The exhaustion was relieved as they all slept for the 2nd day. So the third day comes along with Raven finding the documents from the Cherry Blossom Empire detailing about the dungeons he'd need to subdue. Stepping out to see the others who were ready, along with Jersey who was present.
"Yo boss."
"Thanks for attending the meeting. What did they say?" Raven fixed his hair, tying it up into a tail and fixing his sleeves.
"Basically the dungeons we're going into. They want you to go in with a few of their Hunters. A mother and daughter duo was adamant about observing you. Along with a few Hunters who were trying to push for their daughters to be part of the headcount." This sounds like a fucking cliche. What is Raven? A harem protagonist now? He had to pinch his own cheeks to make sure he actually heard that properly.
"I'm guessing you sent them all to the hospital?"
"Yup. They had all their fancy powers but.. For us. Prior to our summoning. We all sparred with one another to get a feel for each other's abilities. We got taught aura and mana by the others. So that when we use it, it'll be natural. You need to get duplicates of us for that to happen though." Jersey said as she took some bullets for her revolver.
"I just told them that they're insane if they want to date you. Because I remember the last time a woman tried to seduce you." Jersey gestured to the stomach, then having her hand wave outward.
"That was because she was an undercover spy trying to screw our plan. Such a shame too. then I found out she was the Police Chief's daughter. Though I didn't leave her alone for too long since I did kill the police chief's entire family. Including his grandson who was what? 3 months old."
"You're cold, boss. I'd hesitate to shoot a kid."
"I don't." Raven said as he pulled the slide of his pistol.
"Why would you hesitate? You gunned down an entire bank of hostages." Jack said as he loaded the magazines into the compartments of his armor. Raven put his pistol into the holster. Stepping out of the hotel, where there was a truck waiting for them.
"The Association President wants to make sure you reach your destination safely." They boarded the truck. Raven glanced at Arcian and Sichilde.
"So what's going on in the Rylanor Kingdom?"
"Well after the Flames of the Forest departed. We got married. Became King and Queen. Originally we're around 50 years old? With our own son taking his place as the current King. Though appearance wise. It seems like we reverted to when we met you." Arcian spoke as he showed a photo of his family. 12 kids with two other ladies in the background.
"12 kids? When do you have the time?"
"3 are mine, the other 9 are from two concubines. It was mainly due to the fact that I was advised to not conceive again because it may kill me."
"If it's you Sichilde, you'll love them all the same. So your eldest son, is he married yet?"
"Not yet, but we told him not to stress himself over it. We got married during the war and it was chaotic. Remember how our ballroom got attacked by assassins?"
"Raven did set them all on fire. He was more annoyed than we both were." Raven remembered that.
"We also met your 9 siblings from the Renault Empire. They seem to realize your wisdom and your prowess. They thought you were the cutest sibling but when the Empire went to war. You grabbed a sword and headed for the frontlines. Earning the nickname the Prince of War. Guess all of the etiquette lessons and the like are useful for you."
"Gee, I wonder how they'd feel knowing about my current family."
"I think most of us watched your life before the regression. Made us see why you were a cynic and why you were always clear with your goals. You watched civilization fall. Became the last human, fought to survive. It made sense why you were desperate boss." Jersey said as the others gave a nod.
"Can't blame anyone for thinking that. I am a cynic. Not like that's a bad thing." Arriving at the dungeon where Raven found Renya.
"I hope that I'm not imposing if I joined you."
"It'll be good training." Raven said as Renya readied his katana, stepping into the fray with Raven's group. Stepping in to find themselves in the presence of elves. Clad in armor with weaponry matching the knights of old.
"Humans! You are inferior and that is why you sh-" Jersey shot the head of the elf who was barking orders.
"Renya. Time for your training. Get to it. Fenris, provide cover for him. I need to try out someone new." Raven said as he put on the Smiling Mime mask, wielding a pair of karambits. Wearing a suit with the top three buttons exposed.
"Cobalt." They see a gray wolfdog appear by Raven's side with a blade in the mouth.
"Let's go, boy!" The wolfdog growled as the two of them went into the formation. They had armor but their necks and joints were exposed, that would be where Raven would strike. Their swords and spears were nothing more than just tools for Raven to predict their attacks. A downward swing, letting Raven get close. Slitting the throat with the most gentlest movements. Twirling away from a spear, the way he moved was a sign to his nimbleness. Flipping between two swords, as Cobalt delivered the killing blow.
