I woke up to the sound of rustling.
"Dallel?"
"Rose? You're awake!"
"Dallel… I'm so sorry."
I couldn't help but cry. I nearly killed him and Amy.
"It's alright."
I sat up to hug him and he took it with a surprised expression.
"You can move."
"I can. Did you doubt I'd be able too?"
"Kinda."
"Well, I'm okay now. Thank you. You sa-"
"Ooh~ She just woke up and you're already getting busy."
I turned and looked at Thalia. Next to her was… my shirt.
Dallel saw that… looked at me and blushed furiously.
"S-s-sorry!"
Then he ran out of the room.
"So, Ms. Fearsome Rasberry. How are you doing?"
"You are evil, you know that?"
"Eh, can't help making fun of you. You're too easy and that was too perfect to pass up."
I was blushing.
"Just give me my stupid shirt."
"Well~ if it's stupid~"
"Thalia, I swear. Give me the shi-"
"I jest. Here, have it."
She left with a major smirk.
"What an evil dragon."
_
After dressing, I went downstairs with a limp.
"So, Dallel and Thalia weren't lying, you are awake."
"I am."
Silas greeted me.
"Could I have my usual."
"Sorry, doctor's orders. No wine. I can give you water."
I grimaced.
"Fine, water please."
I sat down and put my head on the table. I still had a killer headache.
"Hey, Rose. It's good to see you awake."
"Good to be awake."
I got a lot more greetings before I got my food. Then they sort of looked away as I ate it all. I guess the subject of me eating wasn't very comfortable.
"Rose, you're alive. I figured that you finally kicked the bucket after kicking Dallel."
"Good to see that you're doing well, Jalad."
"But seriously. I'm happy that you're back… when I got that notification… If it wasn't for Dallel, I think we wouldn't have been able to persist."
"I'm happy to be back, and to hear that Dallel did a good job."
"He truly did. I suppose it's his regal blood, but all of us were shocked in how well he organized things."
"The God Slayers were also shocked."
"They were?"
I laughed.
"Yeah, almost right after the commander they set to guard me told me that you'd be moaning, a guy ran in to tell him that you guys took their remaining minor worlds."
"Really?"
"Yep, and the timing was perfect, because he accidentally loosened a cuff in his anger, so I was able to escape."
"How did he get that angry?"
"Right after the news, I sassed him."
"*Sigh* Of course, you did. Did he hurt you afterwards?"
"Yep, ripped out my voice box, but he did it so violently that one of the cuffs was off."
"You take too many risks."
"Thanks."
"That wasn't a complement."
"Hehe."
"Still."
His gaze turned softer.
"I'm glad to hear that you kept fighting."
"I would never dream of stopping."
"Also, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"What caused you to enable FEAR?"
I stopped and everyone stopped, curious to the reason.
"The vermin that acted as our friend detailed how he would torture each one of you, but… it was the last one that caused it fully."
Darsen spoke.
"What was the last one?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Please, we need to know. So, we can help you."
"He would lock Darsen and Erica in a cage, and starve them… until…"
"I fall to Devour…"
"Yeah…"
Everyone was quiet, so I spoke.
"The rest… they were simple torture, but that last one… I just couldn't…"
"I understand."
"Dallel?"
"If I was there… If I heard that… **** the power difference. I'd try to kill him right then and there."
He was furious at Damien. We all were. Darsen coughed.
"Okay, I am minorly concerned about Savage Beast and Devour merging."
"Actually, it's better."
"What?"
"Because now the urges only come through when I enter FEAR."
Darsen sighed in relief.
"That's good."
"Yeah…"
_
I went to Gallson's for a check up on my sword.
"What about yer armor?"
"I didn't really have time to look for it, unfortunately."
"Man, that sucks."
Thalia looked confused.
"Then how did you get the sword?"
"What do you think they tortured me with?"
"Oh… are you sure you can-"
"Of course, the torture hurt, but I got the satisfaction of ticking off a commander."
"How?"
"Tortures no fun when the person barely reacts."
They all just looked at me.
"I think that you are the only one that would not scream just to spite someone."
"Eh, with his ability I practically had to spite him at every turn."
Mark asked.
"Which commander was it?"
"Marcus."
I smirked as he gaped.
"You survived the killer commander's torture without screaming?!"
"I screamed the first time, then I realized he was into that, so I just kept quiet and trained my magic on my bodies interior."
"…"
"I maxed out pain resistance!"
"I would imagine. How long did the torture even last?"
"10 hours."
"""T-t- TEN HOURS!!!"""
"Rose, it takes a great deal of willpower to even remember your own name after 30 minutes, and you didn't make a peep for 10 hours?!"
"Yep! Absolutely ticked him off."
"I'd imagine."
"Also, I've thought on my requirements."
"And?"
"I'm going to go to Earth and talk to Gabriel."
"But we need you here?"
"Please, Dallel's the current leader, and I'm fully aware that the general populous had lost their faith in me, so I'll give them time to process everything."
"Fine…"
"Besides I'll be much safer on Earth. Even with their final goal, none of them would be dumb enough to pick a fight with Gabriel."
"That's a good-"
"Oh, and Erica, you're coming with me."
"Heh?"
"You need to apologize to Gabriel, and I assume you want to talk to your parents."
"Eh?!"
"Come on!"
I smiled and grabbed her.
"Wait. WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! I don't want to talk to Mr. Gabriel."
"TOO BAD!"
