Beta read by n1ch, Shigiya, Solitary heart and 8kagi
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Kuoh-
Woosh!
Everything turned black, I was pulled by a force beyond anything I could muster against. It felt like I was sucked into a wormhole, and before I even realized it, I saw that I was on the outskirts of Kuoh.
"Hurg!" I gagged, feeling my stomach doing backflips from the intense ride, and was ready to lose my lunch. "Sweet Kami, that was terrible…"
After regaining my bearings, as well as keeping my lunch down, I took a look at my surroundings. I nearly panicked when I realized that I was not standing on solid ground, but on a damn cloud! But when I looked up, I stopped in my panic. Being so high up in the sky, outside of light pollution that was common in cities, I was presented with a majestic view of the night sky, seeing the moon shine over the lands and the stars shine like precious gems. Incredibly corny, but it was the best way I could describe it without being a poet. I rarely get to see it when I fly around, being so busy at times, and when I do, I feel so relaxed in the end.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel relaxed at this moment.
"Vritra, why the heck is one of the most dangerous beings in existence a small girl? And why didn't you tell me before I decided to take her out to eat ice cream like a little child?"
I myself did not know why this was my first priority, but I think it's because I was still panicking.
"Uh… I have no answers for you, partner. I guess Ophis had a sweet tooth? Which is strange, since she never showed interest in food, or anything for that matter. As for her current form, probably chosen to blend more in modern times."
"And that means turning into a little gothic lollita with black tape nipple covers?"
Like seriously, I thanked the waitress for having given her that jacket to cover up her chest, or I would have been behind a jail cell by now if I was seen hanging around with her dressed like that.
"You have to admit, humans have weird tastes in this day and age, and you're no better partner. I have seen the things you've browsed through the internet and don't even get me started on your dreams."
"Don't blame me for that!" I yelled at the dragon. "That was Rias and Akeno's search history that they forgot to delete from my computer or them trying to prank me… and since when did you start snooping around such things!? My dreams are off limits!"
I still hadn't talked with Vritra about my past life. I didn't know if the dragon knew about it and just chose to remain quiet and was maybe waiting for me to bring it forward. It was bound to happen... And I didn't really get the time to do so lately.
"It is boring in here, at least I get to pass the time with watching you fumble with your relationships, reading those manga literature books of yours and listening to your hours long 'studying music'. Though I would request that you read something other than Dragso-ball, the power scaling is really inconsistent. Maybe something with more mystery, like that Detective Kalo series. It seems interesting."
"We'll talk about this later, for now, we are dangling in the middle of the night sky with a Dragon God taking me hostage!" I said, slightly panicking over finding where Ophis was.
Even using spells to improve to see clearer around me, I found little to no trace of hers.
"Where did she go…?" I said to myself, feeling my heart palpitate with fear and anxiety at not being able to spot such a powerful being. "What happened before, Vritra? Why was your voice so broken?"
Every time I tried to talk to him, he never responded. So I thought that he was for some reason ignoring me or going into a deep slumber. Now that I knew we were dealing with Ophis, it was very possible that the latter did something to us without me noticing.
"I am not certain, I do not know if it was Ophis interfering or something else that managed to silence our connection. Thankfully, it was nothing major but a communication block. I tried to warn you that she was the Ouroboros Dragon since she first appeared, but I realized that you weren't able to hear me. So I kept pushing until I finally broke through the barrier. Though it seems that I failed to reach you in time. Forgive me partner." he said, sounding genuinely ashamed of himself.
"No, it's alright. We are talking about a being more broken than the Heavenly Emperors, so I don't think there was much we could do in the first place if she was the cause."
"Partner, I know this might not be the best time to mention this but just before we were pulled through the portal…"
"I know," I said quickly, remembering the golden arc of lightning shooting down from the sky—with Akeno in the middle of fighting someone. Someone that I hoped that I would never have to see again. "She's going to be fine."
Or at least I hoped.
I knew Akeno for years, ever since I came to this world. I had an enormous amount of confidence in her ability to protect herself against any sort of threat that she would face. She was both a powerful mage and a swift fighter, using her speed enhancement and enhanced strength from the benefits bestowed to her by her Queen piece.
Whoever it was she was fighting, they wouldn't be able to harm Akeno in her current state.
Not to mention…
"Kiba and the others are close by to help her out in combat. Momo is with them, so she can call for backup if they need it."
Even after I had known all of this, I couldn't help but still worry. It wasn't a question of whether she would prevail or not, because she would, but due to her being someone important to me and me worrying for her was normal—despite the odds.
"That is not what I was talking about." Vritra said, his voice somber. "Just like you, I know of the Fallen's prowess and that of the Gremory heir as well. But you can not fool me by saying that you didn't notice who she was facing. It may have been a few years, but I can tell that she has occupied a large part of your thoughts since that day."
"..."
"Are you truly that confident that your friends will be able to handle her? It's been a few years after all. Things can change during that time." I knew what he was trying to convey.
Just like me, Jeanne must have gotten stronger as well and it was very possible for her to be too much for the others to deal with… especially with her having access to holy energy.
