8: Gaelion 2

During our talks, we had all at one point gotten a bit too comfy together, if the current scene was anything to go by. Sitting on either of my legs were the Demi-Human forms of Nilla and Gwain. Nilla, who was clothed in a black and purple sun dress she had requested, and that I enchanted, looked mostly like a younger version of Olivia Silence from Arknights. However, with pronounced views of her monster nature. Her hands were smaller and more human styled Griffon forelimbs and claws.

A tuft of feathers on her chest and neck, with more feathery-like ears. Her eyes had also recently become a solid red and gold color due to the effects of her connection to my soul. She was rather happily sitting on my left leg, humming a song about ripping out her enemies' entrails. Gwain, looked more an avian Demi-Human with an oddly concerning number of wings. There were a total of six of them, like a Seraphim's, and his race had changed from King Flying Filolial to King Seraphim Filolial.

The only reasons I could come up with were three simple reasons. One is because of my gun unlocking more of its more divine features such as Vassal Smith and our synchrony becoming eighty percent. Second, due to his connection to my soul as a familiar, he was slightly influenced as well by the two essentially deity class entities.

The deity class entities fall under the God and Guardian Beast classifications, simply known as Kuruma and Bahamut. His eyes, however, took on a void like purple with a golden outer ring color as he simply sat on my right leg wearing an enchanted butler like uniform. While sitting in Gaelion's lap was his daughter Wyndia who was mostly talking to my brats. All while the Dragon Emperor was currently disguised as an old man while we all sat on the ground talking.

Bahamut, Kuruma, and Carnage were even involved with our discussions as the old Dragon was fascinated, yet disgusted, with their old worlds. Mine was simply boring, but he did find my second one interesting after I was put there as a Hero.

"It would seem that everything we know is but a speck of dust in the grand scheme of everything. Yet, I can't help but marvel at how much of a vast expanse that there truly is outside the boundaries of our own multiverse of timelines. Some worlds, however, should cease to exist. As the concept of some of your stories make me wish I could punish the foolish ones stepping across a line like yours did."

"Hydaelyn, bless her crystal soul, only tries to do the right thing, yet I will admit… she caused more suffering than even Diabolos. And to erase those mistakes, she is fond of resting the world. My soul still hurts even after being healed by remembering how many times I became something I LOATHE…."

Bahamut spoke softly and with malice, yet the old deity felt hurt all the same by the light goddess. His wings curled around his arms as he sat to mine and Gaelion's left as a Human sized version of himself. Kuruma in a more Human sized form was currently curled up like a cat, his head on his front paws. His voice contained a soft but gruff mirth as he spoke about his own world.

"You got off light with the annoying stains on the world called people honestly. While I liked maybe four of my Jinjuriki as people and not jailers, the rest, except for a clan I once protected, weren't worth the trouble of being nice to. Three sticking out the most among the filth calling themselves Shinobi's. Madara Uchia, he was a fool and someone I wish I could've personally ripped limb from limb with my chakra, flaying his skin off like acid.

Orochimaru, who, as the kid likes calling him, was a pedophile who gained semi-immortality by putting small enough chunks of his soul into others. All too eventually take over and revive himself, erasing the unlucky fool as his appearance and personality overrode their existence. And finally Kaguya, the one who made my world how it was and used it to hide from her clan that traveled from different worlds. It was thanks to her, I'd eventually burn my existence out to save my latest jailer, only to meet you all. However, I don't hate that…. I have friends I could truly say I connect with on a personal level now."

Chuckling at Kuruma's reaction when those he meant out of us, well, messed with him by acting as if we were maidens trying to hide from his gaze. The grump scoffed at us, but his lips twitched upwards as his crimson eyes softened slightly. Carnage was quiet, but eventually, he added his own two cents as his slime of a blob head peered over my left shoulder.

"Hooonestly this has been the calmest I've felt since I was born. I still LOVE killing everything and everyone I see, but having a "family" that's been more understanding than dear old papa Venom. It has helped me become a more focused and lethal killer, with something I'd now kill entire universes over. It both frightens yet excites me more than when those Poison fuckers actually killed me, and turned Cletus into a walking shell to maintain my corrupted murderous self."

Shrugging, I threw my own two cents in as well about the whole situation we were discussing. As the multiverse theory makes this possible since really NONE of us would be here together without it. That's one of the upsides to my job, I could meet people like Carnage, Bahamut, Kuruma, and Gaelion. We're all very different, yet we've become a strange group of friends after a short amount of time.

