odds are certainly better now, and I'd consider it better than when we fought Kokabiel." I told her, that was one truth I was happy to share. Course not by much, but I knew better then to tell her that.

"Really, well, I guess that's a releif. Though, what's for getting up there?" She asked me, and I chuckled.

"I have one or two ideas, and if all else fails we just fly. You don't need air to breathe right?" I joked, she flicked my head but giggled.

"You're the smartest idiot I've ever met. It's a shame my brother and you met in the wrong circumstances, I think you two would make great friends." She said. Smiling as she went inside yet another store. I'm about to follow when the arcana goes up by one. I'm excited to see the reward, but it's glitched. The entire arcana itself is glitching out. 'What? This has only ever happened once, is something gonna happen?' This thought is but one in a sea of worry. I stretched my senses, and my summons, and sent them to the four winds. I wanted to know what was happening, what was going to happen. I would not be caught unawares again.

"Hey, hey." Rias's hand waved in front of my face, she seemed confused. I shake off the worry and put on my best smile.

"Sorry, spaced out something fierce there. So you're going with the blue bow?" I asked, getting back on track. She nodded, and gave me the bags. All eight of them, even in another world with devils and angels I'm still the bag bitch. The more things change they stay the same. A few more hours passed and she kept asking if my scythe had a personality and other questions to the reapers. I did my best to answer with a straight face, my attention always drifting to whatever the hell is causing this thing to glitch out.

"Well I consider that quite the successful shopping spree." Rias said, as I am still carrying the bags, which has increased to fifteen.

"If I had known you'd buy a whole new wardrobe, I wouldn't have suggested shopping." I'm deadpan. She shushes me and we make it back around four-ish. I drop the shit at Issie's front door and about to see if my messenger, or anyone has gotten back to me, but Rias grabbed my collar.

"Hey now, I still need your help. No running away now." She said, this time dragging me along.

"A strategic retreat is not running away- oh my god this place is huge." I say, looking inside Issie's home. It was a strange phenomenon, I've seen this place half a dozen more times than I care to admit but damn is it weird to actually be inside this house.

"...Damn you girls horny." I said, noticing there is only one bedroom. Rias coughed in surprise. Surprisingly the place seemed empty for the moment.

"I'm going to ignore that." Rias said, blushing as she made some tea for the two of us. I thanked her for the tea and we sat down on the table.

"So, what other help do you need?" I asked her, it didn't seem to be about the bags. Cause those were just plopped into a magic circle.

"Can you be my wingman? Like you were with Asia?" She asked me, and I agreed. I mean, it gave me the perfect excuse to keep an eye on them given the not so great implications of the glitch screen. Rias let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright, I can use the help. Though even dressed up, I'm worried he might not notice me." I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Does this have to do with you hating being referred to by title or your last name?" I asked her, she flinched at that and looked away.

"It's complicated." She said, I crossed my legs and finished the tea.

"Try me, like you said. I'm the smartest idiot you know." I tell her, that got a chuckle out of her, but she still looked down at the thought of it.

"For most of my entire life I've been referred to not as Rias, but as Gremory. They don't see me, but the legacy of my parents and even my brother. It creates a strange feeling. There's this pedestal that people set up instead of seeing me, an expectation to always be met and I never feel like I can reach that, like I'm always short of living up to my potential...I'm afraid Issie doesn't see me, but instead that pedestal and when he realizes I can't reach his standards, I'm not worth his time and he'll leave me behind." Rias said, I'm about to say something but she stands, clearly she isn't done yet.

"With everything going on it's more pronounced, even my peerage is starting to refer to me as president or bucho anything other than my own name. It feels like that pedestal's becoming a wall and it's separating my precious family from me, and I don't want that!" She yelled, crushing the tea cup to near dust. I nod along, understanding what she meant. I can sympathize for sure.

"Have you sat them down and explained this?" I asked her, of course we both knew the answer to that,

"I can't tell them that, they'll actually start walking on eggshells if they learned how much it bothered me, instead of it being just something I feel. Besides, isn't it obvious?" She asked, I rolled my eyes at that.

"Yes and no. It's obvious you prefer to be called by your first name, but you don't exactly let it slip how much it actually bothers you. It's probably why Issie still calls you Prez, if he knew how much it affected you, I have no doubt he'd call you Rias from then on." I tell her, she wears a better mask than I normally do when it comes to that. Which is both impressive and sad.

"I shouldn't even let something that minor even bother me, but it does and I hate it. I'm the leader, I can't let myself be bogged down by that. Right?" She asked, clearly hoping for a good answer. This is a lot more complicated than I imagined. Who knew we had this much alike.

"You're only a person, and that makes you allowed to feel like this. Doesn't matter standing, or power. You feel how you feel and there's nothing wrong with that. However, it only becomes a problem if you let it control you. Sorry for the sappy advice, I'm not much of a specialist when it comes to talking to people." I chuckle. I'm genuine at least, so I have that going for me. Rias smiles at my advice, so good job me, and collapses on a chair. A weight seemed to have been lifted from her shoulders, if only for a moment. Though I can see a bigger weight on her shoulders.

