Wanless drove his elbow backward into Yuto's gut, forcing him to stagger back, the sharp blow landing like a sledgehammer.
He was strong, of course, he was, despite being an absolute dick he was still the summoned hero.
Yuto grunted, the force of the attack rattling him, but he merely used the force to straighten his back.
He adjusted his stance ready to attack, but Wanless lashed out with a brutal kick to Yuto's midsection before he could strike again.
The impact sent him crashing into a nearby pillar, the shockwave reverberating through his body.
Yuto's muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself to rise, blood trickling from a gash across his cheek.
["Fuck… this guy is absurdly strong"]
"You're pathetic," Wanless taunted, his voice filled with mockery.
"You thought you could take me on? You're nothing"
"You're wrong," Yuto spat, his voice steady despite the pain.
"I'll keep going until my hands are wrapped around that fucking neck of yours"
Yuto launched himself forward again, his fist loading up with demonic energy.
Wanless barely had time to react before his sword collided with Yuto's fist.
Yuto grabbed Wanless by the arm and spun him around before launching him upwards.
Skill: Bullet Punch
He repeatedly punched him upwards, right, left, and right, and with one final hit, he sent him to the ocean floor.
"Give it up already!" Yuto yelled.
Wanless's body smacked the wet sand hard, the impact numbing his senses.
He blinked gritty saltwater from his eyes, coughing as a mouthful of seawater slid down his throat.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up onto all fours, scanning the area for Yuto.
There Yuto stood, fists clenched and chest heaving, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face.
Wanless snarled, launching himself at Yuto.
They collided in a tangle of limbs, Wanless strength initially pushed Yuto back.
"You're nothing but a pretty face!" Wanless spat.
"I'm gonna crush you before this day is out!"
With a vicious twist, he wrenched Yuto's head to the side, attempting to expose his neck for a strike.
Meanwhile, his other hand darted to his belt, fingers closing around the hilt of the dagger he'd drawn.
Yuto noticed his dirty little trick and proceeded to kick him back down and stomp on his wrist.
"Coward!"
"Coward?!"
Wanless snarled, his grip tightening on the dagger hilt as pain lanced up his arm.
But that stinging insult only fueled his anger, his intense need to prove himself, to see Yuto on the ground bloody and beaten.
With a snarl, he jabbed the pointed blade toward Yuto's exposed throat, eyes flashing with malice.
"You think I'd let some rat like you get under my skin? I'll flay the deceit of your skin!"
Despite the searing agony radiating from his crushed wrist, Wanless persisted, lunging forward with the dagger.
His other hand was still tangled in Yuto's hair, forcing his head back and exposing the column of his neck.
"You won't get away from me!"
He surged forward, the dagger drew a razor-thin line across Yuto's throat.
Warm blood welled up immediately, spreading in glistening rivulets down Yuto's neck and chest.
Yuto's eyes widened, a gasp escaping his lips as the cold steel nicked his flesh.
Despite the anguish, his gaze never wavered from Wanless's.
Healing Tier 5
The cut healed, but it didn't change the fact that Wanless almost got the kill.
"Cut it out, you fucking brute," Yuto bit out through clenched teeth, his voice straining.
"You're going to draw blood sooner or later, why make it so tedious?" he said with a chuckle as he kicked Yuto upwards.
"..."
"Fuck it…"
Skill: Flight x Speed Blitz
In a flash, he grabbed Wanless by the throat and flew back up to the surface.
Dragging him along the ground before throwing him at some old ruins.
The sudden ascent to the surface left Wanless disoriented, water spraying from his torn clothing as he gasped for air.
His vision cleared just in time to see a blur of motion and then he was crashing through rubble, the force of Yuto's throw slamming him into stone walls.
The impact knocked the wind from Wanless's lungs, leaving him groaning and struggling to rise.
Blood trickled down his face from a cut on his head, and his arms and legs ached from the brutal toss.
He staggered to his feet, teeth clenched against the pain, and glared at Yuto.
"You think you've won something, you arrogant piece of shit?"
Wanless snarled, wiping a sleeve across his bleeding brow.
"I'm far from done with you!"
Raking bloody fingers through his hair, he surveyed the debris.
The old ruins offered plenty of cover and potential weapons.
He spotted a half-buried pillar amidst the ruins and made a beeline for it.
