_RECOVERING_FILES_(_1221_/_4000_)_

_CONTINUE_?_

_YES_

_NO_

Epic 33: The Invasion Part 1

"No, the person is smart. People are paranoid, panicky, dangerous animals."

Agent K, Men in Black

Switching POV: Motoyasu

"... And with that, *CLICK* I'll see myself to Hell."

"Wait, NO-"

*BANG*

The recording paused at the same moment where Nan saw his past/other self commit suicide right in front of him.

Everyone in the room was completely in awe on what they've all witnessed.

"... What in the actual fuck was all that?" One of Motoyasu's party members/haremettes remarked.

... The Demon King... the dreaded [Tome Fallen]... at his lowest.

A turnpike towards utter madness that kept going further and further down towards the abyss. Through the eyes of the Demon King, all they've witnessed was the sheer depths of the Demon King's madness like nothing before.

"... So this wasn't his first time plaguing this world!?" The Captain of the Melromarcian Royal Guards pointed out. "And seventeen times over!?"

"So even the Demon King himself is vulnerable to the sin of suicide as well..." Pope Balmus remarked while scratching his chin. "... How trite, but typical for a sinful being like him."

"So he's the one that ultimately caused the death of my dear sister..." King Aultcray's voice trembled out in rage. "... I should've killed him where he stood the first I'd had my eyes on him."

"So that explains why the [Spriggans] besieged this Kingdom in the first place..." The Captain pointed out. "... They're literally his children and grandchildren, carrying out his will of our collective destruction. Sir Motoyasu, what do we do?"

Motoyasu simply kept staring at the scene of the suicide playing on repeat, completely taken aback at the revelation that was shown before him.

"Somebody turn off the [Projection Orb]!"

One of the [Royal Guards] shut off the projection, dragging the now level 80 [Spear Saint] back to reality.

"Huh, what?" Motoyasu slurred out.

"Sir [Hero], please focus!" The Captain remarked. "Our survival depends on your intuition on what to do next! Please, what do we do!?"

Motoyasu briefly snapped back into reality, surrounded by faces of varying degrees of concern, waiting for him to give the order on what to do next.

He wants to be sure as he was before he saw all of this, where all he needed to focus on was to fight through every [Wave], and earn the praise and adoration of the people like it was supposed to.

... Looking back on all of it, with now the context of Nan being on multiple trips in this world, everything began to take a darker route in hindsight.

The reason behind his arrogance, and his seemingly overpowered-cheats? He wasn't lying about them being played for fools. Nan literally knows everything about this world, and why he hates it so much.

... Despair. A feeling unlike any other, an emotion that Motoyasu couldn't comprehend.

His brain felt like it was going to explode upon thinking too much of this whole isekai plot-twist bullcrap.

Motoyasu never wanted to think about any of this complicated nonsense right now, because as of now, he needs to turn this whole thing around, otherwise, its game over.

... For everyone.

"This is way too much, even for me..." Motoyasu thought to himself. "... Have we been fighting an unaware clone of a Demon King who ruined this world 17 times over? How much does he know? When will he come for us to kill us all?"

Motoyasu then looks at his trembling hand.

"... Can I even stop him?" Motoyasu spoke to himself, doubting himself for the very first time. "... Can I even understand him anymore?"

The more and more he thought about it, the more and more he realized that Nan was becoming less and less human in comprehension.

... He was more akin to the Final Boss. Even he admits that he's outmatched as of now.

"... Sir Motoyasu?" One of his all-female party members called out.

He then looked at their eyes, all of them in varying states of worry and concern.

Motoyasu realized what was really going on now.

Deep down, he really couldn't trust his own party, ever since that faithful day, where two demons in angels's clothing ripped him apart, telling which of them can get to "take him to heaven", when in reality, they were straight out of hell.

... Deep down, Motoyasu couldn't help himself to a woman in need, and regardless of intentions or not, he can't afford to turn a blind eye to their distress.

If he must be betrayed later to save them, so be it. Even if he were to learn to never trust women ever again, he can't in good conscious, simply let them die.

"... Fortify our defense twice fold." Motoyasu stated. "If he's back, then he doesn't plan to leave us alone. I'll make sure that the supplies from Faubley make it to here in the first place, and everyone in this city needs to keep vigil both in and out of Melromarc. We need to make sure that we weather through it long enough so that we can make our counterattack the least they expect it."

"... Simple, but practical." The Captain commented. "But then again, I suppose being besieged by giant stone and plant monsters for a month straight doesn't leave us with much else..."

It wasn't a concise plan, but there weren't any plans left.

Nan's whole New Game+ will end here. The [Waves] were nothing compared to the potential destruction ushered in by his madness.

"We have to stop him here." Motoyasu declared. "Or else we'll all die."

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

... Did you know that I have a hidden soft spot for mall and elevator music?

I myself was whistling to the tune of Dead Rising's mall music, while looking through the new books I got in [Vault Ω], and even with a missing pinkie and prosthetic thumb, as long as I have two functioning fingers, I'll live.

After all, for me, life is one giant lesson that only ends after death, and I still haven't learned enough yet. Henceforth, I decided to seclude myself into the [Archive] and study up a bit more of my... self-fulfilling legacy.

So what if I'm proven wrong in my pursuit of the complete and utter destruction of Melromarc for wrongfully bringing me to this world? So what if after my 18th birthday and reincarnation proves all the more fruitless?

... Then I really can't afford to die, now can I?

"So Grimm..." I sighed out, still a bit shaken by the revelation of my current-18th attempt in this world. "... How much of this thing do you think is all my fault?"

"Honestly, I don't that matters in the grand scheme of things anymore." Grimm remarked. "If anything, even after 17 attempts, you're really just a small droplet in a sea of shit."

"Valid." I replied. "After all, I can't do this alone, now can I?"

"I would point out that you're missing the point, but considering that I'm crazy enough to keep being chained to you, I don't think I'm in any position to protest unless I sound like a hypocrite." Grimm pointed out. "Hell, the others are following you, albeit, not out of genuine loyalty."

"That, I'm fully aware." I replied as a turned a page on my book. "Some joined because they're indebted to me, some joined to seek safeguarding from the calamity that I've created, inadvertently or otherwise, some joined to seek revenge agains to those I deemed blameworthy of their plight, some joined because that's what their biological coding dictated, and the rest stayed because they've become enthralled in the madness of carnage and chaos that I've offered. An army of refugees, vendetta-seekers, drones, and addicts. I want to tell them to run away, tell them to flee, so that they don't end up like me."

"So why don't you?"

I close the book in my hands, reading the cover labeled [Four Holy Weapons Manual], the same book that dragged Naofumi to this world.

"... Because without each other, we're denied of the purpose of our very being." I answered while presenting the book before Grimm. "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

"... So am I trash?" Grimm asked.

"Admit it, you would've eaten whoever else tried to chain themselves onto you." I retorted. "And considering what kind of people here, I doubt that they would've lasted for more than one minute with you. Anti-demihuman tendencies aside, I don't think they'll advocate for monsters' lives anytime soon."

"Touche."

We both then head towards the other facilities that we haven't even touched for a while.

"Okay, need a refresher, but what the hell does the [Breeding Grounds] even do?" I asked. "Last I checked, this shite ain't Pokémon."

"Why bother?" Grimm remarked. "This whole place is wrecked, and everywhere else!"

*CRASH*

And right on cue, a loose piece of debris hits the floor right in front of me.

"... Yeesh, for people armed with swords and spears, they tore this place a new one-oh wait, an empty banana mag." I cut myself off upon seeing and picking up and empty AK-mag below some bullet holes dug into the stone ceilings above. "... Still, the whole place isn't too damaged... at least the smithery is still working."

