ONLINE GAMERS {ARC 1 CHAOS IN ASTRAL CITY} CHAPTER 1

Saturday, April 5th, 2030, at 09:15pm

He found himself logged into and inadvertently playing an online game, he knew nothing about—aptly titled NewWorldOnline or NWO for short. It was a virtual reality mass multiplayer online game, a VRMMO.

NewWorldOnline was an ambitious game to say the least. There were practically no rules, no concrete setting and it had the world building of a hysterical mad-man. Even so NWO was well received by all one hundred beta-testers.

It had debuted on shelves not too long ago. Millions of people worldwide lined up in stores to buy a copy. Nearly everyone wanted a copy of the game, gamer or not...

kobayashi Takashi however in all honesty had no interest in the game, he’d rather be doing anything else—anywhere else—right now…

But unfortunately for him and all the other millions of players logged in, there was no escape…Without warning, all the people logged into New World Online, were suddenly trapped in the game.

And lost their connection to the real world forever.

◆◆◆

Saturday night April 5th.

“Come on! Takashi pretty pwease!”

Online games weren’t really his thing; to start with he didn’t like to play games in general...

So, when his sister asked him to play a popular VRMMO she had been beta testing, his natural response was:

“... E-eh? No way. I’ve got better things to do with my time than spending it hauled up in some game with you.”

“That’s terrible! How can you say that? What could be better than spending time with your precious Onee-sama!?” She was throwing a fit. She was a twenty-one-year-old college student throwing a fit like a child.

She grabbed him by the shoulders shaking him senseless as she protested. “Lately you hardly ever want to spend any time with me! You hate me don’t you!?”

She had large gaping tears on each eye, this overly dramatic display was all an act of course, to guilt him into playing with her—

—he completely fell for it.

“...I ...I don’t hate you, it’s just...I’ve been really busy with prepping for entrance exams, so I thought I’d just take it easy and relax the whole lot of summer break...”

“But Takashi, gaming is a good way to let out some steam and relax y’know! Or maybe you just don’t want to play because it’s with me!? Waaah!” She cried.

“I...”

Clearly there was no way out of this, the only choice left to Takashi, was to resign himself to playing a couple of hours with her.

“... Nee-chan, I’ll play the game with you.”

Akari was aware of her little brother’s passive personality—she knew he would give in to her demands with little resistance. He was a bit pushover when it came to conflicts and would always be the first to submit. That always worked in her favor ever since they were little.

Akari grinned from ear to ear.

◆◆◆

Let’s get this over with. He wished. Takashi was the kind of person that didn’t like dealing with anything that was too much work. He always chose the path of least resistance.

Grabbing him by the wrist she made a mad dash for her bed room dragging him up the whole way up.

“Wait!” Takashi shrieked as he was dragged away.

In her room were two large golden helmet-like devices—the neuro interphase, neuro-phase for short, the first full dive rig. She connected them each to a battery, and pressed a tiny red button on the side of each of them. Both of them made a sort of engine sound before turning on.

“Here put it on your head.” She said as she handed him a rig.

“Nee-chan, these things look expensive, how’d you manage to buy two?”

“Bwa ha ha ha! I actually got seven of em!”

“Huh!?” Takashi yelped. He nearly dropped the neuro-phase in his hands. Just one of them was well worth a hefty price…

Most people were only able to buy a copy through months of hard work and disciplined saving—so for her to have seven of them, something shady must’ve been going on, he thought.

“How were you able to buy so many? Not to mention why buy so many?”

In front of him Akari had both eyes shut, “Well the developer told us beta testers could take the rigs we tested back home with us. So, I decided to use seven, isn’t that smart! That way I can share them with all my closest friends.” She grinned.

Her eyes snapped open. With a giant smile she had this to say, “Of all the seven character I saved, you’re getting my second best! You’ll be so tough, no one will even think of messing with you!!!”

Akari flashed him an even bigger smile. “So, take your time relaxing and enjoying the game at your own pace.”

She had always wanted him to enjoy playing games as much as she did.

Takashi didn’t really get it, but he knew she must have worked hard to make things as easy for him as she could.

“…Onee-chan, um... Thank you.”

