The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #9 a LitRPG (ATS) Read online

  “Are you okay?” Ruri asked. “I’ve known you for many years and…” Her ears sagged. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Tear said softly. “I…saw something in which I shouldn’t have.”

  “So, should we follow?” Toru said. “I mean… I feel so lost.”

  “Yeah me too dude,” Seth said. “Clyde’s always turning into things that I don’t understand.”

  “Tsk, tsk.” Natalia hopped on the table. “Simpletons. Isn’t it obvious? The power he calls it, stone mode consists of a few separate states. His normal form looks closer to the angelic side of things, while this new state appears to be more demonic. The white-haired form he did with Airi was for nature. So…Celestial, Hell, and then the living planes.”

  “That literally cleared nothing up,” Seth said. “But three forms.”

  Natalia smacked the young man with a paper fan.

  “Don’t pretend like I’m speaking nonsense when you got it, dummy-blond head. Baka!” She folded her arms and harrumphed.

  “I say we go after him,” Airi said.

  “What if we get in his way?” Ming said. The room turned to her. Tear sighed.

  Just then, the succubus had a feeling of wrongness plunge through her like an arrow. The barrier which surrounded her fiancée’s house shattered. And then the feeling of terribly strong power vibrated through the air. The others noticed too, but it was too late. Too late for all of them. A hole burst through the roof and a man leapt down, his grin wide.

  “Well now, I should learn to believe in our commander more,” the inquisitor said. “To send me off to retrieve you, while they deal with pests.” He chuckled then bowed to Tear. “Allow me to introduce myself, Supreme Princess Tear. I am Axem, second in command of the Supreme’s great inquisition. I am a man who will be pledging his loyalty to you once you marry the empress and ascend the throne. I will lay down my life to fight for you.”

  Axem was a pale man with gray hair. Despite the cloak that covered his body, he was well-muscled and intimidating.

  “I decline,” Tear said. “I’m happily engaged and will be getting married soon.”

  Axem chuckled.

  “Sorry, Supreme Princess. Do not take this personal, but your compliance isn’t a factor here. You already know this, so let’s go. No need to keep your future wife waiting.”

  “The Supreme’s marrying?” Melody said. “Why?”

  These words bought the team time to compose themselves and ready their weapons. Axem regarded them, nonchalant, unconcerned. Rightfully so.

  “Of course,” Axem said, “although she still wants a husband for some reason. I think she’s going to choose either the Stone or the Viper. I think the burden on saving this pathetic world has finally caught up to her.” The man sighed. “Listen, I’m not happy about dragging you off against your will. I respect you, Supreme Princess Tear. You’re a legend, lasting the longest in the succession survival initiation. Even if the witch somehow rescued you from the impenetrable dimension. A miracle that no one has figured out yet. A pact that shouldn’t be possible.”

  Natalia walked in front of Tear.

  “That’s right,” she said in a deadly voice. “This is your only warning, inquisitor. If you value your life, back away. Because I will access things that will make even the punishment squad blush, just to protect her.”

  Axem laughed. Team Stone surrounded him, fighting stances ready, weapons aimed.

  “What drives this? You know you’re greatly outmatched, yet put on this brave face to give false hope to your friend. Listen, I’m just doing my job and hurting such a cute little face would be quite shameful. It’s not like you’re going away to die, Supreme Princess. Just for training and a political wedding. Then the Monster Kingdoms are yours. Think about it. You could do whatever you want. Even marry that fiancée of yours into the family.”

  “You think I’d betray him?” Tear said.

  “That’s not betrayal, girl,” Axem said. “It’s called being practical. No one dies, no one gets hurt. Other than the two fools who attacked us first and without provocation. Supreme Princess.” He flashed Tear an easy smile. “Seriously, think about it. There’s no need to be on bad terms with the inquisition.”

  “You won’t be taking Tear,” Natalia snapped. “I’ll gladly put my life on the line to defend her happiness.”

  Axem chuckled, hand raised slightly.

