AN: As always thanks for the power stones Joldered, SparkleEyeMole and DragonConquer1!
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Open field at the Dragon God's Palace, Dragon Valley, DesuMachi World…
The thundering explosion spread through the entire valley, shaking both ground and sky. Sora tightly held onto Wan-chan, as it wrapped itself protectively around her, while the lizardkin gripped at the fallen rubble like his life depended on it. Above them, Wan-chan deployed its 'I-Just-Can't-Have-Enough-Hands' funnels, forming an umbrella-like shield that blocked falling debris and dust from the collapsing ceiling.
"Wan-chan, hold it please!" Sora shouted, feeling the vibrations through her entire body.
When the blinding light finally began to fade, the world was eerily silent. Sora peeked out from over Wan-chan's body, eyes scanning the sky for any sign of Mei or the Dragon God Akon Kagura. Her heart pounded as she stared at the massive cloud of smoke where their attacks had collided.
"Mei-nee, please be alright!" Sora prayed, her voice shaking. Even the lizardkin beside her stared anxiously at the dust cloud outside, praying for any glimpse of the two figures.
Moments later, two silhouettes broke through the smoke, falling from the sky. One was Akon Kagura, her miko dress shredded and torn, her right arm severed up to the elbow. The other was Mei, out from her Herrscher form and returned to her usual self, limp and unconscious.
"Oh no!!!" Sora's eyes widened in panic as her heart dropped.
"Mei-nee!!!" she screamed, her voice trembling.
She spun toward Wan-chan, shaking its metal body with trembling hands. "W-wan-chan! W-wh-what do we do?! Do you have anything—anything at all—to save them?!"
"Arf…" Wan-chan looked down sadly, its tail drooping to show its mood.
Sora immediately dug through her pouch, rummaging desperately for anything that could help Mei. "This is… uh… the Go-Get-Goey bomb? And this—wait, why is there a jar of super-spicy demon chili paste?! Why is there a label that says 'Anti-Pervert Super Weapon – Can Even Make the Maous Cry for Months'?! Who wrote this?! Oh! It's An-nee..."
Shaking her head, she pulled out another gadget. "Oh, this one's the self-inflating balloon armor—probably safe! Maybe? And—hold on, a portable coffee dispenser labeled 'For Hachiman Only'? What's he doing sneaking this in here?!"
Her eyes twinkled for a second. "Wow! An emergency dango maker! I'll ask Mei-nee to make one later~! Ohhh, a fold-out cooking set for Mei-nee too! Nice!!"
She kept pulling out one odd object after another: "Hmm? What's this? 'Instant Explosive Slippers, Handle with Care'? And this one—'Automatic Hair Curler That Doubles as a Whip'? And why is there a remote called 'Do-Not-Press Button of Eternal Regret Unless It's Emergency'?!"
Sora froze mid-panic and turned to Wan-chan. "Wan-chan, do you think any of this can help? Or are we just gonna blow up the whole valley?!"
Wan-chan blinked, barked nervously, and hid its tail behind its back. "Arf..."
Sora groaned. "Great! Even our mascot agrees!! Wahhh, Mei-nee, I don't even know if these will help or blow us all up!!"
Feeling frustrated Sora bit her lips and her eyes turned teary until she remembered the 'advice' from Noah and Hajime.
"Listen, Sora-chan. During this expedition, when you feel scared or helpless, just do this—and both you and Mei will be alright," Noah said with the most serious(?) expression he could muster.
Hajime, standing at his side with arms crossed, nodded solemnly—though the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement. "If the gadgets we gave you aren't enough, or if they can't be used, then these words and actions will definitely save you from any situation."
Sora blinked at the two older men, her innocent confusion clear. "So what should I do, Noah-nii, Hajime-nii?" she asked, tilting her head.
The two exchanged knowing looks, identical mischievous smiles forming on their faces. Then, in perfect sync, they leaned forward with dramatic seriousness.
"Just shout your hero's name!" they declared together, smirking like seasoned troublemakers.
Sora stared at them blankly for a few seconds, unsure if they were serious or teasing her. "Eh? That's it?" she asked, completely puzzled.
"Trust us," Noah said, giving a confident thumbs-up.
