"This was so unnecessary," Sighed Az, as we headed back.

  "Oh, come on, I thought it was pretty cool!" Argued Rai with a grin.

  "You're way too easily pleased," Sighed Key with a shake of her head.

  I feel a bit uneasy around her……because, you know, it's not really her, it's just a Demon that thinks it's her. But I can't afford to let anyone notice, I need to act normal. I need to convince myself that it's really her……after all, she herself thinks that she's really Key.

  "I actually agree with Rai, I thought it was nice," Chimed in Persia, "What about you, Kuro?"

  "I mean, it doesn't technically make a difference, but yeah, I guess it is kinda flattering that they did this……even though the king is still kinda being a dick to me," I replied with a sigh.

  We'd been called over to the castle along with a bunch of other Adventurers, because the Rustlands' Guild had decided to introduce a new Adventurer rank, since there were so many Adventurers now that were miles above the previous standard for S-Rank. The new rank was called X-Rank……my suggestion to the Guild.

  There were six X-Ranks and ten S-Ranks now. I had to duel everyone who had gained new powers in order to help rank them, it was a real pain. And before that, I used Corruption Magic to strengthen those sixteen, within a safe limit, of course. I'd say that they were all now about fifteen to twenty percent stronger than they used to be, more or less.

  The six X-Ranks were me, Az, Fuo, Azeria, Persia and Ekai, in that order. And the S-Ranks were Elina, Rex, Siert, Rion, Lusk, Prato, Rai, Key, Selesa and Misen. Oh, yeah, I regrew Misen's arm for him using my Healing Factor, he actually seemed displeased about it……seemed like he was happy to just retire instead.

  Erhtaph and Raedal Yiserir officially declared the new ranks in the castle, and afterwards, the king grumbled that someone who's to blame for the recent attacks is the top ranked Adventurer……he really ticks me off. And besides, I was already the top ranked Adventurer to begin with, so nothing's really changed. What an asshole.

  "You really shouldn't be having beef with the king, dude," Said Rai with a nervous laugh.

  "Eh, what's the worst he can do? I could crush him in the blink of an eye."

  "It's a little nerve-wracking that that's your first response," Remarked Key with a raised eyebrow.

  "Hey, worst case scenario, I can just move to Abyss," I replied with a shrug.

  "Huh, what about me?" Inquired Persia, giving me puppy dog eyes……or rather, kitty cat eyes, I guess.

  "You'll come with me, right? Thought that went without saying."

  "I mean……yeah, if it comes to that, but try to avoid making it come to that, Kuro," She said with a wry smile.

  "Well, yeah, I'm just talking about a hypothetical worst case scenario, no need to take it seriously."

  "You sure sounded serious though," Chimed in Az.

  He might be right……the king definitely doesn't want me around, after all. Erhtaph is keeping him in check for now, but it could just be a matter of time. Well, whatever, it's not an immediate concern.

  "Hey, I've been wondering about something……," Remarked Rai, with a curious look on his face, "You two never call each other by typical couple nicknames. Like, I call Key babe all the time, and when we're alone, she calls me stuff like honey and darl."

  "Sh-shut up, you talk way too much sometimes!" She exclaimed, her face red as she covered his mouth with her hands.

  "Well, I kinda find those type of nicknames cringy, so I don't use them. I do use Cat Girl and Kitty Cat, though," I replied with a shrug.

  "Which I wish you would stop," Sighed Persia wistfully, "And yeah, I find those kind of cheesy nicknames too embarrassing to say."

  "What about you Az? Do you and El-?" Rai began to ask.

  "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  Just like I had no idea what was happening in Silvland right now……

  ———————————————————————————


  Point-of-View: Shiro Blanc

  ———————————————————————————


  "Wait, are you sure you're okay? You've taken on some pretty severe injuries," Remarked Shin with a look of concern.

  Tch, spare me your concern, pretty boy.

  "Yeah, I'm totally fine, I'll take a break after the next fight," I replied, plastering a polite smile on my face.

  I can't let myself forget that these guys are on our side because they think that we're the 'good guys' in this world.