Takashi slept beside Akari on her bed. He slipped the neuro phase on his head and powered it on.

With the push of a button. It all became dark.

Link worlds *activate judgment protocol*

Takashi thought he heard a voice say something.

For a moment Takashi couldn’t feel or see anything. All his senses were completely cut off, it was like falling in an endless darkness.

“…….”

Then suddenly, light came streaming through from the leaves above his head. The smell of moisture and the texture of the ground at his feet—it was an attack on all his senses, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

He was only vaguely aware of his surroundings, but this was clearly a forest he thought.

Is this what a VRMMO feels like? He thought.

But then...

….

…….?

………..!?

Before Takashi could continue marveling at the new world right in front of him. Something else equally mystifying was before him. The fact that he failed to notice it sooner, just goes to show how breath-taking NWOs world really was—this was undoubtedly bizarre nonetheless.

For some inexplicable reason when he looked down at his body, he saw cleavage!

….C-c-cl-cleavage?

Takashi was so immersed in the world around him. So much so that he had failed to notice them sooner. The presence of the large twin mounds on his chest.

What the hell is going on!? Are these a pair of ah…? Is this a woman’s, ah…!?

While Takashi was dumbfounded by the situation around his chest, a pair of hands stealthily snuck up from behind him…and skillfully latched themselves on to each mound! Pushing them up and down playfully!

Glop! Glop!

“Gyaah!!”

A strange unfamiliar sensation shot through his entire body, as the hands sank deeper and deeper into the twin mounds.

“Ngh~!” A moan escaped his lips. The voice clearly belonged to a woman so how could it come from him!

Takashi’s brain was on fire.

It felt as if his brain would explode, at any moment!

An unfamiliar voice called out to him from the side of his ear—most likely the person doing the groping.

“What do you think Takashi, isn’t this game ultra-realistic!” Her voice may have been different, but he knew it was her.

“Eh!? Onee-ch...!”

Surprised by the softness of his own voice, Takashi cut his protest short.

What was going on? Why had his voice changed? No! He had no time to waste trying to figure it out. First, he had to deal with Akari before his brain exploded!

The unfamiliar pleasure shot through his nerves like a rocket.

With all his strength, every single ounce, Takashi tried to free himself!

“...Aargh!”

But despite his best efforts to have her release him Akari's hands were like steel bars—immovable. She was stronger than he was.

—how strong is she? There was no over-powering her.

There was no stopping her, she continued Kneading away at “his” chest until she was satisfied. All the while Takashi let out sounds of displeasure... “Aaah please stop!”

After a while she relinquished her grip. Almost immediately Takashi fell to the ground panting heavily…

Haah! Hah! Hah!

He turned upwards, only to find a triumphant looking young woman standing beside him. With dark tanned skin and lustrous white hair, tied back at either side by black tassels.

The girl smiled, her sharp canines in full view.

She had vermilion red eyes that gave off a bestial glint. A skin-tight piece of fabric covering her chest—revealing her naval— and long black baggy trousers. Two swords at her hip, a long sword and a short sword.

She had on a European coat with a high collar held closed by a rope tassel. And a white tail which could be seen swaying back and forth behind her.

Yes.

…She was a real live cat girl! Takashi was surprised by that but even more surprising was his own appearance. He was a girl, but how?

“Aha ha ha ha! I didn’t think you’d be that sensitive. Sorry. Once I had them in my hands I couldn't let go! But you have to admit your avatars on another level! And this world is something else too right!”

“Aaahh…” Takashi moaned weakly.

Takashi finally calmed down. It was now that his brain had processed what was going on.

I’m playing a VRMMO with onee-chan and my avatar…is…a…blonde…samurai… girl? Hard as it was to believe that was the truth. And he more or less understood what was happening.

“And isn’t your avatar super cuutee!”

“Mmm…” Upon closer inspection Takashi realized he—rather, his avatar was wearing a pair of thigh-high stockings a short black split skirt and a kimono.

Takashi wasn’t sure what qualified as cute. If anything, the outfit came off as more revealing than cute.

“Umm...why's the s-skirt so short?”

“It appeals to a larger audience that way!”