"It always works," Hajime added, earning a nod from Noah and an even more confused look from Sora.
As the memory faded, Sora looked back at the sky. Mei and Akon Kagura are still falling, she walks until at the edge of the broken walls, gathering her determination.
"Sora-dono, please be careful or you'll fall!!" The lizardkin rushed to her side, standing protectively as she leaned dangerously close to the broken edge. Even Wan-chan barked sharply, tail puffed up as it positioned itself between her and the end of the platform, high in alert.
Sora took a deep breath, clenching her fists before placing her hands near her mouth. "Here goes nothing…" she whispered, heart pounding. Then, with all her strength, she shouted, "HACHI-NII!!!!!!!! HELP US!!!!!!"
Both the lizardkin and Wan-chan flinched from the sheer volume of her voice. For a heartbeat, silence followed—then a deep, earth-shaking roar ringing across the valley.
From the distance emerged was a colossal black dragon, riding atop its back was Hachiman himself, his cape flapping violently in the wind, eyes locked on Mei as she plummeted from the sky.
Sora's eyes lit up, tears forming as relief burst through her chest. "He really came!!!!" she cried joyfully.
The lizardkin's jaw dropped in awe, barely able to speak. "T-that's… the elder black dragon Hei Long! know from its strength and ferociousness… and he's riding it?!"
Even Wan-chan's face blinked in disbelief seeing Hachiman actually come.
Sora leaned over the edge, waving both arms wildly. "Go, Hachi-nii!!! Save Mei-nee!!!" she yelled, then paused briefly before shouting again, "Oh! Also the Dragon God-san, please don't forget her too!!"
—-
Going back in time for a brief moment, when Mei had just finished battling the Greater Demons, Hachiman sprinted along a narrow trail, feeling something coming and electrifying in the air. A split-second instinct made him jump aside just as a blinding streak of pinkish-red lightning tore through the valley, slicing across the landscape like the wrath of a god.
When the tremors subsided, he straightened slowly, eyes widening at the sight before him. The entire valley wall was cleaved in two, molten edges still bursting with residual energy. "That color of lightning… it's Raiden's," he muttered, voice tightening with worry.
His usual calm expression hardened seriously. "She's fighting someone strong enough to make her liberate her Gear…" he murmured, narrowing his eyes as the valley fell eerily silent.
A faint unease crawled up his spine. Without hesitation, Hachiman bent his knees and jumped high into the sky, scanning the distant landscape from above. From there, he could clearly see the Dragon Palace in the distance and the long, glowing scar where Mei's attack began and ended.
Landing softly back on the ground, he exhaled in cautious relief. "With that kind of attack… and how the surroundings got silent, her opponent should be down by now," he said, his tone carrying a hint of trust and sureness.
But his relief didn't last long. A heavy pressure came from behind, instinct prickling at his senses. Hachiman spun around just in time to see a colossal Black Dragon, nearly a hundred meters long, flying in the sky, its mouth glowing with black fire ready to be unleashed.
"Seriously?!" he muttered before leaping backwards, just a split-second before the dragon's breath melted the ground. The blast hit where he'd just been standing, exploding into a torrent of dark flames. He raised his arm to shield his face as the shockwave washed over him, the heat biting against his skin.
When the breath attack finally stopped, the place he was standing reduced to a bubbling pit of lava. The dragon descended, landing effortlessly in the center of the molten pond as though bathing in a hot spring.
Hachiman narrowed his eyes, keeping his stance low and ready. Studying the mana and flow of energy on its body. 'I can sense it… faint traces of the same miasma that corrupted those lizardkins,' he thought grimly. 'But unlike them, this dragon somehow is alive and sane… maybe not completely sane.... but is it able to resist the corruption or being controlled by them?'
A deep, gravelly chuckle rumbled from the dragon's throat. "Hoo… as expected, you are no ordinary human."
Hachiman was startled, as he was somewhat able to understand the growl of the dragon.
'It could talk?' He thought, eyes widening for a second.
"Just when I was about to leave the valley after burning those wretched demons," the dragon continued, its eyes studying him with interest. "I saw that crimson lightning splitting the valley… and found a powerful human standing here. How fortunate."