Yuto observed very carefully; any slip and Wanless could kill him.
He already proved himself by almost decapitating Yuto.
"Just stop, Wanless. Accept the fact that you are going to die today"
Wanless snorted.
"And why the fuck would I do that?"
Before Yuto could react, Wanless swept a nearby chunk of masonry off the ground.
He hefted the heavy, jagged block of stone, his battered arms strained but slowly starting to recover.
"You'll pay for those scars you gave me," Wanless growled, stepping out from cover and bringing his makeshift bludgeon aloft.
With a mighty thrust, he flung the pillar at Yuto, which he dodged, but when he turned around, he saw Wanless right in his face.
He gripped his sword so hard that his hands began to bleed.
Yuto raised his arms as quickly as he could but felt the heavy weight of the sword clash against him.
Wanless's sword struck Yuto with enough force to drive the air from his lungs and send him flying down to the ground with a giant boom.
Through the blinding fury of the impact, Wanless didn't pause, relentless and merciless in his assault.
He pressed forward, his sword hacking downward in an arc aimed at severing Yuto's head.
"This could have been different; you could have been on my side," Wanless spat, his face twisted in a snarl of hatred and rage.
A flurry of cuts and slashes followed, Wanless's sword a blur as it bit into Yuto's shoulders, arms, and chest, leaving bloody, gouged wounds in its wake.
Yuto's clothes were shredded, his skin slick with sweat and blood.
Still, he refused to yield, continuing to raise his fist in a desperate bid to deflect and parry.
"Why… just why did you have to stand against me?"
He swung his sword again, this time increasing its size before laughing him to the stairs of the ruins.
Yuto struggled to sit up, to stand; he was tired, and Cthulhu had already drained most of his strength.
Hell, he couldn't even use his armor right now as it was almost destroyed by Cthulhu.
"Y-you… messed with my girls… I won't let you live"
Wanless chuckled as he rested his sword on his shoulder.
"You think a few scratches and bruises will stop me?"
"I've whatever this fucked up world could throw at me," he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.
The mocking tone only seemed to enrage Yuto further, and he clenched his fist again.
"Y-you don't belong here!"
Yuto stood up again, fixing his stance, his guard.
Wanless smiled, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened in anticipation.
"Oh, I'm afraid I do belong here." With a swift, vicious flick, he sent his sword hurtling toward Yuto's chest.
Wanless's sword whistled through the air, aiming for Yuto's heart.
But at the last moment, Yuto sidestepped the strike, the blade biting into the ruins behind him.
"Useless piece of metal," Wanless spat, abandoning his broken blade and drawing his dagger instead.
With a blur of movement, Wanless closed the distance between them, striking out with his dagger in a vicious overhand slash aimed at Yuto's exposed neck.
Yuto ducked as quickly as he could, sending a hit on Wanless's rib, sending him stumbling on the floor.
Blood oozed from Wanless's mouth, his cracked ribs caused him to struggle to breathe.
His vision began to waver.
He scrambled to his knees with a groan.
With a snarl, he raised his dagger, lunging at Yuto with reckless abandon.
Wanless's knife streaked through the air, a vicious slice aimed directly at Yuto's exposed neck.
Yuto quickly whacked him in the head.
"The fuck is it with you and necks?"
Wanless kept swinging, "Shut up! It's the most effective way to put someone down!"
Yuto grabbed Wanless's hand, squeezing his hand to the point where he let go of the dagger.
As soon as it hit the ground, Yuto quickly kicked it away.
"Bastard," Wanless hissed between gritted teeth.
"You're dead!"
With a surge of strength, Wanless lunged forward, tackling Yuto.
They crashed into the stones, a blur of flailing limbs and snarling teeth as they wrestled for the broken sword.
Wanless's nails raked across Yuto's face, drawing thin lines of blood, while Yuto's fingers sank into Wanless's throat, constricting his airflow.
Wanless's breath came in ragged gasps now, his vision beginning to darken at the edges from lack of oxygen.
"DIE JUST FUCKING DIE ALREADY!"
Wanless's eyes were starting to go white, his conscience began fading.
It turns out the fight with Yuto's group did injure him more than he cared to admit.
"Heh… I'll see you all… in–"
SNAP
Wanless's body became limp, his limbs slackened and he crumpled to the ground, defeated and bleeding out.
