Deep within the Night Kingdom, Gosoythoth, the Reaper of the Abyss, hovered before a massive mirror of voidlight, observing the battlefield below. The war was turning into a massacre—and not in their favor. Their elite forces, waves upon waves of Abyssal monsters, had all been dispatched with laughable ease… by a single human boy.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
Each motion of his sword was sharp but effortless. He didn't seem pressed for time, nor bothered by the numbers thrown at him. It was as if he were merely taking a stroll through a park rather than cutting down legions of entropy. What disturbed Gosoythoth the most, however, was the looming silence that followed that attack. The one that burned entire platoons of the Abyss in a single sweep.
Gosoythoth shuddered at the memory of that single strike. It was incineration on a conceptual level. It burned hotter than even the Pyro Archons' divine fire, surpassing the might of the Heavenly Principles themselves. The sheer amount of Imaginary energy that accompanied it… it could've shattered this world apart, unmaking mountains and splitting the skies with a single swing. Even the stars would've flinched. It was the kind of power that could erase the Abyss from the fabric of this world.
And yet… he hadn't used it again.
That boy—no, that being—hadn't called upon that destructive power again.
At first, Gosoythoth assumed it was a fluke. Perhaps that strike had cost the human dearly or something unsustainable, or beyond his control. But the more he observed, the more that idea became ridiculous.
The human's Imaginary energy levels didn't fluctuate. Not once. No exhaustion. No instability. No buildup.
It was leveled. Calm. Controlled.
It was as if… he hadn't even needed to try.
And the expression on his face? It looks like… bored.
Gosoythoth trembled. That kind of composure wasn't arrogance—it was indifference.
"He toys with us," Gosoythoth growled, its multi-voiced tone low and reverberating,voice low with fury and dread. "As if we're not even worth the effort…"
Its formless body trembled in fury and disbelief. A mere human dared to mock them. Them, the Abyss, born from pure entropy. From the uncountable layers of Imaginary numbers and logic. They were not supposed to be challenged. They were the delivery of end towards beginnings.
But here they were mocked and challenged.
The pressure Gosoythoth released made the air itself groan. The heralds, lectors, and Baptist, along with the millions of Abyss creatures, recoiled instinctively.
"Tell me," Gosoythoth's voice slithered across the void like a blade through mist, "is this truly the same human who halted our advance in the Nation of Wind?"
"Yes, my lord," the Baptist answered, kneeling low, even his voice quivering. "He is the one. Our forces clashed with him not only in the Nation of Wind, but also Geo and Electro. His presence… left marks in Dendro and Hydro as well. His presence is like a smoldering brand—wherever he goes, we are forced to retreat. Movement becomes… difficult."
Another tremor passed through Gosoythoth's form, this one deeper. "Difficult?" it repeated coldly. "We are entropy. We are at the end. And a single human makes our existence 'difficult'...?"
No one dared to answer.
"Tsk..." Gosoythoth's eyes narrowed at the figure of Noah, just as the human plunged his blade cleanly into another Abyss creature. It didn't even have a chance to struggle.
Then, as if sensing its stare from beyond, Noah paused. His head slowly tilted. His gaze dropped toward the ground… no, beyond it.
Directly at Gosoythoth.
The Reaper of the Abyss flinched.
"No… impossible…!" it hissed, backing away from the mirror of voidlight.
But Noah didn't look away. His eyes, calm and relaxed, met Gosoythoth's across realms. He didn't smile. He didn't frown. He simply looked.
And that was worse.
With a clawed swipe of panic, Gosoythoth shut the mirror. For a moment, silence fell in the chamber, broken only by the hollow quiver of its form.
It was fear. Unfamiliar and unwelcome.
"H-He saw me... He sensed me…"
Gosoythoth's non-existing teeth clenched in fury. "Prepare the Legions. We will bring down the Nation of Pyro. Flatten it, erase it, drown it in entropy. I will face that creature myself... and personally tear that gaze from his soul!"
A chorus of Abyssal voices roared in unison: "YES, MY LORD!!"
