The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper #15 a LitRPG (ATS) Read online

  Emi: a tender-hearted young woman who panics a little when things get out of control. Maybe comedically cries a lot.

  Jae: a kuudere that loves to eat, but never gains weight. She’s blunt about everything, but doesn’t talk much. Many of the others call her adorable behind her back.

  Yumi: a timid girl who is sometimes known for a sense of humor. That is, when she’s actually around. She has a tendency to lock herself in her room after work or take multiple bathroom breaks. Could she be…

  Team Dark:

  Dark: the Leaf. A chuuni and an interloper from Earth; aka a “player.” Only five interlopers are allowed in the stone-viper games; however, many Watchers consider them illegal, along with any other intruder. Dark’s element is… well, dark. Brought to Satovia by a guide of his own, a green-haired Entity named Selkie, the young man is on a comical mission to… take over the world. Or so he says aloud. The truth is, Satovia is an escape from his horrific old life on Earth. He’s soul-searching. Unfortunately, when he thought he found a place of belonging, the Viper showed up and forced him to abandon them. Selkie was unsuccessful at getting him to return. He did not feel he had the right to show his face to the maids and butlers. He can never face Ikumi again.

  Selkie: a friendly Entity, who loves her Chinese-style dresses. A short beauty with green hair and mystery. Dark’s guide. She’s on a mission to save her sister from a special petrification. The Leaf will eventually gain the ability to save her.

  Myriad: a thunderbird, and Dark’s party member. Curious nature, loves to eat. Harpy family. She hates eggs, especially when they’re cracked near her.

  The Forgotten Party:

  Aunder: the Viper himself. Our “antagonist” who lives for the honor of battle. An esper (from a warrior-race). Like Clyde, he was brought into Satovia against his will. Universally powerful, this man is feared. The Soul Taker was a nickname given to him on his home-world, though he doesn’t acknowledge it. He’s not evil, but will not back down from the sweet call of the fight. He’s on a journey to seek out the other “players,” following the rules of the game. However, his heart isn’t in it. His decisions will mostly depend on the journey. He single-handedly enslaved all three Venus sisters. Let’s not forget his love for the drink.

  Su Yang: a Venus sister. The Venus sisters are incredibly powerful sorceresses dedicated to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Sex. She’s a woman with long dark hair and alluring brown eyes, a beauty that transcends time. She began to fall for Aunder, because despite being the Viper (the Venus sisters know all about the stone-viper games), he was doing more good than anything. Liberating villages, slaying dragons, and saving children. It irritates her when the man blames what she feels in her heart on Stockholm Syndrome. Her sister Olivia believes her to be a yandere, which is downright ridiculous. What woman wouldn’t get jealous if another woman approached what was hers? She won’t let anyone else have him.

  Olivia: a Venus sister. A tall, busty woman with dark blonde hair. She serves as Aunder’s tracker, presenting him with possible whereabouts of the other “players.” She’s the reason why Aunder found the others so easily, despite their vast distances apart. Because the Stone hasn’t imitated the others, she is unable to track him. At least not yet.

  Momo: a Venus sister. A white-haired cool beauty. Lacking in the breast department, she is often seen in more revealing clothing. She’s able to Jump the party vast distances, though Aunder prefers to travel by foot. She is the best at hiding her emotions, not that the Viper cares. None of the Venus sisters can harm him due to the Soul Bond.

  Princess Dire: a mysterious figure throughout the lore, known to be named after a curse that turns its victims into children. There is a possibility that the princess herself is a victim of the curse. Aunder rescued her from being publicly executed by a group of crazy villagers who practiced witch hunting.

  Julius: Seth’s older brother and ex-member of a powerful cult. Bound to Aunder as a member of the Forgotten Party, he shares a mutual discomfort of the Viper with Momo. It is unknown what use Aunder has for him.

  Tiffia: A sex-teasing Crusader researcher with a secret project that could supposedly change the world. Many of her fellow researchers back it. She’s a blonde woman who was secretly a customer of Terrance, though he didn’t recognize her when she attempted to “purify” him. Orders from a now-dead Pillar.

