The Near Hour Long Fight (or why it sucks to fight an entire army)

I hopped out of bed and decided to brew myself a cup of tea. I set the teapot on the top of the stove and added the water. It began heating up as I watched it with a faint sigh. Tea always helped me whenever I’d be sick, and while I wasn’t currently sick I was still in my bed rotting for a day so it felt wrong to not make a brew.

I set the small group of tea leaves into the teapot and closed it before pulling up my status.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 8

STR: 19

DEX: 20 

CON: 15 

INT: 18

WIS: 12 

CHR: 14

Skills: 

• Stealth III

• Sneak Attack III

• Dodge III

• Dash IV

• Flow IV

Perks:

• Self Mastery

• Bloodshot Lunar Eye (Howling)

Equipment:

• Faceless Mask

• Golden Nail of the 33 Piercings

. . . 3 More

Claims:

Red Moon Army 2/5

+ Damage against Humans

+ Strength of Rage Effects

I’d gotten a new weapon, and my level had skyrocketed alongside my skills. I wasn’t a master of the ancient nail combat arts, but I’m sure with my demon eye as a guide I could master them in a few motions. I let out a light hum before closing the menu and pouring the tea through a filter to catch the stray leaves and into a small mug.

I considered adding some sugar for a moment before just shrugging and downing the entire mug. To bathe this lowly tea in the sugar of the local supermarket would be foolishness.

My eyes panned out the window and into the backyard where Mom was gardening. It wasn’t exactly a sunny day, but it wasn’t raining or anything. A light cloud cover rested overhead making the day cool and peaceful. I continued to drink my tea while I watched her work for a moment before I raised an eyebrow in confusion at the sudden message.

[Event Started: Darkness Challenges the Abyss]

Time limit: 0:59:59

[Defeat Magia Baiser]

[Defeat Leoparde]

[Defeat Scarlet Alice]

What? I downed the tea before opening the window and informing my mother of what I was to do.

“I’m heading out, hopefully I’ll be back in an hour or two.” She lightly waved her trowel at me and gave me some words of warning.

“Get back in time for dinner Aki, it would be bad for you to miss it.” That was in about an hour and a half. Hopefully that was plenty of time. 

“Alright, I’ll see you later Mom. Love you.” I heard her ‘Love you too sweetie’ as I threw on my Faceless Mask and activated Stealth. I walked outside and saw nothing while the hour long time limit ticked down slowly.

I’d never gotten an event like this before. It was time limited for one, and secondly it showed up with no prompting. I walked on the air up to a skyscraper and stood menacingly while scanning my eyes over the horizon. Then my eyes narrowed as I spotted several ‘maids’ in blank black masks like mine. They wore gothic maid attire and no one seemed to notice their presence. That was weird. Whatever, this probably has something to do with ‘Scarlet Alice’ though I’d be stupid to just walk up and fight them head on. It's roguing time!

I used Stealth to investigate the area around one of the ‘maids’ but I couldn’t find anything causing me to sit there stumped for a moment before I heard a voice with my enhanced senses.

“When is he going to show up!?” A group of five walked out of a portal, three were familiar, two were not. It was Enormeeta with a small girl in an edgy dress that made me cringe lightly. Did I look like a male version of that?

Fuck, I should look in a mirror at somepoint. There was also a massive figure that seemed to be a burly bouncer? A bouncer with a duck head in the place of a head and red sunglasses? Or maybe it was supposed to be a butler I don’t know.

“Young Miss, I can assure you the elusive Veil will follow his responsibility after noticing a few of the Dark Lady’s servants and handling them. This will reveal his location to us and allow us to engage.”

Looking at the small girl I actually felt danger. Real tangible threat. Well that was scary . . . sort of reminded me of that Angel fucker I fought. However I was pretty sure she was a bit weaker than the Angel Scion of Pyrite.

Either way I had some aura to farm. I just couldn’t resist in front of someone who looked like a mirror of myself. It’s like I was cosplaying with a fellow cosplayer! Also I didn’t want to just go up and stab Utena. It would be better to try and intimidate them first.

I positioned myself above the alley way they resided in before dropping Stealth and staring down at them for a moment before speaking.

