Arthur felt a subtle, unsettling sensation, a prickling on his senses that grew more distinct with each passing moment.
He knew this feeling—a faint echo of immense power that he had only sensed from the most formidable beings like Sephira he fought before.
Simultaneously, within the depths of his soul, Rizevim felt the presence of both Great Red and Ophis.
This was a jarring, unnerving intrusion.
"What is this feeling...?"
Arthur muttered, his mind racing to understand the sudden shift.
Inside his soul, Ophis's voice echoed.
"It must be Rizevim."
She remembered him—the one who had tried to manipulate her in a previous timeline.
She had been a key piece of his grand plan, and with her absence, he was undoubtedly searching for her.
Arthur knew the name Rizevim well.
He was a Super Devil.
While he was considered weaker than Sirzechs Lucifer, he was still far beyond Arthur's current capabilities.
"I think you should go back to your home world and get stronger first,"
Great Red's voice boomed in his mind, her concern evident.
She knew that Rizevim might hesitate to make a major move due to Sirzechs's presence, but that didn't guarantee Arthur's safety.
She also knew that if Arthur returned to his home world, time in this one would stop.
Arthur considered the suggestion, his gaze falling upon Sona Sitri, who was absorbed in a book beside him.
She had come to his room to spend time with him, to get to know him better.
Sona hadn't been fazed to find Kuroka and Koneko already there, simply finding a comfortable spot and immersing herself in her reading.
Koneko lay peacefully in his lap, her cat ears and tails twitching in a state of utter relaxation.
She was completely at ease, her trust in his ability to keep her safe absolute.
Kuroka, though not visible, was nearby; he could sense her presence on a tree just outside the window, a high perch she often favored for her naps.
The idea of stopping time, of leaving them without their knowledge, gnawed at him.
While they wouldn't notice a single thing, the secret would be a heavy weight on his conscience.
He took a deep breath.
"Sona, Koneko, Kuroka, I have something I need to tell you all."
His tone was uncharacteristically serious.
Sona immediately closed her book. Koneko yawned, stretching before sitting up on his lap, her sleepy eyes now alert.
Kuroka, sensing the shift, leapt from the tree, phasing back to her beautiful nekoshou form from her cat form as she entered through the window.
"What is it?"
Sona asked, her voice calm but concerned.
"You sound so serious, nyaan. I hope it's not something bad,"
Kuroka added, her tail swaying with a mix of curiosity and worry.
"Please tell me everything,"
Koneko said softly, her expression earnest.
"If there's anything I can do to help, I will."
Arthur felt a pang of guilt. He didn't feel he deserved their unconditional trust and affection, but he pushed the thought aside.
He had also wanted to tell Serafall about this, but her duties as a Maou were too demanding.
Sirzechs had called her back to deal with the fallout from her being engaged to the same man as her little sister, effectively dragging her back to work before she could spend more time with him.
"I am not of this world,"
Arthur began, his voice low and steady.
"No, I'm not even from this universe."
He explained who he was, where he came from, and his connection to the cosmic forces within him.
He even manifested Great Red and Ophis through his lifestream.
Sona, Koneko, and Kuroka were completely shocked.
The very idea of the two most powerful beings in creation becoming Sacred Gears was unheard of, and to find them both residing within the man they had come to care for was beyond comprehension.
The revelation hung in the air, a silent, weighty presence that changed everything.
"Can we go with you, nyaan?"
Kuroka asked, her voice laced with a newfound urgency.
Even though she knew the time in this world would stop, and she wouldn't feel a thing, the thought of being away from Arthur now that she knew the truth was unbearable.
She feared he might forget about them.
Arthur considered the request. He could bring them with him, but he wasn't sure what Pepper and Tony would think.
He had just brought Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, and Sephira home.
Now he was going to bring back even more women.
"Please let us go with you. We will behave ourselves,"
Koneko said, tugging on his sleeve with the ultimate move of cuteness—an action so powerful it was hard to resist.
Sona nodded in agreement.
"Yes, please bring us with you. Time in this world will be stopped, which means I can fully rest. And I want to meet your parents and the other members of your harem."
Her calm demeanor belied the earnestness in her voice.
Arthur had to decide. The answer wasn't that hard to get.
"Alright, I will bring you back with me but before that I have to tell you about my world first."
It wasn't a hard task to tell them about his world.
His world wasn't that different from this world after all.