"Do you mind if I ask a more personal question of you?" Rias asked me, I smiled. Sitting in front of her, inviting her to ask the question wordlessly.

"Why do..Hmm, no that's not right. How do you remain so in control, and in charge during such fanatic situations. Never panicking for more than a moment, even with your council out of your sight, how do I learn how to do that?" Rias asked me. I expected such a question from her, given how I've commanded not only myself but my council to act.

"Experience is part of it. Every reaper child undergoes the Agōgē, if you recognize the name it's because the spartans worshipped death as much as the greek gods. The best way to describe it, is as a forge where people of all ranks go to send they're children to either be forged, or break. It's there I learned how to be ruthless in tactics, to never waver in any command, less death be my punishment, all at the ripe age of 7." I chuckle sadly, as I retell that cursed place. Rias looked horrified of course, Sona must've told her what she saw when she witnessed the reaper culture in its rawest form.

"The latter part of my confidence is how the high council system works. Those contracted functionally become familiars, and they achieve a type of immortality in a sense. When summoned, it's closer to a perfect copy of their real bodies. Which they're minds' pilots. Every time they die, a little piece of their personality rots away if they are not strong willed." The explanation made me sick, so I rest my chin on my hand. Even though their willpower is remarkably high, the effects are already starting to show.

"So combined with the experience to lead, and the knowledge that my council will not truly die. I am allowed a degree of confidence most could not replicate." I tell her, the explanation has rendered her silent.

"The best way for you to become that confident, is only experience. The more battles, the more you learn and the better you'll become until eventually. You trust your peerage to not die if told to an impossible task. You're already getting better at it." I told her, that brought the mood up a little.

"...you have a lot more to worry about don't you?" She asked me, I just gave her a smile.

"It would be boring if I didn't, my dear, now then. I believe we must pick out the best outfit for your date." It took her aback how quickly I can change gears when situation called for it. Then she checks the time and immediately gets flustered.

"We were talking for that long?! It didn't feel like any time had passed." She stammered, grabbing the bags and running up into the bedroom. I stood just outside the door as she repeatedly came out in different outfits.

"Modest is what I would call nuns clothing, what you are wearing goes beyond that."

"Aww, the complete opposite direction I see, would you like to borrow this pole to dance from."

"You're not Maka, business suits and plaid skirts don't work." and many more such reviews of her outfit before she landed on one that got the thumbs up.

"This is just what I was wearing before, but with a red skirt!" She yelled at me. I held my hands up in surrender.

"Yes, and he will love it. Because he loves you, you damn fool." I say it so easily. She, of course, turns into a steaming tomato. I laugh at this all the while dodging her furious swipes at me.

"Rias, you in here?" Issie's voice suddenly fills the house. I give her a thumbs up and slip inside her shadow. I sunk just deep enough to give them privacy, it also allowed me to hear the lovely ping of arcana growth.

Chariot

Rank: 9/10

Still nothing, which is a bit strange. However, that just means whatever is coming will be very good. 'I should probably be focusing on training. Clearing dungeons, however. A new ally would be even better.' Is my current thought process. Time management was never my strong suit anyway. I eventually feel movement, and emerge to just the surface.

Seems like Issie took her out to eat. Good man, taking a glance at Rias. She is happy and calm, perfection.

"Your doing great." I whisper, maintaining my form in shadows. Rias gives me a small nod, that she hides as a hiccup. Moving to a different shadow, I overviewed the layout. 'Behind the bushes? Nope, behind a telephone poll this time? Not this time.' By the layout, I meant looking for snoopers. When I was sure there were none, I noticed a small cat's tail. At first, I thought it was Koneko letting out her cat side, but then I took a moment to think about that. 'That doesn't make sense.' I decided to investigate the cat. As the shadows guide me, I notice the color of it. A black cat, well. That is quite interesting.

"Ara ara." I say, popping from right under it. The cat screams, tries to scratch my face then runs away.

"Huh, was I wrong? Guess it wasn't Kuroka." I sigh, guess I am jumpy. As I'm about to leave. I hear the skittering of thrall, and a knight's axe.

"Guess I missed some, could've sworn I cleansed this town of your filth." I say to the unwanted guests. The chattering of bones and the rush of measly thrall were my answer. It took a flick of the wrist to command the shadows, they took on the shape of various mallets and crushed every thrall that came towards me. One tried to latch itself to me, I could the pulsing under the carapace, it was cursed. How predictable. I threw ripped off the creatures, breaking it's limbs and sent it spiraling down my shadow. Where it pitfully exploded.

