I knew obviously that Tartarus was not only a 'place' but also a being. The Primordial of the Abyss, father of the monsters that prowled the darkness, Jailor of the Titans.
The Protogenos had more titles than I did, and that was saying something.
The whole place recoiled at my presence, like a festering wound that had bleach poured onto it. Tartarus really didn't like me for some reason. Maybe because I permanently killed a bunch of his kids.
I walked anyway, the crunch of broken glass beneath my feet soon turned to the sound of good old dirt. If dirt constantly groaned and shifted beneath you trying to lead you a certain direction.
Above me, the ceiling… if you could call it that, constantly morphed. One second it was a regular rocky roof of a cave, the next it was filled with grotesque faces leering at me.
"Not a very impressive attempt at trying to scare me… fucking amateur hours up in here." I muttered.
It was ugly though. Very on brand for a place known as 'The Pit'.
A shape tore itself free from the shadows not too far from me.
Not a monster in the regular sense. Something had twisted its form beyond that in the time it had spent in Tartarus.
A mess of limbs stitched together, its body dragged itself forward decently faster than expected. It leaked molten ichor from its jaws and eyes.
It screeched at me, a sound that was enough to induce tinnitus.
I sighed.
"Seriously? Already? And I haven't even spent more than an hour in this prison realm."
It lunged.
I didn't even draw Amaterasu.
A flick of my fingers and the monster froze mid charge, then slid apart in tiny clean cubes. A snap of my finger lit the monster's remains up with Divine Flames.
My powers were no easier to control than ever. I had a feeling I didn't even need to chant out their names anymore. Not even for dramatic effect.
That's a lie… I'd always chant a 'release' phrase just to be a dramatic ass.
Just as the first monster crumbled to ash, another shriek tore through the darkness.
Then another.
Then many more.
Countless monsters screeched out their dissatisfaction at seeing one of their own killed. The ground split open to my right, vomiting up a pair of hulking cyclops.
From behind me skittering shapes crawled out of shadows, long, thin and fast, their bodies too narrow to house the teeth they carried.
"Oh, we're doing numbers now? That's cute."
I drew Amaterasu. Her red blade glinted in the low light. The heat rolling off of her, a calming wave. A wave that turned blistering just as the first brute charged at me.
I stepped forward and swung.
Golden flames carved through its neck, not burning so much as erasing the monster as soon as its knees hit the dirt.
The second brute didn't even get the chance to scream, nor did it get very far.
The thrust Amaterasu forward, flames lancing out in a straight line, piercing its skull from nearly twenty metres away. The fire didn't explode or spread, the monster just burst into flames then collapsed into a pile of ash, no golden dust.
These monsters had been erased.
Behind me the skittering monsters pounced.
I didn't bother turning.
A twist of my wrist and the skittering fell silent with a wide Dismantle sweep. Warmth bloomed behind me as I burned their corpses with Amaterasu with a single thought.
I exhaled slowly, the silence returned, broken only by the distant groan of Tartarus itself.
"You know, if you're trying to do a subtle job of ambushing me… you're failing. Hard." I adjusted the grip on Amaterasu.
The ground trembled in response.
More things emerged from walls all around me. Rising from the shadows, crawling out of cracks in the walls, some even just simply materialised.
The monsters were mutated this time.
Tartarus wasn't just throwing monsters at me, it was now mutating them before sending them on my way. Reinforcing their weak bodies into something stronger. Just for the chance to beat me.
'Adaptive behaviour… that's new? Maybe a new update? Choto-fucking mate… this isn't a game, why is Tartarus trying to adapt to me like Mahoraga.'
They came at me all at once.
I moved.
Fire and sheer violence wove together as I cut, swept, and danced through the throngs of monsters. Dismantle split monsters into parts while Amaterasu did her job, cutting and destroying everything around us with cleansing fire.
I didn't rush, there was no hurry when dealing with cannon fodder. I came here to end Kronos, these pests were just here for me to hone my weapons on before the 'main event'.
Eventually the last thing collapsed into a pile of dust. Amaterasu's flame had burned away whatever held it together. Be it a soul, or humanities belief.
I stood amid the aftermath, basking in the silence.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Just the low ambient hum of Tartarus grinding its teeth.
So I began walking again, I hated walking but I did it just to spite the Primordial.
Minutes passed, then hours. No monsters, no attacks, no surprise ambushes.
