AN: Thanks for the Powerstones DragonConquer1 and JEVIL_devil13!
Enjoy~
---- <<< START >>> -----
Outside the Dragon God's Palace, Dragon Valley, DesuMachi World…
Upon touching the ground, Sora immediately leapt from Arsene's arms and sprinted straight to Hachiman, who was still carrying Mei carefully in his arms.
"Hachi-nii! You really came! Waaah!!!" Sora cried, hugging his side with tears of pure relief and joy streaming down her face.
"Of course I came," Hachiman said softly, adjusting his hold on Mei so he could pat Sora's head with his hand. "There's no way I'd ever leave you or Raiden behind."
"Uhm! I knew it! I always believed in Hachi-nii!!" Sora said proudly between her sobs, smiling through her tears. "To think what Noah-nii and Hajime-nii said actually worked… I'll have to thank them later!"
Hachiman's expression twitched, his smile became strained. "Sora… just what exactly did those two troublemakers tell you?"
Sora blinked innocently, tilting her head with that pure confusion only a child could have. "They told me that if I'm ever in trouble and really need help, I just need to shout your name and you'll come running!" she said brightly, completely oblivious to his growing horror.
'Those two bastards! Just what are they telling to a child?!' Hachiman's face darkened as his cheeks twitched in restrained irritation while his so-called brothers 'corrupt' Sora when he was not looking.
Sora blinked again, confused by his expression. "Eh? Did I say something wrong, Hachi-nii?"
He sighed, rubbing his temple. "No… just remind me to have a 'talk' with those two when we get back."
"Hmm?" Sora tilted her head, confused by the odd look on Hachiman's face.
Then, a soft groan escaped from Mei as she stirred in his arms. Her eyes gently open, hazy and disoriented, until they meet the worried gazes of Sora and Hachiman.
"Mei-nee!! Are you okay?!" Sora cried, leaning closer, her voice trembling with worry.
"Yo," Hachiman greeted with a faint grin. "Looks like you had quite the dance with the Dragon God."
"Hiki…gaya-kun?... So..ra-chan?" Mei murmured weakly, still dazed.
Her eyes turned around in confusion before realizing the warmth surrounding her, Hachiman's arms wrapped securely around her and Sora, right beside her. For a brief moment, that warmth melted her tension away. She sighed softly and closed her eyes again, leaning closer into his chest as though instinctively seeking comfort.
Hachiman froze. His brain short-circuited, his entire body stiff as the heat rushed to his face.
"…. what's with this sudden development?" he muttered under his breath, visibly flustered.
"Awawa!! How bold, Mei-nee!!" Sora squeaked, covering her eyes with both hands but peeking through the gap of her fingers, giggling.
Mei blinked, her mind slowly catching up to her body's actions. Then, realization struck her like lightning.
'W-Wait—what did I just do?!' Her eyes flew open, face crimson. She scrambled out of Hachiman's arms, wobbling on her feet, only for her legs to give out.
"Hey, careful!" Hachiman caught her immediately, supporting her by the shoulders.
"Mei-nee, don't push yourself!" Sora said, rushing to her side and holding her hand.
"T-th-thank you both of you…" Mei's cheeks bright red as she lowered her gaze. "S-sorry, Hikigaya-kun… I must be heavy, aren't I?" she mumbled shyly.
"N-no, don't worry about it," Hachiman replied quickly, his tone awkward as he looked anywhere but her.
Sora tilted her head curiously at the red-faced pair. "Eh? Why do you both look like that?"
Inside Mei's mind, the Herrscher of Thunder gave a mock, amused snort. 'Hmp. So easily flustered… how cute.'
"Hehehe, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so' once you and your fair lady finally get together," Arsene teased, his grin stretching wide.
"JUST WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!" Mei and Hachiman shouted in perfect sync, both their faces erupting in crimson.
"Hmm? What's everyone talking about?" Sora pouted, puffing her cheeks as the others talked over something she couldn't follow.
"You'll understand when you're older, Sora-dono," the lizardkin said gently, trying to soothe her.
"Hmph!" Sora crossed her arms, pouting even harder.
The warmth in the air was suddenly broken by a loud crash. The black dragon was blasted back into the palace walls, stone and dust exploding outward. Hachiman, Mei, Sora, and the lizardkin turned toward the impact in shock. The dragon's body lay motionless against the rubble, and from the direction it came, they saw her—the Dragon God, Akon Kagura. Wounded and bloodied, yet her eyes still burned with madness and fighting spirit.
"Hehehehehe…!! ThEre's EvEn A nEw MoUsE!!!" she screeched, divine energy erupting around her like a storm.