"Is this how you fight? I thought the hive was a warrior race, not a race of such weak filth." I call out, using my Poisoned silver tongue to try and enrage whichever knight was leading this party. It took a few moments but the scratching of it's axe increased and a rather familiar knight appeared. The adopted son that failed to usurp his father.

"To think papa Oryx let you out of your cage, you have five seconds to leave this place with your life, Darkblade." I warn the abandoned son of Oryx. He simply thrusts his axe in challenge.

"When I kill you, your power will allow me to ascend. The one mistake I allowed myself to make in my rebellion, but with this chance given. I shall seize it in the name of my strength and in the memory of my slain consort." He said, waiting for me to offer him the same courtesy. I laughed at him, reeling my head back to further emphasize the noise, I was far enough away from their date, that I could do whatever I wished. It didn't matter if I leveled this block, and he believes he can defeat me?

"Oh, oh you sweet innocent babe." As I step forward, the shadows rise to encircle us, the dome filling with darkness. Alak-Hul's first reaction is to strike. He swings his axe down, intent on potting me. I lazily dodge the blow just as the last bit of light fades.

"Dark dome." I whisper, creating a new skill on the fly. Taking inspiration from my trap of Kokabiel's armies. Within this small, 30x40 ft dome is pure pitch blackness. Only those who could see in the dark would ever have a hope of finding the edge of the dome for escape, but Alak-Hul feared nothing in this darkness. If anything, it only made him feel better. Each swing came down more confidently, more arrogantly, then the last. Smashing up the ground, filling it with my shadow.

"You struggle in your own arena?!" He taunted, continually breaking the ground with every strike. I dodge his every blow. The axe's movement in the shadow, informing me how exactly it'll fall. Suddenly, I lose track of him, Alak-Hul is gone in a wisp of smoke.

"Tsk, where is he gonna come from?" I ask, the thing about the dome is I can't see through it. Things moving within is how I see, my only warning is a wisp of smoke. I jumped out of the way as the axe comes crashing down, I was a bit slow and the axe slice through my left arm and leg. Alak-Hul raises the weapon in celebration, crushing the severed limbs to black mush.

"You weaken, take but one more strike to-" He stopped himself when he witnessed my regeneration. The moments between balancing half a body, and being whole once more was within a blink. Yet he witnessed it all, and his silence spoke volumes.

[BGM wolf in sheep's clothing begin]

"Ahh, I apologize for that. It's a small, irritable tick we reapers tend to have when facing something irredeemably weaker than us. We play with our food, like children with broccoli. I mean look at me, I'm not even wearing my armor." I laugh, my servant coming back with both armor and mask. I dismissed him, gaining whatever memories he created and donned my true outfit. Alak-Hul was so stunned by the speed of my regeneration, he made no attempt to stop as I threw on my armor. My mask clicked into place as I stood, fully equipped once again.

"Ahh, that is so much better. I felt so naked without these garbs." I chuckle. The shadows constricting under my mastery, blotting even the Darkblade's sight.

"Baa baa, black sheep, have you any soul? No sir, by the way, what the hell are morals?" I sing mockingly, my form dissolving into the darkness I've created.

{Alak-Hul pov switch}

Where is it?! These unholy lyrics, is this a song of death?! I can not see even my axe, which I grip harder than I ever have before. Cracks in the non existent earth trigger my training and I bash through, the blade not hitting solid ground but amorphous slog.

"Where is it?!" I yell, my voice straining, is this what panic feels like? I have killed thousands who have even dared to show this emotion during my conquests for my King's favor and now I feel it?! Me, the Dark Blade who rebelled against his God?!

"I refuse to be weak!" My defiance voiced I thrash with all the violence my body is capable of. I try to step forward, but the ground coils around my legs, trying to suck down. I smash whatever dares to threaten my leg. For a moment I rejoice as my axe cleaves through hardened flesh, then the pain erupts and it forces a scream out of me.

"How?! This should not be possible, my swing did not have the might to take my leg." Yet the truth was laid bare. My mighty leg, now a stump crumbling away. Wait, what? I grab the part of the chitin on the stump, I can not see it, but it's far weaker than it should be. The strength of my hide is my strength, my proof of worth to survive. It's softer than even a newborn thrall's.

"What trickery is this? What are you?!" Only laughter was my reply. More of those blasted tendrils wrapped themselves around my throat. Fear has me in it's shadow and I desperately claw away the tendrils. Pounds of my own flesh coming off with each handful of darkness freed. No, this isn't like the Abyss. There's no whispers of glory, no battles to prove who deserves existence.

CRUNCH!

Limply I grab hold of my weapon, my truest pride. My hand glides up the handle, and cuts itself on it's shattered head. My truest partner, broken and I could not even see it's demise. I won't be able to see my own, where am I? Am I near the edge, the middle? I should've paid closer attention. I can hear the tendrils slithering all around me. Two glowing crimson orbs appear in my face, I am frozen. Cowardly shakes control my body as a skeletal mouth unhinges itself and grasping arms erupted from it. Reaching out.