  Terrance: dark-skinned man with black hair. A psychic, although he didn’t know at first. He didn’t believe in anything supernatural until strange things started happening around him. It is unclear why the Crusaders were truly interested in this man; however, so was Aunder, the Viper. He left Terrance a business card for recruitment, which he eventually accepted, seeking answers. He is the Viper’s prophet.

  Other characters:

  The Oyabun: Misaka’s father. (Yakuza boss.)

  The red-hooded stalker: a mysterious man in a red cloak that serves the Stone Maidens proper.

  The Stone Maidens.

  The Viper Maidens.

  The ex-kid-maid: the 14-year-old Mei sent away in Volume 2.

  The Watchers.

  Alena: Alice’s mother. An archangel.

  Madrian Tanaka: Chika’s mother.

  Naomi: a cute and shy, green-haired journalist who gains massive courage when angered. One of Clyde’s first friends.

  Hideo: Toru’s uncle. Crusader researcher. Defeated as a major boss of Volume 7.

  Kazumi: Harumi’s friend. Perverted girl with the glasses.

  Ming’s friends/minions: Han, Peng, Tyrone (Kazumi’s boyfriend), and Zack.

  Chesire: servant of the queen of Wonderland.

  Ashard: fairy son of Titania the Fairy Queen. He’s a man of mystery at this point, but is definitely a creature of the light.

  Thor, God of Thunder.

  Kevin: First Rider of Achilles, He Who Paints the Night’s apocalypse. Well, Achilles is dead. So, he’s just Kevin. A single man, hurt by an ex named Netoritta… yeah.

  Atreas: Third Rider, a samurai who wields the power of flames. He can reincarnate an unknown number of times after death. There’s a sneaking suspicion that he may have gone easy on Clyde’s party during the initial meet…

  Risa Soulless: the youngest of the Soulless family’s elder dragons. She was full of ambition to climb to the top. She’s a blonde beauty of a dragon girl with the ability to shift from human form to that of an enormous reptile of death. Chiyo and the others knew her as someone who wouldn’t hurt a thing.

  Sol Niye Lor: the Falcon, one of the five dimensional interlopers invited by the Watchers. With goals of glory, the young man had no intention of letting the other “players” get a one-up on him. If he could change the stone-viper games to the Falcon game… A skilled fighter, although a bit unreasonable. [Dead. He remains on this list for memories of the five “players” of the stone-viper games.]

  Anzu: from Volume 3. They first walked in on the loli while she was singing a cat-heavy song. She is the real estate agent who booked Clyde his first house. She’s 23. A friend of Harumi and Liru.

  Amaterasu “Juliette”: Melody’s mother. She Who Dawns Time. A legendary trickster demoness, wife of Platus, Dark God of Utopius. Crimson red hair like her daughter. However, she has unnerving glowing eyes. Melody does not share this trait. She was a major 3-phase boss in Volume 8. Clyde pulled a miracle summoning Over-Stone 75%, easily defeating her.

  Platus, Dark God of Utopius: Melody’s father. He is not to be mistaken for He Who Paints the Night, a rogue dark god that impersonated Platus. Platus wants to harshly punish his daughter for accidentally breaking the realm’s core. She couldn’t control her immense strength back then. He sealed it as a result. He’s an angry, kingly figure who will do whatever it takes to get things done. Even if it means hurting loved ones.

  Fumi: a very kind slime girl with the ability to shift into human form. She is Toru’s lover.

  Maya: a mucus toad monster girl, CEO of Nowie pizza chains and more. She’s in love with Seth. First appearance was in Volume 3.

  Nuri: half-pixy servant of Maya who actually attends Sato Academy.

  Ling: Tetra’s coworker and close friend. She’s a short woman with wavy brown hair, a bust somehow exceeding even Tetra’s, and a somewhat sexual-flirty vibe about her.

  Clare: a shopkeeper during the day, a maiden during the night. Long black hair, striking blue eyes, with breasts that are almost on par with Harumi’s. Her weapon of choice is the bow.

