[The Goddess of Storms' Offer]

The ground was a wide and shallow body of water, the sky was mostly covered in pure white clouds, save for a few gaps in between them. Haru wakes up in the middle of all of this, only being able to remember the last few minutes before coming here.

He found himself wearing his school's uniform, or at least the way he would usually wear it. An open brown blazer and a dark gray hoodie with a mecha print underneath. Along with some matching brown pants and some black shoes. Funny how the only time he forgot to wear his hoodie was the same day he and his classmates were summoned to another world. Haru wondered where he was as he slowly got control of his body again. His body felt like it was paralyzed earlier.

???: Kanzaki Haru, his father remarried after being a single parent for a while, giving him a little sister in the process.

He heard someone speak somewhere nearby as he laid in the shallow water, finally getting up to find whoever was talking. Surprisingly his clothes weren't wet at all, despite him laying in water. Along with that his body didn't seem to be sore anymore, though this was probably due to where he was.

He walked around for a bit, trying to find the source of the voice. His hands in his pockets as he did so. Though the whole layout of the "world" he was in was really confusing, as there weren't really any other defining landmarks, leaving him lost and on his own.

Eventually he would get to where he needed to go, and there he saw another person. It was a girl who looked to be around his age, her hair was a navy blue with a streak of yellow in the front. She seemed to be wearing what looked like a gothic lolita-esque outfit with white thigh high stockings.

She was reading from a holographic screen, its text visible from the back although reversed, all before her eyes caught a glimpse of him and turned her attention towards the boy instead.

???: Ah, you're awake-

Haru: Am I dead?

???: Well...no....not yet at least.

Haru: What does that mean? And who are you?

???: Right, right, you don't know. I'm the Goddess of Storms, Drodia.

Haru: So this means I'm dead, I mean what would a goddess want with me of all people?

Drodia: You make it sound like you want to die. Anyway, I'll get to the point.

Haru: Which is?

Drodia: I'm going to make you an offer. You're going to hell for a special mission, it's related to the demon lord.

Haru: Going to hell, huh....

Drodia: You see, we Gods can see when and where a person will die, it's our death vision to put it simply. Your time to go isn't now, however it is quite near.

Haru: Wait, I still don't get why you would pick me specifically.

She shows him what seemed to be footage of his fights until now, how did she even get them. Likely something to do with gods watching over you in some way.

Drodia: I've been watching you guys since you came here, I'm very much aware of your potential. Regardless, the deal is simple; when you die, I'll use it as a catalyst to send you to hell for you to defeat the demon lord.

Haru: Doesn't that mean I'll need to train almost immediately, you said I'll die soon, right?

Drodia: Our perception of time over here is kind of all over the place, like right now, this whole conversation is happening in what you would call a "Split second". So the exact time you have left is almost nonexistent, so just train up for the time being, I guess?

Haru: No way....

Drodia: Oh, I should've probably mentioned this earlier but oh well. I was the one who freed you from that Sovereign form of yours.

Haru: Sovereign form?

Drodia: Right, you don't know. That's the actual name of that berserk form you see. In any case do you accept the offer I'm presenting you?

Haru: I guess so, being the hero who defeats the demon lord doesn't sound bad if I'm being honest.

Drodia: Good choice, I'll be seeing you quite soon then.

He starts to fade away, panicking since he didn't know what was happening to him. She tries to calm him down, explaining that he was beginning to wake up and that's why he was fading away.

Drodia: One last thing, when you meet the King of Kretouvell, ask him about the "Dragon-Guarded Temple", I'm sure he'll understand.

Haru: Got it.

And with that, he woke up, finding himself in a hospital bed. Quite comfortable actually, the pillow was the right amount of cold, the blanket snuggling him tight, it was perfect. Wanting to sleep more and such.

Haru: Split second, huh? My body feels like it's been asleep for hours already.

But he still sat up, wanting to recollect and organize his thoughts after what just happened. His body still sore from the battle earlier, as he frantically looks at his status, wanting to see if anything happened to it while he was fighting for his life. Noting that he'd be extremely disappointed if nothing had changed about his stats.