I ran off with her towards to hub.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Then I warped to Earth with Erica in tow.
"*URP* that wasn't fun."
"Sure, it was, stand up, we are in New York."
We stood up and looked around.
"Woah."
We saw a group of angels flying around, delivering items, materials, and food to workers.
Some other angels were also building.
"They're still repairing the damage from my and Kalgero's fight?"
"Seems like it."
An angel landed next to me.
"Pardon me miss, but tourists can't come… you're not of this world."
"Sorry, but could I speak with Gabriel? I need his help."
"*Sigh* Gabriel is quite busy, but I could ask him. What's your name?"
"Rose Hood, and this is Erica."
His eyes widened.
"I see."
He flew off and returned with Gabriel who had a grimace.
"So, Rose. I assume you are here for help with completing your requirements?"
"How did you-"
"Luma, insisted I sign a petition to give you easier requirements."
Right, the angels weren't too happy that I named the system.
"But I refused, of course. If you received hard tasks, it means you are capable of completing them."
Then he smirked.
"I mean, what's your hardest task."
"Kill a 700+…"
The angel that brought him gaped and Gabriel's smirk turned to disbelief.
"You're… kidding, right?"
"Wish I was."
He sighed.
"Alright, that's way off. What's the second hardest."
"There are two tied for that."
"And they are…"
"Kill one angel and one demon…"
The angel gaped more and took a step back, and Gabriel was just ticked off.
"If I didn't know it was unbiased I would assume you ticked off the requirement generator."
He paused.
"Actually, knowing you~"
"Hey!"
He started laughing.
"Calm down I'll help you with the non-kill ones. Name them."
"Gain title- Conqueror…"
"And?"
"That's it."
"And how many requirements do you have?"
"12, and I had one other non-kill but that's already completed."
"What was that one?"
"Get a blessing from the Supreme Faction…"
"… Yep, you definitely angered someone."
"Luckily I already have 4 complete."
"Which ones?"
"Kill 10000 higher beings, kill a Whilder, kill a Dragon, and the blessing one."
"I don't know what to be more shocked by. The requirements, or the fact that you've killed over 10000 higher beings."
"So, which requirement should I go for?"
"I'd say Conqueror, it would definitely be beneficial for the kill tasks."
"How do I get it?"
"Singlehandedly conquer a world."
"…"
"What?"
"I already did that…"
"What?"
"Yeah, I did that when testing if conquering minor worlds was a feasible goal."
"Did Luma help you?"
"Nope."
"Then…"
"Do I have to do it head on?"
"Nope."
"Then why?"
"Here, ask Luma to check the requirements for you."
"Okay. Luma?"
[Checking… Oh, come on… Really?]
"What is it?"
[Well, normally you'd have to take one world singlehandedly…]
"Luma, what do I need to do."
[You need to conquer a middle world singlehandedly…]
"ARE YOU KIDDING?!"
"What did she say?"
"I have to take a middle world singlehandedly."
"But… even a 700 would be hard pressed to do that."
"Yep…"
"Here, when you accomplish that, come back and I will help you get the fallen angel and demon you need."
"Thanks… know any worlds like that?"
"God Slayers have 2 middle worlds including their capital."
"Wait, so my team…"
"Yes, you put them down to a single wing world and the capital."
"Well, may as well restrict them to the capital, shouldn't I."
I smiled darkly.
Gabriel sighed.
"I'm still confused why you got such high requirements."
"Maybe it's because I evolved Savage Beast."
"Perhaps…"
"…"
"Wait what?"
"Yeah, I evolved it, and it merged with Devour."
"Rose… what the heck."
"Sorry?"
"Here, could you show me this new ability?"
"Um… I don't think it would be a good idea…"
Erica nodded.
"Yeah, she may eat someone!"
The angel near us gasped.
"Eat someone?!"
"Yeah, in her FEAR mode, she becomes hungry and if hungry enough will even try to eat allies."
"AH!"
The angel fled, but Gabriel merely sighed.
"Enter the form, I'll make sure you don't hurt anyone."
"Alright."
I channeled FEAR into myself and an earthquake began. I began growing. My eyes and mouth disappeared, tattered wings shot out, a bone crown formed, and my feet turned into talons.
"So, is this it?"
"YeSSSSSSSS!!!!"
"So, it distorts your mind?"
I nodded vigorously.
"Well, I'd say that it's probably a good idea to use this skill to defeat the middle world."
I disabled it.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, it's quite strong."
Erica was gaping at me.
"What?"
"You were so docile!"
Gabriel nodded.
"I'd assume that's for two reasons. First, she entered while calm. Second, she was in front of a being that far exceeds her strength."
"That makes sense to me."
"Well, get to it. It would be better if you became a higher being sooner than later. Then again, I don't know who would sponsor you."
"Why not you?"
"HAH! As part of the supreme faction, I don't sponsor anyone."
"I see…"
"Sorry, but that is the rules, otherwise many would claim favoritism."
"I understand. Oh right, Erica, didn't you have something to say to Gabriel."
Gabriel turned to Erica with an annoyed glance.
She blanched then muttered.
"Umm… sorry for ignoring what you told me."
He sighed.
"It's fine, I'm just happy you are alright."
"I planned for her to meet with her parents before we headed back."
"She is part of your faction?"
"Yep, she joined it."
"Interesting, well, take as long as you need."
Me and Erica walked in the direction of her home.
"Think they are alright?"
"I hope so…"