Chapter 371: Doomguy Becomes an Ally, and the Collection Grows with a Big Robot"
Alex rubbed his face wearily. Just moments ago, he had been fighting Doom Slayer himself, and their clash had ended with the destruction of Titan — Mars's moon. Only after that insane brawl did Alex finally manage to get Slayer to listen to him. One would think the worst was over… but no sooner had Alex sighed in relief than a fresh wave of headache washed over him.
The cause, of course, was GIR, MIMI, and Stitch.
The unrelenting trio had once again disobeyed orders and stuck their greedy paws into something that absolutely didn't belong to them. While he and Slayer had been throwing down in a cosmic slugfest, they had somehow managed to attempt… stealing a thirty-meter-tall combat mech named "Atlas." No wonder Alex had put them on magical leashes again — it was the only way he could keep his overly "creative" companions in check.
Naturally, the trio was not at all pleased with this development. The moment Alex turned his back, they immediately began gnawing, cutting, and doing everything they could to free themselves. Alex stared at the scene blankly — claws, sparks, muffled grunts, and total failure. He didn't even bother interfering. He had decided he wasn't wasting another drop of energy on them. Right now, he had to finish the conversation with Slayer and explain everything about the universe he came from — the one currently under invasion by Davoth's army.
As Alex turned to walk away, the magical leashes pulled taut. Of course, the trio wasn't going down without a fight. They clawed at the floor like kids being dragged out of a toy store without a new toy. Alex slowly turned his head and sighed. Tears streamed from their eyes, their claws left deep grooves in the metal floor, and their expressions resembled the tragedy of a dying star.
"Why is this my life…" he muttered and pulled them along with sheer willpower.
Screeching. Scraping. Wails of protest. He dragged them away like misbehaving children from a crime scene.
Finally, returning to the main floor, Alex saw Slayer sitting on the steps beneath the hologram of Earth. His helmet rested on his knees — the same one Alex had knocked off at the start of their fight. Slayer's face, like Alex's, was covered in cuts, bruises, and dried blood.
"I think I owe you an apology for my companions' behavior. They tried to steal your 'Atlas'," Alex said tiredly, throwing a sharp glare at the still-leashed trio.
"Hmm…" Slayer rasped, looking at him.
"I'll take that as 'no hard feelings.' Good. Anyway, I've already told you why I'm here. Now we need to deal with the problems in this universe. Davoth himself and the bulk of his army aren't here, right?" Alex asked, lighting a cigarette.
Slayer nodded.
Alex knew well: Slayer wouldn't leave this universe until every last demon was wiped out. This Earth reminded him of his own world — where he was once known by another name… as Doomguy. But endless war, loss, and solitude had turned him into a weapon of pure rage, aimed at demons and those who created them.
Alex turned to the hologram of Earth. He had to think of a way to cleanse this world quickly. The idea came fast.
"I take it you're not leaving until the last demon is dead, right?" he asked, glancing back at Slayer.
"Hmm." A nod.
"Alright then, I'll take care of that for you. And I'll do it quickly, if you don't mind," Alex said with a slight smile.
"May I clarify, sir?" Vega's voice interrupted. "How exactly do you intend to eliminate all the demons on the planet?"
"My wife, along with the scientists from my world, developed a virus — one that affects only demons. We've already completed all the necessary testing — in labs and on battlefields. All that's left is for me to disperse it across the planet. So if you'll excuse me, it's time to get started," Alex said, picking up his coat from the floor and dusting it off.
He threw it over his shoulders — the same coat he had taken off before the fight. Just one last thing. Alex unhooked the leashes from his belt and handed them to Slayer.
"Keep an eye on them. Just in case they try to steal your mech again," he added tiredly.
Slayer looked at the three leashes, then at the trio still struggling for freedom with the same stubbornness they had shown trying to steal "Atlas." Alex gave a tired smirk and headed toward the fortress's massive panoramic window.
He reached out, and his hand passed through the glass as if it didn't exist at all. A moment later, he stepped forward—into open space. He walked calmly, as though weightlessness and the lack of atmosphere didn't affect him in the slightest.
Stopping at an optimal distance from Earth, Alex activated a weather spell, sending dark storm clouds rolling across the planet's surface. A thick, ominous veil shrouded every corner of the Earth, completely obscuring it from view. Lightning crackled within the clouds—the harbingers of an incoming downpour.
