The first thing Tatsuya heard was the sound of voices—low and calm but laced with tension.
He didn't move. He kept his breathing shallow, allowing his senses to sharpen slowly as he feigned unconsciousness.
"I still say this is a waste of time," a lazy voice drawled, unmistakably Bikou, the monkey-tailed member of Vali's team. "We kidnap some guy because he can heal? What's the big deal?"
"You understand nothing, monkey," Arthur Pendragon replied, his tone polite but scathing. "A body with regeneration surpassing the Phenex Clan is no trivial matter. The medical, military, and experimental applications are endless."
Le Fay giggled lightly beside her brother, her voice soft but carrying easily in the echoing hall. "Arthur's right. It's not just about healing fast."
Another voice joined, calm and dismissive. "Indeed."
Cao Cao.
He stood at the front of the gathering, arms crossed, the True Longinus leaning casually against his shoulder. His gaze remained fixed on Tatsuya's chained form. "With that kind of regenerative factor under our control," Cao Cao continued, "We could create soldiers immune to conventional death. Or better yet, integrate it into ourselves."
A faint chuckle rippled through the room, mostly from Rizevim himself.
Vali leaned against a far wall, arms crossed, his silver hair gleaming under the dim lights. He said nothing, but his gaze was sharp.
"You're the one who insisted on using Dimension Lost," Vali said finally, his voice low. "Risking the Underworld's notice. Risking Sirzechs noticing."
Rizevim grinned wide. "Risks are half the fun, my dear descendant. Don't tell me you're going soft on me now?"
"You told me we'd focus on that damned Soul Reaper, you old fart!" Vali hissed, barely containing his anger.
The Soul Reaper. The man who had killed his adoptive father. Vali didn't care about the Khaos Brigade. He simply wanted to fight strong opponents and build a team of his own. If not for wanting to avenge Azazel, he wouldn't have bothered with this little event.
And to achieve his goal, he knew he'd need help from her.
Ophis stood silently beside Rizevim, her expression blank. Her very presence was enough to keep the room in check. No one spoke directly to her.
George, ever silent, adjusted the runes etched into the dimensional barrier surrounding the room.
Near the edge of the group, Kuroka stood with her arms crossed, her golden eyes narrowing as she stared at Tatsuya. "Hmph. He smells like her," she muttered, her voice low but sharp.
Bikou glanced at her with a smirk. "Still got sister issues, huh, Kuroka?"
Kuroka's tail twitched irritably, but she said nothing more. Her eyes lingered on Tatsuya longer than the others, filled with a complicated, unreadable emotion.
Le Fay leaned toward her brother. "He's waking up," she whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity. A small blush colored her cheeks.
All eyes turned back toward the center.
Tatsuya's eyelids fluttered open. The harsh, sterile light of the chamber greeted him. Chains bound his wrists and ankles, humming faintly with anti-magic suppression.
Well, at least the chair's comfortable.
He sat calmly, taking in the scene. They surrounded him like vultures around a fresh corpse.
Rizevim stepped forward, hands spread wide in mock welcome. "Good morning, sunshine. Hope you enjoyed your little nap."
Tatsuya said nothing. His gaze swept the room calmly.
Rizevim chuckled at his demeanor. "Ah, that look. The calculating gaze of a caged animal. I love it."
Cao Cao stepped forward, cutting through Rizevim's taunting with a cold edge. "Yamamoto Tatsuya." His eyes gleamed. "Your regenerative abilities are of great interest to us. I implore you to cooperate. The world is filled with filth as it is. With your abilities, we could restore it to a state without cruelty."
Those words… weren't they mine when I nuked Japan?
Tatsuya raised a brow in surprise. "You… sound very heroic."
"Huh?" Cao Cao, caught off guard by the sudden compliment, fumbled for a response.
Vali interrupted. "You're wasting time talking to him like he's going to agree," he said. "I don't care what you do, Rizevim, but if you're not going to help me, there's no reason for me to stay in this group. I won't wait long."
He stormed off, unwilling to linger in the situation.
Silence fell over the hall before Tatsuya spoke. "Who exactly are you people?"
"Help remove the annoying dragon, get silence back," Ophis said simply.
Rizevim's lips twitched. He shook his head before clapping his hands, drawing attention to himself. "We are the Khaos Brigade!" He spread his arms wide, eyes gleaming with fervor. "We exist to stand against the growing alliance of the three factions!"
"Two," Cao Cao corrected, and Rizevim froze before coughing lightly.
"It was three, but… some guy came and killed all the major players of the Fallen Angel Faction. Anyway, we stand against the world, in simple terms." Rizevim kept his true purpose vague with Cao Cao and the others present.
"I see. You're just terrorists." Tatsuya's voice was flat. "What if I don't cooperate?"
Ophis blinked and tilted her head, her black hair brushing against her pale shoulders. "You… will stay," she said simply.
It was not a request.
Rizevim sneered and, with a sudden motion, slapped Tatsuya's face. The blow wasn't ordinary—it obliterated half his face in a bloody mist. Tatsuya's remaining eye widened as his brain, skull, and tissues began knitting themselves back together with uncanny speed.
