69 Chapter 66 - Mission

Touma was having a long talk with Shizuka. Bringing him to a small ramen shop, she started her rant.

"Do you know how freaking hard it is to be a teacher! Every single day I'm being reminded of my past youth and I'm still not married!" she yelled in a drunk rage.

"... Weren't you dating someone before? What happened?" I asked.

"He was an asshole! He stole my money and furniture and ran away!" she slammed her fist on the table.

"Hey! Tell your friend to be careful," demanded the ramen shop owner.

"Yes, sorry! Come on now Shizuka, you're way too drunk so let's go back home," I tried appeasing her.

Putting her arm around my neck, I started helping her go back home. However, it seemed her legs were too dead so she fell immediately.

'Why did she have to drink so much!' I yelled internally.

"Hey, where's your address? I'll bring you to the police and make them carry you," I said angrily.

"*Hiccup* Just carry me on your back... I'll point where to go..." she said happily.

I could only sigh and grab her. Thankfully, I still had my status effects from the Konosuba world and Heart of Gold, but it seemed I couldn't access them. Putting Shizuka on my back, I payed the shop owner and left.

'If only Sakda came back to talk...' I thought.

I still felt very lonely. Feeling out of place in this world, I hoped this experience could have ended quicker. Yet at the same time, I was becoming increasingly more interested in Sakda's background. Especially those years in which he was gone and all.

Finally bringing Shizuka back to her home, she got her keys and opened up the door. It was a simple three room complex with seemingly not much. Laying her down on a sofa, I tried to take my leave.

"Sakda... something's wrong with you right?" she said without much thought.

I turned back to look at her, and then I tried to leave again.

"It's just like last time... something changed you again like those years ago. You used to look apathetic and cold, but now you feel... more genuine."

Gears turned in my head... If I was apathetic and cold those years ago... Could that have been Zhong Yuan.

My mouth opened up forcefully without my consent, "It's not your business Shizuka. Just forget it, just like last time."

Something was inside me, I could feel it in my head.

"Sakda?" I asked.

"Yeah... You've finally connected to our soulscape," he smiled gently.

I wanted to knock his teeth off.

"Looking over your progress... You're too slow Touma. After all of this, you're still 4%?"

"Hahaha! This guy amuses me!" said a kid inside my head.

I froze, I could feel their presence inside me. Eight other presences stuck and bounded yet I couldn't reach them.

"Sakda... tell me real quick... Are these the other past lives I had before?" I asked.

Unfortunately, his awkward smile confirmed my question.

"You better finish this up boy. There's still our memories left to be experienced," said another voice.

It seemed Sakda was being pushed around. It felt out of place, he didn't feel like this when he was with me. I then realized, Sakda was simply weak.

"Sakda? Are you okay? You just froze for no reason..." asked Shizuka.

I brought myself to reality quickly. Talking to someone and then a group intervening was quite troublesome.

"Shizuka... I'm just wondering... 3 years ago, was I always alone?" I brought courage to ask.

Shizuka was puzzled but still answered, "Not really? You talked often to everyone except you being part of the go back home club."

"Do me this favor then... Would Sobu allow me to teach any subject in their school?" I asked.

Shizuka answered with an awkward look, "Even if you're talented in almost everything, if you don't have a teaching degree, it's a maybe."

"Then make do me something simpler... I'm fine with doing Home Economics."

"I'll ask..." she replied confused.

"I'm sorry Shizuka, but I need this. I need to save someone after all," I replied.

Putting back my shoes on, I walked out of the door without saying goodbye. The moment I was out, I looked up.

"Right, Sakda?"

In my head, the lonely figure in the dream world seemed a bit happier. And now, I felt that I had a mission to follow.

"Remove every regret left by my predecessors, including Zhong Yuan's."

*****

Zhong Yuan was simply walking in a battlefield. He was surrounded by enemies by all sides, yet the grin he had never shook.

"Tell me heroes! Why are you surrounding thy poor body?" Zhong Yuan sounded dramatically.

"Isn't it obvious! You are a disaster!" yelled a Saint filled with justice.

"Arara... What a cruel joke to hear. Especially from you, Saint Martha. Aren't you supposed to give me a helping hand?" I laughed.

Gudako had her command spells prepared. She knew the day she was saved by him accidently was worth nothing to him. No matter what she tried, after all these meetings, he seemed unfaced and relentless in his goal.

She activated her command spells and with the arsenal of all the possible heroes she could summon, she brought forth her command. "Heroes! Defeat the Unknown Hero!"

Even with all she had gone through, this was a situation where she was still nervous. Saving the World from the Demon Gods and ending the Lostbelts seemed nothing against 'him'.

'This... is the last event. Please let things go safe,' she prayed.

Unfortunately, her prayers seemed to be unanswered. She say genocide shown everywhere. Using the magic tattoos he had on his hands, lightning could be seen attacking randomly. Even the most experienced heroes couldn't defend against it and their combined efforts seemed useless.

'The Knights of the Round Table, mythological heroes, and all the servants I gathered up during the singularities!' she saw getting torn apart.

Gudako wished for her kouhai to be next to her and protect her, but it was far past her death. Zhong Yuan had already sliced through that shield as if it were butter and pierced her heart.

*SLICE*

"You mongrel! How dare you stand before me!" yelled a blonde king.