“You choose to waste my time with this? While the Black Sea prepares to boil over?” They all perked up at that and Venalita’s smile widened slightly.

“If that truly were the case we’d have seen the Black Rain, now wouldn’t we?” I let out a light snort at the mascot to stall for time. Why were they playing along? You know what, fuck it. I just gotta ramp it up!

Instead I held up a hand and suddenly a drop of water hit it. Then another, and then the rain began to speed up.

“Can he summon rain?” The soldier girl whispered to Utena as I slowly turned my head upwards. The fuck? I knew it was cloudy, and I certainly didn’t check the weather but this was ridiculous!

“Veil, I don’t know what any of that means but you’re putting the person- people I care about in danger! I’m going to defeat you and make the Tres Magia come back!” I clenched a fist as I felt a presence approach me from behind. It was a maid in a black mask who I backhanded, causing her mask to crack and reveal a porcelain face. The doll shattered and went from a maid to a children's doll the size of my hand.

The ability to bring toys to life? That’s potentially terrifying. If I have to fight Goku or Superman I might just throw in the towel and say ‘nah you guys can have this one.’

“This Rain . . .” Venalita seemed to tilt its head slightly at the phenomena, look dude: I was confused as well! “Is only a precursor of what’s to come.” The dark mascot frowned before sighing.

“We aren’t wasting time with this. You can take it from here.” It then vanished through a portal, causing the soldier girl to smile.

“Fucking FINALLY! I can let loose!” She summoned a small gun in her hand, but I was prepared for this. I Dash- holy fuck I was FAST. My fist slammed into her head at the power of Dash IV and she crashed into the side of the alleyway.

“Didn’t I say to master your transformation before you dare face me again?” Magia Baiser- Utena stuck the wall next to us and trapped us inside of a concrete box by shifting its shape.

Then the one I assume was Scarlet Alice started to chant.

“Awaken, Manor of Dark Flame. For you are within my deepest heart. Manifest, and Establish the Rule of the Crimson Abyss.” I-what? I haven’t heard that name in years. Suddenly the environment changed and I found myself within the large room of a gothic style manor.

Korisu Morino POV

Veil-Sama allowed me to activate my Manor of Dark Flame. I could do so without an enclosed space like this, but Enormeeta didn’t need to know that. He was allowing me to appear useful to Enormeeta, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he intentionally held back for this fight. I felt the spark of Dark Flame flow throughout the manor and I sent a small fragment of it into Leoparde in order to heal her and manage her form better.

The influence of my Dark Flame didn’t need to just inhabit my ‘toys’ it could also inhabit living beings. Leoparde glowed and Veil-Sama watched with a mocking glance, as though to allow her the privilege of transforming in front of him.

He was so cool! Ah . . . if I wasn’t being a spy right now I’d have to rush over and hug Veil-Sama! 

“Bubbling Shadow.” 

“Yes my Lady?” Mr. Chubs alter-ego as the Bubbling Shadow leaned down at my words while I stared at Veil-Sama. 

“Support Leoparde.” Mr. Chubs was aware of Veil-sama’s identity; I'd informed all of the 7 Shadows during the Tea Party. However I’d only made Enormeeta aware of Bubbling Shadow for the moment.

Bubbling Shadow was Rank 3 of the 7 Shadows, so he might be able to hold back Veil for a few seconds at most before being defeated. That was fine, I had been aware we couldn’t win anyways. This whole thing was a show for Veil-Sama to reveal something important.

He’d already made clear the Black Sea was on the return, but Veil-Sama never spoke so straightforwardly. His words held meanings underneath them, and past the first Veil of Darkness another meaning could remain.

He had no equal. Truly he was amazing. Praise be to Crimson Abyss-Sama!

“HOLY SHIT I FEEL AMAZING! What were ya saying about me not being able to handle my form ya bastard!?” I could take control of her mind, subdue her into a shadow under my command. However I could not do the same to Magia Baiser. Magia Baiser was an anomaly. She seemed weak on the surface but could call upon near immeasurable power if need be. Veil-Sama would not pretend to be her boyfriend otherwise.

Yes. He was pretending. Nothing else was possible.