From his inventory, Alex pulled out a massive container filled with the demon-killing virus—roughly his own size. Without any ceremony, he hurled it down toward the cloud layer. Once it reached the designated altitude, the container exploded, and the virus instantly began to spread through the air currents, covering the entire globe.
A torrential rain fell on Earth. Demons everywhere felt an unnatural sense of dread—each drop carried a toxin crafted specifically to destroy them. Humans, still locked in desperate battles against the remnants of the invasion, noticed something strange: the demons began to stumble back, choke, writhe in agony… and die.
They drowned in their own blood, falling one after another—from the smallest imps to towering monstrosities the size of skyscrapers. Survivors around the world watched in disbelief. At first, they thought it was a trick. But soon they understood—this was their chance. Their chance to reclaim their world.
In orbit, Alex observed it all. He saw the fire of hope reignite in the hearts of survivors. He felt how war-torn, fear-broken souls were remembering what it meant to fight… and to believe.
Meanwhile, back in Slayer's fortress, the Earth's hologram began to change. Once covered with red markers showing demonic presence, those dots now vanished—one after another, rapidly.
"Sir, the number of demonic hotspots is decreasing at an accelerated rate. Based on your guest's report, we can confirm that the anti-demon virus is working effectively," Vega reported from the terminal.
Slayer said nothing. He simply continued to stare at the hologram, now nearly devoid of red. The world he had fought for was finally becoming free.
Floating in space, Alex confirmed that the virus had done its job. He deactivated the weather spell, and the clouds slowly dispersed, revealing the bright sun. Light poured over the ruined but surviving surface—a symbol that the reign of demons had ended.
He turned away from the planet. The last remnants of the demon horde were no longer a threat. It was time to return.
Back in the fortress, Alex found Slayer still sitting beneath the holographic Earth. The red dots were completely gone—no trace of demonic presence remained.
"That's it," Alex said as he approached. "Now you can finally leave this universe and hunt down Davoth."
Slayer slowly turned his head and gave a silent nod. Alex smiled faintly. Convincing a warrior like that was like taming a hurricane. But now he had an ally.
No words were needed. Slayer stood and silently walked out of the command hall. Alex watched him go, a little curious—where was he headed? Deciding he likely wouldn't get an answer anyway, he turned and looked at his trio of companions.
GIR, MIMI, and Stitch sat sulking on the floor, exhausted from their failed escape attempts. They looked at Alex as if he were the greatest villain in the universe.
"Of course… they're definitely going to complain to the girls when we get back," Alex thought. "They just won't mention the part about trying to steal a thirty-meter-tall combat mech."
With Slayer out of sight, Alex decided to seize the moment and get answers to a question that had been bothering him for a long time.
"Vega, what's the current status of the Makers and the Khan Maykr?" he asked, sitting down on the steps near the Earth hologram.
"According to the most recent data, sir: the Khan Maykr is dead. Urdak has fallen. The Makers were attacked by a demon army and a fallen Lord. None of them survived," Vega's voice replied.
Alex ran a tired hand down his face. Another world, devastated. Another god, fallen to the madness of darkness. But Alex knew all too well—Khan was a real bitch who had personally caused the destruction of many worlds.
He glanced at the access panel where VEGA displayed fresh data. Rising from the steps, he approached the terminal to review the information himself. Just as he expected, Slayer had killed the Khan Maykr, leaving Urdak defenseless. Davoth had taken advantage of that moment to exact revenge on his creations—the very ones who had once dared to betray him.
Alex pondered for a moment. How did Davoth regain a physical form? In the original timeline, his resurrection required the sanctum… But he shook his head. This wasn't a game anymore. The rules here could be entirely different, and events didn't have to follow canon.
"VEGA, what happened to the Icon of Sin? As far as I remember, the Khan usually used that monster to destroy worlds," Alex asked, peering at the screen.
"Sir, the Icon of Sin was not found in Urdak's sanctum. All known traces lead nowhere," VEGA responded.
Alex nodded. He suspected where the Icon might be—Raccoon City. He asked the question only to confirm his suspicions. The only thing he wasn't sure about was how many such Icons existed—or how many more could have been created.
From the very beginning, he was certain: the demons wouldn't miss the chance to unleash the Icon of Sin to complete the destruction of the universe. He also knew the creature needed a soul tormented by agony to awaken. A soul drowned in endless suffering. One eternally bound to the monster, without hope of rebirth.
