AN – Some of my thoughts.
I've read some of your comments in a couple of previous chapters saying that this arc is horrible and that so far it hasn't given anything to Jay. ( Well some of it has been deleted after i checked again, but anyway- )
Back before i even finished Arc IV, I did ask your thoughts about having an original arc with mostly original characters, and some of you said yes.
So this is what you asked for.
This original arc is how I usually write my previous character arcs, and it hasn't changed even a bit. So if you think this is bad, then that simply means I'm not a good author or my writing doesn't suit your taste. My suggestion? Just drop the story entirely. I never asked for your Power Stones or even money, did I? You want to know why? Because I simply write this for myself, and out of my love for the DxD world.
It's my head canon, you could say. And the only thing that makes me happy is your interactions and your thoughts on what I write, whether it's good or not.
Which means, like I said, if you're expecting something different, just stop reading this book as you're only setting yourself up for disappointment. Because even after this, I still want to explore the Greeks, the Hindus, the Irish, and of course there is still the war with the devils, Trihexa, and ExE, all of which will involve these characters you said you didn't care about.
If you want this fanfic to revolve only around canon characters, and for Jay to f*ck them one by one, steal Sirzechs' wife or Rias' mother, or interact with them constantly despite him being literally the Hitler of the DxD world, then this is simply not the right book for you. There are plenty of good DxD fanfics that focus on that. On Webnovel, you have Fuck I Need to Tame Them to Survive, or DxD: Zenith Tempest, which is a good one if you want a more canon-romance-heavy fanfic. Or you could explore FanFiction.net, which definitely has better stories than mine.
My book is a journey of self-discovery for Zayyn Illya Kovalenko, as well as an exploration of the DxD world's potential. Each character has their own story. But of course, it still stays within canon boundaries. There is no AU here, only canon additions (I mean, how can you call it AU if the canon never even explained it?).
Even this arc is meant to show Jay learning how to appreciate his life as it is, instead of tying himself to goals he already knows will lead to nothing. Basically to rule his own path. It's also meant to help him build some understanding of other people perspective. And not only that (LITTLE SPOILER), in this arc is where i'm planning to make Jay and Lavinia relationship get even deeper, means Lavinia will play crucial role in this arc. And there will be also you know, some DxD classic.
Though honestly, I was already expecting some of you wouldn't like this arc. That's why I kept asking what you think, because even though I'm doing this purely for the love of the game, I'm still open to suggestions and if it's good, i will thinking about how I can implement them.
I already knew before that I can't really put a character arc like this in a fanfiction, let alone a Webnovel, which is definitely going to feel boring since there are so few canon characters involved. Because even i know that what makes fanfiction is enjoyable is how you can see whether its an OC, self-insert, or Y/N interact with the actual canon characters.
That's why I asked you guys to see if you would enjoy it too.
And I'm not calling other fanfics that follow the canon storyline, because I enjoy them too, usually even more than the non-canon like this. But this story, like i said is still followed the canon as the next arc will involve the main cast in Kuoh during the Holy Sword arc, of course with a twist.
Conclusion, I understand that some of you probably think this arc is forced, boring, or bad. I mean, what's even the point of this arc anyway? And if you're asking me to quickly end it, I'm sorry, I can't do that.
Even though the majority of you probably didn't like it, I can't justify ruining the enjoyment of the people who do, even if that person is only one reader. ( ORV lol )
Though, now i learned that this type of arc probably is not really suitable for fanfiction.
Yep, that's all i want to talk about.
Have a good day.
____________________________________________________________
"Aten is omniscient."
The words hung in the air as everyone fell silence. The way Bastet said it so casually made Jay, Freya, and Rossweisse exchange confused glances at each other.
"Omniscient? You mean all-knowing, Omniscient?"
Bastet nodded.
"Sort of... But from what I understand, it isn't absolute omniscience. It's more like he can perceive everything that has happened inside Heliopolis from the beginning of time, the present, and even the future all at once. Basically, anything you're going to do inside this place… he probably already knows it through Heliopolis. And that allows him to see the future in a sense."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"That includes you trying to find him or attack him. He would likely already know about it."