  Sahara: leader of the Fireside magical girls. Long silver hair, red eyes. Cool, calm, and collected: she is the picture of serenity. Powerful and resourceful. The FM has a history of trying to recruit Yusuke and Kitome into their group. Clare’s shop has been booming ever since Sahara and her girls worked the café half of it. The maid café on 21st Street may start to notice…

  Entities revealed:

  Mortem: the Entity who brought Clyde to Satovia. Technically Clyde’s guide. An asshole.

  Previously…

  Last time on the Anime Trope System, Clyde, Harumi and Team Stone took out the Soulless Family and their cowardly Disciple leader with little effort. The dragon clan didn’t see it coming and, at the moment of the attack, underestimated the team. They’ve come a long way. Especially Harumi. The true power of the Nine tails is quite fearsome, especially when provoked.

  This questline is not over, however, but just the entry point to the real fight. The Thousand Year Dragon is an opponent more powerful than Clyde—that’s what every warning points to. He must be prepared before confronting the ultimate dragon god of all time. A god vs. god fight is nothing to sneeze at.

  This will be a battle that may shake the cosmos. One that he could very well lose. Will Harumi’s child have a future? Clyde must put in his all.

  But the T
housand Year Dragon isn’t the only thing on his plate. His counterpart, Aunder, has set plans into motion. Confrontations between the two groups, Team Stone and the Forgotten Party, may no longer be avoidable.

  Clyde’s rivals and watchers are: The Viper and his party, including his successor, the Thousand Year Dragon, the gods and dark gods, the remaining demon lords and maybe more, that which include a rumored person…

  Welcome to the Anime Trope System Volume 15:

  Darkened Hour. The Stone vs. the Punishment Squad.

  Episode 72 (Part 1): The Prophet’s Guide to Falling Over.

  Same night…

  Tetra’s office…

  “I really do appreciate your help today,” Tetra said to Ming, Misaka, and Kaguya. “I have one last favor, then all of the work on my end will be done and you’ll be good to go.”

  “Sure thing,” Ming said.

  “Could you deliver this packet to the night postal? It’s a couple blocks away.”

  Kaguya looked at the window, her expression worried. “I don’t know. It’s pretty dark out there.”

  Tetra shot the Alonian princess a blank stare. “But… you’re a ghost. Never mind. Here.”

  The dark elf handed Ming the orange packet. “When this is processed, everything Soulless will be sent to a charity. Of course, all the good stuff will go to Team Stone’s treasury.”

  Ming and the other two girls set off into the dim streets. This side of the city seemed to lack the funding for basic electrical maintenance. The young woman couldn’t blame Kaguya for being nervous. Well… did ghost girls get nervous? How?

  She turned, only to find her holding onto Misaka, eyes teary. A gust of icy wind flew past them and a plasticky CRASH made the women jump.

  “WAH!” Kaguya cried.

  “Kaguya, let go, you’re crushing me,” Misaka whined, her eyes teary also.

  Ming had to admit her heart was racing heavily, but she found the culprit shortly.

  “It was just a trashcan,” Ming said, pointing toward their right. A stray cat came from somewhere, seeming to investigate the downed object, most likely searching for food. The prophet girl wanted to drop everything and buy it some tuna, take it home, and keep it. Not that there were any stores near Tetra’s office. “The wind’s kind of strong tonight.”

  Kaguya looked, confirming the cause of the noise. She blushed.

  “You’re… a ghost,” Misaka said.

  “I don’t like scary things,” Kaguya said.

  Misaka nodded. “Me neither.”

  “Seconded,” Ming said. The three giggled.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Kaguya said to Ming.

  “Sure. What is it?” Ming asked.

  “Why aren’t you more aggressive for Clyde?” Kaguya asked. “Chika told me about your proposal to him. But I don’t see your ring. Did he shoot you down?”

  Ming felt like a giant arrow struck her dead center in the gut. She missed a step. “Wha—what are you talking about? Don’t speak silly talk.”

  Kaguya hovered over to the prophet girl. “There isn’t a need to deflect, we’re all friends here.” She smiled. “I’m the princess of Alon and yet I’ve never had a boyfriend in my life. I’m also a pure maiden.”