"Bastard! You will di-" Before those words could finish, Renya had claimed the head with a singular swing. Elbowing an elven knight's face, then slashing the legs. Followed by punches to the face before bashing the head in with the scabbard. A kick to send the body flying. Three spears from the left, Renya took his chance to move. Cloudsteps granting him fast movement, getting into position to the side as he swung the katana. Cutting three arms off. Where Fenris slashed three of them into mince meat.
A glance to the side, watching Fang skewer a dozen elven knights with his weapon. Then a javelin to skewer the chest, ripping their torsos off the waists. Glinter's swing sent a body flying past Renya's head. Arcian and Sichilde were dancing their way through the elven knights. It was a ballroom for the pair. Fast footwork, beautifully dancing through the battlefield with blood splashing over to their clothes. A beautiful waltz with their blades being the melody.
Raven was sent flying by an elven knight. The others glanced at the knight who held his blade.
"How dare you bare your fangs at us human... You will pay!" The knight spoke proudly, only for the others to laugh at him.
"Why? Why aren't you cowering in fear?!"
"Because he's not dead." On cue, Raven got close to the knight, slashing the limbs. Then a knee to the face, whereby Cobalt leaped over Raven's shoulders. Adding the bodyweight to push the elven knight down. The knight was on the ground, giving Raven a chance to slit the throat.
"This is why I hate amateurs." Raven said as he got off the body, seeing the treasure boxes from the dungeon appear before them.
"Help yourself to it Renya. If you can't use something, do something with it. I'm heading out first."
Smiling Mime : Proficiency 7%. *Increased with Cobalt's pressence
2 summon tickets.
1 persona shard ticket pull.
Raven stepped out as he found a stack of bento left behind on a nearby table. Seeing a note which was from Yoshio's famiily.
"Thank you for saving us." Fang picked up a bento.
"The One Who Rips. It is rare for us to be thanked for what we do."
"You're right, Fang. Let's just eat and we'll go to our next dungeon."
"I'll be heading over to Wolfsbane first."
"Renya."
"Yes?"
"Work on that timing of yours until it's second nature. Remember you're self taught. So it doesn't follow any of the traditional aspects or stances. Slash the limbs, kick them back. Reposition to a good spot. If you're surrounded, cut your path through. Then kick them back and leave them with cuts that will constantly bleed. Take a limb or two, kick them or punch them back. Use the scabbard to parry attacks and stuff. Don't be narrow minded. Get used to it." Raven said as he finished his bento, where they headed to the next location. Finding it with a lock by the portal.
Unique Dungeon Scenario.
Difficulty F-Rank.(Actual Difficulty is S)
Only one who fulfills the condition can enter.
Cannot bring allies.
You can only use the selected Persona.
"I'll handle this one alone. All of you go on ahead. This one's personal."
"By your command, The One Who Rips."
"Got it, Scorpio."
"Understood Father." A nod as the portal began to shift forming into a gate of bones. The door was made up of ribs, with large rubies glaring at Raven. The ribs opened up, followed by a hand that grabbed onto him.
"Father!"
"This is new." The hand pulled Raven in. Clutched in the monster's hand, a thick mist forming all around him. A thousand eerie glows that pulsated oddly. Never matching the rhythms together, moving in odd sequences. It took a moment for Raven to realize what were the pulsating glows. Eyes. They were eyes that were speaking a language that only those of the eldritch kind would know. An opera of whispers invaded his ears. Creaking noises by the hand. Seemingly trembling. Pure milky colors as Raven could see it being made up of human bones. The thumb had a large skull resting on a ring.
An invasive sense of fear was trying to make its way into Raven. Air thickening with the unsettling aura, the human mind was not built for this. Stomachs would grumble as the deafening melody of heartbeats, creaking and clicking noises were left. Cold sweats over his brow, soon becoming a shower of sweats. Raven's mind was intact but the human instinct to not be afraid was something that can't be overcome so easily. His mind and body had been disconnected as Raven did not view this thing as a threat, but his body was being overwhelmed.
His mind's resilience and his body's intuition as a human being were grappling with one another. His eyes only met with the large skull that continued to glare at him. A sense of foreboding as the human mind was trying to make sense of what was being seen. The coldness of the air that rivaled that of winter's violent blizzards.
