Chereads / Arifureta: From World's Strongest to Omni-Strongest. / Chapter 22 - Chapter 18- The Showdown.

Chapter 22 - Chapter 18- The Showdown.

{A/N: Check out Auxiliary chapters for certain overviews, if want to get spoiled}

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Three figures stood in front of the exquisite magic circle on the third floor of Oscar's mansion. They were Nagumo, Kenshiro and Yue, they stood silently before Oscar's skeleton. It was Ken's idea to leave him intact and unmoved as burying him outside might cause some problems later. They look around nostalgically as different thoughts play on in their heads.

Two months and a few days have passed since the world's strongest group found their safe base. With each week, when there are no work and the coast is clear, Ken shows Yue the dignity of a senior and why it's necessary to have sisters in the future. With each matchup, he hammers in the point of sisterhood into her. With Nagumo, he has been transmuting most of the time with few instances of calling Yue or Ken for something. They sometimes spar unarmed or armed to always get in shape for they knew their objective will get harder.

Now they had conquered the dungeon and established a secure base. Their goal was partially achieved when they discovered information and a plan to return home, and now their minds were allow to think about other things.

Getting ready to move out, Yue and Nagumo wore the same clothes seen in the anime but Ken adorns a full-body lightweight suit, gothic gauntlets, and boots along with a hooded trenchcoat. This attire is dyed jet black with red patterns. He made it look cool and truly befitting a fantasy world so much that Nagumo's inner otaku was trying to break it's chains.

"...Well let's not get emotional, I think it's time to see the sun again"

"Nn~"

"You're right Ken, I really miss the sun and moon"

"Are you sure you're not missing another sun in your life. Am sure this one has healing powers" teases Ken with a smile but Nagumo chuckles in response.

"Oh I almost forgot....these are yours Yue"

Ken has used the crystal's ability to contain enormous amount of magic; to make necklace, bracelet, a ring. He gave them to Yue. She was able to use very powerful magic. Her most powerful spells consumed a lot of magic, and just one shot would leave her depleted. If she was able to stock up her magic in a battery, she could use those superlative magic in rapid succession and not get magically exhausted.

He named the accessories set "Athena's blessing" and gave it to Yue. Her reaction at that time…

"…Proposal."

"Say What?"

"A proposal..."

"It prevents magic exhaustion, can store mana for later and has a few of my abilities. I thought this would surely protect Yue from now on but it can be a proposal?"

"Nn..."

"Ooo Yue is shy. How about this, let it be a symbol of your authority to choose who you want as a sister" proclaims Ken as he knees before her.

"Ken.."

" What is it?"

"Thanks…I love it."

"Oh."

Please, really explode already! These two were creating their own atmosphere. They were ready for everything in a lot of ways.

"*Coughs* please cut it out already..."

" *sniffing* It's that jealousy filling the air. Someone needs....."

"Whatever, let's get out of here already"

interrupts Nagumo who steps into the magic circle. Ken and Yue follow suit after their little stunt and they activate the circle.Their view was filled by the light from the magic circle; the air definitely felt different, although nothing could be seen. It was clearly different from the air at the depths of the abyss. Sensing a breeze, Hajime's cheeks began to loosen.

The sight that came into view after the light settled was…

A cave.

"Wait, what?!!"

Without any further thought, Hajime, who believed that the other side of the magic circle was the surface, unintentionally inserted a tsukkomi at the sight that wasn't any better. Honestly, he was extremely disappointed.

"Stop being a drama queen or king?...It's a secret passage"

"… it's not uncommon for it to be hidden" (Yue)

"A-ah, is that so? It certainly is. There is no way that the entrance to the Abode of Traitors wouldn't be hidden, right?" (Hajime)

Hajime felt considerably ashamed to not realize something so simple. He pulled himself together while scratching his head. Without any illumination, they advanced through the pitch-black cave without any problems.

On the way, although there were many doors with seals and traps, the Orcus Ring would react at every instance, canceling their activation altogether. Their uneventful advance continued until they finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was the sun; the light which Hajime and Ken, for the past few months, and Yue, for the past three hundred years, had sought after.

Hajime and Yue came to a stop; they grinned and they simultaneously ran towards the light that they yearned for. Ken keeps walking whiles shaking his head at how childish they're acting but was inwardly happy.

As they approached the light that was gradually growing larger, they could feel and breathe the air from the surface. It was different from the stagnant air of hell, being cool and refreshing. Yue never knew how delicious fresh air could be until this moment. They soon come across a blocked entrance that showed the cruelty of time and nature; it's been riddled with holes and erosion that allowed in light and wind. Ken shows the symbol engraved on the block, Oscar's ring which shifts the block out of place.

Feeling renewed and gratified, Hajime and Yue both jumped into the light and reached the long-awaited surface.Even Yue, who was expressionless by default, could be seen smiling in broad daylight.

"Sun... hot sun....freedom" (Ken)

"We… made it back…" (Hajime)

"…Nn" (Yue)

"Alriiight~~!! We're ooouuuut~!"

"Oouuut~~!!"

"This! has To! be heaven!!!"

They shout aloud that even Ken has to shout heaven but.... to the humans who lived above the ground, the place that they've entered was hell on Tortus: an execution ground. An unknown number of powerful and brutal monsters lived there. As if that weren't enough, magic could hardly be used where they were standing.

The [Raisen Great Canyon]

The trio were currently outside of the cave at the bottom of the Raisen Grand Canyon. Although they were at the bottom of the canyon; bright, warm light poured down from above. The fragrance of the earth mixed with the wind tickled their noses.

Compared to the kind of place it could have been, this place was surely the paradise known as the surface. While they were in a frenzy with the sun above their heads, monsters start to surround them which causes them to stop.