—-
At the surface battlefield of Natlan, where the scent of smoke and scorched stone filled the air, Noah stood silently amid the fading aftermath of another Abyssal wave. His blade hung loosely in one hand, while his gaze remained fixed on the ground.
...What was that??... he thought, brows furrowing. It felt like someone was watching me..
"Captain, you okay?," Kiana's voice cut in gently, her tone tinged with concern as she wiped sweat from her brow. "You've been staring at the ground for a while. Is something wrong??"
Noah turned to her, his gaze softened the moment it met her eyes. Kiana's bright blue eyes were still alive with adrenaline, but the exhaustion was clear, her cheeks flushed red from exertion. Her breath was still a little uneven from the intensity of the fight and sweat clung to her temples. But to Noah, the way she looked at the moment was undeniably adorable.
Without a word, Noah gently took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles.
Kiana froze.
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, steam practically rising from her head.
Even the NEET Herrscher inside her stammered in the mental background, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture.
"C-C-CAPTAIN?!" Kiana squeaked. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! In the middle of the battlefield?!"
Noah blinked as if confused by the question. "Well… You just look too cute, so I couldn't help myself. I wanted to kiss you properly… but considering the setting, I figured this would do for now." He spoke with such casual honesty, yet there was a trace of disappointment in his tone that made it worse.
Kiana's mouth opened and closed.
"IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?!" Kiana shouted, practically smoking from embarrassment.
"Tsk… lucky Kii-chan…" Miss A muttered, crossing her arms with a pout. "Next time I'm going to hijack her body the moment she gets within ten meters of him."
Elysia clutched her chest, spinning in place. "GunuWell. Should I go for an attack too? No, wait—what if he counters with a kiss?! I—I might die on the spot! But what a way to go…"
Lumine remained quiet, but the sharpness of her pout could probably slice through steel.
It was the same story all over again. Noah's ability to casually shake the hearts of the strongest girls around him… remained undefeated.
—-
With the Abyss forces temporarily beaten back, Noah and the girls made their way toward the Stadium of Sacred Flame. It wasn't just to rest their aching bodies but it was also to speak with Maviuka, the current Pyro Archon, and the Six Heroes from each Tribe. To Noah's surprise, the cheerful chief of the Children of Echoes they had met earlier turned out to be one of the heroes.
As they walked through the wide stone corridors of the stadium, the atmosphere was different. Not solemn but warm. The people of Natlan greeted them with cheers, hand waves, and grateful smiles. Even without the blessings of Wayob, these five outsiders had fought on the frontlines risking everything to protect a nation not their own. That effort, that courage... had earned them something priceless.
"Captain Noah! Thank you for protecting us!"
"Kiana-sama, you were amazing out there!"
"Miss Elysia! You sparkled like a true flame dancer!"
A child ran up and offered a single flower to Lumine, who bent down and accepted it with a gentle smile. Miss A even managed a tired smirk as someone handed her a sweet pastry.
Noah watched all of it the way his family, worn and covered in soot and sweat, still smiled for the people. A sense of pride welled in his chest. He didn't say it out loud, but they were heroes here. Truly.
"Ughhh… finally back! I swear, my bones are crying," Kiana groaned, raising both arms into a long stretch. "Bath. Bed. That's all I need right now."
"I'd even skip the bath…" Miss A muttered, trudging forward like a zombie. Her energy had completely vanished. "I'm so done… Why did the Abyss have to send, like, an entire encyclopedia of monsters after us?! Are they just obsessed with bullying us now?!"
Noah chuckled lightly until he caught himself admiring Kiana's stretch a little too long. Her wonderful curves got emphasized. The area where should curve out is out and where she should curve in is tightly in.
Kaslana genes truly are cheat. That constitution where she can't get fat no matter how much she eats…. No.. Kii do get BIG in the right areas.
A faint grin twitched at Noah's lips, but before he could enjoy the moment any further—pinch.
"Ow!" he winced silently as Lumine caught his cheek between her fingers, eyes narrowed in a deadly cute pout.
Caught red-handed, Noah offered a sheepish smile, then gently reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "That's fair. I deserved that."