"While I was basically manipulated into my job as an Executioner, it's pretty nice if I get to meet people like you all. Because I was just a normal security guard at first, waiting to die from how stale my life and original world were. Then this all happened, and I've had more fun than I have had in my short, monotonous life in these few months than in years. So, in a way, most of us have been used to getting at least something out of us. Yet here we are as if that never were a problem."

The various monstrous entities around me scoffed at that last bit, amused more than anything about. The kids looked at us as if the topics said were some stupid shit that didn't matter. Feeling irked at their looks, I used a gun form for my base pistol that could act much like Naofumi's air shield. The kids were startled when they were suddenly flung into the air by ghostly green bullets, creating an updraft as I controlled how they worked.

The others looked amused, seeing and hearing the kids squeal at the sudden action. Gaelion made a remark about how it reminded him about learning to fly. We had deviated from our original talks by this point, but I don't think anyone minded. As we, by this point, focused on the kids being kids out of our two groups. This made us forget our own problems to an extent.

That we honestly ignored Ren when he and his party arrived. Content watching as the kids were currently beating each other with sticks, due to Wyndia requesting a sword duel. Which had devolved into a mock life and death battle that the kids were trying to win at by hitting vitals with their sticks. Yet, they couldn't win, as one would always disrupt the other for the killing blow.

"Are you going to just ignore me and watch a bunch of children beat each other up?"

Looking back towards the Sword Hero, I spoke without much thought. I wanted to see if he'd react positively or negatively to my response about the children compared to him.

"I mean, we're not ignoring you per se, we're just watching to see which kid will win their stick fight. They have sloppy sword skills, but they're good at guiding their 'swords' at least. What about you? Did you learn any sword techniques while here?"

He bristled at my words, but looked at the kids and swallowed his words before saying something surprising.

"No, however, I learned that this is real life even if it shares similar traits to what I know… and I should learn how to actually use my sword instead of just swinging it…."

Whirling around at those words, as I didn't think he'd say until later on in this world. I looked at Ren and saw his party… The one called Welt, I believe, was missing his entire right arm.

"What happened? EXPLAIN."

However, before Ren could explain, the current hand axe sized Vassal Axe reacted first. The weapon shook on my waist, causing me to look down at it. Its gem was flashing blue and red rapidly, as if the weapon were having a panic attack. Ren noticed this and so did his sword, which reacted, its gem lighting up with a warm green color that slowly blinked. My own weapon, flashing its gem in a green light at the Vassal Axe. Which seemed to cause the weapon to still before essentially vomiting out a fresh severed arm from its gem.

Blinking at the sight, I got the story that I needed, Takt had probably run into Ren and tried to steal his sword. Yet, he and his party escaped at the cost of a limb which, from how the axe acted. It didn't like being used to kill a Cardinal Hero without valid reasons, unless it was likely in a Cursed Series form.

"Never mind, I got my answer and well here's your arm, it's still fresh, so I could reattach it using one of my gun variants."

The Sword party looked at me strangely before I shot Welt with the Paladin variant a few times in the arm. The party had questions for me, obviously, so I just shrugged and answered the most obvious one.

"I have the weapons which tried killing you because I killed the fuck misusing the Vassal Weapons. They're currently sticking around, wanting my help in picking users who will do some good with them."

Ren nodded his head at that while crossing his arms.

"I gathered as much, given that you had them and that a guard reported seeing that monsters were eating a person alive. One of the monsters was seen having a green gem in its skull mask. So I figured you probably had a way to transform into a monster, or to summon one. Just what's really going on here? I heard there was a strong monster out here that I could hunt yet, I just saw your group, I'm assuming."

"Where'd you hear that from? As yes, while there's a Dragon Emperor here, he's more of a peacekeeper and a host for a Guardian Beast that could protect this world. Only if the heroes die or the waves get too strong, but that protection is at a cost. A protection that involves half of all life dying to put up a World Barrier powered by the harvested souls."

"From some adventurers…. That now I see are lying to me if what you just said is true."

Gesturing to Gaelion and Wyndia, the old Dragon, currently still looking like an old Human male, spoke up. Spite and hate in his voice as Dragon Vein Magic threatened to lash out at Ren and his party. Gaelion certainly didn't forgive Ren for what he's done in multiple timelines and would've done here. Which is perfectly fair, in a vast majority of them, he causes Gaelion to become a Zombie Dragon. A zombie dragon that would then infect Naofumi's shield, specifically the Wrath Shield. Along with his main treasure, his daughter, being used and turned into a slave.

