The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #7 a LitRPG (ATS)

by Alvin Atwater

  Stay strong, Naomi , she thought. Stay strong . She would not let that…thing win. He was gone now and could no longer return. Venus…Was she protecting her? If that evil thing hated the goddess, then she had to be for the good.

  Maybe she should attend one of her churches. That thought made her think of an old pain in the ass enemy some years back…the old days. The crusaders. And the evil within: crusader researchers. If they were gone, the bastards would possibly be a non-bullying force for the right cause. Probably.

  She shook away the thoughts. She didn’t want those fuckers fresh in her mind again. A long life…Lives…

  Naomi sighed. She was no longer the old her. Just a normal human. And no evil voice would tell her otherwise. What’s pandemonium ? She thought.

  **

  That early evening…

  Clyde’s house…

  The dinner table was still lively, despite the cold-hard fact that Matsuko got away. No one on the planet had the ability to track a Jump. The young man contacted Detective Tetra and convinced the beautiful dark elf to keep a police surveillance on the fallen angel’s hotel. Somehow for openly relying on her, the relationship level increased.

  [Your relationship with Tetra has jumped to endearment, friend level 5.]

  The prompt stood as a reminder that relationship levels silently auto-increased in the background. And for this case, it was because the woman protected him from the authorities, unwarranted investigations, surveillance of his friends’ homes (as they had no idea where Clyde lived), door-to-door searches for him, so on. He looked at her with a new respect.

  While the women were lively and impressed with Melody, the young man couldn’t help but notice Toru’s disturbing silence. Normally he’d be either a part of the conversation, on the phone with Fumi, or even teasing some of the others right into his blank stare trap. He didn’t know what to say to him, deciding to just give the man his space. Alice stole a few glances too.

  Unable to take the dark vibe from his friend anymore, Clyde decided to go to Harumi’s room for positivity. He made sure to knock first, just in case Sazuki somehow teleported in the room, not that he developed a habit of barging in on people. The pink-haired young woman had an open-door policy, mainly in the case of someone needing healing.

  Unfortunately, she wasn’t alone. Her hellhound room guests smiled and before he could back up, so that they could continue their girl-time conversation, Ruri anime-dove into him. He playfully reached for Harumi. She smiled.

  “Help,” he said, petting the adorable white-haired girl. Airi tiredly walked into the room, but stopped to stare blankly at the two.

  “There are plenty of unoccupied rooms for that, you know,” she said then sat on the pink-haired girl’s bed. “Is there any way we can help Toru?”

  The mood in the room dropped. Ruri’s ears sagged. So much for gathering the positivity needed to come up with a new solution for the situation.

  “I don’t know,” Clyde said as he took a seat. “From my world, slimes were a myth, but also immortal, except by the hero’s magic.”

  “That’s true,” Matsume said. “Most slimes are impervious to non-magic attacks. But really, they aren’t that hard to deal with. Had you not taken any down yourselves?”

  Clyde nodded.

  “But from what you told me, Hideo said he killed her by blade. Was it some kind of holy sword, like in the books?”

  “He called it the Fading blade, a sword for monster-killing,” Matsume said, “but really, the only thing special about it is the ability to make it appear and disappear at will.”

  Clyde froze.

  “How long does it take for a slime to regenerate?”

  “In a matter of seconds,” Ruri said. “But if the damage was magic-infused, it could take longer.”

  “This is irrelevant,” Matsume said. “He mentioned the purple flames. She’s gone.”

  “Purple flames doesn’t always mean death,” Clyde said. “It didn’t for Gamen, not for Nezerath.” He sighed. “Never mind, no use of digging for the impossible.”

  That night, Clyde found himself rolling around in his own thoughts. Chika studied at the desk, Alice wrapped up the evaluation of her father’s...well, her businesses. All three of them abruptly let out a collective sigh.

  “I just want to snap that man’s throat in two,” Chika said. “Toru’s uncle’s a jerk!” She folded her arms and harrumphed liked a tsundere or anime girl style.