The beast's lips curled into a smirk-like expression. "Perhaps this will be the most interesting time of my life."
'Thank you for the explanation, Dragon-san.' Hachiman's cheek twitched slightly. 'The blessing of Trailblaze sure is useful. Making language barriers a thing of the past, even without that Synesthesia Beacon. It's translating his growls into words that I could understand.'
Taking a small breath, Hachiman relaxed his stance, trying to look as harmless as possible before addressing the dragon. "Hello, Black Dragon-san. I hope you had a good hunt?"
The dragon's eyes widened, genuinely surprised as it heard Hachiman 'speak' in the language of dragons.
Hachiman raised both hands lightly in a placating gesture. "By the way, my name is Hikigaya Hachiman, and I'm definitely not part of those 'wretched' demons you were just talking about," he added quickly, his tone cautious but polite.
"I see… that kind of name and being able to understand my words… Human you are a Hero, isn't it?" the Black Dragon rumbled thoughtfully, tilting its head. Then, with a low growl, it added, "Hmmp! So the dogs of the pillar gods have come to the sanctuary of the Dragon God? Does her killing that fool Zaicuon have those so-called gods trembling in fear so now they are sending a summoned hero to face her?"
Hachiman's eyes widened at that information, his mind racing. 'So these…. Pillar Gods and the Dragon God are at odds? No—focus! I can think about that later. First, let's clear up this misunderstanding before I get roasted alive!'
"Wait, wait a second, Black Dragon-san! I'm not in league with those pillar gods either and I'm definitely not a hero!" Hachiman blurted out, waving his hands in panic.
The Black Dragon blinked once before bursting into booming laughter. "Kakakaka! That's quite the funny joke, Hero!!"
"Huh?! What do you mean by a joke?!" Hachiman stammered in confusion.
The dragon grinned. "Your titles are laid bare before me! With the True Dragon Eye Skill, nothing can be hidden! Isn't that right, Joker, Unsung Hero, or would you prefer Messiah? Perhaps The Strongest Nameless, Child of Remembrance, or maybe even Shadow Monarch?"
"How…?!" Hachiman's eyes widened in shock. Those were names and titles only the crew knew. Things he'd never once shared outside their circle.
The Black Dragon smirked. "Like I said, Hero. With sufficient appraisal skill, no secret stays hidden."
Hachiman grimaced, muttering under his breath, "So basically my and everyone's privacy is gone because of this skill… great."
A cool, deep voice called inside his mind. 'It seems your deepest secret has been exposed, My Successor.'
Hachiman blinked, startled. 'You're awake?!'
'Of course I am,' the voice replied coolly. 'I wouldn't dare miss a single second of your adventures.'
"Yeah, well," Hachiman sighed softly, rubbing his temple, "a little help next time would've been nice…"
Then a loud roar tore across the valley, accompanied by a presence of heavy miasma that made the air itself feel suffocating. Both Hachiman and the Black Dragon turned toward the palace not far away, where the source of roar and miasma came from.
"....How impudent those demons are," the Black Dragon rumbled, eyes narrowing. "Since they cannot defeat the Dragon God-sama, they are now attempting to corrupt her instead. Hah! What foolishness. Are they perhaps thinking that they can use the strongest being as a weapon against the pillar gods?"
It scoffed, smoke came out from its nostrils. "They should have known better. If they think she'll obey, they might as well hope the sun bows to the moon. Akon Kagura-sama is… quite childish and terribly competitive. Thinking once she grows bored, she'd likely fly off to challenge the Pillar Gods themselves, how simply foolish."
The dragon shook its head in disbelief. "And if there is anyone who could truly catch her interest, it would be those alien gods… or perhaps that Demon God on the moon."
'This Dragon is really chatty… He just dropped a whole lore book in one go,' Hachiman deadpanned inwardly, expression flat. His mind is thinking about 'Alien Gods' and the 'Demon God on the moon' that the Black Dragon just spoke about.
The dragon's grin returned as it looked down at him. "But that's not my concern. My problem, Hero… is you."
Hachiman's cheek twitched, his tone dry. "...Can we please not fight? Maybe talk about this like intelligent beings?"
