He sent out the text to Team Stone the moment he realized the overall situation. Yet, the girls didn’t give up. They pushed harder, fought with more passion. Ayu’s magic-based martial arts and sheer strength look as if it steadily intensified, despite her tiredness. Then it hit Hiroshi. There was no fucking way endless numbers lived in a hotel. The law enforcement, maybe even higher would’ve caught such numbers marching toward the city and called for the full force, even the swat team. He thought back to the things Clyde told him. Were there illusion-casting demons in this lot too? That had to be it.
“Ayu, Maho, Rodger!” he called. “Some of them are not real. Do that expanding senses thing or whatever and don’t waste your magic on the fakes. They disappear and just come back.”
Ayu cheered and waved.
“Check!”
And the group actually began to push back. Even Hiroshi, carefully going for headshots, killed a handful of Blood Hand. Just when the military leader’s hopes started to rise, a shadow casted down on them in the form of…an angel? He looked up and his eyes widened…
A beautiful woman with black wings hovered above the fight, but she didn’t appear to have a care in the world. Just watching as if the battle was a boring TV show. The fallen angel actually showed up. Shit. Clyde warned him not to fight this one.
Just then, the fallen angel raised a hand into the sky. Winged bat-like creatures with chicken-like heads spawned—at least twenty of them. Four-feet-tall, wings dark as charcoal, and very low-pitched howls—these clawless creatures didn’t look like much, but Hiroshi knew damn well not to take them lightly.
“Avian golems, kill them,” the fallen angel said. He couldn’t help but appreciate her beauty, even if she did order their deaths. Hiroshi wished these were different circumstances—he’d love to…He stopped the thoughts. This had to be some kind of charm or something. He didn’t know much about magic, except through the TV shows.
Shit. They had to deal with the remaining Blood Hand and the avian golems. This just couldn’t be happening. He thought about calling a retreat, but noticed that some of the spawned monsters blocked the exits.
“There will be no escape for you,” the fallen angel said. “Now just die so I can go get a drink.”
“That’s my line,” Hiroshi said.
“Oh?” the fallen angel said, then chuckled. “Then it’s the survival of the fittest. Whoever leaves out alive, gets to enjoy the loving feeling of being drunk.”
“That’s not a loving feeling,” Ayu said.
The fallen angel shook her head.
“You’re one of those, who can’t appreciate the liquors or even the right craft beers.”
“See Ayu, even she knows how to do things. Too bad you have to shoot her down,” Hiroshi said. Ayu rolled her eyes, then focused, but six Blood Hand stole her attention. Ten free avian golems started toward the man, eyes shining with death.
“Fuck,” Hiroshi said, shooting, but the bullets didn’t stop them.
“So sad,” the fallen angel said. “End him.”
**
Clyde’s party…
As they were rushing to engage the foes less than half a block ahead, Chika’s phone rang. She answered.
“Hello? You’re really going through with the parents meeting on Friday? You don’t have to sound so excited about it. No…Mom, we really shouldn’t. Mom.” Chika sighed as she closed her phone.
“Your mom is as unstoppable as always, I see,” Harumi said.
“Tell me about it,” Chika said. “It’s so embarrassing.”
Melody nodded, seeming to sympathize.
“Well the only one who’s lucky enough to talk about skinship with Chika’s mom is Clyde,” Seth said, laughing. Chika, Kitome, and Alice glared at him. He shrugged. “We saw the suffocation, but—”
“Say one more word and I’ll gut you,” Chika said.
“Alright, here they come,” Clyde said after loudly clearing his throat. He stole a glance at Toru. His new aura surrounded him. Fuck. “Push through them. The military guys are just ahead.”
The first group of enemies were Blood Hand. The young man gave one an analyze before engaging.
Blood Hand- Juso
Level: 83
Type: demon warrior.
Work under: Platus, dark god of Utopius.
Special: Illusive Slash
Weakness: light, lightning, fire.