  "I felt kinda bad, I thought that when I flung my trident at you, you'd get teleported out……so, what would it take to get you teleported out anyway?" Inquired Lily curiously.

  She's literally asking me what my weakness is……no way I'm giving that aw.

  "Try to pierce his heart or cut off his head, that'll do it," Answered Belia with a grin……

  you divine bitch.

  "Yeah, that'll do it," I confirmed with a reluctant sigh, "So, who's next?"

  "I'll take you on," Volunteered the white haired twin……that's the one who was a guy before being reincarnated, if I remember right.

  I'll use 'she' to refer to her, since the exterior is female. I mean, she's still dressed like a girl, so she probably wants it that way.

  "Alright, then," I replied, before we both took our places, Belia activating the barrier around us, "So, what's your weapon called?"

  "The legendary hammer that brings forth lightning and thunder, Mjolnir!" She answered with a grin, as she took the hammer into her hands, lightning crackling around it.

  It looked different to what I'd seen in comics and movies, from Kuro's past memories. The handle was about as long as an arm, and the hammer part was double-headed and round in shape instead of square.

  "As in Thor's hammer? Cool," I responded with a smirk, entering Vampire Mode……let's see whose lightning is stronger, shall we?

  Red lightning crackled around me as I formed a bone sword and ran lightning through it……guess I'll make the first move this time around. I compressed the lightning in the blade and swung it across in her direction, sending out a red lightning slash slicing through the air towards her rapidly.

  As it neared her though, the attack lost momentum and broke apart, before getting absorbed into the hammer, which began glowing and crackling with red sparks of lightning……okay, I didn't see that coming. That's not good……

  "The last thing you should be using against me is lightning, thanks for the fuel!" She called out triumphantly, before then flying up, "Oh, and this weapon gives its owner the power of flight!"

  Big deal……I can fly too. And whatever, if lightning isn't an option, I've still got four other Elemental options up my sleeve. I flew up while channeling Mana into my hands, red flames and wind swirling around my bone sword. I zipped up towards her and sent out a fiery slash in her direction, before using Teleport to appear behind her.

  She swiftly flew down to evade my flaming slash, which I canceled out using Repulsion before it could strike me, and as I did, she arched her arm back and flung the hammer towards me. It shot towards me rapidly, I hurriedly began to get out of the way and put my bone sword up defensively, as it reached me and shattered the sword, brushing my left shoulder as it shot past me.

  My left side is scorched and numb, and my shoulder is dislocated……can't believe she attacked me with her weapon charged with my own lightning, how annoying……

  As I pushed my shoulder back into place, she then raised her hand, and I could hear the hammer zipping back towards her from behind me……I quickly got out of the way using Teleport, before firing Repulsion to knock her hammer off course, and then swiftly firing out a barrage of fireballs at her as I reappeared, the flames enhanced by wind……after lightning, I'm most adept with Fire Magic, so I'll use that as my primary option in this fight.

  She narrowly evaded my flames by zipping around in the air, before regaining hold of her hammer and raising it straight up. The clouds above began to darken and gather above us, thunder rumbling while streaks of lightning violently burst across the clouds menacingly. Okay, I have to admit……that looks pretty intimidating.

  She then swung the hammer downwards, the sky flashing brightly as she did, and the next thing I knew, the ceiling of the barrier shattered as a massive bolt of lightning erupted down from the dark clouds, and in a flash, pun intended, I found myself outside the barrier. As the barrier went down and the smoke cleared, the ground was absolutely scorched and devastated.

  She descended down to the ground and walked back with a triumphant look on her face……tch, I lost. Her speed is manageable for me even in Vampire Mode, and her strength is about the same as Lily, or maybe slightly greater……but that's one hell of a finishing move, and it didn't take very long for her to launch it either.

  I could probably counter it with Obliteration Magic, but only if I start charging it up before the attack is launched, because the moment she dropped her arm, the attack was already over in the blink of an eye.

  And I may have lost in the end, but if I'd been going all out, that fight would have been over with a lot sooner, so it doesn't really count. Well, I'm halfway done fighting the summons……guess I'll take a short break now……

  _____________________________________________

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