“The power granted to you by another, shall never compare to the power that comes from within. That Darkness will erode your mind. You disappoint me.” 

“Shut up! You wouldn’t get it you fucker! I fight for love! I don’t give a shit if I fall apart!” Leoparde manifested cannons running with glowing red lines upon them and fired the lasers at Veil-Sama. However he seemed to teleport behind her in an instant!

“Leoparde! D-don’t hurt yourself!” Magia Baiser spoke and perhaps my theory of her having another personality could be correct? Bubbling Shadow interfered with Veil-Sama’s attack yet the blow he took caused Bubbling Shadow to take some damage. Veil-Sama obviously not wanting to kill Mr. Chubs with his attack was clearly holding back. After all, he'd saved Mr. Chubbs life once before and certainly knew Mr. Chubbs true loyalty.

I allowed Bubbling Shadow to withdraw and sent my force of Dark Maids in order to interfere with Veil-Sama for a moment. But they wouldn’t hold for long.

“Magia Baiser. Our powers interfere with each other while I am within this Domain. I will dispel my Dark Flame Manor after a moment of seeing weakness however-” Suddenly I felt a powerful burst radiate from Veil-Sama as his eye glowed red with power. I felt my connection with Leoparde server from the mighty strike landed into the Smoke Beast of Shadow.

The girl was knocked unconscious and I had Bubbling Shadow catch her. I also dispelled my Domain allowing Venalita to portal the two of them away from here. Something I’d discovered was Venalita couldn’t make portals in my Dark Flame Manor. While expected it was important to note.

“Magia Baiser we should-”

“You hurt Kiwi-chan.” She let out a heavy breath of hate as she glared at Veil-Sama who stood upon a small mountain of broken dolls.

“You interfere with my plans, the Tres Magia left because of you, and now you’ve hurt someone that’s mine? Right in front of me? Don’t you know you’re interfering with my time with him?” She was practically growling at him while she clutched her lash and she was starting to ramble so I shut her out in favor of Veil-Sama’s words. Veil-Sama stared at her for a moment before speaking.

“Then perhaps we should end this. Your wounded comrade has already escaped, I don’t see a point in continuing this show while the Black Sea prepares its first invasion. The Black Sea is not the only threat either. The Ultimatra Army is also preparing themselves. Leave, don’t make me repeat myself, Inheritor.”

“I’m going to get rid of you. Then the two of us can finally have so much fun.” She looked almost dreamy when she said that. Stars in her eyes, a deep redness on her face, and she was grabbing her crotch for some reason? Weird. Did she need to pee or something? Magia Baiser was weird.

Black stars bloomed upon her flesh causing my eyes to widen. This was it, she was revealing a piece of her true power. I’d have to take notes on Veil-Sama’s complete annihilation of her!

Akihiko Inoue POV

Fuck! Why couldn’t they just leave! I was at half a tank of Ki and I already had to use my Demon Eye in order to deal with the smoke beast or whatever the hell that version of Leoparde was. I tried to convince her to not use the power so I wouldn’t have to fight her, but this was bullshit!

Now it looked like I would have to fight Utena as well. I let out a grunt as she slammed the ground with her lash, a maniacal laugh on her face.

“Why don’t you bear witness to the manifestation of my desire to protect that which belongs to me.” I knew she was kinky with magical girls, but did she turn the soldier girl who could be a cat girl into an actual pet?

A massive Golem rose from the ground. Formed from a nearby stoplight and many pieces of the road. It radiated power and I was instantly aware that I would need a real weapon for this. At least I didn’t have to worry about accidentally killing it.

“You’ve made me reveal this. Even if only for a moment . . . I find myself impressed with your progress.”

I wasn’t just impressed, I was fucking terrified! I could only hope that because she was a Demon this weapon would still have some decent effects despite being an Anti-Holy weapon. The worst case scenario is that it would be a power up for her! Or perhaps this thing was just a strong weapon.

I ran up the side of the Golem with Dash and placed the nail at the top of its head. Then  I brought the hammer down. I activated Stealth despite the pull and forced my Ki to hit fully empty for the first time. I amplified my Demon eye with the surrounding mana, and the Sneak Attack that resulted shocked even me.

