Hello everyone!, 2 of the 3 new fanfics that are on the poll are up!!
The winner will get picked up! How will the winner will be decided?
The One With The Most Power Stones = 1 Point
The One With The Reviews = 1 Point
The One With The Most Votes On The Poll= 1 Point
The Poll will start on Sunday and it will last a week, so make sure to support your favorite ones. (I may pick more than one depending on how good they did.)
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[Starting from Tokyo's The King of Fighters]
[Shokugeki No Toriko!]
[Marvel: I Start By Making The SCP Foundation]
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After declaring Akuto's victory, Grayfia hurriedly came to Diodora's side to heal his injuries.
Asia had watched the entire battle between Akuto and Diodora.
Yet, she did not feel any sense of safety. Instead, amidst her sorrow, what she felt was only the bitterness of being treated as an object.
As expected… even here with Akuto, was she still just being treated like a mere "thing"?
Thinking of this, Asia's nose stung, and crystal-clear teardrops slid down her cheeks in large droplets.
...
Seeing Asia cry, Kiryu Aika spread her arms and drew her into her chest.
"Asia, did you know? Before I ever told Akuto-kun about you, he already knew your name."
"Eh? Why?" Asia blinked in surprise.
"He said he has some kind of 'Apocalypse' ability. So even without meeting you beforehand, he already knew your name in advance."
"I see..." Asia nodded vaguely, though she couldn't understand why Aika would tell her this.
Under Asia's gaze, Aika continued:
"Asia, you know... I actually like Akuto-kun quite a lot."
"Eh? Why?" Asia didn't understand why Aika would suddenly bring this up.
"The turning point was last year's baseball tournament."
Aika's voice softened as she spoke of the past.
"Originally, Kuoh Academy was an all-girls' school. After it became co-ed, the baseball team was in terrible shape because there were too few boys, and most of the boys didn't want to train seriously."
"But when Akuto-kun received the task of training the baseball team from the student council president, he organized the entire team perfectly."
"I only learned later about everything he did."
"On one hand, he forced the boys to participate in training. On the other, he helped them solve various problems in their daily life and studies. He even set an example by assigning himself twice the training load of any regular player."
"Just like that, Kuoh Academy's baseball team grew from an unknown weak team into one strong enough to win the national championship."
"What I admired was Akuto-kun's sense of responsibility—though he acts high and mighty, he always takes full responsibility."
"I believe Akuto-kun will treat you the same way, Asia."
Aika finally pulled the topic back to her.
What she wanted to tell Asia through this story was simple: since Akuto had taken her in as a servant knowing her situation, then he would certainly take full responsibility for her.
"..."
After a long silence, Asia gave a gentle smile and wiped away the tears from her face.
"To think that Aika-san likes Mr. Akuto... that's really surprising~"
Indeed, Aika's words had completely changed Asia's impression of Akuto.
Though she did not return to her former hopeful self all at once, Asia nonetheless kept some expectations for him.
What she feared most was being treated like merchandise—traded back and forth like an object.
But if Akuto was the kind of man who always saw things through to the end, then she could feel far more at ease.
...
Half an hour later.
When Diodora awoke again, thirty minutes had already passed.
But his mood was far from pleasant.
Because upon opening his eyes, the first person he saw was his cousin—Latia Astaroth.
"Cousin Diodora, it's been a long time. Latia Astaroth offers you her sincere greetings."
Beside Diodora's bed, a golden-haired beauty gave him a noble's formal greeting.
Latia's long golden hair and sharp phoenix-like eyes were striking, while her graceful pose with folding fan in hand stirred within others a subconscious urge to conquer her.
In terms of appearance, Latia was by no means inferior to Grayfia. In fact, among noblemen whose tastes leaned toward youthful maidens rather than mature women, Latia might even be considered more charming.
Of course, overall, Grayfia's allure still stood above hers.