"Bwuahahaha! That's impossible, hero!!" the Black Dragon said with laughter. "It is inevitable, Dragons and Heroes are destined to fight whenever they meet!"
Hachiman sighed, raising one hand wearily. "Then can we… you know, just say you won and skip the whole 'fight to the death' part?"
The Black Dragon smirked, instead of answering without warning, the dragon twisted its massive body, tail cutting through the air like a guillotine. Hachiman's eyes widened, and he instantly conjured a barrier of Geo energy. The tail slammed into the shield, the force from the impact, blasting him into the rocky wall of the valley .
He grunted, rolling across the ground before twisting mid-slide, his boots scraping against the ground until he came to a stop.
"Okay… definitely not skipping it," he muttered.
Raising his head, Hachiman saw the dragon already ready to fire another breath, dark flames building in its throat.
"Oh, come on!" he groaned, stacking multiple Geo shields in front of him as the Dragon Breath fired at him.
"Partner, here's your promised fight!!" Hachiman shouted as the shadow under him formed.
From it, Arsene appeared at his back, his coat flaring dramatically as he spread his wings wide. "Kakaka! You truly didn't disappoint me, partner!!" the phantom thief laughed, slamming his wing forward to deflect the blast and retaliate with a powerful gust.
"!! A summoner-type hero, huh!" the Black Dragon growled, grinning even as Arsene's wing blast sent him staggering back a few steps.
The Black Dragon spread its wings to regain balance, raising one arm just in time to block Arsene's incoming claws, with a clang that rang through the air.
"Kakaka!! Aren't you tough, Mr. Dragon?" Arsene grinned, firing a burst of bullets from his hidden gun before twisting midair to deliver a sharp kick to the dragon's side.
"You damn summon and your dirty tricks!!" the Black Dragon roared in frustration, flames flaring from its nostrils.
Black lightning erupted from the dragon's body, but Arsene twisted effortlessly through the air, his coat fluttering as he dodged each blast. Just as he dodge, the dragon's long tail whipped around from behind, aiming to strike him but a glowing Geo barrier materialized in time, deflecting the blow with a sharp bang sound.
Below, Hachiman standing still, eyes glowing with neon indigo light as he calmly observed the fight.
"Nice try, but you forgot my partner below," Arsene taunted, flashing a confident grin.
Growling, the Black Dragon inhaled deeply and released another massive breath attack. Arsene rolled aside in a blur, then countered with a powerful kick to its head, sending sparks flying. The dragon's eyes narrowed, fury boiling over. It unleashed a barrage of Wind and Fire magic, targeting both Arsene and Hachiman.
But Hachiman's layered Geo shields stood strong, golden shields absorbed the explosions with ease. "Not happening," he muttered, leveling his gun.
"Arsene—Sukunda," Hachiman commanded smoothly, raising his pistol, as Arsene moved in perfect sync.
Grinning, Arsene snapped his fingers, and the Black Dragon suddenly felt its body grow unbearably heavy, taking effort to keep itself flying. At that exact moment, Hachiman pulled the trigger, a concentrated gravity bullet flying through the air and slamming into the dragon's chest. A deafening roar came from its throat, spreading across the valley. Unable to sustain its flight, the dragon fell downward.
Arsene didn't waste a second. With smooth movements, he danced through the air, his coat flowing dramatically as he slashed with his cane and fired shots from his pistol in an elegant display of violence. A few precise shots and one final strike sent the dragon crashing into the ground with an earth-shaking thud, creating a dust filled crater.
Sighing, Hachiman sprinted forward as Arsene descended beside the fallen beast, floating down like a smug shadow.
"How is he, partner? You didn't accidentally kill him, right?" Hachiman asked, eyeing the fainted dragon with suspicion.
Arsene crossed his arms and rolled his eyes in exaggerated offense. "You wound me, partner. Have a little faith, will you? I only almost killed it."
"That's not assuring at all," Hachiman muttered, shaking his head. He took a deep breath, holstered his gun, and raised a hand. "Alright then… time to fix this mess."
He focused, voice soft as he called his Persona. "Arise… Maria."
