Alas, I depart the Home of Cambions, I trek the empty plains of Hell!
"Shuma-San?"
The great Shuma replied, "Thou calm. Thy presence art safe in my companion"
Maia, with a curious face. "Shuma... -San...?"
'Oh, hah... Snappies out of it!'
"— Yes, Maia? Speak up."
"We, kin of the Cambions are capable of perceiving oddities within the surrounding atmosphere... Right now, I sense something very, very odd... It's making me uncomfortable..."
"And which is that?"
Wobble
"Rimu?"
"—Hmm, to be fair, something actually did bother me ever since we left."
"I can't tell you the details as it is also quite vague but..."
Click
'What was that?'
"Maia, Rimu... Stay still."
Click...
A clicking sound resonated throughout the hellish empty plains... As if Dimensions were being broken apart...
"—What is it Shuma-San?"
"I am unsure myself but"
'—I sense malice, danger...'
"—But, meh, who cares. Nyahahahaha!"
And with the final Click — Snap — Fwoosh — Clang
From my right. Magia particles gathered...
Calmingly, I forged 'Conjure me a sword, Magia.'
Hence, defended Maia and Rimu
"Who the hell are you?!" A guy rowdily, howled. His silhouette appeared to that of a man with a muscular build. Carrying one sword on his right with 2 extra swords strapped to his waist.
"Who the hell are you?!" repeated the rowdy man.
'Who's this guy? Seems a pain to deal with.'
I replied, "— I could ask you the same. I've got 2 fair ladies with me. Which sane man would attack a person protecting them!?"
'And the fact that you would impertinently dare hurt my beloved, precious Rimu! — Tsk.'
"Huuuuhhh!?" He roared
"Don't 'Huuuuh' me. Show yourself!"
The silhouette cleared up.
What I had seen then was nothing I could've expected.
"S... S—"
As he stepped forwards, "— Sorojuro. Now state your name"
Out of disappointment of my inexperienced ass talking back to Sorojuro-Sama, I face palmed. 'It's Sorojuro! How could it be!?'
Maia, observingly asked, "Shuma-San?"
"Shuma, eh. Y'know what, I apologize for suddenly attacking. Ga-hahahahahaha! See, I was in my Captain's Ship and suddenly, a big, 'Click-Boom-Whoosh' happened and that woke me up. I then got stuck at this Bubble and I tried slashing it but moments passed, I saw you."
"Sorojuro-San... That's"
'— It's the real DEALLLL!!!'
"You have no need to explain. I get the gist of it"
'It's the usual pun... He got lost, didn't he?'
Maia, again, confused, "Shuma-San?"
From behind his back, he took the wine gourd "Gahhhh."
"Maia. Let's talk for a bit."
"Shuma-San? Who is this rowdy man?" murmured, Maia
"Huh? Where are the bunch of you going?" Sorojuro asked
"Just give us a minute, Sorojuro-San"
"Shuma-San. What is this about?"
Excitedly, I whispered "Maia-Chaaaan. It's Sorojuro!!! In the flesh!!!"
Expectedly, Maia wondered in a daze "Shuma-San, I have no idea what you mean."
My thoughts went 'dvxewxcxrzgnzgjerjflcbsfdadadsaassfngsasdvcrgzdgnfersfdfgsrdfgfresdfvcfdsdvfsesfvfs'
"Just know that he's one of the very few guys that I would deeply respect!"
Wobble...
I returned from where Sorojuro-Sama stood, and from thereon, we travelled together... With countless hours of exploration, we faced little to no enemies. All that stood in our path were easily obliterated by the oh-so-magnificent Sorojuro-Sama. I was wholly appalled by his zeal. The 3-Sword Style that he used was an exquisite play to witness firsthand. Moments later, we had come to a rest.
"Let's take a break here." Said, the great Shuma-Sama
And so Sorojuro-Sama sat on the ground. Followed Maia, and I, with adorable Rimu atop my precious Head. I lent Rimu to Maia and they played together
Sorojuro-Sama spoke, "Well, that sure was a surprise, eh? I need to find a way to get back to my Captain."