Because Latia lacked that overwhelming aura. In poise and presence, Grayfia was unrivaled in the Underworld—something Latia, a standard noble young lady, could not compare to.
"Since the transfer of Evil Pieces requires the presence of the original master, I had no choice but to wait until you woke up, cousin~"
Latia waved helplessly before producing the Evil Pieces that Diodora had entrusted to her.
...
According to Underworld customs, pure-blood devils were forbidden from losing their chastity before marriage, and those marrying into other households faced even stricter restrictions.
Thus, before marriage, Diodora's female servants had to be entrusted to a female relative of his generation.
Latia was that relative. And so, upon seeing her, Diodora couldn't help but feel vexed—because her presence constantly reminded him that he had lost his servants in a wager!
Ten minutes later.
Under Diodora's gloomy stare, Grayfia completed the transfer of servants.
After finishing, Grayfia approached Akuto.
"Lord Akuto, Lord Ajuka wishes to express his apologies for his nephew Diodora's offense toward you. This set of blank Evil Pieces is his compensation."
"With these blank pieces, you'll be able to adjust your team more flexibly in Rating Games."
"Since Diodora had not yet contracted these individuals for certain reasons, you are free to make contracts with them yourself."
"Of course... that is, if you can."
With this cryptic remark, Grayfia handed Akuto a crimson chessboard.
As Akuto took the board, he heard the familiar sound of the system.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the story mission.]
[Mission Requirement: Break Diodora's spirit.]
[Mission Rank: Blue → Purple (Just the thought of his holy maidens being taken away before he could even use them was enough to make Diodora cough blood).]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have received the reward: Explosion Magic (Megumin Exclusive).]
[Explosion Magic (Megumin Exclusive): A conceptualized version of the explosion magic used by the heroine Megumin from Konosuba. It can be shaped by the Host's will into projectiles, beams, rays, or even weapons.
When chanting the spell, the longer the incantation, the edgier the lines, and the stronger the conviction, the more destructive the power.
Note: If you don't want to recite chuunibyou lines, you can substitute them with the Red Dragon Emperor's 'Boost'.]
...
"Explosion Magic... and with a purple rating, no less."
Seeing the reward, Akuto was very satisfied. At this stage, what he lacked most was a decisive, overwhelming technique.
"Hmph!~"
Diodora said nothing, only hurriedly opening a teleportation circle. After such humiliation, there was no way he would stay here and be laughed at.
Shortly after, Grayfia and Latia also took their leave.
But before they did, both women cast intrigued looks at Akuto.
Latia hadn't expected that the man she had only read about in the morning paper as the returned "pure-blood Leviathan" would be standing before her that very evening.
Nor had she expected that this so-called "pseudo-pure-blood Leviathan," born of mixed-blood mutation, could so easily defeat her cousin.
Defeating her cousin so handily meant Akuto's strength had already reached the level of a "next-generation head of house." Even among pure-blood devils, that was an impressive standard.
After Grayfia left, Latia deliberately walked up to Akuto and spoke softly:
"Lord Akuto, Lord Ajuka asked me to deliver a message.
When examining Diodora, he confirmed that the information you provided through your Apocalypse ability was correct—Diodora indeed carries the power of the Infinite Dragon God Ophis."
"At present, the Underworld has increased surveillance of him. However, without concrete evidence, it is impossible for us to arrest a pure-blood devil outright. We ask for your understanding."
"Yes, I know. I only wanted to warn the Underworld. I never intended for you to arrest him immediately."
Akuto understood clearly—those blank Evil Pieces weren't really "compensation." They were a "reward," given in recognition of his report on Diodora.
"Oh, and one more thing... though it's just my personal invitation, if Lord Akuto is ever willing, you are welcome to visit me in the Underworld for tea."
Finishing her words with a gentle smile, Latia raised her fan to cover her delicate face, and disappeared into the glow of the teleportation circle.
(End of Chapter)
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