Name: Kanzaki Haru
Race: Human
Level: 50
Class: Executioner
Skills:

{Bone King}
Rank: Calamity
[Sovereign]

{Fleet} -Modified-
Rank: D

[Destroyer]
[Cruiser]
[Battleship]
[Carrier]
[Captain's Orders]

{Sharpened Edge}
Rank: C

{Swift Demise}
Rank: D

And turns out it did, his eyes immediately landed on his level, pleased with himself for getting to that point. But changed course when he saw that his former skill {Skeletal Master} was now {Bone King}. He activated it to see if anything was different, finding that the bones were now permanently black unlike before, when they would only become this shade whenever he was in his Sovereign form.

Did the skill evolve or something? Just what happened for it to have a name change. Even the ranking confused him. "Rank: Calamity", what the hell was that supposed to mean? The only thing that popped into his head was a natural disaster. Was that what it meant, power on the scale of a natural disaster?

He landed back onto his pillow, wondering and worrying. Just what has he gotten himself into. First, a goddess approached him, making an offer for him to defeat the demon lord and now his skill had now evolved and gained a strange ranking that he doesn't even know the exact meaning of.

It was all really giving him a headache, and coupled with the drowsiness he still felt. He still managed to fall back asleep. Even after getting what seemed almost like getting a full night's rest.

Two months later, the sounds of gunfire and a young man's warcries echoed throughout a dense forest. Along with the sounds of demonic beasts getting killed for good measure.

Haru was leading a pack of what looked like a velociraptor mixed with the classic depiction of a werewolf, quite terrifying. The boy had now added to his usual outfit, a silky red tie and a vampiric popped collar. His metal gauntlets looking heavily damaged and worn.

He used his Cruiser form's guns to get their attention all on him, as he ran as fast as he could. The look on his face was like that of any other person, if they saw a spider, scared. And knowing what would happen to him if he stopped running made it a lot worse, hoping that their stupid plan would work in the end.

As he got closer to the edge of the forest, he finally saw it. The giant hole in the ground that he, Elleth, and Airi discussed using earlier after he almost fell into the thing when they arrived.

There he went full speed. Or at least what he would describe as full speed in his unenhanced self, having deactivated {Fleet} already. The beasts behind following suit as well as he ran towards the hole.

And then he dropped.

He dropped into the pit along with the monsters that were chasing him. Leaving Elleth and Airi in a state of shock with their mouths wide open, some of the monsters almost instantly died the moment they hit the bottom while the rest survived the plunge. For Haru, on the other hand, it was a bit tough to judge right away considering they weren't able to see his body.

Airi herself was about to faint after having seen this, while Elleth was contemplating, wanting to jump in and try to find him in there, he had to be there somewhere, right?

Haru: Boo!

The two girls screamed like a banshee as Haru made his presence known to them. Seemingly coming out of thin air as he gave them a smug grin, pleased with his prank on the pair. Even letting out a little chuckle for what it's worth.

Elleth grabbed Haru by his vampire-esque popped collar, and held him at the edge just before the hole. The boy begging for mercy even though he was the one who put himself in this situation anyway. With Elleth making sure he knew that.

Elleth: You idiot...we were really concerned y'know...

Haru: M-my bad, p-please don't push me in!

This caused her to grit her teeth and moved him in, holding him above the hole as he heard the monsters growl from below. Her arms already partially transformed into her hybrid form's.

Haru: O-oi, you're not actually going to drop me, right? Right!?

She lets go of one hand, dropping him a little more as he squirms around in a panic. Forgetting the fact that he had a skill that can help him get out regardless if she dropped him or not.

Haru: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! P-please don't let go!

Elleth: Ah, fine. I'll let you off just this once, Airi might ask for something else though.

She casts him off behind her, landing by Airi's feet as Elleth charges up a Draconian Howl. Leaving Airi to deal with him how she sees fit while she does the thing the three of them came here for.

That is, kill the monsters that they've just trapped in the gaping hole. An easy quest for some easy money. That's what they have been doing for the past two months since the raid, wanting to take it slow for a while after that whole thing, who could blame them?