Resistances: dark
Secret: has pictured Matsuko a few times while masturbating.
Clyde almost missed a step.
[Your party has entered combat!]
The enemy level ranged from eighty to eighty-six. Clyde was ninety-one. He still wouldn’t underestimate them, but at least the fight didn’t require him to go out of his way.
Clyde’s speed stat showed as he bolted toward the first Blood Hand, cutting him down in an instant. Another one popped in his place. He dodged the enemy’s swing and ended him again. The Blood Hand minion respawned.
“What the fuck? Okay, really, this illusion bullshit.”
“Yep,” Kitome said, blowing one the fuck up with a heart bomb. “This is going to be a pain in the ass.”
“Let me,” Harumi said, raising her wand. Clyde made a note to himself to get the young woman a new one. Yet, somehow, despite having the same one he gave her, it scaled with her level. The pink-haired girl somehow upgraded it. Or did Kitome upgrade it?
[Harumi activated Tier 1 skill: Dispel.]
A cloud of magic briefly coated the battlefield. The dozens upon dozens of Blood Hand became just five. They smiled sadly. Alice, Ruri, and Yuki ended them. Melody shook her head.
[Battle completed. Victory! Reward: 80,000 EXP and $20,000.]
“Come on, no time to waste,” Melody said, leading. Clyde chuckled.
“Someone’s eager,” Clyde said. The redhead didn’t respond.
Ahead, the party ran into a rather odd sight, that is, monsters that looked like a cross between a bird, more specifically a chicken, a bat, and with the body of a humanoid. Quite creepy. And the military group fought. The young man’s attention diverted to Hiroshi surrounded by approaching chicken monsters, probably out of ammo judging by how he threw his gun at the closest one.
“Kill them off, Team Stone. Get them out of that mess,” Clyde said then hurried over to the gaggle of enemies that were likely to chomp Hiroshi’s nuts off. It took only a few seconds to cut them all down—they were all level forty-one. “Get your crew and go.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Hiroshi said, relief in his voice. “Thanks for the save.”
“It’s no problem,” Clyde said. “One word of advice, I think shit’s about to get nasty in this city. You may want to get back to base.” Hideo could still be around.
“It’s nasty everywhere,” Hiroshi said. “But you’re right about getting the hell out.”
Clyde looked up to see the fallen angel, staring down with uncaring eyes. Melody’s attention was up too, eyes hard.
“Leave her to me,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Clyde said. “Earlier you guys were unsure—”
“I said, leave her to me,” Melody said, then invoked her goddess state. “She’s been a pain in the rear since childhood. And worse when she’s drunk.”
Matsuko gave Melody a condescending grin.
“Well look at Ms. realm core destroyer, all grown-up and mouthy. Took you long enough to show yourself, coward. And you’re long overdue for your punishments. Your father will take over once I finish with you.”
Melody shook her head.
“If you believe that I’m the same as before, well, just let me show you. And I certainly won’t be taking any shit from a lowly fallen angel.”
Matsuko laughed.
“Come then, tomato head. Let’s settle this long-time old score.”
“You know what’s sad, Matsuko,” Melody said. “I wanted to like you, even become friends. You weren’t so bad at first.”
“Oh, you me
an when your father bonded a freshly fallen, pathetic and sad angel,” Matsuko said. “Ha! You had no friends and thought that a vulnerable angel that lost everything was your choice at fulfilling the gap. Looking down on me of all things like I’m some pathetically weak child in need of charity. I swear you deity-types are all the same.”
“But—”
“Talk time is over,” Matsuko interrupted, then landed a dozen feet from the redhead, grinning. “Daughter dearest of Utopius needs a spanking.”
Natalia hopped on Clyde’s shoulders.
“You should’ve brought popcorn, pervy-nii.”
“I think I’d rather go without you crunching in my ear,” he said.
“Then what about some-fan-service,” she said in the same manner as the cliché anime house wife: when they asked the last question, ‘or do you want me.’