"Hmph." Lumine huffed but let her head rest against his arm, her pout softening just a bit.
"I'd love a hot spring too," Elysia chimed in wistfully. "Preferably one with floating petals, a scenic view, and a never-ending supply of fruit parfaits…"
Noah, hearing Elysia's daydream, couldn't help but let his imagination wander—an image of the four girls in swimsuits soaking in a scenic hot spring slipped into his mind.
Kiana, clad in her blue two-piece, lounged against a smooth stone, her hair damp and sticking to her cheeks. Elysia, with her usual sparkly mischief, wore a playful pink frilled bikini, half-submerged and lazily drawing shapes in the water. Lumine, dressed in a modest yet alluring golden white swimsuit that complemented the color of her eyes, sat at the edge of the pool with a towel around her shoulders. And Miss A—Alice- in her fiery red bikini, humming the Dodoco tune. The image was so vivid, Noah had to physically shake his head to reset his brain.
"...Yeah, I'm sooo looking forward to that as well," he muttered under his breath, a bit too audibly.
All four girls abruptly stopped walking and turned to face him in sync.
Noah blinked. "...I just said that out loud, didn't I…?"
"You... ecchi!" they chorused with red cheeks.
He rubbed his nose with a chuckle. The tips of his ears are tinted in red.
Elysia just giggled, whispering, "Maa… our Noah sure is so hopeless~"
Moments later, the group arrived at the Speaker's Chamber, where Mavuika and the Six Heroes along with the commanders from each tribe, were already engaged in discussion. The voices inside can be heard into the hall.
"...The Abyss keeps on sending wave after wave of their forces through the Abyss Tumors and Pylons," a grizzled commander reported grimly. "It's like a never-ending flood trying to drown us all."
"...It might sound grim, but truthfully, we're holding on better than expected," one of the commanders admitted, his voice carrying a strange blend of tension and relief. "Our visiting heroes… they turned the tide. Just five of them managed what entire battalions could not."
Burkina, one of the Six Heroes, nodded. "Not to mention the supplies from Fontaine and Sumeru. Those shipments lifted a huge burden. With full bellies and stockpiles secured, we can focus everything on the war effort."
Wanjiru leaned forward, her expression firm. "That said, we can't grow complacent. Our friends fight for us, yes—but this is our nation. It is our absolute duty to protect it. We must stand on the front lines alongside them, not cowering behind them."
"Indeed. We truly owe a great debt to our friends who've stood with us," Mavuika murmured, her voice tinged with tired gratitude. "And not just them but also our neighbors Fontaine and Sumeru… their support has been invaluable. We must make sure to repay them for all of their help."
Menilek nodded solemnly. "That's true, Archon. If you hadn't personally explained the situation to Lord Hydro Archon and Lord Dendro Archon the reason we can't accept the help from other nations, they might have insisted on sending reinforcements anyway."
"That is because they understood," Noah's voice cut in gently, stepping forward with a light smile. "How much a threat the Abyss is."
Noah gave a small, apologetic bow as he stepped further into the chamber. "Sorry for interrupting. Just couldn't let the moment pass without saying thanks."
A booming, cheerful voice cut through the air. "Ohh!! Welcome back, Noah-dono!! Another triumphant return for you and your lovely entourage, I see!"
Sundjatta, the ever-jovial chief of the Children of Echoes and the first person Noah met in Natlan rose from his seat and greeted them with open arms.
A few of the commanders chuckled, standing to offer nods and waves.
"It's good to see you again," one of them said with a grin. "We could practically feel the shockwaves from here."
Mavuika stood next offering a handshake, her expression a mix of relief, respect and deep gratitude. "Welcome back, our friends. Judging by your condition, it was quite the hunt again."
"Ahaha… We're back, Lord Mavuika," Noah replied with a small smile, stepping forward to accept her handshake. "Though I'm not sure if I should call it a hunt or just another day at work."
That earned a soft laugh from the room, and a weary smile from Mavuika. "With how often you all come back in one piece, I'd say Natlan owes you another feast."