"No way… then how can you even defeat him if that's the case?" Rossweisse said as her voice shaking.
"That's the catch... You cannot defeat him," Bastet said, a small, helpless smile playing on her lips as she looked at the three of them.
"Why do you think no one has ever dared to challenge him in battle or attempt a coup to overthrow his rule? The answer is simple, it's because he is the Almighty, the only Supreme True God in the history of all polytheistic pantheons, with the sole exception of the Biblical faction of course, which is ruled by a single God."
Bastet said a she let out a helpless smile.
Meanwhile, Jay fell into deep thought. Aten being omniscient changed everything. He had never faced someone who could see the future. Does that mean they would always know what he was going to do and how?
But-
Freya suddenly spoke.
"Is that the reason your father, Ra, never tried to end the game? Because he knew that even if he challenged Aten, he would lose?"
Bastet shook her head.
"No. My father did try to end this game. After all, it is the only chance we have to finally be freed from this prison and return to the outside world again after thousands of years."
She paused.
"He is just doing it his own way."
The room fell into silence. Freya turned to look at Jay again to see his reaction. After hearing Bastet's revelation, her hope of escape seemed to have crumbled into pieces. How could they even fight someone who already sees the outcome of every battle?
Yet Jay seemed lost in thought before finally speaking.
"Yeah, so… can you help us find where he is?"
Bastet, Freya, Rossweisse, and even Sekhmet, who had been mostly ignoring the conversation until now, all widened their eyes in shock.
"Hey, Zayyn Illya Kovalenko, did you not hear th- UMF!"
Jay placed a hand over Rossweisse's mouth, cutting her off instantly while his dark hazel eyes remained fixed on Bastet.
The prospect of fighting an Omniscient God was objectively terrifying. To most, what he was suggesting would be considered the height of recklessness, perhaps even suicidal. But Jay had no intention of rotting in this wasteland. He still need to find where Rizevim is, after all.
"You… are you serious?"
Jay nodded.
"Will you help me or not?" he asked.
Bastet stared at him for a moment, as if trying to decide whether the man in front of her was insane or simply determined beyond reason. Then she sighed.
"Fine. I will help you try to locate him," she said.
Jay's expression softened slightly in relief at the confirmation from the Goddess of Protection.
"But that will have to wait. I need to treat Anubis first. He is in critical condition, and it seems even my healing magic cannot repair the damage to his body," she added.
"Hm, what happened to your doggy, Bastie?" Sekhmet suddenly spoke again.
Bastet clenched her hands tightly, a pained expression crossing her beautiful face.
"He lost… and was nearly killed by a dragon, Crom Cruach," she said, causing Freya's eyes to widen at the familiar name ringing on her ears.
"The Crescent Dragon… he is here too?" she asked, her tone filled with wariness.
Bastet nodded.
"His technique somehow prevents the wounds on Anubis' body from closing. No matter how hard I try to heal him, they won't recover. I'm considering asking Isis for help to heal Anubis, but I'm afraid she would refuse, considering the situation between him and her, and the fact that he is practically on his own in this whole game."
She then looked back at Jay.
"And since Aten is rarely in the same location for long periods of time, I need to constantly monitor his movements and update you about them," Bastet said. "But I can't do that right now because of this... situation."
Jay then shifted his gaze toward the door behind Bastet, sensing a presence inside, before his eyes returned to the feline goddess.
"If it's only for healing, I can help with that," Jay suddenly said.
"…Eh?"
***
Inside the humble room, Jay stood inside as his gaze fixed on the long-haired, brown-skinned man lying on the bed. The man was unconscious, but his condition was far worse than that. Dozens of severe wounds covered his body. One of his arms had been severed cleanly, there was a hole in his abdomen, and he had even lost one of his feet.
His face was practically destroyed, reduced to burned flesh with no skin remaining. And even his hair had been completely incinerated.
Bastet stood beside him, slightly turning her head away, unable to look at Anubis's condition. Yet her eyes kept drifting toward Jay, who appeared fully focused on analyzing the god of death's body.
'This aura is… dragon aura, and it's similar to Azi,' Jay thought.