  “You can’t do much if your power’s sealed.” He shook his head. “The Supreme thought very highly of you, Princess Tear. To send no one short of the inquisition.”

  Inquisitor Axem

  Level: *???* (this power feels extreme….could it have surpassed one thousand?)

  Type: Demon

  Work under: *Supreme Demon Lord.

  Special: Void tier skill: Soul Stop. [Warning! Inflicts Magical Seal. All magic and skills will be unusable for a day. Effects all foes within a ten-yard vicinity.]

  Weakness: light.

  Resistances: dark and water.

  Secret: blocked.

  **

  Outskirts of Lot City…

  Titania could barely breathe. Out of strength, beaten and bruised. Lying next to her in a slightly worse condition…was the young boy she raised. Despite finding the abandoned fairy kid in the middle of the forest, Titania still considered him her son. If only she had the power to block the Supreme’s influence. She once asked Celestial for help. They sent down a healing angel named Matsuko, only for the poor woman to succumb to it herself. Ashamed at being sexually crazed, she ran away, and got exposed to taint—some believe from the Fallen god.

  The people around this area thankfully were smart enough to run. The inquisition put up a barrier to prevent any further human interference.

  “Ashard…” Titania whispered weakly. “I’m truly sorry.”

  Titania watched in horror as Ashard forced himself to stand.

  “Mother, even if we’re not related by blood, you still are the one who raised me,” Ashard said.

  “You know?” Titania said.

  “You taught me a lot of things, but being a fool wasn’t one of them,” he continued. “Unfortunately, I’m plagued by misfortune. From getting hypnotized in Niyoto, to getting caught up in summoning contracts with evil little witchlings, to almost dying constantly. Despite all of that, I hold my head up high. I face whatever life throws at me.”

  The inquisitor foe ahead gave Ashard a short bow. The others stood to the side, not concerned with interfering. Titania’s eyes widened.

  She’d give up her soul before allowing her son to die in front of her. She would not!

  [Titania invoked Fairy Kingdom’s Heart.]

  Surrounded in magic that belonged to her kingdom, Titania lurched herself at the inquisitor and actually landed a solid hit. Steam emitted from the tall man’s cheek, like the burnout of a tire, but he didn’t budge.

  Thrusting a palm forward into his chest, the fairy queen prepared to access forbidden magic. The inquisitor’s long sword flashed. She saw the crimson fountain, yet he stood in front of her, refusing to fall. Her son.

  “INQUISITOR!” Ashard’s rage shook the area as he quickly pushed both palms forward.

  [Ashard activated Gold tier skill: Unlimited Steps to the Planes of Styx.]

  [Ashard’s magic was negated.]

  [Inquisitor Huin used Void tier skill: Luck’s End.]

  Titania saw Ashard drop, and he didn’t move.

  [Ashard’s HP has dropped to 1%]

  [Ashard has been inflicted with Coma.]

  A burst of extreme pain rattled Titania’s face and all she could feel is herself floating backward. When she hit the concrete of the sidewalk, she realized that she took a booted kick to the face. As if things couldn’t get any worse, the heat of volcanic magic washed over her and she screamed. Oven-searing heat. Her own natural barrier that prevented her hair, clothing, and skin from catching on fire began to crack.

  The inquisitor pulled the weakened woman up by the hair.


  “All of this could’ve been avoided if you simply stayed out of the way. We are quite proficient at our jobs and not even some fairy queen can stop us. You may be considered a deity, but you do not have the full power of a mighty one.” He smashed his fist into the woman’s face, drawing blood, then again and again, tossing her to the side at the fourth swing. Another wave of magic seared Titania and she just wished for death.

  [Titania’s HP has dropped to 0.8% ]

  [Titania has been inflicted with Hopelessness.]

  The inquisitor spat to the side.

  “Wouldn’t this be the part where we reveal ourselves as barbarians and volunteer her up for some fun?”

  “Don’t even joke like that,” another inquisitor said. “Our title was bought with blood. Anyway, kill her so we can move on.”

