Devil's Luck[Arc 5: Worlds Apart]

Zenkichi's eyes widened and he held Leon's mouth firmly once more, "What the fuck did you—"

Before he could finish speaking, a blood red portal appeared beside him with an outstretched red claw out. Zenkichi tried to moved out of the way, but the claw gripped his head and pushed him onto the ground.

Instinctively, he pulled out a nameless katana, enveloped it with both divinity and demonic power, and swung it.

[Invincible Sword — Saito Hajime's swordsmanship, which was appraised as able to compete for first or second strongest in the Shinsengumi: a free sword technique not bound to anything.]

Swish!*

Blood spilled out with a blood-red arm flying off.

Zenkichi quickly stood up to assess the situation and his eyes narrowed at a new figure standing besides Leon.

The new figure looked like the literal definition of a devil—blood red all over, long white hair cascaded his back, a pair of curved horns from his head, no skin but muscle and bones, wearing only ragged clothes that only covered their crotch, and crimson long blades protruding out of his elbows.

'System, a bit of help here?'

[Answer: Ancient Monster of Wrath, Yaksha King(Mind controlled)]

[Ongoing Quest: Defeat Pride(0/1), Defeat Wrath(0/1)]

'Mind controlled?' Zenkichi recalled the words Leon had said and quickly connected the dots. When Leon first arrived and killed Satella, he had said that he was doing some important work—was it by mind controlling Wrath? That would make sense.

Leon's authority showed to be some high-level reality manipulation, being capable of instantly killing someone like Zenkichi. Mind controlling Yaksha, a fellow kin of his, was merely child's play.

"Raaaaaaaaa!!"

The Yaksha King let out a bone-rattling roar that shook the very ground beneath them, its raw fury manifesting in an explosion of crimson energy that radiated outwards.

"No!" Zenkichi narrowed his eyes and slammed his palms together, Divinity and Demon Power surged.

Magical circles appeared all over and beneath his friends, teleporting them away just as the crimson energy surged outward like a tidal wave.

Zenkichi just sighed in relief when the Yaksha King charged at him like a beast but was as fast as lightning, appearing in front of him and the crimson blades from his elbows glowing, extreme heat radiating from them, and swung down with terrifying force.

Clang* Clang* Clang*

Zenkichi blocked them easily with his katana, instinct kicked in, as he projected another one to block several blades coming from the ground attacking him. The blades cut through the air, intense heat spewing out and engulfing him—dealing no damage.

"Raaaaaah!!"

That seemed to set off the Yaksha King as his attacks became even more aggressive and faster—spunning around like a beyblade at him, but that isn't all.

'Annoying.'

Zenkichi narrowed his eyes, realizing that the direction where the Yaksha would swing his elbow-swords, the ground would be enveloped by red blades of grass that would grow into literal blades and strike at him from below.

The blades of grass radiated the same searing heat as the Yaksha King's elbow swords, further devastating everything around them.

"Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!" The Yaksha King's rage intensified with every second he was unable to cut down the foe before him.

He hated it. He hated that his fun was cut short!

When he was brought to existence in this weird world, he found himself in the middle of some gathering of meatbags. Confusion filled him for a short while until a group of those beatbags started throwing rocks at it!

How dare they! It fucking hurt! How would they feel being thrown with rocks?! And he retaliated—throwing a massive boulder at them, turning them into meat paste.

Others soon followed, attacking him and he retaliating—burning, cutting, piercing, and tearing apart so many meatbags in one area that he made it into a literal lake of blood!

The scent, the thrill! It was as if it was his purpose, no, it was his life! Blood, death!

Offer thy blood for thee, heathen. Or wrath shall come for ye...

It was perfect....

Until someone pulled him out of that paradise! It was hazy and his head would ache whenever he tried to remember the details of the events that took place. The next thing he knew, he heard someone calling for him and a meatbag was in his way.

Something deep inside him told him that meatbag was his greatest enemy and he needed to cut it apart!

"Die!" He stomped the ground, and hundreds of red bladed grasses appeared beneath him—it was a beautiful yet deadly sight.

The blades shot forward like a wave, cutting through the air with a shrill, metallic screech as they homed in on Zenkichi. The heat radiating from the grass was oppressive, turning the ground into molten slag and filling the air with a suffocating haze.

"Huuu...." Zenkichi exuded a heavy breath, his eyes focused and serious, gripping the katanas in his hands tight. Time seemed to slow down in his perspective.