Avesta ignited as it scanned the remnants of energy etched into the God of Death's wounds.
'No wonder normal healing magic won't work.' He thought.
"So, can you help him?" Bastet suddenly asked.
Hearing the soft, hopeful tone in her voice, Jay turned his head toward her.
"Of course."
And a moment later, a blazing black grail appeared out of thin air in front of him, radiating a serene yet unsettling aura that made Bastet's eyes widen.
"That's…"
Before she could finish her question, Jay raised his hand. And almost immediately, a small burst of black flame ignited in his palm, then spread rapidly, engulfing Anubis's entire body.
A primal instinct of fear surged through Bastet as all of her sense told her to not get closed to that black flame. But the sight alone made her think Jay was burning Anubis alive. Reacting instantly, she grabbed Jay's arm and slammed him to the floor.
Jay, a little bit surprised by her sudden movement, didn't resist as she pinned him in a tight lock, her body pressing down on his. Her chest was against his, and her leg locked his in place, immobilizing him completely.
Her feline ears were flattened, and her eyes burned with killing intent as she glared down at him. Jay, however, maintained an indifferent expression despite the blade-like pressure in her grip.
"What are you doing!" Bastet hissed, her other hand pressing against Jay's neck, ready to kill him at any moment.
"I'm trying to heal him," Jay replied calmly.
"Does that look like healing to you!? You're burning his body!"
But Jay only glanced toward Anubis.
Bastet followed his gaze.
The black flames were still there, but instead of destruction, Anubis's body remained intact. And slowly, the flames began to fade, leaving no sign of burning at all.
"What…" Bastet's voice dropped into stunned disbelief as she stared at the man on the bed.
Her heart pounded wildly. Not a single wound had worsened. Not a single trace of destruction remained, despite what she had just witnessed.
"Now, get off me," Jay said.
With a shove, he pushed Bastet aside and stood back up, turning once more to face Anubis.
Bastet immediately realized she was in the wrong. A wave of embarrassment hit her as she quickly lowered her head.
"I-I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself seeing you-"
"No, it's okay," Jay said, cutting her off before she could finish.
Stopped her apology with a calm tone.
He understood why she had reacted so quickly after seeing him engulf the God of Death in black flames. In her position, he would have done the same, probably even worse. Unlike her, he likely wouldn't have stopped to ask for an explanation at all.
"No, but-"
Before she could continue, a dark glow suddenly radiated from the black grail. Its flame flickered along the rim as the black light spread over Anubis's body. And in an instant, it enveloped him completely.
Then, as if reality itself had been rewritten, his wounds instantly vanished.
No scars. No burns. No missing limbs. Nothing remained, as though the damage had never existed in the first place.
The sheer impossibility of the healing left Bastet speechless.
"He should be fine now. He just needs some rest," Jay muttered as the blazing black grail disappeared into thin air once more.
And just after he spoke, Anubis slowly opened his eyes.
"Where… am I?" he muttered.
His gaze shifted slowly across the room. He looked at Jay for a moment, then turned toward Bastet.
"Is... that you, Bastet?"
Hearing his voice once again, Bastet rushed forward and embraced him tightly.
Seeing this, Jay immediately turned away and walked out of the room to give them some space.
As he stepped outside, Freya and Rossweisse were already there waiting for him.
"I heard some noise earlier. What happened?" Freya asked.
Jay shrugged lightly.
Without answering further, he walked past them toward Sekhmet, who was still casually resting despite being restrained.
"Nguh! Hey! Where are you taking me?" Sekhmet protested, though she made no real effort to resist.
"Uh… where do you want to go?" Freya asked.
Jay glanced back briefly.
"Where else?"
***
And then, after letting Anubis rest in his room, Bastet kept her word as she then decided to go along with Jay and the others to find Aten after bidding farewell to Anubis and allowing him to recover. He had insisted on coming along after hearing their destination, but with his severely drained divine aura, Bastet managed to convince him to stay behind.
And now, they stood atop Draghignazzo, drifting across the dunes toward a towering obelisk in the horizon.