A gentle shadow formed at Hachiman's back, followed by a warm radiance that bathed the battlefield. From within the light, a divine woman emerged, wearing a flowing white robes embroidered with gold, a soft halo encircling her head. Her calm, closed-eyed expression radiated peace and compassion. "As promised… I have answered your call, Monarch. Your heart still carries kindness even amid battle."
"Please use Salvation on this Dragon," Hachiman said, his voice even but weary.
Maria smiled faintly and raised her hand. Holy light gathered around her fingertips before spilling out like a waterfall of warmth. The fainted dragon's body glowed, its wounds closing one by one until its scales shone once more. The thick miasma faded away, leaving nothing but the rhythm of peaceful breathing.
Exhaling in relief, Hachiman allowed a small, genuine smile to surface. "Thanks, Maria. As always."
"You are very much welcome," she replied softly, her smile serene before her figure dissolved back into his shadow, leaving behind a lingering trace of light.
When Hachiman turned, he froze. Arsene was crouched near the dragon, poking its snout with his cane. "Hey, hey, Mr. Dragon, you're all healed~ Wakey wakey~."
Hachiman's brow twitched. "...What are you doing, oi?" he asked flatly. "And more importantly, why are you still here?"
"How cold, partner!!" Arsene proclaimed dramatically, hand over his chest acting with exaggerated heartbreak. "So now that you have a beautiful lady by your side, you toss aside this old, loyal gentleman demon who's been with you through every trial? Truly tragic!"
".....Raiden and I don't have that kind of relationship," Hachiman replied flatly, but the faint pitch in his voice betrayed his fluster.
Arsene raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oho? That hitch says otherwise. Maybe you just haven't realized it yet, partner." he teased with a sly grin, voice laced with amusement.
"Keep talking and I'll seal your next summon for a week," Hachiman deadpanned, trying and failing to hide the faint blush creeping up his cheeks.
Arsene chuckled. "Empty threats, my dear partner. You love me too much to do that."
Before Hachiman could retort, a deafening explosion rang from the distant palace. Both of them snapped their attention toward it as a massive dust cloud at the palace, followed by a burst of pinkish-red lightning flying out to the ground.
Arsene let out a low whistle. "Well, it seems your Not-Yet-Girlfriend is having a rather lively time with that Dragon God."
Hachiman's brow twitched. "...We're not doing this right now." He adjusted his cape, eyes narrowing toward the palace. "We need to get there fast."
He turned toward the supposedly fainted dragon, noticing the subtle change in its breathing. His gaze sharpened. Beside him, Arsene's grin widened mischievously, eyes twinkling like a thief about to pull off another heist.
Hachiman sighed, exasperated. "Arsene… what are you planning this time?"
"Well, since you wanted to reach the palace as quickly as possible, why not make this dragon part of your 'Shadow Army' and have it fly us there." Arsene said, preparing his cane to stab that dragon at the hearth. "So I'll kill this dragon, you can extract his shadow then bam!!! We now have a dragon ride!! Genius isn't it!!"
Both notice the small twitch from the black Dragon.
"It is better if you stop pretending to be asleep or Arsene will absolutely stab you." Hachiman said to the Dragon, but still it didn't move.
"You did try partner, it's my turn now~!" Arsene walked towards the Dragon and raised his cane wrapping it Curse Flame and brought it down. The black dragon hurriedly rolled at the side as the Cane stabbed the ground.
"Oi hero, your summon has a bad personality!!!" The Black Dragon complained.
"I told you right, he will really do it." Hachiman deadpanned.
"Ehh~ why did you dodge it?" Arsene pouted. "It was our great chance to have as our my companion and friend~"
"Why does killing me equate to me being your friend huh?!" The Dragon replied.
"Enough bickering, you two can continue that later," Hachiman cut in, rubbing his temple before things could escalate again. "Black Dragon-san, can you please fly us to the palace? My other companions are there right now."
The Black Dragon opened its mouth to reject him, but one glance at Arsene, who was twirling his cane with a disturbingly eager grin, made it stop. The dragon sighed heavily, shoulders slumping as it lowered itself to the ground. "Fine. Get on, hero. But make sure your summon doesn't do anything stupid!"
"Thanks," Hachiman said with relief as he climbed onto the dragon's back.