And Alex knew exactly whose soul it would be. Albert Wesker. A failure, yet valuable. A perfect candidate for eternal torment. No one would ask his permission. No one would even think to.
Based on this, Alex understood—before facing Davoth and the Minister of Monoliths, he had to destroy the Icon of Sin. Only then would come the final battle.
Lost in thought, Alex was pulled back to the present by the sound of heavy footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Slayer—suited up in full armor, fully geared. He was clearly ready to move.
"I take it you're ready to come with me?" Alex asked.
"Hmm," Slayer rasped with a nod.
"Good. But first, one last task. VEGA, can you send a message?"
"What message, and to whom, sir?" VEGA clarified.
"To all surviving Night Sentinels. Tell them the time has come to fulfill their oath. It's time to give the demons one final battle."
"Anything else to include?"
"Yeah. Send them the coordinates of my world. Tell them I'll send the signal when the assault begins," Alex said, stroking his chin.
"Message sent, sir."
Alex smiled faintly. The Night Sentinels' help would be crucial, especially considering the size of the demon army entrenched in Raccoon City. And he remembered the gifts he had prepared for Slayer.
From his inventory, he pulled out two cases and set them before him. Slayer looked down at them, noticed the familiar insignia, and shifted his gaze to Alex.
"I wanted to give you this from the start, but, well, who could've guessed you'd attack me right away? I think you'll like them. I did my best to recreate them exactly as they were back when Azrak attacked Argent D'Nur... By the way, Azrak's been resurrected too. Didn't last long, though—he's dead again. Anyway, take them. I hope you haven't forgotten how to use weapons like these," Alex said with a sly grin.
Slayer knelt down and opened the cases. In the first—a familiar chain shield, a perfect replica of the old one. In the second—a massive mace, perfectly balanced and deadly.
He nodded, and Alex gave him a thumbs-up: all good. Without a word, Slayer strapped on the shield, then picked up the mace and gave it a few test swings—he liked it. Alex was certain the gift had been appreciated.
Everything in this universe was finally settled. It was time to return to the place where the fate of his world would be decided.
Alex summoned Yamato, opened a portal—and the first thing he did was toss the trio of GIR, MIMI, and Stitch through it. Naturally, they threw him the most offended looks imaginable, like kittens whose favorite toy had just been taken away. With a sigh, Alex remembered Atlas and decided to bring the mech with him—just so the trio wouldn't whine after returning.
"I'm taking your mech," he called over to Slayer.
"Hmm," came the indifferent response.
Shrugging at that "permission," Alex stepped into the portal. Slayer followed, and soon they found themselves near the settlement—on the very same cliff where the trio had been testing explosives barely an hour ago.
Alex noticed how Slayer looked around warily, frowning. He quickly understood the reason—demonic energy in this world felt different. Here, it was concentrated in a single place—Raccoon City—and not spread everywhere like in Slayer's world.
"I get it, you're surprised. Things aren't the same here. It's a different story. Like I said before, this world was fought over by the Minister and Davoth… and then they joined forces. Now the entire demon army is holed up in one place, which gave humanity some breathing room," Alex said in a calm tone.
"Hmm," Slayer rasped, clearly expecting more.
"Originally, demons weren't even supposed to get into this world. But some idiot opened a portal, and things went downhill from there. You've already faced Davoth's Chosen, right? Well, this world had plenty of them too. But I've already taken out most. Finished off the ones that ran from you," Alex added, lighting a cigarette.
Slayer gave a small nod, acknowledging he understood.
"Alright, we'll deal with the rest later. For now, let's head to my place—get you some real food. I can't imagine how many centuries it's been since you ate anything that wasn't demon. I think some homemade cooking will do you good. Besides, dinner's just starting," Alex said with a warm smile.
Slayer gave him a grim look but said nothing. Alex just smirked in return, then turned to GIR, MIMI, and Stitch.
"I've got a surprise for you three. But only if you stop building explosives."
The trio immediately nodded, putting on their best innocent-helper expressions. Of course, Alex didn't believe them for a second—but he let it slide. Without waiting for permission, they bolted ahead—after all, if dinner was starting, it was time to fill their bellies.