Jay stood beside Bastet as she remained still, her eyes completely closed in concentration. And from beneath her eyelids, a blue divine aura seeped out like flowing water. Meanwhile behind them, on Draghignazzo's back, Freya, Rossweisse, and Sekhmet appeared to be talking among themselves.
Jay then glanced at Bastet for a moment before speaking.
"So, how does it work? You can just change the focus of your eyes to find where he is?" he asked.
"Yeah," Bastet replied. "Sekhmet and I inherited our father's divine eyes, but instead of receiving the full aspect, we each inherited only a part of it. The Eye of Ra… Sekhmet's divine eyes embody the Wrath of the Sun, while mine represent the All-Seeing aspect."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Even though it's not to the same degree as Aten's omniscience, which allows him to see past, present, and future, I can use these eyes to locate almost anything, anywhere."
"I see," Jay said.
A silence settled between them, broken only by the wind rushing across the desert as they waited for Bastet to pinpoint Aten's location.
"Anyway, I haven't properly thanked you for healing Anubis. So, thank you so much," Bastet said softly.
"It was a transaction. Don't worry about it," Jay replied.
"Still-"
But before she could finish her words, Bastet suddenly stopped mid-sentence, freezing in place.
"Hm?" Jay widened his eyes with the sudden change from Bastet.
Bastet suddenly furrowed her brows. And in the next moment, she snapped her eyes open in alarm.
"Aten, he is-"
And suddenly, a violent surge of divine aura erupted hundreds of kilometers away on the horizon. Jay immediately shifted his stance.
But before he could fully react-
SHUUUUUUNG
SPLURRTT
A blast of Divine Sun Ray Burst moved at the speed of light and pierced through Jay's body. Even as he tried to shift away, his left arm was completely evaporated, disintegrating the moment it was touched.
Jay widened his eyes, but almost instantly his focus returned. Despite the searing pain, he did not flinch. His gaze remained fixed forward as he sensed another incoming strike in the distance.
And just as he thought,
SHUUUUNG SHUUUNG SHUUUUNG
"True Cross."
FWUOOOOOM
BOOM
A burst of black flames erupted beneath his feet as it enveloped him completely. And the three incoming Divine Sun Blasts were instantly reduced to drifting ash the moment they touched the flames. As it rained downward to the sand dunes below.
Then, everything went still.
Jay remained standing as his eyes locked on the horizon.
The attack had happened so fast that Bastet, Freya, Rossweisse, and Sekhmet could not even process it at first. And moments later, Bastet rushed forward, eyes widening as she looked at Jay's missing arm.
"That's-"
A searing sensation ran through Jay's body as he glanced at his severed left arm.
"A Divine Sun… so he really tried to kill me," he muttered.
Then, almost as an afterthought.
'But why did he suddenly stop?'
"Why are you so calm about it? Your wound… the bleeding needs to be stopped right now or you're going to die!" Bastet said urgently.
A black grail appeared beside Jay as he attempted to heal his arm. The black light enveloped the wound, but just as he thought, nothing happened.
"The wounds inflicted by the Divine Sun-"
But before Bastet could even finish her words about what he already knew, a dense black energy suddenly enveloped Jay's hand. It was an energy of pure void, the inexistence of everything, anything he chose to not exist from this world. And then, with casual movement he whispered-
"Law and Concept Nullification."
As the dark energy of pure void completely engulfed his hand, something unthinkable happened before Bastet's eyes. Something she never thought she would witness.
Then, slowly, a black light from the grail enveloped Jay's hand, and this time his hand instantly regenerated. Something that should have been impossible for any wound inflicted by the Divine Sun to be healed.
"How…" Bastet was at a loss for words.
As his left hand healed itself back, a jet-black blade of Ame-no-Habakiri suddenly appeared in his right hand as its blade radiating a terrifying black energy of pure nonexistence that seeped into the air like water flowing upward.
Jay's eyes remained fixed on the source of the attack, far across the horizon, hundreds of kilometers away.
And as Avesta ignited to calculate and trace the exact coordinates,
He whispered into the air,
"Absolute nonexistence…"
Then, with a casual swing of his right hand, the distance between them was erased.
"World Slasher."
SHIIIING