"Hehehe, don't be like that, Mr. Black Dragon. I just wanted to be friends," Arsene chimed in cheerfully as he followed, hopping up behind Hachiman.
The dragon gave him a deadpan look before spreading its wings. "If your version of friendship involves stabbing, I'll pass."
Arsene chuckled. "You wound me, truly. I stab only out of love."
"Stop talking before he changes his mind," Hachiman muttered under his breath, gripping one of the dragon's scales as they lifted off the ground.
The Black Dragon launched into the air with a powerful flap, the wind howling past them. As they soared toward the palace, the sky suddenly darkened. Storm clouds gathered rapidly, swallowing the sunlight. Wind, rain, and thunder converged, the air thick with elemental chaos.
Before them, dragons formed from water, lightning, and wind forming into existence, majestic yet terrifying. The golden lightning dragons began to transform, their bodies turning into the familiar pinkish-red. They clashed violently with the water dragons, lightning flashing across the stormy sky.
Then, in the distance, a blinding streak of that same pinkish-red lightning made its move upward, cutting through the wind dragons. A moment later, a massive wave of lightning flew downward, obliterating the elemental dragons in a single slash.
"...Partner, your fair lady is truly quite something," Arsene remarked with an amused tone.
Hachiman kept his expression straight, though the tips of his ears betrayed him with a faint red hue. "...Like I said, Raiden and I aren't in that kind of relationship."
"So the opponent of the Dragon God-sama is your mate, hero?" the Black Dragon asked curiously.
"She isn't," Hachiman said firmly, trying not to react much.
"Yet," Arsene added smoothly, the corner of his lips curling into a grin. "Don't worry, partner, love often strikes faster than lightning."
"Keep talking and I'll really seal your summoning privileges," Hachiman muttered, sighing as he rubbed his temple.
Arsene laughed softly. "Oh, come now. You know you'd miss me."
Before Hachiman could reply, a blinding flash filled the sky as red lightning and golden divinity clashed once again. The three instinctively shielded their eyes, the Black Dragon flapping its wings hard to stay stable against the shockwave.
When the light faded, all that remained was a massive dust cloud in the sky. Hachiman's heart pounded as he searched the dust cloud until he spotted them, Mei's unconscious body falling alongside Akon Kagura.
"HAC… NII, HEL… S…!!!"
Hachiman's head snapped toward the palace at the faint, broken call of Sora's voice. His expression hardened. "Arsene, check the palace. I think Sora's there."
"Understood, partner." Arsene touched the brim of his hat with a confident smile before disappearing in a swirl of dark smoke.
Hachiman turned his gaze toward Mei's falling figure. "Black Dragon-san, I'll leave your god to you."
"Yeah, yeah. Go save your mate, Hero," the Black Dragon replied with a teasing rumble, earning only a flat stare from him.
Not wasting another second, Hachiman leapt from the dragon's back, gliding swiftly toward Mei. The moment he reached her, his arms wrapped around her protectively. Even unconscious, Mei seemed to recognize his touch, her body relaxed, snuggling instinctively into his chest. The faint warmth of her breath brushed against his collar, and he felt the corner of his mouth twitch in embarrassment.
"Seriously…" he muttered under his breath, cheeks faintly red. "Even asleep, you're impossible."
As the ground rushed closer, Hachiman extended his hand, stacking multiple Geo shields under them. The glowing layers formed a smooth, slanted slide that absorbed the impact, letting them land softly.
He straightened, still holding Mei in his arms. She looked peaceful, utterly at ease despite the risky landing. A small sigh escaped him, followed by a small, wry smile. "I guess… you've earned this rest."
A short distance away, the Black Dragon swooped down gracefully, catching the falling Akon Kagura with its claws before landing heavily not far from them.
"HACHI-NIII!!!!"
Hachiman turned toward the voice, glancing up to see Sora waving wildly from Arsene's arms as they floated down. The sight pulled a rare, gentle grin from him.
He looked back down at Mei, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "Good work, Mei," he murmured softly. "You've done great."
Overhead, the storm clouds finally began to part, sunlight breaking through the sky. The wind carried away the last traces of battle. For the first time since arriving in this world, peace, however brief, finally returned to the valley.
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