"A king never doubts..."
Slowly getting up with unsteady legs, I stare straight into my opponents eyes.
"A king never yields..."
Despite the pain wrecking havoc across my entire being, I raise my remaining arm and point the tip of my sword at Hades, the god of the underworld.
"A king never relies..."
Taking a deep breath, I steady my shaky limbs for the final clash that is about to transpire. And with a bright smile on my face, I declare what it truly means to be king.
"And a king never surrenders!!"
With a smirk on his face, the god of the underworld, Hades, readies his final charge.
"I consider myself proud to have been able to fight you."
His quiet acknowledgement makes my grin even wider. Turning my gaze slightly to the right, it lands on the spirit form of a little girl, or more accurately, Valkyrie, Alvitr, my partner in this death match.
"Are you ready? My boyish young lady?"
Her solemn expression quickly turns into a grin matching my own, as she mirrors my stance.
"No need to ask!"
Our brief interlude comes to an end as Hades charges forward, intending to end this fight with a straight thrust through my heart.
ICHOR: EOS
With the tip of the spear Desmos rapidly approaching, I don't meet it with speed, but a slow and methodical movement, bringing the tip of my sword right in the spears trajectory.
Ding!
The clear sound of the weapons meeting resonates throughout the arena. Our weapons in a stalemate, which won't last long if the tremors in arm are anything to go by.
With no time to waste, I inhale a lung full of air.
Chi You Crossbow Style: Drifting Tortoise
Breathing out a bullet of compressed air I successfully hit Desmos and weaken it ever so slightly, the tremors in my arm decreasing noticeably.
As a shocked expression appears on Hades's face I give him no time to recover.
"Chi You Sword-Armor Style: First Emperor's Power Embrace - Swallow Slash!!"
Using every ounce of strength I have left, I push my sword forward, redirecting Hades's strength against him in the process, making it slice right into Desmos.
"Desmos!"
With a roar of defiance, Hades similarly pours the rest of his strength into his weapon.
Kraak. Shatter!
Splinters of wood fly all around us as my sword pierces through Desmos, obliterating it half way up its shaft...
Squelch!
Before piercing right through the gods chest.
"..."
The arena goes deathly silent.
Any normal opponent would already be dead or realize they've lost, but...
A king never surrenders.
The king of the underworld, even with his heart pierced raises his arm holding the destroyed Desmos, fully intending on bringing me down with him.
"Magnificent! I expect nothing less from a king!"
Taking in the final words my opponent, a true king on par with one such as myself, fills me with pride.
Slicing upwards, I bisect Hades's body. His form scattering to ash.
"Haah... Huff..."
The air escapes my lungs in rough gasps as I support myself by stabbing my sword through the ground, barely allowing me to be able to stand upright.
Steadying myself, I let go of the sword and bring my fist to my chest to pay my respects to my opponent. No...
"I am grateful that I could speak with you, king of the underworld. No. Peng you." (AN: friend)
"The winner is Qin Shi Huang!!"
Humanity cheers for my victory against the god, but the noise doesn't reach my ears. Opening my eyes, instinctively, I look out into the crowd, instantly finding a beautiful woman with a long ponytail standing next to a young child. Her eyes filled with tears but a bright smile present on her face nonetheless.
"I've kept my promise Chun-... Mother."
Remembering that fateful day on the mountain path where she saved my life at the cost of her own. Flashing her the most sincere smile I could muster, I mutter quietly.
"I've become the greatest king of all time, even more so than the gods. But..."
A king never doubts.
I can feel it.
My life is ending. (AN: slight change to canon)
Glancing towards Alvitr, I anticipate to find a hateful or even accusatory expression on her face, blaming me for her death.
But instead I find her looking at me with a smile on her face.
"Mou mantai." (AN: no problem)
Her cheeky voice makes my eyes open slightly wider before I match her expression.
"Hao (AN: nice/good/okay), my boyish... young... lady..."
Falling backwards my world fades to black. My consciousness fading away along with the cheers of the crowd.
.
..
...
"Strange. I don't remember death feeling this way..."
The voice of a young child snaps me back to the present.
I can hear?
I can think?
It takes me a second before I register the sensation of the cold ground beneath me, making my eyes snap open. I find myself in what appears to be a dirty and damp alley with metal containers that appear to be designed to hold trash in bags made of a material I've never seen before, the moon of the night sky shining above me.
"I'm alive...?"
There it is, that voice again.
Standing up I scan the alley and am once again shocked by what I find. Knocked out up against the wall I just got up from is a familiar girl. Alvitr. Her presence brings a small relieved smile to my face.
