Unknown Dimension,
Deep Space.
The spacetime fabric feels different.
It seems I will be having guests.
I am Kae.
I was invited to a tea party by some unknown ruler, but it appears to have been a bait.
Two figures appeared from nowhere.
Space-Cut Teleportation, perhaps.
So the guests have arrived.
"You are Kae."
Said one of them.
[Kae]: I am aware of my name. There is no need to repeat it, dear Devil Buster.
The two before me were Devil Busters from the Buster Community.
It seems that greedy man truly sent them to assassinate me.
I kept my usual calm smile.
I hate this smile.
[Kae]: I believe introductions should come first.
Both maintained serious expressions.
Their eyes remained fixed on me with caution.
They were making sure I wouldn't use some trick against them.
How amusing.
"My name is Dai, and her name is Zara. I hope that serves as a proper introduction."
Said the young man wearing a silver coat.
Well, all Devil Busters wear silver coats.
I could sense their tension.
[Kae]: I am certain you are here to assassinate me. That must be exhausting.I cannot blame you for being tense.However...
Silence...
[Kae]: I should warn you.This will not be a pleasant experience.
I said while looking at them with my green eyes.
They immediately took battle stances.
Anti-hax specialists, perhaps.
No.
More likely, they possess immunity against specific types of hax.
The one called Dai unsheathed his blade and pointed it toward me.
A cold sweat ran down his forehead.
[Dai]: We are here to eliminate you—
His voice carried determination.
The young woman, Zara, also unsheathed her sword.
A duo-type fighting style.
Interesting.
During our previous meeting, they were the only ones carrying swords.
It seems they possess an attack that requires cooperation between both users.
Dai released a slash.
The attack bisected an entire galaxy.
[Kae]: Was that meant to be a warm-up?
I asked calmly.
Their power...
It seems their attack potency increases whenever they release a powerful slash.
However, they cannot maintain it continuously.
The buildup appears limited to a single battle and resets afterward.
Zara appeared behind me.
Seeing me completely unguarded, she unleashed her own slash.
The attack landed on my back.
It failed to leave even a scratch.
The portion that missed me destroyed another galaxy.
[Kae]: My, my.You seem quite eager to erase the universe.
I reached for Zara.
She turned into dust and dispersed.
A clone.
The real Zara had been standing beside Dai the entire time.
He concealed her through illusion while the clone attacked me.
Interesting.
They seem to be dragging me into some ritual by making their swords connect with me.
[Zara]: My sword made contact.
[Dai]: We are already halfway there.
They attempted to raise their morale.
Quite optimistic.
[Dai]: Formation Spiral!
Both launched toward me.
Their speed.
It tends toward infinity.
For a brief moment, they matched mine.
They truly live up to the title of Devil Busters.
I flew away.
They followed in a spiraling formation.
Smart.
Their individual speed is lacking.
However, this technique allows them to amplify each other's momentum.
Even the dimension struggles to keep up.
If this dimension collapses, countless galaxies in the Main Dimension may be caught in the aftermath.
Perhaps even the Gretoling Empire.
I see.
That must be part of the Buster Community's plan.
Damage the Gretoling Empire and blame me for it.
[Kae]: In that case...
I stopped moving.
The impact shattered the dimension.
No.
Before it could break, I transferred the entire dimension into another one.
The duo crashed somewhere inside this new realm.
This dimension is PIKRA.
A place of endless land.
A place where moons the size of galaxies revolve at unimaginable distances.
It is also where several of my schemes shall converge in the future.
A sword pierced my chest.
My, what a bold move.
I turned around.
Another Devil Buster.
Shirin.
The cautious one from our last meeting.
My wound wasn't healing.
That blade must be coated with the power of Class.
The fact that it pierced me proves it is no ordinary weapon.
Shirin violently pulled the sword free.
Another attack came from behind.
A deep wound opened across my back.
It was the combined strike of Zara and Dai.
The final contact from Zara's blade had marked me as a target for their ritual.
The ritual amplified their attacks while applying anti-healing effects.
Dai's earlier attack had been weaker.
This one was amplified through Zara's mark.
Before I could respond—
Shirin's sword pierced near my neck.
Targeting vital points.
Trying to sever the pathways of my Dark Energy Reserves.
An intelligent approach.
The amusing part is that their attacks are genuinely causing me pain.
Even though I possess pain nullification.
That means their swords are striking my soul itself.
I fell to the ground.
My calm smile remained.
I closed my eyes.
Then stopped breathing.
*
[Shirin]: It seems he is dead.
[Dai]: My attack carried soul-crushing properties.
[Zara]: Mine carried tetrational amplification.
[Shirin]: I used durability ignorance. Though this sword cannot be used again.
The sword crumbled into dust.
[Dai]: It was worth it.We eliminated the most troublesome opponent imaginable.
[Shirin]: Perhaps I am being paranoid, but I refuse to believe he died this easily.
[Zara]: Haha. Maybe he was overrated after all.Let's leave.
The three of them began walking away.
Suddenly—
"My, my. Leaving already?"
That voice.
The moment they heard it, all three jumped back.
Their eyes widened.
Kae's body slowly stood up.
Not a single wound remained.
Not even a mark.
[Zara]: T-This is impossible...
[Kae]: If I am defeated, then either you witnessed an illusion...Or you became part of my plan.
Zara, Shirin, and Dai froze.
Because they all understood one thing.
Their fate had already been sealed by this man.
To be continued...
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EXTRAS
APPEARANCES
Pratik — Fair-skinned, 16 years old, and looks his age. Has black hair and a lean build.
Mala — A tall woman who is 25 years old but appears to be in her late teens due to Sorcerer aging. Slightly muscular, with short black hair and an attractive face.
Lila — Another tall woman with fair skin. Appears to be in her late teens. Has a slender build and black hair.
Grimori — The tank of the team. Possesses a bulky, muscular build with visible six-pack abs. Looks dependable and mature.
Kel — Shorter than the others, with an average build. Appears to be in his late teens. Has spiky black hair and a serious expression.
Surya — Tall, with red hair and a young adult appearance. He is 30 years old and has an athletic build.
Nini — A tall woman in her thirties with red hair and a youthful appearance. Has a slender build.
Tego — Massive and heavily muscular. Stands over 220 cm tall. Though over 60 years old, his beard only makes him look around his late twenties.
Arun — The most handsome man introduced so far. Stands between 192–194 cm tall. Has sky-blue hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and an athletic physique with refined six-pack abs. Possesses a playful personality.
Krishna — Considered the second most attractive person. Stands at 192 cm. Has black hair, tan skin, sharp black eyes, and a highly athletic V-shaped physique with visible eight-pack abs.
Kae — A tall man regarded as the third most attractive male character. Has long black hair, tan skin, green eyes, and a lean athletic build.