The three of them were now finished with the job and were currently walking back, Haru in front while Elleth and Airi were behind. The boy deep in his own thoughts as the two chatted almost right behind him.

Elleth: This guy...he's been abusing that skill ever since he got it.

Airi: On one hand he's getting some experience using it. On the other hand, it's definitely really frustrating to deal with.

The skill in question was {Hunter}, a passive skill that enhances his base senses and reaction time. The skill granting him danger sensing along with a presence concealment ability he can choose to use as well. One of the few skills that can be acquired by mostly anyone.

Elleth: But still, this is slightly better than him being all gloomy, I guess.

Airi: That's true. Though I've noticed he's been doing a lot of solo jobs as well, I wonder if it's got anything to do with Touka being in a coma.

Elleth: I've noticed it too. Maybe he wants a little time to himself or something? That's the best guess I could come up with.

Airi: That could be it, though I can't help but feel he's doing something behind our back.

Elleth: Like what?

Haru: Oi, I'm going to buy something real quick. You two can head home without me.

And without even realizing it the three of them were now back in town. The two girls were, of course, very much surprised to find that they were already quite close to home. While Haru's request seemed like it was perfectly timed, like he was pretending to space out and actually listened in on their whole conversation.

Elleth: Ah, yeah, sure? But what are you going to buy if you don't mind me asking?

Haru: A new sword. Mine broke while fighting Velia you see.

Elleth: I see then. Anything else?

Haru: Maybe some new gauntlets, these ones look like they're about to break any second now.

Airi and Elleth said their goodbyes as they walked home, Haru going off on his own in the opposite direction. The pair had a hunch that he was doing something in secret, but decided not to act on it until they were actually sure he was.

And it turns out their hunch was right, he really was doing something behind their backs. As he went outside of the town when he got far enough from them, while he still wanted to purchase a new sword to replace the one that got broken, he had something else he deemed more important that made him put it off for a little longer.

He trudged through a familiar forest onto an equally familiar pathway. Before taking it slow as if he were just on a casual walk through the park, as if he was a bit hesitant to go anywhere near that place despite having gone there for the past two months since.

It was now nighttime when he finally arrived at the place he was going to for a while, it was the mansion they raided, just what was he going to do there. He grabbed a lantern that was by the entrance, having been left by him, and lit it up before heading inside.

There he was met by the putrid smell of the bodies left behind inside, ally and enemy, the light of the lantern being the only thing that let him see anything at all in the room. Well, mostly since there were at least some other lights, although these weren't as bright as the lantern he was holding.

Despite coming here for a while since they first went here for the raid, he still felt genuinely creeped out by the bodies, he thought that he would've at least gotten used to the sight, but it turns out he hadn't at all.

Haru: Just keep going, head to that place, don't look at the bodies...

He thought, walking through a hallway, having gone through the room where he encountered Velia with the girls all bloodied, revealing that Touka's two swords ended up shattered. As he tried to find a certain place he crashed through, the very same room he was using even now.

Haru stopped in his tracks whilst walking through it, his hesitation kicking in, making him ask himself if he should continue on or just head back and say he didn't find a sword fit for him as an excuse.

But he managed to convince himself to go through with it and keep going, telling himself that it'll all be worth it, even though in the back of his head he was lying to himself.

He eventually reached the room he was looking for. It was the library that he and the demonized cultist crashed into that time. He entered the room, the body of that cultist was nowhere, Haru having taken it out of the room so he wouldn't have to deal with the smell anymore.

He sits down at a fairly large wooden desk with a bunch of books, ranging in thickness and appearance, all surrounding a single brown one in the middle of the desk, setting the lantern nearby as he opens said brown book along with taking one from the stack, beginning to read through it.

The brown book is revealed to be filled with notes he's taken, likely from previous books that were set on the floor so he wouldn't get confused. The notes were very minimalist with only the information he thought was important.

All of this spawned from the book he used to do some "light reading" after he'd killed that cultist in the very library he was doing this in research right now. It told him about the "Bone King", a warlord who wielded a scythe and was feared across the lands. Whose legend would eventually evolve into the myth of the "Grim Reaper".

