Chapter 1: How it all started

“Don’t you know it's rude to peek at someone's status screen without permission elf?”(???)

Hearing her voice I can’t help but shiver. Their voice is undoubtedly female but… its evil and slow. The sheer malice that radiates from her voice alone is enough to make me want to run. Whoever no. Whatever this thing is, it does not belong in this world. I need to be careful or I might not live to see tomorrow.

“...I.... did no such thing.”(Star)

“You are a terrible liar. As always come have a seat. We need to have a little chat. I hope it won't be a waste of your time. Or more importantly, mine.”(???)

"As all... Have we met before?"(Star)

"More times than I care to count. Now come and sit."(???)

Gritting my teeth, I nod and slowly walk toward the shadowy creature. All the while feeling chills run up and down my spine. It’s taking everything I can to avoid running away from the creature sitting down in front of me. Steadying my breaths I focus on what's in front of me. There are a dozen or so steps leading to a large platform with a comfortable looking throne on it. The throne looks partially destroyed with a missing right hand rest and one and a half spikes along the top of the backrest. The entire thing looks to be made of a blue liquid that’s maintaining its shape with some large cracks that spread out from the broken spikes and missing hand rest. The throne was turned sideways to face a small wooden table with a red teapot and two cups on it. one is a green tea cup while the other is a white skull with gems embedded in the eyes and nose. On the opposite side of the throne I can see a wooden chair with a nice little pillow for me to sit on. Taking the seat I get myself as comfortable as I am able before staring at the creature in front of me and speaking up.

“So You wanted to talk...umm?”(Star)

“Oh. I haven't introduced myself yet. Sorry. It's just that I’ve done this so many times that I forget that this is our first time meeting…. technically. Time travel can be such a hassle at times. Well for the sake of... convenience. Yes, convenience. Call me... Narrator. Yes Narrator. That's basically what I am at this point. Now have some tea. I don’t need you running away again. I hate having to restart this conversation. It's mildly annoying.”(Narrator)

With that it poured me some tea and offered it to me. Taking the cup, I took a sip and that was enough to calm my nerves. This gave me some time to actually observe the room I was in instead of focusing on the creature in front of me. Because if they wanted to kill me they would have done so already. We are currently in what looks like a black throne room. Besides the giant 10 meter high by 5 meter wide hole at the entrance of the room. The rest of the area looks fairly decent considering that this place is supposed to be in ruins and probably hundreds of years old. Along the sides of the room there are thick pillars lining them though most are cracked or partially destroyed. The marble-like floor of this large room has a few scratches in the center of the room while we are on the far side of it away from the doorway.

“Now that you have calmed yourself, let’s start with a short game of Q & A. First question. Why are your breasts so big?”(Narrator)

“Blood mages have the ability to retain blood within their bodies and use it however they want. Whether it be as rapid healing, weapons, a substitute for mana in spells, food, or anything else. I don’t often carry an item to store the blood for me since they don't look good while in my outfits. So I store it all in my chest which makes my breasts many times bigger than they actually are. Though the downside to this is I have to wear tailor made clothes designed for my ever shifting breast size. Now it's my turn to ask a question. What did you want to talk about?”(Star)

“Good. You didn’t lie. An improvement from last time. Now the answer to your question is simple. I’m trying to fix a story. A story so long and complex that I need a lot of people to play their parts perfectly to ensure my success. Unfortunately I can’t force others to follow my will or else everything is guaranteed to end in failure. Trust me. I tried. I need you all to willingly play your parts and hope you do it right. Otherwise I have to try this all again. You should be happy that I consider you so important Star. Otherwise I would have killed you the moment you tried to look at my status. Next question. Are you committed to the task given to you by the CEO?”(Narrator)

How do they? Right, Time Manipulator. We likely had this conversation before.

