**Two hours later. Valley Kingdom**
We had traveled on foot and finally made it back. After Envy's sudden appearance and attack, I would have normally considered that as the workout for the day, but I had told myself we were going to walk. And I wanted nothing less.
I was accompanied by both Jo and Star. Havoc stayed behind due to his magic still gone, and decided to stay with the others.
It was about ten miles or so through groves of trees and vast clearings. The weather was nice, so it allowed us to keep walking without any breaks. Every now and then we'd get a view off a shifted tectonic plate we traversed upon, allowing us to admire the Valley from afar—looking both distant and close all in the same.
We each wore something entirely different than our usual Black Wolves attire. For once, Star was not barelegged. Instead, she wore black baggy pants with its fair share of zippers and pockets, black combat boots, an oversized black graphic shirt, tucked in, with a white long-sleeved collared shirt underneath, and topped it off with a black studded choker with a dangling cross down the middle, completing the look. The one thing that stood out most about her outfit, however, was what the graphic on her shirt actually was…
I had noticed it earlier before we left, but had gotten too distracted to notice it again until now… but that definitely was my face post—
"Jojo! Did you know Choco Bars are locally made with the freshest ingredients only found in small towns and villages? Not a single preservative! Unlike the ones in the Valley… Bleh! You can almost taste the powdered chocolate… Why the fuck would you powder chocolate!? It's a disgrace!"
"Neat…" Jo replied just barely on the curb of interest.
She was wearing a cropped zip hoodie that was a color block of white on the sleeves and black in the center. It was opened revealing her low-cleavage zip crop top, showing off her petit, snow-white waist. Her skirt was long and high-waisted, and allowed for a custom hole in the back for her large green tail, and a belt as she adorned the section with dangling chains, crosses, and pendants. And she finished off her outfit with black tights underneath, just barely showing at the ankles, complimented with buckled platform boots.
She always had a backpack on her for all her things, but it wasn't the green one with dragon wings she normally sported. This one was just plain black, and it was slightly larger than the other, especially with Nyx eating a bag of cheese puffs inside with the zipper open like some spoiled pet.
And I, of course, was just wearing a white shirt with a Black Wolves lettering logo on it with black pants and boots. Nash seemed to have gone too crazy with the new Black Wolf Knight's designs… I just let him do whatever. The clothes were nice quality anyway.
Throughout our walk, it seemed that Jo wanted to talk to me about something, but I had my headphones on most of the time, so she decided to talk about it later.
Will you and the Black Wolves be my guide to Tartarus?
I recalled that Idiot King's words…
***
**Two hours earlier**
"So will you and the Black Wolves—" Daz repeated just as I entered back into the clearing from the Den entrance.
"I heard you the first time…" I interrupted as I walked on a little past him, and he followed behind.
I was about to just start heading to the Valley prior to this, but Jo urged me to change after getting a bit dirty from our scuffle with Envy. I felt like it was just her excuse to put on a new outfit she had gotten after returning from her mission with the Ocean Kingdom—Star took the opportunity as well, though it was more for gag and to see Jo's reaction than it was for anything fashion related…
"So then… what is your answer?" he droned.
I sighed and countered, "Didn't you say before that you'd rather not leave again? And now you're leaving while the Valley is defenseless this time? Where's the responsibility in that?"
He nodded exaggeratedly like he knew I was going to bring that up. "You are correct. Normally, I'd be in a predicament. Not only am I leaving, but I'm taking the Valley's number 1 Guild with me, too."
"Our ranking went down since I came back. Fell under the Golden Roses and Crimson Dragons. Rightfully so."
"Oh, so you are paying attention?"
"Get on with it."
He cleared his throat. "You remember the Hall of the Chosen, right?" A rhetorical question.
I didn't even bother replying.
"Notice the five seats, but only four of the top five were present? Well… the fifth has come back at last—just yesterday actually. And since he is back. I can relax a little more. His rank went up from S to SS upon arrival anyway—so he's only second to me and passed Belle by an arm reach."
The fifth? Second only to him? And there was another in this Kingdom who was stronger than Belle other than Daz? This can't be real… And why have I never heard of this guy until now? Surely someone of such ranking would have been talked about more within the Valley, especially with the way the Kingdom likes to talk. Why out of the five-ish years I've been in this Kingdom is this the first I'm hearing about this fifth?
"Aye," Daz spoke as if responding to my thoughts. "So there is no need to worry about my second temporary absence. He will watch over the Valley in my stead." And then he added, "Oh, and Belle will need to stay behind to reinforce a Celestial Dome from time to time. I understand it's a taxing ask, but she currently still has the most mana output out of any mage of the Valley by a longshot. Sorry to break you apart from your girlfriend."