  “I want to disable all of his powers, break every bone in his body then toss him to the futas. I’ll make sure they’d be plenty angry that day,” Alice said. “Maybe they’ll make him explode into a million pieces.”

  Clyde let out another sigh, but didn’t add to the gruesome declarations. Sure, he’d obliterate Hideo down to the molecule then send his soul to…

  The young man’s eyes widened. Why did he have these thoughts? As if…He…Clyde gulped, realizing something. His mind flashed back to what the Genie said earlier.

  An angelic being could probably get away with it once, if lucky.

  That was just an angel. But what about him? Hmm, what if he made a command? Before the young man could resonate any further thoughts, Melody burst into the room, tears in her eyes.

  “Toru…Toru ran off. Something isn’t right about him.”

  **

  Toru’s room before Melody walked in on him….

  “Toru, the caller of Zang, the man whom I’ve been looking for. You are in an impossible situation, but I can help you. Zang is incredible, but you’re unable to increase enough of it in time. Hideo, the one who took away your soul mate, gave her an unfair death, will be leaving soon. And once he does, you will never find him, at least not until you’re in chains and on your way to being converted into a filthy crusader. Is that what you want? Of course it isn’t. But today is your lucky day. You see, I like to watch events, give boons just to see what happens, and then take notes. Let me give you the Zang to avenge your love. And I will be direct with you, the amount I give you will probably burn you out if you don’t finish him off fast enough. Not that you care. You are still recovering from losing the one who you spent day after day with. You were about to propose to the Suraimu girl, were you not? And he took it all away using a blade that had an enchantment which disabled her ability to regenerate. He killed such a beautiful woman and force of nature in the most…dishonorable way .”

  The video-like image of Hideo answering the door and killing Fumi in cold blood, flashed through Toru’s mind. He could feel the semi-cool autumn air that night, smell the charcoal-like odor of the purple flames—even felt the heat. The young man, eyes wide, fell to his knees, trembling…shocked. Tears streamed from his eyes. Why couldn’t he be there for her? He would have given everything, used all of his power to defend her. “So let me ask you this. Do you want the power to avenge her? You’ve already heard my upfront honesty about this much power. You already know that it may kill you. Yet…you still desire revenge. After seeing that, can you live with yourself without doing anything about that filthy crusader ?”

  “I don’t care what happens to me,” Toru said as he stood, eyes glowing yellow. “Give me the power to kill him.”

  “You’ve opened up your heart to me and so I will grant you the power. Kill that crusader—it will make the world a better place. Of course, the price you’re paying becomes two. Your possible burnout.. Or no longer recognizing friends as allies .”

  Toru didn’t hear the words as the ecstasy of power infused within him. And Zang took over his soul.

  Melody walked in to check on the young man after feeling a presence that shouldn’t be there, but it was too late. A fully dressed Toru dashed past her, armed, surrounded in crimson aura. She followed, but then he Jumped. An ability that the young man didn’t previously have….

  Episode 40 (Part 2)

  Toru’s mansion…

  Genzo paced back and forth, until at last, his phone rung.

  “Sir, we’ve found him downtown an
d the snipers are in place.”

  “Good,” Genzo said. “Kill him. That monster is not my brother. Maybe he’ll be reborn into a slug.”

  “Yes, sir.” The bodyguard gave out silent orders, which were the trained hand signals that Genzo himself personally oversaw. “Uhm…sir, we have a problem.”

  “What?” Genzo said.

  “Your son is walking up to him and we cannot risk that shot. And something’s strange about him…he…looks kind of creepy. His appearance hasn’t changed, but the look in his eyes…that’s murder, sir.”

  “Get him out of there,” Genzo snapped. “I will not have Hideo taking my son. GET HIM OUT OF THERE OR I’LL RIP YOUR NUTS OFF.”

  “Yes, sir!” the minion gave more silent orders. They were more than likely going to charge the monster with handguns, tasers, and other restraints. He could only leave the job to them.