"Run. Run." The jaw barely whispered, it's voice strangled by the grasping hands emerging from it's unseen throat. The hands now mere inches from my own eyes. My body refuses to move, I have not felt this way since the King banished me to the darkness of the Dreadnaught, and executed my concubine. The closest finger lightly brushes the top of my eyelid. What it then touched, melted into agonizing slag.

"AHHHHHHH!" This next scream, not one of glory but of terror. My frozen body snaps into action, I lean against the broken handle of my once trusty blade and hobble away with all my strength. The hands speed to catch me, fingers slashing through hide. Pain quickened my steps, until a hand snagged onto the arm holding the handle. I lose it in the same fashion and tumble further away.

"Need to live. I don't wanna die." I whimper, a failure of my kind but I don't care. My remaining arm and leg crawling, the hands now slowed to match my new corse. 'I might make it now.' The terrifying sentinel is set to make my death slow. I can use this to save my life.

Each foot of progress a struggle, my one hand propelling me forward as I can hear the hands approaching closer. I must make it. I must. Then, as if the gods of old had answered my plea. The total darkness began to lighten, I could see once more and the barrier wall lay just within my grasp. With one last burst of strength, I jump towards the wall. Arm outstretched, and just as I may find salvation I was stopped. My fell to pieces as the swing of an unheard blade falls upon me. The hands which had chased me may have faded, but tendrils wrapped around my throat and body.

"Tsk, tsk." The devil's voice appeared, his form finally fully revealed. His curved glaive being cleaned of my ichor. The tendrils forced my gaze up, his was but a passing glance of disappointment.

"I had hoped you were stronger. You are technically a demi god, though you also don't have your own ascendant plane. So I guess I'm the true fool for expecting anything of you." He sighs, light filling the circle as I had found it was nothing more than an optical illusion. The wall of light I had so desperately reached out for, was the same distance away as when the dome came down. A glance downwards told me everything, the floor itself was shifting shadow. In all my struggling, what I thought were titanic leaps were but inches as the shadow simply stretched itself. The devil turned his back to me and started walking towards his exit.

"Wait! I can be of service to you!" Words fueled by fear leap from my mouth before my mind had connected them together. I hold no doubt that if he leaves the dome without me, I am dead.

"Hmm, why would I?" He asked me, suddenly staring me down from a pinkie's length away. This time, my words are calculated, my very being rests upon them.

"You are clearly superior to not only me, but even Oryx. I can provide you knowledge of his ship, the invading forces, even his throne is not unknown to me. I can best inform you of blindspots, weaknesses in the Dreadnought's armor. All these and more, I offer willingly to you. The only thing I beg for is my life and to grow from your logic." The weak must be purged, yes, however. I don't have to die among them, with his power even the great three gods will be no match. I would ascend higher than even the deep. 'I will bide my time of course, but once I've gained this devil's trust; another revolution to claim his illustrious power would be no far fetched ideal.' As this thought ends. The eyes narrowed, as if in thought.

"You know, my family would often prove how easily my face can be read, it's one of the reasons I wear a mask. That wisdom is why I'm alive still, but you. Obviously never learned that lesson as your face is so easy to read." A voice of a thousand nails, grinding upon broken worlds. The tendrils now forced my head to the ground, my body now taking on what I was doing. Begging for my very life, and it wasn't working. He once again made towards his exit. My voice shrill as I fought against the tides of shadow. In the corner of my eye I thought I saw him coming up from behind me, now holding a sword. I scream, raging against the shadows. All reserves emptying, and tearing tendril off flesh, and flesh clumped to the tendril. My broken blade rested next to my foot, my feet passed it to my teeth and I made one final, desperate teleportation. Above the devil that mocked me, that destroyed my pride and forced me to these lengths. My teeth crack, my final swing upon this threatening to break my jaw but fury and fear dissuaded me from letting go. The last thing I hear is a sigh as I watch my body fall past the mark. My corpse slumped against the wall, fading into the darkness. My skull is pierced by a familiar blade, one I had dread dying to. I hear his wing beats behind me, but yet they are wrong. Those are not the beating of flesh and bone, but of fabricated darkness, mimicking life. This was not the end I was promised! Damn you devil, damn you Oryx! Damn you….both..

[Pov return]

"What a disappointing distraction. Bastard didn't even level me up!" I grumble as I drop the dome. He allowed me to experiment with a new skill at least, for that I am least somewhat grateful. Though, I missed a damn fine mess of a date that I could tease.

"{Partner, remind me. Wasn't the idea to keep the date from becoming a mess?}" Bahamut deadpanned, materializing on my hand. I rolled my eyes, though the old dragon had a point.

"Knowing those two, disaster is not a if. It is only when." I tell him in a sage voice. I can hear his laughter both in my mind and through my ears. Though he did leave my arm when he calmed down.