'Does Sorojuro even find his way to wherever he wants to go?' Smugly, I thought so. '— Eh... Sounds very... Unlikely.' I added, "Sorojuro-San... would you trust me well enough to help you get back to Puffytaro-San?"
"— Heh? You know Puffy?" Exclaimed the great Sorojuro-Sama!
'Well, I did watch you guys' anime, 'One Fifth'... There's no way I won't know. Fuhahahahahaha!'
"Well, let's just say I know Puffy-Senpai and that we're both good buddies. For now, I need you to fully entrust yourself to me, Sorojuro-San. I think I know what might've happened."
"— But you know... Where the hell in the world am I right now?"
Maia gazed from behind as she was holding Rimu tightly.
"Ah-bout that... I'll just say you were whooshed somewhere very far away. Likely by some Devil Vegetable User who's capable of transporting anyone, anywhere...?"
"Well, as long as you can take me back to Puffy, I'm in your hands."
Hence, for me to figure it out. I utilized a Skill.
[Empirical, Activated]
'Mhm, Hmm... It seems... Well, apparently, my bold-faced lie turned out to be the indisputable truth...'
And with telepathy, I spoke to Sorojuro-Sama,
'Sorojuro-San. Someone's trying to take your indispensable skill... The Three-Sword Style. For now, don't alert him. Follow my cues. I will Pull him out from inside you, and you, yourself should defeat him, or else you'll never be able to get back. That's the condition he has set for himself to travel here, and take comfort in your body.
'— It was so that he could Travel Dimensions and not get interrupted by Puffy-Sama and his crew. This guy's pretty perceptive.'
Boldly, I signaled "Sorojuro-San. Ready?"
"Anytime!"
And from my count "Three... Two... One..." [Dimensional Control, Activated] I raised my arms, pulled out a shadow from Sorojuro-Sama's body. It then settled on the crimson-red ground. Took its shape and ultimately, transformed into a human figure.
"Tsk, I've been found. I never expected someone to notice. Not with my impeccable Restricted Travel."
'I would say you would prove to be a formidable opponent for the Wheat Hats, had you figured out how to use your Devil Vegetable properly.'
"So you were hiding inside me all this time. And you dare disturb me in my sleep. Bold of you to do that." said the AWESOME Sorojuro-Chama
Both of them took their stances.
"Three Sword Style..."
"Space Space Vegetable..."
Concerned of the 2 girls' behind me, I stepped back, said "Maia, Rimu. Stay close to me. I'll conjure a spherical barrier for us."
"—Three Thousand Years of Death!"
"Experience-Nommies Theft!"
Their attacks clashed! Sorojuro-Sama's slash and the unknown man's spiral collided, producing a bright light. It embraced the crimson surroundings.
Fwoooooooooooooooooooshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—scdsasdsadacxcdasdcx-ssasdascsszszsscsdsvafdasdd—Static
Thereafter, the light slowly weakened, revealing to us, the 'expected victor'
From the silhouette, showed one man on the ground... The dust cleared up... The light dissipated... "Shuma-San!" I responded "Yes, Maia... As I predicted... No one can beat our Sorojuro-Sama..."
With a smug look, I waved "Sorojuro-San! I knew you could easily do it!"
"I can't let a thief take away what I've tireless worked for... Not especially when I still haven't become the greatest Swordsman... Not until... I surpass Vacuole Mihook..."
From behind Sorojuro-Sama, a dimensional hole developed. Gradually, he was sucked into it.
"Shuma... Before I go. Tell me your full name"
With a very very very smug and ecstatic look, I answered "Kagezuchi, Shuma."
"I will remember it... I give you my thanks"
And with Sorojuro-Sama's barbaric smile, he slowly dispersed into Magia which I assumed, meant that he returned to the One Fifth Universe.
"Maia, Rimu. Shall we continue?"
"Yes!"
Wobble...
And that, happened to be my very first encounter with a Wheat-Hat member, from the One Fifth Universe