Re: Level (never) Zero
A Re:Zero x Solo Leveler crossover fanfiction.
Author's notes: I replied to many questions so here it goes
Return by Death is still a thing, it is just less prevalent.
This may have spoilers if you are just in anime mode.
There is some Isekai Quartet references and other xovers that had happened.
Also I posted my soon to be lightnovel on fictionpress (same username)
Chapter 9: Against all the Currents
I must look like shit, cause I sure as hell fell like shit.
Even if my HP and Stamina has been restored, my emotional and mental state have not, I was exhausted in those 2 departments as well.
I stepped out of the dungeon portal with sunken eyes. I needed a power nap.
It was still dusk, thankfully so I used [Stealth] and snuck back in the residence and slept for a few hours.
According to what I could remember I was quite a few days ahead of schedule, around a week or 2. So I debated on whether I should get Beako on my side as my spirit familiar early on or not.
Still I would decide on that later.
4 hours later
I was now awake, but honestly not refreshed, I still needed some sleep, but in hindsight this also helped me look worse for wear, as a convalescent would.
It was decided that I should visit Felyx at Crush's mansion.
I tried to make myself as presentable as possible, but I loved my track suit so I defaulted to it.
I mean I was wearing awesome armor over it, but I would not be shown or felt, as I decided it that way, still their effects were very much active.
Carts where coming and going as last time, however not enough to really rouse suspicion, there were talks about the increasing price of weapons, I also saw her on the way there… the person possessed by Echidna (artificial soul), Anastasia.
First, I needed to make it so when Echidna possessed her she could switch back, it took very long as Echidna could hide the differences so well that even Julius didn't notice.
So we reached the gates to Crush's mansion.
It was then when I noticed something.
I had obtained a skill from that guy at the school setting, Kazuma, as well as a auxiliary skill "Spells of the Overlord" that I gotten from Ainz that allowed me to use his spells, however at double their cost, still, when I checked what spells I now had at my disposal I was frothing at the mouth, Jesus! The sheer versatility and effects… if I increased my intelligence I could use even more and perhaps use them in succession, however that last part was just a pipe dream as they had a rather LONG cooldown.
Still the spells kicked MAJOR ASS! Take that Rose-chi, I can back you into the corner now.
It seems my glee was seen through as Rem glommed tightly into my arm, it was rather dangerous as her breasts, who are rather soft, were in contact with my arm. If things kept going I wouldn't be able to contain it.
Thankfully we arrived and were escorted in, it was there when I met with Wilhelm once more.
"Greetings, it is good to see you have grown quite a bit" he said with a sincere smile.
"Hopefully, not just my outer appearance" I replied with a bit of cheek, however he took it good natured.
"No, it seems great growth has happened to you in this short time, your step is more sure, and your eyes no longer clouded by doubt, while I surely welcome those changes, have they been forced into you?" He asked.
I smiled "if it had been forced on me, then I wouldn't have really changed"
He smiled, accepting of my answer.
We arrived into the audience hall, and there was Crush and Felyx, with his crossdressing.
I was honestly happy to see THIS Crush, and I would do what I can to protect them.
One skill I obtained from my job was called [Shadow Exchange], it allowed me to change places with a shadow monster of mine. This would be a great thing, it was at level 1 currently, and had a cooldown of 3 hours.
As we walked I took an opportunity and made one of my shadows slip into Rem's shadow. That way I could protect her and Crush.
I elected to have Polaris follow her in her shadow, with a mental command I felt as he took a knee and moved from me into Rem's shadow. It seemed that they couldn't feel anything odd with them, probably due to my not having any ill intent. He was the strongest shadow over the rank of Elite, a named shadow, his straight was the real deal.
I introduced myself a bit better than what I did the first time around, she found my personality quite amusing and asked Felyx to take good care of me.
Now that would not be a problem, but Felyx LOVED to tease, and tease ME even more.
Thankfully I have grown a thicker skin.
He tried to heal me but for the life of him he couldn't find anything.
"Are you sure you were gravely injured Shubaru-nyan?" He asked.
"Well you saw how I was back there, but I only feel rather tired…" I said.
Felyx tried to use his water magic to try to obtain control of my body. But was violently rebuffed by my higher Intelligence stat as it served as my defensive stat for magic effects.
"Gagh, what the nyah?!" He yelled shocked at this.
"You tried to do something to me… didn't you?" I said accusingly. I wanted him to sweat a bit.
"I…. I wasn't I mean,I didn't myaean anything by it, rather how did you manyaged to stop mya magic?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
It was then when Rem appeared and had her flail chain ball at ready, she was ready to smash him to pieces should he attempt to do 'harm' to me.
Wilhem asked Felyx to stop trying to do anything to me, as it was demeaning and that it would cast lady Crush in a bad light. Felyx however started to look at me in a different light, no longer as an amusing thing, but rather with an air of caution.