“I am without a shadow of a doubt. How many times have we had this conversation?”(Star)

“Hundreds. Each time slightly different from the last. Allow me explain. Time magic is complicated. It embodies both the butterfly effect and parallel world theory to the extreme. If someone goes back in time and changes even the smallest thing in the past then fundamentally everything across the entire world after that exact point changes. But also, just the fact that you manipulated time messes with things. For example, let's say that you had an equal opportunity to walk through a door as you do to walk into it. The first time you walk through it. However if I reverse time to before that happened, you are just as likely to walk into it as through it. So now this time you smack your face into the door. It's not that simple but you get the idea. It's because of things like this that time manipulators always have some item on them that tethers them to the course of events that have already happened. That way they don't accidentally destroy the world or something stupid like that.This is also why time magic is heavily restricted by those on high. But you should already know this. After all, you work for one of them. I have a lot of practice so I can limit the area of effect to only things in this room. You will always walk through that doorway and have a different response to what happens in here, but the person outside will always buy a frapachino instead of some other random thing. The flow of time is only changed within this room. That’s how much control I have with my time magic. Now to speed things up a bit. The velvet cross card you have is very special. It was designed to let you experience past memories through the city and interact with them without dooming everyone. These interactions allow you to change history because while to others these are memories, they are the real thing for you. You are unable to doom everyone because the card tethers you to what happened. History will play out like it always has, but now you are a part of it. So be careful because you are affecting the real history of the world while you experience it however slight that may be. Do you understand?”(Narrator)

So the card tethers me within time so I only have to worry about the butterfly effect and not dealing with parallel worlds? That's so cool.

“I Think so.”(Star)

To summarize all this. They are trying to change our future but in order to succeed they need outside help from people of their own free will or it will never work. The card given to me by the boss is actually used to alter history without outright changing it which leads me to wonder why she really gave it to me. And like always, world altering magics have huge side effects.

“What do you want from me? Besides to play whatever part you are hoping for me to play.”(Star)

“Simple. I want you to do your job. To do what you came here to do. I’m here to put you on the right track and send you on your merry way. I need to make sure you do your job. It’s the only way for this to work. So if you don't I will use your head as my tea cup while I have this conversation with you again. This meeting is my way to ensure that you will carry it through till the end. If I’ve done everything right this time then you wont need to see me again. Now I will tell you the first part of this story to help speed this along. Tell me when you're ready.”(Narrator)

Do my job and I don’t die. Easy. Pulling out my touchpad from between my breasts, I nod to show that I am ready to type down what it had to say.

“Why?.... Just Why?”(Narrator)

“I’m wearing a suit with pockets that barely fit my hands. Does it look like I have room in my pockets to carry anything larger than a wallet?”(Star)

“touché”(Narrator)

“Besides the space between my breasts can hold a surprising number of things.”(Star)

They then spent the next few moments just staring at me in complete silence before giving an annoyed sigh.

“This is as far as I’ve ever made it in awhile. Screw it. I’m taking this. So let me see here. If I'm going to tell you this story properly I should probably start at the beginning, or in this case. The end….”(Narrator)

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* 500 years earlier -

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“I guess the best place to start would be during the siege of the Demon Lord’s castle.”(Narrator)

--- Samantha’s POV ---

“HE WILL PAY! EVEN IF I HAVE TO SIEGE HIS CASTLE FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS! HE WILL PAY DAMN IT!!!!!!”(Samantha)

“Um...Overseer Samantha. Your yelling out loud again.”(Roland)

“Again? Really? mmh … I don’t care anymore. What do you want? I prefer to be alone right now.”(Samantha)

“The meal you requested is ready for you in your tent, and General Pickett is going to be visiting you to talk about new strategies to attack the castle with. That is all.(Roland)

I didn't even bother to acknowledge the soldier’s words before they left. I’ve been gazing at the Demon Lord’s castle for hours now and am reluctant to look away in fear that we would break in while I wasn't looking. We have been fighting the castle for the last four months and it still won't give. I mean seriously. We haven’t fought a single soldier from his army, not one scout, archer, mage, pet, merchant...NOTHING. JUST THE DAMN CASTLE! This black castle has high walls with archer towers on each of the walls five ends. It has been shooting cannon balls, arrows, magic projectiles, and has a shield that prevents things from flying in from over the walls. There is a moat with spikes at the bottom to impale everyone who falls in, that randomly appears and disappears. The worst part is when we destroy one of the five towers and it rapidly rebuilds itself just to keep shooting at us. We have already scanned the whole castle for life and have only found two life forces inside. This means we aren't even being shot at by soldiers but the castle itself. Like what the hell! How is that even possible? The area around the castle is just barren orange stone that spreads out for miles. The dirt is near impossible to dig through. With four feet being the limit before it is impossible to keep digging. So entering the castle from below is out of the question. Last but not least, the castle repels all magic meaning that teleporting inside can’t be done. Sighing deeply I turn around and go back to my oversized green tent. Then I walk in and see my feast. It has plenty of rice, meat, bread, vegetables, and bottles of water covering most of a 5 by 5 meter table and it still doesn't look like enough food. Before I sit down at the table to begin eating I look at the mirror to my left and frown at my declining beauty. I used to be a feared and respected beauty that men would kill just to talk to. I was a 6 and a half ft. tall woman with modest sized breasts, lean body, long straight dark blue hair that went halfway down my back, smooth cream skin, two pairs of large storm gray wings, and clear blue eyes. I also used to have black battle armor that could make a man drool at my appearance but now…. My stomach is the size of a soccer ball, my hair is down to my butt and is several shades lighter, my breasts grew a size and I am wearing nothing more than a simple green mage robe. I started eating and a few minutes later the General walked in without even announcing himself. He is a three meter tall, muscular, brown minotaur wearing green heavy armor without his helmet. He has two foot long horns coming from the sides of his head going up with a slight curve at the end.