  “No, I like the idea of turning her into a maid. Let’s disable her magic and make her a pleasure woman.”

  “I said enough joking,” the inquisitor said. “I don’t feel like getting my ass chewed out by the commander today. It’s already bad enough that the Supreme’s using us like fetch dogs.”

  “You’re right, but I still want to fuck her,” Huin said as he walked over to the hopeless fairy queen. “Why must the beautiful ones die?” He plunged his blade down….but met concrete? “What the hell? Who’s that?”

  “I don’t know, but he creeps me out,” an inquisitor said. “His magic…it feels so chaotic.”

  “Is he a demon like us?”

  “Hey you, drop our prey,” Huin said to the being. That man….grinned. “Pssh, the cocky son of a bitch has no idea who we are. I’ll take care of him.”

  For some reason, the sky darkened. The winds picked up in an unnatural manner. What was this pressure? An inquisitor of the Supreme did not feel nervous. Maybe excitement. Still…not even an inquisitor had the ability to make the weather act strange…

  Glowing purple crackles etched through the skies like shattered glass. The atmosphere felt…red.

  But…an inquisitor was excellent at eliminating any threat. No matter what this man’s magic did, they were still superior magic-wise, training, and strength. They were trained to be unstoppable… But something about this…felt different.

  **

  Nearing Clyde’s house…

  Asu had at last pinned down the trail of her master. For some reason, whatever it was that blocked his place of power, vanished. Shattered barrier? Maybe he unleashed too much power, unable to measure his own strength. Her master’s awesome like that.

  “Praise the Stone! Praise the Stone!” she sang, cheerfully. Dressed in a black dress, cloak up so no one would spot her out in public, Asu pushed on, determined to get her favorite master to take her in. She had to serve. She’d do whatever it took to prove herself.

  Asu was a lich, but not just any kind. She knew things that could bring the punishment squad of the heavens down on her head. “I wonder what kind of Y-pop I could get him into? I wonder if he likes sweet bean paste. It goes great on Lewdlands phallic plain cakes! She couldn’t wait to introduce him to such deliciousness.

  Asu walked up to the door, unchallenged, which put her on guard. Something felt….off. For a lich, that was alarming! Should she turn around? No. She came all this way—a trial by her master—that’s what this had to be!

  “Oh great Stone,” she said, blushing. “I’ll overcome anything you set before me!”

  Episode 47 (Part 3)

  [You have entered * fierce combat!]

  Inquisitor Huin

  Level: *???* (this power feels extreme….could it have surpassed one thousand?)

  Type: Demon

  Work under: *Supreme Demon Lord.

  Special: Void tier skill: Luck’s End. [Warning, this skill negates magic! Has a chance to inflict *Coma !]

  Weakness: light.

  Resistances: dark.

  Secret: blocked.

  Clyde gave Titania his last Super Health Potion.

  “Take Ashard and go,” he said softly. The fairy queen looked as if she wanted to protest, but seeing the godling’s eyes changed her mind. “Jump anywhere that’s not this city or the fairy kingdoms.”

  The second the blonde woman left with her son, Clyde eyed the inquisition.

  “You were really going to kill her,” he said then shook his head.

  The inquisitor, Huin chuckled then spat to the side. “I don’t care what you are. You will be crushed by the inquisition! Brothers, stand aside. I will end this.”

  He blurred toward Clyde, sword raised.

  [*Ancestral Spirit Lineage .]

  Clyde felt the instincts make inaudible suggestions. The feelings and experiences of some of the most powerful warriors in existence, flooded his veins. He pushed Huin’s sword to the side with the wind blade. The first of his free hand smashed into the face of the inquisitor. That didn’t stop the tall, blue-skinned demon from coming at him with an incredible technique of his own.

  Clyde instantly calculated the blade’s angle, speed, and destination in less than a heartbeat. He sidestepped accordingly, counterattacking using fists instead of his blade. And he managed to stagger the inquisitor.