"...I guess we still in Tortus after all. Stupid monsters ruining everything" (Ken)

"Yes, they must be blind"

"Haaah, the fun is gone..."

Everyone said their piece as they proceed to wreck the monsters. Nagumo pulls out his guns and takes action, Ken and Yue not being behind attacks– the ground turns in spikes and impales some monsters as Ken stomps his boots and Yue finishes with an icicle spell.

"Hm?"

"Hmm?"

"... So it's true that magic can't be used here for normal beings. But I guess, we're different" (Ken)

"I've read of this place but didn't know it will be this bad. Only high mana can be used and even that's a rarity among humans" (Nagumo)

"We're the strongest after all..."

"sigh... I guess It's time for the showdown of equipments" (Nagumo)

"...I guess. You first, here. " says Ken as he gives Nagumo the [Treasure trove] who puts it on. They stored all their equipment in turns when they need it, back at Oscar's mansion and forbid the other from peeking.

Hajime poured mana into the [Treasure trove] on his middle finger, and took out his equipment one by one and explained their basic functionality. From his Donner and Schlagen to the Magic Powered 2-Wheeled and four wheeled Drive which looked militant. Ken was impressed with it because it looked real even with it's simplicity of no engines but Yue was in awe.

"... that's crazy but now am gonna blow you away. Let's start from the basic" (Ken)

"We'll see..."

Nagumo gives Ken the ring for him to prove his statement. Ken smiles as he pours mana in the ring and pulls out his first contestant.

Kenshiro's equipment and gear;

First is his utility belt which he straps around his waist. This holds his vials of sacred water and his magazines.

Next, Ken introduces his cold weapons. First is his modern looking daggers made of an alloy of Toul and Shtar ores.

Second is his long sword resembling a cold steel Italian long sword but with a crimson metallic shine. It's made with the fusion of Shtar and Azantium ores which were imbued with [Blood Conversion] and [Shock Control] by Creation magic for powerful hits and accurate stabs.

Third is his O katana made and imbued the same as the long sword. This was made for swift slashes and deep cuts. Ken attaches them to his belt on his left side.

'Caster gun' is the next weapon Ken introduces which was an imitation to the (Starwind Caster gun). This gun was made with every metal of the eighth hardness and above. It was made to better harness his plasma beam and other matter related attacks, so it can at most fire 5 times before being done. it's been engraved; [I am the architect of my own destruction] – at the sides of the gun.

This came along with it's own drop leg holster which he puts on.

Next, Ken redraws a shoulder holster holding two guns which he calls 'Vahn and Helsing' from left to right respectively. The Vahn Helsing ARMS .454 Casull Auto (usually referred to simply as "Jack") are very powerful handguns. The Casull is a semi-automatic magnum pistol, based on a handgun designs by Colt: the M1911. The gun weighs approximately 7kg unloaded and has a magazine capacity of ten .454 Casull cartridges. Its appearance is also similar to the AMT Automag III.

The overall design of the 'Jack' is simple, using the Browning short recoil mechanism. Its most recognizable feature is its long slide, counteracting the weapon's heavy recoil with its weight. The barrel is 10 inches long (specified on the slide) and finished with dark Azantium metal which gives it a characteristic jet black color. It's bullets are made of any hard metals he could find and combustion stone. This gun has twelve complete and loaded magazines in the utility belt along with the two inside the gun, making 14 magazines he can use.

Yue helped Ken engrave a lot of magic circles and formations to switch to it's decomposition and wave attacks when out of bullets. From the left to the right gun are the engraved words;

[Those who advance....

Seek not retreat....

By the heavens....

Give thy life..... ]

Ken adorns his holster under his hooded trenchcoat.

Ken pulls his 'Dominator' sniper next. It's a weapon based of the NTW- 20 anti- materiel rifle but with a '552 holographic sight' enchanted with night vision, heat sense and long sight. The sniper shots a NTW 20 bullet with a magazine capability of six but is engraved with formations to use decomposition attacks as well as a positron emission cannon. This weapon comes with a metal brief case which contains six loaded magazines.

Finally, Ken reveals his most beloved creation of all; the light cycle and the light runner vehicles.

These vehicles can change color of his chosing, has Azantium for body and plasma glass for it's glassing. They've been imbued terrain manipulation, matter manipulation and wave Manipulation so that it can camouflage or be invisible to untrained eyes.

Ken finishes his display to find Nagumo jaw dropping and with Yue clapping for the obvious winner, this goes on for a few seconds before he can snap back.

"...C-can I see your gun?" (Nagumo)

"Ahh?!!" (Ken)

".... okay you win in coolness but I have more equipment for every situation, so..."

"...fine, you can see it"

"Ken did you forget about the clothes?..." asks Yue as he tugs Ken's clothes.

" I almost forgot... meshed in Me and Yue's clothes are micro bits of the versatile Azantium metal. Mine is the 'Erebus Set' and Yue has the 'Athena Set' and they've been enchanted with; Cooling effect, all Resistance, Mana enhancements, Vajra, Shock Transfer and repulse which is a magic that emits shockwaves, preventing anything from getting closer.

How is it....cool right?"

'We have to hurry before we miss Shia...'

"Ken, you forgot the helmets and the flat glass..."

"...They're not yet complete without the 'Third eye' but I guess he can see the helmets " said Ken has he shows Nagumo an airsoft helmet belonging to Yue for when she riding the cycle.

He then proceeds to display a black helmet with valves and an outlaw mask.

"Which one is better, Nagumo"

Nagumo sighs and shakes his head as listening and looking at these gear is making him feel like an underachiever– Poor Nagumo.