The name felt familiar to him for some reason when first read it, now that one of his skills had the same name made him think that his skill {Bone King} was related in some way. And now here he is, two months later, diving into this rabbithole he wasn't aware of in the first place.

He slouches on his chair frustrated, the book with his notes left wide open. The boy was about to rip his hair out, realizing that the book he just read through didn't have much information as he hoped, but he just casted it off and moved on, knowing that getting riled up like this won't do anything.

Though instead of grabbing another one from the stack, he decided to reread through the notes he's collected, wanting to take a look at everything he's got so far. Along with wanting to see if anything contradicted each other, intending to mark them for such just in case if they end up important. Jokingly telling himself that he'll ask the actual Bone King what's correct and what's not if they ever meet.

That's how he spent his time until he deemed it enough for him before heading home, passing through the hallways and out the door. Leaving the lantern where he picked it up since he was still going to come back there anyway.

As he walked back the way he came, he needed to come up with some kind of excuse to tell them if they were to ask what he was doing. And with it being night already, it'd make it hard for him to come up with something at least slightly believable.

Haru: All I got is "I got distracted and ended up on the other side of town", but I don't think that's good enough.

He got back to town fairly quickly, though with his head being occupied by trying to come up with a good excuse, he really couldn't pay any attention to where he was going. And ended up bumping into someone, a mint-haired elf girl to be specific.

Elf Girl: Ah, you bumped into me.

Her voice was distinctly monotone, her skin seemed to be a dark tan while her eyes were yellow. This reminded him of someone, minus the monotone voice, but he couldn't really put a finger on it.

Haru: I'm sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry right now.

Elf Girl: I don't really mind, you kind of got lucky...

Haru: I guess so...But still, I'm very sorry for having bumped into you.

He then leaves, as the girl stares blankly at him from behind. Mentioning something about how it's a lot different from her kingdom before heading off herself. As Haru was getting himself mentally prepared while heading back home.

A day later, Haru was heading out once more. This time to visit Touka, who was still in the hospital. Though he swore he could hear Elleth and Airi giggling as he walked out of the door. But paid no mind to it as he walked over to the hospital.

He checked in and got a visitor's badge, putting it in his pocket. The whole process being eerily similar to how they operate in his world, though this time he did get used to it.

Haru headed for Touka's room, a smile creeping up on his face as he walked over. Opening the door he sees her still in bed, not yet awake as he sits on a wooden chair nearby. Taking off his gauntlets and placing them on the nightstand next to him.

Her right arm was bandaged up. It was the one that was cut off and that he took revenge for by doing the same to Velia. He couldn't help but pity her as she slept comfortably. The girl got her eye gouged out and now she's gotten her arm cut off. Even with the replacement he got for her, he still felt bad for her.

Though on the other hand. He ended up thinking of something that kind of lightened the load for him. Eyepatch, new arm, white hair, it reminded him of the main character in a light novel he was reading prior to being transported here, kind of funny now that he just noticed that.

To his surprise, Touka began to wake up, her eye slowly opening as she rubs her hands on it. Before sitting up and turning to look at Haru, taking a bit of time to actually wake up and process what's happening around her at that moment.

Touka: Ah...Haru...morning....

Haru: 'Mornin, Touka. I was worried about you.

Touka: Ahaha, my bad. Though with what happened I can't blame you.

Her voice was still a bit sleepy as the two talked and caught up, with him even mentioning that he was approached by a goddess. Something he hasn't even told Elleth and Airi about. Then suddenly the door to her room swung open. It was a doctor who came into the room, his hands in his pockets as he used his foot to shut the door.

Doctor: You must be Haru, right?

Haru: Yep, is something wrong?

Doctor: No, not at all, I'm just here to say she's ready to be discharged.

Haru: Eh? But she just woke up right now, why so soon?

Doctor: Right now? She woke up yesterday if I remember correctly, we even sent you guys a message over communication magic. Don't you remember?

Haru: Ah, so that's why I heard those two laughing earlier.....I was out doing something when that happened, you see.

Doctor: No problem, I say that but there is something I have to tell you two. Which may or may not affect your decisions going forward.

Haru: And that is?