Alex and Slayer exchanged a glance before following. As they passed through the gates of the settlement, Alex noticed people turning to look. At first, he didn't understand why—but it quickly clicked: it wasn't just the imposing armored giant walking beside him. He himself looked… less than great. His face was covered in bruises and cuts, dried blood streaked across his skin, and his clothes were soaked with it. He still hadn't healed from the fight with Slayer. The people's expressions said everything without words: "What the hell happened?"
Alex ignored it. Right now, it didn't matter.
They finally reached his house. Alex pushed open the door and stepped inside. Slayer followed, silently scanning the interior.
The moment Alex crossed the threshold, the girls froze at the sight of him. He had left in one piece—and returned looking like he'd been in a bar fight with a brick wall. It was strange to them: they had seen who he'd fought before, and he always came back unscathed. But now… his face was battered, and there were still traces of blood.
They knew he had gone to find a new ally… and the moment they looked past his shoulder, it became clear. Tall, heavily muscled, clad in iconic heavy armor—armor they recognized from Becca and Stitch.
It was him.
Doom Slayer.
And then everything fell into place: Slayer hates demons. Alex is a demon. It wasn't hard to guess how that ended.
"Alex… I have a pretty good idea why your face looks like that… but will you still explain how it happened?" Kiriko asked suspiciously.
"To start with… Let me introduce—this is Doom Slayer. Or just Doomguy. We had a bit of a… disagreement. I told him I'm a demon. He immediately shot me in the face with a shotgun without even listening. And then it ended in a fight," Alex explained calmly, pointing at Slayer.
"Second question. What exactly did you destroy during this… conversation?" Yuriko asked, crossing her arms.
"Well… while we were beating the hell out of each other, we accidentally destroyed Titan," Alex said, not even trying to soften the wording.
"That's what the city is called in the universe your new friend came from?" Shizuka asked, looking at Alex questioningly.
"No, Shizuka," Saya sighed. "Titan is a moon of Mars. The second largest in the Solar System. Alex and his new friend destroyed an entire moon while punching each other in the face."
The girls stared alternately at Alex and Slayer. Alex turned to his new ally:
"Slayer, take off your helmet. It's not done inside the house."
Slayer silently complied. His face was in the same condition as Alex's—scratches, bruises, dried blood. The girls couldn't hold back and burst out laughing together. Slayer looked at them questioningly, then frowned and glanced at Alex. Alex just waved it off, like it was nothing new.
Anya reacted to the noise downstairs. Realizing her father had returned, she happily ran down the stairs. But when she saw Alex's battered face, she stopped and frowned.
"Daddy! Who attacked you?! Are you hurt? Tell me who it was—I'll deal with him!"
She climbed into his arms and hugged him.
"Oh, my little bun… Your love has already healed everything. Look," Alex smiled. At that moment, all his wounds closed up.
"And who is this uncle with the same beaten-up face? Is he your new friend?" Anya asked, looking at Slayer.
"That's right. He's my new friend. His name's Doomguy. He looks grim, but he's actually good. We do the same thing—protect worlds from destruction," Alex said with a kind smile, pressing his cheek to Anya's.
Anya looked closely at Slayer. For the first time in a long while, an emotion other than rage flickered in his eyes. Alex noticed and nodded approvingly. He knew Slayer was not just a soulless revenge machine.
Kiriko and Namiyo invited everyone to the table. Alex motioned Slayer over. He followed silently.
When everyone sat down, Alice and Nobukatsu couldn't take their eyes off the new guest. Namiyo placed a plate of food in front of Slayer and smiled:
"Even though you fought my husband, you're a guest now. Alex told me what you've been through. I think homemade food is exactly what you need right now."
Slayer nodded and stared at the food. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten anything like this. His life had long since become an endless war, and he had even forgotten his own name. Only fighting, fighting, and more fighting...
During dinner, Alex began telling the girls about his battle with Slayer. They listened in amazement, realizing that Slayer was indeed so strong that he managed to injure Alex. Alex saw their surprise but didn't mention that Slayer was essentially the opposite of Davoth, and his power level was quite natural. It was even good that they had only destroyed one moon—Titan—and not half the solar system in his home universe.
"Alex… Does he even talk?" Ada asked, pointing at Slayer, who silently ate.
"He's just not very talkative. And, darling, it's not very polite to say that in his presence," Alex replied in a restrained tone.