I began to sweat with stress, the phantom pain in my chest where I was stabbed flaring up once again. Even Gae Bolga didn't leave such an impact to my psyche than what Jeanne did. Probably because I was still new to this world and somewhat naïve to these people. Not coming to terms with how easily people are killed here compared to my past world.
"I have no choice but to believe in them, Vritra."
But that only made my desire to leave this place to grow stronger.
As I continued to survey my surroundings and tried to teleport away with my own spells and to discover in the end that someone was still holding me in place.
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
A voice called out to me.
Sounding just as monotone and bland as last time without the smidgen trace of emotions in her tone. I lifted my head upwards and saw the little girl who I now knew to be none other than the Ouroboros Dragon.
I once again nearly choked on my spit when I saw her no longer wearing that jacket and was showing her original outfit. A pink bow which served no purpose whatsoever and two bra-like garments below her chest with her nipples covered in simple black tape.
'It's worse than imagined! Everyone in this world are shameless perverts, even the gods are no better!'
She was… smiling? No, I couldn't really call that a smile in the first place. Her eyes still looked the same as before, lacking everything and just a dark infinite void. In a way, I felt like she was merely smiling just to look more approachable, not realizing that it had the opposite effect.
"Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon God of Infinity."
Man, that was a long title, but it perfectly encapsulated her sheer might and status.
I sensed her power when she used the portal, but with her now standing still in front of me, it was like there was no one there.
"Ophis's power is so vast and enormous that even your senses can not detect her. Imagine a human standing on Earth and looking over the horizon trying to guess the world's size—you won't be able to do it with sight alone. The same can be said for Ophis, her powers are nigh infinite and even I could barely see them. The Heaven Dragon Emperors are monsters themselves but Ophis and Great Red are true Gods in every sense, true concepts given form for some. The mightiest of gods and primordial beings become no different than ants in front of them… that includes both Ddraig and Albion."
She was that dangerous, huh?
"What does she want from us?" I asked, trying to see if I could teleport away but discovered how I was trapped on that end as well.
"I have no clue. Being in a deep sleep state for centuries and only waking up when wielded by powerful hosts, my recollection on the state of the world is filled with holes. The fact that Ophis is roaming the mortal world rather than floating for all times in the Dimensional Gap is a shocking event in itself."
Well, she was here now and clearly up to something. Just before getting teleported Ophis mentioned about someone being there for her, so one of her allies was battling against Akeno and the rest.
I needed to back them up as soon as possible.
"What do you want?" I asked her directly, just wanting to get to the point.
"Silence."
Hm? Did I do something wrong?
"..."
"..."
This was just becoming awkward, she asked me to be silent yet wasn't talking to herself. We gaze at each other for what felt like hours. Maybe the Dragon God was expecting something from me? I had no clue on what her motive might be, she wasn't giving me any hints!
"I desire your assistance to give me back my silence. Join my side and I'll grant you power beyond your imagination."
Now I was really confused.
Give her back her 'silence'? Just what did that even mean!? My mind was going at a million miles an hour, thinking back to anything in the past I may have encountered related to silence that must have attracted her to me. But there was nothing that could relate to what she wanted.
I needed more information.
"Join your side?"
My narrowed as I found there to be some hidden meaning behind her words. I wasn't dumb enough to believe that she was talking about a team up between us… but something bigger.
"Yes, the Khaos Brigade will be happy to have you on our side."
The Khaos Brigade? That name didn't sound familiar to me, maybe Azazel knew something about this name? I would need to bring it up with him, as well as the fact that he hid God's death from me. There was zero chance that he didn't know about his passing.
"Why should I even join you? You basically kidnapped me against my will. That isn't the best way to bring someone to your good side."
"I can make you stronger." she proposed, offering me power once again.
"No thanks," I immediately turned her down, knowing when to not get involved with an unknown group.
Especially accepting such a shady deal in the first place.
Ophis looked like she wasn't expecting such an answer from me. For a second looking like a genuinely confused child, but that image soon got shattered by those eyes of hers. They just felt too… alien to me. How I did not notice that beforehand was a mystery.
"I don't understand, they usually accept when I offer them power."
So there were people walking around bugged with the power of the Infinity Dragon. And seeing how she was associated with Jeanne, I guessed they were all our enemies.
"Unfortunately for you, I'm not seeking power in the first place. And I know my limit when I see it, joining you would be no different than a death sentence and betraying everyone I know. Plus, you're obviously in cahoots with Jeanne D'Arc, I will never join anyone associated with that woman, they are the worst kind of hypocrites in this world."
Boasting about how she wanted to help people but could easily backstab her ally over her own interest. The biggest fake hero I had ever seen in my life.
"I see, then I will kill her. Then will you join me?"
My heart shook just how casually she said that. Holding absolutely zero traces of remorse or second guessing, she was being serious here.
But what did I expect from someone above even the Heavenly Dragons?
"You're just proving my point." What was the point of allying with a group of people who easily backstabbed each other? "I'm not joining you."
My decision was final, and probably extremely foolish from an outside perspective, considering how she could kill me right now with just a finger for denying her offer.