I unsheathed my melted-[Sacrificial Dagger] from my boot-scabbard, inspecting its corroded and worn blade and frame.

"... Think we can fix this?" I asked Grimm.

"If you want, go ahead, but when it comes to having enough weapons..." Grimm remarked as he looked around my leg straps all carrying various new [Tome] weapons. "... I think we're okay."

"Eh, doesn't hurt to be too prepared." I remarked as I placed my busted shiv onto the anvil of the smithery. "... Is this shit automated, or does someone have to man it?"

Grimm just looks at me in confusion.

"... Should call Byakko?" I remarked.

"Who else?"

We both then let out a sigh before we hoist ourselves up the broken elevator shaft and come out to the surface...

... And find myself facing a bunch of the ex-slaves, now in their new equipment, come back with an entire cart of supplies and people hogtied to poles, on which they begin putting over the flames.

"... Can someone, please tell me?"

I pull out my new ivory revolver based off the Colt Anaconda Revolver ([Grimoire Heart] was based off the Colt King Cobra model), cock back the hammer with my [Bandit's Silver Thumb]...

*BANG*

... And fire that sucker up into the air, putting the commotion before me to a halt.

"... On what in the actual fuck, IS GOING ON HERE!?" I roared out in the end.

"... That's kinda my fault." Chi popped out from the barrels of the cart. "These assholes were passing through us nearby, so we had to take them out."

"Any survivors?" I grumbled out.

"We had to pull out before we started losing lives on our side." Chi stated. "... Turns out they were hiding sellswords in the pile of apples."

... Oh fucking brilliant.

"... Chi." I asked, causing everyone to back away. "... How long has it been since your improv-raid?"

"Not that long, really-"

*BANG*

I fired my gun next to the [Perfected Homunculus]'s head, knocking a few strands of hair loose off of his head.

"... Start running." I ordered. "And FINISH THE FUCKING JOB!"

Chi then moved. And upon disappearing in a blink of an eye, I heard gunshots and screaming coming from a distance.

A minute and a half later, Chi comes back, drenched in blood and entrails all over his suit vest, his two guns dripping of more blood from their butts, and behind him, he pulled four more carts of supplies with a strand of rope tied around his waist.

"Haah... haah..." Chi heaved out as he ripped the rope around his waist off of himself. "... There. Not even the women and children were spared."

"Good. I'll see to it that the [Spriggans] and [Dryads] are fed." I replied. "Take five, you've earned the rest. The rest of you... eh, proceed with what you were doing before. I'll check to see if any of the supplies are poisoned or not."

The masked and hooded ex-slaves then start the fire as they begin to spit roast the captive merchants and couriers, with me in question not their preferences, since I'm now one of the said crowd.

... Hey, gotta try something new every now and then.

"Hey." I called out to the twins, L'Arc, Glass, and Theresa. "... What's with those looks on your faces?"

"You're going to let them eat them?" L'Arc pointed out.

"To be fair, it ain't cannibalism if you aren't the same species." I retorted. "... Did Glass tattle?"

All three otherworlders nod.

"Makes sense." I remarked as I began to dig through the crate of apples and find something rather odd. "... Guys?"

We all then looked into the crate of apples from above.

"... Are apples supposed to have black crow feathers growing out of them?" I asked. "Or am I tripping balls?"

Switching POV: Naofumi

*cough cough*

Naofumi's ears perk up upon hearing a faint coughing sound coming up from up ahead.

*cough cough*

"... What the hell?" Naofumi remarked to himself. "It's not even close to freezing... don't tell me!"

He then continues to listen to the coughs, recognizing them from the beginning parts of his journey.

"... Raphtalia." Naofumi spoke out in increasing concern. "RAPHTALIA-"

*CLANG*

Against the bars of his cage, a black hammerhead stuck where Naofumi reached out his hands towards.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Sigrun roared out. "MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS!"

"Sigrun!" Amiya cried out from the other side before appearing in front of Naofumi's cage. "... I apologize, but we're currently looking after the tanuki girl right now within the best of our abilities-"

"I DON'T CARE! I NEED TO SEE HER, NOW!" Naofumi cried out as he shook his hands against the bars. "LET ME OUT DAMMIT! I'M THE ONE WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF HER!"

"... Amiya, just let me cave his face into the back of his skull and get this over with." Sigrun audibly whispered into the donkey girl's ear while shooting a glare at Naofumi's direction.

"We can't afford to! The client instructed us to keep them alive!" Amiya retorted before facing back to the enraged [Shield Fallen]. "... I really apologize, but it seems that your companion has gone ill during our trip. Our medical staff is doing our best to treat her... which we would, but she adamantly refuses treatment unless its coming from you."

"So let me out, dammit!" Naofumi protested. "Raphtalia needs me!"

"Even if we could, we aren't allowed to." The gruff voice of Alps remarked from the other side. "As long as our client's mediators are watching over us, we can't afford to cross the line given unless we lose our pay, or worse, kill us all and leave all of our bodies in a ditch."

"WHO'S YOUR FUCKING CLIENT, THEN!?" Naofumi roared out. "AND DON'T YOU GIVE ME THAT FUCKING 'CONFIDENTIAL' BULLCRAP-"

*TWUCK*

... A sharp twinge of pain shot up from Naofumi's stomach and up to his mouth, causing the latter to be suddenly flooded with his own bile before throwing up on Sigrun's forearm, her arm speared into his gut as a fist.

Naofumi's consciousness faded back into black as he heard Raphtalia's coughing fits echo in his eardrums as he hit the cell's floors like a beaten animal.

He knew. Raphtalia's trauma of being inside a cage was coming back to haunt her again.

"... She's just a kid, dammit."

Switching POV: Motoyasu

"THE CARGO HAS ARRIVED!" Motoyasu announced as he presented the city with a wagon full of crates of food and supplies.

The cheering crowd then proceeded to line up around the carts to receive their rationing.

"Thank you, Sir Hero!" One of the civilians thanked. "You saved us all from starvation!"

"It's the best I can do for now!" Motoyasu huffed out in his rekindled pride in a job well done. "... Though admittedly, we got lucky that we found the cart out in the open."

"You'd think that there would be drivers and merchants on the said carts..." The Captain pointed out. "... But then again, we really aren't in any position to question the circumstances, especially when all of our previous supplies were intercepted by the [Spriggans] in the surrounding forest that dwarves our castle walls..."

Motoyasu then recalls that wooden dragon-like creature that they've ran into during the night when they decided to venture into the forests to meet up with the couriers early, only to be led away by the surrounding monsters and deeper into the forest, only to end fighting the said creature.

A [Jabberwocky]. A horrible monster that took the visage of a [Dragon], breathing lethal spores and toxin that decayed anything that came into full contact with the verdant haze.

The overwhelming stench of rapidly-rotting bodies and bubbling mire ravaged all five of Motoyasu's senses, the scars now aching once more upon remembrance.

"... Nan's the one behind all this." Motoyasu spoke to himself. "... We're the only ones who can stop him."

Little did the people know, the very food that they were eating...

... Were in fact, poison.

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

"Like candy to a friggin' baby..." I remarked to myself as I peered out behind the castle walls with a borrowed telescope I found lying around on one of the now-butchered mercenaries, currently being eaten after being roasted over a spit by the hungry ex-slaves (again, it ain't cannibalism if they aren't the same species). "... They fell for it."