Hachiman narrowed his eyes, his stance tightening. Sora yelped and hid behind him, while the lizardkin and Wan-chan moved protectively in front of her, weapons at the ready.
Mei instinctively took a defensive stance, reaching for her katana—only to grasp at empty air. "Eh?! Where's my katana?!" she blurted in surprise, eyes darting around.
"It must have dropped somewhere while you were falling," Hachiman replied, glancing at her. "Don't worry, we'll find it later."
"U-uhm… So what do we do now, Hachi-nii? It looks like Dragon God-san still wants to fight," Sora asked, peeking nervously from behind his back.
"Kuh…. It seems that….we have no choice…. but to kill Akon Kagura-sama," the Black Dragon said grimly, stomping beside them with a heavy thud, still shaking its head as if to dispel the pain from being slammed into the wall.
"Oya? You're still alive? I was hoping we could claim your body and finally add you to my partner's army," Arsene smirked, eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Just what are you planning to do to me, you damned summon?!" the Black Dragon roared. "Oi, hero! Where did you even find this thing?! It's got the worst personality I've ever seen!"
Hachiman sighed, pressing a hand to his face. "Not the time for comedy routines…" he muttered as he raised his hand, summoning multiple layers of golden Geo shields around them. Sparks erupted as Akon Kagura, losing the last of her patience, charged with unrelenting fury hurling spells, punches, and kicks despite her missing arm.
"OhGh!! SuCH a stRONng dEFenSe!!" Akon Kagura cried out with manic delight, laughter ringing through the valley.
Each strike sent shockwaves through the air, forcing the lizardkin and the Black Dragon to brace themselves. Dust and wind howled around them. Hachiman's gaze sharpened, his expression calm but calculating for ways on how they can 'safely' put her down.
"Haa… like I said earlier, Hero. We might need to kill the Dragon God-sama to stop her," the Black Dragon said with a heavy sigh.
Mei, Sora, and Hachiman exchanged uncertain glances.
"I… would rather not reach that point," Hachiman finally replied, his tone calm but resolute. "If there's even the slightest chance to save her… I'll take it."
Mei and Sora both smiled softly, pride and trust reflected in their eyes. In their thoughts, the same sentiment bloomed — 'As expected from our hero.'
The Black Dragon grinned, completely ignoring how easily Hachiman admitted he could kill Akon Kagura. "You truly are a hero — even thinking to save your enemy."
Hachiman turned his gaze away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not like that… I just don't want to feel guilty about killing her."
"Kakakaka! So he says!" Arsene's laugh rang through the air as he leaned toward Mei, his grin mischievous. "So tell me, my partner's fair lady — what do you think about that noble declaration?"
"Hikigaya-kun's just embarrassed about his real feelings," Mei said, covering her mouth with a small laugh. "He knows none of this is the Dragon God-san's fault, so he simply wants to save her, no matter what."
"Hehehe! Hachi-nii is a hero after all! The best one in the universe!!" Sora cheered, smiling so brightly.
Hachiman averted his gaze again, doing his best to ignore Mei and Sora's admiration while glaring daggers at the laughing Arsene. The lizardkin could only sigh in amusement as the Black Dragon smirked at the flustered hero.
"Then you don't need to worry about that, Hero," the Black Dragon said, his tone oddly casual. "Akon Kagura-sama is immortal, after all. Even if you manage to kill her… she'll resurrect herself after some time."
"Haa….?!" Hachiman, Mei, and Sora all shouted in disbelief, eyes wide. Arsene, on the other hand, leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes.
The Black Dragon smirked at their reactions. "The gods of our world are part of the world's system—its very structure. Even if they die, they eventually return, reborn to fulfill their roles once more."
"One of the Seven Pillar Gods, Zaicuon, the God of Passion and Change, often challenges Akon Kagura-sama to battle," the lizardkin added with a weary sigh. "Every time he dies, he revives… and still insists on fighting her again and again. It's exhausting just watching him."
"So… it's fine to kill Dragon God-san?" Sora asked innocently, tilting her head. "Because she'll just come back again?"
"That's right!" the Black Dragon laughed heartily. "For the gods of this world, death is no more than a nap!"
Hachiman turned toward Akon Kagura, who was still laughing maniacally as she continued to attack his shields. "...If I kill her, will that at least clear the corruption of the demons?"
"Yes," the Black Dragon confirmed, his eyes narrowing as he studied Hachiman's expression. "She will be completely reborn in her initial state."
Hachiman exhaled slowly, turning toward Mei. She met his eyes and smiled softly, choosing to trust him without hesitation. That trust made his resolve settle.
"Alright," he murmured, nodding. "I guess.. If we really are out of options... then."
He closed his eyes for a moment calling his strongest persona, the reason he earned the title of Monarch.