“O-oh that makes sense.” That made no sense.

“Of all the characters I made, she’s the second strongest! Her cool blue eyes and bright blonde hair, make her—no you! Look just like the ever-popular foreigner trope lil bro!”

Takashi pinched the tips of his now blonde bangs. They were a pure golden color; it was strange to think this was now his hair. And even more strange was his—

“And she has the biggest jugs of em all!”

Hime's breasts weren't the modest kind of big that simply looked big, no, they were the magnificent kind that jiggled with every movement.

It was only thanks to the kimono's <<concealment effect>> that Hime's bust appeared slightly above average. Without the perception effect the size of her bust would be much too seductive for the observers, Akari explained.

However, even with her kimonos <<concealment effect>> they were still big.

“Mm…” Ignoring the obvious issue of those, mounds, Takashi asked, “When you say strongest you mean amongst the seven characters you made right?”

Akari smirked then answered Takashi without dropping her grin.

“Bwa ha ha...! Who do you think I am! Swipe down and see the ranking for yourself…”

“Ranking…?”

Takashi did as she said; he swiped down with his right index finger. A number of options displayed themselves in vertical descending order.

New World Online

World Ranking

Map

Skills

Storage

Bio

Stats

Options

Messages/ chat

notifications

Friends

Log out/in

“Tap the world ranking icon and see the third!” Akari said.

When he tapped the <world ranking> icon the other options instantly disappeared! …. Huuhh?

Surprised Takashi tilted his head, the body may have been an avatar's created in the game, but it clearly displayed his state of mind—even his avatar looked visibly confused.

There was a long list of names that stretched out before him, listing avatar names, player classes, basic stats, general locations, and their levels in game.

New world online had only been released a few hours ago today, most of the players should’ve been level three's or lower—yet the highest ranked player, the first ranked—Pain was a level ten!?

After Pain the level ten, the second ranked, all the way to eighth, were all level nines, and it just so happened to be that they all shared the exact same surname, coincidence?

Not really.

The seven level nines in the game—NewWorldOnline—were all real-life acquaintances of Akari Kobayashi.

They were a five or so level eights, and fifty or less level six. And the rest ranged from level five to one. The list was nearly endless simply reaching the bottom would require a devoted individual with nothing but time to waste swiping downwards for over an hour.

Tsurugi Hime Takashi's avatar was the third on the world ranking. And among the level nine's she was second ranked. Her info read that she was a samurai class avatar, whose basic stats were all maxed out, all but magic resistance.

Tsurugi Hime (Half-human samurai)

Current location Astral continent Mystic Forest.

Lv9

HP 1000

MP 112

[STRENGTH: MAX]

[DURABILITY: MAX]

[SPEED: MAX]

[VITALITY: MAX]

[AGILITY: MAX]

[DEXTERITY: MAX]

[MAGIC RESISTANCE: 90]

The system showed she was located somewhere in the central continent.

So, my character’s name is Hime and she’s the third ranked in the game…and…a samurai…?

Does my character even fit the fantasy setting?

Takashi pondered over whether he was appropriate for a fantasy game, all the while Akari grinned proudly; her avatars tiger like canines were razor sharp.

Takashi closed the status menu not looking visibly impressed meanwhile Akari pounced.

“You’re the third ranked! One of my best creations! Your build is wicked crazy! Of course, you’re nowhere near as strong as me!”

If Hime was the third strongest then…

The only characters stronger than Hime were Pain the first ranked, and Noire the second. Seeing as Pain’s gender was listed as [male] and the figure in front of him was clearly female, unless they were some androgynous avatars, Takashi concluded Akari could only be…

“Ah, so you’re Noire the second ranked then?”

“Nothing gets past you eh! That’s my precious little br—no little sister!”

Grabbing him with both hands, she hugged him tightly; Takashi made no attempts to resist her embrace—rather he couldn't even if he wanted to, she was physically stronger than he was so he simply accepted it wordlessly.

“……Aaaaaaaa.”

“I’ll be heading to the demon continent now. Come find me whenever. I’ll be waiting.” She said casually.

“Oh…” Hime replied.

It wasn’t until Noire started walking away that Hime—Takashi, recalled the very reason he’d agreed to play NWO.