Yuto stood over him, chest heaving with exertion, his fists still clenched tightly.
For a moment, he merely stared down at Wanless's body, assessing the damage.
The saltwater was a bit visible on his head, a stark contrast to the marred flesh elsewhere.
Blood trickled from his ears and the cracks in his skull, pooling on the ruins' stone floor.
Yuto's gaze then wandered to the numerous wounds and gashes scattered across Wanless's torso and arms.
The scars and bruises would take months to heal if he survived at all.
Yuto's chest felt heavy, weighed down by a mix of relief, exhaustion, and... something else he couldn't quite identify.
Slowly, he unclenched his fists, his aching body crying out for rest.
With a deep breath, he raised his foot, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
"Yeah… see you in purgatory, you piece of shit"
His heel connected with Wanless's skull, and just like that, the fight was over.
—
The girls lay on the shore, looking at the sunset.
They were all bloody and bruised.
Catherine and Luna would have healed them, but it took everything to block Wanless's attacks.
Everyone was too tired to move; lifting a finger would have been the equivalent of lifting a boulder.
Kana sighed, covering her face with her arm.
"Yuto's going to be okay, don't worry"
"I hope so... He was so reckless," Lilith muttered.
"He always is, sometimes it pisses me off" Catherine added, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
They chuckled.
Yuto, as strong as he was, sure was reckless.
But they knew how dangerous Wanless was; they'd seen it firsthand.
They saw Kana, one of their heaviest hitters, being sent flying like a ragdoll.
Luna sighed as she made herself comfortable.
"Shit, no wonder Yuto didn't like him, he was so sure that he was a hero"
"A hero," Lilith scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"He wasn't a hero, not in the least"
Lola nodded, her expression hardening.
"He was nothing but a villain, a power-hungry man who couldn't see past his own ego"
"But why?"
Catherine looked at the rest of the crew, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"How could someone become so twisted? What happened to make him turn out this way?"
They all fell silent.
The question lingered longer than they cared to admit.
What made a summoned hero so twisted, so broken that he would try and kill an entire kingdom?
Just then, they heard footsteps approaching.
They got up, weapons drawn, when they noticed it was Yuto.
"Is it...over?" Mizuki mumbled, her voice hoarse.
"For now," Yuto said, his eyes fixed on the ocean.
He stretched out his hand toward them.
Healing Tier 9
The crew immediately dropped their weapons and rushed over to Yuto.
They fussed over him, their faces a mixture of concern and relief.
"Are you hurt? Let me see" Lilith demanded, grasping his chin and examining his injuries.
Yuto chucked as he pulled her into a hug.
"I heal your wounds and your first instinct is to check on me?"
Lilith pouted, hitting his chest lightly.
"Shut up," despite her words, her worry was evident.
"We were all worried about you, idiot." Mizuki chimed in, joining in the hug.
Catherine nodded, her voice softer than usual.
"Yeah, we don't like seeing you get hurt"
Lola crossed her arms, a scowl on her face.
"Especially when you're acting so damn reckless"
"But you're okay now, right?" Luna asked, glancing up at him.
"You gave us quite a scare," Kana walked over, planting a deep kiss.
Yuto smiled and kissed her back before pulling away.
"I'm fine. Just a little sore everywhere"
"Just a little sore?" Catherine raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"You look like you went through a meat grinder"
Yuto grinned.
"Now you're exaggerating," he said, rolling his eyes playfully.
He said with a chuckle as he began walking along the shore, enjoying the view of the sunset.
They followed him, their injuries long gone, forgotten and replaced with the moment as they basked in the peaceful atmosphere.
Kana walked silently beside Yuto, occasionally glancing up at him.
"You know, you don't always have to be the hero," she said softly, her words barely audible above the crashing waves.
Yuto sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"I'm not, as you can see. I killed the real hero," he said with a smug grin.
Kana shook her head, the light from the setting sun casting shadows on her face.
"That is not what I mean. You always rush into danger head-on. It's like you don't care what happens to you"
"Just..." she hesitated, stumbling over her words.
"Just please don't be too reckless. We worry about you"
Yuto looked at her, surprised by her concern.
"I...I see," he said softly, his expression softening.
He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
"I'll try not to. I promise"
Kana squeezed his hand back, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Thank you."