  Seconds later, he received another phone call...from someone named Clyde? What he heard made his eyes widened.

  **

  Downtown Lot City…

  Toru walked toward Hideo, his eyes cold and glowing yellow, body full of Zang. A strange shadow in the shape of something with two large horns hovered above the young man, eyes seemingly dead in its thousand-yard stare. He ignored his father’s dead men, killed in one single move from his shithead smug uncle.

  “So, you’ve come to join after all,” Hideo said. “You’ll make a…Ah, that look. Suicide doesn’t suit you, so I suggest you think again before challenging me, boy .”

  Toru allowed his aura to cover the city then pull it back into a thick outline around him. Hideo still looked smug, shaking his head, orange eyes seeming to darken.

  “Hideo,” Toru said in a voice that wasn’t quite his. “This is your fate for wrongfully killing Fumi. You’ve even acknowledged her kindness…and yet you.”

  “You fool,” Hideo said in a disinterested voice. “To think you’re going to fight me over a slime.” He laughed. “One that deceived you.” He softly facepalmed.

  “Fight you?” Toru shook his head.

  “Ah, so you’ve got some senses,” Hideo said.

  “I’m going to kill you,” Toru said. “That’s a promise.”

  Hideo frowned.

  “I think a hotheaded boy needs his discipline.”

  Hideo, Researcher of the Crusaders.

  Level: 257

  Type: Cruel crusader.

  Work under: The Order.

  Special: ???

  Weakness: none.

  Resistances: none.

  Secret: ???

  [Toru has entered a Showdown !]

  [Life and Death!]

  Toru took a martial art fighting stance and gestured for his uncle to approach. Hideo chuckled.

  “Someone’s big on their britches today,” he said then thrust a palm toward the young man. A familiar sword shot toward him. Toru caught it in midair and with a single hand, snapped it in two, tossing the useless fake metal aside. It dematerialized. “I see.”

  Hideo approached slowly, while in his own fighting stance and then threw, not a punch, but a sneaky poison-tipped dagger. Toru didn’t question how he knew, but once again, he caught it, but instead of snapping it in two, he plunged it into his uncle’s chest.

  Hideo gasped, laughing.

  [Hideo took no damage.]

  “I see you have spunk, but..” he pulled up his shirt, revealing body armor. “I’ve had plenty of assassins attempt to snuff me. The same for the others.” He laughed. “Simple precautions like this—”

  Toru’s kick spiraled him backward, almost at the speed of sound. Zang flared, calling for the young man to devour Hideo.

  [Hideo’s HP has dropped from 250% to 230%]

  Hideo stood, dusting himself off, laughing. He raised a hand. A geyser of light dropped from the sky, surrounding him until he looked as if he consumed the sun. Even his eyes glowed brighter than light bulbs.

  [Hideo activated Tier 1 skill: Titanic Giga Ray.]

  Toru simply stood as the geyser of magic and heat struck him from the sky. And couldn’t pierce his increased aura output, which acted as a shield. Hideo actually gasped.

  “What is this? This shouldn’t be possible.”

  Red mist oozed from Toru’s mouth as he pictured the many ways he could chop the man into pieces. Then he grinned.

  [Toru activated Void tier skill: Super exodus death ray.]

  [This is an unblockable skill.]

  And indeed Hideo tried to put up some sort of force field. The magic went through burning and blasting the man several yards backward.

  [Hideo’s HP has dropped to 200%]

  Toru stomped, causing the ground beneath his uncle to vibrate. Sensing the impending doom, Hideo rolled to the side. Crimson magic burst from the spot he was at.

  Toru could feel the heat, even from yards away. He grinned, allowing Zang to intensify even further.

  “This magic,” Hideo said as he stood. “It is unnatural. So you sold your soul for a slime girl. Pathetic. It’s time I got serious.”

  [Hideo activated Haste.]

  [Hideo activated Body Fort.]

  [Hideo’s speed and defense increased.]

  [Hideo activated Blessed Defense.]

  [Hideo’s defenses have been coated with the holy element.]