"Mmm, this is the part where the protagonist gets a snarky companion… so he doesn't look totally batshit inside talking to himself." I hummed, one hand in my pocket, the other holding Amaterasu in her sheath at my side.
No response.
I frowned slightly.
"Which means, I am actually talking to myself."
Still nothing.
I clicked my tongue, I swore I had heard whispers from my sword when I was flambéing monsters with her holy flames.
"Fantastic… walking through hell, and I've finally lost it."
A beat…
…and then, "Wow took you long enough you jerk."
Her childish voice filled my head, followed by what sounded like chips being munched on and a soda being slurped.
I stopped mid step.
"Uh excuse me?"
Amaterasu buzzed then warmed in my hand.
"Call my name to show off to some second rate wannabes then you forget all about me… stupid baka master."
"Stupid Baka is redundant…"
"Shut up!"
I stared at my sword.
Then around me just to make sure Tartarus hadn't suddenly gotten very into ventriloquism.
"… you talk? Oh wait, you do!"
"WOW!" She snapped, "he finally remembers."
I blinked.
"Right, sorry for forgetting that I have a talking sword. Honestly though, I really did forget about that."
There was a long, offended silence.
"WOW…"
"That came out wrong." I muttered.
"You forgot… you forgot that you had sentient, divinely bound katana that you met less than a few weeks ago."
"In my defense," I said carefully, "it has been a very long several weeks."
"Oh I've noticed, you've been monologuing to yourself in your head the last few days. What's up with that."
"I was obviously thinking."
"You almost 'thought out loud' a few times."
"Fair…"
She huffed.
"Do you know how awkward it is to be bound to someone who mutters to themselves while killing things?"
I glanced down at her, "Ama-chan… you know you're a sword right? You're literally made for killing things."
"Nyaaaa that's not the point baka!"
"Besides, you didn't seem so bothered earlier when I used you to erase a bunch of mutated monsters."
"I was being polite!"
I snorted, remembering a detail about when I met her in her inner world. "You're a shut in gamer sword…"
"Gehhh!" She sputtered "Excuse you! I am named after a goddess!"
"A goddess who definitely probably rage quits." I snickered.
"You! Hmph! The game cheats sometimes okay!"
"The game always cheats."
She went quiet for half a beat.
"Okay yeah that's fair, some games definitely are designed to be unplayable."
I smiled faintly, "Really though… I'm sorry for ignoring you. There's just been so much going on in my life that it's been constantly moving forward and I've never had much time to stop and reflect. I didn't mean to ignore you."
She huffed, "You absolutely did."
"Sorry?"
She sighed dramatically.
"Apology accepted! Try not to forget about me again… baaaka."
"Hai hai Ama-chan… now let's go kill more monsters."
As if listening in on our conversation, Tartarus reacted. The ground raptured ahead, birthing something big. It was humanoid but warped in only ways Tartarus would cause.
Its body was composed of stone dripping red liquid that hissed when it dripped onto the ground. Cracks lined its rocky body, each one glowing a dull eerie red. Smaller monsters swarmed around it, drawn to its presence.
Amaterasu hummed excitedly in my head. "Oooh! Mini boss… wonder what kind of loot it'll drop."
"Ama-chan… this is real life. Enemies don't drop loot."
"Tch…" she clicked her teeth, "you're not trying hard enough Baka Master."
"Fine… I guess some monsters do drop 'loot' if you really tried." I conceded, remembering that certain monsters did drop parts that was basically a sort of proof that you killed them.
The Minotaur dropped his horn or sometimes its weapon, Medusa was her head obviously, and the Nemean Lion with its pelt.
The monsters before me charged as one, frothing and screaming in rage as they rushed at me. I drew Amaterasu and grinned.
'Let's experiment then…'
"Burn and Illuminate, Amaterasu…"
Flames blazed to life around me as I unleashed Amaterasu's Shikai. Holding the glowing sword in front of me, I pushed malevolent energy though the edge and slashed outward.
Dismantle
An entire swath of monsters instantly crumbled to ash. I fought back a laugh.
"Fuck that was overpowered. Mixing Dismantle with your flames is a little overkill Ama-chan…"
"Ya' think!? That energy felt nasty… don't do that too much."
I cancelled the Shikai release and sheathed my blade. Cracking my neck, I got into a fighting position.