It's like the nail was always prepared to be struck in such a way. Golden veins split throughout the golem’s entire body before it collapsed with a massive explosion and then I fell to the ground.

However before I could collide with the floor Scarlet Alice grabbed the hand of Magia Baiser who stared in shock and pulled her through a portal. I pulled myself up with an agonized grunt then I walked into the alleyway we were just in as my body surged with immense suffering and I took a seat. I amped up Self Mastery to help with the pain, but it wasn’t helping that much.

I think this has been the first time my Ki has ever hit 0. I peeled off my mask as I threw up. I think I finally understood what Ki was. Ki was your physical lifeforce beyond your normal body.

I could still exist, but I felt weak. Truly weak. My Ki wasn’t regenerating and this body of mine needed Ki to function properly. My hand trembled violently as I let out a shaky breath.

Ah . . . I don’t feel so good. I slowly walked home despite the agony I was in, inevitably just sitting on a park bench and putting my head down for a moment. I wasn’t moving with enhanced strength right now, I was moving as a normal human and my mind felt detached from my physical form.

But I needed to get home. I promised Mom I would.

I lumbered over there and took a look at the rewards for what I’d just done.

[Event Started: Darkness Challenges the Abyss]

Time limit: 0:1:04

[Defeat Magia Baiser Succeeded. Gain 3 Villainy]

[Defeat Leoparde Succeeded. Gain 2 Villainy]

[Defeat Scarlet Alice Succeeded. Gain 3 Villainy.]

Just go ahead and roll it. I cracked open the door as the dice rolled softly in my mind.

Rolling 16d6.

+6 Strength. +3 Dexterity. +4 Constitution. +1 Intelligence. +2 Charisma. 

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 8

STR: 25 (0/5 required to advance)

DEX: 23 

CON: 9 (-10)

INT: 19

WIS: 13 

CHR: 16

Skills: 

• Stealth III

• Sneak Attack III

• Dodge III

• Dash IV

• Flow IV

Perks:

• Self Mastery

• Bloodshot Lunar Eye (Howling)

Equipment:

• Faceless Mask

• Golden Nail of the 33 Piercings

. . . 3 More

Claims:

Red Moon Army 2/5

+ Damage against Humans

+ Strength of Rage Effects

[Twenty Strength Reached. Select a Compatible Perk.]

[Athlete]

[Brute Force]

[Ki Burst]

I sat myself on the sofa as I looked over the menu in exhaustion. That was a lot of points, and it looks like the CON I'd gotten had given me a small spark of Ki to work with so I didn’t feel like trash. However I was well aware that pushing it might just cause me to keel over right then and there.

Athlete sounded kind of lame, and if Ki Burst just used Ki to make an attack stronger than that was just worse Sneak Attack. I was exhausted and selected Brute Force. Then my body surged with power and I nearly crushed the tea cup my Mom had just handed to me by mistake.

This was a strength multiplier, and god damn did I feel strong. It also worked amazingly with Self Mastery!

“Utena-chan will be coming over for dinner in about half an hour, go get yourself cleaned up.” She softly patted my head and I nodded slightly. I’d felt bad about everything that happened with Utena, but I was also a bit worried.

The Demon Eye made me run wild and while I entered the shower my thoughts wandered back to all the things she’d said.

Veil was directly interfering with her plans, I knew that . . . but what even were those plans to begin with? I could figure out she wanted to spend time with me, but her saying she owned another person? That was certainly something to keep in the back of my mind when considering her motivation . . .

Damn it why did I find the idea of my sexy evil girlfriend owning the cat girl soldier super fucking hot! 

AN: Things explode, Aki’s body tries to shut down after losing all its Ki, and Scarlet Alice begins: Gushing Over Crimson Abyss-Sama! Or at least she wishes she could, she’s on a secret mission right now! We’ll also get to see the aftermath of what happened in the next chapter, Basier spiraling into wanting to destroy Veil and becoming the perfect Demon Queen to rule over tons of sexy magical girls with her Demon King.

Utena is the opposite of stable, in fact, she’s a super dangerous yandere!

Feel free to leave questions or comments down below, I read them all!

Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time!