Just picked out the feathers from the fruits and just returned them back out in the open (used my silver left hand rather than my right, also a pair of rusty clamps I found on the merchants), baiting Melromarc to just take it. For the record, I am not sticking around to figure out what the hell does the feathers on those clearly-tainted apples do...

... So hey, might as well cripple the enemy, at minimum. The feather itself will simply be a field of research during our waiting time.

"OI, NAN!" I heard L'Arc calling down from below.

"THEY TOOK THE BAIT!" I replied as I slid down from the tree branch that I was on, slowly sliding my legs and arms down the vines leading me down below.

Upon reaching ground, I met the [Scythe Saint] down below, pinching the bridge of his now.

"... Biological warfare? Seriously?" L'Arc pointed out.

"Hey, last I checked, the tainted goods ain't coming from us." I pointed out. "... Directly speaking. And besides, better them then us getting potentially infected."

"What if they figure it out?" L'Arc asked.

"Oh like where the disease is coming from will make any difference." I replied. "They'll all die the same, whether from us, or you know, the disease."

"... Are you even listening to yourself!?" L'Arc berated me. "You're infecting innocent people!"

"Said people happens to be fully supportive of a racist regime where all non-human races are subjected to either slavery or instant death." I retirted. "... You know, there is a certain saying back at my home world involving nations."

I signal him to lean closer towards me.

"'No nations has friends, only interests'." I whispered into L'Arc's ear. "Charles de Gaulle."

I then pat him on his shoulder before walking off.

"Think about that long and hard the next time you return to your throne, little prince."

... So slightly scathing remark aside, I think that was a... meaningful conversation.

"... So anyway, aside from the poisoned supplies, what else did we find in the bundle?" I asked Byakko, currently rummaging through the other cargo not involving people potentially eating crow (feathers).

Byakko motions his hand to make me come closer, and I find more guns.

... More wood than steel, and definitely not a Kalashnikov.

"... So bolt-action rifles." I remarked at the rifles laid before me, trying to discern what model were they. "... Think they might be surplus?"

I then present the banana mag to Byakko.

"More than likely." Byakko answered. "... You wish to give them to the ex-slaves?"

"Unless I want to make them blow their skullcaps off of each others's heads, fat chance." I protested. "Get Chi to train them in firearm discipline before we even get them to even touch these things."

"Yes sir." Byakko replied.

"Also, just asking, is there a [Scroll] or a [Tome] that gives a mastery on [Musket] weapons?" I asked, recalling to the time where I couldn't even touch the [USP .45].

"... Knowing you, master, there might be." Byakko slyly remarked. "... By the way, these rifles are designated as [Kar98k]s, if you're wondering."

"Ah, Nazi rifles." I replied. "Thanks for letting me know."

I then head to where my other party members were, and upon closer inspection...

... Their equipments are all on the verge of falling apart.

"Big bro, what's with that look?" Garou asked.

"No... nothing..." I grimaced out. "... Look, the showers below are completely busted up from the previous raid, so we're going to have to find a riverbed and make do from there."

"I can go on sentinel duty if you must." Beta remarked. "Peepers nowadays seems to count for potential rapists."

"Sad thing is, even with the whole slave trade industry all but crashing and burning as we speak, I wouldn't put it past them." Rio bitterly remarked. "Also, my [Chokutō] is going to snap-"

*click*

*CLANG*

"... Just snapped." Rio groaned out over her broken blade. "... Requesting for a new weapon and possibly new clothes and equipment?"

"On it." I replied as I walked off elsewhere. "Rest of you, wash up, on the double."

Roughly About 5-10 Minutes Later...

"Alright, I'm here, you guys all done-holy nutballs!"

... The riverbed looks a bit more red after I was gone. Or is water now supposed to be red after I went colorblind?

Am I even going colorblind in the first place? If so, I wouldn't put it past it myself, since I swear to god, I just saw BB on my way here.

"... Okay, every time I take my eyes off of you guys, why are there even more bodies laid sewn about like every cheap-ass grindhouse B-movie?" I asked upon the others, all of them covered in towels, standing in a bloody river of floating dead people.

"Hey, not our fault that we have punchable faces." Rio remarked, shaking off her drenched hair like a dog. "... That and well, I can still stab a bitch."

"I can see that." I remarked upon seeing her broken [Chokutō] lodged into one guy's throat floating down next to her. "... How the hell did they find you guys here? I thought this place was supposed to be in the thicker end!"

"That didn't stop them from sipping water from here." Garou remarked. "One of them peeked at Fubuki and-"

"You know what, stop right there." I plead. "... At least the blood and dirt is off of you guys, if anything."

"That and well, no witnesses." Fubuki remarked as she retrieved her [Twilight Gunstaff] from a dead, bleeding body, only for its shaft to snap in two upon contact.

Jesus Christ, how hard did she bludgeon that poor bastard with it to compromise its structural integrity?

"... Clothes are at the main camp, Alpha already set up changing booths, I'll inform the others to keep overwatch around this place." I stated as I signaled the others from the corpse-ridden riverbed to move back further inland.

I then point my magical Colt Anaconda towards my right...

*BANG*

... And another smoldering corpse hits the gravel.

"They never learn..." I bemoaned at this random schmuck's stupidity. "... This is going to be a long campaign."

Little did I know...

... I really didn't have to wait that long.

DAY 1

"Alright, so far, so good..." I mumbled to myself as I continued to spy upon Melromarc from afar. "... Disease vectors are already developing, few people are going into self-quarantine... the match has been struck-"

*BANG*

"ARGGHHH!"

"Tch... Goddammit." I sighed out before I yelled down towards below the branches I was sitting on. "Alright, which one of you idiots got shot!?"

"Don't worry, he's just shot in his own arm." I heard Byakko reply from below.

"IT'S A FUCKING CARBINE! HOW THE HELL DO YOU EVEN POINT YOURSELF WITH A WEAPON LONG AS A PERSON'S LEG!?" I pointed out.

"Tried to teach em how to clean em, but one of the charges went off!" Chi replied. "The bolt wasn't cocked all the way back and the dumbass pushed his thumb against the trigger!"

I just let out a defeated sigh.

"... Proceed." I groaned out. "And next time, make sure the guns aren't loaded during cleaning!"

Thankfully, no one died.

... I hope.

Switching POV: Motoyasu

"Okay, so far, the whole food situation has been put under control..." The [Spear Saint] sighed out. "... Still, doesn't change the fact that there are monsters still a risk in intercepting the shipments before their arrival... I think just to be safe, we need to go ahead ourselves and secure the supply convoy before they arrive at the gates."

"As expected of you, Sir Hero." The Captain remarked. "We'll accompany you and your party in this upcoming endeavor-"

"No, in case of the [Spriggans] attack again, stay put and guard the castle walls." Motoyasu retorted. "My party and I will be enough to face whatever comes our way."

"And besides, we've been into the titanic forest enough times to familiarize ourselves with the surroundings." A level 82 [Elementalist] going be Elena Haven pointed out. "Worst case scenario, I drew up an exit strategy in case we run into that threshold."

"... Very well, then." The Captain of the [Royal Guards] stated. "In that case, happy hunting."

Motoyasu then led his party into the towering forest in front of their kingdom's walls, walking through the dirt road tangled in overgrowth, vaulting over each root size of an individual tree trunks, and each fallen leaf size of a single bedsheet.

"No matter how many times we traverse through here, I just can't help but be in awe..." A level 87 [Sniper] remarked at the towering forest around them. "... Even midday, the sunlight can't break through the leaves above."

"Eyes peeled." Elena chided. "... They still might be watching from anywhere."

