The trio came down from the mountain range to see the cow-people nervously watching from the temporary camp that they had left them in. Their gazes focused on the procession of powerful figures that seemed even more physically imposing than the already mighty appearing cow-kin. Though a lot of those mortals were malnourished so that certainly didn’t help the fact.

Well over a dozen masculine 20+ foot red-skinned oni stood around with various gigantic weapons resting on their wide shoulders as they held them with no strain. It was hard to not find them intimidating when even the heroic photon was left standing in their shadow. Yet they were far from the strongest there.

Lying slovenly on a couch - which the giants had carried - was an oni man unlike any of the others. Being not even over 10 feet with a body that lacked a lot of the explosive muscles that their race was practically known for. Despite that the aura of power he radiated was enough to make the buxom ruby haired oni, with a belly already filled and milk leaking from between the man’s fingers as he felt her up, shiver in fear.

Around the couch were other women who had passed out or maybe worse yet the lithe-muscular oni male just had a lazy smirk as his eyes studied those around him like a predator.

Obviously the heroic Photon wouldn’t let such a monstrous person roam around as they pleased so stood in front of the oni in his full armour. Maybe he could have even repelled them for quite a time if a fight did end up occurring. Yet Cheshire knew that even her brother had limits so there was no way she’d let the idiot fight against the man known as “the strongest”

Stranger still was there being two clearly young oni girls also being part of the procession; one with golden hair stood at top the head of the tallest oni she could find. Her balance alone was impressive however her eyes coldly looked down at all the weak mortals like they were naught but chaff lucky to be in her presence. A chakram-like halo sat above her head while she held a simple sheathed sword.

The second of the two was… Different.

Cheshire could instantly recognise the raw power that was contained in her tiny nevertheless already very muscular body. She had purple hair that flowed wildly, similar to the man’s wild mane who she sat beside, as her green eyes remained closed but it did not feel like she was sleeping. Even with her limited abilities Cheshire was good at reading people and there was one thing she felt from that second oni child.

Rage at her circumstance.

Anger at the people.

Wrath toward the world.

One had a pride that claimed everything was below her while the other carried enough wrath to swallow the world around them. This kind of made her wonder if there were actually seven siblings. Regardless she was beginning to feel like her little test may have more consequences than she could ever foresee.

Of course Cheshire already recognised these children as being the very ones that the blue-haired human had carried up the mountains. No doubt they were her half sisters. However she was also confident that there were three of them and could also instantly tell these two were maybe more powerful than the queen of drakes… Rather the green-eyed girl definitely far outstripped her.

A few fully grown women did remain conscious in various manners of scandalous “dress” made from a combination of piercings & golden chains. Each had a smile as they fed the man grapes or let him drink sake that they let flow down from their buxom bodies. Some were clearly less willing than others and it seemed that it was those that he enjoyed to prey on most as they gave the best reactions.

“What a disgusting beast…”

Athena frowning in disgust as that monstrous Shuten Doji turned toward them with his hand already reaching towards the head of a girl who just dropped a grape on the floor due him slapping her ass. One didn’t need to be a genius to guess what he planned to do to the shivering girl. Yet, before he could touch her head and before Photon could dash forward, something no one expected happened.

“GRRR.”

The violet haired oni actually grabbed the wrist of her supposed father - preventing him from killing the female oni - with her eyes opened wide. A strong oppression born from her strength alone washed over all those present causing the cow-kin to pass out in fear. Even the powerful colossal oni males found themselves dropping like flies as they trembled in horror at their monstrous princess’ unleashed might.

Loose items from all around seemed to swirl around her as just merely tensing muscles caused a shift in gravity; it made one wonder just how much pressure Doji himself was under.

“You wake up and the first thing you want to do is fight - I guess you really are the perfect oni - there has never been anyone with more potential than you. Truly a born oni warrior who will drag anyone that gets in your way from their throne with no emotion. A true born killer without restraint!”

He actually burst out laughing as he merrily slapped the tiny little oni girl on the back with enough power that someone may think he was trying to flatten her into a pancake. That isn’t what happened as she merely closed her eyes again after releasing a deep breath; that breath caused a wave of strange energy to pass from her lips. Cheshire narrowed her eyes as the energy around the oni began to become unstable yet none of them realised due to the nature of oni being…

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Well they weren’t going to cast any spells; let’s put it that way.

The other oni even joined in with revelry at their princess’ fierce nature that perfectly represented what they were about and should be. A born killer who would lead them to victory in every battle. No care about petty morals or anything of the sort however Cheshire’s gaze soon met her brother who had turned to look into her own with confusion.

To say she was confused was something completely understating her feelings.

Anyone could become a hero and it was not just a word but something recognised by the world, perhaps it was the last stand of Atlas in protecting the mortals, as each gets their own unique power in addition to a powerful ultimate. This power is often called a [Last Stand] and is a unique ability as well as a reward for their conviction to lay down their own life for those “lesser” than themselves in this selfish world. Her brother also had managed this.

However… She would never let Photon use his own ultimate, [[Last Stand: Supernova], as they instead worked on refining it into a weaker form called [Conviction to Kill]. The latter allowed him to convert his defensive stats into offensive which may have let him even defeat the mighty duo of Alice & navy. It was still unfinished though - causing him to take almost as much damage as he dealt due to not having control over how much power to use - yet that should show how strong the title of hero was.

In a way it seemed like the power granted as a hero was opposed to what the hero wanted - Photon wanted to defend so he got the strongest offence. She theorised it may have something to do with trying to cover for their selfless nature but she couldn‘t be sure. Not like she could ask Atlas himself.

Cheshire didn’t care about the power it granted; rather it was what it meant to be a hero. One just needs to look at Photon and you get an idea for the kind of person you need to be. Nothing short of selflessness is needed to achieve the title.

The cat turned to look towards Alice who seemed completely unbothered by any of this - simply wearing that kind smile she often showed to the outside world. An unsettling thought that maybe she backed the wrong horse came over her. Perhaps there was already a better ruler right in front of her?

Although those doubts quickly melted away as she remembered the wrath that the young girl held within her despite her little experience with the world. To possess such anger meant she was never fit to be a ruler and, in a way, even if Shuten Doji didn’t understand his daughter… He wasn’t wrong. As cruel of a fate as it may be to cast upon a young girl; she was a born killer.

Plus being a hero automatically meant one couldn’t be a good ruler.

With those thoughts she quickly began to approach the mighty oni group with that cane of hers helping support her feeble body from seeming anymore pathetic to those beastly warriors. Already she could feel the contempt from them with the worst of it being from the blonde princess. Still that did nothing to remove the iconic smirk from her face as she stood in front of the second most dangerous man.

She thought as she replied in kind; {The Weakest} looking at {The Strongest} with such contempt that even Doji himself was taken aback at the sight.

A tiny little cat, already on its deathbed, was looking at him as if he was scum that had washed in from the lazy sea tides. His loyal subordinates obviously weren’t very happy about that as they let out angry roars as they sought to crush the bug. However, after lifting their weapon, they found their bodies unable to even move an inch while actually getting weaker as time went on!

“Now, now, how about we use our in door voices~?”

She wasn’t alone as Mother just tilted her head with a kind smile on her face. Clearly treating those oni as even less than children - she may as well be treating them as disobedient wild animals. All around their bodies were chains of jade-coloured energy which didn’t even so much as rattle as they struggled.

Even the oni didn’t just rely on close quarters, of course, as a throwing spear soon flew towards Cheshire but that was easy for their resident hero to deal with.

“So why have you shown your pretty red ass around here chehe~?”