"It's time to get up my boyish young... lady..."
Stretching out my arm to shake her awake, I pause staring at the tiny limb. Along with the accompanying voice coming from my own mouth I can no longer deny it.
"It seems this king has become a child once more."
The revelation occupies my thoughts for but a moment before I dismiss.
"It changes nothing. It's only a matter of time before I return to my peak once again. Now then, rise and shine."
Shaking her took a lot more effort than I am willing to admit, my child body only letting me muster so much strength. But my effort proves successful as her eyelashes flutter before her eyes, a mix of purple and orange, open to stare at me.
"Huh...? Am I hallucinating?"
Her confused voice makes me smirk.
"There's no time to hallucinate in the afterlife my boyish young lady. In a weird twist of fate be both appear to be alive."
Her eyes open wide in surprise and recognition, as she quickly takes in the surroundings before once again focusing on me.
"Alive...?"
I give a nod of confirmation.
"That appears to be the case my-."
I can't even get my sentence out before Alvitr quickly stands up an embraces me in a hug. Her strength makes me wonder why I didn't dodge it.
"We're alive!"
Along with her relieved mutter by my ear, I feel a damp sensation on my shoulder. But with no time to waste I slither my arm out from where it was stuck and give a few quick pats on her back. My words barely leave my mouth due to the crushing sensation on my chest.
"Yes, it is... a miracle... but I wish you... let go before... you have the honor... of crushing this... king to death."
My words appear to bring some sense into her as she ends the hug while keeping her hands on my shoulder, tears still running down her cheeks.
"I'm so glad..."
A small smile finds its way onto my face as I bring my hand up and wipe her tears with my thumb, my action making a healthy blush appear Alvitr's cheeks. She quickly tries to defend herself, but her words only escape in an unconvincing stutter.
"I-It's not what you think! I-I was just... just-"
Her flustered expression quickly turns to one of confusion as she stares at my present form.
"Why are you so tiny...?"
Truly a mystery I would want an answer to myself, while Alvitr remains looking the same, I seem to have regressed to when I 6 years old if my height is anything to go by.
As I open my mouth to respond a new voice enters the fray.
"What a pretty young lass... Hick..."
We both turn our heads to see a moderately overweight middle aged man wearing clothes I've never seen before, with a flushed expression, the scent of alcohol emanating off of him as he gives a lustful look towards Alvitr.
With her hands on my shoulder I can feel her shiver in disgust at the human waste in front of us.
"It seems the first opponent of my new life has appeared. What a grand resurrection."
Out of the corner of my eye I see Alvitr inspecting my body once again as her expression hardens, her thoughts obvious to me.
"Worry not, my boyish young lady. It is shameful of me to ask, but will you lend me your strength?"
With a small smile now on her face, she gives a quick nod before she bursts into a radiant green light, making the drunk block his eyes with an arm.
"W-What the hell?!"
Völundr: Pauldron of Divine Embrace
"..."
As the green light dies down, an even louder scream fills my ears.
"What the hell is this!?"
Alvitr in her spirit form stares in disbelief at my right hand, where the previously almighty Pauldron of Divine Embrace is reduced to a mere two zhijiatao (AN: fingernail covers) on my index and middle fingers, their golden engravings remaining the same as before.
"Hao!"
But it seems she doesn't share my same enthusiasm.
"What do you mean "nice"?! How are you supposed to fight with that? What happened to our Völundr?!"
With the drunkard no longer blocking his eyes, he starts to approach me as I spread my feet and bend my knees, bringing my left hand in front of me while keeping my right hand at head level next to me. The starting position of my personal martial art, my very own creation.
Chi You
Named after the very demon king I used for inspiration and personally killed after a battle lasting six days and five nights, the battle that ultimately crowned me the king of beginnings.
"Hey twerp... Hick... where did that pretty lass go...? Is it her quirk... Hick...?"
The drunkards words make me pause briefly.
Quirk?
Unwilling to waste my breath on the human waste in front of me. I once again get ready to strike.
Just as he gets into striking distance, I pounce.
Chi You Spear Style: Mount Tai Dragon Claw
With my low range and limited strength I can't aim for an instant kill, so instead I am for the next best thing.
Squelch! Crack!
"Aaaaaargh!! You damn kid! It huuurts!!"
I quickly pull my zhijiatao out of the drunkards knee, where they easily pierced his flesh and shattered the bone. The property of Alvitr's absolute defense appears to remain intact as my zhijiatao remain without damage.
Making a short hop backwards to avoid the drunkard falling on top of me, I glance down at my own knee where I feel the searing pain of my own knee being pierced.