"This is quite the welcome. Astravion. Not bad. You actually got my human body to feel dread." The skull began to chatter whereby it formed a smile. Eyes beginning to laugh as another hand appeared into view to show a thumbs up. The darkness faded away, revealing a torso of a skeleton that was glooming over him. In this thing's eyes, Raven was nothing more than a rat being caught by a human.
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"I'm glad, that I was able to do that for you. Old friend. To scare the Most Evil Being of this world. That is truly something I must be proud off."
"So what's the deal here?" The silence of his friend, Astravion. The one who maintains the veil of horrors and reality, was alarming for him. The way Astravion was trying to pick his words to speak to him. It was clear that he felt some form of uncomfortableness to this.
"It has to do with the world of Crimson Rain Petals. There's been trouble within Verisdia. Do you remember that Persona?"
"The willow leaf saber wielder. The fourth prince of the Verisdian Empire. I wasn't able to complete that Persona. What's going on there?" Astravion seemed hesitant to speak.
"Your family is about to be executed. Prince Raven Verisdia, when you fell into a coma. They were overwhelmed by the might of Luminara Republic."
"Send me there."
"Before you go. If you kill enough of them. You can summon me to your aid."
"Thank you, my friend. I will when the time is right."
Finding himself in a small room. The sound of creaky boards, water dripping through the stones that made up the walls. Awoken from the water that dripped on his face. Rust adorned iron door. Walls scarred by the scratching of whomever was stuck in here. Eyes still blur from the sudden awakening, Raven got back on his feet. Feeling the strain from years of inactivity. Turning to the left, seeing the corpses of his retainers. A coma that struck him during the celebration of their victory.
Vivid memories poured in, the inner turmoil had coiled its way into his mind. The poison had won the battle, but he's back on his feet. That's a start. The retainers who had been skeletons, with one of the corpses. Being that of a child. Wind whistling through the gaps. Shattering the silence and peace. The child's skeleton held onto Raven's willow leaf saber. The sun's rays intruded through the gaps as Raven grabbed the blade.
Remembering this child's smile, Max. A young orphan that Raven picked up from the streets. Reality had set in. A sorrow for the child who promised to be his retainer. Remembering the child's laughter, the joy that this boy had eating an ice cream sandwiches. The mischief they had and the times when Raven stood his ground for this boy.
"Thanks, Max. I'll make sure they know you as the boy who delivered the blade." Augmenting his body with aura, pushing it deep into his veins. Then turning to the other corpses of the fellow retainers. Adamantly holding on to Raven's Imperial Prince clothing. Dried bloodstains stained the bright red tailcoat. Putting it on as he put the cape by his shoulders. Placing an eyepatch to his eye, he was ready.
"Thank you, my loyal retainers for your service." His eyes were flaring with rage as the iron door was sent flying with just a mere gaze. Prison guards ran to the location, weapons drawn as their eyes could not make sense of what they were seeing.
"The Fourth prince is aw-" before that sentence was finished. Their heads had bounced around the ground as Raven made his way out, his saber drawn. Walking past through the cells to see skeletal remains of the Verisdian Empire's soldiers. Only his body remained, and their souls had been unavenged. Drunk with bloodlust as he went on to his onslaught. Faster than the eyes can see, only the glimmer of his silver blade being the last thing the prison wardens had seen.
No survivors as Raven walked out of the prison, glancing at the procession that was nearby. Leaping in the air as he found himself by the capital. Standing by a rooftop. Seeing his family whose heads were on the guillotine.
"Now we shall begin with the execution of the Versidian Imperial Family! For their crimes of denouncing the rule of Luminara! They must pay for their sins with their deaths!" The words had been uttered, yet the faces of the people were bothered. Riddled with fear and tears in their eyes. A child threw a stone at the man reading the execution.
"Kill the child. He has dared to defy this execution!" It was time, Raven dashed into the fray, an elusive phantom that swung the blades to take the heads of the nearby guardsmen. Following it up with a singular slash that destroyed the guillotines. Reducing them to nothing but chunks of metal.
"Who dares to interru-" The leading man's head was sent flying. The glorious red of the Verisdian Empire had reached the eyes of the citizens. A moment of joy as they realized who it was. The other guardsmen readied their blades to engage. Dozens were coming to his direction, with Raven slashing the chains that bound his family. The remnants of the Verisdian Empire brought their blades in hand, halting the Luminaran soldiers in their tracks.