It was to spend time with her, if Akari wasn’t going to be with him then he had no real reason to stay in the game.

“Onee-chan…? If you’re going then can I leave now?”

“No way no log out allowed! All that matters to me is that you and I are a part of this world together! It doesn’t matter where or how far apart just that we’re here together!”

“But…”

“No butts!”

She could be so difficult sometimes.

“…. Fine. How about I play on my own for a bit, then can we log out together. That sound good?”

“Great! You really are the perfect little sister!”

He shuddered a little at those words. Akari simply grinned impishly. “Just make sure you don’t log out until you get a message from me….and no sooner.”

She sounded uncharacteristically serious about that last part.

“I wait, until I get a ‘Message’ from you? Hmm... Will you really send me a message though.”

She had told him to wait before he tried to log out.

Takashi didn't really get it, but if that was what she wanted, he was going to do it.

However, what Akari didn't tell her younger brother was that even if he wanted to, he could no longer log out, that ship had sailed. But that was something she wanted him to find out on his own.

What kind of face would he make when he found out?

What would he think of her?

Would he cry in shock? Would his soul be broken with grief and fear? Would his face contort in anger as he cursed her for everything, she was going to put him through? Or, perhaps all three!

“Onee-chaan,” Takashi said in a soft angelic voice that was not his own.

“Yeeah, yeaah don't worry! Our characters are friends so we can message each other whenever! Cool right! Make sure you tell your wonderful onee-sama about all the good and the bad stuff you meet in this…NEW WORLD!!”

“...How long should I wait?”

“Haha! Don't worry about time! Time flows differently in the game. So even if a month passes or a year it'll just be like an hour or two in the real world. Probably, I think. Maybe. Aha! ha ha!”

“…”

So Akari herself wasn't even sure how much time would pass in the game.

“Just wait until you get a message from Onee-sama kay'! I know you ain't the type to break a promise!”

“....”

Takashi didn’t really get it.

What exactly made her so excited; It was only a game…...?

However, if it made Akari happy, he didn’t really need to know, so long as she was happy that was enough. After all she was the only family he had left.

Hime had a faint smile on her face that was quickly erased by Akari's comment.

“Look at that cute smile!”

“……”

“I’ll be going now.” Noire said.

“Oh, see you, then Nee-chan.”

Noire slid her right finger down, bringing up the command window; she tapped the map icon and activated the transportation effect Destination Demon Continent. Her destination, the demon continent.

Her body began to glitter and fade. In a moment or two she would vanish and be transported halfway across the world.

If she had any last words, it was now or never, because seventy-two-hours ago NWO stopped being just a game. And Akari knew this fact as she was one of the master minds behind it all.

She had only one thing to say and as soon as she did, she was gone. “Takashi…don’t die.”

He nodded to her odd request, “Mm…” albeit half-heartedly.

◆◆◆

The following past events took place before the arrival of Tsurugi Hime.

Friday, April 4th, 2023, at 12:15 PM

In game time unknown.

There was a certain player whom had appeared in this game world three days prior to Takashi and his sister's arrival. It was a small young girl with black hair fashioned into twin tails with blue eyes and a domineering presence.

“I'm glad you decided to protect my home but you still need to take better care of yourself Kimiko-chan! Don't push yourself too hard! You're still a growing child!”

Kimiko sighed.

She wrestled with the thought of crushing the person talking to her for calling her a child, but ultimately decided against it—no she could not.

It wasn't an issue of being physically incapable of hurting her, it was more that Kimiko treasured this girl more than anything else in the world.

“Hmph! just shut up you brat! I'm not a little girl!” Kimiko protested.

Hardly anyone would have believed that. But truth be told, Kimiko, was actually a twenty-two-year-old woman, named Ayano Kimi in the real world, that was the fact.

“Heh, sure you're a big girl...” Rin teased.

Kimiko brushed off the other girls' mocking gaze, then continued, “As of right now I own this city.”

The small girl who looked down on the entire futuristic city from the top of the tallest building was Tsurugi Kimiko. In a moment or two all the players in the city would lose their ability to log out and would fall into a panic.