"So you're the wretch that would've sought my death and caused countless pointless tragedies. You may be the Sword Cardinal, but after learning what multiple variations of yourself do and become. I can't help feeling contempt for you unless you can prove you are a version worth anything. However, as the Marksman Hero has said, I am a host for one of the Guardian Beasts that protect this world.

While I'm not the strongest Dragon Emperor, I am by far the most reasonable that can be negotiated with. If I should, I become the Dragon Emperor Guardian Beast by consuming multiple Dragon Emperor Shards, as I would allow sparing certain cities or villages. However, that'd only be allowed for ten locations at most. Given that, capital cities would have enough people to make up enough lives to repopulate the world with the various races once more, even once they are ravaged."

Gaelion let those words settle before speaking once more, seeing Ren about to either rebuke him or say something else. Making the teen close his mouth and look at the ground as the harsh truth of failure was before him.

"Before you say anything, Sword Cardinal, the Dragon Emperor is the easiest and most favorable one to summon among the four. Should the Spirit Tortoise, Phoenix, or Kirin be summoned they wouldn't care for locations, they'd all be treated the same. Although, the Spirit Tortoise has a personification called Ost that could be used to negotiate safe zones for at most twenty thousand lives all together. You MUST acknowledge the Guardian Beasts aren't anyone's friends, they are the world's last line of defense should the Heroes fail. While the Cardinals and Vassals would survive, your parties would most certainly be sacrificed."

That really shut the teen swordsman up as the point about Guardian Beasts was driven home. Ren, looking as if the weight of the world was crashing down onto him, was right now very vulnerable. So to avoid a Cursed Weapon unlocking, I took this chance to help make him focused on the goal and survival. Walking up to him, I made him look me in the eyes. I was seeing his eye's waiver with uncertainty and panic, so I spoke. More to him and his weapon as a whole rather than just him.

"Ren, tell me what you think being a hero means."

The teen tried looking away, but I wouldn't let him. I made him keep eye contact. His voice trembled with uncertainty as he spoke, unsure of his own answer.

"A hero must protect the world and shoulder the most weight or else everything dies… a hero must be a beacon for hope in darker times."

Shaking my head, I answered back my own version, one that held no uncertainty to it like his. And the teen realized that as my words struck him like daggers, for I pointed out some of his most glaring flaws.

"To me, a hero is but a person, a single person who is just like the rest of us, they are fallible to temptations like us. They must know when to trust others and share a burden they can't realistically handle alone. They can't be everywhere every second of the day, they're only a single person. People will bitch and moan and hold them to certain standards, that's unavoidable, Ren. They must be willing to actively work with others, not distance themselves from them as if that's for the best.

They must face reality, they can fail and failure has both big and small consequences. Consequences that'll happen at one point or another, there's no avoiding them. However, they must also see the good they do and appreciate even the small victories. A hero MUST feel fear at some level, for without fear they can become something hideous. Fear begets courage, courage begets arrogance, arrogance begets defeat.

You get cocky without fear and that'll lead to defeat, death, becoming a villain to be put down, or all the above. You must always think, adapt, and improve as a person and a hero, or you'll end up short. However, that doesn't mean you should get absorbed into heroics like Itsuki. You're still you at the end of the day, you're still Human, you're still loved and have friends to rely on, so you should cut loose at times. If you don't, you'll burn out and that'll cause yours or someone else's death.

You've already died once Ren, don't waste your life like how you're doing, even if your weapon can take you back to your world. A timeline already exists. A timeline where you've been dead for months, where everyone's has had to adapt to your passing. Going back and creating a timeline where you live won't change that, it'll still exist. So live, live your life like they would want you to, don't linger in the past or focus too much on being some grand hero. Just live your life, you've got a second chance, don't waste that."

Letting Ren be able to move his gaze away, the teenager looked towards his party. Hesitant about something as, he'd look back at me before walking over to them and hugging the nearest one. A choked sob came from his mouth as he wailed and repeatedly apologized. The young swordsman hopefully taking my words to heart, they hurt, but he needs to fully accept reality if he's to do his best. You can't live in the past, the past will eat away at you and break you, you must trudge on even when there are numerous wounds on your body and blades stabbed into your back.

"I'm sorry I nearly got you all killed… I'm sorry I haven't taken this seriously… I'm sorry I pushed you away…. I'm sorry…"

His party looked floored as Ren for once acted his age, and they all hugged the teen who had bottled up too much. Their gazes my way, being thankful for helping to get the stalwart Ren to for once be something else other than distant. Looking back at Gaelion I could see the dragon smiling softly and letting go of his spite for this Ren slightly. Kuruma scoffed when my eyes met his, but I could see that crooked smile at seeing this outcome and the pain in it as he took a bit of it to heart as well. Bahamut was giving a fanged smile as his wings slightly flapped, the deity enjoying a crucial moment for a hero's well-being.