Doctor: It's about that new arm you gave us. It works perfectly fine as a normal arm, but the thing is that it's permanently in that "active" state. It can't go back to looking like a normal arm, aside from that, the skill she gained from it is extremely unstable.

Haru: Skill? She gained a skill from it?

Doctor: It's the same skill as the person you got it from, luckily it's only unstable on that arm so you shouldn't worry too much. That enchanted bandage should be enough to suppress it. In any case I'll leave you two alone for a bit.

The doctor then leaves, shutting the door behind him as silence filled the room for a good while. Before Touka pulled the sleeve of his coat, getting his attention and shifting his focus towards her.

Haru: What is it?

Touka: Are you scared?

This was the last straw for him after she asked him this, as he suddenly hugged her and started breaking down crying. Touka was a bit confused at first, since to her, he wasn't really the type to break down like this. But she would end up giving him a pat on the back with her left hand, trying her best to comfort him.

Haru: I was really worried, y'know!

Touka: You can let it all out, it's just us here.

Haru: I've already lost Sayaka, then I saw you three all bloody and I....

Touka: Your little sister went missing, right...

Haru: I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let her go that easily...so I used that power...and killed her...

Touka: There, there. It's all over, don't worry.

He continued to cry in her arms for a good while. Even letting it slip that he'd lied to her about his sister, telling her that she wasn't missing at all, but rather murdered. A shocked expression appeared on her face as she kept consoling him. When he finally settled down, she just gave him a smile. Attempting to lighten up the mood after he basically broke in front of her.

Haru: We should probably get you ready...

Touka: Right, I should probably have my undersuit somewhere here. I think...

The two scramble to try and find it, only to find it under her hospital bed for some reason. She quickly dusts it off and begins changing as Haru turns around facing the wall. With Touka warning him that if he tries to peep, she'll undo the bandages, threatening to use her new skill on him.

Haru: Hey, are you done? I'm kind of getting sleepy staring at the wall.

Touka: Just a little more, hold on.

Haru: I can help you out, it's not like I haven't helped you get dressed before.

Touka: No, it's fine I swear.

A little later and she's fully in her undersuit and metal boots as Haru was finally able to look at something else besides the stone walls. And he sees that the bandages are coming a bit off, he walks over to her and grabs her right arm. Fixing them up for her as she stands there slightly embarrassed thanks to how sudden he was.

He begins to take off his coat, catching her off-guard, and puts it on her shoulders. Before putting on his gauntlets as the two head out of her room. Heading down to the main desk and handing over his visitor's badge before they head out of the hospital.

Touka: What was this for?

Haru: It's pretty cold outside, you'd complain the whole way if I didn't give you my coat. Like that one time dur-

Touka: Ok, ok, I get it. I don't want to remember that time.

Haru: Fine, but the cocoa we drank that time was pretty good. I kinda miss it.

The two kept walking, eventually coming across a park. It was the same one they all went to before the raid happened, although it was kind of empty right now. They sat down on a bench nearby, taking a break and catching some fresh air despite the cold weather.

Touka: You're right, it is cold. I don't know if it's the season but...

Haru: Hey, can I say something?

Touka: It's just the two of us, it's fine. Not like I haven't heard you say a dirty joke befo-

Haru: I love you, Touka....

This single line left her embarrassed, his sudden confession caused the tension between them to skyrocket. Leaving the two in a very awkward silence, both extremely nervous and trying to figure out what to say after this. Haru especially, since he forced this onto himself by promising to confess to her when she eventually woke up.

Touka then suddenly pulled him in for a kiss by his tie, lasting for slightly longer than the two would like to admit. A string of saliva was somewhat visible as they parted, their faces bright red as they felt the breeze of the cold air.

Touka: T-this is my answer, I guess....

Haru: I've been wanting to tell you this, even before we got sent here.

Touka: You know...I was waiting for this as well, funnily enough.

Haru: So...we should really head home now, I'm sure those two are looking forward to your return. At least I think so.

They then headed off home, avoiding eye contact along the way. Haru, being slightly happy that he got it out of his system and that it was a success as Touka was a bit busy overthinking the whole thing. After all, a love confession wasn't really something she expected after waking up from her coma.