{Whatever you say, partner. Though, you should probably check up on them either way. You had your fun.} He reminds me. I can't even argue with that, the date must be close to ending 'I did take my time with old darkblade.' I chuckle at the thought and raced through the outstretched shadows. The sun's set aided me far more than it's existence.

"Let's see, just gotta…oh my God." I hold back the laughter as I see not only Rias and Issei sitting close together, basically cuddling at this point, though that wasn't what I found funny. Rias is covered head to toe in chowder, clam chowder upon closer inspection. There was also the likely culprit, whose legs stuck out the ground like the stem of a plant. Looking behind the lovely duo I see the restaurant Rias and Issei were dining in, completely on fire. As strained firefighters are already putting out the flames.

"Well, it seems like I missed quite the event." I don't bother hiding at this point. Rias looks a little surprised that I revealed myself but Issei just nodded at me. Used to my bullshit.

"Yeah, the waitress was an ass. She spilled chowder all over Rias, and it uh." He laughed awkwardly, while I went over and pulled the poor woman out of the ground. Good news, she's alive. Even better, she's awake. Until she fainted when she noticed how easily I picked her up.

"Hmmm." I turn back to the couple, who turn away. More than a little embarrassed, the deadpan began to grow and it would not stop.

"Who burned down the house?" Was the only question I was going to ask for this event, it took a moment but Rias slowly raised her hand.

"It was an accident." She said the deadpan didn't believe her. However, I rolled my eyes. I carried the woman into the first aid truck, extinguished the flames so the poor firefighters can have a breather. Lord knows they don't need all this extra work.

"Did you guys enjoy your date?" I decide to ask a less judgemental question. Their smiles gave me all the answers I required.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it. Wouldn't want a third wheel now would you?" I say laughing. I am about to leave, but Rias pulls me aside.

"Now now, we were talking, and neither of us mind if you join us." I raise an eyebrow at Rias's statement.

"Well, we know your just gonna hide nearby to make sure the date goes well. So may as well have fun with us." Issie clarified. I sighed, mainly because I was found out without even knowing.

"You did help me in the exact same way." Issie pointed out, and I shrugged at that. He had a point. So I chuckle.

"Why not. Even I could use a break, especially with all..well. Everything going on." I chuckle. I could end up losing my humanity if I hyper focus on dangerous elements. Best to stop acting like a savior for now. I take off my mask and the three of us enjoy the rest of the day together. It was nice, hanging out with Issie and Rias was…rather nice.

"I'm telling ya, that new godzilla movie was awesome!" Issie insisted.

"I didn't really like any of the human characters. They felt kinda shoehorned in." Rias said, I couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Well it is a monster movie. Rarely are the characters deeper than the plot needs them to be. Course, I also love the Pacific Rim movies." I notice Issie's disgust almost instantly.

"Don't you dare say it-"

"Second one's better." I say with a sly smirk. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Dude. Your taste in movies is shit." He deadpanned.

"And you're a virgin who, up until recently, could never land a date and spent your days watching porn with your friends, your point?" He deflated at that, but not for long. Course before he could say anything, I gave them both a smile.

"Though, seeing how close you two are. I'm surprised the both of you haven't bothered to try to fuck. End of the world and such nonsense, makes quite the excuse to hitch up and try things before the opportunity is gone." I say teasingly. They burnt red and started mumbling to themselves.

"Well, it's not like I'm against it." I heard Rias's whisper, and so did Issei as his eyes widened.

"Keep getting interrupted?" I chuckle as Issie reboots. Rias, now realzing she's been heard. Turns an even brighter red and hides herself behind her hair. I could not stop the laughter that escaped me.

"You two should just choose a time and do it, my council has a betting pool on who's gonna bone Issie first." I say casually. I didn't think there was a deeper red than scarlet, but I've been proven wrong as Rias and Issie become that color. Mental picture aquired, but that's besides the point.

"If you guys really need privacy, I could let you guys stay at my castle for a bit." I offer, and it seemed for a moment one or both would agree.

"As much as I want too, and I really want to. We should wait, at least until there's a better time." Issie said, and Rias nodded. Looking a bit down at that, sensing my opportunity as a wing man. I smile and flick Issie in the head.

"Dumbass." I deadpan as he rubs his head.

"There's a chance of us dying in the morning. There's nothing keeping that alien from simply shooting us into space dust, I only have the word of a genocidal zealot that he would not attack before the week is up. So, I suggest making. Every. Moment, matter." I say, empashing the last few words to get it through his thick, self doubt ridden skull. I was lying of course, I knew he would keep his word. The system itself is acknowledging it, but they don't know that, best to add a little weight, and given how Rias is now a blushing mess and has yet to stop me, I'm doing the right thing.

".." It takes a second for his brain to catch up, and when it does he joins Rias in being a blushing mess.