She was aware of all this beforehand because a certain friend of hers told her.

As she was pondering the best course of action, one of her servants a boy in a military uniform, accompanied by three soldiers entered Kimiko’s lavish room on the world tower.

On the servant’s shoulder, was a small maid, whom was badly injured, she was marred with bullet holes all over.

Among the soldiers there was a young blonde boy in combat fatigues, and two women of the same attire the boy quickly took a knee and begged Kimiko to heal the maid.

The other two women did the same.

Each of them took a knee.

Each of them pleaded.

Each of them begged.

She sighed.

Kimiko normally wouldn’t perform any acts of kindness freely, but the sight of all three soldiers or rather pawns on their knees begging satisfied her sadistic nature and she begrudgingly healed the maid, albeit halfheartedly.

◆◆◆

Tens of thousands of players panicked as the log out buttons on their command menus seemingly vanished.

It was utter chaos on the streets of Astral city—capital city of the Astral continent—many or so miles away from the mystic forest where Hime was supposed to appear in three days real world time...

Panic ensued as most of the players flooded the streets. A babble of panicking voices talking over each other could be heard:

“What’s going on!?”

“I can’t log out!”

“Is there a problem with the servers!?”

“It’s been more than two hours why haven’t they fixed it!?” “

Are we going to be trapped in here forever!?”

“What if this is like those death games in anime and manga?”

“This is just like SAO LOL”

“No way that's not possible!”

“Then die and find ouuut! Aha ha ha!”

“What happens when you die!?”

“Die!?”

“I don’t want to die!?”

“Die!”

If something wasn’t done soon law and order would soon fall in Astral city.

Tsurugi Kimiko the fifth ranked level nine sighed. “How annoying …looks like it's about time to do something about all this.”

Akari-chan, where on earth could you be you idiot…I swear I’m gonna kill you if we meet again that you can count on…

Kimiko thought as she sent hundreds of her servants to deal with the chaotic streets from atop...the World Tower.

Elsewhere in district seven, Tsurugi Kagashi ninth ranked level nine laughed.

“Aha ha! Ha! Ha! Aha ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” He laughed. “Gyhaha ha! Ha! Ha! Aha ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

And laughed some more. “Gahaha! Gahaaa! Ha! Kaahha ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Now this looks like it’s gonna be fun! I can have as much fun as I want in this world!”

Present time

Kobayashi Takashi had been trapped in this game for a good while now. And in an unfamiliar body no less.

Hime sighed as she watched a bug glide on the surface of a lake. Having wandered around the forest for several days sleeping outdoors and eating nothing, Takashi eventually found himself here.

He hadn’t eaten anything in days but strangely he felt no hunger. Even more strange was that no animals or monsters had attacked him, he assumed something like that would happen in a fantasy game but nothing, so he just waited.

He was waiting for the message.

“Ahhhh….”

Hime was crouched over the side of a lake, peering into the water’s depths. Her legs were spread wide apart as she crouched revealing her white lacy underwear, not that she noticed.

Takashi hadn't even realized he was flashing himself through his own reflection. He was too transfixed by the girls' appearance.

Her bright blonde hair, and innocent looking face, coupled with ocean blue eyes were easy on the eyes. Her supple glowing ivory skin. The way her white kimono gave her a demure aura.

The kimono she had on was secured by a black sash that perfectly contrasted the white.

Onee-chan is really good at making pretty avatars both hers and mine look stunning... Although, I wish she would have made the breasts smaller.

Takashi’s hands gravitated towards the plump region of his avatar’s chest, before he quickly stopped himself. Looking away from the twin mounds to regain his composure, he turned his head to the water.

He came face to face with his reflection again.

Hime had a blue and white patterned outer coat worn over the kimono, it perfectly matched her blue eyes and thanks to a special <status effect> it made her bust size look smaller.

There was a long sword was attached to the side of her hip.

On the surface of the water was a bug.

She was lost in thought over how such an insect could glide on water.

His mind had been successfully changed.

How does it stay up…?

Eh? Is that how it works in real life, or just in the game?

Hmmm…what could Nee-chan be doing right about now? Dragging me here then running off is just like her...

The grass is so green here...