Kitome thankfully plucked the loli off him and tossed her into Ashard.
“Freaking pervy witchling.”
“It’s witch, not witchling,” Natalia said then stuck her tongue out at the magical girl.
“Get off me,” Ashard said, kicking her back toward Clyde. “She put Alethian pepper sauce on my burger last night. It—”
` “Enough and keep watch,” Alice said. “She may spawn more monsters or call guards.” She sighed. “I just wish I had a candy bar or two.”
Tear shot the half-demoness a blank stare.
“I think I’ll just summon a turtle,” Natalia said. “We’ll see how she handles that.”
“Shh,” Seth hissed. “I’d like to see a good cat fight. Maybe they’ll rip off some clothing or two.”
Kitome elbowed him in the gut.
“Pervert.”
**
Matsuko, Leader of the Blood Hand.
Level: 163 (Compressed.)
Type: fallen angel
Work under: Platus, dark god of Utopius.
Special: Solar Suffocation de Grande.
Weakness: holy.
Resistances: dark and all of its attributes except demon.
Secret: is afraid of reptiles, especially turtles. She was traumatized by a snapping turtle prank during childhood.
Melody calmly watched as Matsuko flew toward her. Abruptly, the fallen angel stopped halfway, aiming both palms at the redhead.
[Matsuko activated Solar Blast]
Melody stood there and took it, arms folded. If she wore jeans instead of a skirt, the young woman would’ve had her hands stuffed in her pockets.
[Melody is unaffected by magic.]
Matsuko flung five more. Melody yawned. Same result. Then finally, the redhead got the reaction that she wanted. The fallen angel’s widened eyes.
“Oh you realize it, do you not,” Melody said, her voice cool, serene, and pure. “You would probably continue to bully the old me. But now,” she chuckled, “well, let’s just say I’m going to make it rain blood.”
[Melody activated Silver tier skill: Metal lightning bolt.]
The grey lightning struck instantly and brutally. As Matsuko plummeted, Melody walked over to her slowly. To her surprise, the fallen angel was laughing.
[Matsuko’s HP has dropped to from 275% to 150%]
“I guess you really have grown up, but don’t get so full of yourself.”
[Matsuko activated Skill fusion: Sonic speed + Solar burn slash!]
Matsuko blurred over to Melody, dodging an attempted punch with ease and with a fiery blade that manifested from nothing, delivered an upwards slash. She followed up the attack with a spin-kick…that the redhead blocked with a single finger.
[Melody took no damage]
[Melody is unaffected by bladed weapons.]
[Damaged reversed x100]
A blast of light spiraled Matsuko backward to the ground, twitching.
[Matsuko’s HP has dropped to -5%]
[Matsuko’s Fallen Flash black curse activated, restoring her health back to 150% a second before her death.]
“Holy shit,” Seth, Clyde, and Kitome said at the same time.
“You go, strawberry head,” Ruri said. “You deserve a nice juicy bone for this awesomeness.”
“She’s not a dog, ya moron,” Kitome said, then whacked Ruri on the forehead with a paper fan.
“Are you trying to pick a fight, human?” Ruri said, holding her head. “Dear Anubis, what kind of paper fan is that?”
“Shhh,” Alice hissed, “before I hit both of you and it won’t be with a paper fan. Where’d you get that, anyway?”
“From Yuki,” Kitome said. Harumi softly facepalmed.
Melody slowly walked toward Matsuko, aura flowing around her like a tornado. The fallen angel backed away.
“This just…”
“Don’t start with the clichéd that’s impossible speech ,” Clyde called out to the fallen angel. “You know damn well it’s possible. Or you’re just ignorant.”
Matsuko glared at him.
“Yeah fuck this, I don’t get paid.”
[Matsuko activated Jump.]
And just like that, she fled.
“Wow, what a letdown,” Seth said. “I wanted ripped clothes and a good fight dammit.”