Motoyasu would like to point out that she's being paranoid, but considering on who they were facing, he really can't argue.

If he can simply turn this world's mechanic's from an MMORPG's to that of a hardcore survival genre, then clearly, Nan means business.

"Don't you think that I'll be played for a fool yet again, Nan..." Motoyasu thought to himself fervently. "... I got your fucking number, and I'm coming for you, and I'll save Malty from your grasp!"

From a distance, the party hears something coming from ahead.

"Everyone, get ready to engage." Motoyasu ordered as he transformed his [Sacred Spear] into the [Ashen Soul Spear], a dedicated [Fire] weapon to deal with the [Spriggans] and [Dryads] ambushing them again.

Contrary to what Nan thinks, he is capable of learning from his mistakes, Motoyasu will prove it to him as such.

From the thrushes emerged a wagon with a person riding on it, the [Brown Filolial] pulling the cart full of barrels and crates, guided by a few swordhands along the way.

"... Um, can I help you folks?" The merchant on the cart asked.

"No... no, it's alright." Motoyasu sighed out in relief as he and the rest of his party all put down their arms. "... You want us to guide you guys the rest of the way to Melromarc?"

And so, with little hassle, Motoyasu's party escorted the convoy from Faubley, completely oblivious to the fact that they were bringing in even more tainted goods.

... The latter being in full realization of their great foe watching them from afar, laughing at their imminent self-destruction.

DAY 2

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

Sometimes, the best course of action to take is to take no action at all.

After all, why risk poisoning ourselves to the feathered infestation when we can simply let them bring in the diseased goods into their cramped, pre-industrial walls, and let them slowly but surely kill themselves?

But, even playing too slowly will be costly, so now, I must come up with another course of action to... lure the intrepid hero-wannabe here, away from his company and kingdom that he was supposed to protect, and break him beyond repair, myself.

... They say that warfare is based on deception, and while I can commend Moto-chan's surprising amount of growth for the past month, there's also a saying that old habits die hard.

Motoyasu, even with a raised intellect, is still not enough to keep up with mine, especially when all of his actions for the past month were emotionally driven.

Now all I have to do?

... Simply wait for the right timing of the attack. Until then, I'll simply study up, let the others familiarize themselves with their new equipment, and hopefully, by the time the time is nigh, I can only hope that the ex-slaves can muster the bare minimum of firearm discipline, lest friendly fire becomes Melromarc's new ally.

... Warfare is hard. But like life, they can offer opportunities of learning.

Such as the Tulsa Massacres, an armed attack against the black populace in the town with the same name, resulting in deaths of hundreds of lives, all because the white men couldn't stand the notion of an semi-autonomous black community.

... But really though, I would say that humans continue to destroy my expectations on low they will sink, but really, WWI aviation tech and Browning M1917s? Just how the hell did the KKK-wannabes get their hands on those? And all over for an alleged assault in an elevator?

Then again, if you can buy a Tommy Gun over a bottle of booze legally, then clearly, anything is possible.

"What are you reading there?" I lift my eyes off the book, finding Malva before me.

I close the book in my hands before addressing her.

"Tell me." I spoke to her. "What's your take on the destruction of the [Rurulona Village]?"

Malva lets out a sigh before answering.

"... Honestly, I'm just conflicted over the relations between humans and demihumans." Malva sighed out. "I mean, I know that my brother is furious over my apparent murder, but one man's wrath causing the destruction of many lives... honestly, it's... too much to bear."

"Well, that's what power does to people." I replied. "Take it from me, but the more I think about it, the more I think that me and your crazy-ass brother might have a bit more then a few things in common."

"How so?" Malva asked as she tried to hold back her distress.

"... Our rage dictates our future actions." I answered. "His dictates that all demihumans must die, mine dictates that he needs to die. Simply as that, really."

"So confrontation-"

"Is inevitable." I answered. "My rage wells from the past that was scrubbed from history, and [Rurulona Village] was only the beginning. How many more slaves were captured and herded like cattle? How many were torn away from their homes, and that their kingdoms didn't do anything about it to save them? How many lives are so dependent on the labor of the forsaken, that evil itself has become a necessity like the air we breathe?"

"Personally speaking, I really couldn't care for less on what the bigwigs back at my former kingdom used to say." Khronos spoke out as he and his children walked into my field of view. "Initially, I killed only because I was told to, no questions about it. That way, I can also think that the other side was doing the same."

"... Then you've all witnessed [Zeltoble]." I remarked.

"Both sides are perpetuating this game of catch and release all to sate their bottomless pockets." Khronos remarked. "Both races, human and demihuman alike are benefitting each other over trading each others' citizens as cattle... I was beyond disgusted on what I heard and saw. If this is the price of this so-called 'peace', then I rather have an endless war. At least the dead can't be enslaved."

"Father is right." Fohl agreed. "Rulers shouldn't sell their own people for gold. Especially when the [Waves] are a threat."

"But that's the thing." I retorted. "Ideally, rulers should love and protect their people. But realistically speaking, all the rulers see in the people are their tax revenue. Take it from me, back in my old world, even if I did live in a system of 'by the people, for the people, of the people', the rich and powerful don't exist. The rich are the so-called 'powerful'."

"Greed." Atlas pointed out. "... Your heart's wrath is fueled by their avarice."

"As long as they benefit from the destruction of lives upon lives, all instituted like breeds to steer, all because we don't happen to be pasty white fucks like them, then clearly, I have every slight reason to get a bit upset." I stated. "Sure, the opposite doesn't let anyone prosper, but can it be really said that the few are allowed to prosper at the expense of the majority any better than the former alternative?"

"... So either everyone suffers, or the rest suffer." Atlas pointed out. "But surely, as long as everyone's getting by, no one would-oh."

"Precisely." I stated. "Peace, solidity, and the so-called stability? Bullshit. All of these are fabrications created by people with gold, and as long as we continue to buy and sell, whether produce or people, the society of addicts and druggies will keep chucking along, silencing those who see the truth, scrubbing them away like an old grease spot all because they can pay off the people for doing so, and the people in question are conditioned that way since birth to death."

"... But your world has also scrubbed truth from its own pages as well." Malva pointed out. "I take it that's why you're reading the book you were reading right now."

I simply smile before letting out a sinister chuckle.

"... Which is why as soon as I get back home, I'm burning the whole shitheap I used to call home, to the ground." I declared maliciously. "For their ignorance, they can all die in ignorance."

I get back up from the root that I was reading on to meet up with my party in their new gear.

"Now if you all excuse me..." I stated as I took off my hood, revealing my eye circlet placed around my head. "... I have to go for a walk. Oh, and do make sure that the kiddies get to know their cousin a bit more. Family is important."

"Keep me away from that black-hearted she-devil." Atlas remarked. "Her tears and wails don't hide her innate darkness. She's pure evil."

"And yet, people think that she's any good still exist!" I remarked as I walked away from them. "Idiots! All of these schmucks are fucking idiots!"

I then move through the brush, trying not to get nailed in the face by a stray branch or thorn.

"Can't even see myself through these thickets..." I grumbled out. "... How does Pokémon do this kind of shit and get away with it?"

Eventually, I reach the other side, and meet my party members decked out in new gear.

"... So, how are the new threads?" I asked.