"You'd make a fine stress bag," Rizevim mocked. "Think you're special just because you beat some little chicken? Noble? Hah! Nobility isn't for the likes of you to judge."
As one of the oldest devils, Rizevim's pride ran deeper than the softened devils of the current era. His disdain for Tatsuya's defiance—especially after insulting devil nobility in his fight with Riser Phenex—fueled his cruelty.
Despite the humiliation, Tatsuya remained silent. His gaze softened as it settled on Rizevim, an almost gentle glint in his eyes.
Rizevim met his stare and laughed. "Glare at me with all the frost you want, kid. It won't matter. Be obedient, or I'll show you what death really is. Think your daddy Sirzechs will save you? Even if he comes, it's futile. Even if I'm not here, she will be." He gestured toward Ophis.
Tatsuya met Ophis's gaze without flinching.
"Hmph, I'm leaving," Rizevim announced, his tone abruptly jovial. "I want to see the Underworld squirm. It'll be fun watching them panic. Hahaha!" He flew off, his laughter echoing.
His erratic behavior drew disdainful glances from the others, but he was beyond caring. His true aim lay beyond this petty scheme—releasing Trihexa and contacting the Otherworld.
Fanaticism burned in his eyes as he vanished.
Several others departed, leaving only Kuroka, Cao Cao, George, Le Fay, Arthur, and Ophis in the chamber.
Ophis remained in the corner, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Don't mind Rizevim. He's twisted in the head. No one takes him seriously," Cao Cao said, stepping forward to release the chains on Tatsuya's limbs. "I'm sure you're smart enough not to try escaping."
The constant pressure from Ophis bore down on him. It felt like carrying a mountain on his back.
"Hmm." Tatsuya narrowed his eyes. "What did you do to my sister?"
"She's simply unconscious. We didn't harm her," George said, adjusting his glasses, his eyes filled with curiosity toward Tatsuya.
"Thank you." Tatsuya bowed slightly.
"It's not noble. We simply don't want to fall out with you yet," Arthur explained. "Maybe you'll join us?"
"So adorable, what a bond between siblings! Hey, how's my cute little sister doing, nya~?"
"Your sister?" Tatsuya eyed the black-haired, busty nekomata, his eyes narrowing. "Koneko?"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Kuroka nodded excitedly, and Tatsuya said, "She's fine."
"So, what's going to happen to me now?" Tatsuya smiled bitterly, adopting the demeanor of a helpless man.
"George and I will take your blood for testing. Le Fay will help us run some tests. Can you explain your regeneration?" Cao Cao asked.
"Hmm, take some," Tatsuya said with a smile. "As for the second question…" He paused, his tone turning cold. "No."
He wasn't going to act chummy with these people. They knew nothing of the rage festering inside him. He was a hair's breadth from slaughtering them all, just because of Rizevim.
This was the second time someone had caused him true anger.
Sure, he couldn't touch Tatsumaki for now, but Rizevim?
His eyes turned cold.
Ophis was the only reason he was still behaving.
He really wanted to confirm something.
Cao Cao, Arthur, and George weren't talkative. After receiving the blood sample, they didn't waste time and left the room. Le Fay looked like she wanted to stay and talk but eventually followed her brother, confusion evident on her face.
Kuroka remained, eyeing him tauntingly. "Is the big, bad immortal mad, nya~?"
Tatsuya didn't answer and sat back in the chair, closing his eyes.
Kuroka smirked and sauntered toward him, climbing onto his lap. Her tail stroked his face lovingly. "Aww, tell me a bit about her. I haven't seen her in a l~oooong time!"
Tatsuya opened his eyes and saw her pretty face lingering an inch away.
|Kuroka—7,887|
Did her Ultimate-Class strength give her the confidence to annoy him?
Tatsuya stared at her deeply, and Kuroka felt a twinge of awkwardness. She wasn't used to seducing people.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, her skin crawled with goosebumps, and she leapt back, sensing fatal danger.
Tatsuya buried the urge to twist her neck before closing his eyes again.
Kuroka began sweating.
Her nekomata instincts screamed in terror.
She swallowed dryly, caressing her own neck. She had a feeling that if she'd been a second slower, she would've died.
Gritting her teeth in anger—she just wanted to know about her sister!—she stormed out of the room with an expressionless face, leaving Tatsuya and Ophis alone.
It wasn't like she wouldn't get more chances. He couldn't escape, after all.
---
Finally.
The moment she left, I turned my attention to Ophis. She sat in a corner with her legs stretched out, staring at the ceiling with gray eyes devoid of emotion.
I know Great Red might be out to get me. After all, Tiamat said only she and Great Red seemed aware of the Heavenly Spirit. And the fact that Great Red threatened Tiamat when she tried to spread Chaos further justified that it was working with the Heavenly Spirit.
But Ophis…
I could tell she bore no hostility toward me.
That shouldn't be.
Both Great Red and Ophis should be working together, no?
My knowledge of the plot wasn't the best. I knew Ophis was against Great Red, but how deep was their feud? Could I use it?