"Ophis, good to see you after many millenniums." Vritra spoke from the gauntlet in my hand, probably trying to stop me from getting killed.
I found it quite surprising that he took the initiative to talk.
"Vritra, it's been a while." she said, staring at the glowing gem, "You are no longer under the influence of madness."
A pulse of energy enveloped me, I nearly panicked as I expected that she had attacked me, but fortunately, it wasn't so as in less than a second that energy retreated and returned to Ophis.
"And you are bound."
"Humph," Vritra scoffed. "I consider my current form as freedom rather than another prison. I can't say the same for the other dragons, but I am satisfied with my current situation."
She barely reacted to his words, making it impossible for me to get a read on her emotions or intentions.
"I can give you a body, join me and you'll become whole once again. Roaming the world with a body of your own and I'll give you the power to defeat Indra."
What was with these powerful beings appearing out of nowhere and trying to take away my friends from me? Should I be worried that someone would come for Rias and Akeno next? I hoped not, also, I wasn't that worried about Vritra…
"Hahahaha! What an interesting offer! I can just imagine the look on that arrogant man's face when he sees a rampaging dragon descending from the heavens to bring ruin to his domain once again! The rage I feel for that god still runs deep within my soul." he spoke with pure malice in his voice. "I still plan to take him down to the underworld where my brothers and sisters will rip him to pieces for his actions."
Ophis extended her hand, a black shining snake slithering from her sleeves to her palm and glowing with power.
"Then take my gi—"
"—Nevertheless!" Unfortunately for Ophis, she was dealing with one of the most loyal companions in the world. "I will accomplish my goal one way or the other, without your help or anyone else's. My path lies with Hachiman here, we are one and will reach our goals in the end."
I felt touched by his words.
So the snakes she was talking about were in fact those things and not candies… Now that was the kind of misunderstanding I couldn't afford to have anyone knowing.
"Before we go into detail, can you at least tell me what this silence you're talking about?" I said, still curious to know what she meant by that.
Ophis tilted her head, looking at me with confused eyes. "My home is the silence which exists everywhere, a rift where all realities are connected with each other but with no sound able to pierce the endless void. But then a giant stupid lizard threw me out with his loud noises and stupid stunts."
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Wait what?
I managed to figure out that she described the Dimensional Gap as her home, a piece of information recorded in many magical tomes and books I read in the past while training my magic. But what caught me off guard the most was how she was… kicked out of her place by what sounded to me like an annoying roommate.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, will you help me defeat Baka Red?" she asked me as if it was something simple as taking out the trash.
"So let me get this straight," I massaged my temples from the ludicrous request she had asked us.
"You want me to help you to get rid of a Dragon God?"
"Yes."
"The Great Red."
"Yes."
"The Apocalypse Dragon."
"Yes."
"The True Red Dragon Emperor?"
"Yes."
"He who is hailed to be the Dragon of Dragons?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure it's not some other dragon who somehow shares the same name and title?"
"No."
"The one who represents Dream?"
"He is a nightmare."
"..."
I was speechless, it was like someone asking an ant to somehow destroy a tank—impossible.
"Will you help me?"
"Why can't you do it on your own?"
"He's too annoying and strong to deal with alone."
Right, I still couldn't understand the concept of Dream surpassing Infinity itself. Maybe there was some deep meaning behind the concepts or a truth I was too dumb to understand. And if Infinity couldn't get rid of Great Red, then what could anyone else on Earth possibly do? These two were known to be the strongest beings in existence for a reason!
"I see… Do you have another request? Something that won't get me curb stomped like a bug." I didn't want people to mistake me for an overpowered person, who can become stronger after every fight. That was way too much trouble than it was worth.
Ophis disappeared and reappeared right next to me, gazing at the glowing jewel of Sacred Gear reflecting her face on its surface. "Grant me the silence I've been searching for so long."
Again with that, just how was I supposed to recreate the effects of the Dimensional Gap!? I knew that the place she came from destroyed everything it came into contact with. Its power and intensity were so strong that even time and space could not escape its destructive capabilities. Only broken beings like Ophis and Great Red could find such a place comfortable and call it home. True monsters in their own rights. I needed to have my Sacred Gear to create a literal black hole to mimic the effect of a fraction of the Dimensional Gap!
"Partner." Vritra spoke, sounding like he found an answer to my dilemma. "I think I may know what she is talking about and it is something we have done in the past."
"You do? We have?" I exclaimed, shocked at this piece of news.
The only thing I could come up with was my spell [Absolute Silence]. But that only blocked out all sounds and noise inside the sphere, I doubted Ophis wanted something so simple.
"Yes, in fact, we have two options, but for the latter, we would most likely need to go all out to use and it would drain us far too much to pull off."
"..."
It wasn't like I could say no, but if this worked then…
A brilliant idea popped inside my mind, something that could help me out tremendously in the future.
"Listen, Ophis…-san?" I would worry about this later. "If I can give you the silence you want, will you help me with one thing?"
She nodded her head immediately.
"Anything."
Great, I really hoped this plan worked.
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, Harry Potter and my 2 Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword having 3 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post monthly commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise and Snafu.