"Hey, if you're going to give affection to one. You have to give it to all, remember?"
They both turned around to see the rest of the party.
Mizuki was the one pointing with a grin.
Yuto chuckled softly, pulling Kana closer to him.
"You're right," he said, glancing at the others.
"Come here then"
The rest of the girls chuckled as they walked over, crowding around Yuto and Kana.
Yuto wrapped his arms around the girls, pulling them close.
They stood there for a moment, simply enjoying the comfort of each other's presence.
The air was warmer than usual, the soft breeze carrying the scent of salt and the gentle sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
They had won.
The nightmare was over.
Yuto looked around, his gaze meeting each of his lovers (except Morgan).
"Well," Yuto finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"We did it"
Mizuki smiled slightly, her lips curling upward.
"You did, indeed," she said softly, her voice warm.
She stepped closer to Yuto, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You fought well"
Yuto gave her a nod, his breath still ragged.
"We all did"
The others murmured their agreement, the tension between them finally starting to ease.
They had all played their part in the battle.
They had survived, and now it was time to celebrate.
The first thing on Yuto's mind was to wash off the blood and grime of the fight.
He'd been in the water long enough to feel the weight of it all, and he wanted to feel clean, to wash away the residue of death and conflict.
["I feel like shit… and dirty"]
"I'll head back to the inn to wash up first," Yuto said, looking over at the group.
"Take your time," Catherine called out, a slight smile on her lips.
"You've earned it"
Yuto nodded, giving the group one last glance before he turned and walked back to the inn.
- Inn -
He stripped off his blood-soaked clothing, his skin reddened from the pressure of the water.
"Geez, I'm lucky that Mizuki bought me a shit ton of suits, this one could never be worn again"
Yuto submerged himself, the cool water a stark contrast to the heat of his body.
He scrubbed away the blood and grime, allowing the water to cleanse him.
As he resurfaced, he gazed out at the horizon, his mind finally able to rest.
It had been a long time since he had a moment like this, just a breath of peace, a break from the weight of responsibility.
"What should I request from Morgan?"
"..."
"Probably some equipment. nah Kaz took care of that"
Once he felt clean enough, Yuto made his way back to the shore, his muscles still aching but the weight of the battle lighter now.
He could already hear the laughter of everyone as they celebrated their victory.
Catherine and Luna pulled his clueless ass in.
"Aren't we going to have fun?"
He chuckled as he ran with them to the ocean, "Hell yeah!"
The first day was one of joy and freedom.
With the looming threat of Wanless finally gone (and buried), they allowed themselves to relax, to experience the ocean as it should be.
The air was warm, the water inviting, and the sun bathed them all in its golden glow.
They spent most of the day on the beach, taking in the beauty of the surroundings.
Yuto, now fully recovered from his earlier exhaustion, joined them by the shoreline.
They played games, swam through the clear, shallow waters, and simply enjoyed each other's company.
Freya, true to her nature, was the first to dive into the water, her body cutting through the surface with the grace of an experienced swimmer.
"Come on!" she called out, her voice filled with energy.
"The water's perfect!"
Lola, a wide grin on her face, was the next to follow.
"I'm not one to let a challenge slip by," she said, with a playful gleam in her eyes.
She plunged into the water after Freya.
Kana, who had been standing on the shore, watching them, flapped her wings a few times before launching herself into the air, soaring gracefully above the water before diving in with ease.
Her form was beautiful, and the water embraced her as if it were her natural habitat.
The rest of the group soon followed, with Mizuki calmly slipping into the water, her movements controlled and serene.
Catherine and Luna, though more hesitant, eventually joined in, their laughter filling the air as they swam and splashed around, the tension from the battle completely forgotten.
Even Morgan, who had been distant for most of the day, finally joined the others in the water, though her movements were more cautious, reserved as ever.
For hours, they swam and played, forgetting about the world outside of this small corner of the ocean.
They explored hidden caves, each one more mysterious than the last, filled with strange underwater formations and the remnants of ancient sea life.
They shared stories, laughed, and bonded over their shared victory and the calm of the ocean.
As the sun began to set, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, the group returned to the beach, their spirits high from the day's fun.
They gathered around a fire that had been set up earlier, the flames crackling and sending warmth into the cooling air.
The scent of roasting fish and other ocean delicacies filled the air, and everyone eagerly dug into the feast.