"Time for a good stretch then… it's been a while since I threw hands."
I used Dismantle and Cleave liberally. Handing out slashes like candy. The monsters didn't stand a chance. Not even the giant mutated rock monster withstood a dozen Black Flashes and a solid Cleave directed at its head.
[Scene Break]
I punched and kicked my way through the monsters. Eventually ending up surrounded by crumbling remains once again.
Tartarus was not happy. Everything it threw at me so far was taken out with a piss worth of effort.
The abyss screamed again.
Then light…
Blinding, otherworldly, divine.
I hummed and adjusted my grip on Amaterasu.
"I was wondering when I'd run into the Titans." I muttered.
"Titans?" Amaterasu asked.
"That's what this hole is… a jail for the previous rulers of this world. The Titans."
"So a boss fight?"
"Yeah I guess."
"Hope he drops good loot. You didn't get anything from all those weird mobs."
"Maybe some armour… Christmas is around the corner. I have gifts for everyone except Akira."
Hyperion stood ahead, it was obvious as to who he was with the way he glowed like an obnoxious glowstick.
He looked down at me, "A demigod…" he scoffed. "You dare tread here?"
I smiled.
"Oh…" I said pleasantly, "this is going to be fun."
The fight exploded.
Light clashed with my malevolent aura trying to burn it away. I drew Amaterasu and unleashed her Shikai without a word. Each cut I inflicted on Hyperion healed almost instantly.
"Huh… you're the first to withstand Amaterasu's flames."
"Your fire is weak boy! I am the Light."
I hummed and observed him for a second. He was right, Amaterasu's flames were erasing him. Only his own domain of light gave him an advantage that others didn't have. He healed his injuries as they happened.
His flesh was being erased but his domain countered it just enough to where he wasn't affected too much.
"Good, I was getting bored killing scrubs." I grinned savagely.
I dragged the fight out, I saw that my flames were having an effect on him even if his flesh was healing. I let him think he had a chance.
Cut. Burn. Dodge. Repeat.
He roared, frustrated. His spear cut through air as it missed my head by an inch.
"STAND STILL AND DIE!" He shouted.
"Nah," I dodged another thrust and it him across the arm. "I'm enjoying this too much."
Then I felt it, a thrum of power I had felt on Luke Castellan before.
Kronos.
'Damn… I was gonna do a whole monologue before trolling Hyperion.'
"Alright…" I sighed remorsefully. "Looks like our playtime is over buddy."
Hyperion snarled and tried to bash me with his shield. I jumped back, tattoos fading and extra eyes closing. I raised Amaterasu and pointed the tip of the sword at Hyperion.
"Look man, I'd play with you some more but I just found what I was looking for. So be happy okay? I'm about to hit you with something we ain't ever seen before."
Amaterasu buzzed happily in my hand.
"Are you gonna do it? You're gonna use IT."
Hyperion glared at me warily, the fact that I wasn't a demigod dawning on him as my energy output skyrocketed.
"Bankai… Ten no Hono."
The world around us ended.
An absolute domain snapped into existence, reality folding around me. It wasn't Malevolent Shrine, or Infinite Void.
Light, matter, resistances, protections. None of that mattered here. Not while my Bankai was unleashed.
Within this space, my will was law.
Everything within my eyesight was marked as a target for absolute erasure. A single thought and I could erase the very fabric of life itself with Amaterasu's flames.
It didn't matter what armour they had or what it was. If I wanted it gone, Amaterasu's flames would cleanse it from existence.
An overpowered version of my Shikai, one that didn't need physical contact, so long as I could see it I could hit it. And with Six Eyes, I could see everything.
Hyperion froze.
Fear finally registered as he realised that his control over light had been wrestled away from him.
I erased him.
Not burned. Not Killed. Simply removed from reality.
I sealed my Bankai again, returning Amaterasu back to her regular nichirin blade form. Just as I sheathed my sword light rushed towards me.
A voice echoed in my head.
"A domain as fundamental as Light must always have a Lord."
Lady Izanami.
My mother.
Power settled, something clicked inside me.
I sighed.
"Huh…" I murmured, "does this make me official now?"
Amaterasu buzzed excitedly again in my grip.
"Yay, one step closer to godhood!"
My thoughts swirled, not that I was complaining but I didn't really ask for more power. It was hard enough controlling my own strength with my boosted powers, with a new power set gifted to me I didn't know how it would change things.
