While Ray, Reina and Elysir had their lovely day off, the strings of fate were beginning to move in an unparalleled direction.
A streak of golden light shot from the Earth, piercing through the dimensional gap. A gigantic red being floating freely in the void watched everything happen in surprise. The streak of light pierced through even the dimensional gap, creating a massive portal in which only endless darkness was seen from the other side.
[Lady Elysir left in that direction...]
*WHOOSH!*
With an unclear destiny, that streak of light flew across the endless void where time and distance didn't exist only will.
"Interesting... I didn't know there existed another such being in this world aside from Ophis and me, capable of penetrating through the dimensional gap. You concealed yourself very well. Looks like this overbearingly boring world is going to become a tad bit interesting~"
That gigantic being could have shattered that small string of light with a single touch of its nail, but it didn't... instead, it continued to fly away creating a lot of noise in its wake... its size alone equated to that of an island... its power couldn't be described with words.
Its wings waved freely expecting the end of times.
The Apocalypse Dragon, Great Red.
**
**
Sitting at the top of the world remained a monarch with a body that transcended time, power and wealth. A gorgeous lady in a white dress knelt in front of him, awaiting orders.
His unparalleled mind mumbled between reality and dreams when a mysterious golden panel manifested in front of him.
[Wouldn't you appreciate a massage that goes all the way from the marrow to the bone? The hegemon of Nazarick needs a proper rest after thousands of years of endless wars and conquer...]
One could sense the pride and arrogance from irradiating from that godly screen. And yet, it unashamedly identified when it was in the presence of a powerful entity.
'What is this, a notification from YGGDRASIL?! Wait... thousands of years of war? what the hell are you talking about!? I woke in this world two weeks ago and I have no clue!'
*cough!*
"Hmph, a strange screen... I don't know who you are but it seems you're acquainted with the struggles of a lord".
'But that doesn't make sense… the display is different from what I remember. YGGDRASIL has a black HUD but this one is golden'.
"Ains-sama...? What screen are you talking about?" The lady's dark wings fluttered and she tilted her head like the cutest being in this world.
'So Albedo can't see it... is it something related to my soul Is this some sort of trap?'.
"Are you worried about something, my lord?" She asked again, insistently.
"It is nothing Albedo, only my divagations. What exactly is it that you're offering, screen?"
[A massage that transcends the very gods. A sacrifice is required, but for eternity you shall not be disappointed].
'Massage of all things? I don't remember a quest like this in YGGDRASIL' his gaze moved towards the still confused succubus, 'perhaps I should send one of the first to test whether this is a trap or not, I should send several... but Albedo would be problematic... perhaps Shaltear?'.
He sighed and moved the notification out of his view as there were more important things to worry about in this brand-new world.
'But a massage, hehe, that sounds compelling. With how long I've been working in the office that would be so good!'.
"What sort of sacrifices are acceptable?"
[Anything... so long as it is of value, I shall be the judge].
The monarch's skeletal body raised and his eyes shone in a sharp red light, he introduced his skeletal hand into what looked like a void portal and from there, he extracted an item. The aura of that item alone was so devastatingly powerful that even the succubus kneeling in front of him didn't dare raise her head.
"What about this?"
[T-That is-]
"A very rare weapon craft mythical Item. Claw of the Blazing Dragon God, Atrophos... I still remember this difficult quest-"
Just as quickly, the arrogance and haughtiness retreated like the seashore before a tsunami, what replaced it was the relentless hunger of a salesman!
[With such a sacrifice you shall receive the best of services, my lord! YOU DEFINITELY WON'T REGRET IT!]
'Isn't he a bit anxious now?!'
**
**
Two ladies walked down a busting road dead in the night, it was dangerous.
But the moment they saw the blonde lady leaning and cussing her heart out, they recognised her identity and immediately fucked off.
Those shinobi could be looking for trouble or fun, but the end result would always be the same. To get mashed up and beat, it wasn't worth the effort. As always she wasn't having any luck.
"Lose, lose and LOSE, ALL I DO IS LOSE MONEY!"
"Tsunade-sama you drank too much!"
"Why can't I ever win in the slots! Tell me Shizune!"
"Because you don't know how to play?"
"It is just pulling a hook… how can't I know how to play!?"
"I don't think you pull that hook at the right speed".
"Nonsense, the speed at which you pull it doesn't determine anything, do you think I haven't tried every possible speed?"
"I thought you said you're an expert".
"I am an expert, goddammit!"
"The legendary Sannin is an expert at losing hahaha!" A bunch of lads walked by and laughed at her misery.
!!!
"What did you say huh?!"
By the time she turned around to gouge their eyes out, only wooden logs remained.
"Yes yes. You're an expert Tsunade-sama, let's go... there is nothing here for us tonight, you will win the next time, I trust you~ more like you better win something because we're running out of money".
"It is my money and I'll spend it however I see fit, hmph!"
"Ugh, women…"
"You're a woman too!"
...
The path to her hotel was filled with grief and empty pockets, the sannin with golden hair collapsed on her bed, looking at the ceiling with debts to pay and a consciousness fuzzy from all the alcohol.
'What am I doing, Dan…? Why can't I win?'
When she thought in everything she had lost, her teeth clenched so hard.
'All I do is lose… lose my little brother, lose my beloved, lose my sensei, lose my friends, lose my money… am I going to lose my life too?'
[Then wouldn't you like to gain something for once?]
That golden screen manifested all too suddenly, all she could do was open her eyes and release a slight hiccup, thinking that she was so drunk she was even seeing things.
'H-Huh?'
She rubbed her eyes but that golden notification was still there but it was blurry.
[Wouldn't you like to gain fortune, pleasure… and lucidity. What is it that you want, Tsunade Senju…?]
Her eyes watered up when that elegant male voice entered her mind, thinking she was talking with some sort of superior being in her drunken dreams. She thought about everything she lost, everything that wouldn't come back... the real things that mattered other than money and alcohol... the gap she was so desperately trying to fill.
"W-What is it that I want?" She sobbed, realising that she was alone in this room, nowhere she could be perceived as weak, where the enemy shinobi could attack, a dream.
"I want to stop feeling so miserable..."
At least in a dream, she could open up.
[What are you willing to sacrifice… to turn your life over?]
'Anything… c-can you bring him back? Nawaki? Dan? Can you bring them back?!'
[I'm sorry… but I can't bring back the dead. The cycle of life is rigorous, those that are gone can never return]
Seeing that not even an omnipotent being in her dreams could bring back her beloved, her emotions collapsed even more and she cried her heart out.
[… this is a pitiful one. Then Tsunade Senju… will you allow me to take a sacrifice? I promise it will be worth it, you will see life in a way you have never seen it before].
She turned around and closed her eyes, making herself small as vulnerable as small and aggrieved was her heart. The most primal desire of her heart couldn't be accomplished. What was even the point of anything else?
"Do… whatever you want… just make me feel good"
Her mind began blurring and she fell into a deep sleep, unaware that a bright white energy began seeping out of her body.
[As you wish].