I clicked my tongue, facing away from him again.
I walked a few steps as he let me ponder, and then finally responded without turning back, "I need to think about it."
"Please do. We have all the time in the world, after all," he replied sarcastically, staying behind and leaning against the side of a conspicuous black pyramid that didn't belong anywhere near here—subtly implying.
I dared not reply. I felt his aura like before—like when he had forced me to sit in his office when I was getting out of hand…
Without another word, I continued on with Star and Jo following behind.
***
**Present**
The signal from my headphones had started to falter as we passed certain areas. Every now and then, I'd hear pangs of whatever the hell Star and Jo were talking about… or rather, whatever Star was talking about to Jo.
They were an interesting combination. With Jo's aloof personality and Star's loud and obnoxious one, I often found Star doing most of the talking as Jo brushed it off, or pretended she was listening—never furthering the topics, just one big culmination of a bunch of ones. And I was just in the background leading the way.
Jo didn't seem to mind Star—tolerated was actually a better word. It wasn't like Kiki for some reason… perhaps she was a Black Wolf and Kiki wasn't? I wasn't all too sure. Something told me she just didn't want to deal with Star's tantrums, so she just let her be. Similar to like how one lets a child talk incessantly so as to cater to both their need for attention and the recipients peace of mind—annoyance being the price tag.
"Teddy! I require sustenance! Shall you provide me with the nourishing goo over there behind that tree?"
Jo's ears perked when she said that. "What do you mean by 'nourishing goo'?" she snooped, narrowing her eyes over to Star.
"Oh, so she does pay attention. Seems we favor similar topics…" Star replied.
"No, I— that just sounds so sketch what you just said!" Jo blushed.
"What is so sketch about it?" Star asked as I whipped out a new kind of Choco Bar from my pocket and tossed it to her. She caught it effortlessly. "It is the new flavor of Choco Bars I am so very into—Choco Goo! It's gooey and tasty without losing its outer layer crunch!"
"Oh," Jo replied boredly, letting her yap on about it as per usual.
Star gulped the snack down in about two bites, and sighed like it had hit the spot. "Anyway, Teddy, head over behind that tree so I can give you head."
Jo didn't respond for some time. She had made herself a popsicle and savored it for a good minute, spacing out in the distance as she processed what Star had just said, now prancing over to me while she remained behind.
Then she stopped, and I swore I felt the world shudder as an ominous aura pulsed from her halt.
"YOU'RE GONNA WHAT!? NO! GG DO NOT GO OVER THERE! I SWEAR I WILL FREEZE YOU BOTH IF YOU FUCKING—" she stopped abruptly, finally getting a good look at Star's shirt… "GG…" A calm before the storm whisper.
"What?— Oh…"
"Why is your face on this vixen's shirt like… like… like that!?"
"Err… I don't wanna talk about it."
"It is Teddy post ejaculation, for your information."
I threw on my headphones right on time, blasting some metal they could distinctly hear; I appreciated this thing's noise cancelling effect. Thank you, Boze. Thank you, Alpha Wolf.
I watched Jo bicker and Star continue to ragebait her all in sync with the vocalist's guttural verses.
And they went on like that as I proceeded to walk ahead, loosing an exasperated breath from my nose with an expressionless look plastered rigidly on my face.
"GG!" I felt through the vibrations as I looked up and witnessed the birds flocking off.
***
We made it to the Valley at last. It had only been a few days, so I knew that people were going to start flocking. Which was why we each wore different outfits aside from the norm. Even though Star and I had BLVCK WOLVES written on our clothes, it looked more like an off brand than our Guild name… I hoped…
It also didn't help that I brought the two most prominent Black Wolves members with me on this field trip. The one with horns and the one with a fucking tail…
Jo gave me a black disposable face mask before we entered—like that would help—but I could still feel the prying eyes of people as we made our way in. I couldn't tell who they were scowling at: me, or the pink haired one next to me with the face of me on her shirt making an unholy expression.
"Let's just get in—and out. And then…"
That's right… Daz had just asked us to assist him in taking Envy to Tartarus. By the Keeper, were we really going to do it?
"Ugh, please don't say 'retrieve Brand'… that idiot can find his own way home," Star grumbled.
"Oh, yeah, we need ingredients for hot pot. Maybe we'll run into him then."
"Oh, brother… just great… just fucking great!" Star complained. "AAAAnd we have to get vegetables? This trip sucks."
"Hey Star, I think I just saw Brand! Let's go say hi!" I shouted, teasing her.