"Soldiers of the proud Versidian Empire! Protect the Imperial Family! I will handle our foes!" With those words, they followed through with his command. Raven making his way to his adversaries. They had smiles on their faces, confident in their numbers. Only for their blades to be parried, finding themselves in death's embrace. An unyielding gaze as he cut them down. Rapid movements as blades clashed with his. The scabbard used to strike a soldier's neck, a kick to the knee that forced the soldier down as Raven slashed another three. Decapitating the soldier's head with a follow up attack. Constantly moving and swinging his blade as the crowd shifted away from him. Giving him the room he needed to fight.
"Hold it! If you don't, the child will die!" A blade to the child's neck. Trembling by the knees, with Raven's gaze spelling his doom as a crimson petal touched the soldier's neck, turning them into a bloody stain. Not a single drop of blood on the child or the ones around the area. The child's mother ran to embrace the boy, glancing at Raven who could not say a word.
"Raven." Turning to the Imperial Family who gave him a tight embrace. Tears in their eyes, seeing how withered their skin was, it added to the fury that built up within his body.
"By the graces of the Gods..." His father kissed Raven's cheek, while his mother held the left cheek.
"I will make this right. Father, mother... Brothers and sisters." Raven said as they lowered their hands, seeing Raven turn to the Luminara soldiers who arrived.
"He's just one man! We can win th-" Within mere seconds all of them had turned into blood splatters with no signs of Raven showing any movement.
"The Wolf of Verisdia has arrived! I will send all of you to the embrace of the Gods!" A singular roar that haunted the soldiers, relief to the citizens and rekindling the flames within the Verisdian soldiers. Raven ran through the streets, his blade becoming the beacon of hope and rebellion. Corpses of Luminara soldiers soon filled the streets as Raven hunted them down. A wolf chasing after its prey. A trail of blood and violence within Raven's fleeting footsteps. The embodiment of violence had dawned upon the soldiers of Luminara. Crimson petals danced around the area, as the citizens could see the beauty of the petals and Raven who was fighting by their side.
Drowning in bloodlust as Raven's blade howled after them. Demanding their deaths with each swing. It was a hopeless situation for them. Realizing how powerless they were. Numbers meant nothing if they were just reduced to bloodstains within mere seconds. Bathing in their blood, stains over his face. Eyes dimmed with their deaths, a grin for the payback being given.
Panicking as soldiers began to scream for mercy. Raising their hands to surrender as they watched their commanding officers fall before their very eyes. Hearts quickening from adrenaline as the blood lust Raven exerted had them fall to their knees. Restrained by the soldiers of Verisdia who had been lying in wait.
Citizens and soldiers kneel before him. They could barely meet his eyes, fear and admiration combined into one.
"Your Highness... We... We couldn't hold the line." A soldier spoke up, stiffened by Raven's footsteps. A hand placed to his soldiers.
"You did what you could, but I will take care of things from here on. Form the defensive line. The capital is the first place that must be liberated. My comatose was done by the Luminaran Republic as a means to weaken us. We must never let this happen again. Astravion. Is this much bloodshed enough for you?"
"Yes, my friend. It is enough." A looming voice whispered before them. A large skeleton emerging from the ground outside the capital. The half torso was enough to keep their eyes focused on the being who reached out for Raven.
"Send me to the Luminaran Republic."
"It will require me to throw you there... I.. I think your family and citizens will be opposed to this."
"Better settle it by destroying their republic. Send me there, old friend. Please protect the capital in my place." the skeleton gave a nod as the hand shifted behind. Readying to throw Raven to the location.
"Of course. I pray for your success, Crimson Rain Petals." Those words whispered, reached the citizens as they watched Raven be sent flying.
The Imperial Family, citizens and soldiers would glance at Astravion, the gigantic skeleton. Fear was slowly consuming them as the sight alone was enough. The creaks in the bones would send them feeling a sharp instinct to run.
"Did... The prince summon an eldritch being?"
"Your prince and I met by chance. Where I spent time to bring him back to where he is. Despite being in a coma, the prince practiced. To you it may be 5 years, but to him it has been an eternity. He never lost hope. His only worry was to his people. The deal I made with him was that I can be summoned when there is enough fear and bloodshed by his hands. I am not a benevolent being, but your prince... Whenever I tried to take his body, he would fight me until he has reached perfection. Constantly wagering his body for my control. He would win our fights and has a bond with me. However, due to my nature. He may have to leave once more."