Yuto sat beside Mizuki, who passed him a plate of grilled fish.
"Eat," she said softly, her smile kind.
"You earned this"
Yuto nodded and took a bite, the flavors of the fish rich and satisfying.
He had never tasted anything like it, there was something about the fresh catch of the ocean that made every bite feel like a celebration.
["Fuck what does she put in these things"]
Lilith was the first to get up and stretch, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Tomorrow," she declared, "I'm going to find out what else this place has to offer"
"Agreed," said Catherine, her voice calm but with a spark of adventure.
"We haven't even explored all the caves yet"
Morgan, who had been quieter than usual, looked up with a smirk.
"I think we've earned a little more relaxation," she said.
"Maybe we can find more food to sample"
Luna laughed, her bright voice carrying across the group.
"I'm all for that. This place has so much to offer"
The group settled into their comfortable positions around the fire, content with the day's experiences and the bonds they had formed.
Even Lola, who typically preferred to be alone, seemed more relaxed, her usual sharpness softened by the shared joy of the moment.
By the time the fire began to fade, they were all feeling the weight of the day's fun.
Yuto yawned, stretching as he stood.
"I think we've all earned a good night's rest," he said, smiling at the group.
The others agreed, and they slowly returned to the inn they had been staying at.
- Yuto's room -
"Hah… I really… love them so much," he said with a grin, Mizuki gave him the room tonight to actually rest, which left him alone with his thoughts once again.
He picked up a book he stole from Wanless.
"The hell is this? A mag- magazine?"
Knock Knock
Yuto looked up from his bed, putting down the book before he could open it.
"Who is it?" he called out curiously.
…
"It's me"
Morgan's voice answered from the other side of the door.
Yuto got up and walked over to the door.
He opened the door to find Morgan standing there, a slightly nervous expression on her face.
"Morgan?" Yuto raised an eyebrow, surprised to see her.
"What's up? Is something wrong?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Morgan shook her head, her expression still slightly uneasy.
"No, everything's fine. I was just wondering if I could talk to you about something"
Yuto nodded, opening the door wider.
"Sure, come in"
Morgan stepped into the room, glancing around before her eyes landed back on Yuto.
"Thank you"
Yuto closed the door behind her, gesturing for her to take a seat on the bed.
"No problem"
Morgan sat down on the bed, fidgeting with her hands.
She seemed a little nervous, but she took a deep breath and said:
"Can I ask you something?"
Yuto nodded, sitting down next to her.
"Sure, what is it?"
Morgan took a deep breath, bracing herself.
"How do you do it?"
Yuto raised an eyebrow, confused by her question.
"Do what?"
Morgan looked him straight in the eye.
"How do you keep going? Despite all the hardships, all the pain, you just keep going"
Yuto sat straight, slightly taken aback by her question.
"Well, it's...it's not easy, that's for sure. But I have the people I care about by my side"
Morgan nodded, her expression softening slightly.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But do you ever feel like...giving up? Like there's just no point in fighting anymore?"
Yuto was silent for a moment, his expression growing somber.
He took a moment before answering, choosing his words carefully.
"Sometimes, yes. It's hard to keep going. But there are things and people worth fighting for. That's what keeps me going"
Morgan looked down at her hands again, nodding slowly.
"I see. I just sometimes feel like I'm not doing enough. Like, I could be doing more"
Yuto chuckled as he flicked her forehead.
"We're going to help you rebuild your kingdom, along with your people, so you're not alone"
"Okay?"
Morgan flinched, rubbing her forehead.
"Hey, that hurt!" she said with a small pout.
But then she looked up at him, a grateful smile on her face.
"Thank you... so much"
She got up, headed towards the door, and opened it.
She turned around to see Yuto getting comfortable on his bed again.
"Thank you"
Yuto smiled warmly.
"No problem, Morgan. You can talk to me anytime, you don't have anything to thank me for."
Morgan nodded, smiling slightly.
"I'll keep that in mind"
She bid him good night and left.
Yuto lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Morgan..." he whispered.
He closed his eyes, remembering the look in her eyes when they spoke earlier.
That pain, desperation, and vulnerability.
The same look he had when his father died.
"I'll do everything I can to help her. I promise"
- ??? -
"At least… that's how it was supposed to be"