  Clyde thrust a palm at his prey.

  [Clyde activated Special tier skill: Savage death energy ball.]

  His hand shook as the orange ball of magic blasted from it like a rocket launch. Shockwaves shattered the windows of the buildings nearby. And when it collided with the demon, it created a mushroom cloud of magic and smoke and bright white light.

  [Huin’s HP has dropped to 500%.]

  The inquisitor’s cloak and clothes were full of rips and dust. He coughed then snarled.

  “The inquisition will not be humiliated!”

  [Huin has invoked inquisitor’s authority. All stats increased. MP increased. Focused.]

  His aura seemed to combat Clyde’s somehow.

  [Huin acted Void tier skill: Luck’s Spear.]

  Clyde’s mystic senses normally would’ve chimed, but the Ancestral spirit lineage overrode them. He flashed stepped directly in front of Huin, sword sheathed, engaging him in hand to hand martial arts. The two fought fast, but…

  The inquisitor teleported away from Clyde, falling to a knee.

  [Huin has been inflicted with Echoing blight.]

  [Huin has been inflicted with utter agony.]

  The inquisitor bled from his mouth as the ghost blows continued to rain on him.

  “You’ll pay dearly for interfering with the inquisition,” Huin said, pointing at the young man. “To act against the Supreme is to act against the world.”

  Clyde shook his head.

  “I am not interested in the politics of your Supreme,” he snapped. “She’s someone who have fooled you into following her selfish intentions, while fucking up the world even more.”

  All of the inquisitor’s unsheathed their swords. He continued. “From monster girls, to declining male populations, to worsening political affairs, disappearing adventurers, and the list goes on. But I suppose I cannot expect for a Supreme demon lord to be some kind of saint.”

  The inquisitors took one step toward Clyde, until a voice spoke up.

  “Stand aside, my brothers, and I’ll take care of him. Insulting the Supreme when you don’t know a damned thing about her will get you killed.”

  Clyde grinned, purple eyes glowing brighter.

  “Oh? I’ve touched a nerve. This Supreme may be worth meeting. And dethroning.”

  The new inquisitor’s sword was at Clyde’s neck, drawing blood, before he knew it. Before the passive skill could activate.

  [Ki remaining: 80%]

  [FP remaining: 445%]

  He was a dark man of Clyde’s height with long black dreadlocks, piercing glowing orange eyes, and two fangs mixing in with the rest of his teeth. Dressed in the same uniform of his brothers, he had a vampire-like vibe to him. The young man also felt incredible magic surging through the arch demon like a wild tornado. Despite this form….

  Lea
ping backward to safety, Clyde recalled his stats.

  Inquisitor Commander Yahiko

  Level: * ??? * [Future Analyze has revealed the level: 1500 .]

  Type: Arch Demon

  Work under: *Supreme Demon Lord.

  Special: Void tier skill: Soul Dying Light. [Warning! This attack will destroy the entire city! Survivors will be petrified.]

  Weakness: Purity x 2. Holy x2. Light. Deity x2.

  Resistances: dark and all of its attributes (complete resistance). Fire, Earth, Purity, Holy, Light, Angel.

  This resistance…. The ancestral passive skill was incredible, but the young man hadn’t adjusted to it quite yet. Despite all of the fights, Clyde realized he needed more combat training. This form…overwrote his mystic combat, expecting him to perfectly execute millions of fighting styles, react to millions of situations, even predict and move ahead of the opponent all in a fraction of a second.

  Clyde grinned. None of that mattered, except the thrill of battle. Something about this man, made Clyde want to kill him. Well, maybe not kill him—rather face off with him repeatedly. This effect of his War state... Just what did Venus do to him?

  The two faced off, swords at the ready.

  “Come,” Yahiko said.

  [*You have challenged the Inquisition *]

  [Supreme Quest: Defeat the inquisition. Level: Impossible . Reward: Unknown.]

  [Losing this fight could result in a possible game over .]