Mirror-Touch Synesthesia
No different than a curse and something I've lived with my whole life. Making me feel the pain that is inflicted on others as long as I witness it. Even strong negative emotions directed towards me can injure me.
But something like this...
"It's but a scratch!"
With the drunkard being unstable mid fall, I go for the finishing strike, fully intending on ending the human waste in front me.
Chi You Spear Style: Mount Tai Dragon Claw
Ding!
But the result is not as expected as both mine and Alvitr's grins quickly fade away. Instead of piercing the drunkard straight through the forehead, my zhijiatao is deflected as his skin takes on a metallic sheen.
Not only that, the stars scattered throughout his body noticeably dim, some even disappear.
These "stars" as I call them let me see the flow of chi in a persons or creatures body, essentially allowing me to strike these points in order to weaken, neutralize or even outright kill someone just from striking them.
For them to disappear...
"How intriguing... Tell me, are you a demon in human skin?"
"It hurts! ARGH! IT HURTS!!"
"Hmph, a spineless coward."
With no answers to be had from the writhing mess I turn to the spirit form of Alvitr next to me. Noticing my stare, she folds her arms in front of herself as a slight blush once again makes its appearance on her fair cheeks.
"W-What are you staring at?!"
"I was just wondering my boyish young lady, as a Valkyrie, can you tell if he is human or not?"
"Can you stop calling me that?! And..."
Giving an appraising look towards the drunkard with a now metal like sheen on his skin, she quickly gives me an answer.
"He's definitely human... but it seems like he has a strange innate ability."
Giving the drunkard my full attention I rub my chin in interest.
"How very fascinating. Alright my Alvitr, one more question. You are sympathetic towards humanity, no? How do you feel about me killing them?"
"..."
I raise an eyebrow in confusion as even after a few seconds I hear no reply. Figuring it is a difficult topic for her to discuss, I turn towards her ready to humble myself ever so slightly.
For if I can't even apologize to my partner, someone connected to me through life and death, what sort of king would that make me?
"This king-"
The words die in my mouth as I see her bright red face looking like a ripe tomato, staring at me with wide eyes. Steam escaping through the pores of her face.
Steam? How interesting, are Valkyrie and human constitutions so different?
"M-M-My Al-Alvitr...?!"
Her stammer finally reaches my ears and before I know it I am attacked by this feral little cat.
"W-Whos yours you idiot! IDIOT!"
Thankfully the punches of her spirit form harmlessly pass through me, as if her previous hug is anything to go by I don't know if the current me would could survive this assault.
"What seems to be the problem, you don't want me to call you "my boyish young lady", but when I change it I am almost mauled to death."
"Y-Y-You...!"
Turning around she folds her arms in front of herself.
"Hmph."
It seems as though I won't be getting an answer at the moment, but I still intend to finish the job. Turning towards the grovelling mess, I ready to strike as his skin returns to normal, the metal sheen receding and the stars scattered throughout his body return to their full intensity.
"...As for your question..."
I glance at Alvitr who remains facing away from me, her neck and ears still red from embarrassment.
"As long as it's scum like this... I don't mind what you do. But..."
She turns her head slightly to meet my gaze.
"Thank you... Thank you for asking."
"Mou mantai, my Alvitr. As a compromise, this king permits you to call him by name."
Her blush that was receding returns fulls blast before she turns away, mumbling to herself.
"H-Hmph, idiot... Zheng..."
"Hao!"
Chi You Spear-
Whoosh!
The sound of something flying through the air reaches my ears, but be it my child body or that I am already shamefully tired from taking on just one useless drunkard. I can't dodge what I can only describe as a red string flying towards me.
I certainly attempted to, but it proved pointless.
"Zheng!"
Alvitr's worried shout reaches my ears, but my full attention is focused on the red string firmly wrapped around me, locking me in place. No matter how much I struggle or attempt to cut it with my zhijiatao, it remains firmly intact.
Just what is this material and who is the assailant? I didn't sense a thing until the attack already practically reached me. And...
Staring at the string, I make a shocking discovery, my eyes opening wide at the realization.
Stars? This string is alive?
Before I can continue to inspect the strange scene before me it gets even stranger, one end of the living material arrives in front of me at eye level a short distance away from my face before starting to morph, taking the appearance of a man in his twenties with a black mask covering the bottom part of his face, grey colored hair and very unique and notably pointy hairstyle.
Alvitr similarly looks at the scene in shock, wondering if everything she knew about humans is a lie.
"Pro Hero Edgeshot, stop this assault immediately. Even if you are but a child, the punishment will be severe."