"... This shit is the kind of quasi-punk attire that one would wear at Shinjuku." Rio remarked as she looked at her so-called [Kingslayer Set], which was an ensemble of a loose black-leather jacket with a pair of pointed rabbit ears on its hood, a black face mask with four silver studs that formed an "X", her left armband carried a tactical sheathe for her new tantō-like weapon, [Killer is Dead], her right armband was a flowing faded orange bandana, a faded gray-white shirt under her black jacket, with the black, calligraphy-like text in the front reading "滅", meaning "destruction" in Japanese (the back is printed in full English calligraphy-like text reading "STRIKE BACK"), a comfortable pair of dark blue jeans with a leg strap around her right leg housing another sheathe for her other, bigger blade size of a ninjatō-like weapon, the [No More Heroes], a pair of steel kneepads over the jean leggings, and a pair of sturdy black sneakers with comfortable safety soles in them to protect her feet from stray nails to caltrops. "You sure this is even practical for combat?"

"More practical in urban combat." I commented. "... Your parents let you dye your hair? I think bright red would work in all that black and white."

"Fat chance. Old lady and her man wouldn't let me." Rio remarked with her fingerless gloves flipping me off. "... I'll do that with the enemy's blood."

"Counting on it." I replied to Rio before looking at Garou in his new [Destroyer Set], which consisted of a sleeveless faded white and dark-gray trenchcoat with a black fur lining around its collar, his chiseled chest being open bare for all to see, now all tattooed with red-orange markings reminiscent of vein-like spirals, a pair of baggy dark-beige pants with yellow belt straps around his waist and left leg, the latter housing his new sub-weapon, the [Psycho Stabber, Nike], around his forearms were strapped with his new pair of [Katar]-like weapons, [Twin Heralds of Calamity, Phobos & Deimos], their blades emitting a sinister purple and red aura, with muted screaming of pain and terror coming from them, and a pair of steel spike-studded black leather boots strapped around his feet. "... So Garou, how are the new toys coming along?"

"I feel like I can take on the whole world with this!" Garou replied with a toothy grin. "These blades cut through flesh and bone like water!"

"Save some for the rest of us, kay?" I told Garou. "We all need to get our own pound of flesh, and it's rude if you just gorge on your own."

"Got it!" Garou remarked before Fubuki walked in, now in her new [Ruiner Set], a massive slate-gray trenchcoat with silver star-like studs adorning her inner collar flaps, hanging around her shoulders connected to a silver chain around her chest, above her fully-developed bust, a dusty-gray leather sleeveless top with high collar flaps around the sides of her neck, several leather belts around her waist, each holding an individual pouch, torn black-gray jeans that showed off some of her skin on her upper thighs, a pair of armored boots with their own kneepads on it, her left hand was covered in a single chalk-white armored [Gauntlet] weapon, the [Judging Hand, Panzerritter], and her right hand was wearing a single thick fingerless glove, holding onto her new primary [Staff] weapon, the [Draining Hand, Blutsauger], a stone-like [Staff] that looks like a pair of arms connected to each others' ends, the stone surface glowing with eerie blue tribal tattoos, its stoney digits always twitching erratically, always trying to grab onto something, conceal it into its hands and crush it in its grasp, as I saw it see it grab a rock and crush it into powder seeping through its fingers.

"So, anything you'd like to say about your outfit, Fubuki?" I asked the white fox-girl.

"Everything else is fine..." The fox-girl stated before looking at her hand-[Staff]. "... It's just that this thing is trying to kill me during the first five minutes upon picking it up, and I think it just killed a passing squirrel and drained it to a husk."

"Just keep an eye on it, or at least point away from the ground and the friendlies, alright?" I remarked before looking towards Rino, now her brand-new [Headhunter Set], a tactical-looking black and bright orange hooded cloak over her tight-fitting ballistic armor with numerous pouches and a bandolier of canister grenades (don't know what kind), around her neck hung a bulky-looking gas mask with tinted black lenses for extra-creepy-badass look, and oddly enough, a pair of black short-shorts with black tights accentuating her shapely legs through their glossy, semi-translucent mesh, with a pair of dainty-looking black combat boots, one carrying a wicked-looking tactical-black tomahawk, [All Hallow's Eve] ([Tomahawks] are classified as [Axe]/[Dagger] [Hybrid Weapons], don't ask), sheathed around her boot. "... So, how's the fashion disaster working out-"

"Shut up." Rino flipped me off with her black-gloved hands before she bent down and picked up brand new weapon, the [Infernal Bowcaster, Jack O'Lantern], a bulky-ass looking [Trinity Hybrid Weapon] of [Bow], [Musket], and an [Axe] of all things, resulting in a cross between a Milkor MGL, a crossbow, and the crossbow's limbs being repurposed axe-blades.

... Let's just say that it looks like anything but a Jack O'Lantern. All things considered, the new weapon looked intimidating as hell, so not complaining on that department.

"As long as I get to shoot a bitch, you wouldn't have any problems out this utter clusterfuck of an equipment?" Rino pointed out, which I replied by shaking my head "no". "... Good, then keep me to the back, and watch me do my magic."

"Understood!" I remarked as I now looked towards Seiryu and Suzaku, now in their respective [Punisher Set] and [Corrupter Set], the former being a draping black cloak accentuated by an intimidating-as-hell deer skull mask-helmet, a set of black armor with lines of gray-white fur around its collar and shoulders underneath the cloak that would back any Sith Lord green with envy, a pair of armored boots that stomped all gravel to a consistency of flour, and in her hands were two massive weapons, her left was the [Torture Anvil, Vulcan], a semi-compact black riot shield with glowing-red thermal platings on the bulwark's surface, and in her right was a massive barbed [Mace]-like weapon, [Maul of Punishment, Nemesis], another [Trinity Hybrid] of an [Axe], [Mace], and [Spear], short enough to be a one-handed bludgeon, but long enough to be considered a polearm.

As for the [Red Filolial King]'s new threads, his was a chalk-white military uniform-like outfit with an orange armband around his right arm of his black-buttoned military top, a pair of tight shorts that stopped covering at the midsection of his thighs, plain white socks with a pair of brown loafers around his feet, and in his gloved hands was a brand-new snake-like blade-lash weapon, the [Stray Tendril, Ouroboros], a [Sword]/[Whip] [Hybrid Weapon] that had a bit of mind of its own, slithering around Suzaku's arm like his new pet, its platinum edges rippling and cutting through the air.

"So you two, how're the new threads?" I asked the siblings-by-oath.

"I feel like a legitimate badass." Seiryu remarked before lifting her deer-skull mask-helmet away from her face. "But I think my baby bro's a little peeved with his outfit."

"I look like a spoiled brat." Suzaku remarked as he flapped his back-wings unhappily and shifted his legs uncomfortably. "... At least [Ouroboros] here is a step up from my previous [Thermal Dart], so now I can focus more on outspeeding my opponents... if my crotch wasn't so damn tight in these shorts! Seriously, how do people walk in these in public!?"

"Well, get used to em, because they're the only ones that match your size." I stated. "As for the latter question... honestly, no friggin' idea."

I was a huge fan of cargo shorts for a reason. They're practical and easy to move around in, compared to everyone else's attempts to accentuate their asses.

"... Moving on." I stated as I looked up towards Seiryu, who's gotten a bit taller than me (in fact, she's now a whole head taller than me, clocking over 6 feet). "Seiryu, killing it with those new threads, love em. I'll go check on the others, to see if any of them shot themselves-"

*BANG*

"ARGGHHH!"

"... Again?" I sighed out. "... How-Actually, you know what, I'll reserve a rant for them as soon I get there-GODDAMMIT, WHAT NOW!?"

... Like I said, this is gonna be a long siege preparation.

"OH COME ON, IN THE FOOT THIS TIME!?" I yelled out upon seeing the aftermath.

"HE WAS POINTING THE GUN TOWARDS IT WHEN I CLEARLY TOLD HIM NOT TO!"