"If you're really not against it, there's a hotel nearby." He squeaked. With a smile, I walk away for real this time. I've been a third wheel for long enough I think. I'm about to disappear in my brand new shadow door, but Rias pulls me aside.

"Mores, thank you so much. You're one of the best friends I've ever had." She said, hugging me. I did nothing at first, not sure how to react to the sudden form of affection. So I smiled and returned the hug, patting her head with a spare hand.

"Your welcome, go get him tiger. Before someone interrupts." I give her a wink and she giggles. Giving me a thumbs up as she ran back to Issie. Leaning against his arm as they walked together like a cute little couple.

"Need me to keep an eye on them?" Death gun asked, walking out of the shadow door I was about to use.

"It's not them I'm worried about, mind making sure they aren't interrupted?" I ask him, and he rolls his eyes.

"Fine, but the moment they start I'm leaving. I'd rather not hear that, thank you very much." He said, traveling through the shadows of ruined buildings. I put my mask back on, the moment it clicks into place I hear the choir of church bells once again. The gilded screen, once again graces me with it's presence.

Congratulations you have maxed out the Chariot Arcana.

Rank 10/10

Effects: Fellow weeb. Due to both of you loving all things anime, for the most part, +5 luck if you hang out with Rias at a manga/anime store.

Ally of Gremory: The deepening of bonds has lead to a strong alliance between reaper and devil. Thus allowing for more influence with the backing of one of the main pillars of high devil society. Can now participate in ranking games of any type

We're all family: Family, the word that binds all the gremory's together, even their peerage members eventually come to be adopted and given this surname when becoming full devils. For what you have done, for what you will do, you are a part of the gremory clan. Devil or not. you hold the status of a member of the gremory clan when in hell. Thus, their resources, their land have now also become your birthright if you so choose to claim it.

Burning chariot: Due to your relationship with the Gremory peerage and the blazing chariot of progress that is their master, not only do you have access to any and all Chariot Arcana Personas; but you get an especially perfect surprise.

Before I could speculate on what this surprise could be. Two black screens appear at my right and left. The right one said the following.

This choice is not given for every arcana. Only those that are predicted romance options are given this choice when the bond has reached its maxed conclusion. If you choose this option, you will proceed to a special boss honed just for you as all the others were. With greater rewards and a powerful ally.

Glancing at the left revealed a similar dynamic choice.

This choice is not given for every arcana. Only those that are predicted romance options are given this choice when the bond has reached its maxed conclusion. If you choose this option, you will proceed to a dungeon, wholly unique from the ones you could craft on your own. With it comes greater rewards then any previous dungeon. However, unlike it's predeccesors before it. This one demands restriction and full focus, for anything less will be death.

"Well, ain't this a pickle." I chuckle at the options present. I walk through my portal and return to my castle. Avoiding the chaos of the place is rather routine as I sit down in an empty room that served no other purpose than to be filled with something greater. The chains no longer existed, the blood was all gone. The only thing left was a leather chair, I sit down within the room which once held my greatest sin and pondered the options.

"Normally, this would be an easy choice. Another ally, another sword in my arsenal. Not to mention, this is a stronger version if these screens can be trusted." I muse, though my gaze lingered on the left one.

"The risks outweigh the benefits on a mere dungeon, restrictions on my aptitude could easily lead to my death. Especially if it restricts my ability to cast magic, or summon help. Two crutches I've been leaning on since becoming a gamer." I admit they are crutches, without those two pillars of power I become a rather easy target. Even still I couldn't help but want to reach for it. Slowly, my hand reached out towards the screen. My fingers graze the accept button for the mysterious dungeon before I stop just short and draw it back.

"...am I truly this desperate to kill Oryx?" I sighed. I do have options, I'm not in a corner yet. I grip the leather chair, the soft leather ripping as the wood and metal beneath it curled under the grip.

"Not to mention, it could screw up the arcana quest line I'm following." That is the biggest thing holding me back from that stupid decison. If the questline wasn't interrupted, then this wouldn't be a problem…wait. I look again at the text, neither said this would impact the greater questline to obtain that ultimate summon. Which means this dungeon would likely take the place of it, not to mention if I find a summon in that dungeon, I wouldn't be losing anything really.

"Okay, before I do anything. I need to prepare the best I can." I say, pulling open both the stats and skills screen.

"Gamers hold onto these stat points waiting for the right moment to use them, as a mid battle boost to change the tide. I followed that logic because it made sense, a mini zenki bonus at demand? However, in a real fight to the death against Oryx. There wasn't time to breathe, let alone open the screen and put points in manually." I sigh, I stare at the wealth of stat points I've accrued and used every last drop. Not a single point was spared. A thousand in each stat except luck. The remainder of which went into the final stat.