If I could have Ophis by my side…
But because I lack plot knowledge, I'm unsure how to behave around her. While I had some confidence in saving myself once using the remaining World Essence, I'd rather not get on her bad side.
Let's gauge her first.
"Hello?"
"…"
"What's your name?"
"…"
"You're really strong."
"…"
"You're cute."
"…"
Hmm. No intention to converse, unaffected by compliments.
I should change my approach.
"Why can't I leave?"
Ophis's pointed ears twitched, and she turned her head toward me.
"Assist me."
She spoke only what was necessary. I noticed she only talks when her "purpose" is involved.
"In what?"
"Remove Great Red. Bring my silence back."
Silence? Is it related to the Dimensional Gap? Does she want to remove Great Red from the Dimensional Gap?
What does Great Red even do to annoy her?
Isn't the Dimensional Gap supposed to be vast?
"Then how can I help? I'm weak, after all."
"You are the Outer Being that has caused him restlessness. You must have a way to remove him."
Her casual words sent a chill through me.
Indeed, face-to-face, it was impossible to hide that I'm the Anomaly. The Heavenly Spirit must've helped them in identifying me.
A sigh escaped my lips. No need to pretend anymore.
Leaving Ophis alone with me was their biggest mistake.
"Then abandon this Khaos Brigade. They can't help you."
"They're useful," Ophis said, shaking her head.
"How?"
The blunt question made her pause. She hadn't really considered how they'd help remove Great Red.
She couldn't do it alone, so she supported those who claimed they could.
"Why not follow me?" I pressed, and Ophis seemed to debate her options.
"A year." I stepped closer. "A year is all I need to remove Great Red."
In reality, I wasn't too confident.
I originally thought that both Dragon Gods might have 2-3 million units of energy but I was underestimating them. If Great Red is also at around 8 million then it'll take more than required amplifications than I originally thought I needed.
"Hmm?" Ophis tilted her head with a blank look.
While she was sceptical, she was already grasping straws.
She'd use anything she could against Great Red.
A year was no different than a nap to her.
"Alrig—hnng!?"
Just as she was about to agree there was a change.
Suddenly, Ophis's eyes widened.
My heart leapt at the abrupt change.
She clamped her ears shut, dropping to her knees. "…oi.s.y," she whispered, her voice rising. "Noi…sy… Noisy! Noisy! Noisy! Noisy!"
Her usually contained strength began gushing outward.
Fuck!
My knees buckled under the sheer pressure she was leaking.
Kaguya!
I roared inwardly, and Kaguya immediately floated behind the agitated Ophis. She raised both palms, and threads of Chaos shot toward Ophis, enveloping her in a shimmering golden cocoon.
Ophis's expression smoothed instantly. Astonishment flickered across her face as she traced the edges of the cocoon. "…Silence?" she muttered, closing her eyes with a soft smile.
The Heavenly Spirit.
"The Heavenly Spirit," Kaguya and I muttered simultaneously.
"I can't maintain this cocoon for long. It's draining too much World Essence. Every second consumes a unit!" Kaguya warned.
So expensive!
I gritted my teeth in anger, glaring at the ceiling.
It won't let me form an alliance with Ophis peacefully, will it?
"Correct," Kaguya frowned. "This is bad. It's directly interfering with Ophis's thoughts. While it can't manipulate her, it's constantly attacking her mind."
One thing after another.
I was stuck in a really bad place.
Why?
Because I can't back out now.
The Heavenly Spirit won't let this chance slip. Kaguya claimed it would ignore me unless I touched Issei, as eliminating me otherwise would take too much effort. Engaged in its own tribulation, it couldn't afford to focus on me.
But now?
It would use Ophis against me.
If I remove the barrier, it'll keep annoying Ophis and direct her anger toward me. If that happens, whether Great Red finds me or not, I'd die by her hands instantly.
Should I just leave Ophis alone? Before her anger boils over, I'd have a decent chance of escaping and hiding my tracks using World Essence.
But then what?
I'd have to spend my days in hiding.
Alternatively, I could use Ophis to wreak havoc, gaining World Essence while maintaining her barrier.
But the risk was evident. Great Red would find me and attack immediately.
I was too hasty, excited by the prospect of having Ophis by my side. I overlooked the Heavenly Spirit's potential interference. I thought it wouldn't care unless I touched Issei, but that was wishful thinking.
My eyes darted toward the sleeping dragon, flickering with hesitation.
The second choice was the best option, even if Great Red finds me. I could use Ophis to combat him for a while. Even if the Heavenly Spirit angers her, she'd likely take it out on Great Red.
"I have a way."
My thoughts froze.
Kaguya's voice lingered in my ears.
I turned to her calmly.
How?
Kaguya gracefully floated before me and merged back into my body. Under my curious eyes, golden glowing threads began seeping from my form. They spun wildly before knitting together, like wriggling liquid flesh. The threads took shape, and my eyes shone as I saw what she was doing.
An ethereal, majestic gate opened before me.
The same gate that had opened when I left Classroom of the Elite.
__________________
A/N- If you're going to vote with powerstones I'd recommend using them on my Naruto book to help climb the rankings. I'll upload a bonus chapter if we reach top 10.
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