"It's just that he's been silent all this time… We thought maybe he forgot how to speak after everything he's been through," Saeko said with a slight smile.
Alex just rolled his eyes.
When dinner ended, he took Slayer to the workshop—he knew Slayer needed to prepare for the upcoming battle with Davoth. He set up a workspace for him and left him alone with his thoughts, returning to the living room to the girls.
"I didn't think your new friend would be this strong… He really 'decorated' you well," Chun-Li smirked, looking toward the workshop door.
"The main thing is that he's on our side now. We just have to wait for Chris to be ready, then we can take the stage," Alex said, leaning against the back of the couch.
"While you were gone, Chris tried to call you. Didn't get through, so he called me," Claire said, getting his attention.
"Hmm? What's up this time? Found a couple more traitors?" Alex responded lazily.
"Nothing like that. He said he'll be ready to attack Raccoon City in a couple of days. His people are finishing preparations and transferring troops to the nearest military base. He said he'll start the assault with or without us. Stubborn guy," Jill grumbled.
"So, we have two days. That should be enough," Alex sighed deeply.
"But you'll manage. And like you said yourself, after all this, we'll be able to go on vacation," Becca encouraged him with a gentle smile.
"I definitely wouldn't say no to a vacation. Somewhere on islands, with a cocktail, next to my husband," Chiquita said dreamily, stretching.
"You're not the only one! I helped save three worlds. I need a vacation—and not in another world on the brink of apocalypse. Somewhere with lots of good food... and where you can eat as much as you want!" Becca muttered.
"Sounds tempting. I wouldn't mind that kind of world either," Shizuka chimed in, staring dreamily at the ceiling.
"Me too. Even better—a world where I could have a good fight with some idiot. So the vacation has a little kick to it," Juri smirked, cracking her knuckles.
Alex smiled at Becca, who was grumbling about needing a break and that she hadn't signed up for "saving worlds." His smile grew wider as he listened to the girls animatedly discuss which worlds they'd like to visit after the war. Giving them space to talk, Alex quietly stepped outside for a smoke.
He sat down on the steps, lit a cigarette, and, exhaling a cloud of smoke, fell into thought. Time was running out. He needed to finish making rings for all the girls and deliver them before the battle started, to avoid raising any "red flags." Besides that, he had to complete all the other preparations that could make the war easier for the people and reduce casualties. After calculating, Alex realized time was tight.
"What are you doing sitting here alone, staring at the sky?" a female voice asked nearby.
Alex looked down and saw Shino and Mari approaching. He smiled and waved at them. While preparing for the trip to find the second priest, he had managed to spend some time with both. With Mari, it was simple—light conversation ending with a kiss on the cheek. But with Shino... she literally pulled him out of the house to spend time together and ended the date with a sudden kiss on the lips, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close.
"Just sitting, thinking. What are you two doing here?" Alex asked with a smile, looking at them.
"As if you don't know. Rumor has it you came back with some weird guy in armor, and your face was all beaten up. Though now you look... pretty normal," Shino remarked, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
"Don't mind her tone. That's her way of showing she cares about you," Mari said warmly. Shino rolled her eyes again but didn't argue.
"Thanks for the concern, very touching. Want some hugs?" Alex smirked, spreading his arms.
"I wouldn't mind... but maybe later. Better tell us what happened to you," Mari said, and Shino silently nodded in agreement.
"Nothing special. Went to another universe for an ally. When I said I'm a demon—he attacked me. Well, we fought a bit... and maybe destroyed a planet. Otherwise, all's calm," Alex answered lazily.
"Yeah, sure. And I'm a wizard princess from a magical forest. You could come up with a more believable lie. Do you think we're three-year-olds?" Shino snorted, poking him in the chest.
Alex just smirked, ran his hand over his forehead—and demonic horns immediately grew there. Shino's and Mari's eyes widened in shock. Before they had a nervous breakdown, Alex removed the horns and, not giving them time to recover, shoved them both inside.
They didn't even realize how they ended up inside. Alex sat them down on the couch, giving them time to process what they'd seen. Shino and Mari silently stared at him while the other girls watched their reactions closely. Seeing their confusion, the girls exchanged glances and silently agreed: since Alex started all this, he had to explain.
Alex sighed heavily, realizing it was now up to him to tell the whole truth and bring Shino and Mari up to speed.
To be continued…
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