"But why?" Emperor Octavius Verisdia inquired, despite his weak appearance. Hanging onto a soldier's arm as he tried to stand on his feet.
"For your church may view this bond as defiance against the gods. Despite my status as the God of Death. It may cause others to believe that they may enter in such bonds with others like myself. A power of a being like myself, it must be controlled by someone whose very will exceeds my own. But believe in your son, Emperor Octavius. When he is done with it. He will return." Those words brought some comfort to them but it was true. A God of Death being contracted to the prince would bring chaos to the church.
"What if I can get that overlooked?"
"He will refuse. He knows that he will be seen as a threat to all." Those words had silenced them when they see Raven appear once more.
"Welcome back, friend. I was under the impression you would be there for long." Raven just lit a cigarette as they see him take off his eyepatch. Where they see the white sclera being dyed black, a dozen irises within. A proof of the pact he has with Astrovian.
"It didn't take long, old friend but I did turn an entire republic into nothing bloodstains. I told them if they wanted this to stop. They'll have to release every other country they have in their grasp and to sign a peace treaty. The Chancellor's son said he will honor it. What did you see in him?"
"Honor, integrity and remorse. He will honor his word. His vassals that you did not kill are prepared to follow suit." Raven could see the pop up appear before him.
DUNGEON CLEAR!
Persona's Life is Completed!
S-Rank Persona
Crimson Rain Petals
The Fourth Prince of Verisdia Empire
Given the title Crimson Rain Petals because of his swordsmanship.
When using aura with this persona, it creates crimson petals that rain upon foes.
Crimson Petals Aura exclusive effect. Crimson petals fall from your aura, can be used to shield you or to attack enemies at a distance 10th Aura Stage Aura stage of the highest level Unique Swordsmanship technique The Dancing Petals. Despite the soft sounding name, it's lethality is because of the petals. Lightning steps. Your speed is close to lightning when using aura. Wolf of Verisdia The howl of a wolf that haunts the battlefield. Increases damage output of all allies nearby.
Ally acquired
Astravion
A Most Evil Being's ally.
The Veiled Enigma
A giant skeleton.
The dweller of worlds Astravion keeps the barrier between reality and horrors at bay. Allowing them to scare people but rarely allowing them to consume people. Overwhelming darkness The darkness blankets his surroundings and he has many eyes. The Pulsating Eyes When summoned with Thousand Eyes, grants a longer range within the darkness.
Pulsation from the eyes alerts you to enemy pressence.
*When not summoned. Effect is halved. Your sight is extended to twice the range of a regular humans.* An Eldritch being Humans cannot process the sight of an eldritch, invoking fear.
Hunters may attack but not necessarily beat an Eldritch being.
Rituals can be used but nobody knows how to stop Astravion.
Mainly because out of all the Eldritch beings, he's the peaceful one.
Astravion will remain in your shadow to help you keep an eye on any threats if there are any.
Raven found himself back in Astravion's realm.
"So what happens now?"
"Life continues on there. The prince has been imbued with your personality. He will stay by his family's side, but not as the prince but as the Wolf's Guard. Now I can be by your side when you need me. Of course, I will not be there during your more intimate moments. You deserve some privacy too."
"Thank you." Raven said as he found himself in front of the portal. Yawning as he realized it was already midnight. Heading back to the hotel to sleep. That's what mattered right now. Reliving a persona was tiring because unlike using their powers in their completed state. Raven's minds would be filled with their memories in the world's they came from. Trying to sleep was a little difficult. Knowing that Max has passed. Grief would strike his heart as Raven could take the moment to grieve for the boy.
"I'll always be there to support you, Your Highness." Those words alone had struck deep into his heart.
"System."
Yes. Max can be an ally.
Currently he's going through his own trial.
One he requested in order to serve you.
He understands that you are the Fourth Prince Raven Verisdia and Raven Ashenworth.
He will call you, Your Highness due to his habit and loyalty.
His trial is one that is to match up to you by any means necessary.
When it is ready, he will be on the recruitment banner.
"Good to know." Raven thought to himself as he shut the notification, heading to bed. Best to let today be done and hope tomorrow won't be anything chaotic.