"I REFUSE! SCREW THAT BACKWARDS FLYING IDIOT! I WILL NOT SAY HI, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME TEDDY!" She struggled as I pulled her arm, strategically also avoiding a group of people that were eyeing us down just ahead.
As we made our way into the Valley, we passed by many stores and restaurants on the way. I decided to get some noodles to go for Ryo before we stopped by.
"You liar, Teddy! There was no Brand in sight! You got me triggered for nothing, so you owe me a buttload of Choco Bars later!" Star commanded.
"You still have a stash at home…" I said.
"All were consumed."
"Seriously? Star, you said it yourself… We can only get those outside of the Valley…"
"Aye. You shall retrieve them for me when we take Envy to Tartarus."
"Oh… okay." I sighed. "So we are doing it?"
"It is the only way."
"No, it's not."
"That's it! You must say the thing!" Star pouted as Jo eyed her from the side, trying to mind her own business whilst sucking on a popsicle.
"Say what?" I said boredly.
"The thing! Say the thing, Teddy!"
I sighed again and uttered without thinking, "You're lucky you're cute."
When I said this, Jo spat out her popsicle and threw her arms to the side with her shoulders up. "W-W-W-When has that been a thing!?"
"Huh?"
"You giving compliments out so easily like that!?"
"Someone is jealowsy…" Star commented.
"I AM NOT! JUST SURPRISED! I THOUGHT YOU WERE BOUND TO ONLY GIVING BELLE COMPLIMENTS!?"
"Who said that? I mean sure she's my girlfriend, but I care for you all too… Oh, I get it! You want me to give you compliments too, Jojo?" I asked, side eyeing her as we strolled along.
She opened her mouth a couple of times before finally saying, "I-I-If you'd like… I don't care…"
I closed my eyes and smirked, throwing my arm around her shoulder and wrapping my forearm across her collarbone. She peeped as I did, inching her delicate hands upward to rest on my arm.
I then began patting her head profusely. "Who's a good girl? You are! You are, Jojo! Aw, so cute!"
"NOT LIKE THAT, GG!" she barked as Star's contagious laugh began sounding off in the background.
We continued this careless banter all the way to the Valley hospital, where I was finally able to see Ryo.
***
"DELICIOUS!" he said obnoxiously.
Jo, Star, and I stood at the entrance of his room as Ryo eagerly scarfed down a banquet of food all laid out for him. Some of his subordinates, including Zeke and their Captain Ark.
Apparently, something happened with their 1st Executive Flare—who was at the Valley Tournament too—but Code told me not to bring it up before we came here…
"SO INCREDIBLY, WONDERFULLY, EXTRAORDINARILY DELICIOUS!"
It almost felt like Ryo hadn't even noticed I had arrived…
"He's just starving… please forgive him," Zeke said sickly.
Ark laughed in the background.
It was then that Ryo held a utensil and pointed at me whilst he ate.
"I see you, my friend. Glad you're okay!" he said with a full mouth, not even looking me in the eye; his sole focus was eating…
I shrugged with my eyes closed, smirking approvingly. "Guess I'll just leave these noodles in the fridge since you're already eating…"
He whipped his head to me, finally facing as he said, "Alleyway?"
"Alleyway," I repeated.
I could visibly see him drooling at my confirmation.
"BRING IT HERE, PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!"
"You already have a bowl in front of yo—"
"Irrelevant! There is always room for fourths!"
"Fourths? Keeper, this is your fourth bow—"
He snatched it from my hands as I arrived at his side. And we all sat before him, watching him eat for a good ten or so minutes.
His crew cleaned up after him, and he was finally calmer with a cup of tea for his indigestion.
After he had eaten and he was drinking his hot cup, I couldn't help but stare at his bandaged arms and hands, and the peeking metal that continued on below…
"Ah… that hit the spot," Ryo said.
"You eat enough for a family of ten…" I jabbed.
"How long was I out?"
"Since Lys Anima? I wanna say over three weeks."
Ryo pondered first and then said, "Truly? I should be dead by now… There were harsh poisons in my system, all my limbs severed off, and no longer have a lower half…"
"Aye… you can no longer conduct intercourse… That is truly sad…"
"Star…" I gave her the eye, but Ryo laughed at that comment. Something most men would lose their will to live over.
His joy was contagious as he calmed and went on, "Yes. Even if we managed to make it back here to the Valley, I would have been too far gone… unalive."
"Please don't speak brainrot language… You sound like Rex," I jested, but it brought back a sad feeling. One I knew Ryo felt as well, but he continued to smile through it anyway.
"Oh, Rex!" he said. "Thank you, good friend!"