Carnage, while I could tell he was disappointed through our bond. He was chuckling, seeing a hero being, as he said, "A basic bitch crying about something so stupid that'd he'd be shanked in prison." The kids, especially Wyndia, looked on with mixed emotions. Primarily, Wyndia recognizing that her favorite Cardinal Hero was just another person, not some glorified unshakable hero to put on a pedestal.

Looking around, I could see our talks and everything was going to be delayed for a bit until Ren settled down. So I got to making some stuff. A grill, a portable enclosed oven and tray for baking bread, and a few food items from my world with transmutation. Some of the items being Japanese in style as while I think he should move on, I don't mind giving him a reminder of where he came from.

While I made food and tried my hand at creating Japanese food that I could remember reading about. One of Ren's party members, out of Welt, Bakta, Tersia, and Farrie, the one to approach me was Tersia looking curiously at what all I was making. Answering a few of her questions and mentioning a few things, I saw her focus as she primarily tried to make Japanese food for Ren.

Smirking at the sight, eventually what we were making was done and there were plenty of people surprised with it all. Ren however, when present with Tersia's efforts, was speechless as he ate her attempts at recreating a slice of home for him. Tears once more brimming in his eyes as he ate, yet we all didn't do much, we just let him be while being near him, Kuruma was both happy and angry at the Japanese food by remembering his world.

Yet, the big fox ate it all as he'd gaze over to mostly me when he'd eat any of it, through our bond I could feel… Acceptance, hurt, and affection as the fox tried being a grump. Some people, though, loved the hamburgers I made a little too much… just a bit too much… Carnage, though, was apparently an affectionate blood and alcohol mixed drunk mess.

I found this out when I killed one of the more aggressive dragon hybrids and mixed their blood with some whiskey for him. After that, the murderous symbiote has been trying to nuzzle his blob head into my face while licking me as if he were a cat. It was both hilarious and creepy enough that I kept swatting his face away, only to get a hiss in return when I did.

It was an odd yet alright moment between us all, not as Heroes, Villains, Anti-Heroes, Anti-Villains, or anything like that. Just us being people and sentient beasts sharing a moment, as we mostly kept an eye on an emotionally charged teen stuck as a Cardinal Hero. Eventually a turning point for Ren had come up and I extended an olive branch to him. Naofumi who was involved in this moment, after getting an ear full from Rapthalia over a call I made, was also begrudgingly extending one to Ren.

"Ren, given your age and how you still must see the world as some sort of game even slightly. I'd like to have you learn to live a life here under Naofumi, and learn the basics of when to be a hero and when not to be one under me and Naofumi. As the second one has many perspectives, two of which we both use frequently. Self interest, and a will to show people they're annoying idiots who need a reality check. Think you'd be up for it?"

Ren closed his eyes while he sat across from me on the ground. His party is looking at him closely awaiting his decision as this also affects them. After a few minutes he sighed deeply, his eyes opening as he spoke his decision.

"Alright, I'll do it. Please teach me how to handle this new life and my duties to the best of my abilities as a person. I don't want to have a false hope, I don't want to see something not real. I want to live a life I can be proud of here, that my family and friends would be proud of me living. I want to live not as solely the Sword Hero but also as Ren Amaki, the boy who many loved and wanted to be happy."

At that moment several notifications popped up between us, although probably less for Ren. While I had the most I believe, though they were all too familiar and were related to my very morals, desires boarding on deranged, my morbid philosophy, and unknown feelings.

『 Due to the Cardinal Sword, Ren Amaki, accepting your proposal for self growth. Has triggered certain series previously unlocked to awaken once more and are unlocked fully and permanently.』

『 Cursed Series: Wrath Unlocked

All Gun Forms Variant: Hellion Rebel

Hellion Rebel: +666 Aim, +666, Agility, +666 Wisdom, Abilities: Hell Flames, Cold Indifference, No Escape, Turn to Dust

Hell Flames: Your wrath burns hotter than even the flames of hell at times. Everywhere you step, every breath you take, every hit you give a trail of cursed flames of Hell follow and threaten to consume everything.

Cold Indifference: Your past wrath if you're calm, those who stand in your way shall suffer. Time slows down around you, your emotions muted as you move to kill your target of wrath.

No Escape: All abilities used to flee or leave an area are nullified, no one escapes your wrath.