  “Really?” Misaka said then let out a relieved sigh. “Me too. What about you, Ming?”

  “Tear said she’s had her first time with Cly—”

  Ming quickly covered the ghost girl’s mouth, blushing furiously. “That’s nothing we should talk about—Tear’s just one big perverted teaser.”

  A drop of sweat fell off the back of Misaka’s head.

  “I have an idea,” Kaguya said.

  “Please tell me it isn’t embarrassing,” Ming said.

  “I’m probably not a good fit,” Misaka said.

  “Hear me out,” Kaguya said. “If we don’t do something, the other girls will keep getting in the way. So let’s help Ming.”

  Misaka sighed. “I knew it… I don’t know… I’m not really good at matchmaking.”

  Kaguya poked the side of the phoenix girl’s glasses. “I’ve never had a boyfriend either, remember. But we’re talking about Clyde here, our team leader. If we can get the other girls out of the way and set them up to be alone, then maybe… Clyde will make love to Ming. She’ll get pregnan—”

  Ming whacked Princess Kaguya with a paper fan. Good thing she borrowed it from Natalia earlier.

  “Your naivety is cute, but embarrassing,” Ming said, puffing her cheeks into a pout.

  “She kind of has a point,” Misaka pointed out shyly. “If you don’t spend time with Clyde, he’ll just get further away.”

  Ming flinched.

  Kaguya gave the poor girl a soft head pat. “You were there before Ruri and yet she got her ring before you,” the princess said then folded her arms. The sound of a passing car made her quickly fly behind Misaka, holding on, until she realized there was nothing to be afraid of.

  Ming sighed. “You’re something else, Kaguya.”

  “But you know I’m right,” Kaguya said, pretending as if she weren’t afraid of a simple passing vehicle.

  Wednesday. Week 2. Month 3. Year 1. Season: Winter.

  [Satovian Universal Calendar: Domino, 46389.]

  [School: Winter Break. Day 19 of 30.]

  [Current declared fiancée(s): Melody, Alice, Tear, Harumi, Chika, Natalia, Kitome, Yuki, Tessa, Ruri.]

  [Expecting: Harumi, Alice, Kitome. Time left: Harumi, kitsune: 5 months until due. Alice, half-demoness, half-angel: 5 months until due. Kitome, human: 9.3 months until due. Harumi: week 3, day 6. Alice: week 3, day 4. Kitome: week 2, day 4.]

  Morning…

  Clyde’s house…

  The first thing the young man woke up to was Natalia snuggled into him. Tear and Tetra walked in, freezing. The dark elf shot the young man a blank stare. Clyde gave her a sheepish smile.

  “Harumi. Natalia’s bullying—”

  Harumi whacked the young man with a nearby paper fan, causing him to laugh.

  “You show him, Harumi,” Tetra said, smiling. Matsume walked in, dressed in just a bra and panties.

  “You’ve got mail,” she said. “I left it on the table for you. Nice photo of you and Melody. I like the wedding background.”

  Clyde sighed. “That crummy old man’s still using our photo. It’s like he has nothing else to take a picture of. Speaking of Melody, where is she?”

  “She’s out with Alice and Chika,” Tear said. “They should be back in a moment.”

  The young man inhaled the nice scent of Yuki’s breakfast. One of his favorite people in the world—the young man just knew he didn’t deserve someone like her.

  “Here, take the runt,” Clyde said, giving the loli a head pat. “I’m going to go brush up. Are you sleeping in, Harumi?”

  “I’m feeling a little under the weather,” Harumi said softly. “I’ll be up in a few, go ahead.”

  “Morning sickness again?” Tear asked.

  “Sadly,” Harumi said.

  The succubus gave her a sad smile.

  Episode 72 (Part 2)

  Night, other side of the world…

  Rose Dragon Family Castle…

  Chiyo’s room…

  Chiyo could not stop thinking about Clyde’s strange form from when he fought the Falcon. The intensity, rage, and determination to deliver justice for his childhood friend who would’ve died had Harumi not become the Nine-tailed fox. The dragon blood inside the beautiful white-haired woman grew excited.