Please just give a perfect time to raid Melromarc already so I don't have to keep running the risk of digging multiple graves.

... The ditch is reserved for whoever's not on our side.

Switching POV: Motoyasu

"Finished your new armor." The grizzled blacksmith spoke to Motoyasu as he came out from the back. "Kinda my first time working with the Kingdom's reserve of [Mythril]... hopefully, this'll suffice."

"Thanks." Motoyasu stated as he went to the back to put on his new [Champion Armor], a bluish-silver armor with a flowing red cap that he'd kept from his previous [Crusader Armor], its cobalt plates gleaming off of the sun's light, and posed with his [Sacred Spear], looking like the hero that the people needed.

"So, you plan to take on the kid?" The blacksmith asked Motoyasu. "I mean, sure, he needs to be stopped, but I never thought that it'd come to all this..."

Motoyasu would've like to share all that he knew, but under the King's orders, he was given the gag order to prevent panic from spreading.

So the best he can do? Feign ignorance the best he can.

"... I dunno who you're talking about-"

"Don't play dumb with me, kid." The blacksmith pointed out. "God, even the [Shield] kid's a better liar than you, and not to mention, a better conversationalist."

"Well, last I checked, I'm a hero." Motoyasu pointed out. "I sure as hell don't own slaves."

"Does owning slaves really make a person good or not?" The man asked back. "Look Sir Hero, I don't care for the idea of slavery as long as they're not being treated like animals. Hell, the Shield kid treats the little miss like princess as far as I'm concerned. Granted, he still thinks that she's still a kid, but who am I to judge? As long as she's happy and the Shield kid's fine with it, I ain't sure as hell losing sleep over it."

"But still..." Motoyasu protested. "... Heroes shouldn't own slaves."

"So leaving them to die is the better alternative?"

Motoyasu froze upon that question being directed towards him. Was owning slaves a better option than simply not touching slavery itself? Is sometimes the "good" option the morally correct option?

... Did Naofumi and Nan acted more heroically even if they're in the wrong?

"... I don't understand." Motoyasu spoke out. "How is owning slaves a good thing?"

"It really isn't." The blacksmith replied. "But at the same time, you really can't judge owning lives as a good or a bad thing. For me personally, I think it's all in the master's humanity is what it matters."

"Humanity?" Motoyasu asked.

"Sure, you can find any rapist master in any noble house or anyone with too much money in their hands, or god forbid, anyone who's under the [Three Heroes Church]..." The blacksmith sighed out. "... But even then, the concept of owning slaves isn't evil inherently. Think about it, if you were able to free a demihuman slave right now, what do you think'll happen to him or her?"

"... She walks free?" Motoyasu answered before being slapped right across his face.

"She would get killed, on the spot!" The blacksmith berated the [Spear Saint]. "And no one, would bat an eye, because as far as this kingdom's concerned, she doesn't even count as a person all because she's not human!"

Motoyasu was in shock upon hearing that.

So even if he won the duel against Naofumi and freed the tanuki-girl, it wouldn't matter anyway and she would've been murdered in plain sight.

... Did Nan save not only Raphtalia, but also Naofumi and him, from getting innocent blood on their hands, by staining his own hands for them? How is a mass-murderer more of a hero then him!?

"... But, he's a killer." Motoyasu whimpered out. "A monster, a Demon King... the furthest thing from a hero..."

"... Yeah well, this world ain't no place for a hero." The blacksmith sighed out. "Take it from me, before I inherited my old man's place, I was a traveling mercenary, trying to become a hero who would protect the weak and save the innocent."

He then places his hand on Motoyasu's shoulder.

"... Let's just say that the world isn't kind anyone, from the wealthiest of the nobility, to the most destitute of peasants, or even us." The blacksmith remarked with a sullen look on his face. "I think we're all just trying to get by, that's all."

Motoyasu simply shrugged his hand off of his shoulder before walking out the door, meeting his party outside...

... Which happens to look a lot smaller than before.

"What happened?" Motoyasu asked Elena.

"... A lot of us had to call in sick." Elena answered. "... They're not the only ones. I don't know the full details myself, nor I intend to find out."

In the worst timing possible, about a third of his whole party are missing due to unforeseen circumstances...

... Not realizing that their hell was just beginning.

DAY 3

Switching POV: Back to 1st-Person

"... Anyone smell anything... damp?" I asked.

Everyone else around the breakfast campfire sniff the air around them.

"... Smells like a wet dog." Garou remarked. "And it ain't comin' from me, that's for sure."

"... It's rain." Atlas remarked upon a dew hitting her nose. "The forest's canopy is so thick that rainwater itself is being delayed here. Judging by how slowly the raindrops are landing... I'd say that the rain just started."

"Welp, no time the present." I remarked as I finished my oat gruel. "How long do you think the rain will last?"

"... Hard to say." Atlas remarked. "But all things considered, there's about to be storm later on."

"Hopefully at night?" I begged.

"I'm no weather god, Nan." Atlas deadpanned. "Figure that out for yourself."

"Either, I have an idea." I stated. "Byakko, Chi, finish up with the training of the ex-slaves by tonight. I want them to be ready as fully-fledged killers by then."

"Posthaste." Byakko stated as he ran off elsewhere.

"Rest of you, get some rest." I ordered. "Dunno when the enemy will advance into these groves, so be ready to spring into action on a moment's notice."

"Got it." L'Arc remarked. "Gonna take a nap after breakfast."

"I'll keep watch in a few minutes." I stated. "Oh, and Rino, I'll be needing your help for something later on, so just a heads-up, kay?"

"Alright, gonna sleep like a baby." Rino yawned out right before she laid her back against the tree's car-sized leaf, acting as a rocking hammock of some sort, her gas mask hanging around her neck as she fell fast asleep.

As the others dispersed from the now-extinguished bonfire, I headed back to where my [Jabberwocky] son is laid to rest as the guardian symbol of the vault of the forbidden knowledge, the [Archive], and down in the root-drowned caverns...

... And at the deeper end, where the hook-sword traps were once functioned at, was Malty, hung up from her wrists by the roots from the trees above, arms raised, no shirt to cover her bare top, her hair covering her naughty bits, and her face was that of grime-covered face frozen in a sullen expression of building despair.

Did I forgot to mention that she hasn't seen sunlight for the past 3 days?

"Mornin' pumpkin!" I greeted my hostage. "So, how's the root? Getting comfy yet?"

"... Go to... hell... you lunatic..." Malty hoarsely remarked.

"Already there sweetie!" I replied as I took out her breakfast, a [Dryad]'s nectar, in its bright glossy amber-blubous form jiggling in my hand. "... Juussst gotta be sure to tear away the veil throughly, otherwise, how I am I supposed to prove my point?"

I then simply shove the nectar down into her mouth, worrying not about refeeding syndrome, since the nectar is pretty light, yet high in caloric value.

... So this is what it feels like to raise ducks for foie gras. And Malty is my duck, and she isn't fat enough on despair yet.

"So anyway, apparently, the spear-dick is looking for your sweet ass, and I was laughing my ass off every time he comes so close, yet so far." I taunted. "Well, it was all fun while it lasted, but now, it's time for me to come forth and be a good host to his end. I'll keep your front seat warm, so until then, anticipate."

I streak my silver left hand across her bare back, my silver finger drawing a fresh shallow cut across her back.

"With that said, however..." I remarked. "... He's been proven himself to be a bit more wary and wiser then our previous encounter... So I'm going to have to do something a bit more... drastic."