Turn to Dust: A simple grazing blow from your Hell Flames turns the afflicted area to ashen dust. A simple amputation turns the severed limb to ashen dust and curses the stump.』

『 Cursed Series: Greed Unlocked

All Gun Forms Variant: Void Bringer

Void Bringer: +666 Aim, +666 Agility, +666 Luck, Abilities: Targeted Value, Equivalent Exchange, Endless Loop, Void Shot

Targeted Value: Everything around you has a preconceived value to you, yet a majority of it means nothing to you. Not even your own life, yet at the same time your own life has value, a paradoxical exchange based on your greed. When you yearn for a targeted value you degrade it, ruin it, or consume all its worth. Effects: When a target is hit you can degrade and ruin their value until nothing is left. In return your treasure is reinforced and kept safe by a barrier.

Equivalent Exchange: You don't value your life or yourself, but others do and they want you to live. So for each power boost you gain by greedy to protect your treasures your life loses ten years worth of life force. Each hit done or touch against the cause of this greed steals twenty years of life force and gives it to you. Even if there is no life force in the target, the twenty years worth WILL BE COLLECTED.

Endless Loop: You're not satisfied with a quick and painless death for enemies. You want them to SUFFER until you're satisfied. Upon killing an enemy you can trigger an indestructible barrier sealed off from space and time. A barrier that'll permanently force your kill to relive their death every second of the day.

Void Shot: Your greed is bottomless, your desire endless like the void itself. When this ability is triggered a pitch black bullet fires. If it hits anything considered a creature it implodes inside them, swallowing them entirely before turning their entire worth into gold bars stored directly inside your weapon. If it hits anything not a creature it'll create a bottomless pit that'll consume everything caught in its suction and expansion for five minutes. All consumed objects and creatures are then converted into gold bars inside your weapons inventory once five minutes has passed and the pit is sealed by reality fixing itself.』

『 Holy Series: Repentance Unlocked

All Gun Forms Variant: Golden Gun

Golden Gun: +777 Aim, +777 Agility, +777 Strength, Abilities: Sinners Grace, Sun Shot, Sinners Control

Sinners Grace: The Cursed Series various curses of the Seven Deadly Sins no longer fester and permanently affect you. For you are forgiven for falling when you just want to help and keep your loved ones and friends safe. The curses shall only affect you if you solely use the cursed weapon variant, which can no longer sway you to always use it.

Sun Shot: Your sins fuel your need to atone for the things you've caused while cursed. Your gun burns hotter than the sun itself as white flames envelope your gun, each shot carrying enough destructive force to erase a capital city.

Sinners Control: You can actively used the Cursed Series abilities without using the gun variant, however, the ability will only have 1% of its actual power then.』

『 Guardian Series: Fallen Guardian Unlocked

All Gun Forms Variant: Fallen Guardian

Fallen Guardian: +888 Aim, +888 Agility, +888 Luck, +888 Strength, Abilities: Cursed Vanguard, Holy Vanguard, Defense Nullification, Defense Nullification Immunity, Life Line

Cursed Vanguard: The Seven Deadly Sins that you have unlocked will be by your side ready to slaughter.

Holy Vanguard: For each of the Seven Virtues you unlock, a holy rune is engraved into a pair of Shotgun Gauntlets meant for close quarters combat. Each rune increases the explosive yield and power of the shotgun blast upon impact with the air or your target.

Defense Nullification: You ignore your opponents defense stat and do full damage to them.

Defense Nullification Immunity: Your defenses cannot be bypassed unless an attack stronger than it connects against you.』

While Ren seemed to have unlocked a new series that he was proudly showing off, as it meant he was truly taking a step forward. The series currently had two upgradable weapon paths, but they're currently at Novice. One being Novice Gun Blade which required a Marksman Hero to teach how to use effectively and help move onto the next stage. The other being a Pilebunker that can become both a sword and shield called Absolute Guardian Novice which requires a Shield Hero to help advance.

Both weapon forms were under the series called Apprentice, which had a description saying something specifically for Ren. "You'll never stop learning and always have room to grow up on the teachings given to you. Remember them and hone them for those who gave you a chance to be better." That description I believe came from his sword wanting him to stay this course. If he should falter I think it'll remind him of his choice, it's just a feeling though.

However, I didn't remember the exact wave number Glass invaded on so I got straight to teaching Ren. The teen took my lessons on the gun blade and what I felt he needed to learn to live his life as both a cardinal and himself seriously. His party supported him along the way until the third wave approached and we prepared for death. Just no one was ready for my disappearance.