'Hey… would you like to accompany me again to slay a god from another world?' Hachiman asked in his mind
'Heh… what an intriguing proposition,' came the deep, cool, and commanding voice from within his mind. '.....I'm in.'
A faint smirk curved Hachiman's lips. He turned to Mei and Sora, who both gave him a reassuring nod and a smile full of trust. Releasing Mei gently, he straightened and stepped forward.
"Lizardkin-san, Black Dragon-san," he said firmly, "leave Akon Kagura-sama to me."
The lizardkin stiffened at his tone, then nodded deeply. "We will leave her to you, Hachiman-dono."
"Hee! Interesting. Go, Hero," the Black Dragon said with a fang-filled grin.
Hachiman exhaled, walking beyond the safety of his shields. The wind was blowing around him, carrying the divine pressure from Akon Kagura. "I am Thou, Thou art I…" he murmured.
Akon Kagura's distorted laughter reaches his ears. "HAahaHAhahaHAHA!!! You aCtuaLLY caME oUT!!!" she flashed and attacked him..
Hachiman eyes glowed with the neon indigo color. "Arise…."
The air turned heavy. Shadows burst forth from the ground, swirling around him. The incoming divine powered punch froze midair, caught by a massive black hand that materialized from the darkness.
"...Ashborn."
From behind Hachiman, a colossal being emerged, a being of immense power clad in jet-black armor, eyes glowing an eerie indigo, horned crown glowing under spectral flame-like hair. The giant's hand tightened, then swung forward with a devastating blow that sent Akon Kagura flying into the far cliffs.
"Wha—?!" The lizardkin fell to his knees, trembling at the overwhelming aura. Even the Black Dragon broke into a cold sweat, wings twitching at the oppressive power radiating from the entity.
Ashborn standing silently behind Hachiman, shadows rippling like a living tide. His voice rang in a deep timbre. "It's been a while, my successor."
Hachiman gave a faint, wry smile. "Yeah. Sorry to drag you into another mess."
Mei and Sora watched him, their hearts were calm, their trust unwavering despite the terrifying power before them.
Arsene stood proudly with a grin. "Kakaka… Now this is my partner, terrifying and stylish as always."
"Maybe it was a bit of an overkill to summon you for this," Hachiman muttered, sweat trickling down his temple as the single punch from Ashborn sent Akon Kagura crashing into the valley walls.
"...I haven't even done anything else yet," Ashborn rumbled, his deep voice carrying a trace of awkwardness. Even him looked a little unsure about his own strength.
A blinding golden aura flared from the distance as Akon Kagura burst free, laughter spreading across the valley. "GoOD! GooD!!! THIs iS hOW a fIGht ShOuLD bE!!!"
"...And she's enjoying this way too much," Hachiman sighed.
Akon Kagura shot downward again, divine energy dancing around her. She unleashed a barrage of magical attacks toward Hachiman, but Ashborn stepped forward, his massive cape sweeping outward. The shadows move, devouring the incoming attacks in bursts of indigo flame.
"Stay behind me," Ashborn commanded.
"Wasn't planning to do otherwise," Hachiman muttered dryly.
Ashborn retaliated, his shadows stretching into countless tendrils that shot toward Akon Kagura. But she nimbly dodged the tendrils with impossible speed, her body covered with divine fire. Using her small frame, she slipped through the shadow tendrils, slammed a kick into the ground where Hachiman had been standing and obliterated the terrain in an explosion.
But just before the kick could reach him, Ashborn's shadows enveloped them both, teleporting them away in an instant. When they reappeared a short distance away, a massive sea of fire spread across the valley floor.
Hachiman grimaced, eyes narrowing at the devastation. "If this keeps up, Raiden and the others might get caught in her rampage."
"I agree," Ashborn replied evenly, his tone calm but firm. "I'll hold her down. You finish it."
"Got it," Hachiman replied.
Ashborn nodded once before vanishing into the darkness, the ground trembling as he reappeared near Akon Kagura. Their clash erupted, shockwaves tearing through the valley.
Watching the two titans collide, Hachiman took a deep breath, his mind already analyzing. "She's too nimble for a direct strike… she'll just dodge anything straightforward," he muttered, his brow furrowing. "Which means… I'll have to hit everything at once."
From the distance, Akon Kagura's manic laughter echoed. "AHAHahaHAhaHAha!!! This FUN SHaDOw mAN!!!"
"...Unfortunately, I don't feel the same," Ashborn replied dryly, his massive shadow fist slamming into her once more.
Hachiman heard the mad laughter of Akon Kagura and the curt, almost tired reply from Ashborn. He exhaled sharply, clenching his hand. "Alright then… let's end this with a bang."