He'd been holding back from using his Divinity and Demon Power because he was getting low. He fought Wrath with only his swords to recover his energies; he was confident in his body and stamina to keep up with Wrath. Not only that, but he was also trying to find out if he had any other abilities or what his authority was.

'I just have to find out by devouring him then.'

"Encounter."

"Gak—!" The Yaksha King spatted out a mouthful of black blood, he went still. He trembled as blood dripped from the hundreds of blades from his piercing his whole body. "W-What..."

Before he could react, a black entity with sharp rows of teeth appeared from the ground and swiftly ate him whole.

[Quest Trial 2: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Wrath - Yaksha King(Completed)]

"Now that's taken care of...." Zenkichi disappeared in a burst of speed and reappeared right above Leon, his katanas poised for his neck.

"By my authority!" Leon yelled, a ferocious expression on his face as he glared Zenkichi, his lips widening to reveal sharp teeth.

He'd been waiting until he defeated Wrath, or vice versa, so that he can finally interfere. As the Monster of Pride, he could not allow himself to get into a fair battle—that is simply rude and lowly for someone of his class to do.

He was going to win this fight through his own efforts.

But, why did he call for Wrath? Ah, that's because he wanted someone to witness his grand victory—who would've thought that Wrath would just jump in and fight his foe? No matter, he was gone, and he was ready to get back into it.

It was just an easy win for him, after all, the world bends itself to his will.

"Die—!"

'Huh? Why is the world spinning....'

His eyes wide, lips set on a permanent victorious grin, his head toppled from his shoulders, blood spraying into the air like a crimson fountain.

His body stood frozen for a moment, and his knees dropped to the ground.

Zenkichi landed softly, his katanas dripping with fresh crimson blood. His expression remained calm but sharp, his eyes watching as Leon's body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

"How ironic. Dying on his knees..." Zenkichi scoffed, his jet-black hair and eyes exuded a cold aura.

Silently, he used Devour and consumed Leon's body—making sure he wouldn't do some kind of comeback and revives himself. He closes his eyes, feeling the Authorities of both Wrath and Pride surging with the rest of his Monster Factors—with Gluttony being the one keeping them all together like a warden.

"Is it finally over?" He muttered softly, opening his eyes to the blood-red sky.

He glanced around him, at the land terraformed by a battle between Gods and Monsters—looking like what anyone would think hell would look like.

It hit Zenkichi once more that he was not just some superhuman that can kick ass with martial arts and weapons, but a literal Demon God that can easily destroy a city or possibly a country if he tried hard enough.

After going through such a grueling day of fighting, Zenkichi thought he'd feel a sense of victory, pride or joy of coming out on top.

Instead, he only felt sadness and relief.

"Big sis, may you rest in peace....and I hope I can summon you, and that you may remember."

[Ding! Ding! Configuring Questline....]

[Quest Trial 1: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Gluttony - Zeb(Dead)]

[Quest Trial 2: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Wrath - Yaksha King(Dead)]

[Quest Trial 3: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Envy - Satella(Dead)]

[Quest Trial 4: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Sloth - Slime Queen(Dead)]

[Quest Trial 5: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Greed - Tiger King(Dead)]

[Quest Trial 6: Defeat the Ancient Monster of Pride - Leon(Dead)]

[System Rewards: Dominion of Monsters, Racial Trait: Demon God(Demigod), Demon God Armaments(Torso, Arms, Legs, and Helm) — Fusion with Brunhilde, Demon God's Weapon(Design your weapon), 6x Summoning Ticket

[Six trials completed, beginning the final trial for host's ascension to Demon Godhood]

[Final Quest: Slay the Ancient Monster of Lust - Tiamat]

"What?!"

Zenkichi's eyes widened.

"Zenkichi, something's happening! I feel a sudden surge of power within me just now—" Brunhilde had just spoken when a deafening screech erupted from the horizon.

"Reeeeeeeee!"

The screech tore through the storm above Zenkichi, revealing an ominous purple sky that seemed to pulse with malevolence, casting the entire area in a blood-soaked glow.

Howl!*

The sounds of demonic beasts' howls and shrieks filled the air, their cacophony echoing from afar like a twisted symphony of declaration.

A golden portal appeared besides Zenkichi and Ereshkigal came out, looking completely panicked and fear stricken.

"M-Mother....Mother has awakened! We have to go!"

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

AN: This will be the last chapter....for now.

I am sorry 😔