The only way to break his hold was to be able to overpower his control of the Od in the body, something that would take either a LOT of power or a LOT of control, either did not paint a pretty picture. He was the youngest to ever be conferred a "Color", his being Blue.
When they were alone, he asked Wilhem "Didn't you say he was a maneless cub? What is it what thyan? He broke through my water wagic like nnyaathing"
Wilhelm was not sure, but regarded Subaru with a better light.
After Crush was told of Subaru's recovery, he was allowed to stay for a while. It was when Wilheim decided to intervene.
"Forgive this one's insolence, but if I may… may I request young Subaru for a little training, I believe he has the qualifications to become a most excellent knight, and it is my selfish wish to see what he will bring. I see great power behind that uncouth eyes, yet I sense gentleness, desire to shield and protect, so I implore you lady Crush… allow me to train this boy… no, man" he said as he took a knee.
I, Subaru Natsuki, was floored, for the first time I was allowed intense training under the tutelage of the one and only "Demon Sword". There is no way I would refuse.
I was given 2 weeks, with it that I would get only 4 days till the whale came.
I would milk this for all it was worth. Being taught by a legend did not come often, you could say this was becoming a bit of a 'New Game+'.
The sparing went as one would expect, my abilities were rather high, at least a tad higher than Julius' own, however I was still no match to the old man.
My attacks where powerful and swift. Many of the other knights as well as Felyx where shocked at my skill level and the sheer violence of my attacks, however I had no technique, just power, the old man handed my ass in a silver platter, but still, my using my skills over and over again allowed me to level up said skills, so far my [sprint] was at level 9 and [Vital Strike] was at level 10.
We Exchanged blows, practice sword against practice sword as powerful sounds emanated everytime we clashed. Our attacks looked like a flurry of limbs as we violently tried to hit each other. The swords merely a thin blur due to the speed we exchanged blows, I had a big grin.
Fighting not to win, but to not loose… even if I got beaten and broken, so long as I keep making Wilhelm-oji take me even a bit more seriously in each exchange that would not make it a true loss to me.
Wilhelm had a look of fascination, or perhaps maybe wonder, how long could I keep this up? How far I could go? As I ate dirt for what it seems the 30th time.
I kept using [Sprint] as I tried to pressure him, it had leveled up quite a bit, it increased speed, lowered the MP usage. My eyes turning sharper.
However, even with the speed I now had, he still rebuffed my attacks, albeit I was pressing him.
I could feel that he began to increase the self imposed limitation he had when my blade nearly touched his beard.
With a final strike I was sent back, my body bruised to high hell. My face hit the ground and spun about 4 revolutions before being flung into the Gate's wall.
I forced myself to stand as I used the training sword to help myself up, as I was almost up, the damn thing decided to finally snap.
Rem rushed up to me as she helped me clean my face and I smiled tenderly at her.
I was rather tired as Felyx was actually given actual work on healing me, this was repeated for the 2 weeks, every 2 days forcing him to take me a bit more seriously.
Near the end of the allotted time I had with him I had managed to both obtain [Sword Skill] whitch was now at level 5, as well as [Demonic Swordman Astrea Swordskill] at level 2.
I surprised old man when I pulled his own attack, albeit bastardized as I was not used to it.
I have to say, while the wodden blade touched the skin of his chest he immediately countered and broke my ribs.
Once he noticed what had happened he apologized profusely.
"I apologize, it seems I still lack training" he said with a deep bow.
I would be laughing if I wasn't in so much pain.
Felyx had a field day with me as Rem sat in a chair besides my bed, I had fallen asleep, but I could feel her hand on mine.
It was the night before my allotted time to leave, Crush asked for my presence and invited me to enjoy a drink with her.
We discussed a bit about my person, how I came to Emilia's side, and I told her the (mostly) true, as it would be not wise to lie to her due to her divine blessing.
It was right here and then where I had to make my plan unravel.
Flashback 3 nights ago
A few nights ago I went to town, knowing full well I will find Anastasia and Mimi in town, she invited me to lunch as she found it that Mimi was taken by me, but it was due to concern at me being disheveled due to my training, so we went to the restaurant and I asked for something simple.
I went to the crux of the meeting.
"I wish to form a 3 way alliance, at least temporarily, until we get rid of the White Whale" I said as she was about to eat her meal.
She stopped mid bite.
She stared into my eyes "and what benefit would that bring me?"
She is the owner of the highest merchant group as well as owner of a mercenary group, her greed could give Echidna (true) a run for her money, so obviously I had to give something.