She was right though this place is relaxing.

The sun shining in between the canopy of leaves gave them a golden glitter. The cold moist breeze was pleasant, the wind felt unusually calm and tranquil.

The clear surface of the water reflected Hime and—the sky above beautifully

“..….”

“GET OUT OF THE WAAYY!!”

It was then that Hime noticed the projectiles coming her way. They looked to be pieces of the earth crushed and grounded into sharp deadly shrapnel for mass-destruction.

“Haah!” Hime yelped, and fell clumsily on her butt!

Takashi was unaware of one of his new body’s ten unique skills, one of those skills being: [auto-react].

This skill allowed his avatar, Hime an eighty percent chance of dodging the first attack in a battle and a ninety nine percent chance of dodging all attacks during battle— (the skill only applies to physical attacks and magic based attacks or alike were not acted on), the percentage chance of dodging an attack increased the longer the battle continued.

For skills to be in effect in NWO the player did not have to consciously recognize a battle was underway.

He was also unaware of the system aided combat mechanics that carried out the player’s will and intent—these allowed players to perform feats and skills they normally couldn’t.

(In short Takashi was not in any real danger.)

Leaping from branch to branch, a figure emerged and shielded Hime from the barrage of stone projectiles. It was a knight clad in silver and golden chain mail, a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

“W-what was that…?” Hime asked somewhat panicked.

“Tsk! A monster! Can you fight!?” the knight replied.

“Can I… fight?”

“Can you fight!”

“U-um no.”

RAAAAAAAAWRRRRR!

A tremor came from the woods…The knight tightened the grip on his sword, a wry smile ran across his face. He threw a cool glance to the girl on her butt behind him.

Frankly she looks weak. Her lack of composure shows.

It wasn't completely uncommon for new players to appear this late in the game's release.

This is probably her first time seeing a monster in game. If I had to guess she’s a level one….

“Damn it...” He muttered under his breath.

Just my luck, I run into a level six Boss monster….! And now this, the first person I find is a noob…

There’s no way I can fight this thing on my own… but… she looks even weaker than I am! Asking her to fight would be…

It was then that the creature appeared, blowing away several trees and branches. The

The thing was ten meters in height. And had horns that curled up above its head like a mountain goat, a hideous goat face with three heads and red bloodshot eyes. Numerous spider-like legs and a body of pure muscle.

It brandished a giant mace the size of a tree in one hand. The muscle and bulk of its body were terrifying, just staring at the behemoth was enough to make Hime tremble.

“There’s no helping it, I can’t let a cute girl like you die…”

“….” Hime tilted her head confused there was no cute girl here she thought, before realizing it was her and blushing a storm.

“I’ll be fine, this guy’s got nothing on me so just run along now,” —the knight was clearly covered in scrapes and bruises—if I died here what kind of knight would I be?”

With a wide grin he charged towards the monster in front of him.

It swung the giant mace with ease. The ferocity and speed of the attack was incredible. The knight nimbly evaded the blow…. had he not he would have certainly been crashed!

The attack rumbled the air, and gouged the earth.

The knight dashed forward at one of the beast’s many spider-like legs and poised himself to attack.

RAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRR!

The thing let out a deafening scream! Simply hearing it was enough to shave off a quarter of his already low Hp (health points). His attack did little to damage to the monster known as (Hells Guardian) A final boss of the forest of the mystic forest.

Hells Guardian fell under the class monster.

The class monster was a generic class associated with game creatures, and players, that fell just shy of human—the intelligence of monsters varied but each possessed the unique skill [mad enhancement], the skill lowered the intelligence of the user in exchange for a boost in parameters of all other stats.

The level of an opponent was an important factor to consider before a battle, the amount of damage one could inflict on their opponent was vastly dependent on the difference in level.

The knight Percival being a level five could only inflict superficial damage on the level six boss monster Cerberus.

Against such a foe, the knight’s best option would have been to flea as he used the girl behind him as bait. But—

As if!

There was no way he'd do that!

He could not live with himself if he did something as cowardly as that!

If he was going to die, he at least wanted to go out in a blaze of glory carrying with him no regrets…in the end he was going to sacrifice his life for a random stranger, not that it mattered to him so long as he had fun doing it.