I pulled myself from my thoughts.
'That's a problem for tomorrow me… now where was I.'
I looked towards where I felt the surge of power from Kronos. There, in the distance, a veritable army of monsters were gathered.
They weren't looking at me, rather, they were trying to squeeze through a large set of doors.
"Well then," I said, patting dust off of my haori, "best to not keep them waiting."
And I walked forward.
—————————————
Omake: "Another One"
Dates with Mitsuri were sacred.
That was a law of the universe. Right up there with don't touch my food and never interrupt a man when he's enjoying emotional peace.
We were walking through New York, hand in hand. She had that soft smile that was a permanent fixture on her face, eyes bright as she pointed out random shops she wanted to explore later.
I was winning at life.
"So," Mitsuri said happily, squeezing my hand, "after this can we try that dessert place you mentioned? The one with—"
Reality cracked.
Literally.
A shimmering ripple split the air in front of us like the universe buffering, and out stepped a man in silk robes that absolutely did not belong in Manhattan. He had long hair, a jade ring, and the unmistakable aura of someone who thought the world owed him interest.
I stopped walking.
Mitsuri blinked. "Oh! Is this another one of your… friends?"
"No," I said flatly. "This is gonna be something annoying."
The man looked around, scoffed, then locked onto me like a heat-seeking missile.
"… Are you Satoru?" he said slowly. "Why are you here? Are you also like me?"
I stared.
Then I glanced at Mitsuri.
Then back at him.
"…I'm on a date."
His eyes slid to Mitsuri, pointy eyebrows twitching.
Then bulged.
"W–What blasphemy is this?! Mitsuri Kanroji shall be mine, she does not belong in this world along with you, foolish brat!"
Mitsuri leaned closer to me and whispered, "Is he… okay?"
"No," I said. "He's terminal and possibly mentally ill."
The man puffed up, spiritual pressure flaring like a cheap firework. "Hmph! I, Young Master Zhao Longtian of the Azure Heaven Sect, have transmigrated into this inferior world! Fate itself bends to my—"
He raised a hand.
I sighed.
And flicked my finger.
He face-planted into the sidewalk so hard his ancestors probably felt it.
The entire street went quiet.
Zhao Longtian pushed himself up, dazed. "Y–You dare strike me?! Do you know who I—"
A mob appeared.
I don't know where they came from. One second the sidewalk was normal. The next, it was packed.
Phones were out. Eyes were glowing red.
Someone screamed, "IT'S SATORU AND MITSURI—!"
Another yelled, "THE SHIP IS REAL—!"
A third roared, "GET THE BASTARD—!"
Zhao Longtian looked around in horror. "W–Wait—why do these mortals look so enraged—?!"
He never finished the sentence.
The horde descended.
He was lifted bodily off the ground, still screaming about heavenly tribulations and bloodline awakenings as he was dragged away into the distance.
"YOU WILL REGRET THIS—!"
A fist flew.
"THIS IS NOT CANON—!"
Another punch.
Silence.
I exhaled.
"…Anyway," I said, turning back to Mitsuri. "Dessert?"
She stared down the street where the mob vanished.
Then smiled brightly.
"Yes! That was… exciting!"
We resumed our walk like nothing happened.
Ten minutes later, we were standing under soft lights near the river. The city hummed. Mitsuri looked up at me, cheeks a little pink, fingers tightening in my sleeve.
"Darling…"
I leaned down.
She leaned up.
The moment was perfect.
The air rippled again.
I froze.
Mitsuri froze.
A second man appeared—same robes, same smug face, different haircut.
"So," he sneered, "you must be the so-called strongest—"
CHOP.
A perfectly executed karate chop slammed into his neck.
He dropped instantly.
A different man stood of the guys crumpled form for a beat before hoisting the unconscious cultivator over his shoulder.
He looked at me.
Nodded once.
Then vanished into an alley with the body.
I blinked.
"…Was that," I began. "I swear I saw that guy before."
I remembered the guy way back in the earlier chapters who had sold me Mitsuri's socks. He had vanished like some sort of eldritch entity after giving me the thigh high socks that Mitsuri was currently wearing for free.
"I wonder who that was?" Mitsuri asked thoughtfully.
"…Yeah," I said. "Definitely the sock man."
We stood there for a beat.
Then Mitsuri laughed.
I laughed too.