"Partnerships are a give and take, it would be in poor manners to demand help or a favor without compensation, however you fail to grasp a detail, or rather, you are leaving it out as to try to weaken my position, thinking that perhaps due to my age and personality I would grow desperate, but… helping get rid of the great mabeast that has hunted for 400 years, well, it would paint a good image on you, not to mention that without it your commerce group could travel with much less fear from the whale suddenly appearing" I said as I took a drink of water to give time to her to mull over.
Mimi looked at me and then at Anastasia as she was shivering.
She then laughed "My, it seems I completely underestimated you, yes, what you say is true, it would indeed raise my chances at being selected, but my mercenaries still need to eat, so if you have nothing to offer-"
"Mining rights, you should know of the minerals that can be mined there, do you not? However it would have to be split with your other partner, still what you would be able to get from this venture would more than satate you" I said with a smirk.
She stood up as she grabbed the hem of her outfit, doing a slight bow, "Then I Anastasia Hooshin accept the terms of this alliance, it seems I found someone who could match my negotiations skills" she said as Mimi was shocked at the developments.
"No way, it had taken me a LOT of brain power to be able to make this and make it happen, if anything I think it was just sheer luck" I said.
And to be honest, I agreed, a person's mentality is difficult to gauge after all.
"My, but still, luck is always a factor, I would have liked to have found you first" she said bemoaning the fact.
"Hahaha, sorry, but this does not mean we have to be enemies, I would rather have you as a friend"
She smiled and shook my hand.
After all that we left with Mimi waving vigorously at me.
"Ah, Mimi, tell Julius if he could meet me over the main square tomorrow!" I yelled.
"Mimi promises, YAY!" She said as she followed Anastasia.
Present time
So I proposed the alliance to her, that's when Felyx came inside all worried about her.
When I explained it all to them, Felyx was hesitant, but thanks to Anastasia's arrival the deal was made.
When Crush asked me how I came to that conclusion I outlined my reasoning.
First, the continuous influx of weapons and the raise in prices of them, the carts of goods that came in and out the mansion as well as the visits she had received many times at night.
And when she asked how I thought it must meant about the White Whale I looked at Wilhelm.
He choked back.
"And to add a cherry to this, if you join m, I will give you the exact date the damnbbeast will come, this will be a win-win for all" I said.
I showed Crush my 'metia' which they examined, they decided to bank their hopes on me.
It would be a true slaughter, and I would let Weilheim be the star, in here I was just a stage hand.
Rem was star struck as she saw how I managed the negotiations and praised me lots. While I loved the praises, I asked her to keep it moderate, as I would get a big head.
Polaris, still on her shadow, followed her as negotiations had been brokered.
All I needed was to talk to Julius and the rest after the White Whale subjugation.
*Play: Myth&Roid Tragedy:Eternity*
To be honest I planned to have a fight with Sloth, I wanted to kill him over and over again, but I should keep it close to as I did previously.
Still I would slaughter the cultists and the fingers that I could find.
So my weapons against the cultists and the dear Archbishop would consist on the blades I was currently playing with…
[Rasaka's Fang]
Rarity: C
Type: Dagger
Attack Power +25
Inflicts 'Paralysis' and 'Bleeding' on attack.
'Paralysis': The target has a chance to become immobilized.
'Bleeding': The target will lose 1% health per second.
A dagger made of Rasaka's poisoned fang, still dripping with its poison.
And…
[Knight Killer]
Type: Dagger
Price: 2'800'000 Gold
Attack Power +75
It's a sturdy and sharp dagger designed to cut a knight's armor. Because of its serrated blades, it will not slip easily against armor.
Effect 'Knight Slayer': +25% damage against heavy armored opponents.
My eyes trained in my two daggers, I would definitely…
End Acedia
Bring forth Industria…
Time to...
S̶̷̛͘l̶͏̕҉̸̢̀͞a̧̡͏͏̸̢͟͝y̵̢̡̛͘ s̶҉͟͢l̵̨͜͟͞o̵̡͜t̵̡̛̕͟͟͠h̵̛͘͠͠͝
My pupils dilated, my face changed with anger and rage as I clenched my fists as I drew blood from my palms.
I took a deep breath to calm down and took an orange scarf from the "inventory" he had.
[Dark Hero of the Star's Wrathful Scarf]
Defense against water, ice, fire raised to 15%, mental effects reduced by 25%, Protection of elements: keeps wearer at an optimal temperature regardless of weather.
And put on a single ring I now had as loot from the magician monsters.
[Ring the Magic Adept]
Defense against magic increased by 10%
Spell damage +40
Increase of MP +40
Increase of experience gained on (magic) skills +20%.
It seems that if I use a skill a lot, once they reached a certain level, they would evolve.
Skill [Sprint] has evolved into [Quicksilver]
The ability allowed me to enhance my physical and mental speed, ensuring me being able to react and move at sonic speeds, this would also protect me and allow me to maneuver with no hindrances, this would come in handy.
I was now ready.
Chapter end