I was surprised at how easy this all seemed for him. Had I been in his situation, I don't think I'd ever react like this… not after just waking up at least.
"I don't know how you do it man," I commented, scratching the back of my head.
"Do what?" He knew exactly what I meant. But I didn't want to get sentimental here, and he knew that.
"But truly." He tactfully changed the topic. "It takes two weeks to get to Lys Anima and two weeks to get back. And I had been out for about a week since arrival… The math is not mathing…"
"Okay, you need to stop speaking like that."
Ark laughed as he was overhearing our conversation.
"There was this guy that brought us back. He also had some kind of magic that regulated—stabilized the poison. I couldn't get the details… nor did I get his name. I passed out before he could tell me. A meek fellow, but devout, for some reason, to the Black Wolves. That's all I know."
"Hmm…"
"Now that I think about it. You did have some headphones on you the whole time. I didn't bother asking about it—too many things happening at once…"
"Hmm. Sound-based magic perhaps? It's not an ability I am familiar with." He pondered.
"In any case, you're alive. And I couldn't be happier."
He only met me with a smile. And I knew that behind our shallow banter, he was also thinking of Rex, Snow, and Zeno. Grieving in his own way.
It had been too late for him to go see them. They were already transferred from the morgue to the cemetery to be buried, and their funeral was tomorrow.
"You want to go see them when you're better?" I asked carefully.
"When I am able," he replied. Almost zero sadness was detected in his voice. "Given my new limbs—my new body, I suppose I won't be able to leave here for another month. I have to get used to moving while I recover. I suspect I won't be able to move normally after that for, maybe, another month on top of that—that's what they say at least… In any case, by then, their funeral will have long passed."
"We don't have to attend the funeral. Leave that for their Guilds and families."
"Surely you must attend. What will the Valley citizens think if you are not there?"
"They already hate my guts," I said solemnly and uncaring. "I'm sure you've realized by now, but word of your waking has already spread. Since I refused to talk about that day, the people are eager to hear what you have to say about the whole thing."
He looked at me with those unwavering blazing yellow eyes. "Then I will say that we did our best and that you were the absolute best leader we could have hoped to have for that mission."
I snickered. "Can you do me a favor and just say it ended up being you who led the mission to the very end, and that I abandoned it? It's not too far from the truth if you think about it rationally."
He shook his head and was about to speak, but I went on, "I don't know what happened after I lost to that Leon guy again, but all I know was that if it wasn't for me going back on what you all had agreed upon, you would still have your limbs and we would have made it back with the Zion Orb."
His look was softer this time. He could tell I was already living past it, but the feeling of uselessness still lingered ever presently.
"We don't know if we would have made it out in one piece with a Zion Orb. Two Apostles showed up just as we were leaving."
"Yeah, but you and I were almost out. Had we not gone back just for you to carry three additional bodies, which slowed your movements and took more time, we would have never ran into those Apostles… and you would have never had to give up the Zion Orb just to save me. At least then, even with Snow's, Rex's, and Zeno's death's, we might have still had a win for the Valley."
"I would have done it again in a heartbeat, friend," he said, that same calm resolve coming back. The kind that always pulled me out of a dark spot. And I wouldn't question that resolve because it would always win.
I said nothing more, sitting in silence for a good few seconds before he spoke again, "I will do as you ask."
I looked up at him with a raised brow as he went on, "Though I don't understand why you would rather people hate you than support you, if it helps lessen the burden on you then I will oblige." And before I could respond, he continued, "On one condition…"
I blinked.
"I will not say you abandoned your post. For one, you were prioritizing the mission—part of that mission was not abandoning your team. And two, it goes against my moral ethics to lie. So while the fact of the matter stands as truth, the fill-in for the missing details is not. What I will say, is that you did your best to get everyone out in one piece, but the enemy gained the upper hand. If you are okay with this, I will do as you wish."
I smiled at last. Half of one—and very faint, but regardless, a smile still. "Thanks Ryo."
He nodded. "Thanks for the noodles!"
It was then Ark spoke up from the corner of the room he quietly occupied, "You're not gonna tell him you awakened twice, Ryo?"
I blinked. He did what?
"Wait, what happened?" I asked, surprised.
"Ah," he said like it was so casual. "I awakened both my magic and Tantra at the same time."
I rose from my seat and looked at him with utter amazement.
"No shit?"
"No shit," Ryo confirmed, cool smirk resting on his face—also cussing surprisingly.
"On top of that, it wasn't just any Tantra he awakened," Ark added calmly before going on. "Ryo awakened Knight's Tantra. Just like the one you use."