Level: 1,280
HP: 32,050. Regen: 3000 Hp per minute
MP: 48,000. Regen: 20,150 Mp per minute.
Vit:1290(-8)
Str:1544
Dex:1771 (+29)
Int: 1870 (+50)
Wis:1945 (+70)
Luc:839 (+5)

The effects of which caused my muscles to spasm as they expanded greater, and greater until they became compacted once again by the Gamer's Body. I heave as I stand up, the ground of the castle cracking under my barely controlled strength, I take great care to move slowly. Methodically until the power settles as I sit down upon the ruined chair.

"Okay, that..that was something." I heave, careful to keep my breathing level as my heart pumped with brand new vigor.

"Now, you bitches." I pulled my skill tree closer and began putting points into the damnation and technique trees. Two skills from each tree are unlocked after four hundred points in each branch. These things have gotten stupid expensive.

Flames muspelheim. Active. Level: max. Mp cost 400: It is not uncommon for reapers to dedicate themselves to a specific sect, it is in fact encouraged. Calling upon these flames is proof of this idea's vadility. Scales with Flame affinity.

Little death. Active. Level: max. Mp cost 600: Every death, no matter how small, is pulled within to the great beyond of the reaper's domain. This spell calls upon the souls of those recently deceased and whips them into a frenzy. The more disgruntled in life, the more effective this skill becomes.

Reaper art #55 Berserker's fist. Passive. Level: Max. A martial art given to reaper children more physically inclined amongst their peers. It allows the focusing of physical strength into either a singular blow, or a multitude of smaller ones. +20 strength. +20 dex

Forbidden Reaper Art #3 He Who Has Become Death. Active. Level: Max. HP cost 4000 per minute. This forbidden art, created by the fourth Grim Reaper, is an art best left forgotten. For it turns the life essence of a reaper into raw power with no limiter. Usage of this skill allowed him to slay the primordials that once threatened the Lord. However, through the use of this came a plague of ruinous diseases that, even to this day, the reaper population is still recovering from. It is a reminder of that tragedy, one that is once again. Better left forgotten. Reduces max health by 50%, increases all physical and magical stats by 100% lasts for as long the body holds out.

"Well, aren't you dark." I chuckle as I dismiss the last screen. A desperate blade in case I need it, but it's useful nonetheless. I look at my remaining skill points and sigh when I can't buy anything else that fits my fighting style.

"I could throw them away into the other tree, but for now let's ignore it. I don't see anything within the branches that I want any-" I'm about to close the screen when a certain skill catches my eye. It was a skill I wasn't expecting to be here, and one I certainly didn't think would have such a healthy toll. I pay the rest of my points into it and max it out. I throw the skill into my vault and don't say a word.

"I'm lucky, I won't have to make a contract." I say, I walk out of the room. Pick up a tablet and set up some additional rooms which should be finished by the time I'm done. Including an upgrade to the cloning lab to allow for further genetic modification. With my upgrades set in stone and the various additional staff about to research and construct more stuff I demand of them, I find myself with my hand hovering over the left screen.

"Fuck it." I slam down the button and the world fades to black. When I awaken, I find myself surrounded by derelict halls.

"Okay, this is new." I groan as I stand up. In the corner of my eye, I notice a small gauge. It had a human skull at the base and glass measurements. Though it is measured in something called Warp heat.

"That's going to screw me over and I don't even know what it is." I sigh as I move forward, when I find an opening. It's only then I realize where exactly I am. Floating red eyed prowl around the open air, flesh golems of steel warped by dark energies crawl along the floor among the tittering of demonic rats. Distinctly I can hear chanting in tribal language, each of them praising a differing god from the other. Though the majority praised the 'Grandfather' for his gifts. It's enough to make a man's skin crawl, ever more upon spotting a patrol of faded emerald monsters, bulbous and rotting flesh barely keeping them together. Up above I could hear waring machines of genecraft and foul magic fighting for territory or perhaps hunting someone down for not rotting like the rest of them.

"This is a spaceship, one the size of a city but a spaceship nonetheless." I say, looking up I can see the remnants of a pair of wings, but all that's left is carved circular insignia with barbs through every corner.

"Ragnorak, I hate you so much." He put me on the Matyr, the fucking Matyr! The main goal and playground of an inquisitor hunting heretics and purging anything he disagreed with. That very same screen I clicked on transformed into a quest screen.

Martyr Matyr

The ship welcomes you back, though not with kindness. If you are able to wrest control and take it, all it's wealth and more will be yours. Explore to your heart's content, and try not to use a lot of flashy magic. Wouldn't want another eye to open.

Side objective A: ?
Side objective B: ?
Side objective C: ?

Side objective D: ?

Rewards: Levels, so many levels. A spaceship to explore the stars with and others just waiting to be discovered.

I had already accepted this mission, it didn't bother to show me what would happen if I failed, but I knew better than to assume anything good. With a sigh I walk forwards and begin the long, long climb up.