“Hear me! I am the gallant knight Percival! Let the clashing of our steel signal the birth of a new legend…my legend, have at thee!”

◆◆◆

As if in response to his provocation the Boss monster Cerberus [Hells Guardian], brandished a fierce grin of its own, fierce enough to match the one on the face of the gallant knight charging towards it….

The mace was quickly raised up high and came crushing down just as quick!

Rather than dodge like before the knight intercepted the blow with his shield.

However unfavorable the odds, the knight resolved to take the attack head on, he would not fight in a way that he regretted, he would put everything on the line to win.

“Haaaaa--Ngh!”

The mace smashed through the knight’s shield crushing and killing him!

Or so it should have.

But why hadn’t it? Why was the knight still standing? How was he able to leap into the air and perform a counterattack?

“Unique skill Knights valor!”

Percival’s unique skill [knight’s valor] temporarily boosted his defense allowing him to block attacks three levels above his own.

“You’re done for…. die!”

At that moment Cerberus activated his own skill: Unique skill Madness Enhancement activated.

He swung his sword with all his might and...

CLAANKNNAAACKKK!

His sword shattered the instant it touched the behemoth’s skin?

Somehow its durability and speed had increased! Within a second [Hells Guardian] had readied itself to attack again. Still in mid-air Percival had no way to defend himself, intuition told him his shield would be as protective as a thin sheet of paper against this attack.

Still though he raised his shield. The effects of [knight’s valor] had already worn off.

The incoming blow was one a level five avatar would not withstand. He foresaw his own death.

I’m dead!

As the mace approached him time stood still.

A figure seemingly teleported between the two, grabbed Percival between her arms resting his head on her breasts.

The figure turned her body in mid-air and avoided the mace like it was nothing.

Percival’s eyes grew wide with shock—he was suddenly on the ground in the arms of the cute blonde girl—the girl he had been trying to save. She gently put him down on the ground, then nonchalantly walked over to the towering monster.

“Wait!” Percival said but she ignored him.

◆◆◆

“Hahhh….” Hime sighed.

Takashi had been afraid at first, but now he had calmed down and carefully assessed the situation.

This was a game he had no reason to fear death—of course he was unaware of the fact that dying in here was fatal— this monster may have been terrifying but it couldn’t really hurt him he thought.

No need to worry. This is just a game…. I can handle this.

Takashi confronted the Cerberus with his trembling hands, and dainty figure. Was he actually capable of fighting? Could he really win?

It didn't matter.

This may have just been a game, but the knight whom had been fighting up until now had been doing his best to protect him, even though they were strangers he fought tooth and nail.

If Takashi just turned his back on someone who tried their best to help him, game or not it wouldn’t sit right with him.

The <monster> known as the Cerberus dashed forward crashing several trees in the forest as it did!

Massive spider legs pulverized the ground with each step! A loud roar from all three of its heads unlike all the others before erupted from it! It had gone into a panic at the mere sight of Hime. Without losing stride it swung the mace in every direction—unlike its previous attacks this was a truly berserk fighting style.

Why? Why had it suddenly lost even more if its sanity? Because it could sense this was a level nine, even with [Madness Enhancement] in effect.

Hime widened her stance and prepared herself to attack...Earlier it felt as if this body moved on its own to save the knight, how would it fair against this rampaging beast?

No! She had no time to think! Readying her body Hime drew the sword at her hip for the very first time!

◆◆◆

Clang!

The speed of her blade was like that of lighting! It tore not only through the beast, but the earth itself!

It was an earth shattering blow the battle was over in an instant.

A large BAANNGG!! was heard, probably the sound barrier. The sounds of metal breaking as the mace crumbled to pieces followed…

The Hells guard, as well as the ground, and nearby trees were perfectly twined.

Ehhh! W-wh-what did I just do!? Onee-chan just how powerful did you make me! Takashi panicked internally.

Percival watched with wide eyes as the girl panicked.

One thing on his mind.

Attack power like that! This person—this girl is…

“What did I just do!?” Hime cried.

Percival realized the person before him was no weak little girl she was without a doubt…

...a level nine!?