Next to me, Alpha and Beta roll in a cart trolley of needles, thread, ink, and a few other contraptions that might be mistaken for torture instruments.

"... Are you going to... torture me?" Malty heaved out.

"Nah..." I remarked as Alpha dipped the thread in the black ink. "... That'd be too easy. Plus, I think someone else is more suited for this task than me."

Beta then threads the needle through its eye as she approached the bound Malty.

"With that said, I hope the craftsmanship comes out satisfactory enough." I stated before I left. "Do us a favor... and just hold your breath."

And not five seconds after I left the cave, I then hear screaming. Wonderful.

I then hoist myself up to one of the trees, and already, I see bodies being dumped into mass graves.

Can't tell who's who, since all of them are covered head to toe in white cloth, but honestly, the ditch should've been bigger.

After all, how are we supposed to fit an entire kingdom's worth of people in a single dry riverbed?

... No, I'm drawing the line here. I'm not letting my babies eat tainted meat.

"And another one bites the dust..." I sang to myself as I saw another body being thrown into the ditch, noticing crow feathers peeking out between the wrappings. "... How does that pandemic kill its victims, anyway?"

"I can answer that for you." I heard Beta's voice speaking to me from behind.

"... Oh hey." I greeted the bookish [Perfected Homunculus] in the maid outfit. "You done already?"

"I have the ability to control all five senses at will just by manipulating the electrons in my nervous system." Beta stated. "So falling deaf to her screams of agony is quite elementary."

"Could've fooled me..." I grumbled to myself as I put away my telescope.

Beta then takes me down from the tree branch as she walks me back to the caverns underneath my dead dragon-tree son's corpse, and with her guiding through the dimness of the depths below, I find Malty, her back skin, reading the following:

Come and get it, you damn simp.

"From" Malty with love

[Picture of a dick with the word "Motoyasu" on it]

"Provocative enough?" Beta asked.

"Oh yeah." I nodded. "Now, for the fun part."

I then flick out my thumb's built-in switchblade.

"Um, master." Alpha remarked. "I don't that blade is adequate for skinning."

"Oh, then would you like to try it?" I asked Alpha before she pointed her thumb to her [Death Scythe] leaning against the wall.

"... I might kill her accidentally, and frankly, she's not allowed to die under your orders, am I correct?" She pointed out.

"Alright then, any other options?" I asked.

Beta then presents me with an object wrapped in white cloth.

I then take the object, and it was easily the most beautiful son of a bitch I've ever seen.

"... So... this is the new form of my [Sacrificial Dagger]." I stated as observed its new form, a smallish-[Kukri]-like blade, bright violet in hue, and an open skull's mouth as the blade's guard. "A more combat-capable blade. You did this too?"

"It was Alpha." Beta stated. "She stress-forges when something annoys her significantly."

"I didn't realize that humans are actually capable of being this annoying." Alpha sighed out. "Truly, our creator had the right idea of secluding us in here. At least it was quiet."

"Fret not, the whole world will get a lot quieter by the time we're done." I reassured. "... Or at least of people. No promises, only goals."

"Then count us in the efforts to cull this continent's population." Alpha remarked as she picked up her [Death Scythe] and placed it over her shoulder. "Who knows, amidst the thousands of cowards that call themselves warriors, a real man would appear and please me."

"Administering discipline to the unruly is my sole function." Beta remarked as she twirled her [Thunder Coil Mace] in her hands. "... Speaking of which, just how long are you going to admire your new [Hybrid Weapon], [Athame]?"

"Ah, right."

It's a good thing I sort of grew to enjoy the sound of people's screaming, otherwise, I've might've killed her out of sheer spite.

"Alright..." I stated as I flapped the bloody and inked hide of Malty's back. "Just in case, close up her bare skin with hot iron if you feel like it."

"No thank you." Both maids remarked.

"Alright, let her heal on her own." I sighed out. "... Just bandage her, still need her alive and well."

I then make my way back up to the surface, and wake Rino up from her nap.

"Uh... what?" Rino yawned out.

"Gonna need your help sending this to your ex-boyfriend." I stated as I presented the skinned and inked back of Malty.

"... You know, I kinda get what your planning and I like it, so I'll forgive you saying that I actually fell for that utter manwhore." Rino venomously remarked. "So, where do you want me to shoot it?"

I then take up to the highest tree in the forest, and from there, Rino and I looked down upon the land below...

... Only to how everywhere else outside of the forest became completely desolate.

"Holy shitsnacks!" I exclaimed. "Did my grandkids did all this!?"

"No... I don't see anything being destroyed..." Rino gleaned over the wastelands around our forest. "... The other trees don't look... you know, broken. Rather, they look... drained."

I then connect the dots between the giant-ass trees that make up the whole forest around us and the wasteland surrounding it.

"... I think I know the reason why the trees are the size of small mountains." I pointed out. "... I think the whole forest just siphoned all the nutrients from the surrounding soil and plant life, causing everywhere else to be completely... well, dead."

"... How is this possible?" Rino pointed out.

"My take?" I replied. "... We're an invasive species. Through their ego, they've brought upon their own destruction. First shall be famine, then pestilence, then war, and finally... death. I've become their herald of destruction, and you, and all the others in my tutelage, will inherit this world once I wipe all away."

Rino just looks at me with a confused look.

"... Theatrics aside, I take it that you want me to be your spotter?" I pointed out.

"Please do." Rino stated as she aimed down her [Jack O'Lantern] towards Melromarc's direction. "Where should I shoot?"

"Let's see..." I remarked as I looked through the telescope, slowly gleaming towards the castle's window leading to the interior throne room. "Distance, roughly 2 to 3 miles... terminal wind velocity... about... 24 miles per hour... adjust aim by 12 degrees to the left..."

I place the skin letter in front of Rino's bowcaster, as she herself pumps the weapon to reel back a canister-bolt, while continuing to aim down the sights towards the throne room.

"Adjust aim 2 degrees up..." I continued to observe the target. "... Tango is about to leave the throne room... aaannnd, fire."

*SWISH*

*FWOOSH*

As soon as I said "fire" I let go of the skin and the bowcaster fired its bolt akin to a railgun.

... Thank god that I have a stronger prosthetic.

"... Hit confirmed." I announced as I saw the bolt stake itself and the "letter" right above that old fart's head. "We got their attention. Nice shootin' Rino."

"Eh, happy to help." Rino remarked as she folded her [Jack O'Lantern] back its compact form. "... Your plan better work."

"It will." I reassured as we both shimmied down the vines from the trees back below ground. "Alright, wake the others up. I'll go rally the other guys for combat."

We both exchange a nod before going opposite directions.

I then find the other hooded and masked soldiers, finally looking like semi-confident killers compared to their previous iterations as an untrained mob.

"So, is the training going as planned?" I asked Byakko and Chi.

"They're not shooting themselves by complete accidents, that's for sure." Chi remarked. "Yeah, I think they're ready for the real deal."

"Alright then." I replied. "Byakko, mind if I give a rousing speech? Just a good kick to their morale and get them really pumped."

"No harm, no foul." Byakko remarked as he dragged an empty crate right next to me. "Go and kill it out there."

"Thanks." I replied as I stood on top of if, clearing my throat before giving my speech.

I looked out towards the masked people in the gray hoods, all of them looking at each other in confusion, and some of them even not paying attention to me.

"... Grimm?" I asked out.

"Do it."

*BANG*

I fired my gun up into the air, catching everyone's attention.

"... Thank you all for noticing." I deadpanned. "Here you all are, once an unorganized, nameless mob fighting your opposition out of fear and desperation, now progressing towards something resembling warriors."