  “A shame, you really would’ve made a spectacular crusader,” Hideo said, “but I’ll be putting you down like a rabid dog.”

  Hideo teleported to Toru’s side, the fading blade unsheathed and in motion. A strange shape of red aura blocked the sword and laughed. The aura actually laughed, which made the young man roll his eyes.

  “Hey uncle,” Toru said, “why are you killing yourself?”

  With a wave of his finger, the solid aura forced Hideo to stab himself multiple times in his neck. The researcher somehow managed to break the spell, backpedaling rapidly, eyes wide, yelling in utter agony.

  [Toru used Void tier skill: Evil aura control.]

  [Hideo’s HP has dropped to 150%]

  Hideo coughed blood, grinning.

  “Well, I always known one day my methods would come back to bite me in the ass.” He laughed maniacally then aimed two hands at Toru.

  [Hideo activated Tier 1 skill: Holy dance ray.]

  The beam of white and gray magic blasted the young man hard enough to rocket him into a car, denting it.

  [Toru’s HP has dropped from 150% to 80%]

  [Toru has been inflicted with angel blight.]

  [Toru was hurt by angel blight.]

  [Toru’s HP has dropped to 73% and continues to drop.]

  Hideo laughed.

  “Do you regret selling your soul, boy?”

  He did not realize Toru’s trap until it was too late. By allowing himself to take damage, Toru faked weakness. Sheer complacency caused his enemy to let down his guard. The young man teleported right in front of him. He tackled the man to the ground, slugged him in the face a few times, then grabbed his right arm. Smiling, he snapped it in half then again and again. Hideo’s scream pierced the air.

  “Do you regret killing my fiancée?” Toru said. “No, you probably don’t, so let me help you with old lefty there.”

  Hideo teleported before the young man could reach for his good arm.

  “This thing you sold yourself too…It’s the only reason why you could keep up with my level.”

  [Hideo activated Stabilizing heal.]

  [Hideo’s damage has been undone, HP increased to 200%]

  [Angel blight has worn off.]

  [Toru was burned by Zang overload.]

  [Toru’s HP has dropped to 43%]

  Hideo shook his head.

  “To think I’ll have to rely on enhancements, but you cannot be taken lightly. And not that thing…”

  [Hideo has injected himself with Holy Serum Test C]

  **

  Clyde’s party...

  Outside of Toru’s mansion.

  “Kanako, I want you to revive Fumi,” Clyde said.

>   “I already told you I can’t,” the genie said, eyes tearing. “It’s the law.”

  Clyde became one with time and space as he allowed the power to envelop him. And when he spoke, his voice traveled across universes, briefly stopped time for other worlds, and boomed with an intensity so strong that the genie found herself on her knees bowing low. Winds blasted.

  “ I AM THE GOD OF LIFE AND ETERNITY. I AM HE WHO DESTROYED THE ABYSS, HE WHO OPPOSES THE VIPER, HE WHO COMMANDS YOU TO OBEY. NOW OBEY! WHEN A MATTER IS URGENT AND IMPORTANT, YOU WILL OBEY MY WORDS FOR I AM THE LAW. I AM ABOVE THE LAW AND SET THE LAW. THE LAW FOLLOWS ME, BOWS TO ME, AND CURLES AND DANCES FOR ME. DO NOT FORGET YOUR PLACE AND WHY THE STONE-VIPER GAMES WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT ME. THAT PLANET-DESTROYING MONSTER WILL DEVOUR YOU ALL, UNCHECKED .”

  He shut off the transformation, allowing the bright golden auras and the halo to vanish. His normal magic pressure allowed the others to move again, even speak. The fear that set took a while to subside from them, but Clyde knew they’d be alright. He already let everyone else know about the plan. Tear came up with the idea of contacting Toru’s father. It was their luck that Genzo knew the situation and happily invited them over.

  Why did he call himself the god of life and eternity? Strange term came out of nowhere…Talking about being full of himself. In fact, why did he say any of the things he did…Still, it got the desired result.