He adjusted his stance, inhaling slowly before raising his hand toward the sky. The Geo Astral Emblem chained at his hip began to glow, pulsing with light. Power flowed through his body as he poured a tremendous amount of Imaginary energy into it. The air around him trembled, cracks spreading across the ground.
"You've been fighting for too long," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "So take a shower to cool off."
Up ahead, Ashborn and Akon Kagura's clash raged on, their blows flattening mountains and splitting the land apart. But then Akon Kagura's laughter stopped for the first time. Her head tilted upward and her mad grin stiffened. High above, countless meteors burning straight toward them.
Far behind, near the palace ruins, the Black Dragon and lizardkin froze, jaws hanging open as the sky turned crimson. Mei and Sora mirrored their shock, though theirs came with exasperation more than fear. And of course, Arsene burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Buwahahahaha!! Partner, are you serious right now?! You're raining down meteors?! Hahaha, you've completely lost it!" Arsene howled, clutching his stomach.
"IS THIS SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT?!" the Black Dragon and lizardkin shouted in unison, panic in their voices.
Sora flailed, hugging Mei's waist tightly. "W-w-what should we do, Mei-nee?! Hachi-nii's acting like Noah-nii and Hajime-nii!!"
"...No wonder Hikigaya-kun gets along so well with Captain and Nagumo-kun," Mei sighed, facepalming. "They all have the same disease, no sense of restraint whatsoever."
Hachiman stood motionless, his expression remained flat as the meteors dropped above him. Akon Kagura froze for a moment at the sight of countless falling meteors, then burst into manic laughter, flaring her divine power once again. With a feral grin, she shot skyward, ignoring Ashborn below.
Ashborn let out a long-suffering sigh, shadows rippling at his feet before he appeared beside Hachiman in an instant. "...It seems your restraint was left back in your home world," he deadpanned.
Hachiman twitched slightly and looked away, doing his best not to meet the Shadow Monarch's gaze. "... It's called efficiency, not overkill." he muttered.
Ashborn exhaled heavily, wrapping Hachiman in a cocoon of shadow. "Efficiency, he says… more like annihilation. Fine. I'll make sure you don't die from your own attack."
Above, Akon Kagura gathered her divine energy, light coalescing into her left fist. "ThIS iS tHe BEst TimE oF My LiFE!!!" she roared with ecstatic glee.
The first meteor struck. She met it head-on, punching the blazing rock with all her might—but gravity and momentum were merciless. The impact sent her back to the ground like a comet, crashing her into the valley floor. Then came the rest—meteor after meteor rained down, shaking the heavens themselves.
The earth split. The Dragon God's palace vanished from the waves of fire and debris. Mountains crumbled as the valley transformed into a cratered wasteland.
Arsene threw out his wings, shielding Mei and Sora under, while Wan-chan's funnels deployed around them, forming a barrier. The lizardkin dove to the ground and covered his head, while the Black Dragon slammed down beside them, his enormous wings curling over everyone like a living fortress.
The ground trembled endlessly until silence finally returned. One by one, Mei, Sora, the lizardkin, the Black Dragon, and Arsene peeked from their cover only to find the world still covered with dust.
The black dragon spread its wings wide, summoning a powerful gust that blew away the dense dust clouds, clearing their view.
"...What in the world…?" the Black Dragon muttered, eyes widening in astonishment
"...It feels like the judgment of the gods has rained down," the lizardkin whispered, his body trembling.
The Dragon's Valley had turned into a desolate wasteland. Craters of varying sizes spread across the once-majestic canyons, flattening the proud mountains. The lush greenery and flowing rivers were gone. Even the grand palace of the dragon lay broken, nothing more than scattered stones.
Mei placed a hand on her forehead and sighed helplessly. "And here I thought Hikigaya-kun was the reasonable one… turns out he's really no different from Captain and Nagumo-kun."
"Fueee~..." Sora's eyes swirled as she tried to comprehend the destruction. "D-did H-hachi-nii just destroy the entire valley?"
Not too far away, the sphere of shadow slowly unfurled, revealing Hachiman and Ashborn. Hachiman grimaced at the sight, guilt flashing across his face, while Ashborn tilted his head toward the sky as though pretending not to see any of it.
Hachiman scratched his cheek with an awkward smile. "Ah… oops?"
Ashborn stared at him blankly before letting out another long sigh. "...Seems like it turned out to be a lovely day after a rain of meteors."
From somewhere behind them, Arsene's voice rang out, laughing uproariously. "Kakakaka! Overkill of the century! Truly, my partner never disappoints!"
Hachiman groaned, muttering under his breath. "Next time, I'm summoning someone less annoying."
======