“Overseer Samantha I wanted to ta….. My god! Here I thought the chefs were joking about you asking for this huge meal for yourself. I didn't expect you to actually eat all of it on your own within a few minutes without anyone's help. At least now we know why you have suddenly become so fat.”(General Pickett)

“Talk fast general and know now that if you mention my weight again….. I will end you without a second thought.”(Samantha)

‘Gulp’ “I wanted to talk about taking the castle.”(General Pickett)

“And?”(Samantha)

“And I believe we should give up for now and fall back. We have been at it for 4 months straight, the soldiers are losing moral, we have lost millions of lives to that thing while it has lost none, and the kingdoms sponsoring your war against the Demon Lord believe it has become too expensive to fund without their being any returns to them.”(General Pickett)

“I don’t care about how the soldiers feel and as for the kingdoms. They should have been fully prepared for the potential costs of this war when they agreed to help fund it so. Get. Back. To. Work. General.”(Samantha)

“No.”(Pickett)

“What?”(Samantha)

“We won't continue the attack. I have already told the soldiers to pack up and be ready to leave the field in an hour or so. I wanted to let you know we were leaving and nothing you do is going to change that. Your command to constantly attack the castle at all times makes it look like you are obsessed with conquering it. The higher ups have decided that as of this morning you are unfit to command this army and are therefore removed from your duties as Overseer until the time in which they deem you capable of them again. I would have let them tell you themselves but I feel that you need to know that you are no longer in charge here.”(Picket)

“I am still the most experienced and powerful person here and what I say goes. So get back to work. Now.”(Samantha)

“I don’t think you understand, you aren't in charge anymore. I am, so if you want to continue attacking the castle. Do it yourself you fata…...(Formerly living General)

‘swoosh’

I didn’t let him finish his sentence before I flung the knife that was in my hand at his head separating it from his shoulders. Since I was still hungry after clearing the table I picked up his head off the floor, turned it over and ate the insides of his skull. After using his horns as toothpicks, I walked to the table for my napkin and cleaned my face as well as my hands. As I walked outside the tent, I told a passing soldier to clean up the mess inside. Teleporting to where everyone was gathering I whistled to get their attention before I started talking to all of them.

“It seems that everyone here is under the misconception that you are leaving, so let me clear this up. You all are going to continue to attack the Demon Lord’s castle and anyone who refuses now or decides to abandon the fight later, will be considered deserters and be executed on the spot by me. For those who don’t know, I am a Black Valkyrie. The difference between us and regular Valkyries is that they only pick up the souls of the valiant dead and don’t fight in battles outside of heaven. Black Valkyries are the executors of the gods and are therefore exempt from all laws that prevent us from doing our jobs. This means I am legally allowed to kill all of you without having to face consequences. This leaves all of you with two choices. You can turn around and continue fighting, no one gets hurt unnecessarily and everyone is happy. Or you try to run away and….well….. the chefs will have more meat to cook with.”(Samantha)

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* Two months later

Let me do a summary of all the events that happened over the last 2 months. Firstly, about a fourth of the army tried to run away or fight me. They are all dead and over the next few weeks, there were multiple attempts to flee late at night and the next morning the meals were fresher for some unknown reason. After a while our supplies stopped coming in so the soldiers started eating each other out of desperation after a few weeks. This caused many of them to turn into ghouls and became much more obedient to me. During the last week of the two months, I ran out of living soldiers. With nothing but a few hundred ghouls to command, I am now going to lead them into one final charge. So I lead the final charge towards the castle and do you know what happened? The front gate opened wide for the ghouls to enter…..That’s all we needed! Really!? Send an army of monsters and you will let us in, but send trained soldiers and you try to kill us! You bastard! I let the ghouls lead the way to where the Demon Lord was in case of traps and I was correct in doing so. By the time I reached the throne room door, all that was left were 5 ghouls. Not caring much for them I obliterated the door, killing them in the process and ran inside.