{Pov swap, Oryx. Third person}

Meanwhile, in the depths of the dreadnought. The taken king prays to the deep, not for guidance nor for aid, but as part of a ritual before war. It's a habit he's kept to for many moons. Deep in the sea of screams, he can be at peace so close to the deep. Alone and-

"Hello there." A voice he's never heard whispered into his ear. Within moments he swiped at the offending creature that snuck up on him, at first he thought it was another trick of his sister. Only to find someone new, someone dangerous. For, he stopped the taken king's blade with nothing but overwhelming force. Something he's only ever felt when confronting Akka, before he gained the power of his sisters to slay it.

"Who am I? That must be what your wondering right?" The intruder asked, walking carefree amongst the taken king's shrine to the deep. The intruder's eyes always shifting color, the reason behind them was unknown and Oryx found it curious.

"Will you behave if I tell you?" The intruder asked condescendingly, invading the taken king's personal space. The great warrior grit his teeth, unable to say anything. He managed a nod though. The pressure dropped, and for once his worm did not hunger. It curled up inside him and shivered in fear.

"What do you want?" He demanded of the intruder, who changed a wisp of soul fire into a stone. Chucking it into the deep as if it was a simple pond.

"I want an entertaining battle between equals. Instead, at the rate of growth he'll be experiencing soon. You'll be left in the dust I'm afraid. Outscaled, and crushed like a simple thrall, even within your throne world." The intruder sighed as he seem materialize a worm from the worm gods themselves, it squirmed within the creature's grip as the intruder began crushing it. 'No' he was wrong. Not crushing, remolding. Turning a spawn of the gods into something pale, smooth and free of edges. It reminded the king of the Guardians who stood against him, of their wretched traveller that he and his siblings spent eons hunting.

"Ah, not a fan of spheres are you? Well, mild modifications are fine. Though some functionality will be lost." The intruder sighed, as he pinched new edges into the sphere. Peeling off bits and pieces until it resembled a triangle, one that now reminded him of the greatest deep.

"What, do you intend to do?" The king asked, wondering what the strange relic was. Most importantly, why did it call to him so greedily?

"Oh? This ol thing, this is an equalizer my friend. If you want, of course." The intruder said, holding out the relic much like a gift. Oryx's first instinct was to deny the gift, and take it by force. Then the deep rumbled, as if against such an idea, his worm agreed.

"Seems like you got permission from your masters. So, is it a deal then?" The intruder asked, the color of his eyes stopping on the color of a dying nova. Oryx did not want to accept the gift. Yet, he also felt called to it. Almost like a siren song tugging at his very soul. He slowly steps up to the stranger whose name he has yet to get. Carefully he picks up the object, once it rests in his palm it starts sinking into his flesh. He knows he should scramble to rip it out, but he had no desire to. Nor any instinctual reason, quite the opposite in fact. When it disappeared in his skin, he felt calmer than he did before. More even keeled then he did before.

"You wanted to know who I am? Then tell me yourself. Who am I?" The intruder said, opening his arms wide as if expecting a challenge. Instead, Oryx read a small screen in the corner of his eye.

"Ragnorak. First of the sixteen pillars" He said the name slowly, as if each word was alien to him. The knowledge he gained, took, was not something he could've learned on his own. Yet, it was all at his finger tips now.

"Yes, I am Ragnorak and you, my friend, are very lucky indeed." Ragnorak said, his voice a mesmerizing tone of authority and calm. One that Oryx could not help but respect. Oryx suddenly found himself staring down Akka, he could not believe his eyes. One moment he was in the sea of screams, next he's staring down a slain foe.

"This shall be the whetstone you shall sharpen yourself against." Ragnorak's voice filled the air as he stood atop the worm god reborn. The power emanating from it, far exceeding the first clash. Yet not so much to be overwhelming like before.

"Your entire culture revolves around taking does it not? Then take more power from this whetstone then you could before, again. Again. Again." He said, the worm striking at the King who knew his ancient foe well. Dodging underneath the gaping maw, he struck his blade through it's throat and ripped it's head clean off. It's only after the beast falls does he realize the truth of Ragnorak's words. More worm gods erupted from the ground, each a perfect replica of Akka, with some exception of course. Each was stronger than the last, he himself after slaying the first beast felt. Stronger, faster. Even wiser. As if he received over a thousand tithes in but a moment from each and every member of his brood. He stares down Ragnorak, who floats above it all with a twisting smile as the worms charge the warrior king. Oryx charged to slay, to take them all. All the while, Ragnorak stood holding up his screen as he now had an additional plaything.

"That should even things up a little, wouldn't you agree Mores?" He chuckled as he left the king to do as he does. To kill, to take and to discover this new power.

{Time left till the second invasion. 7 days and 15 hours}

Player Two Has Connected.

{So, I'm alive. Nice to see everyone again, yeah. My life's been hectic, moved across country and then again soon after. Just got settled and looking for jobs, except no one's hiring. Which is why, yeah I'm starting a . I'll link it in my account in case anyone feels generous. So, yeah. Thank you all for continuing to read. I love all of you}