“So that’s what it’s like to be unsealed, huh?” Tear said to the redhead, smiling. “You’re nearly unrecognizable in the magic spectrum.”
“A magic what?” Kanako said.
“A viewing of aura,” Alice told her. “Everyone with enough magic can see aura. Now let’s go after her—we’re wasting time. I also want to order a red velvet cake before the bakery closes.”
Everyone stared at the half-demoness.
**
Hideo laughed as he watched the battle from a hacked street camera. Sending fake orders to the captain, disguised as the admiral’s channel was just too easy. Sure, they’d eventually find out the breach, more than likely within an hour—the tech girls were fast—but it’d be too late.
“Consider that payback for sticking your nose in places where they don’t belong, government scum.”
He propped his feet on the front inn’s desk, daring the attendant to say something. She received the payment. She sold away her rights to complain.
Too bad his assassin plan failed, but he didn’t expect a simple human to actually kill a monster. She was simply a distraction, cannon fodder. Not even an important one, just a slight boredom-killer. He clicked off the footage, bored again. He already knew the outcome. The slaughter of the military group. No point in wasting precious time.
Episode 40 (Part 1): Laughing Darkness.
Naomi’s apartment…
Forcing herself to stay awake, Naomi pushed through the production of her next news article. Thanks to her friend, whom she considered precious due to having very few, she had a plethora of content. All of it was aimed toward boosting the popularity of Team Stone. They literally saved her life, multiple times, and she…didn’t know how to thank them, except by the only means she knew. Counter as much bad press as possible, replace it with good things.
The green-haired girl yawned, the dark circles around her eyes seeming to expand. As the sole member of the newspaper club, especially of the best college in the nation, she had to triple and re-triple her efforts to producing the most impressive papers ever. Fortunately, Sazuki was a little friendlier these days, ever since the old dean vanished. She hoped the new one won’t turn her back into the ice queen or else getting anything approved would become a chore.
Abruptly, a feeling of dread filled the hardworking girl until her heart pounded fast and she trembled a little. A voice that echoed everywhere and nowhere, made up of hell itself.
“You left the band, an old life, but what have you actually accomplished? Journalism? How laughable.”
Naomi frowned.
“The voice again, after all of this time. Leave me alone—get out of my head! Maki has lost and changed. Not even she will—”
“That woman was just a mere distraction. A black Ki test.” A dark laugh filled the room. “You, who was once called
the Silent Sword…Why do you not open up your second compartment within that chest. Why not use the real cursed blade? Are you doubting yourself?”
“Silent Sword…yeah I was going through a phase,” Naomi said in a deadpan voice. Clyde would totally call her an edge lord. “Remember when I told you to fuck off, stupid voice. My disposition toward you still hasn’t changed.” She sighed. She must be going crazy. Lack of sleep while trying to keep her club alive, catch as many scoops as possible, take pictures, write articles, and work a part-time job.
Just then, images of a smug Maki flooded through her mind.
“You hate her. Let that hate be your strength. Open your heart to the blade again. Entertain me, Silent Sword .”
Naomi rolled her eyes, cringing. She clasped her hands together.
“Great Goddess Venus, if you’re watching over me, please cleanse me of the evil that speaks in my head.”
The voice actually gasped—which Naomi didn’t expect. She only mentioned Venus offhandedly, because Clare used to worship her.
“Calling on another deity when you have me? It doesn’t matter, I no longer need your vessel. I can taste… pandemonium in the air .” The evil voice chuckled. “Pandemonium, cousin to black Ki. This pathetic city surprises me twice. Farewell, failure who calls herself a child of Venus. One day, I may take the time out of my busy schedule to make you regret filling my heart space with that wench of a goddess .”
And just like that, the presence vanished. Naomi collapsed to her knees, tears streaming from her face. What did she do to deserve this? She gave up the sword to be a better person, and she still gets punished after many years? She wiped away her tears.
The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #7 a LitRPG (ATS) Page 17