“I finally found you! You bastard!”(Samantha)

“Looks like someone's upset that Lulu wiped out her entire army and you look terrible old friend. What happened? Royal Flush I win.”(Diuscrucis)

“Damn it!”(Other two people)

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* Present day

* Star's POV

“Wait is that the same Diuscrucis I was talking to earlier!?”(Star)

“No interruptions!”(Narrator)

"Sorry!"(Star)

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* 500 years earlier

* Samantha's POV

Standing at the entrance of the grand throne room I glared at the man who did this to me. We are in his golden colored throne room with lime green marble floors. The sides of the room are lined with silver pillars with gold designs on them. At the back of the room there are black stairs leading to the platform with a golden throne turned to the side on it. The throne had three spikes at the top and the back of it was red. The man I was after was sitting on it with a smile on his face and several cards in his hands. He is a 6 ft. tall tan man with velvet eyes, lean build, spiky hair with each spike being either blue or red in no particular pattern. He has three sets of large wings on his back. From the top pair to the bottom pair it goes one black and one white bird wing, two skeleton wings, and two green wings covered in dragon scales. He was currently sitting down on the throne wearing only his pants. The two people at the table with him are half stripped of clothing and one is panting heavily. The one across from him is an almost completely naked black skeleton with glowing green eyes wearing jewelry. It looks upset. The person in between them and across from me is a green haired, red eyed lamia woman wearing a maid uniform but missing the top hat piece on her head and part of the top of her uniform. This caused her uniform to reveal most of her large breasts. For some reason she is panting heavily. They all seem to be playing a card game, however I’m in no mood to find out what it is. Pulling out my sword I lunged at Diuscrucis ready to cut that asshole in half.

“I look this bad because of you dumbass!”(Samantha)

‘Swoosh!’

I swing my sword, but before it reaches him he disappears. This caused me to topple over the table and take off one of the three spikes on the throne as well as the right arm rest. The throne now has several cracks in it and the middle spike piece broke in half. Looking around I found him by the entrance and proceeded to attack him again. Before I reached him, his eyes flashed gold and he snapped his fingers. This caused hundreds of swords to shoot from the floor and stopped me from moving around too much after I smashed face first into a few of them. Smiling, he appeared back at the table and fixed the small mess. Sitting back on the broken throne that is starting to move and turn blue he shuffled the cards and began to talk.

“Firstly, you are going to stay there until you calm down. Secondly, how is this my fault? Thirdly Death you got the worst hand so toss out another piece of your jewelry. Little one you also lost so you are going to make us all snacks.”(Diuscrucis)

“Why does she always get the light punishments?”(Death?)

Because last place strips and second place does one thing the winner asks of them. Besides your cooking sucks.”(Diuscrucis)

After seeing the lamia leave with a smile on her face I decided to talk.

“It’s your fault because you're the one who got me pregnant! I also look this bad do to stress!”(Samantha)

“Oh.”(Diuscrucis)

“Oh? That's all you have to say!? HA HA HAH! I’m sorry man but it looks like Old Man Fate decided to pay you back in full!”(Death apparently)

The skeleton was rolling on the floor laughing with what I can only assume is a smile on its face.

“Stop laughing you ass, at least I can get a girl pregnant! Anyway I will take responsibility for what I have done. Under one condition.”(Diuscrucis)

Death stood up and sat back down with what looks like a bittersweet smile.

“That was uncalled for.”(Death)

“what’s the condition?”(Samantha)

Diuscrucis turned his throne to face forward and looked me in the eyes before talking.

“We both have lived long and exciting lives. However such things tend to leave unanswered questions for all parties. So I want to talk about it to help fill in some gaps.”(Diuscrucis)

“Where do we start?”(Samantha)

Smiling he answered.

“Why not at the Heaven and Hell Competitions.”(Diuscrucis)