The masked soldiers all looked at each other confusion before I continued.

"From now onward, you are no longer former nameless slaves, ripped away from your families and homes, destined to an eternity of silent torment!" I declared. "From now on, you are the [Uniters]! Unified by hate and abandonment! Divide those who've rejected you into pieces! Reject the world as it rejected your existence! Burn down the veil of ignorance, and let these bleating sheep witness the truth as it is burned into their eyes!"

The newly-christianed [Uniters] all let out an uproarious cry of resolve, showing their drive to fight for their new cause.

"SO WHO'S READY TO KILL THE TYRANTS AND THEIR WILLING SYCOPHANTS!?" I roared out. "WHO'S READY TO FIGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM!?"

The [Uniters] continue to yell and shout louder, raising their blades and rifles higher and higher into the air.

"WHO'S READY TO BURN THE WORLD THAT HAD ABANDONED ALL OF YOU!?" I asked out. "WHO'S READY, TO RAGE FOR A NEW WORLD!?"

The [Uniters] all roar in enflamed resolve, ready to fight and murder their way out of this illusion of peace that they were forced to pay for with their lives.

"... Then prepare." I stated. "For tonight, is the last night of Melromarc. So sharpen your blades, steady your breathing, clench your teeth, and gather your resolve and hatred..."

I then draw my newly-reforged blade [Athame] into the air, its deep-violet [Kukri]-like blade gleaming in the forest's darkness as the sole source of light for these lost souls.

... As their new patriarch, I must see that they have their fill.

"WE'RE GOING TO WAR!"

FINAL NIGHT

Switching POV: Motoyasu

He's gone too far now. Nan has gone too far now.

The message sent into the king's throne room was beyond obscene. The flayed skin of Malty, inked and shot into the throne room. A letter of challenge, and invitation for their company.

Splashing through mud and mire, Motoyasu and the King Aultcray's [Royal Guards] all make beeline towards the forest of giant trees.

The rain and storm mercilessly beat them over their heads, their feet shifting up and down from the formed swamps of the rain-flooded wastelands.

"COME ON!" Motoyasu cried out. "WE HAVE STOP HIM HERE!"

Thunder booms and drums across the darkened sky, followed up by a flash of the thunderclap the screamed and echoed throughout the dense forest's woods and leaves.

As rain continued to pelt down onto their head during their pursuit, each of them grow steadily more and more impatient, for each step deeper into the woods they go, the more and more they feel as if they were walking in circles.

"... Hey... Where's Andy?" One of the [Royal Guards] remarked upon few of his division being missing.

"We'll find him-later..."

Suddenly, Motoyasu was all of the sudden, alone.

"... Guys?" Motoyasu called out, his voice trembling in the frigid rain.

"Sir Hero?"

Motoyasu turned his head, only to find nothing.

"... Guys?" Motoyasu called out again, his body now shivering in the cold rain as the horrid realization began to slowly settle into his mind. "... Where are you?"

"I FOUND SOMETHING!"

Motoyasu pivots his head to his left only to find nothing yet again.

"... Guys?" Motoyasu called out. "... What did you find?"

A hand was placed onto his shoulder.

"Oh nothing much. Just one more corpse."

*POOMPH*

Before he can discern whose voice that was, a cloud of yellow fumes sprayed onto his face, causing him to be blinded and keeled forward, coughing uncontrollably.

Motoyasu struggles to regain his senses, rubbing his eyes only to find himself alone again.

"... What the hell?" Motoyasu remarked.

He continues to stumbles into the nearby bush, only to find yet again, nothing.

"... I'm tripping balls, am I?" Motoyasu spoke to himself.

"Took you long enough to figure that out."

He pivots his head to his back, only to find more trees behind him.

All composure Motoyasu had gathered before evaporated. The [Spear Saint] took off running blindly, his breathing growing more and more erratic, panicked, and on the verge of screaming in utter terror that had fallen unto his soul.

He trips over a root and his face hits the mud beneath his feet.

Motoyasu picks his head off of the grime, only to find a pair of feet before him.

He looks up, only for one of the feet to stomp hard into his face, knocking him out.

"... Get out of my sight."

"You failure of a son..."

"Moto-chin is mine!"

*SHRUCK*

"No! He's mine!"

*SHRUCK*

"MINE!"

*SHRUCK*

"MINE!"

*SHRUCK*

"MINE!"

*SHRUCK*

*SHRUCK*

*thud*

"ARGH!" Motoyasu cried out as he lifted his face off the mud.

He then looked around his surroundings, most of it obscured by heavy rain, the footprints in front of him slowly fading away.

"... I'm not letting him get away." Motoyasu heaved out. "Not when I'm... so close."

He then resumes trudging through the mud and grime, dragging his boots through the forest's mires.

Bush after bush, thrush after thrush, Motoyasu thrashes through the sea of greenery with his spear,

Motoyasu spots a hooded figure in the shadows of the raining forest, sitting on one of the roots beneath the massive trees, reading a book in the rain, holding onto a giant leaf over his head to keep its pages dry from the rainwater from above.

"So..." A familiar and sinister voice spoke out. "... You've chosen death."

The hooded figure then slams the book shut in his hand, before rummaging it away into his thick padded coat and tossing aside its leaf umbrella before turning its hooded head.

"Hey there, Moto-chan~." Nan spoke out, his right eye gleaming blood red in the darkness. "... Just you and me, buddy."

Suddenly, a swathe of arms made of blue light appear out of his back, all of them rummaging into his coat as they all reached in to grab the numerous [Tomes] strapped around his legs. "Let the records show, Moto-chan..."

Nan then bit onto his golden pendant between his teeth, the grotesque visage gleaming in the rain and lightning from above.

Nan Hon-Jah

You will die here alone.

"... You came here of your own volition."

To Be Continued...

Author's Notes: New toys to play with for Nan's merry band of anarchists, Melromarc's end is slowly encroaching. Oh, and Raphtalia is now inflicted with stress-sickness back in episode 1, and Naofumi's getting stomped by level +100 sword hands.

The idea of peace being built upon the suffering of innocents, the idea of revenge against the system, the idea of identity and race being determined how you live and die, how heroism as a concept itself cannot be defined or bound by the boundaries of good or evil, and my self-insert's descent towards further into madness is to be worth looking forward to.

[Kingslayer Set] is based off Crownslayer from Arknights, with her weapons' theme naming taking after Suda51's video game titles.

[Destroyer Set] is based off Troy Calypso from Borderlands 3 (with some symmetry thrown in), with his weapons' theme naming taking after lesser Greek gods.

[Ruiner Set] is based of Tyreen Calypso from Borderlands 3, with gratuitous German thrown in for her weapons' names.

[Headhunter Set] is based off Skullshatterer from Arknights, with her weapons' theme naming taking after Halloween.

[Punisher Set] is based off Patriot from Arknights, with her weapons' theme naming taken after Roman gods.

[Corrupter Set] is based off Mephisto from Arknights, with [Ouroboros] just being a throw-in name for his new weapon because it sounded cool.

Motoyasu's [Champion Armor] is based off Mitsurugi's attire from Konosuba, symbolizing his rise to be an actual hero for once, but still nowhere close to being one, and it's NOT played for laughs this time around.

And [Uniters] are basically Arknight's Reunion's Basic Infantry all but in name. Also in hindsight, Nan's whole faction is a cross between Reunion's methods and CoV's insanity. FUN.

Nan's stats and equipment will be introduced in the next Epic, along with everyone else's.

So until then, what do you think of this Epic?

Please leave a comment or a review, for I'd like to know what my audience are thinking!