The living string, now with the name of Edgeshot, and what I can only assume as the profession of Pro Hero, issues a warning to me. My face taking on a dissatisfied frown.
"Humble yourself and let this king go. It is my right and duty as the greatest king to execute the criminal before me. If you quickly correct your actions, I may even generously forgive you."
My tone is arrogant and commanding, but Edgeshot's face remains expressionless at my tone. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Alvitr facepalming.
"You're such an idiot, you're tied up and practically at his mercy..."
It is shameful, but I cannot deny it.
How this mighty king has fallen...
"Criminal? Do you have any proof for your statement kid?"
"Insolent! Asking me for proof?! My word is proof enough!"
"Zheng! Just shut up you idiot!"
Unable to take it anymore, Alvitr cancels the Völundr, returning to her human form where she is promptly wrapped up the same way by Edgeshot. If he is surprised by her appearance it certainly doesn't show on his face.
My attempt to speak is shut down by a glare from Alvitr.
"Strange, are women scarier than even a demon king like Chi You...?"
My quiet murmur is heard by both of them, much to Alvitr's embarrassment before she turns to speak to Edgeshot.
"You see the situation is-"
After explaining the situation without the whole reincarnation thing, Edgeshot gives no acknowledgement that he believes our story but wraps up the drunkard who passed out on the ground at some point as well.
"I'm taking you to the police station. We'll confirm the facts there."
With the end of his words, the blaring sound of a siren rapidly gets closer to our location.
Police station? I wonder what that is... Wait a minute...
My eyes shoot up in surprise, which Edgeshot only assumes is due to the mention of the police.
What language am I speaking...?
.
..
...
The trip to this so called police station was one filled with confusion and intrigue. After being brought into a strange looking metal carriage that was able to move without any horses, we quickly started moving across the city.
Another point of interest were the buildings. Simply they were tall, full of windows, some even had their outer walls made entirely of glass, truly luxurious, nothing like my homeland.
"Just where have we ended up..."
Turning towards the man in the front seat of the carriage or as they called it a car. I question the man dressed in a blue uniform who appears to be controlling this vehicle with the wheel in front of him.
"Escort, just what is the name of this country?"
I see him glance at me with a raised eyebrow through a mirror on the front roof of the car.
"This is Japan kid."
He gives a short reply before he refocusing on the road in front of him.
Japan? I've never heard of it.
I glance at Alvitr on my left. Even without asking she quickly understands what I want to ask.
"Hmmm... If I remember correctly, during your time it was called Wa."
Whistle~
"This is Wa? I must admit it is quite imp-"
Hmm?
"During my time? Then just when has it started being called Japan?"
Alvitr seems reluctant to answer, but seems to chose that it's better to tell me.
"I'm not sure of the exact date, but it was many centuries later..."
But as if that wasn't enough, she continues.
"And this architecture... We appear to be in the 20th century at least."
Before I can even open my mouth to question the meaning of her words she promptly continues.
"The time of the world is no longer tracked by dynasty, in this era kings are practically redundant."
"Blasphemous words my dear Alvitr, there's nothing redundant about my great self."
Without pausing she continues with a blush on her cheeks.
"A few centuries after your death, humanity began measuring time from the birth of a man named Christ. The years before him are called Before Christ and after Anno Domini."
"And just who is this Christ?"
"It would take a while to explain, in simple terms he's the center of a religion."
Her words make me scowl.
The escort in the blue uniform controlling the vehicle interrupts us with a chuckle making us both turn to him.
"Are you kids role playing? I'm surprised by your level of speech young man."
He glances at me through the mirror.
"But just to correct the little lass, this is the 22nd century."
With the escorts confirmation, a solemn expression finds its way onto my face. I notice Alvitr look at me apparent worry on her expression.
At the very least 2300 years in the future since my death... The world has probably all but forgotten about me. But...
A bright grin emerges on my face, I turn to look at Alvitr straight in the eyes. Her expression changing to one of relief.
"Mou mantai, my dear Alvitr. The world will remember my great name once again. Qin Shi Huang will resonate throughout the entire world!"
"And I'll help you accomplish it."
"Hao!"
I give her a sincere nod before turning to look at the road ahead.
"But first, I wonder what this so called police Station is like..."
His words along with his grand declaration make Alvitr and the police officer burst out into laughter.
(AN: A few quick words. For one, updates will be inconsistent as frankly I'm busy irl. I won't use AI, if there are spelling and punctuation mistakes so be it. I just really like Qin Shi Huang from Record of Ragnarok and even though the MHA world is in my opinion overused, I'm not aiming for a masterpiece. And if you enjoy it along the way, well then I'm glad.)