"Unfortunately for you, I don't want to spend time torturing you again from the start. So this time, feel this instead," Zhong Yuan replied.

Instantly vanishing, Zhong Yuan reappeared with a long green haired person's head held on his hand.

"Here's your treat, dog," said Zhong Yuan.

Filled with regret and immense anger, the blonde king was fuming and swearing against him. However, without paying attention, Zhong Yuan just kicked his head away and he fell down.

"Huh? Even more Gods? Maybe this will amuse me a bit," Zhong Yuan looked around.

The beast under him, Beast III wasn't showing a happy expression. Her lust was gone and only killing intent was shown. Leading a bunch of Gods, this became an ironic group of Divines wanting to save something. Even Cath Palug appeared as a killing machine instead of his Fou appearance.

"Hmpf! When did these random Gods appear? And how the hell did that fox become one!?"

"Do not call me a fox human. I am the God of the Sun, Amaterasu!"

"How the hell? How are you guys even here? You aren't even from the same universe!" I complained.

"It wasn't us, but him," they pointed at a distant figure.

He went up to Gudako and gave her back some Command Spells and healed her.

"You did good. You stalled enough time for us to gather up. You did your part, now it's ours," the old man patted her head.

Zhong Yuan took one look and recognized him, "Zelretch."

Taking his coat off, Zelretch replied, "It's been a while Zhong Yuan. However, it seems you lost your connection to the Root. I wonder how that happened?"

"It's a long story, so? Why are you guys here?" said Zhong Yuan.

Gods, Titans, Evil beings, Divine Spirits, and Calamities gathered up in a formation, waiting for a Kischur's reply.

"It's simple if you look at it, don't you think?" Zelretch took in some air and continued, "It's to stop your ass."

"It will take more than that to kill me!" I rushed in.

Gods from every part of the multiverse appeared and ran towards me. The Nasuverse was said to be a multiverse filled with endless universes that make it up. The numbers seemed endless when Zelretch spawned a few hundred portals that brought in even more warriors.

"Take it Zhong Yuan! Take everything this multiverse has to offer!" Zelretch screamed as he also rushed in battle.

"Gladly!"

Gudako was trying to recover some stamina until she saw a familiar figure next to her. It was a male and girl waiting by her side. The man seemed unfamiliar, however, the girl catched her eye.

"Mashu?" Gudako asked.

Then, even more familiar figures came out of those portals. It was her mentors Da vinci and Romani with a pack of servants coming in. Somehow, even after all this battle, Mashu could finally feel a tinge of hope. Activating her Command Spells, she gathered her remaining heroes and sent them to battle.

"Zelretch! You bastard! I should have killed you when I first met you!" Zhong Yuan.

Zhong Yuan took out a glass globe containing a dream like world inside out of his chest.

"If you think you're so tough, then taste the collision of this universe!" Zhong Yuan yelled.

He smashed a globe onto the surface and cracked the earth. It seemed that the endless multiverse was starting to wither off. Almost all heroes died from just the impact and strength coming off that orb.

Zelretch sensed it and sent even more beams of light against Zhong Yuan only to do no harm.

"If we can't even harm him, then seal or distract him!" he shouted.

Even if heroes, gods, and beings of evils heard him, they were being whittled down. The arrogance they once hold was gone and all that was left was fear. They were actively trying to run away, seek a way to escape, but it was futile.

"Your army can't even listen to me Zelretch. Even if you were to bring all types of True Magic here, they can't stop me. I'm an outsider, a being not from your multiverse. Your magic can't hurt me!" Zhong Yuan yelled.

"Then we'll fight you with our bare fists!" Zelretch roared.

"Do you think I'll let you? Curse of Avarice - Absorb!" Zhong Yuan chanted.

A bunch of black hands appeared on the ground and started dragging everyone inside, replenishing and strengthening Zhong Yuan's power.

"I told you, didn't I? I'm undefeatable!"

Grabbing hold of Zelretch's body, Zhong Yuan slammed his body on the ground, creaking cracks and earthquakes around the perimeter.

"You fucking bi-" Zelretch was about to talk, until he started getting repeatedly beat on his head.

"What the fuck Zelretch! What happened to your manners out of sudden!? I thought you were better than this!" Zhong Yuan laughed with a grin.

Punching Zelretch and interrupting him whenever he was going to talk, Zhong Yuan invoked a chant instantly, removing all magic around them. Zelretch's face was bloody and Zhong Yuan was covered in his blood. Luckily for Zelretch, he was a Dead Apostle, but even he could feel death coming around the corner.

"I broke every part of you, yet you still stand... Man, this is why I hate fighting spiritual, magical, and immortal beings. Well, guess you're now done for."

Zelretch looked weak, nothing compared to before. He felt angry at his efforts. He tried everything he could. He searched and used everything available in the multiverse, but nothing could stop Zhong Yuan. Even with his experience, wit, and all the time he could get, it was already set by destiny to lose.

'I give up... I should pass on now, it's been too long since I had a break.' Zelretch thought and laughed to himself.

"It was a good fight Zelretch. Now then, Curse of Nothingness - Vanish,"

A lone figure was on a battlefield of empty words. Everyone has disappeared, they always did to him.

*****

Touma walked on the night street, hoping to fill in Sakda's void.